Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MMSE Scores Decline at a Greater Rate in Frontotemporal Degeneration than in AD

The clinical diagnostic criteria for frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) include relative preservation of memory and visuospatial function, in contradistinction to characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) contains items to assess these areas of cognition. In a retrospective case-control study of participants at two institutionally-based AD centers, we determined whether total MMSE and MMSE subscores would reflect the disease progression projected by the clinical criteria of FTD vs. AD. Participants were 44 subjects with FTD (7 pathologically confirmed) and 45 with pathologically confirmed AD. Each subject had at least two MMSEs with minimum inter-test intervals of 9 months. We compared annualized rates of change for total MMSE scores and cognitive domain subscores over time and between groups by two independent samples t-tests and proportion tests. The total MMSE score (p = 0.03) and language subscore (p = 0.02) showed a greater rate of decline for the FTD group than the AD group, although the constructional praxis item declined less rapidly in the FTD group (p = 0.018). Changes in MMSE subscores paralleled the clinical diagnostic criteria for FTD. The more rapid progression on the language subscore was observed in both language and behavioral variants of FTD.
A classification of micrococci and staphylococci based on physiological and biochemical tests.

SUMMARY: 1250 Gram-positive and catalase-positive cocci were isolated from bacon, pig and human skin and dust, and their morphology, physiology and biochemical characters examined. The genera Staphylococcus, Micrococcus and Sarcina were recognized. Staphylococci were distinguished by their ability to form acid from glucose anaerobically and sarcinas by the formation of cubical packets. 570 isolates could be placed in the genus Staphylococcus, 677 in the genus Micrococcus and 3 in the genus Sarcina. Six subgroups were recognized within the genus Staphylococcus and seven within the genus Micrococcus. The relationship of these subgroups to previously defined genera and species is discussed.
Spinal Cord Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological condition characterized pathologically by axonal loss, demyelination, inflammation, and gliosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has had a major impact on diagnosing MS, understanding the condition, and monitoring the effects of treatments. Recently, spinal cord MRI has received increased attention. Advanced techniques have been used to image the spinal cord, particularly the cervical cord, and measure quantitative parameters such as T1 relaxation time, magnetization transfer ratio, and diffusivity. These metrics show central nervous system abnormalities in MS patients and various correlations with disability and might reflect specific pathological processes. Image analysis techniques have also been developed and combined with highresolution MRI to measure the cord cross‐sectional area (CSA), a metric that relates to cord atrophy. The cord CSA is reduced in MS patients compared to normal controls and correlates with disability. Furthermore, changes in CSA are detectable and correlate with changes in disability. Despite the technical difficulties of performing spinal cord MRI, imaging studies, particularly of the cervical cord, are becoming more common. Significant focus has been placed on measuring cord atrophy, and reproducible techniques have been developed to measure the cervical cord CSA. Spinal cord MRI may provide information about disease progression that is not readily available from brain MRI scans and could be useful in diagnosing MS in some cases, as well as for monitoring the effects of treatments.
Vessel segmentation in eye fundus images using ensemble learning and curve fitting

A novel segmentation algorithm for the detection of retinal vessels in funduscopic images is proposed, in which the benefits of both supervised and unsupervised methods are exploited. Ensemble learning based segmentation (ELBS) is employed for the segmentation of large and medium sized vessels, after which a local curve fitting technique is used for the detection of the thin retinal vessels. The general ELBS algorithm is modified to boost performance by the incorporation of specific knowledge of false negative segmentation result areas. Curve fitting is based on a two-hypotheses polynomial regression and is capable of automatically removing outliers from a point cloud. Evaluation on the DRIVE database compared the presented method favorably to previously published algorithms. Sensitivity and specificity were 0.8854 and 0.9363.
KINERJA KEUANGAN LAYANAN KESEHATAN SEBELUM DAN SESUDAH PENERAPAN PPK BLU

ABSTRACT This study aimed to analyze the differences in performance of financial ratios Dr. Soeradji Tirtonegoro hospital before and after application of “Pola Pengelolaan Keuangan Badan Layanan Umum” / PPK BLU. The ratio is based on conscientious Director General of Treasury Regulation No. Per-36/PB/2012 . The data used in this study were obtained from financial ratios of Dr. Soeradji Tirtonegoro hospital during the period 2002-2012. This study examines the financial performance consisted of Cash Ratio, Current Ratio, Collection Period, Fixed asset turnover, Return on assets and Return on equity. While the performance of services in representing the growth of competitiveness in proksikan by Sales Growth (SALG) and Activity Growth. Processing of the data in this study performed using a statistical technique Uji Beda T-test dengan Related Samples or paired samples often diistilakan with t-test . The findings of this study indicate that the Cash Ratio Dr. Soeradji Tirtonegoro hospital after applying the PPK-BLU better than before KDP - BLU. For another study that ratio, Current ratio, Collection Period ,Ffixed asset turnover, Return on assets, Return on equity, Sales Growth ( SALG ) and Growth Activity Dr. Soeradji Tirtonegoro hospital not have a significant difference after applying the PPK-BLU with before PPK-BLU. Keywords : PPK - BLU , financial ratio performance , Paired Sample t - Test ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis perbedaan kinerja rasio keuangan RSUP dr. Soeradji Tirtonegoro sebelum dan sesudah penerapan PolaPengelolaan Keuangan Badan Layanan Umum (PPK BLU). Adapun rasio yang teliti berdasarkan dari Peraturan Direktur Jenderal Perbendaharaan Nomor Per-36/PB/2012. Data yang dipergunakan dalam penelitian ini diperoleh dari rasio keuangan RSUP Dr. Soeradji Tirtonegoro selama periode, 2002-2012. Penelitian ini menguji kinerja keuangan terdiri dari Cash Ratio, Current Ratio, Collection Period, fixed asset turnover,return on asset dan return on equity. Sedangkan kinerja pelayanan di wakili pertumbuhan daya saing di proksikan oleh Sales Growth (SALG)dan Activity Growth.Pengolahan data dalam penelitian ini dilakukan dengan menggunakan teknik statistik yang berupa Uji Beda T-test dengan Related Samples atau sering diistilakan dengan Paired Sampel t-Test. Temuan penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa Cash RatioRSUP dr. Soeradji Tirtonegoro sesudah menerapkan PPK-BLU lebih baik dibandingkan dengan sebelum PPK-BLU.Untuk rasio penelitian yang lain yakni, Current Ratio, Collection Period, fixed asset turnover,return on asset, return on equity, Sales Growth (SALG)dan Activity GrowthRSUP dr. Soeradji Tirtonegoro tidak memiliki perbedaan yang signifikan sesudah menerapkan PPK-BLU dengan sebelum PPK-BLU. Kata kunci: PPK-BLU, Kinerja rasio keuangan, Paired Sampel t-Test
Impact of Non-dietary Nutrients Intake on Misclassification in the Estimation of Nutrient Intake in Epidemiologic Study

BACKGROUND Few previous epidemiologic studies have evaluated the effects of non-dietary nutrient intake, such as supplements, over the counter (OTC) drugs, and prescription drugs containing vitamins or minerals, in examining the relationship between dietary factors and health outcomes. METHODS To examine the influence of the non-dietary intake of vitamins and calcium on the estimation of nutrient intake, we conducted a cross-sectional study with 1,168 community-dwelling Japanese subjects aged 70 years or older in 2002. The subjects were asked to bring their non-dietary nutrient sources to the examining site. The dietary and non-dietary intakes of vitamins B1, C, E and calcium were obtained and the subjects were grouped into quartiles according to their dietary intake and their dietary plus non-dietary intake. The degree of agreement between these two classifications was examined to estimate the degree of misclassification. RESULTS Among the subjects who were classified into the highest intake category for vitamin E with dietary intake plus non-dietary nutrient intake, 34.2 % were misclassified into lower category with dietary intake alone. Similarly, intake of vitamin B1, vitamin C and calcium were misclassified 28.8%, 18.8 %, 6.2 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that estimation of vitamin intake from dietary sources alone would yield a maximum misclassification of one-third, which would lead to misleading conclusions being drawn from epidemiologic studies. In contrast, the degree of misclassification for calcium may be relatively small.
Clinical outcomes, risk stratification and practice patterns of unstable angina and myocardial infarction without ST elevation: Prospective Registry of Acute Ischaemic Syndromes in the UK (PRAIS-UK)

AIMS To determine characteristics, outcomes, prognostic indicators and management of patients with acute coronary syndromes without ST elevation. METHODS AND RESULTS A prospective registry was carried out with follow-up for 6 months after index hospital admission. A history of acute cardiac chest pain was required plus ECG changes consistent with myocardial ischaemia and/or prior evidence of coronary heart disease. Patients with ST elevation or those receiving thrombolytic therapy were excluded. A total of 1046 patients were enrolled from 56 U.K. hospitals. The mean age was 66+/-12 years and 39% were female. The rate of death or non-fatal myocardial infarction at 6 months was 12.2% and of death, new myocardial infarction, refractory angina or re-admission for unstable angina at 6 months was 30%. In a multivariate analysis, patients >70 years had a threefold risk of death or new myocardial infarction compared with those <60 years (P<0.01) and those with ST depression or bundle branch block on the ECG had a five-fold greater risk than those with normal ECG (P<0.001). Aspirin was given to 87% and heparin to 72% of patients in hospital. At 6 months 56% received no lipid-lowering therapy at all. The 6-month rate of coronary angiography was 27% and any revascularization 15%. CONCLUSIONS In this cohort there was a one in eight chance of death or myocardial infarction, and a one in three chance of death, new myocardial infarction, refractory angina or re-admission for unstable angina, over 6 months. Age and baseline ECG were useful markers of risk. Aspirin, heparin and statins were not given to about one-sixth, one-third and one-half respectively. Rates of angiography and revascularization appear low. A review of treatment strategies of unstable angina and myocardial infarction without ST elevation is warranted in the U.K. to ensure that patients are receiving optimum treatments to reduce mortality and morbidity.
Increased interaction between PACT molecules in response to stress signals is required for PKR activation

PKR (protein kinase, RNA activated) is an interferon (IFN)‐induced serine‐threonine protein kinase and is one of the key mediators in IFN's cellular actions. Although double‐stranded (ds) RNA is the most relevant PKR activator during viral infections, PACT acts as a stress‐modulated activator of PKR and is an important regulator of PKR dependent signaling pathways in the absence of viral infections. Stress‐induced phosphorylation of PACT is essential for PACT's association with PKR leading to PKR activation. PKR activation by PACT leads to phosphorylation of translation initiation factor eIF2α, inhibition of protein synthesis, and apoptosis. In the present study, we have investigated the functional significance of PACT–PACT interaction in mediating PKR activation in response to cellular stress. Our results suggest that enhanced interaction between PACT molecules when PACT is phosphorylated in response to stress signals on serines 246 and 287 is essential for efficient PKR activation. Using a point mutant of PACT that is deficient in PACT–PACT interaction, we demonstrate that PACT–PACT interaction is essential for efficient PKR activation. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 2754–2764, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
HLA‐B, ‐DRB1/3/4/5, and ‐DQB1 gene polymorphisms in human immunodeficiency virus‐related Kaposi's sarcoma

Polymorphisms of genes in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex, particularly those encoding HLA‐DR, have been suggested as markers of susceptibility to Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). We conducted a case‐control study comparing 147 homosexual men who developed KS after infection by human immunodeficiency virus‐1 (HIV‐1) and human herpes virus 8 (HHV8) with 147 matched dually infected men without HIV‐associated KS (HIV‐KS) from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. HLA‐B, DRB1, DRB3, DRB4, DRB5, and DQB1 polymorphisms were examined by high‐resolution DNA‐based methods. Differences in distributions of genetic variants were tested by conditional logistic regression. Previously reported relationships with HLA‐DRB1 alleles could not be confirmed. Instead, other associations were observed. In univariate analysis, KS was weakly associated with B*2702/5 (odds ratio (OR) = 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.18–0.91). Similar or stronger associations, positive or negative, were seen for haplotypes containing class II alleles: DRB1*1302‐DQB1*0604 (OR = 3.67, 95% CI = 1.02–13.1), DRB4 (DR53) haplotype family members [OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.32–0.85], and DRB3 (DR52) haplotype family members (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.07–2.67). The B*1402‐DRB1*0102 haplotype, which invariably contains the V281L mutation in the 21‐hydroxylase gene governing adrenal steroid biosynthesis, occurred in five cases and one control (OR = 5.0, 95% CI = 0.58–42.8). In a final multivariable analysis, only DRB1*1302‐DQB1*0604 (OR = 6.43, 95% CI = 1.28–32.3, P = 0.02) remained significantly associated with KS. Associations of HLA‐DRB families with HIV‐KS could reflect underlying immune dysregulation. The HLA B*1402‐DRB1*0102 haplotype associated with increased risk of KS might represent an antigen‐presenting pathway unfavorable for immune response to HHV8. Alternatively, the relationship might hold a clue to the predilection of KS for men because that haplotype harbors the mutant form of the 21‐hydroxylase gene. J. Med. Virol. 76:302–310, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Catalytic and framework mutations in the neuraminidase active site of influenza viruses that are resistant to 4-guanidino-Neu5Ac2en

Here we report the isolation of influenza virus A/turkey/Minnesota/833/80 (H4N2) with a mutation at the catalytic residue of the neuraminidase (NA) active site, rendering it resistant to the novel NA inhibitor 4-guanidino-Neu5Ac2en (GG167). The resistance of the mutant stems from replacement of one of three invariant arginines (Arg 292-->Lys) that are conserved among all viral and bacterial NAs and participate in the conformational change of sialic acid moiety necessary for substrate catalysis. The Lys292 mutant was selected in vitro after 15 passages at increasing concentrations of GG167 (from 0.1 to 1,000 microM), conditions that earlier gave rise to GG167-resistant mutants with a substitution at the framework residue Glu119. Both types of mutants showed similar degrees of resistance in plaque reduction assays, but the Lys292 mutant was more sensitive to the inhibitor in NA inhibition tests than were mutants bearing a substitution at framework residue 119 (Asp, Ala, or Gly). Cross-resistance to other NA inhibitors (4-amino-Neu5Ac2en and Neu5Ac2en) varied among mutants resistant to GG167, being lowest for Lys292 and highest for Asp119. All GG167-resistant mutants demonstrated markedly reduced NA activity, only 3 to 50% of the parental level, depending on the particular amino acid substitution. The catalytic mutant (Lys292) showed a significant change in pH optimum of NA activity, from 5.9 to 5.3. All of the mutant NAs were less stable than the parental enzyme at low pH. Despite their impaired NA activity, the GG167-resistant mutants grew as well as parental virus in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells or in embryonated chicken eggs. However, the infectivity in mice was 500-fold lower for Lys292 than for the parental virus. These findings demonstrate that amino acid substitution in the NA active site at the catalytic or framework residues, followed by multiple passages in vitro, in the presence of increasing concentrations of the NA inhibitor GG167, generates GG167-resistant viruses with reduced NA activity and decreased infectivity in animals.
Cognitive radio using spectrum-sharing and power minimisation

In this paper, we use a Spectrum Sharing/allocation algorithm to implement a Cognitive Radio network without spectral awareness. This allows radio resources to be allocated to primary users and to secondary users in such a way that primary system and secondary system are aware of each other. By doing this, sensing of spectrum holes is avoided but the primary users will be protected and will always be allocated sufficient bandwidth to meet their QoS requirements. However, secondary users also have the concept of QoS and only those that can be given sufficient resources are actually allocated any, so avoiding wasting resources on users that cannot meet their QoS requirements. The scenario adopted is a multi-cell OFDMA network and the resource allocation is formulated as a non-cooperative game: each cell is a player whose aim is to maximise the number of secondary users that can reach their bitrates subject to the premise that all primary users in that cell can achieve their bitrate. Once spectrum is allocated we implement a power-minimisation algorithm to minimise the power consumption in the network while maintaining the number of users meeting their QoS requirements. Simulation results show the beneüt of the approach.
Lobbying Expenditures and Government Output: The NEA and Public Education

Primary and secondary education have traditionally been provided by local governments. In recent years, however, higher levels of government have become increasingly involved in the provision of public education. Evidence of this increased involvement includes the greater proportion of funding originating from state or federal sources and the imposition of mandates on local school districts by the state and local governments. These mandates include specifying minimum teacher retirement and other fringe benefits, establishing certain curriculum and textbook requirements, and placing maximum limits on the pupils per teacher. The extent of state government involvement in the provision of elementary and secondary education differs greatly across states. Most studies of state intervention in education have been restricted to examining the effects of intergovernmental grants on local spending. ' There has been little positive analysis of why state governments are involved in education or why this involvement varies across states. In this paper, we build upon previous works that consider the role of interest groups in influencing government spending to provide some insights into the role of state governments in public elementary and secondary education and the effects of the state role on local outcomes. Our model focuses on the determination of educational spending when two interest groups, groups of high and low demanders, lobby both state and local governments. We characterize the high demanders of educational expenditures as producers, that is, educators. After developing a model that describes the gains to educators from lobbying at the state level and how the potential gains will differ across states and across localities, we test the model's implications using data on political spending of the state affiliates of the National Education Association (NEA). Using data on salaries aggregated to the state level, we find that NEA political spending increases salaries
Refugee Resettlement: Models in Action

A model of refugee resettlement containing two axes is proposed: volume of refugee intake and emphasis on economic or cultural adaptation. The resultant fourfold scheme yields three types of resettlement activities which can be sustained over a protracted period of time: large volume/primacy on economic adaptation; moderate volume/primacy on economic adaptation; moderate volume/primacy on cultural adaptation. Large volume/emphasis on cultural adaptation, however, is a type which is structurally unstable and in practice would modify into another form. Refugee resettlement practices of three major receiving countries, Canada, France, United States, reflect principles derived from these three stable types. France and Canada exemplify moderate intake with emphasis on economic adaptation, although Quebec uniquely demonstrates moderate intake/emphasis on cultural adaptation. Practices in the United States overwhelmingly correspond to large volume/emphasis on economic adaptation.
Effect Of Selection For Residual Feed Intake On Sow Reproductive Performance And Lactation Efficiency

Lactation is an energetically expensive process which can result in the mobilization of body fat and body protein when nutrient intake fails to meet daily requirements. This mobilization of body tissue results in a negative energy balance which can have negative consequences on health and reproduction. This has been shown in many studies involving dairy cattle, which are intensively managed (Veerkamp et al. 2001; Formigoni and Trevisi 2003; Llewellyn et al. 2007). The efficiency with which the female converts energy from food and body stores into milk production is the key to determining the rate and extent of maternal investment in reproduction (McDonald and Crocker 2006). Feed efficiency is becoming increasingly important because of the high cost of feed. Residual feed intake (RFI) is a measure of feed efficiency recorded during the finishing phase that is defined as the difference between observed feed intake and feed intake predicted from the average requirements for growth and maintenance. When
A Partitioning Based Physical Scan Chain Allocation Algorithm that Minimizes Voltage Domain Crossings

In this paper we present an algorithm for allocating scan flops to scan chains based on the placement information of flops. The objective of the algorithm is to reduce the scan wire length, the number of level shifters and the number of lockup latches in the scan path. The algorithm uses a novel partitioning based approach to allocate and order the scan flops for a particular scan chain. The scan flops are allocated to a number of partitions. These partitions are then ordered for the scan chains based on the physical location of the scan-in and scan-out pins of the scan chain and the aspect ratio of the layout. To the best of our knowledge this is the first algorithm that explicitly attempts to reduce the number of level shifters in the scan data path. Experimental results obtained for some industrial circuits show that the number of level shifters in the scan data path is halved for some industrial test cases over approaches that are not multiple supply voltage aware. Scan wire lengths too are reduced by up to 45% over previous approaches for the above designs. Additionally we obtain upto 90% scan wire length reductions over previous approaches [4],[11] for some ISCAS- 89 benchmark circuits.