Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Morphological and functional imaging in neurological and non‐neurological Wilson's patients

Wilson's disease causes disturbances of the central nervous system, affecting it both directly through copper toxicity and indirectly subject to a copper‐induced hepatopathy, resulting in morphological and physiological changes in brain structures that can be captured by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 123I‐β‐CIT (2β‐carbomethoxy‐3β (4‐iodophenyl)tropane)‐SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography), 123I‐IBZM (benzamide)‐SPECT and [18F]FDG ‐PET (fluorodeoxyglucose–positron emission tomography). MRI can reveal even slight morphological changes in non‐neurological Wilson's patients. More marked findings in neurological Wilson's patients become evident in T1‐ and T2‐weighted MRI. T1‐weighted MRI predominantly detects atrophic changes, whereas T2‐weighted MRI regularly records signal changes in the putamen. With the aid of these three nuclear‐medicine examinations, nigrostriatal and metabolic disturbances are identified in neurological Wilson's patients only. Sufficient decoppering therapy prevents progression and even tends to improve symptoms. A correlation between any of the imaging findings in patients with the genetic phenotype and the incidence of the most common mutation H1069Q (homozygote or compound heterozygote) or other mutations could not be substantiated.
The expression of virulence for a mixed-mode transmitted parasite in a diapausing host

SUMMARY Many parasites survive harsh periods together with their hosts. Without the possibility of horizontal transmission during host diapause, parasite persistence depends entirely on host survival. We therefore hypothesize that a parasite should be avirulent during its host's diapausing stage. In contrast, the parasite may express higher virulence, i.e. parasite-induced fitness reduction of the host, during host life stages with good opportunities for horizontal transmission. Here we study the effects of a vertically and horizontally transmitted microsporidium parasite, Hamiltosporidium tvaerminnensis, on the quantity and survival of resting eggs of its host Daphnia magna. We find that the parasite did not affect egg volume, hatching success and time to hatching of the Daphnia's resting eggs, although it did strongly reduce the number of resting eggs produced by infected females, revealing high virulence during the non-diapause phase of the host's life cycle. These results also explain another aspect of this system – namely the strong decline in natural population prevalence across diapause. This decline is not caused by mortality in infected resting stages, as was previously hypothesized, but because infected female hosts produce lower rates of resting eggs. Together, these results help explain the epidemiological dynamics of a microsporidian disease and highlight the adaptive nature of life stage-dependent parasite virulence.
Associations of physical activity with muscular fitness in adolescents

The aim of this study was to examine the associations between objectively assessed physical activity (PA) and muscular fitness (MF) in adolescents, and to determine whether only resistance training exercise is associated with the increase of MF. A sample of 211 Spanish adolescents (105 girls) wore the ActiGraph monitor for 7 days. Participants also completed a fitness evaluation including three MF tests (handgrip strength, a 60‐s abdominal test and a standing broad jump), a cardiorespiratory fitness assessment and anthropometric measures. A standardized MF score was computed using the three muscular tests. Adolescent participation in resistance training was self‐reported. Linear regression showed that only vigorous PA was significantly (P=0.041) and positively (β=0.133) associated with MF after adjustment by gender, age, pubertal status, BMI, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Significant differences in MF were found between youth in the lowest and upper tertiles of vigorous PA. Moreover, adolescents who were involved in resistance training had significantly higher MF scores compared with youth in low and medium tertiles of vigorous PA, but no significant differences were found when compared with non‐lifters from the highest tertile of vigorous PA (P=0.356). These findings suggest that vigorous activity may be associated with indicators of MF in adolescents.
Structural and functional plasticity of the hippocampal formation in professional dancers and slackliners

The acquisition of special skills can induce plastic changes in the human hippocampus, a finding demonstrated in expert navigators (Maguire et al. ( 2000 ) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 97:4,398–403). Conversely, patients with acquired chronic bilateral vestibular loss develop atrophy of the hippocampus, which is associated with impaired spatial memory (Brandt et al. ( 2005 ) Brain 128:2,732–741). This suggests that spatial memory relies on vestibular input. In this study 21 professional dancers and slackliners were examined to assess whether balance training with extensive vestibulo‐visual stimulation is associated with altered hippocampal formation volumes or spatial memory. Gray matter voxel‐based morphometry showed smaller volumes in the anterior hippocampal formation and in parts of the parieto‐insular vestibular cortex of the trained subjects but larger volumes in the posterior hippocampal formation and the lingual and fusiform gyri bilaterally. The local volumes in the right anterior hippocampal formation correlated negatively and those in the right posterior hippocampal formation positively with the amount of time spent training ballet/ice dancing or slacklining at the time of the study. There were no differences in general memory or in spatial memory as assessed by the virtual Morris water task. Trained subjects performed significantly better on a hippocampal formation‐dependent task of nonspatial memory (transverse patterning). The smaller anterior hippocampal formation volumes of the trained subjects may be the result of a long‐term suppression of destabilizing vestibular input. This is supported by the associated volume loss in the parieto‐insular vestibular cortex. The larger volumes in the posterior hippocampal formation of the trained subjects might result from their increased utilization of visual cues for balance. This is supported by the concomitant larger volumes in visual areas like the lingual and fusiform gyri. Our findings indicate that there is a spatial separation of vestibular and visual processes in the human hippocampus. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Informal ‘Guanxi’ Institutional Culture of the Malaysian Housing Development Industry

Abstract There has been limited understanding of the relationship between private developers and the housing delivery mechanism in Malaysia. This paper seeks to bridge the research gap by analysing the social relationships and informal institutions embedded in the Malaysian housing development industry. Empirical data were collected for Kuala Lumpur and Johor to compare and contrast developers’ views and their working relationships with government departments. Informed by various arguments that ‘guanxi’ can reduce transaction costs and supplement/complement the formal legal regime, this paper examines the ways developers are engaged in such transaction cost reduction activities. Policy and theoretical implications of the informal cultural practice in the housing development industry are then drawn out.
Models of atomic scale contrast in dissipation images of binary ionic surfaces in non-contact atomic force microscopy

Using model ionic systems and the recently proposed theory of dynamical response at close approach (Kantorovich and Trevethan 2004 Phys. Rev. Lett. 93 236102) in non-contact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM), we present the results of calculations performed to investigate the formation of atomic scale contrast in dissipation images. The accessible energy states and barriers of the microscopic tip–surface system are determined as a function of tip position above the surface. These are then used along with typical experimental parameters to investigate the dynamical response of the system and mechanisms of atomic scale contrast. We show how the damping signal contrast can appear either correlated or anti-correlated with the topography depending on the distance of closest approach and the system temperature. The dependence of the dissipated energy, and the reversibility of a structural change, on the tip frequency and system temperature is investigated and the relevance of this to single-atom manipulation with the NC-AFM is discussed.
Prevalence of mental health problems and functional impairment among active component and National Guard soldiers 3 and 12 months following combat in Iraq.

CONTEXT A growing body of literature has demonstrated the association of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan with postdeployment mental health problems, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. However, studies have shown varying prevalence rates of these disorders based on different case definitions and have not assessed functional impairment, alcohol misuse, or aggressive behavior as comorbid factors occurring with PTSD and depression. OBJECTIVES To (1) examine the prevalence rates of depression and PTSD using several case definitions including functional impairment, (2) determine the comorbidity of alcohol misuse or aggressive behaviors with depression or PTSD, and (3) compare rates between Active Component and National Guard soldiers at the 3- and 12-month time points following their deployment to Iraq. DESIGN Population-based, cross-sectional study. SETTING United States Army posts and National Guard armories. PARTICIPANTS A total of 18 305 US Army soldiers from 4 Active Component and 2 National Guard infantry brigade combat teams. INTERVENTIONS Between 2004 and 2007, anonymous mental health surveys were collected at 3 and 12 months following deployment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Current PTSD, depression, functional impairment, alcohol misuse, and aggressive behavior. RESULTS Prevalence rates for PTSD or depression with serious functional impairment ranged between 8.5% and 14.0%, with some impairment between 23.2% and 31.1%. Alcohol misuse or aggressive behavior comorbidity was present in approximately half of the cases. Rates remained stable for the Active Component soldiers but increased across all case definitions from the 3- to 12-month time point for National Guard soldiers. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence rates of PTSD and depression after returning from combat ranged from 9% to 31% depending on the level of functional impairment reported. The high comorbidity with alcohol misuse and aggression highlights the need for comprehensive postdeployment screening. Persistent or increased prevalence rates at 12 months compared with 3 months postdeployment illustrate the persistent effects of war zone service and provide important data to guide postdeployment care.
Development of vigabatrin‐induced lesions in the rat brain studied by magnetic resonance imaging, histology, and immunocytochemistry

Vigabatrin, the γ‐aminobutyric acid transaminase (GABA‐T)‐inhibiting anticonvulsant drug, was given orally at a dose of 275 mg/kg/day to rats (n = 6) in their feed for a period of 12 weeks, during which T2‐weighted magnetic resonance images (MRIs) and diffusion‐weighted MRIs (DWIs) were collected at weeks 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12. Half the rats (n = 3; and half their age‐matched littermate controls; n = 3) were then killed for histopathological confirmation of the observed VGB‐induced cerebellar and cortical white‐matter lesions. VGB was removed from the diet and additional MRIs of the remaining rats taken at weeks 14, 17, 20, and 24, at which time they (n = 3), along with remaining controls (n = 3), were also killed for histopathology. The T2‐weighted MRIs acquired were used to compute T2 relaxation time maps. Statistically significant VGB‐induced T2 increases were observed in the frontal and occipital cortices and in the cerebellar white matter (CWM). The cerebellar lesions were more clearly discerned by eye in the DWIs than by T2‐contrast alone. During the recovery period the VGB‐treatment group CWM‐T2 and CWM‐DWI hyperintensity greatly decreased as the reversible lesion disappeared. As expected, histological and immunocytochemical examinations demonstrated the presence of intra‐myelinic edema, microvacuolation, and reactive astrocytosis in the CWM and cortex after 12 weeks VGB‐treatment. In the remaining animals microvacuolation of the white matter had not completely resolved during the 12‐week recovery phase. The data show that quantitative MRI T2‐relaxometry can be used to detect VGB‐induced CNS pathology, and also suggest that DWI is particularly sensitive to the cerebellar lesion. The reversible neurotoxicity of global GABA‐elevation in experimental animals is discussed. Synapse 53:36–43, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Research on Chinese Inter-provincial Trade Based on Spatial Panel Interaction Model under Multi-dimensional Distances

Using data on origin-destination type bilateral trade flow of Chinese 29 provinces from year 1998to 2011,and employing spatial panel interaction model,this paper examines the effects of propulsive,attractive and frictional forces between two provinces on inter-provincial trade flows,focusing on multi-dimensional distances and local protectionism.The spatio-temporal analysis on origin-destination panel data indicates that there exist asymmetry,disproportionality,contiguity and spatial association in Chinese interprovincial trade.The model estimated results reveals that,after accounting for effects coming from scale,structure and economic extroversion of provinces,local protectionism and geographical distance impedes inter-provincial trade severely;When in appropriate range,inter-provincial economic development gap can facilitate inter-provincial trade,but hinder when beyond a certain range;Industrial structural difference between provinces is in favor of inter-provincial trade,but their technological gap has no significance.The paper includes that,to promote inter-provincial trade,we need to go beyond eliminating local protectionism and improving transportation infrastructure,and develop measures taking into account provincial realities,such as economic development and industrial structure.
Developmental toxicity and uterotrophic studies with di-2-ethylhexyl terephthalate.

BACKGROUND These studies were conducted to evaluate the potential adverse effects of di-2-ethylhexyl terephthalate (DEHT) exposure on in utero development in mice and rats. In addition, a uterotrophic assay for estrogenic activity was conducted in sexually immature rats. METHODS In the developmental toxicity studies, diet containing DEHT was fed to four groups of mated female Crl:CD(SD)IGS BR rats (25/group) from gestation day (GD) 0-20 or Crl:CD1(ICR) mice (25/group) from GD 0-18. Concentrations within the feed were 0, 0.3, 0.6, and 1.0% for the rats and 0, 0.1, 0.3, and 0.7% for the mice. Laparohysterectomies were carried out on the last day of exposure and the numbers of fetuses, early and late resorptions, total implantations, and corpora lutea were recorded. The fetuses were weighed, sexed, and examined for external, visceral and skeletal malformations, and developmental variations. The dose rate from dietary DEHT exposure was 0, 226, 458, and 747 mg/kg/day in the rats and 197, 592, and 1382 mg/kg/day in the mice for the control, low, mid, and high-exposure groups, respectively. RESULTS DEHT exposure did not affect clinical observations. A slight reduction in body weight gain was noted in the high-dose level rat group; the remaining groups were unaffected. At necropsy, increased liver weights were noted in the high-dose rat group and the mid- and high-dose mouse groups. Mean numbers of implantation sites and viable fetuses, mean fetal weights, and mean litter proportions of preimplantation loss, early resorptions, late resorptions, and fetal sex ratios were unaffected by DEHT exposures. No test article-related malformations or variations were observed at any concentration level in the rat and mouse developmental toxicity studies. In the uterotrophic assay for estrogenic activity, sexually immature female rats received oral gavage doses 20, 200, or 2000 mg DEHT/kg bw/day from postnatal day (PND) 19-21. A slight reduction in rate of body weight gain was noted on the first day of dosing in the high dose group, but no other indications of toxicity were evident. DEHT exposure did not affect wet or blotted uterine weight parameters in any of these dose groups. The NOEL for developmental toxicity in rats was 747 mg/kg/day and 1382 mg/kg/day in mice. The NOEL for estrogenic activity was 2000 mg/kg/day. The NOEL for maternal toxicity was 458 mg/kg/day in rats and 197 mg/kg/day in mice. CONCLUSIONS The lack of adverse developmental effects with DEHT exposure are in contrast to the adverse developmental effects noted after di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) exposure. The difference between the effects noted with the ortho-constituent (DEHP) and the lack of effects reported with the para-constituent (DEHT) is due most likely to differences in metabolism and the formation of the stable monoester, mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) from the DEHP moiety.
GPC1 exosome and its regulatory miRNAs are specific markers for the detection and target therapy of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer‐related deaths worldwide. However, a biomarker for a sensitive and simple diagnostic test and highly effective target therapy of CRC is still clinically unavailable. This study is to investigate the evidence and significance of plasma GPC1 positive exosomes as a biomarker of CRC. Results showed that GPC1+ exosomes were successfully isolated from tissues and plasma. The percentage of GPC1+ exosomes and the GPC1 protein expression in exosomes from tumour tissues and plasma of CRC patients before surgical treatment was significantly elevated compared to that in the peritumoural tissues and the plasma of healthy controls. miR‐96‐5p and miR‐149 expression in tumour tissues and plasma of CRC patients as well as in the GPC1+ exosomes from CRC patients were significantly decreased compared to that in the peritumoural tissues and the plasma of healthy controls. Two months after surgical treatment, levels of all tested markers significantly normalized. Overexpression of miR‐96‐5p and miR‐149 significantly decreased GPC1 expression in HT‐29 and HCT‐116 cells, xenograft tumours, plasma in mice bearing HT‐29 and HCT‐116 tumours, and the secretion of GPC1+ exosomes from the HT‐29 and HCT‐116 cells and xenograft tumours. Overexpression of miR‐96‐5p and miR‐149 significantly decreased cell viability and increased cell apoptosis in HT‐29 and HCT‐116 cells, and inhibited the growth of xenograft HT‐29 and HCT‐116 tumours. In conclusion, the increased plasma GPC1+ exosomes and reduced plasma miR‐96‐5p and miR‐149 expression are specific markers for the diagnosis of CRC and targets for the therapy of CRC.
Brain-water diffusion coefficients reflect the severity of inherited prion disease

Objective: Inherited prion diseases are progressive neurodegenerative conditions, characterized by cerebral spongiosis, gliosis, and neuronal loss, caused by mutations within the prion protein (PRNP) gene. We wished to assess the potential of diffusion-weighted MRI as a biomarker of disease severity in inherited prion diseases. Methods: Twenty-five subjects (mean age 45.2 years) with a known PRNP mutation including 19 symptomatic patients, 6 gene-positive asymptomatic subjects, and 7 controls (mean age 54.1 years) underwent conventional and diffusion-weighted MRI. An index of normalized brain volume (NBV) and region of interest (ROI) mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) for the head of caudate, putamen, and pulvinar nuclei were recorded. ADC histograms were computed for whole brain (WB) and gray matter (GM) tissue fractions. Clinical assessment utilized standardized clinical scores. Mann-Whitney U test and regression analyses were performed. Results: Symptomatic patients exhibited an increased WB mean ADC (p = 0.006) and GM mean ADC (p = 0.024) compared to controls. Decreased NBV and increased mean ADC measures significantly correlated with clinical measures of disease severity. Using a stepwise multivariate regression procedure, GM mean ADC was an independent predictor of Clinician's Dementia Rating score (p = 0.001), Barthel Index of activities of daily living (p = 0.001), and Rankin disability score (p = 0.019). Conclusions: Brain volume loss in inherited prion diseases is accompanied by increased cerebral apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), correlating with increased disease severity. The association between gray matter ADC and clinical neurologic status suggests this measure may prove a useful biomarker of disease activity in inherited prion diseases.
Factors Related to Women's Practice of Breast Self‐Examination

Factors related to women's practice of breast self-examination (BSE) were studied in a sample of upper-middle-class women attending meetings of voluntary women's groups. Factors found to relate directly to frequency of BSE practice were high perceived benefits of BSE, low perceived barriers to BSE, and high self-concept. Correlations with perceived susceptibility/seriousness of breast cancer, age, perceived level of social support, and social network properties were not significant. A multiple regression analysis was done with BSE frequency as criterion variable; perceived threat (susceptibility/seriousness) and perceived benefits minus perceived barriers were entered hierarchically; age, self-concept, and total social support were entered as a group. Perceived benefits minus barriers was the only significant predictor variable, R2 = . 27. These findings underline the importance of assessing detective behaviors such as BSE as potentially different from preventive behaviors.
Ecosystem services and tradeoffs in the home food gardens of African American, Chinese-origin and Mexican-origin households in Chicago, IL

Abstract With increasing urbanization and environmental degradation, urban landscapes are increasingly expected to provide a wide range of ecosystem services typically associated with rural areas, including biodiversity conservation and food production. Because residential landscapes constitute the largest single urban land use, domestic gardens have emerged as a topic of research interest and planning concern. The ecosystem services (or disservices) these landscapes provide, however, have not been rigorously measured, nor have tradeoffs between the services they provide been assessed. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 59 African American, Chinese-origin or Mexican-origin households with on-lot or vacant lot food gardens in Chicago. Crop plants and cultivated ornamental plants on the lot were inventoried and mapped at the species level. A total of 123 edible plant taxa from 25 families and 288 ornamental plant species from 85 families were identified, for a combined total of 387 species from 90 families. Cumulatively, the gardens of African American households were relatively rich in ornamental plant species and families, while those of Chinese-origin households had a depauperate flora. Crop plant richness was more even across sample types. Shade trees and a developed shrub layer were absent from most gardens, possibly representing a tradeoff in ecosystem services in favor of food production. The richness of the aggregate 2.1 ha of residential property inventoried in this study was comparable with or exceeded that of a 34 ha prairie remnant west of Chicago. However, only 35 (9.6%) of the inventoried species were native to the Chicago area.