Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optical coherence tomography helps differentiate neuromyelitis optica and MS optic neuropathies

Objective: To evaluate the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and macular volume in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) spectrum patients using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Background: OCT can quantify damage to retinal ganglion cell axons and can identify abnormalities in multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis (ON) eyes. OCT may also be useful in the evaluation of patients with NMO. Methods: OCT and visual function testing were performed in 26 NMO spectrum patients with a history of ON, 17 patients with isolated longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) without ON, 378 patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), and 77 healthy controls at 2 centers. Results: Substantial RNFL thinning was seen in NMO ON eyes (63.6 μm) relative to both RRMS ON eyes (88.3 μm, p < 0.0001) and control eyes (102.4 μm, p < 0.0001). A first episode of ON was estimated to cause 24 μm more loss of RNFL thickness in NMO than RRMS. Similar results were seen for macular volume. ON also was associated with more severe visual impairment in NMO spectrum patients than in RRMS patients. Eyes in the LETM group and unaffected NMO eyes were not significantly different from controls, though conclusions about these subgroups were limited by small sample sizes. Conclusions: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) shows more severe retinal damage after optic neuritis (ON) episodes in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) than in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis. Identification of substantial retinal nerve fiber layer loss (>15 μm) after ON in a non–multiple sclerosis patient should prompt consideration of an NMO spectrum condition. OCT may be a useful tool for the evaluation of patients with NMO.
Nitrogen Requirements of an Old World Nectarivore, the Orange‐Tufted Sunbird Nectarinia osea

Nectarivorous birds are represented by three major radiations: honeyeaters and sunbirds in the Old World and hummingbirds in the New World. Costa’s hummingbirds and New Holland honeyeaters have unusually low nitrogen requirements, which have been related to the species’ low‐protein, high‐sugar diets. Therefore, we hypothesised that orange‐tufted sunbirds (Nectarinia osea) would likewise have low‐maintenance nitrogen requirements and low rates of endogenous nitrogen loss. To test this hypothesis, we measured nitrogen balance, total endogenous nitrogen loss, and body mass changes in captive birds, using insects as a nitrogen source. Nitrogen balance, estimated by regression analysis to be 3.9 mg d−1, was less than one‐half of that allometrically predicted, while total endogenous nitrogen loss ( \documentclass{aastex} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{bm} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{pifont} \usepackage{stmaryrd} \usepackage{textcomp} \usepackage{portland,xspace} \usepackage{amsmath,amsxtra} \usepackage[OT2,OT1]{fontenc} \newcommand\cyr{ \renewcommand\rmdefault{wncyr} \renewcommand\sfdefault{wncyss} \renewcommand\encodingdefault{OT2} \normalfont \selectfont} \DeclareTextFontCommand{\textcyr}{\cyr} \pagestyle{empty} \DeclareMathSizes{10}{9}{7}{6} \begin{document} \landscape $$1.9\pm 0.6$$ \end{document} mg d−1) was less than one‐third of the allometrically predicted value. Thus, orange‐tufted sunbirds follow the same pattern of low nitrogen requirements found in hummingbirds and honeyeaters. Total endogenous losses of nitrogen in nectarivores are low because a fibreless, easily digestible liquid diet reduces nitrogen losses in the feces, while the protein‐sparing effect of a diet containing largely sugar leads to low endogenous urinary nitrogen losses.
Durations at the Zero Lower Bound

Many central banks in developed countries have had very low policy rates for quite some time. A growing number are experimenting with official rates that are negative. We develop a New Keynesian model in which the zero lower bound (ZLB) on nominal interest rates is imposed as an occasionally binding constraint and use this model to examine the duration of ZLB episodes. In addition, we show that capital accumulation and capital adjustment costs can raise significantly the length of time an economy spends at the ZLB, as can the conduct of monetary policy. We identify anticipation effects that make the ZLB more likely to bind and we show that allowing negative nominal interest rates shortens average durations, but only by about one quarter.
A Functional Lesion in Developmental Dyslexia: Left Angular Gyral Blood Flow Predicts Severity

Functional imaging studies have shown reduced regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in temporal and inferior parietal regions in dyslexia. To relate such abnormalities to the severity of dyslexia, correlations between reading skill and rCBF during a series of reading tasks and visual fixation were mapped for 17 right-handed dyslexic men, ages 18-40, and 14 matched controls. These correlations uniquely identified the left angular gyrus as the most probable site of a functional lesion in dyslexia: Here, higher rCBF was associated with better reading skill in controls (p <.01), but with worse reading skill in dyslexia (p <.01). This suggests that greater reliance on this region normally facilitates reading, but impairs reading in dyslexia. Thus, developmental dyslexia may share a common localization with alexia.
Receptor Trafficking via the Perinuclear Recycling Compartment Accompanied by Cell Division Is Necessary for Permanent Neurotensin Cell Sensitization and Leads to Chronic Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Activation*

Most G protein-coupled receptors are internalized after interaction with their respective ligand, a process that subsequently contributes to cell desensitization, receptor endocytosis, trafficking, and finally cell resensitization. Although cellular mechanisms leading to cell desensitization have been widely studied, those responsible for cell resensitization are still poorly understood. We examined here the traffic of the high affinity neurotensin receptor (NT1 receptor) following prolonged exposure to high agonist concentration. Fluorescence and confocal microscopy of Chinese hamster ovary, human neuroblastoma (CHP 212), and murine neuroblastoma (N1E-115) cells expressing green fluorescent protein-tagged NT1 receptor revealed that under prolonged treatment with saturating concentrations of neurotensin (NT) agonist, NT1 receptor and NT transiently accumulated in the perinuclear recycling compartment (PNRC). During this cellular event, cell surface receptors remained markedly depleted as detected by both confocal microscopy and 125I-NT binding assays. In dividing cells, we observed that following prolonged NT agonist stimulation, NT1 receptors were removed from the PNRC, accumulated in dispersed vesicles inside the cytoplasm, and subsequently reappeared at the cell surface. This NT binding recovery allowed for constant cell sensitization and led to a chronic activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases p42 and p44. Under these conditions, the constant activation of NT1 receptor generates an oncogenic regulation. These observations support the potent role for neuropeptides, such as NT, in cancer progression.
Hospital based serosurveillance study of dengue infection.

Sir, The recent report on hospital based serosurveillance study of Dengue infection is very interesting [1]. Sood concluded that “a detailed and continuous epidemiological surveillance is required, for monitoring the incrusion and spread of Dengue viruses [1]. ” In fact, epidemiological surveillance is an important tool for monitoring spread of Dengue virus. However, study done on hospital records seems to be passive. The data from the hospital records cannot represent the actual situation. Some patients may not visit the physician. Also, the patients attending a hospital may come from several locations. Some patients may come from remote areas that may not relate to the local epidemiology. In fact, adding to the passive surveillance, there should be some additional active control [2]. Firstly, there should be an active continuous vector ecology study to observe the fluctuations in patterns of the mosquito vector. Secondly, the monitoring of cross border Dengue from remote areas, due to present good transportation system, should be considered.
An Empirical Evaluation of Puzzle-Based Learning as an Interest Approach for Teaching Introductory Computer Science

This correspondence describes an adaptation of puzzle-based learning to teaching an introductory computer programming course. Students from two offerings of the course-with and without the puzzle-based learning-were surveyed over a two-year period. Empirical results show that the synthesis of puzzle-based learning concepts with existing course content improves students' learning experience by increasing their interest and participation in the course and developing their critical thinking skills.
Expression of a Functional Eotaxin (CC Chemokine Ligand 11) Receptor CCR3 by Human Dendritic Cells1 2 3

Critical to the function of Ag-presenting dendritic cells (DCs) is their capacity to migrate to lymphoid organs and to sites of inflammation. A final stage of development, termed maturation, yields DCs that are strong stimulators of T cell-mediated immunity and is associated with a remodeling of the cell surface that includes a change in the levels of expression of many molecules, including chemokine receptors. We show in this study that CCR3, a chemokine receptor initially discovered on eosinophils, is also expressed by human DCs that differentiate from blood monocytes, DCs that emigrate from skin (epidermal and dermal DCs), and DCs derived from CD34+ hemopoietic precursors in bone marrow, umbilical cord blood, and cytokine-elicited peripheral blood leukapheresis. Unlike other chemokine receptors, such as CCR5 and CCR7, the expression of CCR3 is not dependent on the state of maturation. All DC subsets contain a large intracellular pool of CCR3. The surface expression of CCR3 is not modulated following uptake of particulate substances such as zymosan or latex beads. CCR3 mediates in vitro chemotactic responses to the known ligands, eotaxin and eotaxin-2, because the DC response to these chemokines is inhibited by CCR3-specific mAbs. We postulate that expression of CCR3 may underlie situations where both DCs and eosinophils accumulate in vivo, such as the lesions of patients with Langerhans cell granulomatosis.
Coping, distress, and survival among patients with lung cancer.

BACKGROUND This study addresses the question of whether coping and emotional state are predictors of survival among patients with lung cancer. The hypotheses were (1) active coping is linked with longer survival time and (2) depressive coping, emotional distress, and depression are linked with shorter survival. METHODS The study was based on a sample of 103 patients who were investigated after their diagnosis and before the beginning of primary treatment. The psychological variables were assessed by means of self-reports and interviewer ratings. After follow-up of 7 to 8 years, 92 patients had died; survival data were censored for the remaining 11 patients. The prediction of the survival time was performed by the Cox regression, while adjusting for biomedical risk factors (tumor stage, histological classification, and Karnofsky performance status). RESULTS The self-reported depressive coping (P = .007) and the interviewer-rated emotional distress (P = .04) were significantly associated with shorter survival, independent of the influence of the biomedical prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS Both coping and emotional distress had a statistically independent effect on survival among patients with lung cancer. However, the naturalistic design of the study does not allow for any causal interpretation. Thus, the nature of this relationship warrants further investigation.
Outcome after unilateral hypogastric artery occlusion during endovascular aneurysm repair.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term functional outcome after unilateral hypogastric artery occlusion during endovascular stent graft repair of aortoiliac aneurysms. METHODS During a 41-month period, 157 consecutive patients underwent elective endovascular stent graft repair of aortoiliac aneurysms with the Medtronic AneuRx device. Postoperative computed tomography scans were compared with preoperative scans to identify new hypogastric artery occlusions. Twenty-three (15%) patients had unilateral hypogastric occlusion, and there were no cases of bilateral occlusions. Telephone interviews about past and current levels of activity and symptoms were conducted, and pertinent medical records were reviewed. All 23 (100%) patients were available for the telephone interview. A disability score (DS) was quantitatively graded on a discrete scale ranging from 0 to 10 corresponding to "virtually bed-bound" to "greater-than-a-mile" exercise tolerance. Worsening or improvement of symptoms was expressed as a difference in DS between two time points (-, worsening/+, improving). RESULTS Among the 23 patients, two groups were identified: 10 patients (43%) had planned and 13 patients (57%) had unplanned or inadvertent occlusions. The patients in the two groups did not differ significantly in the mean age (73.4 vs 73.7 years), sex (male:female, 9:1 vs 10:3), and duration of follow-up (15.6 vs 14.4 months). Nine (39%) of the 23 patients, five patients in the planned and four patients in the unplanned group, reported significant symptoms of hip and buttock claudication ipsilateral to their occluded hypogastric arteries. The mean decrement from baseline of these nine patients in their DS postoperatively was -3.3. The symptoms were universally noted on postoperative day 1. Although most patients improved (89%), one (11%) never got better. Among those whose symptoms improved, the mean time to improvement was 15 weeks, but with a plateau thereafter resulting in a net decrement of DS of -2.3 from baseline. Finally, when questioned whether they would undergo the procedure again, all 23 patients unanimously answered, "Yes. " CONCLUSIONS A significant number (39%) of patients who sustain hypogastric artery occlusion after endovascular aneurysm repair have symptoms. Although most patients with symptoms have some improvement, none return to their baseline level of activity. Despite this, all patients in retrospect would again choose endovascular repair over conventional open repair.
A case of stiff limb syndrome responsive to plasma exchange

Stiff limb syndrome is a recently described, rare condition that is characterised by rigidity within the limbs that progresses in a relapsing and remitting fashion, often with involvement of the sphincters and brain stem.1 2 The axial muscles are spared in the early stages of the illness, which helps distinguish it from stiff man syndrome, although it may still represent a similar pathogenic mechanism to that proposed in stiff man syndrome, in which anti-GAD antibodies are typically seen in about 60% of patients.3 However, patients with stiff limb syndrome seem to have different neurophysiological abnormalities from stiff man syndrome2 and fewer of these patients have anti-GAD antibodies; they also typically show a poorly sustained response to baclofen and diazepam. The response to immunotherapy in stiff limb syndrome is not known, whereas patients with stiff man syndrome may respond to intravenous immunoglobulin4 5 as well as possibly plasma exchange.6-8 We now report on a patient with stiff limb syndrome who responded dramatically to plasma exchange and in whom an antiaxonal antibody was isolated, suggesting that this condition may have an immunological basis. A 50 year old retired auxiliary nurse presented with a 10 year history of progressive pain, stiffness, and flexion contractures in her hands, followed by increasing immobility. Her …
International River Basin Management under the EU Water Framework Directive: An Assessment of Cooperation and Water Quality in the Baltic Sea Drainage Basin

Abstract We address issues connected with international river basin management and the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). By creating a register of River Basin Districts established under the WFD, we show that the number and area of international River Basin Districts are significant. Further, we present an assessment of international cooperation and water quality in 14 international river basins in the Baltic Sea Drainage Basin. Our results indicate that the WFD is a push forward for international river basin management in the region. However the WFD in general, and the principle of river basin management in particular, may be hard to implement in river basins shared between EU Member States and countries outside the EU. According to the study, Vistula, Pregola, and Nemunas appear to be the international basins within the Baltic Sea Drainage Basin in greatest need of intensified cooperation with regard to the state of the water quality.
The EASI model: A first integrative computational approximation to the natural history of COPD

The natural history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is still not well understood. Traditionally believed to be a self-inflicted disease by smoking, now we know that not all smokers develop COPD, that other inhaled pollutants different from cigarette smoke can also cause it, and that abnormal lung development can also lead to COPD in adulthood. Likewise, the inflammatory response that characterizes COPD varies significantly between patients, and not all of them perceive symptoms (mostly breathlessness) similarly. To investigate the variability and determinants of different “individual natural histories” of COPD, we developed a theoretical, multi-stage, computational model of COPD (EASI) that integrates dynamically and represents graphically the relationships between exposure (E) to inhaled particles and gases (smoking), the biological activity (inflammatory response) of the disease (A), the severity (S) of airflow limitation (FEV1) and the impact (I) of the disease (breathlessness) in different clinical scenarios. EASI shows that the relationships between E, A, S and I vary markedly within individuals (through life) and between individuals (at the same age). It also helps to delineate some potentially relevant, but often overlooked concepts, such as disease progression, susceptibility to COPD and issues related to symptom perception. In conclusion, EASI is an initial conceptual model to interpret the longitudinal and cross-sectional relationships between E, A, S and I in different clinical scenarios. Currently, it does not have any direct clinical application, thus it requires experimental validation and further mathematical development. However, it has the potential to open novel research and teaching alternatives.
Improving the speaking skill through the use of fables in third grade students from Liceo Femenino Mercedes Nariño

La presente investigacion hace parte de un estudio de caso exploratorio de caracter observacional descriptivo en el caso de la Educacion Especial, se selecciono un sujeto objeto de estudio, a quien se le realizo una evaluacion diagnostica de corte pedagogico, con aplicacion de protocolos, arrojando como resultado en la nina una enfermedad congenita llamada Sindrome de Down asociada a la discapacidad intelectual, dentro de lo especifico se determino que la nina presenta una dificultad especial en el desarrollo de su lenguaje verbal. La dificultad anteriormente presentada repercute en su capacidad para interactuar socialmente y por ende a que no haya una actitud comunicativa hacia otras personas en su entorno familiar, academico y personal manifestandose mas en su lenguaje expresivo que en el comprensivo. Se disenaron actividades fundamentadas y encaminadas a atender las necesidades comunicativas de la nina, con el respectivo registro de la experiencia desde lo pedagogico en cada una de las etapas. Se planteo una propuesta pensada en intervenir al sujeto de manera directa a partir de actividades enfocadas hacia la creacion artistica, en las que la imagen, las palabras y los sonidos constituyen el recurso mas valioso para lograr una interaccion comunicativa y que por ende potencie la expresion verbal de la nina, estas actividades se disenaron con la intencion de implementar un Sistema de Comunicacion Aumentativo de baja tecnologia basado en ideogramas.
Quark-matter superconductivity and the cooling of compact stars.

It has been suggested that quark matter is superfluid (superconducting) at the high densities and/or temperatures characteristic of compact star interiors. We present the first calculations of compact star cooling including this phase, showing that the cooling behavior could be dramatically changed with respect to former studies including a normal quark core. Particularly, we find that some of the presented scenarios tend to be closer to the observational data and open the possibility of subsequently modeling the histories of all known young and medium-aged (i.e., without significant reheating) pulsars without having to postulate any fundamental difference between them. Moreover, improved observations might allow an astrophysical determination of the quark-matter critical temperature.
Difficulties With Goals of the Dutch ICF Activity Inventory: Perceptions of Those With Retinitis Pigmentosa and of Those Who Support Them.

PURPOSE To provide a comprehensive overview of the perceived difficulties with visual activities and participation by those with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and as perceived by those who support people with RP. Further, to examine the performance of the Dutch ICF Activity Inventory (D-AI) using Rasch analysis. METHODS Three hundred fifty people with RP and 75 supporters of people with RP provided demographic information and completed the D-AI at goal level (47 goals). RESULTS Following removal of four goals, the D-AI behaved well in Rasch analysis, but with limitations to its unidimensionality. The most difficult goals for people with RP related to mobility and to work-related activities. Greater difficulty was associated with higher visual impairment registration status, use of mobility aids, and longer duration of visual impairment. For those with less severe visual loss, goals relating to communicating with people were relatively more difficult. In more severe loss, goals involving good central vision (e.g., dealing with correspondence) were relatively more difficult. The perceptions of supporters matched those of the people with RP relatively well, but with a tendency for supporters to overestimate the difficulty of goals, which related to administration and domestic chores, and to underestimate difficulty with goals relating to communication with people. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate important areas of rehabilitation to address in addition to orientation and mobility in those with RP, including work-related activities and goals involving good central vision. Both people with RP and those supporting them could benefit from help addressing difficulties with communication.
A partitioned adaptive approach to nonlinear channel equalization

The problem of identifying digital transmitted symbols over nonlinear communication channels is addressed. The equalization scenario is considered from the decision point of view, and constitutes a joint identification and estimation situation due to incomplete knowledge of the system model. A new class of multilinearization algorithms for nonlinear systems is derived according to partitioning theory concepts. The procedure targets on adaptively selecting the best reference points for linearization from an ensemble of generated trajectories that span the whole state space of the desired signal. In the various simulations examined, the partitioned-based equalizer is found superior to the classical extended Kalman filter.