Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neuropsychiatric profiles in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia

Objective: To explore the neuropsychiatric manifestations in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cortical and subcortical vascular dementia (VaD). Methods: We investigated consecutive patients with dementia. All the participants received brain computed tomography. The diagnosis of dementia was confirmed by clinical criteria and the imaging findings. Only patients with probable AD, and subcortical and cortical VaD were included. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to evaluate global cognitive function, and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) was used to assess neuropsychiatric symptoms. Results: Of the 536 participants with dementia, 320 (59.7%) had AD, 161 (30%) had subcortical VaD, 35 (6.4%) had cortical VaD, and 16 (2.9%) had mixed cortical and subcortical VaD. Cortical VaD patients had the highest mean composite NPI scores in all domains and AD patients had the lowest composite scores in most domains. The mean composite scores of the apathy and sleep disturbance domains in patients with cortical VaD were significantly higher than those in the patients with AD after controlling for years of education and MMSE score (p<0.01). Conclusions: There were few differences among the patients with AD, subcortical VaD and cortical VaD. The most consistent differences were the high sleep disturbance scores in those with cortical VaD.
Pedagogical Content Knowledge Challenges of Accounting Teachers

Abstract The purpose of the study was to explore the pedagogical content knowledge challenges faced by teachers in teaching Accounting as an integrated subject in Grade nine (9), in the senior phase schools in South Africa. Participants were a purposive sample of 12 EMS teachers (female = 58, 3%, Black = 95%, age range 26 to 43 years old). Data was collected using semi-structured individual interviews and questionnaires from the participants. The results showed that some of the teachers are not qualified to teach Accounting and concentrate on Economics and Business Studies only, and time allocated to teachers to teach Accounting is insufficient. Learners lack prior knowledge in the subject from the previous grade and the results showed that the Accounting part is not covered in a lot of the books. The study recommended that qualified teachers be appointed to teach the three subjects and Accounting must be separated from the other subjects.
Selective sterol accumulation in ABCG5/ABCG8-deficient mice Published, JLR Papers in Press, December 1, 2003. DOI 10.1194/jlr.M300377-JLR200

The ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters ABCG5 and ABCG8 limit intestinal absorption and promote biliary secretion of neutral sterols. Mutations in either gene cause sitosterolemia, a rare recessive disease in which plasma and tissue levels of several neutral sterols are increased to varying degrees. To determine why patients with sitosterolemia preferentially accumulate noncholesterol sterols, levels of cholesterol and the major plant sterols were compared in plasma, liver, bile, and brain of wild-type and ABCG5/ABCG8-deficient (G5G8−/−) mice. The total sterol content of liver and plasma was similar in G5G8−/− mice and wild-type animals despite an ∼30-fold increase in noncholesterol sterol levels in the knockout animals. The relative enrichment of each sterol in the plasma and liver of G5G8−/− mice (stigmasterol > sitosterol = cholestanol > bassicasterol > campesterol > cholesterol) reflected its relative enrichment in the bile of wild-type mice. These results indicate that 24-alkylated, Δ22, and 5α-reduced sterols are preferentially secreted into bile and that preferential biliary secretion of noncholesterol sterols by ABCG5 and ABCG8 prevents the accumulation of these sterols in normal animals. The mRNA levels for 13 enzymes in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway were reduced in the livers of the G5G8−/− mice, despite a 50% reduction in hepatic cholesterol level. Thus, the accumulation of sterols other than cholesterol is sensed by the cholesterol regulatory machinery.
A multi-sectoral approach to providing reproductive health information and services to young people in Western Kenya: Kenya Adolescent Reproductive Health Project.

Informing adolescents about appropriate and acceptable behaviours and ways to protect themselves against unwanted and unprotected sex has proved problematic in Kenya. Education programmes for in and out of school adolescents are lacking there is controversy around providing services to sexually active adolescents and a pervasive concern that sexuality education and contraceptive services leads to promiscuity. Unbiased and accurate information and services must be provided if adolescents are to delay becoming sexually active to resist pressures to engage in non-consensual sex and to protect themselves against unwanted pregnancies and infections if they do have sex. Moreover strategies for providing such information and services need to be acceptable to the community and be sustainable over time. In response to this situation the Population Council’s Frontiers in Reproductive Health Program and the Program for Appropriate Technology in Heath (PATH) Kenya office collaborated with three Government of Kenya ministries – the Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MOEST) Ministry of Health (MOH) and the former Department of Social Services (now within the Ministry of Gender Sports Culture and Social Services (MOGSCSS) – to design and implement a multi-sectoral project with the following goals: To improve knowledge about reproductive health and encourage a responsible and healthy attitude towards sexuality among adolescents; To delay the onset of sexual activity among younger adolescents; To decrease risky behaviours among sexually active adolescents. (excerpt)
Identification of common synaptic inputs to motor neurons from the rectified electromyogram

• Oscillatory drives at the input of a pool of motor neurons are transmitted to the motor neuron output (neural drive to the muscle) in an approximately linear way if these inputs are common to all motor neurons. • The neural drive to the muscle is transformed in the EMG signal that can be thus used to extract information on the oscillatory inputs to motor neurons. • The transmission of oscillatory inputs is closer to a linear transmission for the raw or for the rectified EMG depending on the energy of the raw and rectified motor unit action potentials at the input frequency and on the degree of amplitude cancellation. • Amplitude cancellation negatively influences the effectiveness of EMG rectification in identifying with linear methods oscillatory inputs to motor neurons, so that rectification is preferable over the raw EMG only when the degree of cancellation is low.
The Origins of State Pure Food Regulation

Why did state governments begin to regulate the food industry in the late nineteenth century? One possible explanation is that pure food regulation was the result of rent seeking on the part of traditional food producers who wanted to limit the availability of new substitutes. Another potential hypothesis is that regulation was desired because it helped solve an asymmetric information problem in the market for food products. I find the evidence to be more consistent with the latter hypothesis.
MicroRNA396-Targeted SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE Is Required to Repress Flowering and Is Related to the Development of Abnormal Flower Symptoms by the Phyllody Symptoms1 Effector1

A PHYL1 effector protein interferes with miR396-mediated transcriptional regulator mRNA decay, enhancing the transcription factor for abnormal flower development. Leafy flowers are the major symptoms of peanut witches’ broom (PnWB) phytoplasma infection in Catharanthus roseus. The orthologs of the phyllody symptoms1 (PHYL1) effector of PnWB from other species of phytoplasma can trigger the proteasomal degradation of several MADS box transcription factors, resulting in leafy flower formation. In contrast, the flowering negative regulator gene SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP) was up-regulated in PnWB-infected C. roseus plants, but most microRNA (miRNA) genes had repressed expression. Coincidentally, transgenic Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants expressing the PHYL1 gene of PnWB (PHYL1 plants), which show leafy flower phenotypes, up-regulate SVP of Arabidopsis (AtSVP) but repress a putative regulatory miRNA of AtSVP, miR396. However, the mechanism by which PHYL1 regulates AtSVP and miR396 is unknown, and the evidence of miR396-mediated AtSVP degradation is lacking. Here, we show that miR396 triggers AtSVP messenger RNA (mRNA) decay using genetic approaches, a reporter assay, and high-throughput degradome profiles. Genetic evidence indicates that PHYL1 plants and atmir396a-1 mutants have higher AtSVP accumulation, whereas the transgenic plants overexpressing MIR396 display lower AtSVP expression. The reporter assay indicated that target-site mutation results in decreasing the miR396-mediated repression efficiency. Moreover, degradome profiles revealed that miR396 triggers AtSVP mRNA decay rather than miRNA-mediated cleavage, implying that AtSVP caused miR396-mediated translation inhibition. We hypothesize that PHYL1 directly or indirectly interferes with miR396-mediated AtSVP mRNA decay and synergizes with other effects (e.g. MADS box transcription factor degradation), resulting in abnormal flower formation. We anticipate our findings to be a starting point for studying the posttranscriptional regulation of PHYL1 effectors in symptom development.
Spinocerebellar ataxia in a large kindred

We studied a large kindred with autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) to assess reproductive performance, the impact of genetic counseling, and linkage relationships of the SCA locus. Reproduction was not lower in those with SCA than in unaffected sibs or first cousins. Genetic counseling reduced reproduction during the risk period for development of SCA. Given autosomal dominant transmission of a single gene, we found strong evidence that the locus for SCA in this kindred is linked to the HLA loci.
Do Part–Whole Relations Produce Facilitation in the Picture–Word Interference Task?

Three experiments used the picture–word interference task to evaluate competing models of lexical access in spoken word production. Both the presence of a part–whole relation and association between the target and the interfering word were manipulated. Part terms associated with targets produced facilitation at early stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs; –300 ms in Experiment 1, –300 and –150 ms in Experiment 3), but not at SOA 0 ms. Otherwise, part terms tended to produce interference, with unassociated part terms producing a significant semantic interference effect (SIE) at SOA of 0 ms in Experiment 1, and a similar trend in Experiment 3. Experiment 2 replicated the materials and procedure of Costa, Alario, and Caramazza (2005, Experiment 2. On the categorical nature of the semantic interference effect in the picture–word interference paradigm. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 12(1), 125–131), yet failed to find any semantic facilitation at SOA 0 ms. We propose that these findings are consistent with lexical competition accounts of SIE but difficult to explain in terms of the plausibility of the interfering words as responses to the target.
Synaptic distribution of individually labeled mitral cells in the external plexiform layer of the mouse olfactory bulb

Mitral cells are the major projection neurons of the olfactory bulb. They receive olfactory inputs, regulate information, and project their axons to the olfactory cortex. To understand output regulation of mitral cells better, we established a method to visualize individual projection neurons and quantitatively examined their synaptic distribution. Individual mitral cells were labeled by viral injection, reconstructed three dimensionally with light microscopy, and serial sectioned for electron microscopy. Synaptic distributions were analyzed in electron microscopically reconstructed cell bodies, two regions of secondary dendrites (near the somata and ∼200 μm from the somata), and primary dendrites. The ratio of presynaptic sites (60%) and reciprocal synapses (60% presynaptic and 80% postsynaptic sites) were similar in each region. Characteristically, primary dendrite synapses were distributed mainly within the inner half of the external plexiform layer (EPL). For comparison, tufted cells were also examined, and the synaptic distribution in two secondary dendrite regions, which corresponded with mitral cells, was analyzed. The results showed that the ratio of reciprocal synapses (80% presynaptic and 90% postsynaptic sites) was greater than in mitral cells. The distribution of symmetrical synapses was also analyzed with synaptic and neuronal markers, such as parvalbumin, vesicular gamma‐aminobutyric acid transporter, and gephyrin. Parvalbumin‐expressing neurons tended to form synapses on secondary dendrites near the somata and were more uniformly distributed on primary dendrites of mitral cells. These results indicate that local mitral cell synaptic circuits are formed in accordance with their functional roles and restricted to the inner half of the EPL. J. Comp. Neurol. 525:1633–1648, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Legal source, institutional quality and FDI flows in Africa

Purpose This paper aims to find out how the legal system interacts with other institutions in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Africa. Design/methodology/approach The authors use annual panel data of 49 African countries over the period 1980 to 2011, and use the system generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation technique and pooled panel data regression. Findings The authors find that the source of a country’s legal system deters FDI inflow as institutions alone cannot bring in the needed quantum of FDI. In terms of trading blocs, it was found that there is negative significant relationship between institutional quality and FDI for South African Development Community (SADC) as well as Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) countries. Practical implications For policy implications, the results suggest that reliance on institutions alone cannot project the continent to attract the needed FDI. Originality/value Empiricists have devoted considerable effort to estimating the relationship between institutions and FDI on the African continent, but this paper seeks to ascertain the effect of legal systems and institutional quality within African specific trade and regional blocks.
Local Meanings of Targeted Transparency

Targeted transparency has become a popular regulatory instrument, but its effects are fuzzy because disclosure does not always lead to better compliance. To understand this fuzziness, it is necessary to study the meanings managers attribute to disclosure systems. An empirical analysis of disclosure systems for food safety in Denmark and for environmental safety in the Netherlands confirms that the range of managerial reactions is broader than expected on the basis of rational-choice theory, but can be explained by focusing on local meanings. The article illustrates the shortcomings of a homogeneous approach to targeted transparency policy. Regulators should adopt a bottom-up rather than a top-down approach and develop differentiated policies based on a more nuanced understanding of the meanings managers attribute to targeted transparency.
Changes in insulin sensitivity and body weight during and after peginterferon and ribavirin therapy for hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Chronic hepatitis C is associated with an increased prevalence of insulin resistance, which might result from liver disease, metabolic factors, or the hepatitis C virus (HCV) itself. The effect of antiviral treatment on insulin sensitivity is not well-known. We evaluated changes in insulin resistance and weight in patients with hepatitis C during and after peginterferon and ribavirin therapy. METHODS Virahep-C was a prospective, multicenter study of a 48-week course of combination antiviral therapy in patients infected with HCV genotype 1. Insulin resistance (IR) was estimated by the homeostasis model assessment index (HOMA2-IR) based on fasting glucose and insulin levels. RESULTS Among 341 patients, 40% had insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR > 2.0). The presence of insulin resistance was associated with increasing age, body mass index (BMI), and fibrosis stage. Among patients with insulin resistance at the start of the trial, median decreases in HOMA2-IR values during treatment were 0.74 at 24 weeks and 0.89 at 48 weeks, whereas BMI decreased by 1.2 and 2.2 at the same time points (P < .001 for all). At follow-up, HOMA2-IR and BMI levels returned toward baseline values in patients who did not respond or relapsed, but HOMA2-IR values remained significantly lower in patients with sustained virologic response (SVR) (P < .001), despite increases in BMI. CONCLUSIONS In patients with HCV genotype 1 infections, therapy with peginterferon and ribavirin is associated with decreases in body weight and insulin resistance. Among patients with insulin resistance before treatment, resolution of HCV infection results in sustained improvements in the HOMA-IR index, suggesting that HCV could have a direct role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance.
Applying a holistic cybersecurity framework for global IT organizations

Examined are the three core themes: the role of education in cybersecurity, the role of technology in cybersecurity, and the role of policy in cybersecurity. These topics are essential for organizations seeking to establish environments that allow them to be successful irregardless of location while examining external and internal conditions. This study examined the research gaps within cybersecurity as it relates to core themes in an effort to develop stronger policies, education programs, and hardened technologies for cybersecurity use. This work illustrates how cybersecurity can be broken into these three core areas and used together to address issues such as developing training environments for teaching real cybersecurity events. It will further show the correlations between technologies and policies for system Certification and Accreditation. Finally, it will offer insights on how cybersecurity can be used to maintain wirelessly security for international and national security for global organizations.
Identiﬁcation and Characterization of CRF02_AG, CRF06_cpx, and CRF09_cpx Recombinant Subtypes in Mali, West Africa

the Abstract Multiple HIV-1 subtypes and circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) are known to cocirculate in Africa. In West Africa, the high prevalence of CRF02_AG, and cocirculation of subtype A, CRF01_AE, CRF06_cpx, and other complex intersubtype recombinants has been well documented. Mali, situated in the heart of West Africa, is likely to be affected by the spread of recombinant subtypes. However, the dynamics of the spread of HIV-1 recombinant subtypes as well as nonrecombinant HIV-1 group M subtypes in this area have not been systematically assessed. Herein, we undertook genetic analyses on full-length env sequences derived from HIV-1-infected individuals living in the capital city of Mali, Bamako. Of 23 samples we examined, 16 were classiﬁed as CRF02_AG and three had a subsubtype A3. Among the remaining HIV-1 strains, CRF06_cpx and CRF09_cpx were each found in two patients. Comparison of phylogenies for six matched pol and full-length env sequences revealed that two strains had discordant subtype = CRF designations between the pol and env regions: one had A3 pol CRF02_AG env and the other had CRF02_AG pol A3 env . Taken together, our study demonstrated the high prevalence of CRF02_AG and complexity of circulating HIV-1 strains in Mali.
LPS-induced cytokine production in the monocytic cell line THP-1 determined by multiple quantitative competitive PCR (QC-PCR)

Background : Quantifying cytokines on the protein level can be problematic because of low concentrations or degradation during sample handling. Aiming towards finding a simple method by which to quantify cytokines on the mRNA level, we combined existing and established molecular biology techniques. Based on the principle of quantitative competitive RT-PCR with a DNA-competitor, IL-1 g, IL-6, IL-12 f and the housekeeping enzyme GAPDH are measured at levels down to 200 copies of mRNA. Methods : As a source of mRNA, the total RNA from 4 samples of 5 2 10 6 THP-1 cells stimulated with LPS (1 µg/ml for 24 h) was isolated. For competitors, we constructed sequences similar to the target sequences, but with deletion or insertion of 10 - 15% of the target length. For validating this method, we performed first strand synthesis on different days using different amounts of RNA (1 - 4 µg) isolated from the same pool of cells. Quantitative competitive PCR was accomplished using different amounts of cDNA (0.125 - 4 µL). Using IL-1 g as an example, the assay was validated for a dynamic range of 5 - 300 2 10 3 copies. Results : A linear correlation was found between output and amount of RNA for cDNA synthesis, signifying that the final result of the analysis was linearly related to the amount of RNA or cDNA when operating within the range 1 - 4 µg (RNA isolation). Conclusion : The quantitative, competitive RT-PCR produces highly reproducible results within a 60-fold dynamic range.
Atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance. Histologic findings and proposed management.

OBJECTIVE To increase understanding of the clinical significance of atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGUS) on cervical cytology and to suggest a management plan. STUDY DESIGN All Pap smears classified as AGUS over a period of five years at the University of Michigan Medical Center were reviewed and the diagnosis confirmed. The charts of these patients were reviewed for demographics, significant previous medical history, symptoms, diagnostic studies performed and final histologic diagnoses. RESULTS In 1993-1998, a total of 208,041 Pap smears were read. Two hundred seven smears from 189 patients were classified as AGUS, for an incidence of 0.1%. There were 136 patients with follow-up information and 114 patients with histologic diagnoses. In 55 of the 114 patients (48%), significant histologic abnormalities were observed, including 11 endometrial cancers, 1 invasive adenocarcinoma of the cervix, 3 adenocarcinomas in situ of the cervix, 18 CIN 3 lesions and 5 CIN 2 lesions. Among 20 patients with Pap smears subclassified as "atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance, favor benign process," there were two CIN 2, five CIN 3 and one adenocarcinoma in situ of the cervix. CONCLUSION A diagnosis of AGUS requires an aggressive workup because of the high rate of cancer and precancerous lesions. The evaluation, at the very least, should include colposcopy with directed biopsies and endocervical curettage. Postmenopausal patients, those with irregular bleeding and those with high risk characteristics should also undergo endometrial biopsy.
The Mast Cell in Fibrosis

Mast cells are bone marrow-derived cells,’ found primanly in the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and upper and lower respiratory tract.2 They have numerous metachromatic granules containing preformed products including histamine, heparin, chemotactic factors, and pro tease^. ^ Subpopulations of mast cells have been classified in rodents as connective-tissue mast cells (CTMCs) and mucosal mast cells (MMCS). ~. ’ The MMCs appear to be identical to the murine bone marrow-derived mast ceL6 These subpopulations may be distinguished from one another by tissue distribution and fixation and staining properties. The CTMCs are found primarily in the dermis, peritoneal cavity, and muscularis propria of the stomach MMCs are present in the respiratory tract and lamina propria of the gastrointestinal rnucosa. * Fixation and staining features of the two subtypes are a function of the proteoglycan content of the mast-cell granule^. ^ The predominant proteoglycan of CTMCs is heparin; in MMCs it is chondroitin sulfate E. Similarly, human mast cells are also heterogeneous, and subpopulations have been characterized by protease content* (tryptase and chymase vs. tryptase