Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Correlation between antemortem magnetic resonance imaging findings and pathologically confirmed corticobasal degeneration.

BACKGROUND Slowly progressive asymmetric parkinsonism and cortical dysfunction clinically characterize corticobasal syndrome (CBS). Various pathologic findings, including corticobasal degeneration (CBD), progressive supranuclear palsy, and frontotemporal degenerations, underlie CBS. OBJECTIVE To determine if regional cortical and corpus callosum atrophy and subcortical and periventricular white matter (SPWM) signal changes on head magnetic resonance imaging were specific to CBD. DESIGN Historical review of autopsy cases. SETTING Subspecialized behavioral neurology and movement disorder clinics within a neurology department of a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS Seventeen patients with CBS who had an autopsy-confirmed diagnosis of CBD or another neurodegenerative disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Regional cerebral cortical atrophy, regional corpus callosum atrophy, and SPWM signal changes. RESULTS Similar patterns of regional atrophy and SPWM signal changes were found in the patients with autopsy-proven CBD and in the patients with other neurodegenerative diseases. CONCLUSION Neither cortical nor corpus callosum atrophy nor SPWM signal changes on head magnetic resonance imaging are specific to CBD.
Regulatory Effects of microRNA-92 (miR-92) on VHL Gene Expression and the Hypoxic Activation of miR-210 in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND & AIMS In order to understand the role of miRNAs in renal tumorigenesis, we undertook a stepwise approach that included a comprehensive differential miRNA expression analysis for the most common histological subtypes of human renal neoplasms appearing in either sporadic or hereditary forms. We also aimed to test the hypothesis that microRNAs can act as an alternative mechanism of VHL gene inactivation and therefore might be correlated with tumorigenesis in ccRCC. Finally, we wanted to explore whether the well-known hypoxic activation of ccRCC is followed by a specific pattern of miRNA expression. METHODS Tumor and normal adjacent kidney parenchyma from patients with RCC were tested for microRNA expression. Twenty cases of different histologies were used for profiling by PCR miRNA arrays. For validation, a separate cohort of samples used to test specifically miR92a expression and its involvement in VHL gene mRNA silencing. Finally, miR210 as a marker of hypoxia was evaluated. Expression values were correlated with important clinicopathologic features from the patients. RESULTS We identified unique miRNA expression signatures for each histologic subtype of kidney tumors. Expression values for downregulated miRNAs ranged from 0.3-fold (in VHL-clear cell RCC) up to 0.393 fold (in papillary type II (HLRCC) tumors). For the upregulated miRNAs, fold-changes ranged from 2.1 up to 290-fold. Specific patterns together with type-specific profiles were observed. Twenty-three miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed in both sporadic and VHL-dependent ccRCC. Sporadic clear cell tumors showed a unique pattern of 14-miRNA that were absent from the VHL-dependent tumors. These also showed 15 miRNAs specific to the hereditary type. Common miRNAs to both sporadic and hereditary forms included miR-92a and miR-210. For miR-92a, and a striking inverse correlation with VHL mRNA levels was found. For the hypoxia-regulated miR-210, clear cell tumors showed significantly higher expression levels when compared to tumor of non-clear cell histology (9.90-fold vs. 1.36, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS microRNA expression seems to be involved in every step of RCC pathogenesis: both as an element for tumor development as well as a consequence of or in response to the initial malignant transformation and part of tumor progression. Our data show consistent disregulation of miRNAs in human kidney cancer, some of which are potentially involved in critical gene silencing in RCC and others that are activated as part of the pathophysiological response in these tumors.
The Role of Stressful Life Events and Cultural Factors on Criminal Thinking Among African American Women Involved in the Criminal Justice System

African American women are positioned at the intersection of multiple disadvantaged statuses and disproportionately affected by criminal justice policies, as evinced by their increased likelihood of incarceration. Yet they continue to be overlooked in mainstream criminological research. Using data from 418 African American women in the B-WISE (Black Women in a Study of Epidemics) project, the present study investigates the relationship between several prominent stressors occurring in five social contexts and criminal thinking as a coping strategy. Findings indicate that criminal thinking may be one maladaptive coping mechanism to manage stressors, such as gendered racism, financial stress, and network loss, that occur across these multiple social contexts for African American women in prison and on probation. Spirituality, on the other hand, seems to operate as a buffer. Implications for practice include promoting programs that strengthen a sense of collective identity in the community, as well as hiring more African American women who could provide additional culturally competent behavioral health services in criminal justice professions.
HALO MASS PROFILES AND LOW SURFACE BRIGHTNESS GALAXY ROTATION CURVES

A recent study has claimed that the rotation curve shapes and mass densities of low surface brightness (LSB) galaxies are largely consistent with ΛCDM predictions, in contrast to a large body of observational work. I demonstrate that the method used to derive this conclusion is incapable of distinguishing the characteristic steep CDM mass-density distribution from the core-dominated mass-density distributions found observationally: even core-dominated pseudoisothermal halos would be inferred to be consistent with CDM. This method can therefore make no definitive statements regarding the (dis)agreement between the data and CDM simulations. After introducing an additional criterion that does take the slope of the mass distribution into account, I find that only about a quarter of the LSB galaxies investigated are possibly consistent with CDM. However, for most of these, the fit parameters are so weakly constrained that this is not a strong conclusion. Of the 20 galaxies with tightly constrained fit parameters, only 3 are consistent with ΛCDM. Two of these galaxies are likely dominated by stars, leaving only one possible dark matter-dominated, CDM-consistent candidate. These conclusions are based on comparison of data and simulations at identical radii and fits to the entire rotation curves. LSB galaxies that are consistent with CDM simulations, if they exist, seem to be rare indeed.
Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus detection by Polymerase Chain Reaction and their relation to dental caries in 12 and 15 year-old schoolchildren in Valencia (Spain)

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus and the association of the two in a random sample (n=614) of the child population of the region of Valencia (Spain). Saliva samples were analyzed by the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to study the relation of these bacteria to caries prevalence and the DMFT index. The prevalence of S. mutans was 35.4% at age 12 and 22.9% at age 15, that of S. sobrinus 18.9% and 8.4% and that of the S. mutans-S. sobrinus association 18.2% and 6.8% respectively. At both 12 and 15 years of age, the caries prevalence rates were lower in the Streptococcus-free group of children (37.6% and 48.5% respectively) and higher in the S.mutans-only group (67.3% and 74.0%). At the age of 12, the DMFT index was significantly higher in the mutans-only carriers (2.1) than in the Streptococcus-free and S. mutans-S. sobrinus association groups (both 0.9). At the age of 15, the DMFT index was significantly higher in the S. mutans-S. sobrinus association (3.71) and mutans-only (3.1) carrier groups than in the Streptococcus-free group (1.4). Determination of S. mutans and S. sobrinus by real-time quantitative PCR can provide valuable information for caries risk assessment in epidemiological studies. Key words:Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, polymerase chain reaction, dental caries, cross-sectional studies.
Face processing impairments after amygdalotomy.

We report an investigation of face processing impairments in D.R. , a 51-year-old woman with a partial bilateral amygdalotomy. D.R. was able to recognize pre-operatively familiar faces, but she showed generalized problems of name retrieval and a more circumscribed deficit affecting the recognition of faces learnt post-operatively. In contrast to her poor memory for new faces, D.R. 's ability to match simultaneously presented photographs of unfamiliar faces was unimpaired. However, D.R. also experienced deficits in expression processing which compromised the recognition of emotion from people's faces: she was poor both at matching and at identifying photographs of emotional facial expressions. In addition, her interpretation of eye gaze direction was defective, showing a more general problem in reading social signals from the face. The presence of impairments affecting the learning of new faces and the comprehension of gaze direction and facial expressions of emotion is consistent with the hypothesis of a role for the amygdala in learning and social behaviour.
The Effectiveness of Exercise Interventions for the Management of Frailty: A Systematic Review

This systematic review examines the effectiveness of current exercise interventions for the management of frailty. Eight electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials that identified their participants as “frail” either in the title, abstract, and/or text and included exercise as an independent component of the intervention. Three of the 47 included studies utilized a validated definition of frailty to categorize participants. Emerging evidence suggests that exercise has a positive impact on some physical determinants and on all functional ability outcomes reported in this systematic review. Exercise programs that optimize the health of frail older adults seem to be different from those recommended for healthy older adults. There was a paucity of evidence to characterize the most beneficial exercise program for this population. However, multicomponent training interventions, of long duration (≥5 months), performed three times per week, for 30–45 minutes per session, generally had superior outcomes than other exercise programs. In conclusion, structured exercise training seems to have a positive impact on frail older adults and may be used for the management of frailty.
Nosocomial infections in adult patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for adult patients has increased in recent years. A retrospective cohort study of adult patients undergoing ECMO was performed between 19 February 1985 and 10 October 1995 to evaluate nosocomial infections. Seventy-one evaluable patients underwent ECMO for a total of 799 days. Forty-six infections were identified in 32 (45%) of 71 patients. There were 15 bloodstream infections, 13 lower respiratory infections, 11 urinary tract infections, and 7 miscellaneous infections. The rates of bloodstream infection (18.8 cases per 1,000 ECMO days) and urinary tract infection (13.8 cases per 1,000 ECMO days) were significantly higher than those reported through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention / National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System (P < .0001 and P < .001, respectively). The rate of bloodstream infection increased with the duration of ECMO cannulation. This study highlights the increased risk for nosocomial infections in this patient population. Infection may not be apparent, and increased physician awareness of infection risk is imperative.
Female offspring of alcoholic individuals: recent findings on alcoholism and psychopathology risks: symposium presented at the Research Society on Alcoholism, 2004, Vancouver Aruna Gogineni, Chair.

IN THE PAST decade, significant advances have been made in understanding how genetic and environmental factors contribute to alcoholism and other psychopathology among children of alcoholic individuals. Potential biopsychosocial markers of risk (e.g., low level of response to alcohol, behavioral undercontrol, and family functioning variables) have been identified and indicate that both individual and environmental variables are highly relevant. Despite these advances, studies have predominantly focused on examining outcomes among sons of alcoholic individuals, with the consequence that relatively little is known about the risk for alcoholism and other psychopathology among daughters. Effective prevention and treatment strategies are predicated upon further knowledge of these risks among daughters as well as sons. This symposium will present recent findings using family, prospective, and cross-sectional research to elucidate the biopsychosocial correlates and the moderators of risk for alcoholism and other psychopathology among daughters from developmental trajectories spanning the periods of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. This symposium begins with a presentation by John Kramer in which high-risk daughters’ and sons’ alcohol and drug involvement are compared with respect to their predictors, drawn from demographic, familial, and personal domains. Next, Serena King focuses on the correlates of disinhibited behavior in males and females from adoptive and biological families, with an emphasis on parental alcoholism, genetic versus environmental influences, and differences between genders. This talk is followed by a presentation by Kristina Jackson, who examines the predictors of alcohol use disorders among young adults from high-risk and control families, including such factors as family history, negative affect, behavioral undercontrol, and childhood stressors. Finally, Aruna Gogineni addresses the familial predictors of adult daughters’ alcohol problems and depression, focusing on the effects of maternal versus paternal alcoholism as well as family density of pathology.
Health Services for Buruli Ulcer Control: Lessons from a Field Study in Ghana

Background Buruli ulcer (BU), caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans infection, is a debilitating disease of the skin and underlying tissue. The first phase of a BU prevention and treatment programme (BUPaT) was initiated from 2005–2008, in the Ga-West and Ga-South municipalities in Ghana to increase access to BU treatment and to improve early case detection and case management. This paper assesses achievements of the BUPaT programme and lessons learnt. It also considers the impact of the programme on broader interests of the health system. Methods A mixed-methods approach included patients' records review, review of programme reports, a stakeholder forum, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, clinic visits and observations. Principal Findings Extensive collaboration existed across all levels, (national, municipality, and community), thus strengthening the health system. The programme enhanced capacities of all stakeholders in various aspects of health services delivery and demonstrated the importance of health education and community-based surveillance to create awareness and encourage early treatment. A patient database was also created using recommended World Health Organisation (WHO) forms which showed that 297 patients were treated from 2005–2008. The proportion of patients requiring only antibiotic treatment, introduced in the course of the programme, was highest in the last year (35.4% in the first, 23.5% in the second and 42.5% in the third year). Early antibiotic treatment prevented recurrences which was consistent with programme aims. Conclusions To improve early case management of BU, strengthening existing clinics to increase access to antibiotic therapy is critical. Intensifying health education and surveillance would ultimately increase early reporting and treatment for all cases. Further research is needed to explain the role of environmental factors for BU contagion. Programme strategies reported in our study: collaboration among stakeholders, health education, community surveillance and regular antibiotic treatment can be adopted for any BU-endemic area in Ghana.
Two-dimensional phonon transport in graphene

Properties of phonons—quanta of the crystal lattice vibrations—in graphene have recently attracted significant attention from the physics and engineering communities. Acoustic phonons are the main heat carriers in graphene near room temperature, while optical phonons are used for counting the number of atomic planes in Raman experiments with few-layer graphene. It was shown both theoretically and experimentally that transport properties of phonons, i.e. energy dispersion and scattering rates, are substantially different in a quasi-two-dimensional system such as graphene compared to the basal planes in graphite or three-dimensional bulk crystals. The unique nature of two-dimensional phonon transport translates into unusual heat conduction in graphene and related materials. In this review, we outline different theoretical approaches developed for phonon transport in graphene, discuss contributions of the in-plane and cross-plane phonon modes, and provide comparison with available experimental thermal conductivity data. Particular attention is given to analysis of recent results for the phonon thermal conductivity of single-layer graphene and few-layer graphene, and the effects of the strain, defects, and isotopes on phonon transport in these systems.
Modeling Valued Organizational Communication Networks Using Exponential Random Graph Models

For years, organizational communication scholars have been interested in the mechanisms that influence the formation of communication networks. One way to gain a deeper insight into the factors that shape such networks is to model them using exponential random graph modeling (ERGM). However, ERGM has only been applicable to binary networks, reducing communication to something that is either present or not. This article illustrates valued ERGM for organizational communication networks that have a weight associated with each tie. Using a data set on friendship strength between collaborative scientists, results show there are important differences when the network is modeled as binary versus when modeled as valued. In particular, the valued model showed that scientists are more selective regarding friendship (less outdegree activity). Moreover, there were several differences regarding how popular certain disciplines were over others. An online appendix with the R code and data is also included.
Acyclic Homomorphisms and Circular Colorings of Digraphs

An acyclic homomorphism of a digraph $D$ into a digraph $F$ is a mapping $\phi\colon V(D) \to V(F)$ such that for every arc $uv\in E(D)$, either $\phi(u)=\phi(v)$ or $\phi(u)\phi(v)$ is an arc of $F$, and for every vertex $v\in V(F)$, the subgraph of $D$ induced on $\phi^{-1}(v)$ is acyclic. For each fixed digraph $F$ we consider the following decision problem: Does a given input digraph $D$ admit an acyclic homomorphism to $F$? We prove that this problem is NP-complete unless $F$ is acyclic, in which case it is polynomial time solvable. From this we conclude that it is NP-complete to decide if the circular chromatic number of a given digraph is at most $q$, for any rational number $q > 1$. We discuss the complexity of the problems restricted to planar graphs. We also refine the proof to deduce that certain $F$-coloring problems are NP-complete.
Cultural Influence on Luxury Value Perceptions: Collectivist vs. Individualist Luxury Perceptions

ABSTRACT This study examines differences in luxury value perceptions and their influence on luxury purchase intentions among collectivists and individualists. According to empirical evidence from 1,608 responses to the Brand Luxury Index (BLI), collectivists have stronger perceptions of price-controlled values (i.e., conspicuousness, high quality). Conspicuousness negatively affects luxury purchase intentions among individualists but not among collectivists. High quality positively impacts luxury purchase intentions among collectivists but not among individualists. Hedonism (a consumer-driven luxury value) plays an important role in luxury purchase intentions among individualists. Moreover, a multi-group analysis confirms the differences between the two cultural groups. The extended-self is a universal luxury-value perception on luxury purchase intentions for both groups. Additionally, subjective norms strongly influence luxury purchase intentions in both cultures. Furthermore, the results show that there is a difference in the impact of the uniqueness value on luxury purchase intentions between women and men.
Defining and Assessing Problem‐Solving Style: Design and Development of a New Tool

VIEW: An Assessment of Problem Solving Style (Selby, Treffinger, & Isaksen, 2002) is a new instrument for assessing problem-solving style, for use with individuals from ages 12 through adult. It measures three dimensions of style relating to creative problem solving and change management. In this article, we discuss the construction of the instrument, the initial evidence supporting the instrument's reliability and validity, and a very brief overview of the instrument's foundations. Our reliability data involve both stability and internal consistency. We report evidence for the criterion-related validity, based on correlational studies with relevant measures of learning style, cognitive style, and psychological type. We also conducted principal components factor analyses that support our three-factor structure. Researchers and practitioners studying and applying Creative Problem Solving and change management methods can use VIEW in several ways. Finally, we identify several research directions that will contribute to the refinement and development of the instrument as well as to a better understanding of the “problem-solving style” construct.
Ecological Correlates of Life Span in Populations of Large Herbivorous Mammals

Recently, much knowledge has been gained about variation in mammalianlife-history traits such as litter size, gestation length, birth mass, weaning mass,age at first breeding, breeding interval, and life span (see Roff 1992; Stearns1992 for reviews). Life span (length of life) is one of the most influential life-history traits related to individual fitness, from both demographic and evolu-tionary viewpoints. Differences in life span account for much of the variationin individual fitness in many vertebrate populations (Clutton-Brock 1988; New-ton 1989). Among species, the variability in life span is expected to be relatedto body size (Peters 1983), phylogeny (Harvey and Pagel 1991), and ecologi-cal characteristics (Calder 1984). Within species, the main causes of variationin life span should be both tradeoffs between reproduction and survival (Stearns1992) and individual differences in phenotypic quality (Clutton-Brock 1991). The objective of this chapter is to present a comprehensive picture oflevels and trends of variation in mammalian life span at both intra- andinterspecific levels. Improved description and analysis might also be usefulto refine current theories of demographic tactics and evolutionary tradeoffs.From a literature survey focused on case studies of large mammalian herbi-vores, we offer in what follows:—