Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MR anatomy of the substantia innominata and findings in Alzheimer disease: a preliminary report.

PURPOSE To demonstrate normal MR anatomy of the substantia innominata and its changes in Alzheimer disease on MR imaging. METHODS Using a 1.5-T superconductive MR unit, thickness of the substantia innominata was measured on coronal thin-section images obtained in 22 patients with Alzheimer disease and 14 age-matched control subjects. Comparison of these images with postmortem specimens of human brain was also performed. RESULTS On T2-weighted images through the anterior commissure, the substantia innominata was clearly identified between the globus pallidus and the anterior perforated substance. In Alzheimer disease, thinning of the substantia innominata was more frequently observed than in the age-matched controls. CONCLUSION Thin-section T2-weighted coronal MR images can demonstrate shrinkage of the substantia innominata, a finding that may aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease.
Variable step-size modified MNG algorithm for adaptive IIR notch filter for detection of sinusoids

In this paper proposes an addition of a variable step-size modified memoryless nonlinear gradient (MNG) algorithm for a second-order adaptive IIR notch filter for detection of sinusoids in noise environment. The structure of the adaptive IIR notch filter is based on direct form structure and lattice form structure. The objective of variable step-size (VSS) algorithm is to optimize the filter coefficient. The computer simulation results are shown that the proposed algorithm provides fast convergence speed, low mean square error, low variance of filter coefficients and high impulsive noise robustness.
Application of phase-contrast cine magnetic resonance imaging in endoscopic aqueductoplasty

The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of phase-contrast cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in endoscopic aqueductoplasty (EA) for patients with obstructive hydrocephalus. The clinical diagnosis of hydrocephalus caused by aqueduct obstruction in 23 patients was confirmed by phase-contrast cine MRI examination. The patients were treated with EA and MRI was repeated during the follow-up. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow velocity in the aqueduct was measured to determine whether the aqueduct was obstructed. The results of phase-contrast cine MRI examinations indicated that there was no CSF flow in the aqueduct for all patients prior to surgery. Aqueductoplasty was successfully performed in all patients. The results of phase-contrast cine MRI examinations performed a week after surgery demonstrated an average CSF flow velocity of 4.74±1.77 cm/sec. During the follow-up, intracranial hypertension recurred in two patients in whom CSF flow was not observed in the aqueduct by the phase-contrast cine MRI scan. Aqueduct re-occlusion was revealed by an endoscopic exploration. By measuring the CSF flow velocity, phase-contrast cine MRI accurately identifies aqueduct obstruction. Cine MRI is a nontraumatic, simple and reliable method for determining whether the aqueduct is successfully opened following aqueductoplasty.
Is Bladder Tumor Location Associated with Prostate Cancer Detection after Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Instillation?

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of bladder tumor (BT) location on prostate cancer (PCa) detection in patients with elevated PSA levels after intravesical BCG instillation. Methods Between February 2004 and January 2013 prostate biopsies were performed in 59 non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients whose PSA level were elevated (≥3 ng/ml) after a 6 week course of intravesical BCG (Oncotice, 12.5 mg in 50 ml normal saline). Differences in PCa detection according to the BT location [bladder neck and/or trigone (Group 1, n = 22) vs. other locations (Group 2, n = 37)] were evaluated. The Fisher's exact test and the Mann-Whitney U test were used to evaluate the association between categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Results A total of 14 patients (23.7%) were diagnosed with PCa. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) PSA before intravesical BCG instillation and prostate biopsy were 1.36±1.04 ng/ml in Group 1 and 1.09±1.12 ng/ml in Group 2 (P = 0.633), and 6.05±3.57 ng/ml in Group 1 and 5.13±3.88 ng/ml in Group 2 (P = 0.378), respectively. Interestingly, whereas PCa was detected upon biopsy in only one patient in Group 1 (4.5%), 13 cases were detected in Group 2 (35.1%) (P = 0.009). Conclusions PCa detection after intravesical BCG was highly associated with BT location. Prostate biopsy should therefore be considered when PSA level is elevated after BCG instillation and his BT is located far from the bladder neck.
Hubris, Learning, and M&A Decisions

Are CEOs unable to learn? This surprising question deserves to be raised in the light of the declining pattern of cumulative abnormal returns observed in M&A programs. This paper shows that this pattern is the expected ex post empirical evidence for rational risk averse CEOs. Our theoretical argument is that from deal to deal, rational CEOs become more aggressive in the bidding process. They concede increasing fractions of expected synergies to the target shareholders in order to win the bidding game. For CEOs infected by hubris, the learning process should allow them to progressively correct over-optimism and overconfidence, if they survive.
Brokering Democracy in Africa: The Rise of Clientelist Democracy in Senegal

Introduction * Clientelist Democracy in Comparative Perspective * The Rise of Senegal's Clientelist Democracy * Influential Brokers: The Murid Marabouts of Central Senegal * Dependent Brokers: Caste Politics among the Tukulor of Northern Senegal * Limited Brokers: The Casamancais Sons of the Soil in S. Senegal * Autonomous Brokers: The Beru Gox of the Senegalais d'Amerique * The Future of Clientelist Democracy
A Hybrid Method for Cross-domain Sentiment Classification Using Multiple Sources

Sentiment classification is one of the most extensively studied problems in sentiment analysis and supervised learning methods, which require labeled data for training, have been proven quite effective. However, supervised methods assume that the training domain and the testing domain share the same distribution; otherwise, accuracy drops dramatically. Although this does not pose problems when training data are readily available, in some circumstances, labeled data is quite expensive to acquire. For instance, if we want to detect sentiment from Tweets or Facebook comments, the only way to acquire is to manually label it and thus prohibitively burdensome and timeconsuming. In this paper, we propose a hybrid approach that integrates the sentiment information from multiple source domains labeled data and a set of preselected sentiment words to solve this problem. The experimental results suggest that our method statistically outperforms the state of the art and even surpasses the in-domain gold standard in some cases.
A Simple and Quick Method for the Determination of Pesticides in Environmental Water by HF-LPME-GC/MS

This paper describes a simple and quick method for sampling and also for carrying out the preconcentration of pesticides in environmental water matrices using two-phased hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction (HF-LPME). Factors such as extraction mode, time, solvents, agitation, and salt addition were investigated in order to validate the LPME method. The following conditions were selected: 6 cm of polypropylene hollow fiber, ethyl octanoate as an acceptor phase, and extraction during 30 min under stirring at 200 rpm. The optimized method showed good linearity in the range of 0.14 to 200.00 μg L−1; the determination coefficient (R 2) was in the range of 0.9807–0.9990. The LOD ranged from 0.04 μg L−1 to 0.44 μg L−1, and LOQ ranged from 0.14 μg L−1 to 1.69 μg L−1. The recovery ranged from 85.17% to 114.73%. The method was applied to the analyses of pesticides in three environmental water samples (a spring and few streams) collected in a rural area from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Approximate invariance of inverse of covariance matrix and resultant pre-built space-time non-adaptive processing

Space-time adaptive processing (STAP) normally requires knowledge of the inverse of the covariance matrix (ICM) of undesired signals for detecting desired target signals. The computational load of generating a reliable ICM prevents fully adaptive STAP algorithms from implementation in real-time radar systems. Presenting two Theorems, this paper shows that the ICM is approximately invariant to variations in clutter (echoes from the Earth surface) provided that radar and platform parameters remain unchanged. Based on this, pre-built space-time non-adaptive processing (PSTAP) is proposed. Detection of targets in real airborne radar data, the Multi-Channel Airborne Radar measurement (MCARM) data, as well as in simulated data generated by the airborne radar simulation software, Rome Laboratory Space-Time Adaptive Processing (RLSTAP), shows that the performance of the proposed PSTAP is virtually the same as STAP.
Decoding the Neuroanatomical Basis of Reading Ability: A Multivoxel Morphometric Study

As a relatively recent cultural invention in human evolution, reading is an important gateway to personal development and socioeconomic success. Despite the well documented individual differences in reading ability, its neuroanatomical correlates have not been well understood, largely due to the fact that reading is a complex skill that consists of multiple components. Using a large sample of 416 college students and 7 reading tasks, the present study successfully identified three uncorrelated components of reading ability: phonological decoding, form-sound association, and naming speed. We then tried to predict individuals' scores in these components from their gray matter volume (GMV) on a subset of participants (N = 253) with high-quality structural images, adopting a multivariate support vector regression analysis with tenfold cross-validation. Our results revealed distinct neural regions that supported different aspects of reading ability: whereas phonological decoding was associated with the GMV in the left superior parietal lobe extending to the supramarginal gyrus, form-sound association was predicted by the GMV in the hippocampus and cerebellum. Naming speed was associated with GMV in distributed brain regions in the occipital, temporal, parietal, and frontal cortices. Phonological decoding and form-sound association were uncorrelated with general cognitive abilities. However, naming speed was correlated with intelligence and processing speed, and some of the regions that were predictive of naming speed also predicted these general cognitive abilities. These results provide further insights on the cognitive and neural architecture of reading and the structural basis of individual differences in reading abilities.
No technology but still participatory journalists: Viewpoints from Zimbabwe’s rural folks

It has generally been accepted that non-professional media actors empowered by novel digitally networked technologies are changing the media landscape in the West. In contrast, this is less obvious in the case of sub-Saharan Africa. Recent years, however, have seen the emergence of a diverse range of citizen media in Africa, empowered by digital technologies such as mobile phones, blogs, micro blogs, video-sharing platforms, and mapping. Through participant observation as well as a review of the existing research, this study aims to critically analyse and position the impact of citizen journalism in the African discourse, specifically exploring the Zimbabwean case, where citizen journalism appears uniquely non-integrated with traditional reporting as journalists continue to question the ethical basis for commercially engaging alternative form of journalism. While others like South Africa-based Mail and Guardian’s ‘Thought Leader’ continue to coerce citizen participation, evidence on the ground show that conventional media in Zimbabwe is still skeptical about the prospects of embedding the works of citizen journalists into their mainstream packages. However, operating on their own, others like kubatana.net have thrived, further underscoring the perceived democratic value of citizen journalism. This research endeavors to examine and compare the citizen journalism narrative, contextualizing the largely uncovered rural setting in order to understand ways through which these communities communicate with little or no exposure to the Internet.
Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor Mediates Autophagy and Apoptosis in Myocardial Hypoxia/Reoxygenation Injury

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a multifunctional protein that exhibits anti-angiogenic, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, anti-atherogenic, and cardioprotective properties. While it was recently shown that PEDF expression is inhibited under low oxygen conditions, the functional role of PEDF in response to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) remains unclear. The goal of this study was to therefore investigate the influence of PEDF on myocardial H/R injury. For these analyses, PEDF-specific small interfering RNA-expressing and PEDF-expressing lentivirus (PEDF-LV) vectors were utilized to knockdown or stably overexpress PEDF, respectively, within human cardiomyocytes (HCM) in vitro. We noted that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play important roles in the induction of cell death pathways, including apoptosis and autophagy in ischemic hearts. Our findings demonstrate that overexpression of PEDF resulted in a significant reduction in ROS production and attenuation of mitochondrial membrane potential depletion under H/R conditions. Furthermore, PEDF inhibited the activation of a two-step apoptotic pathway in which caspase-dependent (caspase-9 and caspase-3) and caspase-independent (apoptosis inducing factor and endonuclease G), which in turn cleaves several crucial substrates including the DNA repair enzyme poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Meanwhile, overexpression of PEDF also promoted autophagy, a process that is typically activated in response to H/R. Therefore, these findings suggest that PEDF plays a critical role in preventing H/R injury by modulating anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic factors and promoting autophagy.
The Preoperative Maximum Standardized Uptake Value Measured by 18F-FDG PET/CT as an Independent Prognostic Factor of Overall Survival in Endometrial Cancer Patients

Purpose. The aim of this study was to determine if the preoperative maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) measured by 18F-FDG PET/CT in the primary tumor has prognostic value in the group of patients with endometrial cancer. Patients, Materials, and Methods. A total of one hundred one consecutive endometrial cancer patients, age range 40–82 years (mean 62 years) and FIGO I–IV stage, who underwent 18-FDG-PET/CT within two weeks prior radical surgery, were enrolled to the study. The maximum SUV was measured and compared with the clinicopathologic features of surgical specimens. The relationship between SUVmax and overall survival was analyzed. Results. The mean preoperative SUVmax was 14.34; range (3.90–33.80) and was significantly lower for FIGO I than for higher stages (P = 0.0012), as well as for grade 1 than for grade 2 and 3 (P = 0.018), deep myometrial invasion (P = 0.0016) and for high risk group (P = 0.0004). The analysis of survival ROC curve revealed SUVmax cut-off value of 17.7 to predict high risk of recurrence. Endometrial cancer patients with SUVmax higher than 17.7 characterized by lower overall survival. Conclusion. The preoperative SUVmax measured by 18F-FDG PET/CT is considered as an important indicator reflecting tumor aggressiveness which may predict poor prognosis. High value of SUVmax would be useful for making noninvasive diagnoses and deciding the appropriate therapeutic strategy for patients with endometrial cancer.
Manual Wheelchair Use: Bouts of Mobility in Everyday Life

Background. This study aimed to describe how people move about in manual wheelchairs (MWCs) during everyday life by evaluating bouts of mobility or continuous periods of movement. Methods. A convenience sample of 28 MWC users was recruited. Participants' everyday mobility was measured using a wheel-mounted accelerometer and seat occupancy switch for 1-2 weeks. Bouts of mobility were recorded and characterized. Results. Across 29,200 bouts, the median bout lasted 21 seconds and traveled 8.6 m at 0.43 m/s. 85% of recorded bouts lasted less than 1 minute and traveled less than 30 meters. Participants' daily wheelchair activity included 90 bouts and 1.6 km over 54 minutes. Average daily occupancy time was 11 hours during which participants wheeled 10 bouts/hour and spent 10% of their time wheeling. Spearman-Brown Prophecy analysis suggested that 7 days were sufficient to achieve a reliability of 0.8 for all bout variables. Conclusions. Short, slow bouts dominate wheelchair usage in a natural environment. Therefore, clinical evaluations and biomechanical research should reflect this by concentrating on initiating movement, maneuvering wheelchairs, and stopping. Bouts of mobility provide greater depth to our understanding of wheelchair use and are a more stable metric (day-to-day) than distance or time wheeled.
Saving capitalism from the capitalists : unleashing the power of financial markets to create wealth and spread opportunity

Preface ix Introduction 1 PART I:THE BENEFITS OF FREE FINANCIAL MARKETS CHAPTER 1: Does Finance Benefit Only the Rich? 25 CHAPTER 2: Shylock Transformed 44 CHAPTER 3: The Financial Revolution and Individual Economic Freedom 68 CHAPTER 4: The Dark Side of Finance 93 CHAPTER 5: The Bottom Line on Financial Development 108 PART II: WHEN DO FINANCIAL MARKETS EMERGE? CHAPTER 6: The Taming of the Government 129 CHAPTER 7: The Impediments to Financial Development 157 CHAPTER 8: When Does Finance Develop? 172 PART III: THE GREAT REVERSAL CHAPTER 9: The Great Reversal between Wars 201 CHAPTER 10: Why Was the Market Suppressed? 226 CHAPTER 11: The Decline and Fall of Relationship Capitalism 247 PART IV: HOW CAN MARKETS BE MADE MORE VIABLE POLITICALLY? CHAPTER 12: The Challenges Ahead 275 CHAPTER 13: Saving Capitalism from the Capitalists 293 Conclusion 311 Notes 315 Bibliography 342 Index 359
The link between bone disease and cardiovascular complications in hemodialysis patients

Introduction The burden on the cardiovascular system is the main cause of mortality in chronic renal patients, and bone disease, which also may cause disability, is one of the most important complications in those patients. The aim of this study was to determine the link between cardiovascular and bone disease, which frequently occur together. Methods In this matched case-control study, 70 subjects were subjected for full laboratory assessment as well as estimation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) level, vitamin D level, complete echocardiography, and dual energy absorptiometry. Of the 70 patients, 50 were on regular hemodialysis, and there were 20 normal controls matched with the patients with respect to age and gender. Results There was a significant decrease in the mean value of serum vitamin D in the hemodialysis patients, i.e., their mean value was 20.47 ± 9.60 whereas the controls had a mean value of 37.15 ± 7.67. Thus, there was a highly-significant, negative correlation between vitamin D and left ventricular mass (LVM) in the patients. We found that there was a highly-significant increase in the mean PTH levels of the patients (820.22 ± 393.51), whereas it was 57.60 ± 13.72 for the controls. The statistical significance was less than 0.001, a highly-significant increase in the mean of the T score levels in the patients (−2.15 ± 2.56), whereas it was −0.47 ± 0.71 for the controls with a statistical significance of less than 0.001. There also was a highly-significant correlation between the T score and LVM. Conclusion A significant correlation was found between bone disease and the occurrence of a left ventricular mass. We recommend early strict correction of the serum levels of vitamin D, PTH, calcium, and phosphorus.
Full quaternion based attitude control for a quadrotor

The aim of this article is to present a novel quaternion based control scheme for the attitude control problem of a quadrotor. A quaternion is a hyper complex number of rank 4 that can be utilized to avoid the inherent geometrical singularity when representing rigid body dynamics with Euler angles or the complexity of having coupled differential equations with the Direction Cosine Matrix (DCM). In the presented approach both the quadrotor's attitude model and the proposed non-linear Proportional squared (P2) control algorithm have been implemented in the quaternion space, without any transformations and calculations in the Euler's angle space or DCM. Throughout the article, the merits of the proposed novel approach are being analyzed and discussed, while the efficacy of the suggested novel quaternion based controller are being evaluated by extended simulation results.
Vitamins and Prostate Cancer Risk

Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most common cancer in men worldwide. Its prevention and treatment remain a challenge to clinicians. Here we review the relationship of vitamins to PC risk. Many vitamins and related chemicals, including vitamin A, retinoids, several B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D and vitamin E have shown their anti-cancer activities as anti-oxidants, activators of transcription factors or factors influencing epigenetic events. Although laboratory tests including the use of animal models showed these vitamins may have anti-PC properties, whether they can effectively prevent the development and/or progression of PC in humans remains to be intensively studied subjects. This review will provide up-to-date information regarding the recent outcomes of laboratory, epidemiology and/or clinical trials on the effects of vitamins on PC prevention and/or treatment.
Violations of Uncovered Interest Rate Parity and International Exchange Rate Dependences

This online appendix to "Violations of Uncovered Interest Rate Parity and International Exchange Rate Dependences" includes the copula density function for the Clayton-Frank-Gumbel mixture copula and the details for the likelihood based estimation of the multivariate currency basket log returns. Currency carry trade high and low interest rate baskets over time are shown. Further results for the copula parameter fits and associated dependence measures are then analysed. A description of the method used to calculate the confidence intervals for the covariance regression is given. Finally, the method used to interpolate the one month forward price curve is explained.The paper "Violations of Uncovered Interest Rate Parity and International Exchange Rate Dependences" to which these Appendices apply is available at the following URL: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2638163