Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
White Matter Integrity Supports BOLD Signal Variability and Cognitive Performance in the Aging Human Brain

Decline in cognitive performance in old age is linked to both suboptimal neural processing in grey matter (GM) and reduced integrity of white matter (WM), but the whole-brain structure-function-cognition associations remain poorly understood. Here we apply a novel measure of GM processing–moment-to-moment variability in the blood oxygenation level-dependent signal (SDBOLD)—to study the associations between GM function during resting state, performance on four main cognitive domains (i.e., fluid intelligence, perceptual speed, episodic memory, vocabulary), and WM microstructural integrity in 91 healthy older adults (aged 60-80 years). We modeled the relations between whole-GM SDBOLD with cognitive performance using multivariate partial least squares analysis. We found that greater SDBOLD was associated with better fluid abilities and memory. Most of regions showing behaviorally relevant SDBOLD (e.g., precuneus and insula) were localized to inter- or intra-network “hubs” that connect and integrate segregated functional domains in the brain. Our results suggest that optimal dynamic range of neural processing in hub regions may support cognitive operations that specifically rely on the most flexible neural processing and complex cross-talk between different brain networks. Finally, we demonstrated that older adults with greater WM integrity in all major WM tracts had also greater SDBOLD and better performance on tests of memory and fluid abilities. We conclude that SDBOLD is a promising functional neural correlate of individual differences in cognition in healthy older adults and is supported by overall WM integrity.
Effects of dexamethasone administration on insulin resistance and components of insulin signaling and glucose metabolism in equine skeletal muscle.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of dexamethasone treatment on selected components of insulin signaling and glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle obtained from horses before and after administration of a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp (EHC). ANIMALS 6 adult Standardbreds. PROCEDURES In a balanced crossover study, horses received either dexamethasone (0.08 mg/kg, IV, q 48 h) or an equivalent volume of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution, IV, for 21 days. A 2-hour EHC was administered for measurement of insulin sensitivity 1 day after treatment. Muscle biopsy specimens obtained before and after the EHC were analyzed for glucose transporter 4, protein kinase B (PKB), glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3alpha/beta protein abundance and phosphorylation state (PKB Ser(473) and GSK-3alpha/beta Ser(21/9)), glycogen synthase and hexokinase enzyme activities, and muscle glycogen concentration. RESULTS Dexamethasone treatment resulted in resting hyperinsulinemia and a significant decrease (70%) in glucose infusion rate during the EHC. In the dexamethasone group, increased hexokinase activity, abrogation of the insulin-stimulated increase in glycogen synthase fractional velocity, and decreased phosphorylation of GSK-3alpha Ser(21) and GSK-3B Ser(9) were detected, but there was no effect of dexamethasone treatment on glucose transporter 4 content and glycogen concentration or on PKB abundance and phosphorylation state. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE In horses, 21 days of dexamethasone treatment resulted in substantial insulin resistance and impaired GSK-3 phosphorylation in skeletal muscle, which may have contributed to the decreased glycogen synthase activity seen after insulin stimulation.
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF POSTOPERATIVE PAIN BETWEEN THE LICHTENSTEIN AND LAPAROSCOPY SURGICAL TECHNIQUES FOR THE TREATMENT OF UNILATERAL PRIMARY INGUINAL HERNIA

ABSTRACT Background: There are several surgical treatment options for inguinal hernia; however, there is no consensus on the literature identifying which surgical technique promotes less postoperative pain. Aim: To compare the intensity of postoperative pain between the surgical techniques Lichtenstein and transabdominal pre-peritoneal laparoscopy for the treatment of unilateral primary inguinal hernia. Methods: Were included 60 patients, of which 30 were operated through the Lichtenstein technique and 30 patients through the transabdominal pre-peritoneal laparoscopy. The pain levels were evaluated through the analogue visual scale for 2, 10 and 30 days after the surgery. Additionally, the recurrence rate and the presence of chronic pain and paresthesia were evaluated 12 months after the surgery. Results: Overall, the data analysis showed significant differences on pain levels between the surgical techniques. There were no significant differences between the pain levels for day 2. However, for 10 and 30 days after the surgery, the pain levels were significantly lower for the patients operated through the transabdominal pre-peritoneal laparoscopy technique compared to the Lichtenstein technique. Furthermore, despite no recurrent hernias for both surgical techniques, 32 % of patients operated through the Lichtenstein technique reported chronic pain and paresthesia 12 months after the surgery, compared with 3,6% of patients operated through the transabdominal pre-peritoneal laparoscopy technique. Conclusion: There are differences between the surgical techniques, with the transabdominal pre-peritoneal laparoscopy procedure promoting significantly lower postoperative pain (10 and 30 days) and chronic pain (12 months) compared to the Lichtenstein procedure.
[The neverending story].

rative Justice (EFRJ) was notified by two Polish researchers, Beata Czarnecka-Dzialuk and Dobrochna Wójcik, of a clause within the ‘Handbook for Legislation on violence against women’ recommending the total prohibition of mediation in cases of violence against women (more correctly understood as gendered violence). The document was produced by the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and we have meanwhile learned that it is finalised and due to be disseminated.
Computed tomography angiography and perfusion to assess coronary artery stenosis causing perfusion defects by single photon emission computed tomography: the CORE320 study.

AIMS To evaluate the diagnostic power of integrating the results of computed tomography angiography (CTA) and CT myocardial perfusion (CTP) to identify coronary artery disease (CAD) defined as a flow limiting coronary artery stenosis causing a perfusion defect by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). METHODS AND RESULTS We conducted a multicentre study to evaluate the accuracy of integrated CTA-CTP for the identification of patients with flow-limiting CAD defined by ≥50% stenosis by invasive coronary angiography (ICA) with a corresponding perfusion deficit on stress single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/MPI). Sixteen centres enroled 381 patients who underwent combined CTA-CTP and SPECT/MPI prior to conventional coronary angiography. All four image modalities were analysed in blinded independent core laboratories. The prevalence of obstructive CAD defined by combined ICA-SPECT/MPI and ICA alone was 38 and 59%, respectively. The patient-based diagnostic accuracy defined by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of integrated CTA-CTP for detecting or excluding flow-limiting CAD was 0.87 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.84-0.91]. In patients without prior myocardial infarction, the AUC was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.87-0.94) and in patients without prior CAD the AUC for combined CTA-CTP was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.89-0.97). For the combination of a CTA stenosis ≥50% stenosis and a CTP perfusion deficit, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, and negative predicative values (95% CI) were 80% (72-86), 74% (68-80), 65% (58-72), and 86% (80-90), respectively. For flow-limiting disease defined by ICA-SPECT/MPI, the accuracy of CTA was significantly increased by the addition of CTP at both the patient and vessel levels. CONCLUSIONS The combination of CTA and perfusion correctly identifies patients with flow limiting CAD defined as ≥50 stenosis by ICA causing a perfusion defect by SPECT/MPI.
A 5/20MHz-BW 4.2/8.1mW CT QBP ΣΔ modulator with digital I/Q calibration for GNSS receivers

This paper presents a dual-mode 2nd-order, multi-bit reconfigurable continuous-time quadrature bandpass sigma-delta (CT QBP ΣΔ) modulator employing power scaling technique (PST) for low-IF GNSS receivers. The proposed modulator is capable of supporting both narrow band (NB) of 5MHz bandwidth (BW) and wideband (WB) of 20MHz BW with sampling frequencies of 160MHz and 480MHz, respectively. To solve the instability issue caused by the excess loop delay (ELD) in WB mode, an additional DAC is directly feedback to the input of a summing amplifier and the ELD is fixed to half of the sampling period. Digital I/Q calibration after the decimation is employed to improve the image-rejection ratio (IRR). Implemented in 65nm CMOS, the modulator achieves 65.9/53.7dB SNDR, 76.7/65.9dB SFDR and more than 60dB IRR after calibration across 5/20MHz BW with center frequencies of 4/12MHz. Powered by a 1.2-V supply, the modulator consumes 3.5/6.8mW, resulting in FOMs of 264/516fJ/conversion.
Narrative notes in a nursing information system (NIS)

Today s rapidly changing health care environment creates pressure for the computerization of the patient record. Two requirements for inclusion of nursing activities into the computerized patient record (CPR) are a standardized nursing language of sufficient granularity and a database that allows for one time collection of data for multiple uses. Documentation systems raise issues of data completeness. Using a descriptive methodology, nursing documentation in one CPR was examined for prevalence and content of free text documentation in an otherwise structured nursing information system (NIS). Results demonstrate house wide use of free text (narrative note) fields. Variability in use unrelated to patient acuity suggests idiosyncratic individual or unit documentation practices. Findings support the use of quality management activities to improve documentation practices and point to areas of database enhancement and information system development.
Use of ecological momentary assessment to determine which structural factors impact perceived teaching quality of attending rounds.

INTRODUCTION Providing high-quality teaching to residents during attending rounds is challenging. Reasons include structural factors that affect rounds, which are beyond the attending's teaching style and control. OBJECTIVE To develop a new evaluation tool to identify the structural components of ward rounds that most affect teaching quality in an internal medicine (IM) residency program. METHODS The authors developed a 10-item Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) tool and collected daily evaluations for 18 months from IM residents rotating on inpatient services. Residents ranked the quality of teaching on rounds that day, and questions related to their service (general medicine, medical intensive care unit, and subspecialty services), patient census, absenteeism of team members, call status, and number of teaching methods used by the attending. RESULTS Residents completed 488 evaluation cards over 18 months. This found no association between perceived teaching quality and training level, team absenteeism, and call status. We observed differences by service (P < .001) and patient census (P = .009). After adjusting for type of service, census was no longer significant. Use of a larger variety of teaching methods was associated with higher perceived teaching quality, regardless of service or census (P for trend < .001). CONCLUSIONS The EMA tool successfully identified that higher patient census was associated with lower perceived teaching quality, but the results were also influenced by the type of teaching service. We found that, regardless of census or teaching service, attendings can improve their teaching by diversifying the number of methods used in daily rounds.
Hydroxyapatite/poly-L-lactide acid screws have better biocompatibility and femoral burr hole closure than does poly-L-lactide acid alone

Hydroxyapatite (HA)/poly-l-lactide(PLLA) composite biomaterials are available for orthopedic applications, but bioresorption and cell-mediated inflammation in bone cortex are unknown. We conducted an 84-month follow-up study with Beagle dogs that were subjected to implants with either PLLA (left femur) or HA/PLLA (right femur). Histological and radiographic analysis showed that HA/PLLA screws induced significant increases in HA content from 36 months onward and complete burr hole closure at 60 months, whereas PLLA screws did not. Moreover, PLLA screws induced more severe fibrous tissue and histiocyte infiltration. HA/PLLA screws promote earlier burr hole replacement and have superior biocompatibility compared to PLLA screws.
Potentiometric and conductometric studies on the system acid-isopolytungstate and the formation of lanthanum tungstates

The stoichiometry of the polyanions formed by the action of nitric acid on sodium tungstate(≤ 0.01M) has been studied by means of electrometric techniques involving pH-potentiometric andconductometric titrations. The well defined inflections and breaks in the titration curves provideevidence for the existence of the polyanions, para-W 12 O 4110- and meta-W 12 O 396- corresponding to theratio of H + :WO 42- as 7:6 and 9:6 in the pH ranges 5.7-6.0 and 3.6-4.1, respectively. The interaction oflanthanum nitrate with sodium tungstate solutions, at specific pH levels 8.0, 5.9 and 4.0 was alsostudied by pH and conductometric titrations, in aqueous and alcoholic media, with each of the reagentsalternatively used as titrant. The electrometric experiments provide definite evidence of the formationof normal-La 2 O 3 . 3WO 3 , para-5La 2 O 3 . 36WO 3 and meta-La 2 O 3 . 12WO 3 tungstates in the vicinity of pH6.3, 5.0 and 4.2, respectively. Analytical investigations on the precipitates formed confirm the resultsof the electrometric study.
Gastroduodenal lesions and Helicobacter pylori infection in hemodialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this prospective study is to determine the prevalence of upper gastrointestinal (GI) abnormalities and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection among stable chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS The study was carried out at King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the period January 1996 to June 1997. Fifty-four chronic HD patients underwent upper GI endoscopy. Endoscopic changes were described and multiple antral gastric biopsies were taken for histological examination and detection of H. pylori infection. Gastric biopsy findings were compared to findings in 60 consecutive patients with normal renal function undergoing endoscopy for assessment of dyspepsia. RESULTS Fifty-four stable chronic HD patients (32 men, mean age 42.4 +/- 18 years) underwent upper GI endoscopy and multiple antral gastric biopsies for histological examination and H. pylori detection. The endoscopic findings were abnormal in 49 (90.7%) patients. Chronic gastritis was seen in 20 (37%) patients, acute gastritis was seen in 13 (20.1%) patients, duodenal ulcer was seen in 6 (11.1%) patients, duodenitis with or without erosions was seen in 5 (9.3%) patients, gastroduodenitis was seen in 3 (5.56%) patients, and gastroesophageal reflux disease was seen in 2 (3.7%) patients. Histological examination of multiple antral gastric biopsies documented chronic active gastritis in 28 (51.9%) patients. Helicobacter pylori were present in 34(63%) patients. Helicobacter pylori were detected in the majority (85.7%) of patients with the histological diagnosis of chronic active gastritis. Patients harboring H. pylori were significantly older than negative patients (52 +/- 16.1 versus 33.9 +/- 17.3 years, p<0.018). In a group of 60 patients with normal renal function undergoing endoscopy for assessment of dyspeptic symptoms during the same period, chronic active gastritis was found in 40 (66.7%) patients and H. pylori was detected in 38 (63.3%) patients. CONCLUSION Upper GI abnormalities are common among HD patients even in the absence of symptoms. Biopsy proven chronic active gastritis is the most common histological diagnosis among these patients and is highly associated with H. pylori infection. Prevalence of H.pylori infection in HD patients is similar to those with normal renal function undergoing endoscopy for dyspepsia. Helicobacter pylori infected HD patients tend to be older than patients without H.pylori infection.
Survey on the Quality Assessment Factors of Educational APP

Educational applications have become more and more popular, making a profound influence on education and teaching. In the "Internet+" era, it is a problem on how to design and choose a high quality and effective educational APP. Based on the Education Technology Developers Guide, 2016 annual online education user white paper and related scholars on the educational APP research, in this paper, we choose students as the research object, and preparing a questionnaire, according to statistical analysis and the structural equation model analysis. We construct a five-factor model of educational APP quality evaluation, including content, instruction, art, service and technology, and 21 secondary indicators. It is found there is a correlation between content, instruction, art, service and technology, and the "content" of which is the most decisive factor in the evaluation of educational APP quality. The purpose of the paper is to provide a reference for the researchers, users and related administrative departments to develop educational APP and promote the development of educational APP.
A practical and efficacious method for obtaining significant postmortem blood cultures.

Four methods of obtaining cardiac blood for postmortem culture were evaluated. Cultures (aerobic and anaerobic) from 325 autopsies were studied. Findings indicate that postmortem blood cultures give highly significant information if the blood is obtained from the heart through a closed chest. The results using this technic were compared with those obtained when blood for culture was taken directly from the heart through a seared right atrium. It was found that 63% of the cultures were sterile when the blood was withdrawn through a closed chest. Of the positive cultures, 40% were considered clinically significant. In comparison, with the more commonly used open chest method, only 31.5% of cultures were sterile, with only 18% of the positive cultures being clinically significant. The number of sterile cultures decreases when bowel manipulation occurs before the specimen is procured, regardless of the method used. The interval between death and the time that the culture was taken had little, if any, effect on the results. Some cultures were sterile even though as many as 50½ hr. had elapsed after death.
STUDIES ON ARTHOROPOD CUTICLE. XII. ASH ANALYSES AND MICROINCINERATION

1. The ash amounts to only 0.365% of the dry weight of cleaned, water-washed cuticles of Sarcophaga (fly) larvae, to only 0.095% of cuticles of Limulus (Horseshoe crab). These values are considerably lower than ash values for whole insects or for cellular structures in general. 2. Elemental analyses show at least 25 elements in the ash of these cuticles. Ten are present in amounts > 1% of the ash. Magnesium is the predominant cation. 3. The percentage values for the elements do not agree well with the per cent composition of the solids of sea water or arthropod blood or calcified cuticles. 4. The cations are closely balanced by the anions. This implies that the ash components are largely present as salts which are either insoluble or sorbed. 5. Chitin carefully purified and washed in polyethylene vessels is ash-free. 6. The cuticulin sublayer of the epicuticle (thin surface layer, Fig. 3) leaves a relatively large amount of ash which is qualitatively different from that of the thick underlying procuticle. The iron of the cuticle is concentrated here. 7. The procuticle (Fig. 3) leaves relatively little ash. This ash residue shows a laminar organization similar to that of normal cuticle. 8. After sclerotization (hardening and darkening) the ash residue of the epicuticle seems unchanged but that of the procuticle is greatly reduced except in the tonofibrillae (muscle attachment points). Sclerotization, then, is accompanied not only by partial dehydration as reported by previous workers but also by extrusion of most of the ash components from the exocuticle.
A combination theorem for affine tree-free groups

Let $\Lambda_0$ be an ordered abelian group. We show how an $\mathrm{ATF}(\mathbb{Z}\times\Lambda_0)$ group -- that is, a group admitting a free affine action without inversions on a $\mathbb{Z}\times\Lambda_0$-tree -- admits a natural graph of groups decomposition, where vertex groups inherit actions on $\Lambda_0$-trees. Using recent work of various authors, it follows that a finitely generated group admitting a free affine action on a $\mathbb{Z}^n$-tree where no line has its orientation reversed is relatively hyperbolic with nilpotent parabolics, is locally quasiconvex, and has solvable word, conjugacy and isomorphism problems. Conversely, given a graph of groups satisfying certain conditions, we show how an affine action of its fundamental group can be constructed. Specialising to the case of free affine actions, we obtain a large class of $\mathrm{ATF}(\mathbb{Z}\times\Lambda_0)$ groups that do not act freely by isometries on any $\Lambda_1$-tree. We also give an example of a group that admits a free isometric action on a $\mathbb{Z}\times\mathbb{Z}$-tree but which is not residually nilpotent.
Marked differentiation in a new species of dwarf stonebasher, Pollimyrus cuandoensis sp. nov. (Mormyridae: Teleostei), from a contact zone with two sibling species of the Okavango and Zambezi rivers

We studied the systematic status of a form of Pollimyrus of the lower Kwando River that is flanked by the Okavango River, inhabited by Pollimyrus castelnaui (Boulenger, 1911), and the Zambezi River, inhabited by Pollimyrus marianne Kramer et al., 2003. In morphology and electric organ discharges (EODs), the Kwando phenotype proved well differentiated from both P. castelnaui and P. marianne. Sequence analysis of the cyt b gene confirmed that the three forms or species form a monophyletic clade, with P. castelnaui sister to the other two species. Genomic fingerprinting with ISSR-PCR confirmed differentiation of the Kwando form, that we recognize as a different species, P. cuandoensis sp. nov., from its sister species, P. marianne. A considerable amount of EOD and morphological variation was revealed among samples of P. cuandoensis sp. nov. from four different locations on the lower Kwando River, possibly due to hybrid introgression. This seems an ideal system for testing theories of parapatric speciation. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FB644B21-04F6-44F8-AEB6-8DC09268C17C