Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intellectual and Psychological Performance in Males Born Small for Gestational Age With and Without Catch-Up Growth

Infants born small for gestational age (SGA) have an increased risk of neurologic and intellectual dysfunction. Most of these infants catch up in growth and attain normal height, although some do not. Whether catch-up growth influences intellectual function is not known. To analyze whether intellectual and psychological performance of males in early adulthood are associated with body size at birth or by catch-up growth in height among boys, a population-based cohort was studied. This cohort included all male singletons born without congenital malformations in Sweden from 1973 to 1978 and alive at 18 y (n = 276,033). Information from the Swedish Birth Register was individually linked to the Swedish Conscript Register. Of 254,426 conscripted males, information on intellectual and psychological performance was available for 97% and 91%, respectively. Low birth weight, short birth length, small head circumference at birth, and preterm birth increased the risk of subnormal intellectual and psychological performance. Among SGA-born males, the most important predictor was the absence of catch-up growth. Being born SGA is associated with increased risk of subnormal intellectual and psychological performance. The data strongly support the view that, for males born SGA, it is an advantage to have catch-up growth in length.
A Re-Examination of the Fundamental Limits on the Radiation Q of Electrically Small Antennas

AbstructAn exact method, which is more straightforward than those previously published, is derived for the calculation of the minimum radiation Q of a general antenna. This expression agrees with the previously published and widely cited approximate expression in the extreme lower limit of electrical size. However, for the upper end of the range of electrical size which is considered electrically small, the exact expression given here is significantly different from the approximate expression. This result has implications on both the bandwidth and efficiency limitations of antennas which fall into this category.
Unmet needs of families of school-aged children with an autism spectrum disorder.

BACKGROUND To aid decision making regarding the allocation of limited resources, information is needed on the perceived unmet needs of parents of school-aged children with an autism spectrum disorder. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted of 101 Canadian families of school-aged children with an autism spectrum disorder. RESULTS Commonly reported unmet needs were for social activities for the child (78.2%), information about services (77.2%) and continuous service provision (74.3%). CONCLUSIONS This study provides insight into needs which have not been met by the service system. Information about the unmet needs of children with an autism spectrum disorder and their families may help policy makers and service providers to develop resources and services that are responsive to their client group.
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: state of the art and new perspectives

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is a well‐established therapy for leukemias and other immunohematopoietic disorders. In more recent years, bone marrow as stem cell source has been replaced by peripheral blood stem cells, which results in faster engraftment. Cord blood grafts are increasingly used. Conditioning prior to transplant may be myeloablative or nonmyeloablative. The latter is used preferentially in patients with high age or organ impairment. Isolation in the hospital during posttransplant pancytopenia has been challenged by promising results using home care. PCR diagnosis and new antifungal and antiviral treatment have reduced morbidity and mortality. The major threat to a successful outcome after ASCT is leukemic relapse. PCR techniques to detect recipient cells in the leukemic cell lineage or minimal residual disease enable early detection of leukemic cells. Donor lymphocyte infusions have an antileukemic effect. ASCT has shown an antitumor effect in metastatic cancers from breast, kidney, colon, ovaries, prostate and pancreas. Mesenchymal stem cells may be derived from bone marrow and have the capacity to differentiate into several mesenchymal tissues, such as bone, cartilage and fat. They seem to escape the immune system and have immunomodulatory effects in vitro and in vivo. To conclude, ASCT is a potent immunotherapy.
Blood vessel segmentation methodologies in retinal images – A survey

Retinal vessel segmentation algorithms are a fundamental component of automatic retinal disease screening systems. This work examines the blood vessel segmentation methodologies in two dimensional retinal images acquired from a fundus camera and a survey of techniques is presented. The aim of this paper is to review, analyze and categorize the retinal vessel extraction algorithms, techniques and methodologies, giving a brief description, highlighting the key points and the performance measures. We intend to give the reader a framework for the existing research; to introduce the range of retinal vessel segmentation algorithms; to discuss the current trends and future directions and summarize the open problems. The performance of algorithms is compared and analyzed on two publicly available databases (DRIVE and STARE) of retinal images using a number of measures which include accuracy, true positive rate, false positive rate, sensitivity, specificity and area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
A measure of internal and external motivation to control in-group bias

A measure of individual differences in the motivation to control in-group bias (favouritism) was created. As in Plant and Devine’s (1998) measure of out-group bias, one subscale referred to an internal motivational source and the other to an external motivational source. The psychometric properties of the measure were tested across four samples. The results indicate that the measure reliably captures individual differences in the motivation to control in-group bias, and that a distinction between internal and external motivational sources of control can be made. However, the convergent and discriminant validity of both subscales needs to be examined further before the measure can be considered launchable. Implications for research on intergroup bias are discussed. (Less)
Rhythmic expression of DEC1 and DEC2 in peripheral tissues: DEC2 is a potent suppressor for hepatic cytochrome P450s opposing DBP

The mammalian master molecular clock consisting of several clock gene products in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) drives circadian rhythms in behaviour and physiology. Molecular clocks consisting of the same components also exist in various peripheral organs. DEC1 and DEC2, basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors, were recently reported to be involved in the central clock in the SCN. We examined the expression profile of DEC1 and DEC2 in the periphery and their roles in the regulation of oscillating target genes in the liver. Levels of DEC1 and DEC2 mRNA exhibited a day-night variation in various peripheral tissues of rats. In the liver, their expression was high during the subjective night. Transfection assays showed that DEC2, but not DEC1, suppressed the transcription of the cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase gene (CYP7A), overwhelming the potent enhancement by D-site binding protein (DBP). Electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicated that DEC2 binds to the E-box (CACATG) at the -219/-214 region of CYP7A. The transcriptional activities of the other sterol metabolizing cytochrome P450s (Cyps), CYP8B and CYP51, were also suppressed by DEC2 but not DEC1. DEC2, but not DEC1, works as a direct output mediator that transmits the circadian signals to the hepatic functions, including the CYP7A, CYP8B, and CYP51 expression.
Stochastic Analysis of Indoor THz Uplink with Co-Channel Interference and Phase Noise

The paper studies the joint impact of phase noise (PN) and co-channel interference (CCI) in indoor terahertz (THz) uplink. We formulate the theoretical framework that quantifies the impact of PN on the transceiver antenna directivity by extracting exact closed-form and low-complexity tight approximations for the expected gains. Additionally, by employing stochastic geometry, we model the propagation environment of indoor THz wireless systems and provide the analytical characterization of the CCI in the presence of PN, in terms of its expected value. The analysis is verified through computer simulations that reveal the accuracy of the presented theory with moderate numbers of users. The paper provides readily available tools for analyzing and designing indoor THz networks.
Body mass index of adult males in 12 populations of Northeast India

Background: Of the anthropometric indices, body mass index (BMI) is considered to be more nutritionally than genetically related. Thus, in a country with diverse ethnic groups like India, it is more appropriate to use BMI as an indicator of the nutritional status of adult population. However, literature on BMI of adult Indians is limited to certain geographical regions or populations, and little is known about the populations in the northeast region of the Indian sub-continent. Aim: The present report deals with the BMI of adult males in 12 populations of Northeast India with a view to understanding their nutritional status. Subjects and methods: Anthropometric data collected by the Anthropological Survey of India on 946 adult males aged 18-62 years of 12 populations in Northeast India were used in this analysis. The populations were broadly categorized into three groups, namely, caste, Hinduized and tribal groups. The data were collected mostly from rural areas, taking into consideration the different social ranks such as castes, tribes and religious groups. Results: The variation in mean BMIs between populations was highly significant, ranging between 18.3 and 20.5 kg m−2. Despite a few exceptions, the mean values of BMI in the tribal populations were significantly higher than the caste groups. The prevalence of chronic energy deficiency (CED) was also lower in the tribal (19%) than in the Hinduized (49%) and caste (52%) populations (χ2 = 89.4, d.f. = 2, p<0:001). Although it is difficult to explain why the tribals have higher BMI than the higher castes, the Cormic index or CI (SH/H) was significantly lower among the caste groups as compared with some tribal groups. The linear regression coefficient (b ± standard error) of BMI on CI for all the populations, irrespective of ethnic origin, was 30.4 ± 4.3 (t = 7.1, p<0.000), and the correlation coefficient (r ± standard error) 0.22 ± 0.03. The differences in BMI across groups were, however, significant even after allowing for CI. Conclusion: A majority of the adult males in these populations were lean. The high proportion of individuals with grade I CED suggests the need of other information on morbidity and health status of these populations.
Pontine reticular formation neurons: relationship of discharge to motor activity.

The discharge correlates of pontine reticular formation units were investigated in unrestrained cats. In agreement with previous investigations using immobilized preparations, we found that these cells had high rates of activity in rapid eye movement sleep, and responded in waking to somatic, auditory, and vestibular stimuli at short latencies, many having polysensory responses and exhibiting rapid "habituation. " However, despite the sensory responses of these cells, most unit activity could not be explained by the presence of sensory stimuli. Intense firing occurred in association with specific movements. Units deprived of their adequate somatic, vestibular, and auditory stimuli showed undiminished discharge rates during motor activity. Discrete sensory stimuli evoked sustained unit firing only when they also evoked a motor response. We conclude that activity in pontine reticular formation neurons is more closely related to motor output than to sensory input.
Development Conceptual Model and Validation Instrument for E-Learning Succes Model at Universities in Indonesia: Perspectives influence of Instructor's Activities and Motivation

The purpose of this study is to develop conceptual models and validation instruments for the success of e-learning systems in Indonesian universities from factors that influence instructor activity and user motivation. Model development is based on the IS success model of DeLone and Mclean by adding instructor activity and motivational variables based on related literature studies. Evaluation is done by testing the reliability and validity of the instrument. Data collection by distributing instruments online with the snowball method, respondents obtained were 234 used as data analysis with SmartPLS 2.0 software. The results of this study produced a conceptual model consisting of 9 variables and 83 instruments which were validated according to the provisions. From these results, it can be implemented in future research by increasing larger respondents to get results that represent the success of e-learning systems at universities in Indonesia.
A Re-Assessment of the Role of the Financial Sector in Driving Economic Growth: Recent Evidence from Cross Country Data

In this study, we evaluate the empirical relationship between financial development and economic growth for 75 countries classified into different income groups. The study covers the sample period of 1990-2009. The empirical results suggest that there is a long-run equilibrium relationship between financial development and economic growth. The estimated results of FMOLS and MWALD Granger causality tests indicate that banks play a dominant role in promoting economic growth across all income groups. Savings significantly drive growth for low and middle income groups. Economic growth propels stock market development for low income group, stock market and economic growth are reinforcing for middle income group. While, stock market emerges as an important driver of economic growth for high income countries. Our findings are consistent with prior research and are relevant for academician, policy makers as well as financial institutions and market players.
Disorganized attachment representation and atypical parenting in young school age children with externalizing disorder

Abstract We investigated the relationship of child attachment representation, psychopathology, and maternal atypical parenting in a high risk sample. Sixty-one consecutive clinical referrals with externalizing disorder aged 4 – 9 years were assessed for attachment representations measured with Manchester Child Attachment Story Task (MCAST), atypical parental expressed emotion (EE), maternal mood, and parent and teacher ratings of child behaviour. Disorganized attachment representations were found in 58% of cases, independent of ADHD symptoms. Pervasive disorganization was associated with very high maternal EE. Attachment status, maternal depression, and ADHD diagnosis were independently associated with parent-rated child behaviour problems; teacher ratings were associated with child's age and ADHD status. Disorganized attachment shows a high prevalence and independent associations with attention deficit symptomatology and maternal EE.
[The application of telemedicine for stroke in the Balearic Islands: the Balearic Telestroke project].

INTRODUCTION Currently, clinical benefits of stroke units and thrombolysis in ischaemic stroke are evidence-based. However, inequities in coverage and in treatment provided to these patients still persist due to geographical differences in residence, technological capacity and organization among health care systems. Telestroke is considered to be an effective tool for reducing inequities in coverage and health outcomes of stroke patients. DEVELOPMENT This paper reviews the requirements of implementation of telestroke units, their deployment in the Health Service of the Balearic Islands, and the main experiences reported so far. Further, preliminary results of an ongoing formal assessment of effectiveness and safety of telestroke relative to conventional stroke treatment are advanced. CONCLUSIONS Implementation of a telestroke system is feasible and allows increasing specialized treatment coverage. The Health Service of the Balearic Islands is fulfilling its goal of improving thrombolysis coverage by means of telestroke. Its effectiveness and safety appear to be similar to those of conventional treatment.
Intracellular Growth of Legionella pneumophila in Dictyostelium discoideum, a System for Genetic Analysis of Host-Pathogen Interactions

ABSTRACT Conditions were established in which Legionella pneumophila, an intracellular bacterial pathogen, could replicate within the unicellular organism Dictyostelium discoideum. By several criteria, L. pneumophila grew by the same mechanism within D. discoideum as it does in amoebae and macrophages. Bacteria grew within membrane-bound vesicles associated with rough endoplasmic reticulum, and L. pneumophila dot/icm mutants, blocked for growth in macrophages and amoebae, also did not grow in D. discoideum. Internalized L. pneumophila avoided degradation by D. discoideum and showed evidence of reduced fusion with endocytic compartments. The ability of L. pneumophila to grow within D. discoideum depended on the growth state of the cells. D. discoideum grown as adherent monolayers was susceptible toL. pneumophila infection and to contact-dependent cytotoxicity during high-multiplicity infections, whereas D. discoideum grown in suspension was relatively resistant to cytotoxicity and did not support intracellular growth. Some knownD. discoideum mutants were examined for their effect on growth of L. pneumophila. The coronin mutant and themyoA/B double myosin I mutant were more permissive than wild-type strains for intracellular growth. Growth of L. pneumophila in a Gβ mutant was slightly reduced compared to the parent strain. This work demonstrates the usefulness of the L. pneumophila-D. discoideum system for genetic analysis of host-pathogen interactions.
Consensus of second-order multi-agent systems with delayed nonlinear dynamics and intermittent communications

This article investigates the second-order consensus problem of multi-agent systems with inherent delayed nonlinear dynamics and intermittent communications. Each agent is assumed to obtain the measurements of relative states between its own and the neighbours' only at a sequence of disconnected time intervals. A new kind of protocol based only on the intermittent measurements of neighbouring agents is proposed to guarantee the states of agents to reach second-order consensus under a fixed strongly connected and balanced topology. By constructing a common Lyapunov function, it is shown that consensus can be reached if the general algebraic connectivity and communication time duration are larger than their corresponding threshold values, respectively. Finally, simulation examples are provided to verify the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis.
Factors influencing the interaction of Candida albicans with fibroblast cell cultures

The interaction of Candida albicans clinical isolates with primary and established fibroblast cultures was studied. The intent was to determine whether yeast adherence and invasion of nonendothelial cell monolayer cultures could be quantitated reproducibly and whether this system could be used for future studies on yeast pathogenesis. Our results demonstrated that specific interactions between the yeast cells and fibroblasts only occurred at 37 degrees C and correlated with the germination process. Fluorescent-antibody staining indicated that invasion or tight associations between the germinating yeast cells and mammalian cells occurred after less than 3 h of incubation. Yeast adherence was estimated radiometrically and trypsin-resistant interaction with individual mammalian cells (infection) was measured microscopically after inoculated monolayer cells were detached with trypsin. We demonstrated that both types of association were time dependent at 37 degrees C; neither was affected by the concentration of glucose used to grow the yeast cells. Primary and established fibroblast cell lines were equally susceptible to infection, but primary cells appeared to have more yeast-binding sites. Fibroblasts maintained in confluent culture for an extended period of time also appeared to have more binding sites, and while not quantitatively more susceptible to infection, the older cells were more susceptible to infection-related cell death. An established kidney epithelial cell line (MDCK) was not susceptible to either type of yeast interaction, indicating that the yeast-fibroblast associations were specific.
EVALUATING THE EFFECTS OF CULVERT DESIGNS ON ECOSYSTEM PROCESSES IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN STREAMS

Culvert replacements are commonly undertaken to restore aquatic organism passage and stream hydrologic and geomorphic conditions, but their effects on ecosystem processes are rarely quantified. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of two culvert replacement designs on stream ecosystem processes. The stream simulation design, where culverts accommodate bankfull width and streambeds are reconstructed through the culvert, was compared with the bankfull and backwater design, where streambeds were left to fill naturally, as well as to non-replaced culverts. We predicted that stream simulation culverts would best preserve water velocity and coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) retention within the culvert relative to upstream reaches, and that both replaced culvert styles would exhibit rates closer to upstream reaches than non-replaced culverts. In addition, we predicted that ecosystem processes (CPOM retention, transient storage and nutrient uptake) would be similar in reaches upstream and downstream of both replaced culvert styles, because both designs are constructed to maintain stream slopes and bankfull widths through the structure. We found that stream simulation design better maintained CPOM retention through culverts compared with non-replaced and bankfull and backwater design culverts, but observed no differences in ecosystem processes between reaches located upstream or downstream of replaced culverts. Although the stream simulation design requires additional streambed construction relative to the bankfull and backwater design, this step may lead to additional improvement if maintaining ecological conditions through the culvert is an important restoration goal. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. key words: culvert replacement; stream simulation design; bankfull and backwater design; restoration; monitoring; nutrient uptake; transient storage; coarse particulate organic matter Received 22 June 2016; Revised 05 December 2016; Accepted 07 December 2016