Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound assessment of cerebrospinal venous flow in multiple sclerosis patients and controls

A possibly causal relationship between multiple sclerosis and chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency has recently been hypothesized. Studies investigating chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency have reported conflicting results and few have employed multiple diagnostic imaging modalities across a large patient and control population. In this study, three complementary imaging modalities were used to investigate the chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency hypothesis in patients with multiple sclerosis and two age- and sex-matched control groups: healthy volunteers and patients with other neurological diseases. Strictly blinded Doppler ultrasound according to the original chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency hypothesis; four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging of venous flow in the head, neck, and chest; and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance venography for neck and chest venous luminography were acquired. An internal jugular vein stenosis evaluation was also performed across modalities. Percentage of subjects meeting ultrasound-based chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency criteria was small and similar between groups. In group-wise and pairwise testing, no four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging variables were statistically significantly different, for any measurement location. In contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance venography of the internal jugular and azygos veins, no statistically significant differences were observed in stenosis scores between groups. These results represent compelling evidence against the chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency hypothesis in multiple sclerosis.
An implementation evaluation of a voluntary counselling and testing programme for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Orientation: Employee wellness programmes have become standard interventions in most organisations. In South Africa, these programmes invariably contain an element to address the problem of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the workplace. Research purpose: The purpose of this evaluation was to assess whether or not a Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) programme for HIV and AIDS, at a South African university, was implemented as intended. Motivation for the study: The evaluators were motivated to explore indications in the existing literature about these programmes that participants in VCT programmes are often not the intended target population who live a high risk lifestyle. Research design, approach and method: A descriptive design was used to evaluate service utlisation, service delivery and organisational support. Questionnaire data from 285 respondents who participated in the programme and programme records supplied by the programme staff were consulted to answer the evaluation questions. Main findings: The evaluation showed that the highest uptake for the programme occurred amongst female students. The low uptake amongst men was a concern. It was found that the programme was delivered as intended and that there were enough resources to implement it according to standards set. Practical/managerial implications: The systematic report on the programme process provided the programme managers with practical suggestions for programme improvement. Contribution/value-add: This was the first implementation evaluation of a VCT programme in a South African university context. As such it aimed to educate programme managers to think evaluatively about introducing new or continuing existing programmes.
Is Playing Video Games Related to Cognitive Abilities?

The relations between video-game experience and cognitive abilities were examined in the current study. In two experiments, subjects performed a number of working memory, fluid intelligence, and attention-control measures and filled out a questionnaire about their video-game experience. In Experiment 1, an extreme-groups analysis indicated that experienced video-game players outperformed nonplayers on several cognitive-ability measures. However, in Experiments 1 and 2, when analyses examined the full range of subjects at both the task level and the latent-construct level, nearly all of the relations between video-game experience and cognitive abilities were near zero. These results cast doubt on recent claims that playing video games leads to enhanced cognitive abilities. Statistical and methodological issues with prior studies of video-game experience are discussed along with recommendations for future studies.
Morphology and chaetotaxy of the larval stages of Andogyrus seriatopunctatus Regimbart (Coleoptera: Adephaga: Gyrinidae)

The larval stages of Andogyrus seriatopunctatus Regimbart are described and illustrated, including morphometric and chaetotaxic characters. A larval ground pattern for the chaetotaxic characters is presented; it is based on first instar larvae of A. seriatopunctatus. Unidentified larvae of Dineutus MacLeay and a third instar larva of Gyrinus argentinus Steinheil were also inspected. For chaetotaxic homologization comparisons with other adephagan families were performed, mainly with Carabidae and Dytiscidae. The ground pattern is considered provisional due to the lack of previous studies in this family. Larvae of A. seriatopunctatus are briefly compared to those of A. buqueti (Aube). Notes on the biology of A. seriatopunctatus are also included.
A meta-analysis of tradeoffs between plant tolerance and resistance to herbivores: combining the evidence from ecological and agricultural studies

Resistance and tolerance represent two general strategies of plant defence against herbivores. Since resources available for allocation to defence are limited and resistance and tolerance are likely to serve the same functions for plants, the occurrence of trade offs between these two strategies has been assumed. We review the empirical evidence for tolerance-resistance tradeoffs by means of meta-analysis of genetic correlations between resistance and tolerance obtained from 31 ecological and agricultural studies published during 1980-2003 and conducted on 17 different plant species. The sign of the relationship between tolerance and resistance differed depending on the type of plants examined. Tolerance and resistance tended to be positively correlated in crops and negatively correlated in wild plants, but the mean correlation coefficients in both plant types were not significantly different from zero. The magnitude of correlations was affected neither by the tolerance measure (reduction in growth or in fitness in damaged plants) nor by the resistance measure used (inverse of damage, antibiosis, antixenosis, or specific resistance trait). In wild plants correlations between resistance and tolerance were significantly negative (r = -0.069) only in studies where resistance was assessed as a specific chemical or mechanical resistance trait, but this correlation is based only on two studies. No difference in the mean resistance-tolerance correlations was found between studies conducted in the field and in the greenhouse; in both cases mean correlations tended to be positive. The results of our analysis indicate that conditions under which a negative association between resistance and tolerance occurs and, thus, the evolution of multiple defensive strategies in plants is constrained, are much more restrictive than previously assumed. However, the currently available studies are still scarce and taxonomically skewed to allow a thorough analysis of sources of variation in resistance-tolerance relationship. Specifically, we need more studies examining the relationship between specific resistance and tolerance traits, studies on perennial plants and under different environmental conditions.
The influence of vitamin D on bone health across the life cycle.

Vitamin D is often looked upon only as that fat-soluble vitamin found in cod liver oil fatty fish (salmon mackerel) fortified milk and fortified breads and cereals and which is associated with sun exposure and preventing rickets in children. However in the Nutrition and Bone Health Working Group of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research we learned that vitamin D has important ramifications for health not only throughout life but even during fetal development. Dr. Cooper reviewed the important factors that are related to normal patterns of skeletal growth. He noted that many factors influence the accumulation of bone mineral during childhood and adolescence including heredity gender diet physical activity endocrine status and a wide variety of risk factors. He also emphasized that maternal vitamin D deficiency as well as other factors modulated bone mineral acquisition during intrauterine life and was associated with low birth size and poor childhood growth that were directly linked to increased risk of hip fracture later in life. Children born to mothers who had suboptimal vitamin D status had significantly reduced whole body bone mineral content at age 9 y. This deficit in skeletal growth remained significant even after adjustment for childhood weight and bone area. (excerpt)
RAD-QTL Mapping Reveals Both Genome-Level Parallelism and Different Genetic Architecture Underlying the Evolution of Body Shape in Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) Species Pairs

Parallel changes in body shape may evolve in response to similar environmental conditions, but whether such parallel phenotypic changes share a common genetic basis is still debated. The goal of this study was to assess whether parallel phenotypic changes could be explained by genetic parallelism, multiple genetic routes, or both. We first provide evidence for parallelism in fish shape by using geometric morphometrics among 300 fish representing five species pairs of Lake Whitefish. Using a genetic map comprising 3438 restriction site−associated DNA sequencing single-nucleotide polymorphisms, we then identified quantitative trait loci underlying body shape traits in a backcross family reared in the laboratory. A total of 138 body shape quantitative trait loci were identified in this cross, thus revealing a highly polygenic architecture of body shape in Lake Whitefish. Third, we tested for evidence of genetic parallelism among independent wild populations using both a single-locus method (outlier analysis) and a polygenic approach (analysis of covariation among markers). The single-locus approach provided limited evidence for genetic parallelism. However, the polygenic analysis revealed genetic parallelism for three of the five lakes, which differed from the two other lakes. These results provide evidence for both genetic parallelism and multiple genetic routes underlying parallel phenotypic evolution in fish shape among populations occupying similar ecological niches.
Automated malignancy detection in breast histopathological images

Detection of malignancy from histopathological images of breast cancer is a labor-intensive and error-prone process. To streamline this process, we present an efficient Computer Aided Diagnostic system that can differentiate between cancerous and non-cancerous H&E (hemotoxylin&eosin) biopsy samples. Our system uses novel textural, topological and morphometric features taking advantage of the special patterns of the nuclei cells in breast cancer histopathological images. We use a Support Vector Machine classifier on these features to diagnose malignancy. In conjunction with the maximum relevance - minimum redundancy feature selection technique, we obtain high sensitivity and specificity. We have also investigated the effect of image compression on classification performance.
The Effect of Sintering Temperature on the Structural and Magnetic Properties of Ni-Mg Substituted CoFe2O4 Nanoparticles

This study evaluates the structural and magnetic properties of Ni-Mg substituted Cobalt ferrite samples prepared through the co-precipitation method. The nominal compositions Co0.5Ni0. 5−xMgx Fe2O4 in the range x = 0.1 have been synthesized and then was sintered at temperature at 700 and 1000°C in the furnace for 10 hour with a heating rate of 5°C/min. The prepared nanoferrites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and vibration sample magnetometer (VSM). XRD confirmed formation of single phase spinel ferrite with average crystalline size in the range of 27–33 nm. The lattice constant (a), cell volume (V) and X-ray density (ρx) are also calculated from XRD data. Lattice constant (a) decreases with an increase of sintering temperature. Further information about the structure and morphology of the nanoferrites was obtained from FESEM and results are in good agreement with XRD. Saturation magnetization showed increasing trend with sintering temperature from 700 to 1000°C.
Prediction of Microvascular Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Preoperative Gd-EOB-DTPA-Dynamic Enhanced MRI and Histopathological Correlation

Objective To investigate the imaging features observed in preoperative Gd-EOB-DTPA-dynamic enhanced MRI and correlated with the presence of microvascular invasion (MVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Methods 66 HCCs in 60 patients with preoperative Gd-EOB-DTPA-dynamic enhanced MRI were retrospectively analyzed. Features including tumor size, signal homogeneity, tumor capsule, tumor margin, peritumor enhancement during mid-arterial phase, peritumor hypointensity during hepatobiliary phase, signal intensity ratio on DWI and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC), T1 relaxation times, and the reduction rate between pre- and postcontrast enhancement images were assessed. Correlation between these features and histopathological presence of MVI was analyzed to establish a prediction model. Results Histopathology confirmed that MVI were observed in 17 of 66 HCCs. Univariate analysis showed tumor size (p = 0.003), margin (p = 0.013), peritumor enhancement (p = 0.001), and hypointensity during hepatobiliary phase (p = 0.004) were associated with MVI. A multiple logistic regression model was established, which showed tumor size, margin, and peritumor enhancement were combined predictors for the presence of MVI (α = 0.1). R2 of this prediction model was 0.353, and the sensitivity and specificity were 52.9% and 93.0%, respectively. Conclusion Large tumor size, irregular tumor margin, and peritumor enhancement in preoperative Gd-EOB-DTPA-dynamic enhanced MRI can predict the presence of MVI in HCC.
Theory of Mind in Unsuccessful Neurocognitive Aging: Preliminary Evidence from an aMCI-Converter to AD and From an aMCI Reverter to Near-Normal Cognition

Background: Two case reports of patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) are presented with the aim to study Theory of Mind (ToM) in the evolution from successful to unsuccessful neurocognitive aging. Methods: A 75-year-old man, six years of education, who converted to Alzheimer's Disease (AD) (Case 1), and a 60- year-old woman, five years of education, who reverted to near-normal aging (Case 2), are studied at Time 1 and at Time 2 after five years under the ToM profile and the neuropsychological profile (MMSE, Corsi-Span, Digit span forward/backward, delayed recall of Rey’s complex figure task, test of Prose Memory, Naming Task, Token Task, Phonemic and Semantic Fluencies, Coloured Progressive Matrices, Attentive Matrices). Their results are compared with demographically matched healthy controls, and with AD patients for the former case and with MCI patients for the latter case. Findings: Case 1 showed the typical pattern of conversion from the MCI condition to the AD condition, with a decline in general cognitive functioning, in long-term memory, in language understanding and in frontal functions. Regarding ToM, a decline in the most complex levels of ToM competence (Strange Stories) was observed. Case 2 showed a pattern of reversion from the MCI condition to a near-normal aging condition, both under the NPS and the ToM functioning. Conclusion: Results are discussed in light of the possible protective factors (including ToM) operating against the switching to unsuccessful neurocognitive aging.
Energy intake and appetite are related to antral area in healthy young and older subjects.

BACKGROUND Gastric distension reduces food intake, and antral, rather than proximal, gastric distension may be the dominant mechanism in the induction of appetite-related sensations. Healthy aging is associated with reduced appetite. OBJECTIVE We examined the effects of different energy preloads on appetite, plasma cholecystokinin, antral area, and subsequent energy intake in healthy older and young subjects. DESIGN On 3 separate days, 12 young and 12 older subjects consumed 400 mL of a drink containing either 0 kcal (water), 250 kcal, or 750 kcal 70 min before a buffet-style meal. RESULTS Hunger was less in the older than in the young subjects (P < 0.001). Both nutrient preloads reduced hunger and increased fullness more than did water (P < 0.02), and older subjects were more full than were the young (P < 0.05). Antral area was greater after the nutrient preloads than after water (P = 0.001) and greater in the older than in the young subjects (P = 0.005). In both groups, food intake was suppressed in an energy-dependent manner (P = 0.008). Plasma cholecystokinin was greater in the older than in the young subjects (P = 0.003). Immediately before the meal, hunger (r = -0.59) and energy intake (r = -0.90) were inversely related and fullness (r = 0.66) was directly related to antral area (all: P < 0.001). Antral area, but not plasma cholecystokinin, was a predictor of subsequent energy intake. CONCLUSION In healthy young and older subjects, the suppression of subsequent energy intake by a liquid preload is nutrient dependent and comparable, and both satiation and satiety are related to antral area and (presumably) antral distension.
Effect of tensile pre-strain on bending and unloading of automotive steels

In recent years, advanced high strength steels (AHSS) have been used in a wide range of automotive applications; they may have property variations through the thickness and the properties may also be dependent of prior processing including pre-straining. In order to model forming processes precisely using, for example, finite element analysis, it is important that material input data should adequately reflect these effects. It is known that shape defects in roll forming are related to small strains in material that has undergone prior deformation in a different strain path. Much research has already been performed on the change in the Young’s Modulus once a steel sheet has been plastically deformed,however many of these tests have only been conducted using tensile testing, and therefore may not take into account differences in compressive and tensile unloading. This research investigates the effect of tensile pre-straining on bending behaviour for various types of material;in bending, one half of the sheet will load and unload in compression and hence experience deformation under a reversed stress. Four different materials were pre-strained in tension with 1%, 3%, 7%, 11% and 25% elongation. Using a free bending test, moment curvature diagrams were obtained for bending and unloading. The results showed that the characteristics of the moment curvature diagram depended on the degree of pre-straining; more highly strained samples showed an earlier elastic-plastic transformation and a decreased Young's Modulus during unloading. This was compared to previous literature results using only tensile tests. Our results could influence the modeling of springback in low tension sheet operations, such as roll forming.
Effects of in situ climate warming on monarch caterpillar (Danaus plexippus) development

Climate warming will fundamentally alter basic life history strategies of many ectothermic insects. In the lab, rising temperatures increase growth rates of lepidopteran larvae but also reduce final pupal mass and increase mortality. Using in situ field warming experiments on their natural host plants, we assessed the impact of climate warming on development of monarch (Danaus plexippus) larvae. Monarchs were reared on Asclepias tuberosa grown under ‘Ambient’ and ‘Warmed’ conditions. We quantified time to pupation, final pupal mass, and survivorship. Warming significantly decreased time to pupation, such that an increase of 1 °C corresponded to a 0.5 day decrease in pupation time. In contrast, survivorship and pupal mass were not affected by warming. Our results indicate that climate warming will speed the developmental rate of monarchs, influencing their ecological and evolutionary dynamics. However, the effects of climate warming on larval development in other monarch populations and at different times of year should be investigated.
Finance and Economics Discussion Series Divisions of Research & Statistics and Monetary Affairs Federal Reserve Board , Washington , D . C . Going Entrepreneurial ? IPOs and New Firm Creation

Using matched employee-employer US Census data, we examine the effect of a successful initial public offering (IPO) on employee departures to startups. Accounting for the endogeneity of a firm’s choice to go public, we find strong evidence that going public induces employees to leave for start-ups. Moreover, we document that the increase in turnover following an IPO is driven by employees departing to start-ups; we find no change in the rate of employee departures for established firms. We present evidence that, following an IPO, many employees who received stock grants experience a positive shock to their wealth which allows them to better tolerate the risks associated with joining a startup or to obtain funding. Our results suggest that the recent declines in IPO activity and new firm creation in the US may be causally linked. The recent decline in IPOs means fewer workers may move to startups, decreasing overall new firm creation in the economy.
Limited genetic variability and phenotypic plasticity detected for cavitation resistance in a Mediterranean pine.

Resistance to cavitation is a major determinant of plant survival under severe drought and can be used to quantify species adaptive potential. Interspecific variation in this key trait is well defined in woody species, but intraspecific variation (level and structure) resulting from standing genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity has never been determined. Combining for the first time in situ characterization of natural populations and two reciprocal common gardens in dry and wet sites, we estimated variance components (phenotypic, genetic, environmental, and genetic × environmental) of cavitation resistance based on 513 genotypes of a Mediterranean pine, Pinus pinaster. Despite the selected populations being climatically contrasted, phenotypic plasticity in resistance to cavitation remained low and was essentially attributed to family level. Between-population variation in cavitation resistance for both phenotypic and genetic variation was limited. These results strongly suggest that cavitation resistance is buffered against genetic and to a lesser extent environmental variation (canalization) in maritime pine. Consequently, in a drier world, the increasing drought tolerance of Pinus species might be severely constrained by the low level of cavitation resistance variation, resulting in a large-scale loss of productivity.