Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extension of range of functions

A well known and important theorem of analysis states that a function f(x) which is continuous on a bounded closed set E can be extended to the entire space, preserving its continuity. Let us consider a metric space S and a function f(x) defined and possessing a property P on a subset E of S. We shall for the sake of brevity say that ƒ (x) can be extended to S preserving property P , if there exists a function 4>(x), defined and possessing property P on all of S, which is equal to f(x) for all x on E. Our present object is to establish an easily proved theorem which both includes the classical theorem stated above, and also shows that functions satisfying a Lipschitz or Holder condition on an arbitrary set E can be extended to 5 preserving the Lipschitz or Holder condition. An advantage of the present procedure is that it yields an explicit formula for the extension, f
Course of recovery and prediction of outcome in young patients in a prolonged vegetative or minimally conscious state after severe brain injury: An exploratory study.

AIMS To explore the course of recovery of consciousness and factors predicting the outcome of severe brain injury with a prolonged period of unconsciousness in children and young adults receiving a specialized rehabilitation treatment, the Early Intensive Neurorehabilitation Programme (EINP). METHODS A cohort of forty-four patients aged 1.6-25.5 years (M=16.0) with traumatic acquired brain injury (TBI) or non-traumatic acquired brain injury (nTBI) were examined using the Western Neuro Sensory Stimulation Profile every two weeks, from the application for EINP until discharge. The level of consciousness was assessed with the Post-Acute Level of Consciousness Scale, and the level of disability was determined by the Disability Rating Scale. Long-term level of disability of all TBI patients (N=32) was assessed between 2.0 and 4.4 years after discharge from EINP. RESULTS Two-thirds of all patients recovered to consciousness. Three recovery patterns were identified: remaining in a vegetative state (VS), slow recovery of consciousness, and fast recovery of consciousness. In the long-term, 11 of the TBI patients were severely disabled, 13 were moderately disabled, and 4 were mildly disabled. All TBI patients who were in VS at discharge either had deceased, or recovered to a very severely disabled state. CONCLUSIONS Three recovery patterns identified in an early stage after starting EINP made it possible to predict long-term level of disability.
Care delivery and self-management strategies for adults with epilepsy.

BACKGROUND Epilepsy care has been criticised for its lack of impact. Various service models and strategies have been developed in response to perceived inadequacies in care provision. OBJECTIVES To compare the effectiveness of any specialised or dedicated intervention for the care of adults with epilepsy to the effectiveness of usual care. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2006), MEDLINE (1966 to May 2006), EMBASE (1988 to May 2006), PsychINFO (1806 to May 2006) and CINAHL (1982 to May 2006). SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials, controlled or matched trials, cohort studies or other prospective studies with a control group, or time series studies. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Each review author independently selected studies, extracted data and assessed the quality of included studies. MAIN RESULTS There are 13 trials and 16 reports included in this review. Seven distinct groups of interventions were identified: seven papers reported on five trials of specialist epilepsy nurses. Of the 13 trials, at least three (four reports) have methodological weaknesses, and some of the results from other analyses within studies need to be interpreted with caution because of limiting factors in the studies. Consequently, there is currently limited evidence for the effectiveness of interventions to improve the health and life quality of people with epilepsy. It was not possible to combine study results in a meta-analysis because of the heterogeneity of outcomes, study populations, interventions, and time scales across the studies. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Two intervention types, the specialist epilepsy nurse and self-management education, have some evidence of benefit. However, we did not find clear evidence that other service models substantially improve outcomes for adults with epilepsy. It is also possible that benefits are situation specific and may not generalise to other settings. These studies included only a small number of service providers whose individual competence or expertise may have had a significant impact on outcomes. At present it is not possible to advocate any single model of service provision.
Correspondence on ``Lipid Profile, Apolipoproteins A and B in Children With Epilepsy''

magnetic resonance imaging of the entire spine revealed focal areas of myelomalacia and no cord stenosis. Magnetic resonance venogram of the brain was normal. Cerebrospinal fluid was normal, except for an opening pressure of 660 mm H2O. After bilateral optic nerve sheath fenestrations for rapidly worsening vision, her final best-corrected visual acuity was 20/50 on the right and 20/40 on the left. Although communicating hydrocephalus has been reported to commonly occur in mucopolysaccharidoses, pseudotumor cerebri occurs rarely. Only 1 patient with mucopolysaccharidosis type II syndrome has been shown to have pseudotumor cerebri. We hypothesize that cerebrospinal fluid obstruction is related to macrophages, filled with periodic acid-Schiff-positive material, in the arachnoid villi. This obstruction would lead to elevated intracranial pressure with normal-sized ventricles, as in pseudotumor cerebri. This patient had no other risk factors for pseudotumor cerebri, such as obesity, sleep apnea, or endocrinologic disorders. Therefore, pseudotumor cerebri should be distinguished from communicating hydrocephalus as a treatable neurologic complication of mucopolysaccharidoses, such as in this patient with Morquio type IV syndrome.
Activation in stored platelet concentrates: correlation between membrane expression of P‐selectin, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa, and beta‐ thromboglobulin release

By using two distinct measurements of alpha‐degranulation (surface P‐ selectin [alpha‐granule membrane protein‐140] expression and beta‐ thromboglobulin [beta‐TG] release) and quantitation of glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa surface density, stored platelet concentrates were evaluated to determine a) which method of measuring platelet alpha‐ granule release was more sensitive in detecting early platelet activation; b) whether Day 1 levels of activation predicted the extent of activation or cell lysis on Day 5 of storage; and c) whether changes in surface GPIIb/IIIa density were primarily dependent on platelet activation. By using samples from paired and unpaired units stored for 1, 3, and 5 days, four observations could be made. 1) A flow cytometric assay for the percentage of P‐selectin‐positive platelets was more sensitive for early detection of platelet activation than was measurement of beta‐TG release. This finding was most likely due to enhanced sensitivity in detecting platelets that had undergone partial alpha‐granule release. 2) Total P‐selectin expression correlated with beta‐TG release, which indicated that the extent of alpha‐granule membrane fusion with the external platelet membrane was proportional to the amount of alpha‐granule contents released into the supernatant. 3) All of the activation measurements on Day 1 predicted the activation values, but did not predict the degree of cell lysis (measured by lactate dehydrogenase discharge), on Day 5 of storage. 4) Surface GPIIb/IIIa density was increased on the subset of P‐selectin‐positive platelets as compared with the P‐selectin‐negative subset at all times during storage, but, within each subset, GPIIb/IIIa surface density did not significantly increase over the time of storage.
The prediction of criminal recidivism: the implication of sampling in prognostic models.

BACKGROUND Instruments based on actuarial forensic risk assessment models are sensitive to the calibration sample, and the inclusion criteria for the subjects of a study population will influence the features of the resulting model. If the same instrument is used in populations that are not part of the calibration sample, the discriminative validity of the instrument is jeopardized; thus the definition of the calibration sample is very important. The aim of this study was to examine how sensitive prognostic models are to the calibration sample. METHOD Two samples (N = 773) of offenders sentenced to at least 10 months in prison for a violent or sexual offense were used in this study. The "sanction sample" (recruited during August 2000, N = 515) consisted of all violent and sexual offenders actively administrated by the Criminal Justice System of Zurich, Switzerland. The "verdict sample" (recruited over two years, N = 258) included all offenders convicted in the Canton of Zurich during a two-year period. Both samples were unbiased, since all subjects that met the study criteria were included. In the first analysis, differences between the two samples were shown with respect to socio-demographic, criminological, and psychiatric variables using bivariate logistic regressions. In the second analysis, recidivism was estimated separately for both samples, using a logistic regression model as a function of a set of psychiatric, socio-demographic and criminological variables. RESULTS Bivariate logistic regression showed that different risk factors for recidivism existed for both samples. CONCLUSION Forensic risk assessment models are very sensitive to the calibration sample. There is strong evidence that, even when index-offenses and the socio-cultural background are the same, risk factors for recidivism differ depending on the stage of the judicial process in which the subjects are (e.g. whether a subject is indicted, on conditional release, on parole, or no longer under the supervision of a parole board). Unfortunately, none of the currently available actuarial risk assessment instruments that have been validated in European countries consider the different stages of the judiciary process.
Place field assembly distribution encodes preferred locations

The hippocampus is the main locus of episodic memory formation and the neurons there encode the spatial map of the environment. Hippocampal place cells represent location, but their role in the learning of preferential location remains unclear. The hippocampus may encode locations independently from the stimuli and events that are associated with these locations. We have discovered a unique population code for the experience-dependent value of the context. The degree of reward-driven navigation preference highly correlates with the spatial distribution of the place fields recorded in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. We show place field clustering towards rewarded locations. Optogenetic manipulation of the ventral tegmental area demonstrates that the experience-dependent place field assembly distribution is directed by tegmental dopaminergic activity. The ability of the place cells to remap parallels the acquisition of reward context. Our findings present key evidence that the hippocampal neurons are not merely mapping the static environment but also store the concurrent context reward value, enabling episodic memory for past experience to support future adaptive behavior.
Pathogenesis of the Endothelial Damage and Related Factors

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune connective tissue disorder characterized by a widespread microangiopathy, autoimmunity and fibrosis of the skin and of various internal organs. Vascular damage occurs early in the course of the disease as showed by the presence of Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) that can precede the fibrotic process of months or years. A complex interaction between endothelial cells (ECs), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), pericytes, extracellular matrix (ECM), and intravascular circulating factors is now recognized to contribute to the vascular reactivity, remodeling, and occlusive disease of SSc (Gabrielli et al., 2009). Chronic platelet activation and enhanced coagulation with reduced fibrinolysis, secondary to EC activation that leads to fibrin deposits and contribute to the intimal proliferation and luminal narrowing are also found. The identity of the initial trigger of EC damage remains unknown. Current hypotheses suggest a possible infectious or chemical trigger(s) that activates both cellular and humoral immunity. Products of immune activation may lead to vascular injury possibly through the production of autoantibodies and the release of products of activated T cells that can directly damage the endothelium (Kahaleh, 2008). Microangiopathy is characterized by a reduced capillary density and an irregular chaotic architecture that leads to chronic tissue hypoxia and organ dysfunction with eventual organ failure. Vascular complications, including pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) have emerged as leading causes of disability and mortality in SSc (Guiducci et al., 2007). Despite the hypoxic conditions, there is no evidence for a sufficient compensative angiogenesis in SSc (Distler O et al., 2002). Furthermore, vasculogenesis, the de novo formation of blood vessels, is also impaired. An imbalance between angiogenic and angiostatic factors as well as functional alterations of the cellular players, involved in the angiogenic and vasculogenic program, might explain the pathogenetic mechanisms of SSc vasculopathy (Liakouli, 2011; Cipriani, 2011). Either angiogenic or vasculogenic mechanisms may potentially become in the future the target of novel therapeutic strategies to promote vascular regeneration in SSc.
Non-Thermoregulatory Modulation of Sweating in Humans

Shibasaki, M. , N. Kondo, and C.G. Crandall. Non-thermoregulatory modulation of sweating in humans. Exerc. Sport Sci. Rev., Vol. 31, No. 1, pp. 34–39, 2003. Sweating in humans is critical for appropriate thermoregulation during exercise and/or exposure to warm environmental temperatures. In addition to thermal controllers of sweating, a number of non-thermal factors modulate the sweating response. This review summarizes the primary non-thermal neural modifiers of sweating in humans.
Novel Strain Relief Design for Multilayer Thin Film Stretchable Interconnects

Most electronic systems are rigid and inflexible. Many applications, however, require or benefit from conformable designs. To create efficient conformable systems, multilayer stretchable interconnects are necessary. A novel strain relief structure for multilayer stretchable interconnects is proposed. The numerical analysis shows that the proposed structure will function indefinitely when stretched as much as 20% of its initial length. Electromechanical measurements demonstrate that the onset of microcrack formation in the interconnects occurs, on average, after 89% elongation. These measurements also show that the structures are able to withstand elongations of up to 285%. Additionally, precise failure mechanisms, including interconnect straightening and microcrack formation are documented.
Expression of p 53 in Arsenic-Related and Sporadic Basal Cell Carcinoma

Background: The TP53 gene has been shown to have an important role in the genesis of sporadic, presumably mainly sunlight-related, basal cell carcinoma (BCC). However, its role in arsenic-related BCCs is not clear, although the trivalent form of arsenic has been long recognized as a cause of BCC. Arsenic treatment has been shown to cause hypermethylation of the TP53 gene in lung carcinoma cell lines, but it is not known if this occurs in vivo in arsenic-related BCCs.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia

In the first of JNNP 's mini-themed issues, we investigate how clinical research is making in-roads in the search for the common and overlapping threads that bind amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). These emerging threads may ultimately provide the cipher to unlock the pathophysiology of both diseases, and in turn produce effective treatments from across multiple disciplines. In the realm of neurosciences, clinical overlap has become no more apparent over recent years than ALS and FTD. Although ALS was previously regarded as a motor disorder that spared cognitive abilities, it is now clear that a significant proportion of ALS patients develop cognitive dysfunction, and in a minority, overt dementia.1 In addition to motor-onset ALS presentations, a further subgroup of patients may initially present with FTD but later develop features of ALS. While a …
Student Decisions about Lecture Attendance: Do Electronic Course Materials Matter?

Background This study explored whether first-year medical students make deliberate decisions about attending nonrequired lectures. If so, it sought to identify factors that influence these decisions, specifically addressing the potential impact of electronic materials. Method Medical students who completed first-year studies between 2004 and 2006 responded to an open-ended survey question about their own lecture-attendance decisions. Responses were coded to capture major themes. Students’ ratings of the electronic materials were also examined. Results Most respondents made deliberate attendance decisions. Decisions were influenced by previous experiences with the lecturer, predictions of what would occur during the session itself, personal learning preferences, and learning needs at that particular time, with the overriding goal of maximizing learning. Access to electronic materials did not influence students’ choices. Conclusions Fears that the increasing availability of technology-enhanced educational materials has a negative impact on lecture attendance seem unfounded.
The effect of Citrullus colocynthis pulp extract on the liver of diabetic rats a light and scanning electron microscopic study.

Problem statement: The goal of the current investigation was to clarify the effects of Citrullus colocynthis pulp extract on the structure of the liver of diabetic rats at both light and scanning electron microscopic levels. Approach: Forty-eight adult male albino rats were equally allocated into four groups: Group1: control, Group 2: Citrullus colocynthis-treated, Group 3: diabetic rats and Group4: diabetic rats treated with Citrullus colocynthis. All treatments were administered via an intragastric tube. Diabetes was induced in the rats of groups 3 and 4 by an intraperitoneal injection with alloxan. Results: The liver of Citrullus colocynthis-treated rats revealed minor histological changes versus the control animals. In group 3 animals, diabetes caused degenerative alterations in the form of disorganization of the hepatic cords, cytoplasmic vacuolization and pyknosis of the nuclei of hepatocytes and inflammatory cell infiltration. Scanning electron microscope examination of these livers revealed numerous lipid droplets within hepatocytes, damaged blood sinusoids and hemorrhage of erythrocytes between hepatocytes and inside Disse's spaces. On the other hand, the normal histological and scanning ultrastructural features were nearly resumed in the liver of diabetic rats treated with Citrullus colocynthis pulp extract. Conclusion: The present study proved a lessening effect of Citrullus colocynthis pulp extract on the liver of diabetic rats. In light of these advantageous influences, it is advisable to widen the scale of its use in a trial to alleviate the diabetic hepatic adverse effects.
[Antibody response of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) to nucleocapsid antigen of SARS-associated coronavirus].

OBJECTIVE To assess serum antibody responses of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) to nucleocapsid (N) antigen of SARS-associated coronavirus. METHODS The serum levels of IgM and IgG antibodies to N antigen were measured in 200 healthy blood donors and 13 SARS patients at different time points of acute and convalescent phases using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with N fusion proteins of SARS-associated coronaviruses. RESULTS The IgM positive critical value of 0.233 and IgG of 0.239 were selected as the threshold value for positive results that equals the product of 2.1 and the mean IgM and IgG levels of 200 healthy blood donors. In 13 patients with SARS, the antibody responses to N antigen were not detectable in the first week after the onset of symptoms. The IgM and IgG seroprotection rates were 83.3% and 66.7% respectively in the second week, both reaching 100% at the third week. IgM seroprotection rates was 61.5% in the second month, and 38.5% at third month. The IgG peaked one month after the onset and remained at high levels in the following 2 months. CONCLUSION The antibody responses suggest that N protein of SARS is immunodominant and plays an important role in viral pathogenesis. This ELISA-based test for detecting anti- N antigen may be of significant value for SARS diagnosis.
Orthostatic hypotension from sympathetic denervation in Parkinson’s disease

Background Patients with PD often have signs or symptoms of autonomic failure, including orthostatic hypotension. Cardiac sympathetic denervation occurs frequently in PD, but this has been thought to occur independently of autonomic failure. Methods Forty-one patients with PD (18 with and 23 without orthostatic hypotension) and 16 age-matched healthy volunteers underwent PET scanning to visualize sympathetic innervation after injection of 6-[18F]fluorodopamine. Beat-to-beat blood pressure responses to the Valsalva maneuver were used to identify sympathetic neurocirculatory failure and plasma norepinephrine to indicate overall sympathetic innervation. Results All patients with PD and orthostatic hypotension had abnormal blood pressure responses to the Valsalva maneuver and septal and lateral ventricular myocardial concentrations of 6-[18F]fluorodopamine-derived radioactivity >2 SD below the normal mean. In contrast, only 6 of the 23 patients without orthostatic hypotension had abnormal Valsalva responses (p < 0.0001 compared with patients with orthostatic hypotension), and only 11 had diffusely decreased 6-[18F]fluorodopamine-derived radioactivity in the left ventricular myocardium (p = 0.0004). Of the 12 remaining patients without orthostatic hypotension, 7 had locally decreased myocardial radioactivity. Supine plasma norepinephrine was lower in patients with than in those without orthostatic hypotension (1.40 ± 0.15 vs 2.32 ± 0.26 nmol/L, p = 0.005). 6-[18F]fluorodopamine-derived radioactivity was less not only in the myocardium but also in the thyroid and renal cortex of patients with PD than in healthy control subjects. Conclusions In PD, orthostatic hypotension reflects sympathetic neurocirculatory failure from generalized sympathetic denervation.
Scaling Entity Resolution to Large, Heterogeneous Data with Enhanced Meta-blocking

Entity Resolution constitutes a quadratic task that typically scales to large entity collections through blocking. The resulting blocks can be restructured by Meta-blocking in order to significantly increase precision at a limited cost in recall. Yet, its processing can be time-consuming, while its precision remains poor for configurations with high recall. In this work, we propose new meta-blocking methods that improve precision by up to an order of magnitude at a negligible cost to recall. We also introduce two efficiency techniques that, when combined, reduce the overhead time of Metablocking by more than an order of magnitude. We evaluate our approaches through an extensive experimental study over 6 realworld, heterogeneous datasets. The outcomes indicate that our new algorithms outperform all meta-blocking techniques as well as the state-of-the-art methods for block processing in all respects.