Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rapidly progressive neurodegenerative dementias.

BACKGROUND Neurodegenerative dementias are typically characterized by an insidious onset and a relatively slowly progressive course. Less common are patients with a rapidly progressive course to death. OBJECTIVE To characterize patients with a neurodegenerative disease and a rapidly progressive course to death. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Using a text word search for "rapid" and "dementia" in the same sentence, the Mayo Clinic Medical Records Linkage system was used to identify all patients evaluated between January 1, 2000, and September 30, 2007, with brain autopsy (N = 96) at a tertiary care medical center. Of these 96 patients, we included only those with disease duration of less than 4 years to death and with histological diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Rapidly progressive dementia with death sooner than 4 years after onset and pathological diagnosis at our institution of a neurodegenerative disease. RESULTS We included 22 patients (10 men). Although 8 cases (36%) had Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), the rest had frontotemporal lobar degeneration with motor neuron degeneration (5 cases [23%]), a tauopathy (progressive supranuclear palsy or corticobasal degeneration) (4 cases [18%]), diffuse Lewy body disease (3 cases [14%]), or Alzheimer disease (2 cases [9%]). All of the patients with CJD died 12 months or sooner after onset, whereas the others had an illness duration longer than 12 months. Notably, all of the 3 patients with diffuse Lewy body disease but no others initially experienced a transient postoperative or illness-associated encephalopathy, then relative normality for 2 years, and finally a rapidly progressive dementia and decline to death in 4 to 12 months. CONCLUSIONS Based on this cohort, although CJD is the most likely cause of a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative dementia, frontotemporal lobar degeneration with motor neuron degeneration, diffuse Lewy body disease, tauopathies, and Alzheimer disease can also cause a rapidly progressive dementia. If illness duration is beyond 12 months, a non-CJD neurodegenerative disease may be more likely than CJD to be the diagnosis.
Understanding the Rules of the Game

Understanding the beliefs, perceptions, needs, and communication behavior of target audiences has always been a key element in successful extension programs. Yet during recep.t years at the University of California and other land grant universities, the trend has been to hire extension staff with only technical expertise; few have training in the social sciences and extension methodology. They are expected to learn these critical extension skills from their colleagues and through experience.
In technology forecasting using bibliometrics what information source is relevant when?: Exploring different source types

This paper explores the different sources to be used for the purposes of technology forecasting using bibliometrics. The Technology Life Cycle Indicators are taken as a starting point, for they take the whole life cycle into account and point to indicators for the different phases of this cycle. Two indicators were tested: the applied research phase, indicated by the number of hits in databases such as the Engineering Index; and the application phase, indicated by the number of hits on News Abstracts Daily. The latter indicator demonstrated unexpectedly early activity compared to the engineering source. The news source was then looked at in more detail and divided into news categories. Of the different news categories, “magazines and journals” showed an early appearance, and “newswires” and “blogs” a late booming activity. Overall, the results showed that the sources in the business environment should be looked at more broadly, as there is information available from various sources already early in the technology's life cycle.
Can an Investor Profit from Return Predictability in Real Time?

Despite the extensive empirical evidence on return predictability, the question whether investors can profit from return predictability in real time remains unsettled. One problem is that the predictive model is likely misspecified, which has received little attention. By taking a more careful approach that guards against model mis-specification, we study the economic significance of return predictability by evaluating extensively the out-of-sample portfolio performance of various predictive models and variations of predictive variables. We find that investors can benefit from predicting the sign, but not the magnitude, of the market expected returns only in periods when the market performs poorly. We also find that there is no significant performance difference among the predictive models, although the best statistical model often performs the worst and a GARCH feature seems important.
Improving System Efficiency for the More Electric Aircraft: A Look at dc\/dc Converters for the Avionic Onboard dc Microgrid

The More Electric Aircraft (MEA) initiative aims to increase the penetration of electrical systems in aircraft to decrease weight and further develop overall efficiency and reliability [1]. Newer aircraft, such as the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A380, have more electrical power installed compared with older models, and this trend is not expected to change any time soon. Although most aircraft feature some amount of electrical power, this is often limited to the electronics (i.e., flight or entertainment systems) or auxiliary systems (i.e., lighting or anti-icing). The core systems of the actuation still rely on hydraulic power.
Compression of individual sequences via variable-rate coding

Compressibility of individual sequences by the class of generalized finite-state information-lossless encoders is investigated. These encoders can operate in a variable-rate mode as well as a fixed-rate one, and they allow for any finite-state scheme of variable-length-to-variable-length coding. For every individual infinite sequence x a quantity \rho(x) is defined, called the compressibility of x , which is shown to be the asymptotically attainable lower bound on the compression ratio that can be achieved for x by any finite-state encoder. This is demonstrated by means of a constructive coding theorem and its converse that, apart from their asymptotic significance, also provide useful performance criteria for finite and practical data-compression tasks. The proposed concept of compressibility is also shown to play a role analogous to that of entropy in classical information theory where one deals with probabilistic ensembles of sequences rather than with individual sequences. While the definition of \rho(x) allows a different machine for each different sequence to be compressed, the constructive coding theorem leads to a universal algorithm that is asymptotically optimal for all sequences.
Acquisition of Borrelia burgdorferi Infection by Larval Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Associated With Engorgement Measures

Abstract Measuring rates of acquisition of the Lyme disease pathogen, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato Johnson, Schmid, Hyde, Steigerwalt & Brenner, by the larval stage of Ixodes scapularis Say is a useful tool for xenodiagnoses of B. burgdorferi in vertebrate hosts. In the nymphal and adult stages of I. scapularis, the duration of attachment to hosts has been shown to predict both body engorgement during blood feeding and the timing of infection with B. burgdorferi. However, these relationships have not been established for the larval stage of I. scapularis. We sought to establish the relationship between body size during engorgement of larval I. scapularis placed on B. burgdorferi-infected, white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus Rafinesque) and the presence or absence of infection in larvae sampled from hosts over time. Body size, time, and their interaction were the best predictors of larval infection with B. burgdorferi. We found that infected larvae showed significantly greater engorgement than uninfected larvae as early as 24 h after placement on a host. These findings may suggest that infection with B. burgdorferi affects the larval feeding process. Alternatively, larvae that engorge more rapidly on hosts may acquire infections faster. Knowledge of these relationships can be applied to improve effective xenodiagnosis of B. burgdorferi in white-footed mice. Further, these findings shed light on vector–pathogen–host interactions during an understudied part of the Lyme disease transmission cycle.
Ways of expressing counterfactual conditionals in Mandarin Chinese

Abstract This paper discusses the ways in which Mandarin Chinese expresses counterfactual conditionals, and endeavours to motivate and theorize the use of such strategies. I aim to give an overall picture of Mandarin Chinese counterfactual conditionals, a topic which has hitherto not been covered in the Chinese linguistic literature. The strategies identified are the use of special lexicalized chunks to directly encode counterfactual meaning; the creation of tense mismatch and the accompanying counterfactual meaning, either through the use of relative tense pointing toward a hypothetical past event, or through the use of some special time adverbs; and the use of pure inference over conditionals with impossible or absurd antecedents. Overlaying these strategies is the presence of context-dependent simplifications, which may prompt the language user to omit the defining features of a given strategy.
Optimization of Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density and Root-zone Temperature for Enhancing Secondary Metabolite Accumulation and Production of Coriander in Plant Factory

Coriander is an important aromatic plant, and contains abundant secondary metabolites that are considered to be beneficial for health. The demand for high-quality and fresh coriander in large cities has been growing rapidly. Plant factories are advanced indoor cultivation systems that can produce high-quality plants inside cities with a high productivity. This study aimed to maximize plant growth and the secondary metabolites production of coriander, by regulating photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and root-zone temperature (RZT). Three PPFDs (100, 200, and 300 µmol m−2 s−1) and three RZTs (20, 25, and 30 °C) were applied on coriander plants grown hydroponically in a plant factory. The plant biomass and water content of leaf and stem were highest under RZT of 25 °C with a PPFD of 300 µmol m−2 s−1. However, chlorogenic acid, rutin, trans-2-decenal, total phenolic concentrations and the antioxidant capacity of the coriander plant were greatest under the combination of PPFD (300 µmol m−2 s−1) and RZT (30 °C). Chlorogenic acid in leaves responded more sensitively to PPFD and RZT than rutin. Controlling PPFD and RZT is effective in optimizing the yield and quality of coriander plants. The findings are expected to be applied to commercial plant production in plant factories.
Structural normalization of the lymphoid tissue in asymptomatic HIV-infected patients after 48 weeks of potent antiretroviral therapy

BackgroundThe hallmark of HIV infection is the involution and destruction of lymphoid tissue. However, very little information exists on the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on lymphoid tissue structure. ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of a HAART regimen after 48 weeks on the architecture and cell regeneration of tonsil lymphoid tissue in HIV-infected patients with CD4 T cell counts ⩾ 500/μl. MethodsFrom June 1997 to February 1998 all asymptomatic HIV-infected patients with CD4 T cell counts ⩾ 500/μl seen at our unit were offered quadruple antiretroviral therapy. Tonsil biopsies were obtained at baseline and at 48 weeks. Tonsil tissue sections were examined to evaluate structural and immunohistochemical changes by two blinded and independent pathologists. Cell numbers were counted for selected markers in T-dependent zones. ResultsEleven patients were evaluable, six were excluded because of insufficient or inadequate sampling in at least one of the biopsies. Cellular depletion, plasma cell accumulation and prominent vessels were observed in all cases; three excluded patients with evaluable baseline biopsies showed similar tissue lesions. Follow-up biopsies demonstrated some degree of improvement in all patients. Germinal centres appeared in seven cases that were not seen at baseline. CD4 cell counts increased and CD8 cell counts decreased significantly in lymphoid tissue. An increase in CD45RA+ cells was observed; however, the proportion of CD45+Ki67+ cells did not differ between baseline and 48 weeks. ConclusionThis study shows an unexpected range of moderate to severe lymphoid tissue lesions in mildly immunosuppressed HIV-infected patients, which was partly restored after 48 weeks of HAART.
Does the face‐specific N170 component reflect the activity of a specialized eye processor?

EVENT-RELATED brain potentials (ERPs) to intact faces and to faces without eyes were compared to ERPs elicited by houses to find out whether the face-specific N170 component reflects the activity of a cortical eye processor. When compared to houses, face stimuli elicited a posterior negativity (N170) and a frontocentral positivity. N170 amplitude was not affected by the presence or absence of eyes, but N170 was delayed in response to faces without eyes. It is concluded that the N170 is not directly related to the activity of cortical regions sensitive to the presence of eyes, and is more likely to reflect processes involved in the structural encoding of face components.
The Effect of Game-Based Balance Training on Body Composition and Psychomotor Performance of Obese Students

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of game-based balance training on body composition and psychomotor performance of obese students. Methods: The study recruited a convenience sample of 23 volunteer students in the fifth and sixth grades. The students were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Anthropometric characteristics including weight, percent body fat, and muscle mass were measured at pretest and posttest via a body composition analyzer. The level of physical activity was measured by the international physical activity questionnaire-short form (IPAQ-SF). Psychomotor performance was measured using Vienna’s universal system. Results: The results indicated that all parameters of psychomotor performance improved following the game-based balance training (P ≤ 0.05). Median cognitive reaction time (532 ms at pretest vs. 520 ms at posttest; P = 0.027) and median motor time (1.90 at pretest vs. 1.75 s at posttest; P = 0.001) improved significantly after the intervention. Movement accuracy including correct response (20.50 at pretest vs. 22.83 at posttest; P = 0.001) and correct rejection (30.37 at pretest vs. 32.2 at posttest; P = 0.001) also improved after the exercise protocol. However, no significant change was found in body composition variables (P ≥ 0.05). Conclusions: Game-based balance training is highly recommended for improving the psychomotor performance of obese students. However, such an exercise was unable to make positive changes in the body composition of obese students.
5-allyl-2'-deoxyuridine inhibition of nucleoside phosphorylase in HeLa cells containing mycoplasma.

5-Allyl-2′-deoxyuridine (AUdR) inhibits nucleoside phosphorylase activity associated with mycoplasma-contaminated HeLa (HeLa/PPLO) cells. This has been demonstrated in cell culture experiments in which AUdR allowed thymidine to support HeLa/PPLO growth in a system dependent upon thymidine, in which, because of phosphorolytic catabolism, thymidine alone had been unable to do so. Inhibition of the exaggerated nucleoside phosphorylase activity of HeLa/PPLO by AUdR restored the chemotherapeutic activity of 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine on these cells. In experiments with isotopically labeled deoxynucleosides, AUdR inhibited nucleoside catabolism by HeLa/PPLO, by a mycoplasma culture, and by purified horse liver thymidine phosphorylase. Lesser inhibition of nucleoside phosphorylase activity in one or more of these systems was obtained with N -3-methylthymidine, N -3-methyluridine, 5-trifluoromethyl-2′-deoxyuridine, and other 5-substituted 2′-deoxyuridines. AUdR showed no biologic activity other than inhibiting nucleoside phosphorylase, a specificity that recommends its further investigation as an adjuvant compound in circumstances where inhibition of phosphorolytic destruction of nucleoside substrates or drugs is desirable.
The Determinants of Aid Volatility

Flows of official development assistance (ODA) to recipient countries have been highly volatile over the past 40 years. There is significant evidence that volatile aid can negatively impact growth through several channels, but less is known about the sources of that volatility. Using an auto-regressive conditional heteroskedasticity model, we generate conditional variances for total aid flows to all aid-recipient countries between 1960 and 2008. We then examine the effects of both recipient-country and donor-related factors on this resulting volatility. We find that some degree of volatility is caused by events in recipient countries, mainly civil wars and adverse regime change–all of which increase the unpredictability of aid flows. But larger, unexpected swings in aid tend to be due to the concentration of aid portfolios combined with the prevalence of donor herding. Our results demonstrate, additionally, that the United States is the most volatile aid-giver, but that volatility is mostly due to US aid recipients receiving unanticipated aid windfalls. Our findings are consistent when we remove aid flows for humanitarian assistance, emergency relief, food aid, technical assistance, and debt relief. These results demonstrate the need for donor action in mitigating aid volatility. * Financial support from the AusAid Office of Development Effectiveness and the Wolfensohn Center for Development at the Brookings Institution is gratefully acknowledged. The authors also thank Anirban Ghosh for invaluable research assistance. ** Associate Professor of International Development, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service and Department of Government, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., and nonresident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C., desair@georgetown.edu. *** Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C., hkharas@brookings.edu.
Outcomes of two‐drug maintenance immunosuppression for pediatric renal transplantation: 10‐yr follow‐up in a single center

Minimizing IS to reduce side effects without compromising long‐term renal transplant survival is the goal of all IS protocols. We conducted a retrospective study of pediatric renal transplants performed August 1988 to July 2008 and treated with two‐drug maintenance therapy by one of three protocols: prednisone/cyclosporine without induction (SB) or with daclizumab induction (SBI), or tacrolimus/mycophenolate with daclizumab induction (SF). Kaplan–Meier survival curves were used to determine graft and patient survival at one, three, five, and 10 yr. Associations between graft survival and patient/transplant characteristics were determined using log‐rank test and CPH model adjusting for treatment group. About 208 patients were included in the analysis (96 SB, 97 SBI, 15 SF; 148 DD, 60 LD, 37 pre‐emptive). Overall graft and patient survival at one, three, five, and 10 yr were similar to the previously published results of pediatric renal transplants in similar years treated predominantly with three‐drug maintenance therapy (https://web.emmes.com/study/ped/annlrept/2010). Only biopsy‐proven TG was significantly associated with worse graft survival (HR 11.5, 95% CI: 3.4, 38.7). Malignancy rate was low (2.4%) with little PTLD (0.5%). Few opportunistic or other infections occurred (<5% patients). Minimizing IS to a two‐drug maintenance regimen had no adverse effect on long‐term transplant outcome and had low malignancy and infection rates.
The Effect of Propanil Co‐application on 2,4‐D Sorption by Soil

The herbicide 2,4‐D is often applied as a tank mixture in combination with other herbicide products. However, current information on 2,4‐D sorption by soil is largely based on batch‐equilibrium experiments without considering the competition of other herbicides for sorption sites by soil. This study quantified the effect of the herbicide propanil on the sorption of 2,4‐D in soil. Results indicated that propanil competed with 2,4‐D for sorption sites, particularly in soils with an organic carbon content greater than 3.6% The decrease in 2,4‐D sorption by soil, as a result of propanil competition, was most notably for herbicide concentrations that are typical of recommended field rates. We conclude that herbicide co‐applications on agricultural fields have the potential to increase the mobility of herbicides in soil.
Forming, developing and sustaining social partnerships

Stephen Billett, Allie Clemans and Terri Seddon consder the principles and practices that build and sustain social partnerships in communities in a range of contexts. They identify three types of social partnerships, and discuss the implications of changing circumstances for the principles and practices. This project is phase 1 of a two-phase project. Phase 2 will investigate the application of these principles and practices to vocational education and training in specific regions.
Genome wide comparison of Ethiopian Leishmania donovani strains reveals differences potentially related to parasite survival

Leishmania donovani is the main cause of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in East Africa. Differences between northern Ethiopia/Sudan (NE) and southern Ethiopia (SE) in ecology, vectors, and patient sensitivity to drug treatment have been described, however the relationship between differences in parasite genotype between these two foci and phenotype is unknown. Whole genomic sequencing (WGS) was carried out for 41 L. donovani strains and clones from VL and VL/HIV co-infected patients in NE (n = 28) and SE (n = 13). Chromosome aneuploidy was observed in all parasites examined with each isolate exhibiting a unique karyotype. Differences in chromosome ploidy or karyotype were not correlated with the geographic origin of the parasites. However, correlation between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and geographic origin was seen for 38/41 isolates, separating the NE and SE parasites into two large groups. SNP restricted to NE and SE groups were associated with genes involved in viability and parasite resistance to drugs. Unique copy number variation (CNV) were also associated with NE and SE parasites, respectively. One striking example is the folate transporter (FT) family genes (LdBPK_100390, LdBPK_100400 and LdBPK_100410) on chromosome 10 that are single copy in all 13 SE isolates, but either double copy or higher in 39/41 NE isolates (copy number 2–4). High copy number (= 4) was also found for one Sudanese strain examined. This was confirmed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction for LdBPK_100400, the L. donovani FT1 transporter homolog. Good correlation (p = 0.005) between FT copy number and resistance to methotrexate (0.5 mg/ml MTX) was also observed with the haploid SE strains examined showing higher viability than the NE strains at this concentration. Our results emphasize the advantages of whole genome analysis to shed light on vital parasite processes in Leishmania.