Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PET Imaging a MPTP-Induced Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease Using the Fluoropropyl-Dihydrotetrabenazine Analog [18F]-DTBZ (AV-133)

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the nigrostriatal system. Numerous researchers in the past have attempted to track the progression of dopaminergic depletion in PD. We applied a quantitative non-invasive PET imaging technique to follow this degeneration process in an MPTP-induced mouse model of PD. The VMAT2 ligand 18F-DTBZ (AV-133) was used as a radioactive tracer in our imaging experiments to monitor the changes of the dopaminergic system. Intraperitoneal administrations of MPTP (a neurotoxin) were delivered to mice at regular intervals to induce lesions consistent with PD. Our results indicate a significant decline in the levels of striatal dopamine and its metabolites (DOPAC and HVA) following MPTP treatment as determined by HPLC method. Images obtained by positron emission tomography revealed uptake of 18F-DTBZ analog in the mouse striatum. However, reduction in radioligand binding was evident in the striatum of MPTP lesioned animals as compared with the control group. Immunohistochemical analysis further confirmed PET imaging results and indicated the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in treated animals compared with the control counterparts. In conclusion, our findings suggest that MPTP induced PD in mouse model is appropriate to follow the degeneration of dopaminergic system and that 18F-DTBZ analog is a potentially sensitive radiotracer that can used to diagnose changes associated with PD by PET imaging modality.
Prototypes Connect Human Diabetes with Feline and Canine Diabetes in the Context of Animal—Human Bonds: An Anthropological Analysis

ABSTRACT This study explored whether previous experiences with human diabetes influenced how people perceived and responded to the onset of diabetes in a companion animal, and if the experience of diabetic pet care might influence people's thinking and actions in relation to human health. We conducted a series of semi-structured interviews with sixteen (16) pet owners who had treated dogs and cats for diabetes, along with semi-structured interviews with seven (7) health care professionals and an appraisal of documentary sources. We found that talking with pet owners about their experience of diabetic pet care brought to the surface poignant reflections on human health and health care. They did not strictly separate human health from what they had learned in the course of caring for a companion animal, in other words, even as they recognized and honored species differences. These findings suggest that the anthropological concept of illness prototypes is relevant for the field of anthrozoology. Indeed, illness prototypes that cross species boundaries may prove useful for health researchers, animal welfare organizations, veterinarians, and professionals who treat human patients or who aim to promote human health.
Tuberculous Orbital Apex Syndrome with Severe Irreversible Visual Loss

ABSTRACT A 16-year-old girl presented with a unilateral red eye, progressive visual loss and diplopia. A detailed clinical assessment with appropriate investigations led to a diagnosis of Orbital Apex Syndrome (OAS) secondary to Tuberculosis (TB). We report this unusual case of TB OAS, which resulted in a poor visual outcome despite appropriate management.
Policy enactments in the UK secondary school: examining policy, practice and school positioning

This paper presents a first attempt in an ongoing research study of the policy environments in four UK secondary schools to examine policy enactment, where ‘enactment’ refers to an understanding that policies are interpreted and ‘translated’ by diverse policy actors in the school environment, rather than simply implemented. The paper is divided into two parts. The first part presents an audit of the policies encountered in four case study schools in the south‐east of England. The second part looks at one current English government policy, namely personal learning and thinking skills, and how this is taken up in two of the case study schools. In this way, the paper not just explores why a policy is adopted but also illustrates the capacity for school‐based policy elaboration, where schools produce their own ‘take’ on policy, drawing on aspects of their culture or ethos, as well as on the situated necessities.
Balancing effectiveness with responsiveness: Therapist satisfaction across different treatment designs in the Child STEPs randomized effectiveness trial.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between protocol design and therapist satisfaction in the Child STEPs Randomized Effectiveness Trial (Weisz et al., 2012). METHOD Therapist report was obtained at the close of 145 cases seen by 77 therapists, each of whom was randomized to a Standard evidence-based treatment (EBT), modular EBT, or usual care (UC) condition. RESULTS Analysis of satisfaction items revealed 2 correlated factors representing perceived effectiveness and perceived responsiveness of the treatments. Therapist total satisfaction scores were significantly higher for cases in the modular condition than for those in the standard EBT or UC conditions. With regard to specific dimensions, the modular and UC cases were rated significantly higher than standard EBT cases on the Responsiveness scale, whereas modular and standard EBT cases were rated significantly higher than UC on the Effectiveness scale. Finally, increases in Effectiveness scores from first to second case were significantly larger for Modular cases than for cases in both other study conditions, and increases from first to second case in Total Satisfaction scores were significantly larger for modular cases than for UC cases. CONCLUSIONS Therapist satisfaction with a treatment approach has independent dimensions, which can vary as a function of the protocol design. By virtue of being perceived as more effective than UC and more responsive than standard EBTs, the modular protocol design was also viewed as more overall satisfying than both, and secondary analysis suggested that these results were not due to mere first impressions of the protocols.
Center-Based Preschool and School Readiness Skills of Children From Immigrant Families

Research Findings: Children from immigrant families are more likely than children of native parents to start school with fewer of the academic skills that are important for long-term success, although evidence on behavioral skills is mixed. Center-based early education and care (EEC) programs, which have been linked to improvements in academic functioning in disadvantaged samples, may serve as a potent resource for children from immigrant families, but important questions remain about their benefits and drawbacks for academic and behavioral outcomes across the diverse population of children from immigrant families. Using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (N ≈ 6,550), this study examined prospective associations between center-based EEC at age 4 and school readiness skills at age 5 among children from immigrant families. Practice or Policy: The results suggest that center-based EEC is associated with heightened math, reading, and expressive language skills and also with lower parent-rated externalizing behaviors for children of immigrants in comparison to children of native parents. Results also revealed heterogeneity in associations between center-based EEC attendance and school readiness skills among children of immigrants based on parental region of origin, household language use, and the language used in EEC settings.
Expression of Human Complement Receptor Type 2 (CD21) in Mice During Early B Cell Development Results in a Reduction in Mature B Cells and Hypogammaglobulinemia1

Complement receptor (CR) type 2 (CR2/CD21) is normally expressed only during the immature and mature stages of B cell development. In association with CD19, CR2 plays an important role in enhancing mature B cell responses to foreign Ag. We used a murine Vλ2 promoter/Vλ2–4 enhancer minigene to develop transgenic mice that initiate expression of human CR2 (hCR2) during the CD43+CD25− late pro-B cell stage of development. We found peripheral blood B cell numbers reduced by 60% in mice expressing high levels of hCR2 and by 15% in mice with intermediate receptor expression. Splenic B cell populations were altered with an expansion of marginal zone cells, and basal serum IgG levels as well as T-dependent immune responses were also significantly decreased in transgenic mice. Mice expressing the highest levels of hCR2 demonstrated in the bone marrow a slight increase in B220intCD43+CD25− B cells in association with a substantial decrease in immature and mature B cells, indicative of a developmental block in the pro-B cell stage. These data demonstrate that stage-specific expression of CR2 is necessary for normal B cell development, as premature receptor expression substantially alters this process. Alterations in B cell development are most likely due to engagement of pre-B cell receptor-mediated or other regulatory pathways by hCR2 in a CD19- and possibly C3 ligand-dependent manner.
Cascaded Symmetric Multilevel Inverter with Reduced Number of Controlled Switches

Multilevel inverters have become popular among high power converters for the past few years due to their high quality output waveform and low total harmonic distortions (THD). In addition, the filter size also reduces significantly to achieve a pure sine wave output. Cascaded H-Bridge topology has been recognized as the most promising among various classical topologies for multi-level inverters on the basis of its modular form and ease of design, troubleshooting, packaging and high power capabilities. However, a large number of switches are required in cascaded H-Bridge multilevel inverter that leads to larger system losses and an increase in cost. In this paper the modified cascaded topology is proposed to reduce the number of controlled switches without affecting the resolution of output waveform or the number of voltage levels. We achieved this by replacing some of the high cost controlled transistor switches with diodes, in the cascaded H-Bridges. Furthermore, equal voltage source sharing is also possible by using the proposed topology. Hence the proposed inverter is a type of cascaded multilevel inverter with reduced switches, better modular structure, low cost and high efficiency. The inverter design is validated using simulations and tested on hardware prototype.
Wavelet-Based Higher Order Correlative Stacking for Seismic Data Denoising in the Curvelet Domain

To whiten random noise and identify coherent noise while preserving the features of seismic events, a hybrid denoising scheme of wavelet-based higher order correlative stacking (HOCS) in the curvelet domain is proposed. The proposed algorithm uses HOCS to isolate the coefficients of seismic events in the curvelet domain. It then removes the noises and recovers signals recorded in noisy environment, without the need to choose an arbitrary threshold; the HOCS method selects a threshold automatically in the curvelet domain. Therefore, with the HOCS, it is possible to capture the features of useful signals with good correlations at all scales and all angles, then to remove the features of coherent noise with disordered correlations. Using interpretive seismic records of karst cavities and hidden sinkhole detections after artificial backfill, we show that the proposed scheme improves noisy seismic data significantly with respect to both signal-to-noise ratio and fidelity. To demonstrate the advantages of this hybrid denoising scheme, a comparison of the performances between different individual denoising methods is investigated for complex seismic records contaminated with different types of noise. Numerical case studies and three field data examples validate the effectiveness of the hybrid denoising scheme proposed in this paper.
Sintomatologia depressiva, atenção sustentada e desempenho escolar em estudantes do ensino médio

A depressao inclui diversos sintomas cognitivos, tais como problemas de atencao que, por sua vez, podem prejudicar o desempenho escolar. De modo a verificar as relacoes entre essas variaveis, foram obtidas as notas escolares e aplicados o Teste de Atencao Concentrada e o Inventario de Depressao de Beck a 62 estudantes do ensino medio, de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 15 e 24 anos. Destes, 33,8% apresentaram sintomas depressivos, distribuidos entre os niveis leve e grave, sendo que as mulheres apresentaram maior severidade de sintomas que os homens. A severidade de sintomatologia depressiva mostrou-se negativamente correlacionada tanto com o desempenho escolar quanto com a qualidade da atencao. A comparacao entre grupos com e sem sintomas de depressao revelaram que o primeiro apresentou desempenho escolar pior e deficit da atencao. Tais resultados corroboram a hipotese de relacao entre depressao, atencao e desempenho escolar em alunos do Ensino Medio.
System-justifying ideologies moderate status = Competence stereotypes: Roles for belief in a just world and social dominance orientation

High-status outgroups tend to be stereotyped as competent, while low-status groups tend to be stereotyped as incompetent. These stereotypes provide legitimacy to hierarchical social systems. However, research to date has tended to focus on the socio-structural correlates and cross-cultural stability of these stereotypes, emphasising universality over malleability. The current research demonstrates that, although strong, the association between status and competence, but not status and warmth, is moderated by ideological beliefs and attitudes towards inequality. In two studies, participants high in belief in a just world (BJW) or social dominance orientation (SDO) were more likely than those low in BJW or SDO to view a high-status target as more competent than a low-status target. Findings support the view that status stereotypes justify social inequalities, and demonstrate that they are sensitive to ideological orientations. Implications for theory and research on status and power stereotypes are discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Beyond histograms: why learned structure-preserving descriptors outperform HOG

Statistical image descriptors based on histograms (e.g. SIFT [1], HOG [2]) are widely used in image processing, because they are fast and simple methods with high classification performance. However, they discard the local spatial topology and thus lose discriminative information contained in the image. We discuss the relations between HOG and VNMF descriptors, i.e. structure free histograms versus learned structure-preserving patterns. VNMF is a shift-invariant, sparse, nonnegative unsupervised learning algorithm [8, 9, 5], that provides a distinct decomposition of the input into its parts. The VNMF descriptor outperforms the statistical HOG descriptor, because it preserves spatial topology leading to better classification results on real-world human action recognition benchmarks [11, 12].
Disinhibition of the HECT E3 ubiquitin ligase WWP2 by polymerized Dishevelled

Dishevelled is a pivot in Wnt signal transduction, controlling both β-catenin-dependent transcription to specify proliferative cell fates, and cell polarity and other non-nuclear events in post-mitotic cells. In response to Wnt signals, or when present at high levels, Dishevelled forms signalosomes by dynamic polymerization. Its levels are controlled by ubiquitylation, mediated by various ubiquitin ligases, including NEDD4 family members that bind to a conserved PPxY motif in Dishevelled (mammalian Dvl1–3). Here, we show that Dvl2 binds to the ubiquitin ligase WWP2 and unlocks its ligase activity from autoinhibition. This disinhibition of WWP2 depends on several features of Dvl2 including its PPxY motif and to a lesser extent its DEP domain, but crucially on the ability of Dvl2 to polymerize, indicating that WWP2 is activated in Wnt signalosomes. We show that Notch intracellular domains are substrates for Dvl-activated WWP2 and their transcriptional activity is consequently reduced, providing a molecular mechanism for cross-talk between Wnt and Notch signalling. These regulatory interactions are conserved in Drosophila whose WWP2 orthologue, Suppressor-of-deltex, downregulates Notch signalling upon activation by Dishevelled in developing wing tissue. Attentuation of Notch signalling by Dishevelled signalosomes could be important during the transition of cells from the proliferative to the post-mitotic state.
A Modified Fractional Step Method for the Accurate Approximation of Detonation Waves

The numerical approximation of combustion processes may lead to numerical difficulties, which are caused by different time scales of the transport part and the reactive part of the model equations. Here we consider a modified fractional step method that overcomes this difficulty on standard test problems and allows the use of a mesh width and time step determined by the nonreactive part, without precisely resolving the very small reaction zone. High-resolution Godunov methods are employed and the structure of the Riemann solution is used to determine where burning should occur in each time step. The modification is implemented in the software package CLAWPACK. Numerical results for 1D and 2D detonation waves are shown, including a detonation wave diffracting around a corner.
The Development on the Use of Graphic and Contextual Information as Children Learn To Read.

PRESENTS RESULTS from a study of oral reading errors made by 42 children in two first-grade classes from October to May. Errors were analyzed in terms of their contextual constraints ("making sense" in light of preceding context) and graphic constraints (graphic approximation of error response to printed word). Nonresponse errors were also studied. Three main phases of development were identified. The first is characterized by a predominant use of contextual information. The second phase is characterized by a predominance of non-response errors and a significant increase of graphically constrained errors (39 vs. 19 per cent of response errors.) The third phase is characterized by an increase in co-occurrence of graphic and contextual constraints (30 per cent of graphically constrained errors were contextually constrained in the first two phases; 70 per cent were in the last phase) and in most cases by a reduction of the frequency of nonresponse errors. It was suggested, and some evidence presented, that the early, context-using phase represents an attempt by the child to avoid using graphic information as much as possible. The non-response phase was interpreted as a shift by the child to attending primarily to graphic information. Possible factors involved in changes in phase and educational implications were discussed.
Randomized controlled trial of motivational interviewing, cognitive behavior therapy, and family intervention for patients with comorbid schizophrenia and substance use disorders.

OBJECTIVE Comorbidity of substance abuse disorders with schizophrenia is associated with a greater risk for serious illness complications and poorer outcome. Methodologically sound studies investigating treatment approaches for patients with these disorders are rare, although recommendations for integrated and comprehensive treatment programs abound. This study investigates the relative benefit of adding an integrated psychological and psychosocial treatment program to routine psychiatric care for patients with schizophrenia and substance use disorders. METHOD The authors conducted a randomized, single-blind controlled comparison of routine care with a program of routine care integrated with motivational interviewing, cognitive behavior therapy, and family or caregiver intervention. RESULTS The integrated treatment program resulted in significantly greater improvement in patients' general functioning than routine care alone at the end of treatment and 12 months after the beginning of the study. Other benefits of the program included a reduction in positive symptoms and in symptom exacerbations and an increase in the percent of days of abstinence from drugs or alcohol over the 12-month period from baseline to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of a program of routine care integrated with motivational interviewing, cognitive behavior therapy, and family intervention over routine psychiatric care alone for patients with comorbid schizophrenia and alcohol or drug abuse or dependence.
Negotiable Acceptability: Reflections on the Interactions between Language Professionals in Europe and NNS 1 Scientists Wishing to Publish in English

Prior to submitting a paper to a science journal, many European scientists employ language professionals to check that the English is acceptable. What influences these language professionals’ criteria of acceptability? How do they interact with the authors for whom they work? And how do journals’ criteria of acceptability affect their work? In this paper, a language professional formerly based in the Netherlands considers these issues, giving examples of the editing approaches of several experienced colleagues. She argues that language planners could contribute to securing better guidance from science journals on matters linguistic and also to developing appropriate training for language professionals.
Submicroscopic deletions of 3p sequences in pleomorphic adenomas with t(3;8)(p21;q12)

A subgroup of benign pleomorphic adenomas of the salivary glands is characterized by translocations, or on rare occasions deletions, with breakpoints at 3p2I. We have applied restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis to assess the frequency of allelic losses at four different loci located within 3p2I p25 in 35 pleomorphic adenomas, 18 of which were also karyotyped. Parallel analysis of constitutional and tumor DNAs in informative tumors revealed that all patients retained heterozygosity in their tumor DNA at the D3S2 and RAFI loci. Among the 29 tumors informative for THRB three showed loss of heterozygosity (LOH). All three tumors had a t(3;8)(p2I;qI2). Of the 23 tumors informative for D3FI5S2, one showed LOH. This tumor also had a t(3;8)(p2I;qI2). To further map the deletions in relation to the 3p2I translocation breakpoint, we also sublocalized the THRB locus. Using in situ hybridization we assigned the gene to 3p24.I‐. 3. The fact that none of the tumors with loss of 3p alleles showed cytogenetic evidence of deletions indicates that the losses are submicroscopic, probably interstitial, and in most cases distal to the 3p2I breakpoint. This was confirmed in one case with loss of a THRB allele where both proximal (D3FI5S2) and distal (RAFI) markers retained heterozygosity. Our results suggest that deletion of 3p sequences might be of progressional importance in a subset of pleomorphic adenomas with t(3;8)(p2I;qI2). Genes Chromosom Cancer 10:256–261 (1994). © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inhibiting the Activity of CA1 Hippocampal Neurons Prevents the Recall of Contextual Fear Memory in Inducible ArchT Transgenic Mice

The optogenetic manipulation of light-activated ion-channels/pumps (i.e., opsins) can reversibly activate or suppress neuronal activity with precise temporal control. Therefore, optogenetic techniques hold great potential to establish causal relationships between specific neuronal circuits and their function in freely moving animals. Due to the critical role of the hippocampal CA1 region in memory function, we explored the possibility of targeting an inhibitory opsin, ArchT, to CA1 pyramidal neurons in mice. We established a transgenic mouse line in which tetracycline trans-activator induces ArchT expression. By crossing this line with a CaMKIIα-tTA transgenic line, the delivery of light via an implanted optrode inhibits the activity of excitatory CA1 neurons. We found that light delivery to the hippocampus inhibited the recall of a contextual fear memory. Our results demonstrate that this optogenetic mouse line can be used to investigate the neuronal circuits underlying behavior.