Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neuropsychological deficits, syndromes, and cognitive competency in schizophrenia

Introduction. Neuropsychological functioning connects neuropathology and symptoms in schizophrenia. Previous work suggests that deficient initiation and inhibition underlie the psychomotor poverty and disorganisation syndromes, respectively. Furthermore, although the syndromes are associated with impairments in everyday functioning, cognitive competency (CC; cognitive skills for independent living) has been neglected as an outcome. This study tested a three-level model of schizophrenia pathology (Neuropsychological dysfunction → Syndromes → CC), using unstructured neuropsychological tasks to measure initiation and inhibition. Methods. Participants were 40 adults with schizophrenia. A verbal picture description and the Tinkertoy test yielded initiation and inhibition measures with good interrater reliability. Symptoms were rated using the SANS and SAPS, and an insight scale was administered. The Cognitive Competency Test utilised simulated situations to assess CC. Results. Initiation failed to predict psychomotor poverty, but affected CC directly. Only one indicator of disinhibition (intermingling of personal material into speech) predicted disorganisation, which, through mediation, led to CC deficits. Insight correlated with disorganisation and contributed to CC. Unique effects of initiation, disorganisation, and insight, combined, explained 58% of CC variance. Conclusions. Partial support for the three-level model was obtained. Specific neuropsychological abilities and symptoms explain a substantial proportion of the variance in cognitive competency.
Occludin Phosphorylation in Regulation of Epithelial Tight Junctions

Occludin is the first transmembrane protein of the tight junction to be discovered. While numerous studies emphasized the important role of occludin in assembly and maintenance of tight junctions, occludin knockout studies indicated that it was not required for tight junction assembly in different epithelia. However, a detailed characterization of the occludin knockout mouse concluded that the occludin gene is indispensable, and plays a complex role in regulation of epithelial tight junctions in different organs. This article describes the role of occludin phosphorylation in the regulation of its assembly into the tight junctions. Occludin is highly phosphorylated on Ser and Thr residues, while Tyr‐phosphorylation is kept at minimum in the intact epithelium. During the disruption of tight junctions by various factors, occludin undergoes dephosphorylation on Ser/Thr residues and elevated phosphorylation on Tyr residues. The phosphorylation of occludin on Tyr, Ser, and Thr residues appears to be regulated by the balance between protein kinases such as c‐Src, PKCζ, and PKCλ/ι, and protein phosphatases such as PP2A, PP1, and PTP1B. The precise mechanism of regulation of the tight junction by occludin phosphorylation is unclear at this time. However, an in vitro study indicated that Tyr‐phosphorylation of occludin C‐terminal domain attenuates its interaction with ZO‐1. Therefore, phosphorylation of specific Ser/Thr/Tyr residues in occludin may regulate its interactions with ZO‐1 and possibly other tight junction proteins. It is likely that occludin plays a regulatory role in tight junctions rather than a role in the de novo assembly of tight junctions.
Effects of Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) and topical tripeptide copper complex (TCC) on wound healing in rats: an experimental study.

We investigated the effects of Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) and tripeptide copper complex (TCC) on wound healing in rats. A total of 24 outbred, male, Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into (1) ABS, (2) TCC, and (3) control groups. Bilateral experimental wounds were created near the caudal border of the scapula. Each wound in the respective treatment group was treated daily with sponges soaked in ABS solution, topical TCC gel, or saline. On days 0, 7, 14 and 21, unhealed wound area was measured and biopsy samples were taken for histopathological analysis (except day 0). Median time for the first observable granulation tissue was not significantly different in the ABS, TCC, and control groups (5.8, 5.5, and 6.7 days, respectively) (P>0.05). Filling of the open wound with granulation tissue to skin level was significantly slower in the control group than in the ABS and TCC groups (18, 9, and 11 days, respectively). The mean unhealed wound area was significantly smaller and the mean percentage of total wound healing was significantly higher in the ABSand TCC-treated wounds than in the control wounds on day 7, 14, and 21 (P<0.05); the average time for healing was also significantly shorter in the treatment groups than in the control group (17.4, 16.8 vs. 23.6 days, respectively) (P<0.05). Our results suggest that topical application of ABS and TCC have beneficial effects on wound healing.
The Impact of Cultural Differences on Applicants' Perceived Fairness

Drawing on the premise that organizational justice theory is culture-bound and Gilliland's (1993) model of applicants' reactions to employment selection, the current paper proposes a conceptual framework in which cultural value differences influence applicants' perceptions of fairness toward selection procedures and work outcomes. This Chinese culture-based model takes Chinese traditionality as a core antecedent of applicants' perceived fairness and an important moderator between applicants' perceived fairness and work outcomes. The theoretical and practical implications of this model are discussed.
Establishing the Measurement Equivalence of Online Selection Assessments Delivered on Mobile Versus Nonmobile Devices

Recent usage data suggest job applicants are completing online selection assessments using mobile devices (e.g., smartphones) in greater numbers. To determine the appropriateness of this new technology, this study examined the measurement equivalence of selection assessments delivered on mobile and nonmobile devices (e.g., personal computers). Measurement invariance tests conducted with multigroup confirmatory factor analysis suggest mobile versions of a cognitive ability-type assessment, two biodata assessments, a multimedia work simulation, and a text-based situational judgment test appear to be equivalent to nonmobile versions. However, mobile device user latent means were half a standard deviation lower than their nonmobile counterparts for the situational judgment test. Implications for mobile device usage within selection and assessment are discussed.
Characterizing Tuberculosis among HIV Positive Children ; A Survey of Patients in a Nigerian Hospital

The clinical features of HIV positive children with Tuberculosis (TB) in a Nigerian hospital are described to guide diagnosis of TB in HIV infected children in similar settings. Medical records of 131 children with confirmed HIV infection who were treated for TB between 2009 and 2010 were reviewed for clinical, demographic and laboratory data. Findings were compared for children <5 years and ≥5 years. Fever emerged as the most frequent presenting complaint occurring in 83.0% of underfives and 73% of those five years and older. As many as 32.1% of patients also had severe acute malnutrition. A significantly higher proportion of children under 5 years had CD4 levels above 500; 60.2% versus27.8% p=0.001. In both groups of children, pulmonary TB was the predominant type of infection which also coexisted with abdominal TB in 16.0%. Six (4.6%) children had miliary TB. Radiological findings consistent with TB occurred in 93.9% of patients. Positive findings on smear microscopy were found in 12.2% of children. Extra pulmonary TB occurred less in female children compared to male children (OR 0.39: 0.15-0.98) and was also less in children with severe acute malnutrition (OR 0.27: 0.08-0.94). In this TB-endemic setting, the diagnosis of childhood TB depended mainly on clinical characteristics and the subjective interpretation of the chest radiograph. In the absence of bacteriologic confirmation, the diagnosis of childhood TB is often supported by only history of close contact with an infectious index case, a positive Tuberculin Skin Test result or elevated Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate.
Genetic variation in vitamin D receptor gene (Fok1:rs2228570) is associated with risk of coronary artery disease

Abstract Objective: The Fok1 polymorphism (rs2228570) in vitamin D receptor gene appears to be the only polymorphism influencing size of translated protein. Investigations into its association with coronary artery disease (CAD) are sparse. Methods: Male patients (n = 98) with verified CAD were recruited alongside age- and sex-matched controls (n = 55). Genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP and plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels were assessed by HPLC-UV. Results: The C-variant (mutant) was predominantly expressed in patients compared to controls (68.9% versus 55.5%; p = 0.025). The observed genotypes were not associated with 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels. Conclusion: This study presents Fok1 polymorphism as a potential genetic marker for CAD.
Vector quantization with complexity costs

Vector quantization is a data compression method by which a set of data points is encoded by a reduced set of reference vectors: the codebook. A vector quantization strategy is discussed that jointly optimizes distortion errors and the codebook complexity, thereby determining the size of the codebook. A maximum entropy estimation of the cost function yields an optimal number of reference vectors, their positions, and their assignment probabilities. The dependence of the codebook density on the data density for different complexity functions is investigated in the limit of asymptotic quantization levels. How different complexity measures influence the efficiency of vector quantizers is studied for the task of image compression. The wavelet coefficients of gray-level images are quantized, and the reconstruction error is measured. The approach establishes a unifying framework for different quantization methods like K-means clustering and its fuzzy version, entropy constrained vector quantization or topological feature maps, and competitive neural networks. >
The Influence of the Provider's Service Fairness on the Customer's Service Recovery Satisfaction and on Positive Behavioral Intentions in Cloud Computing

The study shows a statistically significant positive effect between the provider’s perceived structural service fairness and the customer’s service recovery satisfaction and, in turn, also shows statistically positive regression weights between the customer’s service recovery satisfaction and the intension to react positively in three directions: (1) to continue with the software, (2) to propagate a positive word-of-mouth (WOM), (3) to give honest feedback. The influence of the provider’s perceived social service fairness on the customer’s service recovery satisfaction does not appear to be significant but indicates a positive correlation. The study is based on data collected via a structured questionnaire from qualified users who have subscribed to Business-to-Business customer relationship management software and who use it as Software-as-a-Service in the cloud. Structural Equation Modelling was applied for the data analysis in order to confirm the chosen dependency model. The findings may help service providers to better understand their customers and to stimulate constructive actions to their continual improvement process.
Attenuated responses to endothelin‐1, KCl and CaCl2, but not noradrenaline, of aortae from rats with streptozotocin‐induced diabetes mellitus

1 This study investigated the responsiveness to vasoconstrictor agents (including endothelin‐1, ET‐1) of aortic rings from rats with two‐week streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg kg−1, i.v.)‐induced diabetes and vehicle‐treated control rats. The basal tension was 10 g, which was estimated to be more physiological than the tension of 1–2 g that has been previously used for most studies of aortic rings from diabetic rats. 2 Maximum responses to ET‐1 (0.13–18 nm), KCl (2–20 mm) or CaCl2 (10 μm–10 mm) were reduced in aortae from STZ‐treated rats compared to those from control rats. Such reductions were still evident after removal of the endothelium. 3 Responses to noradrenaline (NA, 0.1 nm‐26 μm) of aortae from STZ‐treated rats were not significantly different from responses of aortae of control rats. 4 Removal of endothelium resulted in a significant reduction in the EC50 values for NA of rings from both STZ‐treated rats (6.90 ± 0.13 and 8.17 ± 0.35 (–log m) with and without endothelium, respectively, n = 5) and control rats (6.90 ± 0.15 and 8.37 ± 0.44 (–log m) with and without endothelium, respectively, n = 5). 5 In calcium‐free medium (with 1 mm EGTA), responses to NA and ET‐1 were reduced compared with those in normal Krebs solution and maximum responses were less in rings from STZ‐treated compared with control rats. 6 Indomethacin (5 μm) did not prevent the reduced maximum responsiveness to ET‐1 in rings from STZ‐treated rats compared with those from controls. 7 This study indicates that changes in vascular responsiveness to ET‐1, KCl and CaCl2 (but not NA) occur in aortae of two‐week STZ‐treated rats. The endothelium does not appear to play a major role in mediating changes in responsiveness to ET‐1.
Comparison of the antimicrobial efficacy of chemomechanical caries removal (Carisolv) with that of conventional drilling in reducing cariogenic flora.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of chemomechanical caries removal (Carisolv) in reducing the count of cariogenic flora and compare it to conventional drilling. MATERIALS The study group consisted of 20 healthy children aged between four and eight years. In each child, two primary molars with broad occlusal cavitated lesions were chosen for caries removal either with Carisolv or by conventional drilling. Dentin samples of both groups were taken prior to and following caries removal. They were then processed after suitable dilutions and cultured using Schaedler agar for the Total Viable Bacteria and MRS agar for the lactobacilli. After incubation at 35 degrees C for 3 days, the Total Viable Count and lactobacilli count was determined and expressed as Colony Forming Units per ml. The two methods of caries removal were then compared and the data was statistically analyzed. Both methods reduced the TVC count by 92% and lactobacilli count by 91%. RESULTS have indicated that the antimicrobial efficacy of Carisolv was comparable to that of conventional drilling and can be used as a suitable alternative for caries removal, especially in children.
The Biochemical Architecture of an Ancient Adaptive Landscape

Molecular evolution is moving from statistical descriptions of adaptive molecular changes toward predicting the fitness effects of mutations. Here, we characterize the fitness landscape of the six amino acids controlling coenzyme use in isopropylmalate dehydrogenase (IMDH). Although all natural IMDHs use nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) as a coenzyme, they can be engineered to use nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) instead. Intermediates between these two phenotypic extremes show that each amino acid contributes additively to enzyme function, with epistatic contributions confined to fitness. The genotype-phenotype-fitness map shows that NAD use is a global optimum.
Clinical subtypes of essential tremor.

BACKGROUND There is clinical variability in essential tremor (ET), but it is not clear whether this variability is because of the existence of distinct clinical subtypes of ET (ie, forms of ET that may differ in their etiology, rate of progression, or response to treatment). OBJECTIVES To examine in a group of ET cases the age of onset, anatomic distribution, and rate of progression of tremor, and to look for associations between these factors. METHODS Cases of ET were ascertained from a community (n = 60) and a tertiary referral clinic (n = 55) in northern Manhattan, New York, NY. All subjects underwent an interview and videotaped tremor examination. Rate of progression was estimated based on the tremor severity and reported disease duration at the time of evaluation. RESULTS Age of onset was bimodally distributed in clinic cases. There were differences in the anatomic distribution of the tremor (arm tremor only vs head and arm tremor vs isolated head tremor). Rate of progression was distributed exponentially; there was a large cluster of subjects with slower rates of progression, and a smaller number who had faster rates. There was an association between age of onset and rate of progression (r = 0.46-0.50, P<.002); cases with older age of onset (>60 years) progressed more rapidly (P<.001). In addition, upper limb tremor progressed more slowly among those with concomitant head tremor (P =.03). CONCLUSIONS Essential tremor is not a homogeneous condition. There are differences in age of onset, anatomic distribution of tremor, and rate of progression. The ET in several groups of patients in this study (those with age of onset >60 years and those without head tremor) progressed more rapidly, suggesting that these ET cases may define distinct clinical subtypes. These subtypes should be further assessed for etiologic and genetic heterogeneity as well as differences in responsiveness to therapeutic agents. Arch Neurol. 2000;57:1194-1198
Neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism based on thyroxine, thyrotropin, and thyroxine-binding globulin measurement: potentials and pitfalls.

CONTEXT The Dutch T(4)-TSH-TBG-based neonatal screening program detects patients with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) of thyroidal (CH-T) as well as central (CH-C) origin. The numbers and characteristics of true-positive and false-positive referrals will differ from other, predominantly TSH-based, screening methods. OBJECTIVE The present study describes the characteristics of the referred neonates, both CH patients and false positives, and of the reported CH patients with a false-negative screening result born in the study period. DESIGN, SETTING, PATIENTS, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE For each referred child born between April 1, 2002, and May 31, 2004, screening results and first venous sample results were recorded and classified as transient or permanent CH-T or CH-C or as no CH. RESULTS In the study period, 430,764 children were screened. Of the 772 children with abnormal screening results, 224 (29%) had CH; another 13 CH patients did not have abnormal screening results, giving an overall CH incidence of 1:1800. Incidences of permanent CH, permanent CH-T, permanent CH-C, and transient CH were 1:2200, 1:2500, 1:21,000, and 1:12,000, respectively. The most frequent explanations for the 548 false-positive referrals (71% of the referred cohort) were severe illness and TBG deficiency (occurring in 198 and 200 children, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The Dutch incidence figures for CH belong to the highest worldwide, suggesting that the T(4)-TSH-TBG screening program is an efficient method to detect CH of variable etiology and severity. Still, a small percentage of children with CH escaped detection via this screening approach. Severe illness and TBG deficiency appear to be responsible for the majority of false-positive referrals.
Quench Limit Model and Measurements for Steady State Heat Deposits in LHC Magnets

A quench, transition of a conductor from the superconducting to the normal conducting state, occurs irreversibly in accelerator magnets if one of the three parameters: temperature, magnetic field or current density, exceeds its critical value. The protons lost from the beam and impacting on the vacuum chamber, create a secondary particle shower that deposes its energy in the magnet coil. Energy deposited in the superconductor by these particles can provoke quenches that can be detrimental for the accelerator operation. A network model is developed to study the thermodynamic behavior of the LHC magnets. The results of the heat flow simulation in the main dipole and quadrupole LHC magnets calculated by means of the network model were validated with measurements performed at superfluid helium temperatures in the CERN magnet test facility. A steady state heat flow was introduced in the magnet coil by using a dedicated internal heating apparatus (IHA) installed inside the magnet cold bore. The value of the heat source flux flow is determined from the network model. The magnet coil current, which is required to quench the magnet coil, is predicted accordingly.
Variation in Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms among Serial Isolates from Patients withTrichophyton rubrum Infection

ABSTRACT Molecular genotyping of strains of Trichophyton rubrumand T. mentagrophytes from patients with onychomycosis of the toes was performed to ascertain whether the fungal genotype changes over the course of time as sequential samples were obtained from patients receiving antifungal therapy and during follow-up. Sixty-six serial strains of T. rubrum and 11 strains of T. mentagrophytes were obtained from 20 patients (16 patients with T. rubrum, 4 with T. mentagrophytes) who were treated with oral antifungal therapy and observed over periods of up to 36 months. These strains were screened for genetic variation by hybridization of EcoRI-digested genomic DNAs with a probe amplified from the small-subunit (18S) ribosomal DNA and adjacent internal transcribed spacer regions. A total of five restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) types were observed among 66 strains of T. rubrum. Two major RFLP types, differentiated by one band shift, represented 68% of the samples. None of the patients had a unique genotype. More than one RFLP type was often observed from a single patient (same nail) over a period of 1, 2, or 3 years, even in cases that did not appear cured at any time. Samples taken from different nails of the same patient had either the same or a different genotype. The genotypic variation did not correspond to any detectable phenotypic variation. Furthermore, no correlation was observed between the efficacy of the treatment administered and the genotype observed. While the DNA region studied distinguished among T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, and T. tonsurans, intraspecific RFLP variation was observed for T. rubrum andT. mentagrophytes strains. While independent multiple infection and coinhabitation of multiple strains may explain the presence of different genotypes in a nail, microevolutionary events such as rapid substrain shuffling, as seen in studies of repetitive regions in Candida species, may also produce the same result. The recovery of multiple strains during the course of sequential sampling of uncured patients further suggests that the typing system is not able to distinguish between relapse or reinfection, ongoing infection, and de novo infection.
Patterns in US Urban Growth, 1790–2000

González-Val R. and Lanaspa L. Patterns in US urban growth, 1790–2000, Regional Studies. This paper reconsiders the path of the growth of American cities since 1790 (when the first census was published). The null hypothesis for long-term growth is random growth. Evidence supporting random growth in city sizes is obtained by using panel unit root tests. Growth patterns different from the overall unit root trend detected are also extracted, with evidence found of high intra-distribution mobility (transition matrices) and ‘local’ mean-reverting behaviours (club convergence). The high mobility and the results of the clustering analysis are interpreted as signs of a sequential city growth pattern toward a random growth steady-state.