Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The dynamic evolution of focal‐onset epilepsies – combining theoretical and clinical observations

Focal‐onset seizures have traditionally been conceptualised as having a highly circumscribed onset in an ‘abnormal’ brain region, with evolution of the seizure requiring recruitment of adjacent or connected ‘normal’ brain regions. Complementing this concept of the spatial evolution of seizures, the purpose of our present paper is to explore the evidence for the dynamic evolution of focal epilepsy using bifurcation analysis of a neural mass model, and subsequently relating these bifurcations to specific features of clinical data recordings in the time domain. Our study was motivated by recent research in idiopathic generalised epilepsies which has suggested that the temporal evolution of seizures may arise out of gradual changes in underlying physiological mechanisms. We found that spikes in the considered model arose out of so‐called ‘false’ bifurcations, a finding consistent with other neural models with two timescales of inhibitory processes. We compared these results with previous studies of the model before extending them to characterise other more complex model behaviours. We then explored the relationship between model dynamics and clinical recordings from patients with focal epilepsies. Here we used an algorithm to subdivide each recording into time windows for which the data is approximately stationary. We then used our bifurcation findings to map out the evolution of seizures based on features of the clinical data from each of the epochs identified by our algorithm. We finally explored the similarity of the seizure evolution within patients, using random surrogates to test for statistical significance.
Personality assessment and interactions in eight captive bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus )

In recent years there has been an increased interest in measuring animal personality. It is argued that personality in animals is expressed through the behaviours they display. In this study personality has been investigated in a group of eight captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Data from focal samplings were analysed by using behavioural codings and the Five-factor model consisting of Openness to experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism. The results revealed that the dolphins display both distinct personality differences as well as similarities in these factors. By calculating coefficients of association it was found that the dolphins also prefer the company of certain individuals over others. Knowledge of individual personality differences and its implications can be helpful in aspects such as management and reintroduction programs, evolution and genetics and in providing a complementary perspective to explain other behavioural and cognitive studies. ISBN LiTH-IFMEx--2415--SE ____________________________________________
Prognostic Significance of Mucinous Histologic Subtype on Oncologic Outcomes in Patients With Colorectal Cancer

Purpose Mucinous adenocarcinomas account for about 10% of all colorectal cancers. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of mucinous histologic subtype on oncologic outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer. Methods This retrospective study was performed at two large tertiary university hospitals. We analyzed the characteristics, prognostic factors, and survival of patients with colorectal cancer who were treated and followed up between 2000 and 2013. Results Totally, 144 of 1,268 patients with a colorectal adenocarcinoma (11.4%) had mucinous histologic subtype. Statistically significant results found in this research are as follows: Mucinous histologic subtype tended to present in younger patients and to have larger tumor size, higher histologic grade, higher node stage, larger number of positive nodes, and higher rate of perineural invasion compared to nonmucinous histologic subtype. On the univariate analysis, mucinous subtype was a prognostic factor for disease-free and overall survival. On the multivariate analysis, primary tumor location, node stage and lymphatic-vascular invasion were independent prognostic factors for the local control rate. Rectal tumor location, higher disease stage, tumor grade II, and presence of lymphatic-vascular invasion had negative influences on disease-free survival, as did rectal tumor location, higher disease stage and presence of lymphatic-vascular invasion on overall survival. Conclusion Mucinous histologic subtype was associated with some adverse pathologic features in patients with colorectal cancer; however, it was not an independent prognostic factor for oncologic outcome.
The action of 2-acetylaminofluorene on growth and liver composition of rats on low and adequate dietary sulfur.

1. The carcinogen, 2-acetylaminofluorene, inhibited the growth of pair-fed rats maintained on an 11 per cent casein diet. The growth-inhibitory action of 2-acetylaminofluorene was eliminated by feeding a 20 per cent casein diet. Addition of DL-methionine, L-cystine, or glycine to the 11 per cent casein ration failed to prevent the growth inhibition induced by 2-acetylaminofluorene. 2. The livers of the rats were analyzed for water, fat, nitrogen, and glycogen. 2-Acetylamino-fluorene caused liver enlargement due to increased deposition of fat, protein, and, particularly, glycogen. The action of AAF in altering the chemical composition of the liver is influenced by the sulfur content of the diet.
Pulsed radio‐frequency electromagnetic fields: dose‐dependent effects on sleep, the sleep EEG and cognitive performance

To establish a dose–response relationship between the strength of electromagnetic fields (EMF) and previously reported effects on the brain, we investigated the influence of EMF exposure by varying the signal intensity in three experimental sessions. The head of 15 healthy male subjects was unilaterally exposed for 30 min prior to sleep to a pulse‐modulated EMF (GSM handset like signal) with a 10 g‐averaged peak spatial specific absorption rate of (1) 0.2 W kg–1, (2) 5 W kg–1, or (3) sham exposed in a double‐blind, crossover design. During exposure, subjects performed two series of three computerized cognitive tasks, each presented in a fixed order [simple reaction time task, two‐choice reaction time task (CRT), 1‐, 2‐, 3‐back task]. Immediately after exposure, night‐time sleep was polysomnographically recorded for 8 h. Sleep architecture was not affected by EMF exposure. Analysis of the sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) revealed a dose‐dependent increase of power in the spindle frequency range in non‐REM sleep. Reaction speed decelerated with increasing field intensity in the 1‐back task, while accuracy in the CRT and N‐back task were not affected in a dose‐dependent manner. In summary, this study reveals first indications of a dose–response relationship between EMF field intensity and its effects on brain physiology as demonstrated by changes in the sleep EEG and in cognitive performance.
An LCD-VCOM-Noise Resilient Mutual-Capacitive Touch-Sensor IC Chip With a Low-Voltage Driving Signal

A mutual-capacitive touch-sensor read-out integrated circuit (ROIC) with a differential sensing scheme is proposed to reduce the driving pulse amplitude of touch sensor panel (TSP) down to 0.4 V. This reduction is achieved by mitigating the effect of the liquid crystal display (LCD) common-voltage (VCOM) noise, which is time periodic. To accomplish this mitigation, the TSP driving pulse (VSTM) is synchronized to the gate-driver-pulse generating signal (GCLK) of LCD, and its frequency is set to (2n + 1) times the frequency of GCLK, where n is a non-negative integer. The repetition period TN of the VCOM noise is one half of the GCLK period. A receiver channel consists of a charge amplifier, a chopper, and an integrator; all are in differential circuits. The chopper is driven by the VSTM. The integration period of the integrator is set to 2TN to suppress the periodic LCD noise. A referenceless clock and data recovery circuit are used to generate VSTM from GCLK continuously with time in spite of the discontinuity of GCLK during the vertical blanking period. The proposed ROIC fabricated in a 0.35-μm CMOS was applied to a 6.9 in 12 × 16 TSP located on a rather noisy 23 in in-plane switching LCD monitor. The measured signal-to-noise ratio changes from 27 to 9 dB as the VSTM amplitude changes from 3.3 to 0.4 V, where the GCLK frequency is 16.8 kHz and the VSTM frequency is 352.8 kHz. The reporting rate of the ROIC is 175 Hz.
The effectiveness of secondary and tertiary care lifestyle intervention in morbidly obese patients: a 1‐year non‐randomized controlled pragmatic clinical trial

In this non‐randomized clinical pragmatic trial, we aimed to compare the effectiveness of an outpatient intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) programme conducted in a tertiary care obesity rehabilitation centre with an outpatient moderate lifestyle intervention (MLI) programme at a secondary care obesity centre. Effectiveness was measured in terms of the 1‐year effect each programme had on body weight, physical activity and health‐related quality of life (HRQL). A total of 232 morbidly obese subjects were recruited to the ILI group and 140 to the MLI group, with retention rates of 78% and 44%, respectively. The ILI group had a significantly larger mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) weight loss than the MLI group, 11% (9%, 12%) vs. 2% (1%, 6%), P < 0.001, and a larger proportion of completers attaining ≥5% weight loss (71% vs. 33%), P < 0.001. Compared with the MLI group, the ILI group achieved a significant larger mean (95% CI) increase in the physical dimension of HRQL 6.9 (4.4, 9.3), P < 0.001, the mental dimension of HRQL 4.4 (1.4, 7.4), P = 0.018 and in the emotional dimension of HRQL 17.8 (12.8, 22.6), P < 0.001. There were no significant differences in terms of changes in physical activity. Compared with MLI, ILI was associated with significantly larger weight loss and better HRQL.
The interrelation of demographic and geospatial risk factors between four common sexually transmitted diseases

Objectives: To examine the interrelation between demographic and geospatial risk factors for gonorrhoea, chlamydia, genital warts, and genital herpes. Design: We analysed age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and area of residence for Leeds residents aged 15–54 with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, genital Chlamydia trachomatis, first episode genital herpes, and first episode genital warts during 1994–5. The 1991 UK census provided denominator population information. Results: Regression analysis showed that young age (15–24 years), ethnicity (with a gradient of risk black >white >Asian), and residence in inner city areas of deprivation were independent risk factors for all STDs. There were highly significant correlations in the geospatial distribution of incidence rates between the four infections. However, there was variation in the degree of central urban clustering, with gonorrhoea having the most restricted, and genital warts and chlamydia the widest distribution. 31% of all disease occurred in the four inner city census wards, representing 15% of the population. Conclusion: These results are in keeping with core group theory applying in a unified manner to the four most common UK sexually transmitted diseases in this urban area. Population based studies are needed to clarify whether ethnicity is associated with differing sexual behavioural or mixing patterns. Our data suggest that chlamydia screening in women <25 years of age could detect 70% of cases in the community, that such programmes should give particular emphasis to implementation in core group areas, and that they could function as unifying strategies for the control of most common STDs within urban areas.
Epitopes of adhesion-perturbing monoclonal antibodies map within a predicted α-helical domain of the integrin β 1 subunit

Several recent studies have demonstrated the involvement of various domains of the β1 integrin subunit in ligand binding. Thus, specific amino acids have been shown to be important in divalent cation binding, and others have been implicated by peptide crosslinking to play an intimate role in integrin-ligand interactions. Added to these data are previous observations that a group of adhesion-blocking anti-chicken β1 antibodies mapped within the first 160 amino acid residues of the subunit. These observations suggested that this region plays a critical role in integrin ligand recognition. In order to further define the domain in which the epitopes for these antibodies are clustered, a series of mouse/chicken chimeric β1 constructs were examined for their reactivity with each of these antibodies. Most of the antibodies recognize a region between residues 124 to 160 of the chicken β1 subunit. Computer modeling predicted a possible amphipathic α-helical configuration for the region between residues 141 to 160. Consistent with this prediction, circular dichroism and NMR analysis revealed a tendency for a synthetic peptide containing these residues to form an α-helix. The significance of this structural characteristic was demonstrated by a mutation at residue 149 that disrupted the α-helix formation and resulted in a loss of the ability to form heterodimers with α subunits, localize to focal contacts, or be transported to the cell surface. The direct involvement of residues 141 to 160 in ligand binding was supported by the ability of a peptide with this sequence to elute integrins from a fibronectin affinity column. Thus, our data suggest that residues 141 to 160 of the integrinβ1 subunit, when arranged in an α-helix configuration, participate in ligand binding.
ε-Sarcoglycan, a Broadly Expressed Homologue of the Gene Mutated in Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy 2D*

The sarcoglycans are transmembrane components of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex, which links the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix in adult muscle fibers. Mutations in all four known sarcoglycan genes (α, β, γ, and δ) have been found in humans with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. We have identified a novel protein, ε-sarcoglycan, that shares 44% amino acid identity with α-sarcoglycan (adhalin). We show that ε-sarcoglycan is a membrane-associated glycoprotein and document its expression by Northern blotting, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence. In contrast to α-δ sarcoglycans, which are expressed predominantly or exclusively in striated muscle, ε-sarcoglycan is broadly distributed in muscle and nonmuscle cells of both embryos and adults. These results raise the possibility that sarcoglycan-containing complexes mediate membrane-matrix interactions in many cell types.
Medicare Spending and Outcomes After Postacute Care for Stroke and Hip Fracture

Background:Elderly patients who leave an acute care hospital after a stroke or a hip fracture may be discharged home, or undergo postacute rehabilitative care in an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) or skilled nursing facility (SNF). Because 15% of Medicare expenditures are for these types of postacute care, it is important to understand their relative costs and the health outcomes they produce. Objective:To assess Medicare payments for and outcomes of patients discharged from acute care to an IRF, a SNF, or home after an inpatient diagnosis of stroke or hip fracture between January 2002 and June 2003. Research Design:This is an observational study based on Medicare administrative data. We adjust for observable differences in patient severity across postacute care sites, and we use instrumental variables estimation to account for unobserved patient selection. Study Outcomes:Mortality, return to community residence, and total Medicare postacute payments by 120 days after acute care discharge. Results:Relative to discharge home, IRFs improve health outcomes for hip fracture patients. SNFs reduce mortality for hip fracture patients, but increase rates of institutionalization for stroke patients. Both sites of care are far more expensive than discharge to home. Conclusions:When there is a choice between IRF and SNF care for stroke and hip fracture patients, the marginal patient is better off going to an IRF for postacute care. However, given the marginal cost of an IRF stay compared with returning home, the gains to these patients should be considered in light of the additional costs.
Tissue plasminogen activator does not increase neuronal damage in rat models of global and focal ischemia

Background: Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the only approved treatment for acute ischemic stroke. Recent results from both in vitro and in vivo animal model experiments suggest the possibility that tPA is neurotoxic. Methods: The authors evaluated the putative neurotoxicity of tPA in both global and focal animal models of ischemic stroke. Global ischemia was induced in male Wistar rats using a modified four-vessel occlusion technique, with percentage neuronal injury assessed at 7 days through necrotic and normal cell count in the CA1 region. Transient focal ischemia was induced in male spontaneously hypertensive rats subjected to middle cerebral artery clipping, with measurement of cortical infarct volume at 24 hours. tPA was administered in 1, 5, or 10 mg/kg doses given intravenously as a 10% bolus, 90% over the following hour, analogous to current human treatment protocols. Results: In the global model, percent hippocampal injury was 60% ± 23%, 66% ± 26%, 55% ± 26%, and 52% ± 12% in the saline control, 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg tPA groups, respectively. In the focal model, after 120 minutes of ischemia, the control infarct size was 151 ± 39 mm3, and for the group given 10 mg/kg of tPA, it was 158 ± 28 mm3. Conclusions: Despite sublethal insults, with moderate injury induced by ischemia, there was no evidence that increasing doses of tPA exacerbated ischemic injury.
Temporal Changes in the Influence of Hospitals and Regional Healthcare Networks on Severe Sepsis Mortality*

Objectives:There is systematic variation between hospitals in their care of severe sepsis, but little information on whether this variation impacts sepsis-related mortality, or how hospitals’ and health-systems’ impacts have changed over time. We examined whether hospital and regional organization of severe sepsis care is associated with meaningful differences in 30-day mortality in a large integrated health care system, and the extent to which those effects are stable over time. Design:In this retrospective cohort study, we used risk- and reliability-adjusted hierarchical logistic regression to estimate hospital- and region-level random effects after controlling for severity of illness using a rich mix of administrative and clinical laboratory data. Setting:One hundred fourteen U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals in 21 geographic regions. Patients:Forty-three thousand seven hundred thirty-three patients with severe sepsis in 2012, compared to 33,095 such patients in 2008. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:The median hospital in the worst quintile of performers had a risk-adjusted 30-day mortality of 16.7% (95% CI, 13.5%, 20.5%) in 2012 compared with the best quintile, which had a risk-adjusted mortality of 12.8% (95% CI, 10.7%, 15.3%). Hospitals and regions explained a statistically and clinically significant proportion of the variation in patient outcomes. Thirty-day mortality after severe sepsis declined from 18.3% in 2008 to 14.7% in 2012 despite very similar severity of illness between years. The proportion of the variance in sepsis-related mortality explained by hospitals and regions was stable between 2008 and 2012. Conclusions:In this large integrated healthcare system, there is clinically significant variation in sepsis-related mortality associated with hospitals and regions. The proportion of variance explained by hospitals and regions has been stable over time, although sepsis-related mortality has declined.
Relationship between Calcium Stone Disease and Metabolic Syndrome.

PURPOSE We aimed to investigate relationship between metabolic syndrome and calcium-oxalate stone formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between January 2008 and February 2015 we retrospectively investigated biochemical parameters and anthropometric characteristics (height, weight, and waist circumference) of 198 patients who had calcium-oxalate stones and we also randomly selected 200 participants who had no history of urolithiasis as the controls. RESULTS The presence of obesity increased the risk of calcium stones in both men (P = .003, OR = 2.92) and women (P = .03, OR = 2.18). Diabetes was significantly correlated to the risk of calcium stones (P = .04, OR = 1.94). However, when calculated separately for men and women, diabetic men had a higher risk of calcium-oxalate stone disease (P = .04, OR = 2.59), but diabetic women did not (P > .05). Hypertension also significantly increased the risk of calcium stones when compared with normotensive individuals (P = .0001, OR = 3.03). CONCLUSION The risk for the development of calcium-oxalate stone disease is most significantly associated with the patient's body mass index and the presence of hypertension.
Factors Affecting Entertainment Mobile Application Adoption Marketing Master ' s thesis

Today consumers are requiring more and more services that can be used regardless of time and location; the high adoption of next-generation mobile handsets is creating huge opportunities for new and innovative mobile services. However, research of mobile communications has not been able to keep up with this development. The purpose of this thesis is to answer the need to understand the factors that drive entertainment mobile services ́ acceptance and adoption. Simultaneously the thesis further strengthens the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use 2 (UTAUT2) by expanding it to cover the context of entertainment mobile applications. Overview of the past research is provided and UTAUT2 is chosen as a framework for this thesis and is tested with survey data of 150 respondents. Factor analyses is used to test the 7 factors that influence consumer adoption of entertainment mobile applications: (1)performance expectancy, (2) effort expectancy, (3) social influence, (4) facilitating conditions, (5) hedonic motivation, (6) price value, and (7) habit. Also cluster analysis and cross-tabulation are provided. The results indicate that altogether six factors (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, hedonic motivation, price value, and habit) affect adoption of an entertainment mobile application. Cluster analysis and cross-tabulation found five different user segments that are (1) average app users seeking enjoyment and usefulness, (2) unlikely users, (3) super users, (4) users under social pressure, and (5) paying users seeking usefulness.
Cardiac 123I‐MIBG scintigraphy in patients with essential tremor

In some cases, it is difficult to differentiate essential tremor (ET) from Parkinson's disease (PD), especially in the early stages of the disease. We investigated cardiac sympathetic dysfunction using 123I‐metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) myocardial scintigraphy in 22 patients with ET, in comparison with early PD and tremor‐dominant PD (TDPD). The mean ratio of 123I‐MIBG uptake in the region of interest in the heart to that in the mediastinum (H/M ratio) was significantly greater in patients with ET (1.99 ± 0.21) than in those with either TDPD (1.28 ± 0.11) or early PD (1.28 ± 0.17; each P < 0.001). The H/M ratio in all patients with ET was greater than two standard deviations above the range of the ratio in the patients with early PD or TDPD. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society