Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Apolipoprotein E as a Risk Factor for an Earlier Age at Onset for Machado-Joseph Disease Is Doubtful

Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by an expanded CAG repeat in the ATXN3 gene. Although the principal genetic determinant of the age at onset (AAO) is the length of the expanded CAG repeat, the additional genetic contribution of MJD toward the AAO has mostly not yet been clarified. It was recently suggested in two independent studies that apolipoprotein E (APOE) might be associated with AAO variability in MJD patients. To identify the potential modifier effect of APOE polymorphisms on the AAO of MJD patients, 403 patients with MJD (confirmed by molecular tests) from eastern and southeastern China were enrolled in the present study. CAG repeats in the ATXN3 and APOE polymorphisms were genotyped. Data were analyzed using a statistical package. No contribution of APOE polymorphisms to the variance in disease onset was observed using ANCOVA (F = 0.183, P = 0.947). However, significant effects on the AAO of MJD were found for the normal ATXN3 allele and for the interaction of mutant and normal ATXN3 alleles in a multiple linear regression model (P = 0.043 and P = 0.035, respectively). Our study does not support a role for APOE as a genetic modifier of the AAO of MJD. Additionally, our study presents evidence that the normal ATXN3 allele and its interaction with mutant alleles contribute toward AAO variance in MJD patients.
Subthalamic Nucleus Stimulation Restores Glucose Metabolism in Associative and Limbic Cortices and in Cerebellum: Evidence from a FDG-PET Study in Advanced Parkinson's Disease

Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) is a highly effective surgical treatment in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). Because the STN has been shown to represent an important relay station not only in motor basal ganglia circuits, the modification of brain areas also involved in nonmotor functioning can be expected by this intervention. To determine the impact of STN-DBS upon the regional cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (rCMRGlc), we performed positron emission tomography (PET) with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in eight patients with advanced PD before surgery as well as in the DBS on- and off-conditions 4 months after electrode implantation and in ten age-matched healthy controls. Before surgery, PD patients showed widespread bilateral reductions of cortical rCMRGlc versus controls but a hypermetabolic state in the left rostral cerebellum. In the STN-DBS on-condition, clusters of significantly increased rCMRGlc were found in both lower thalami reaching down to the midbrain area and remote from the stimulation site in the right frontal cortex, temporal cortex, and parietal cortex, whereas rCMRGlc significantly decreased in the left rostral cerebellum. Therefore, STN-DBS was found to suppress cerebellar hypermetabolism and to partly restore physiologic glucose consumption in limbic and associative projection territories of the basal ganglia. These data suggest an activating effect of DBS upon its target structures and confirm a central role of the STN in motor as well as associative, limbic, and cerebellar basal ganglia circuits.
Statistical grid-based facies reconstruction and modelling for sedimentary bodies . Alluvialpalustrine Alluvialpalustrine Alluvialpalustrine

Geomodels-Group of Geodynamics and Basin Analysis, Universitat de Barcelona. Dpts. EPGM and GG. c/ Martí i Franquès, s/n, Facultat de Geologia, 08028 Barcelona, Spain. Midland Valley Inc, 1767A Denver West Blvd., Golden CO 80401, USA Corresponding author present address: BP Exploration Company Limited, Building H, EPT Geological Services, Chertsey Road, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex TW16 7, United Kingdom. E-mail: Oriol.Falivene@bp.com
Migration et intégration : populations étrangères en Suisse

L’analyse met en lumiere les nombreux et rapides changements observes pour les differentes populations coexistantes (Suisses, Suisses de naissance, etrangers, deuxieme generation d’immigres) en Suisse. Abordee sous l’angle de l’integration, au travers des differents indicateurs fournis par les donnees du recensement, l’etude confirme certaines hypotheses relatives a la problematique des migrations, et repond a ces principales questions: qui sont les etrangers aujourd’hui en Suisse, comment vivent-ils, dans quel cadre familial, quelles sont leurs caracteristiques en termes de formation et d’emploi, ou se sont-ils etablis, comment ont-ils evolue dans la societe? La dimension historique met en evidence les changements intervenus dans la struc- ture de la population et dans les mouvements migratoires. L’analyse geographique, couvrant a la fois la totalite du territoire suisse, les cantons, et jusqu’aux quartiers des villes, montre toute la diversite et la complexite de ce phenomene que sont les migrations.
Are Anurans of Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands Reliable Indicators of Ecological Condition

ABSTRACT Frogs and toads (anurans) are sensitive to a variety of anthropogenic stressors and are widely suggested as indicators of ecological condition. We surveyed 220 coastal wetlands along the U.S. shores of the Laurentian Great Lakes and quantified relationships between presence of anuran species and degree of anthropogenic disturbance. Results were used to derive explicit, functional relationships between environmental condition and anuran occurrences. These functions were subsequently used to calculate a multi-species indicator of ecological condition at other (novel) wetlands. Of 14 anuran species observed, spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) exhibited the strongest and most consistent relationship with environmental condition across the entire study area. Other species exhibited significant relationships with the environmental gradient, but the direction of association varied geographically or the overall species abundance was very low (e.g., mink frog, Rana septentrionalis). Even if applied to separate ecological provinces (Laurentian Mixed Forest or Eastern Deciduous Forest), multi-species estimates of wetland condition based on anurans are not much better indicators of environmental condition based on human disturbance than are indices based solely on occurrence of spring peeper. Nevertheless, indicators grounded in explicit relationships with environmental stress are superior to traditional measures (e.g., species richness) that combine species with different responses to the stress gradient. At least one anuran species (spring peeper) can contribute meaningfully to the assessment of ecological condition in Great Lakes coastal wetlands; its value as an indicator will be improved if it can be combined with information from other wetland species such as birds, fishes, and vascular plants.
The ETNA Taxonomy The ETNA Taxonomy

An overall aim of ETNA was to introduce new methods for establishing audiovisual quality requirements for a range of real-time multimedia applications. Until recently, there were few HCI-specific methods for assessing audio and video quality and the usability of videoconferencing systems. The taxonomy will address methods commonly used in the telecommunications industry, and explain why these are usually not suitable for assessing usability of audio and video. With the increasing popularity of networked multimedia applications such as media-on-demand and multimedia conferencing, application designers and service providers have to decide what level and type of audio and video should be provided. The awareness that such decisions have to be made with a view to user requirements and preferences has increased, but there is currently no well-founded methodology for determining what quality users both need and desire (see, for example: Rohaly et al., 2000; Libert et al., 2000). Methods currently used in the telecommunications and broadcasting industries are not suitable because they have a different aim in that they seek only to determine whether users can spot degradations in short audio or video clips (Watson & Sasse, 1998). These methods are not suitable for assessing usability of networked multimedia systems for several reasons: 2.1 Networked multimedia quality Networked multimedia quality is determined by a number of factors. Traditionally, assessment has focussed on the effect of different compression techniques and coding errors. With networked mul-timedia, the effects of delay and different levels of bandwidth have been investigated; delivery over the Internet adds the effects of packet loss and jitter; delivery over mobile systems means that connections may be interrupted or lost. Audio and video quality can also be affected by peripherals (such as microphones and speakers) and user operation of applications and peripherals. Finally, audio quality can influence the assessment of video quality, and vice versa. Indeed, within ETNA we found that quality decrements caused by such peripherals had a greater impact on users' quality perceptions than substantial changes in network performance (Watson & Sasse, 2000b). The taxonomy introduces a framework for audio and video quality assessment based on evaluation criteria (task performance, user satisfaction, and user cost), and explains how these criteria should be considered and balanced in any specific evaluation. In a work context, for instance, task performance is usually the most important consideration, whereas in a home entertainment situation, user satisfaction is the primary consideration. The first consideration of a …
Multiple liver abscesses and bacteremia caused by Streptococcus constellatus infection: a case report

The Streptococcus milleri group (SMG) comprises commensal mucosal bacteria. Pyogenic liver abscesses due to hematogenous SMG infection are rare but can be observed even in healthy patients. In such cases, physicians should consider the existence of primary lesions that allow penetration of the SMG.
On stability of a clamped-pinned pipe conveying fluid

In the past, stability of an undamped clamped-pinned pipe conveying fluid has been always considered numerically leading to controversial results. Paidoussis (2004) has shown that a numerical stability analysis of a clamped-pinned pipe requires exceptionally large number of vibration modes to obtain the correct dynamical behaviour. In this paper, analytical proof of stability of a clamped-pinned pipe conveying fluid at a low speed is given. A tensioned Euler-Bernoulli beam in combination with a plug flow model is used as a model. The stability is studied employing a D-decomposition method. Advantages and disadvantages of this method with respect to the conventional methods are discussed. For demonstration of the method’s capabilities, it is applied to a clamped-pinned pipe subject to linearised Morison damping caused by the surrounding fluid.
SOMATIC PARAMETERS OF CHILDREN WITH LOW AND HIGH LEVELS OF MOTOR PERFORMANCE

The aim of the present study was to analyse the relationship between selected somatic parameters and motor performance of prepubescent and pubescent boys and girls (8-9 and 12-13 years of age) with significantly over the average and under the average results in the whole score of the test battery UNIFITTEST (6-60). The analysis of the somatic parameters did not show any significant differences in the figures showing the body height among the groups of the same age, sex and different motor efficiency (eight groups contained from 19 to 25 children). But, on the other hand, in body weight, in body mass index and mostly in the amount of subcutaneous fatty tissue we obtained significantly higher results in the group with a low level of motor efficiency. In the groups with high motor efficiency, we found a closer relation to somatic characteristics (body weight, body mass index, the amount of subcutaneous fatty tissue), which was expressed by a significantly lower variability of the results compared to the low motor efficiency groups. The results confirmed the necessity of somatic parameters determination in the selection of children talented for sports. On the other hand, they showed us a tendency to an ambiguous relation between the basic somatic characteristics and a low level of motor efficiency.
Japanese Students' Contact with English Outside the Classroom during Study Abroad

This article reports a qualitative study about features of 29 Japanese students' contact with English outside the classroom during study abroad in an English-speaking country for 12 weeks. The major finding is that study abroad did not necessarily provide as many opportunities to use English outside the classroom as we had anticipated. Even if the students lived in a homestay, in many cases, interactions with the host family were very limited. The students had regular association with other Japanese peers in and outside school and frequently used Japanese in daily life. The present study argues that learners' initial target language (L2) proficiency, as well as native speakers' adjustment to learners' level of L2 proficiency, would be a crucial factor in determining the quality and quantity of contact with the L2 in natural settings outside the classroom.
Contribution of Large Pig for Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion and Transplantation Studies: The Preclinical Model

Animal experimentation is necessary to characterize human diseases and design adequate therapeutic interventions. In renal transplantation research, the limited number of in vitro models involves a crucial role for in vivo models and particularly for the porcine model. Pig and human kidneys are anatomically similar (characterized by multilobular structure in contrast to rodent and dog kidneys unilobular). The human proximity of porcine physiology and immune systems provides a basic knowledge of graft recovery and inflammatory physiopathology through in vivo studies. In addition, pig large body size allows surgical procedures similar to humans, repeated collections of peripheral blood or renal biopsies making pigs ideal for medical training and for the assessment of preclinical technologies. However, its size is also its main drawback implying expensive housing. Nevertheless, pig models are relevant alternatives to primate models, offering promising perspectives with developments of transgenic modulation and marginal donor models facilitating data extrapolation to human conditions.
Cultural Practices and Education in Ghana: The Effects of Traditional Culture on Parental Involvement in Education

The purpose of this study is to understand parents’ perception of the value of education, and the level of parents’ involvement in their children’s education. The study was guided by preparing and using semi-structured, informal, and focus group interviews as well as documents (written reports, memoranda, meeting notes) that describe parental values of education; reviewing pertinent literature on parent values of education, identifying and summarizing concepts that help explain factors associated with parental support for their children attending school. Participants’ (i.e. community elders, parents, teachers and school administrators) perspectives were examined for the purpose of developing a set of propositions. The study confirmed that norms, values, and beliefs held by a group influences behavior. It revealed that the dominant factor that inhibits parents’ support for their children’s education in the community school was related to traditional culture. In sum, strong cultures may be rigid and thus be a liability when adaptation is essential. Understanding gained from this exploratory study will be relevant to the economically developing nations in Sub-Saharan Africa and even beyond. Keywords : Parental perception, parental involvement, parental support, cultural capital, parental value.
Late Miocene–Pliocene Paleoclimatic Evolution Documented by Terrestrial Mollusk Populations in the Western Chinese Loess Plateau

The Neogene eolian deposits in the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) are one of the most useful continental deposits for understanding climatic changes. To decipher Late Neogene paleoclimatic changes in the CLP, we present a terrestrial mollusk record spanning the time interval between 7.1 and 3.5 Ma from the western CLP. The results indicate four stages of paleoclimatic evolution: From 7.1 to 6.2 Ma, cold and dry climatic conditions prevailed as evidenced by high values of the total number of cold-aridiphilous (CA) mollusk species and by low values of all of the thermo-humidiphilous (TH) mollusk indices. From 6.2 to 5.4 Ma, the climate remained cold and dry but was not quite as dry as during the preceding phase, as indicated by the dominance of CA mollusks and more TH species and individuals. From 5.4 to 4.4 Ma, a warm and moist climate prevailed, as indicated by high values of the TH species and individuals and by the sparsity of CA species and individuals. From 4.4 to 3.5 Ma, all of the CA indices increased significantly and maintained high values; all of the TH indices exhibit high values from 4.4 to 4.0 Ma, an abrupt decrease from 4.0 Ma and a further increase from 3.7 Ma. The CA species of Cathaica pulveraticula, Cathaica schensiensis, and Pupopsis retrodens are only identified in this stage, indicating that the CA species were diversified and that the climate was becoming drier. Moreover, the CA mollusk group exhibits considerable diversity from 7.1 to 5.4 Ma when a cold, dry climate prevailed; whereas the diversity of the TH group was high during the relatively warm, wet interval from 5.4 to 4.4 Ma. This indicates that variations in the diversity of the CA and TH mollusk groups were closely related to climatic changes during the Late Miocene to Pliocene.
On the relationship between a banks equity holdings and bank performance

The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical evidence on the effects of a banks equity holdings in firms on the banks performance. The analysis is based on accounting measures of Spanish banks, from 1992 to 2000. The findings support a positive relation between total equity stakes and bank performance. Furthermore, we find different implications depending on the type of bank holdings considered. The results indicate that the effects on bank performance are the best when holdings are in group and nonfinancial firms. Length: 32 pages
Image sequence fusion using a shift-invariant wavelet transform

In this paper, we propose a novel approach to the fusion of spatially registered images and image sequences. The fusion method incorporates a shift invariant extension of the discrete wavelet transform, which yields an overcomplete signal representation. The advantage of the proposed method is the improved temporal stability and consistency of the fused sequence compared to other existing fusion methods. We further introduce an information theoretic quality measure based on mutual information to quantify the stability and consistency of the fused image sequence.
Using Natural Language Processing to Improve Accuracy of Automated Notifiable Disease Reporting

We examined whether using a natural language processing (NLP) system results in improved accuracy and completeness of automated electronic laboratory reporting (ELR) of notifiable conditions. We used data from a community-wide health information exchange that has automated ELR functionality. We focused on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), a reportable infection found in unstructured, free-text culture result reports. We used the Regenstrief EXtraction tool (REX) for this work. REX processed 64,554 reports that mentioned MRSA and we compared its output to a gold standard (human review). REX correctly identified 39,491(99.96%) of the 39,508 reports positive for MRSA, and committed only 74 false positive errors. It achieved high sensitivity, specificity, positive predicted value and F-measure. REX identified over two times as many MRSA positive reports as the ELR system without NLP. Using NLP can improve the completeness and accuracy of automated ELR.
Scalings for Submarine Melting at Tidewater Glaciers from Buoyant Plume Theory

AbstractRapid dynamic changes at the margins of the Greenland Ice Sheet, synchronous with ocean warming, have raised concern that tidewater glaciers can respond sensitively to ocean forcing. Understanding of the processes encompassing ocean forcing nevertheless remains embryonic. The authors use buoyant plume theory to study the dynamics of proglacial discharge plumes arising from the emergence of subglacial discharge into a fjord at the grounding line of a tidewater glacier, deriving scalings for the induced submarine melting. Focusing on the parameter space relevant for high discharge tidewater glaciers, the authors suggest that in an unstratified fjord the often-quoted relationship between total submarine melt volume and subglacial discharge raised to the ⅓ power is appropriate regardless of plume geometry, provided discharge lies below a critical value. In these cases it is then possible to formulate a simple equation estimating total submarine melt volume as a function of discharge, fjord temperature.
Do affluent customers care when luxury brands go mass?: The role of product type and status seeking on luxury brand attitude.

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the joint effects of product type (hospitality services vs goods) and consumers’ need for status (low/Patricians vs high/Parvenus) on consumers’ attitude change toward their favorite luxury brands. As an ever increasing number of customers can now afford luxury products, it is important to understand how affluent consumers react to the less affluent mimicking behaviors. Design/methodology/approach – In all, 265 luxury consumers with annual household income of more than $100,000 and experiences of luxury consumption in the past three months were recruited. A 2 (product type) × 2 (need for status) factorial design was used to test the hypotheses. Findings – This study demonstrates that when faced with mimicking behaviors by less affluent consumers, Parvenus exhibit more negative attitude toward their favorite luxury goods brands than luxury hospitality brands. Conversely, Patricians exhibit similar levels of attitude change across the two types of luxury brands. Practica.
Business cycle and entrepreneurial behavior using French regional data

We study the influences of new firms startups on growth in regional and macroeconomic dimensions in France using a quarterly data basis over the 1993-2011 period. We find that fluctuations in GDP are an early indicator of new firm startups. Nevertheless the most important relationships are found between unemployment rate and new firms startups. Entrepreneurship is mainly driven by necessity motives that have consequences upon potential of growth of new firms startups in most of the French regions.
The long-term outcomes of alternating chemoradiotherapy for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a multiinstitutional phase II study

To examine the long‐term outcomes of alternating chemoradiotherapy (ALCRT) for patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and to assess the efficacy of ALCRT for NPC. Patients with stage IIB to IVB, ECOG PS 0–2, 18–70 years‐old, and sufficient organ function were eligible for this study. First, chemotherapy, consisting of 5‐fluorouracil (800 mg/m2 per 24 h on days 1–5) and cisplatin (100 mg/m2 per 24 h on day 6), was administered, then a wide field of radiotherapy (36 Gy/20 fraction), chemotherapy, a shrinking field of radiotherapy (34 Gy/17 fraction), and chemotherapy were performed alternately. Between December 2003 and March 2006, 90 patients in 25 facilities were enrolled in this study, 87 patients were finally evaluated. A total of 67 patients (76.1%) completed the course of treatment. The overall survival and the progression‐free survival rates at 5 years were 78.04% (95% CI: 69.1~87.0%), and 68.74% (95% CI: 58.8~78.7%), respectively. The long‐term outcomes of ALCRT for NPC were thought to be promising. ALCRT will be considered to be a controlled trial to compare therapeutic results with those of concurrent chemoradiotherapy for NPC.