Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Language dysfunction in early‐ and late‐onset possible Alzheimer's disease

Disproportionate involvement of language has been claimed to be a distinguishing feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) with onset before age 65. We tested this hypothesis in a group of 133 patients with possible AD by NINCDS criteria. Sixty-one had onset of symptoms prior to age 65; the remaining 72, at 65 or later. The two groups were well matched on overall dementia severity as measured by the Mini-Mental State Exam. Using standardized tests, we did not find any significant differences in the severity of language dysfunction between the two groups, particularly after controlling for greater attention/ concentration deficits in the early-onset group. Previous reports of differences in language dysfunction between early- and late-onset AD may have been due to small sample sizes and nonstandardized testing.
How Automotive Software Architectures could Benefit from Bitcoin

In this paper, we shortly review current challenges of distributed automotive software architectures with respect to economic considerations and discuss several principles of the Bitcoin crypto-currency in more depth. We then point out, how future architectures could benefit from those mechanisms and highlight that future research in this direction should be performed, as we think that Bitcoin itself is not suited to enhance automotive software architectures.
Focus group evaluation of a positive youth development course in a university in Hong Kong

Abstract Five focus groups (n=23 students) were conducted to understand the feelings and views of the students taking a course entitled “Tomorrow’s Leaders” at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Several observations were highlighted from the findings. First, students generally had positive perceptions of the subject content, the class, and the lecturers. Second, almost all students regarded the subject could promote their reflection and self-understanding. Third, all students held the view that there was a need to have this course in their university study. Finally, students identified some aspects of the course that could be improved and some suggestions for revamping the course were made. In conjunction with other evaluation findings, the present findings suggest that this subject can promote the holistic development of Chinese university students in Hong Kong.
Assessing a computerized routine health information system in Mali using LQAS.

BACKGROUND Between 1987 and 1998 Save the Children conducted a child survival programme in Mali with the goal of reducing maternal and child morbidity and mortality. An integral part of this programme was a computerized demographic surveillance and health information system (HIS) that gathered data on individuals on an on-going basis. OBJECTIVE To assess the overall coverage and quality of the data in the HIS, to identify specific health districts that needed improvements in data collection methods, and to determine particular areas of weakness in data collection. METHODS Random samples of 20 mothers with children <5 years were selected in each of 14 health districts. Mothers were interviewed about pregnancies, live births, deaths of children <5, and children's growth monitoring and immunization status. The Lot Quality Assurance Method (LQAS) was used to identify districts in which records and interview results did not meet predetermined levels of acceptability. Data collected in the interviews were combined to estimate overall coverage and quality. RESULTS When all variables were analyzed, all 14 lots were rejected, and it was estimated that 52% of all events occurring in the community were registered in ProMIS. Much of this poor performance was due to immunization and growth monitoring data, which were not updated due to printer problems. Coverage of events increased (92%) when immunizations and growth monitoring were excluded, and no lots were rejected. When all variables were analyzed for quality of data recorded, six lots were rejected and the overall estimation was 83%. With immunizations and growth monitoring excluded, overall quality was 86% and no lots were rejected. CONCLUSIONS The comprehensive computerized HIS did not meet expectations. This may be due, in part, to the ambitious objective of complete and intensive monitoring of a large population without adequate staff and equipment. Future efforts should consider employing a more targeted and streamlined HIS so that data can be more complete and useful.
Sonographic Findings of an Eccrine Spiradenoma

An eccrine spiradenoma is a rare benign dermal tumor of the sweat gland. It is frequently solitary and presents as a small lesion (usually <1 cm) in the cutis and the subcutaneous tissue. 1 Because of its rare incidence and the lack of imaging workups for small superficial soft tissue nodules, few cases describing the imaging findings of an eccrine spiradenoma and other tumors of the sweat glands have been reported. We report the sonographic findings in a case of an eccrine spiradenoma that originated from the upper arm and discuss the previously reported imaging findings of sweat gland tumors.
Induction of angiotensin II subtype 2 receptor‐mediated blood pressure regulation in synthetic diet‐fed rats

Objective Chronic feeding of a purified synthetic diet induces renin–angiotensin system-dependent moderate high blood pressure in normal Sprague–Dawley rats. The present study was designed to characterize the angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor type 2 (AT2)-specific mechanism of blood pressure regulation in these rats. Methods The effect of the AT2 receptor antagonist PD123319 (PD) on blood pressure was examined in vivo in synthetic diet-fed rats. Ang II-dependent contraction of aortic rings prepared from the synthetic diet-fed rats was also investigated. Results After 8 weeks of feeding the synthetic diet, the mean arterial pressure (MAP) was significantly elevated above levels measured in control rats (117 ± 2 versus 102 ± 3 mmHg, P < 0.05). Intravenous administration of PD to conscious hypertensive rats elicited an immediate dose-dependent increase in MAP that was sustained for approximately 7.4 min with 3 mg/kg PD. The angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor captopril, but not the Ang II type 1 receptor blocker losartan, significantly attenuated the effect of PD on blood pressure. PD did not increase the plasma level of catecholamines. The PD-dependent blood pressure increase was not observed in normotensive control rats. Aortic ring assays revealed that functional activation of the AT2 receptor occurs only in the hypertensive rats, and this AT2 response is abolished by indomethacin (5 μmol/l) but not by Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (100 μmol/l). Conclusion These results clearly demonstrate that AT2 receptor-mediated blood pressure regulation is functional in this experimental model of hypertension. Furthermore, cyclooxygenase metabolites might be the key mediators for the AT2 receptor-mediated blood pressure-lowering action.
Circadian clock regulates the host response to Salmonella

Organisms adapt to day–night cycles through highly specialized circadian machinery, whose molecular components anticipate and drive changes in organism behavior and metabolism. Although many effectors of the immune system are known to follow daily oscillations, the role of the circadian clock in the immune response to acute infections is not understood. Here we show that the circadian clock modulates the inflammatory response during acute infection with the pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium). Mice infected with S. Typhimurium were colonized to higher levels and developed a higher proinflammatory response during the early rest period for mice, compared with other times of the day. We also demonstrate that a functional clock is required for optimal S. Typhimurium colonization and maximal induction of several proinflammatory genes. These findings point to a clock-regulated mechanism of activation of the immune response against an enteric pathogen and may suggest potential therapeutic strategies for chronopharmacologic interventions.
The Ageing Brain

The ability to image the brain and chart functions during activity has profoundly increased our understanding of this most amazing structure. In this growing area of neuroscience, researchers have much to say about the ageing brain – but what does it mean to maximise our brain fitness as we get older? Can you teach an old dog new tricks? The first part of this session on the brain will explore these current ideas.
A distributed-parameter model of the myelinated nerve fiber

A model is presented that assumes a triaxial cable form, with separate nodal, paranodal, and internodal regions; a myelin sheath independent of the underlying internodal membrane; and a periaxonal conductance pathway. Unlike previous coaxial-cable-equivalent models, this triaxial form allows inclusion of ionic channels in the internodal membrane. The model uses ionic channel dynamics for the mammal and amphibian derived from recent experimental studies. It reproduces conduction behavior seen in experimental and previous modeling efforts, as well as the depolarizing afterpotential described by several investigators, which may have significance in determining the behavior of the nerve fiber as multiple action potentials are conducted or as multiple stimuli are imposed. This afterpotential cannot be produced by the previous coaxial models. The influence of the characteristics of the myelin sheath, underlying internodal membrane, and the periaxonal conductance pathway on the behavior of the nerve fiber is explored. <<ETX>>
Efficacy and safety of combination Acitretin and Pioglitazone therapy in patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque-type psoriasis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with acitretin and pioglitazone hydrochloride in patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque-type psoriasis. DESIGN Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. SETTING A tertiary care referral hospital. Patients The study included patients of either sex (age range, 18-65 years) with moderate to severe chronic plaque-type psoriasis. Patients were excluded if they were of child-bearing potential or if they had impaired liver or renal function, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, or a body mass index greater than 30 (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared). Of the 62 patients screened, 41 were randomly assigned to 2 groups: 22 to an acitretin (25 mg) plus placebo group and 19 to an acitretin (25 mg) plus pioglitazone hydrochloride (15 mg) group. Main Outcome Measure Change in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score between the 2 groups from baseline to 12 weeks. RESULTS After 12 weeks of therapy, the percentage of reduction in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score was 64.2% in the acitretin plus pioglitazone group and 51.7% in the acitretin plus placebo group. The majority of the adverse events were mild to moderate except for 1 possibly unrelated episode of acute myocardial infarction in a 49-year-old woman in the acitretin plus placebo group. CONCLUSIONS Pioglitazone has a potential beneficial antipsoriatic effect and may provide a convenient, efficacious, and relatively safe option to combine with acitretin, although further studies are needed. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00395941.
Are There Two Biological Parts in the Second Stage of Labor?

In 228 patients, fetal blood pH, pCO2 and lactic acid were measured in two distinguishable parts of the second stage of labor. The ‘first’ part begins at full cervical dilatation and ends when the mother starts her first voluntary bearing down efforts. In our study, the fetal acid‐base status did not change in this part, regardless of a late developing hypoxia. In contrast, higher levels of lactic acid and pCOz and lower pH values were observed in the ‘final’ part of the second stage, indicating increasing acidosis. In this ‘final’ part, the fetuses with clinical signs of distress, as defined by an ominous Apgar score at birth, showed quicker and larger acid‐base shifts than did the normal fetuses. Thus the two parts of the second stage of labor actually differ in their potential to stimulate fetal acidosis. Since such fetal acidosis may develop especially during the ‘final’ part of labor, we have concluded that special particular attention should be devoted to this part.
Division within the North American boreal forest: Ecological niche divergence between the Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) and Gray‐cheeked Thrush (C. minimus)

Abstract Sister species that diverged in allopatry in similar environments are expected to exhibit niche conservatism. Using ecological niche modeling and a multivariate analysis of climate and habitat data, I test the hypothesis that the Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) and Gray‐cheeked Thrush (C. mimimus), sister species that breed in the North American boreal forest, show niche conservatism. Three tree species that are important components of breeding territories of both thrush species were combined with climatic variables to create niche models consisting of abiotic and biotic components. Abiotic‐only, abiotic+biotic, and biotic‐only models were evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC) criterion. Abiotic+biotic models had higher AUC scores and did not over‐project thrush distributions compared to abiotic‐only or biotic‐only models. From the abiotic+biotic models, I tested for niche conservatism or divergence by accounting for the differences in the availability of niche components by calculating (1) niche overlap from ecological niche models and (2) mean niche differences of environmental values at occurrence points. Niche background similarity tests revealed significant niche divergence in 10 of 12 comparisons, and multivariate tests revealed niche divergence along 2 of 3 niche axes. The Bicknell's Thrush breeds in warmer and wetter regions with a high abundance of balsam fir (Abies balsamea), whereas Gray‐cheeked Thrush often co‐occurs with black spruce (Picea mariana). Niche divergence, rather than conservatism, was the predominant pattern for these species, suggesting that ecological divergence has played a role in the speciation of the Bicknell's Thrush and Gray‐cheeked Thrush. Furthermore, because niche models were improved by the incorporation of biotic variables, this study validates the inclusion of relevant biotic factors in ecological niche modeling to increase model accuracy.
Reversible myocarditis after spider bite

Black widow spiders (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus) are poisonous spiders endemic in Turkey. Latrodectus bites may cause myocarditis with increased cardiac enzymes. We treated two men (aged 20 and 33 years) who had myocarditis after black spider bites with leucocytosis and elevated levels of troponin I, creatine kinase and creatine kinase-MB fraction. Both patients had normal results on an ECG, and one patient had abnormal echocardiography with minimal left ventricular wall movement disorder. Both patients were hospitalised in the intensive care unit and treated with intravenous fluids, analgesics, spasmolytic drugs, tetanus prophylaxis and cardiac monitoring. The levels of troponin I, creatine kinase and creatine kinase-MB fraction improved, and the patients were discharged home on the third and fifth hospital day without complications. Myocarditis after a Latrodectus bite is rare, but may be associated with serious complications. Therefore, in regions endemic with Latrodectus spiders, prudent treatment of spider bites may include cardiac evaluation and monitoring.
Different classes of glutamate receptors and GABA mediate distinct modulations of a neuronal oscillator, the medullary pacemaker of a gymnotiform electric fish

Gymnotiform electric fish generate distinct communicatory signals by modulating the rate of their electric organ discharges (EODs). Each EOD is triggered by a command pulse from the medullary pacemaker nucleus (PN), which contains pacemaker cells and relay cells. The firing rate of this nucleus is modulated by inputs from the diencephalic prepacemaker nucleus (PPN). The NMDA receptor blocker APV and the kainate/quisqualate receptor blocker CNQX, administered to the PN, suppress different types of modulations, indicating that different classes of glutamate receptors mediate the generation of different modulations. A comparison of the 2 genera, Hypopomus and Eigenmannia, reveals that sustained modulations, such as smooth rises in the rate of pacemaker cell firing and the selective silencing of the relay cells (only observed in Hypopomus), are mediated by NMDA receptors, whereas the brief and rapid acceleration, called “chirp” or “decrement burst,” is mediated by kainate/quisqualate receptors. Application of the GABA blocker bicuculline reveals that the 2 genera differ in the mechanism by which they slow the firing rate of their pacemaker. Whereas Hypopomus uses GABAergic inhibition to slow down and ultimately silence its pacemaker cells, Eigenmannia reduces tonic, APV-sensitive excitation originating from its PPN and lacks GABAergic inhibition in the PN.
A New Design Method for Single-Feed Circular Polarization Microstrip Antenna With an Arbitrary Impedance Matching Condition

This paper introduces a new analytical method suitable for the design of the single-feed circular polarization (CP) microstrip patch antenna. Specifically, the proposed method imposes simultaneously the circular polarization condition as well as an arbitrary input impedance matching condition. The two conditions are enforced by an analytical method derived from an equivalent circuit model of a quasi-symmetrical patch antenna, and manipulated to control the modal detuning. This method can be used as an aid to speed up the design procedure for CP antennas even working with a numeric CAD tool. The validation of this approach is proven designing and fabricating a prototype implementing an original design, which consists of a circular disc slotted by a concentric elliptical cut with coaxial feed and operating at the center frequency of 2.45 GHz. The fabricated prototype exhibited a return loss of about 19 dB, within an impedance bandwidth of 130 MHz, a measured gain of 3.85 dB and a 0 dB axial ratio at 2.45 GHz with a corresponding modal phase difference of 87 degrees.
Evaluación energética de un colector solar de placa plana de doble cubierta

En este articulo se establece la incidencia de la relacion de aspecto (razon entre la longitud y ancho de un colector de area constante) sobre la eficiencia termica de un colector solar de placa plana que utiliza doble cubierta transparente para el calentamiento de aire. Este estudio se realiza desde dos enfoques: el primero utiliza un modelo fisico-matematico a partir de los balances de energia del colector, y el segundo utiliza un prototipo con su respectiva instrumentacion para calcular su rendimiento de manera experimental. El colector esta compuesto por una estructura en madera, una doble cubierta de vidrio transparente, una placa absorbedora de radiacion solar y un ventilador para extraer el aire calentado. Para calcular el rendimiento se registraron de manera automatica datos de temperatura, radiacion solar y flujo masico de aire; durante aproximadamente 6 horas por varios dias y bajo distintas condiciones climaticas de la ciudad de Monteria, Cordoba (Colombia). En general se encontro, para un area constante del colector, que la eficiencia termica de este aumenta cuando la relacion de aspecto aumenta y que el modelo teorico se ajusta de manera aceptable con los resultados experimentales
The effects of back massage before diagnostic cardiac catheterization.

CONTEXT Admission to the hospital for a diagnostic cardiac catheterization can be perceived as a threat to one's health status. Autonomic nervous system arousal, particularly the sympathetic division, can elicit negative physiological and psychological human responses as a reaction to this threat. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of a 20-minute back massage on the physiological and psychological human responses of patients admitted for a diagnostic cardiac catheterization. DESIGN A randomized clinical trial design was used. Data were compared in a repeated measures design before massage (T1), immediately following the back massage or standard care (T2), and 10 minutes later (T3). SETTING A large urban academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS Forty-six subjects admitted from home for a diagnostic cardiac catheterization. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure, respiration, peripheral skin temperature, pain perception, and psychological state. INTERVENTION A 20-minute back massage. RESULTS There was a significant difference between subject effect for group, with a reduction in systolic blood pressure in the treatment group (F = 8.6, P < .05). In addition, main effects were noted for time for diastolic blood pressure (F = 5.44; P < .006), respiration (F = 10.6; P < .005), total Profile of Mood States score (F = 5.9; P < .001) and pain perception (F = 4.09; P < .04) in both groups. CONCLUSIONS A 20-minute back massage appeared to reduce systolic blood pressure in patients awaiting a diagnostic cardiac catheterization, while preparatory time in the cardiac catheterization laboratory appeared to reduce diastolic blood pressure, respiration, perceived psychological distress, and pain.
Fabrication and characterization of large area 1–3 piezo-composites based on PMN-PT single crystals for transducer applications

1–3 piezo-composites were fabricated by « dice and fill » method (DFM) and on a lamination technique (LMT), well adapted to produce large area samples. Two piezoelectric materials (PMN-PT ceramic and single crystal) and epoxy resin have been considered. Design of these composites was performed with finite element analysis (ATILA). Particular attention was paid to sample characterization. An original technique of electrical impedance fitting with FEA was used to determine the properties of both components in their operating conditions. The measured thickness coupling factors of the composites obtained by both methods are between 60 and 80% according to the chosen constituents. Several single element transducers with a center frequency around 1 MHz were fabricated. Their characteristics were compared and results showed that sensitivity of the 1–3 LMT piezo-composite based transducer was slightly lower than that of the DFM one, but sufficient to find applications where large area apertures are required. Moreover, the LMT leaded to a non perfect alignment of the piezoelectric rods in the composites and this effect was quantified by FEA in terms of electromechanical performance.