Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cardiac autonomic dysfunction in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder

More than 50% of persons with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) will develop Parkinson's disease or Lewy body dementia. Symptom screens and metaiodobenzylguanine (MIBG)‐scintigraphy suggest autonomic abnormalities in idiopathic RBD, but it is unclear whether autonomic abnormalities can predict neurodegenerative disease. From a cohort of 99 patients with idiopathic RBD, we selected those who developed parkinsonism or dementia. These were matched by age, sex, and follow‐up duration to patients with RBD who remained disease free and to matched controls. From the polysomnographic trace performed at baseline evaluation, measures of beat‐to‐beat RR variability including time domains (mean RR‐interval and RR‐standard deviation) and frequency domains (low and high frequency components) were retrospectively assessed. Twenty‐one patients with idiopathic RBD who developed neurodegenerative disease were included (Parkinson's disease‐11, multiple system atrophy‐1, and dementia‐9). Age at PSG was 66 years, and 86% were male. PSG was performed on average 6.7 years before defined neurodegenerative disease. Comparing all patients with idiopathic RBD to controls, there were significant reductions in RR‐standard deviation (24.6 ± 2.2 ms vs. 35.2 ± 3.5 ms, P = 0.006), very low frequency components (238.6 ± 99.6 ms2 vs. 840.1 ± 188.3 ms2, P < 0.001), and low frequency components (127.8 ± 26.3 ms2 vs. 288.7 ± 66.2 ms2, P = 0.032). However, despite clear differences between patients with idiopathic RBD and controls, there were no differences in any measure between those who did or did not develop disease. RR‐variability analysis demonstrates substantial autonomic dysfunction in idiopathic RBD. However, this dysfunction is identical in patients who will or will not develop defined neurodegenerative disease. This suggests that autonomic dysfunction is linked with RBD independent of associated Parkinson's disease or Lewy body dementia. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society
The Relation of Self-Efficacy Measures to Sport Performance: A Meta-Analytic Review

Abstract This meta-analysis examined the relationship between self-efficacy and performance in sport. Based on 45 studies (102 correlations), the average correlation between self-efficacy and sport performance was . 38. Given the heterogeneity of findings, follow-up univariate and multivariate moderator analyses were conducted. Results indicated that the most important moderator was concordance, thereby highlighting the importance of matching the self-efficacy and performance measures. Additional moderators we examined included the types of self-efficacy measures, the types of performance measures, the nature of the task, and the time of assessments. These variables accounted for approximately 44% of the variance in the self-efficacy-performance relationship. Practical implications of the findings are discussed.
Evidence for the fractional quantum hall state at nu =(1/7.

La magnetoconductivite diagonale du systeme d'electrons en 2 dimensions a l'interface de l'heterojonction GaAs/AlGaAs presente une structure au voisinage du facteur d'occupation ν=1/7, ce qui est considere comme preuve du developpement d'un etat de Hall quantique fractionnaire
Only a fraction of new HIV infections occur within identifiable stable discordant couples in sub-Saharan Africa

Objective:To estimate the contribution of HIV-1 sero-conversions among stable HIV sero-discordant couples (SDCs) to total HIV population-level incidence in sub-Saharan Africa. Design and methods:We constructed a mathematical model, grounded in nationally representative demographic and epidemiological data, that estimates the annual number of HIV-1 transmissions from the infected partners to the uninfected partners among established SDCs, and compares its value to an estimate for the overall HIV population-level incidence in 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. We defined identifiable HIV-1 transmissions among SDCs as those that a hypothetical screening and intervention program would have the potential to avert. Uncertainty and sensitivity analyses were incorporated to assess the robustness of the findings. Results:Across the 20 countries, an average of 29% (range: 10–52%) of new HIV-1 infections occurred in which one partner in an identifiable SDC infected the other. The percentage of total HIV new infections in a country that occurred within such identifiable SDCs tended to be lower in countries with larger general population HIV epidemics. For most countries, HIV-1 incidence among SDCs is unlikely to exceed 50% of new HIV infections in the whole population. Conclusion:Only a fraction of HIV-1 heterosexual transmissions occur within identifiable SDCs. Prevention within SDCs at scale requires a series of potentially challenging programmatic requirements to be met. Despite the importance of prevention programs aiming at protecting the sero-negative partner in an SDC, a wider strategy utilizing the full range of prevention modalities, which would limit the original generation of SDCs, is also needed.
The Causal Impact of Fit Valence and Fit Reference on Online Product Returns

We investigate the causal impact of two types of product fit-related information – fit valence and fit reference – on online product return rate by leveraging a change in the product review system that took place at an online retailer. This quasi-experiment in the apparel product category allows us to examine the importance of fit information. We find that the mere presentation of either fit-valence (e.g. “true to size”) or fit-reference information (e.g. body size) by itself does not help reduce purchase errors. Rather, it is the combination of the two types of fit information in a review that drives the drop in product return rate. We employ the lens of semantic relativism to illustrate how customers interpret fit-valence expressions by using the fit-reference information provided by the same reviewer. Our findings offer useful business implications to online retailers grappling with high product return rates for merchandise where fit matters.
Efficiency of PCN-Based Network Admission Control with Flow Termination

ABSTRACT The pre-congestion notification (PCN) architecture marks packets based on the utilization of links and gives early warnings before congestion occurs. The IETF suggest to implement network admission control (NAC) and flow termination based on this feedback to enforce quality of service (QoS) under failurefree operation and the manageability of the network in failure scenarios. Admission control decision are taken only at the border routers. In case of link or node failures, traffic is just rerouted and no reservation states need to be recovered inside the network. Therefore, PCN-based NAC can be operated in a resilient mode for a set of protected failure scenarios if sufficient backup capacity is reserved to accommodate the redirected traffic. This paper presents ongoing work in the IETF, relates it to the theory of resilient NAC, and investigates the efficiency of the new approach.
Corpus Callosum Morphology in Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder: Morphometric Analysis of MRI

Although behavioral evidence provides support for the notion that attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is related to central nervous system dysfunction, there is little direct evidence to reveal which neurometabolic systems or brain structures are involved. Recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies suggest that, compared to nondisabled controls, ADHD children may have a smaller right frontal region. Morphometric analysis of MRI scans was used in this exploratory study to determine whether correlated regional variation might exist in the corpus callosum of children with ADHD. While all MRI scans were judged to be clinically normal, morphometric analysis revealed that, compared to nondisabled controls, ADHD children had a smaller corpus callosum, particularly in the region of the genu and splenium, and in the area just anterior to the splenium. Interhemispheric fibers in these regions interconnect the left and right frontal, occipital, parietal, and posterior temporal regions. These results suggest that subtle differences may exist in the brains of children with ADHD and that deviations in normal corticogenesis may underlie the behavioral manifestations of this disorder.
Joining and leaving sex work: experiences of women in Kigali, Rwanda

Although sex work can bring significant economic benefit there are serious downsides, not least vulnerability to adverse sexual health outcomes. Focus-groups discussions and in-depth interviews were conducted with 70 female sex workers to explore the context in which they started sex work, their motivations to leave, and their experiences of trying to leave. The pathway to becoming a sex worker was underscored by poverty, with disruptive events leading to increasing vulnerability and increasingly difficult life choices. A sizeable minority of women became sex workers while working as house-girls, a position associated with financial, physical and sexual vulnerability. The majority of participants were still working as sex workers, citing financial reasons for not leaving. Motivations to leave sex work included experiencing a frightening incident, peer pressure and concerns about dependent children. Those who left often described a change in their financial circumstances that enabled them to leave. Some had left but had returned to sex work following a financial crisis or because they found their new life too hard. House-girls are particularly vulnerable and therefore an appropriate focus for prevention. Programmes assisting women to leave need to include financial safety nets so that a time of financial difficulty does not necessitate a return to sex work.
A pay-for-performance program for diabetes care in Taiwan: a preliminary assessment.

OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of a pay-for-performance (P4P) program for diabetes care in Taiwan. STUDY DESIGN A population-based natural experimental design with intervention and comparison groups. METHODS Healthcare service and expense data were extracted from the Taiwanese Bureau of National Health Insurance claim files for 2005 and 2006. The number of essential diabetes-specific exams/tests, healthcare utilization, and pre- and post-intervention expenses were calculated for patients grouped according to P4P status. However, no clinical information was available for analysis. Difference-in-difference analysis was used in statistical regression models with proper distributions for these measures. RESULTS Patients in the P4P program (n = 12,499) received significantly more diabetes-specific exams and tests after enrollment (3.8 vs 6.4, P <.001) than patients not enrolled in the program (3.5 vs 3.6, P <.001). Patients in the intervention group had an average of 2 more physician visits for diabetes than those in the comparison group (P <.001). Conversely, the intervention group had fewer diabetes-related hospitalizations (-0.027, P = .003). Patients in the intervention group incurred higher expenses due to physician visits but lower expenses due to inpatient services, with a net increase of $104 per person per year (P <.001). CONCLUSIONS This P4P program for diabetes was associated with a significant increase in regular follow-up visits and evidence-based services, and significantly lower hospitalization costs. The overall cost of care for those in the P4P program was significantly higher, although the total incremental expense was quite small.
Audiogenic Seizures Potentiate Hippocampal Neuronal Loss in Ethanol-Dependent Rats

Audiogenic Seizures Potentiate Hippocampal Neuronal Loss in Ethanol-Dependent Rats İsmail YILMAZ, Nilüfer G. YONGUÇ, Serkan TOSUN, Hakan KAYIR, Tayfun UZBAY Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Department of Pharmacology, Izmir –Turkey Izmir University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anatomy, Izmir – Turkey Ali Osman Sonmez Oncology Hospital, Department of Pathology, Bursa – Turkey Gulhane Medical School, Department of Medical Pharmacology, Ankara – Turkey Uskudar University, Neuropsychopharmacology Application and Research Center, Istanbul – Turkey
Executive functions in early childhood: Interrelations and structural development of inhibition, set-shifting and working memory

The aim of the present study is to examine the interrelations of executive function (EF) tasks with general cognitive ability and linguistic level in preschool children. The analyses of the correlation between EF sub-domains, particularly inhibition and setshifting, have been studied to comprehend the ontogenesis of EFs. Task analysis has allowed us to identify which EF sub-domains are prevalent in each task, with particular attention to inhibition and set-shifting definitions. The sample was composed of 40 typically developing children from 48 to 69 months old (M = 58 months, SD = 5.02); 28 boys and 12 girls. The results give some insight into the development of executive functions, their utility in clinical assessment and indication.
Wound-healing protocols for diabetic foot and pressure ulcers.

Diabetic foot and pressure ulcers are chronic wounds by definition. They share similar pathogeneses; i.e., a combination of increased pressure and decreased angiogenic response. Neuropathy, trauma, and deformity also often contribute to development of both types of ulcers. Early intervention and proper treatment should result in complete healing of non-ischemic diabetic foot and pressure ulcers, as defined by 100% epithelialization and no drainage (if no osteomyelitis is present). The authors developed the following paradigm, which has proved to be highly effective for complete healing of these wounds: 1) recognition that all patients with limited mobility are at risk for a sacral, ischial, trochanteric, or heel pressure ulcer; 2) daily self-examination of the sacral, ischium, buttocks, hips, and heels of all bed-bound patients and the feet of patients with diabetes with risk factors (e.g., neuropathy); 3) initiation of a treatment protocol immediately upon recognition of a break in the skin (i.e., emergence of a new wound); 4) objective measurement by planimetry of every wound (at a minimum, weekly) and documentation of its progress; 5) establishment of a moist wound-healing environment; 6) relief of pressure from the wound; 7) debridement of all non-viable tissue in the wound; 8) elimination of all drainage and cellulitis; 9) cellular therapy or growth factors for patients with wounds that do not heal rapidly after initial treatment; and 10) continuous physical and psychosocial support for all patients. If this paradigm is followed, most diabetic foot and pressure ulcers are expected to heal.
Parameterization of tillage-induced single-scale soil roughness from 4-m profiles

Soil roughness greatly affects the scattering process of microwaves to the soil surface. Previous studies showed that the values of roughness parameters increase asymptotically with increasing profile length. In this paper, 25-m profiles are used to study the influence of profile length on the roughness parameters and on the shape of the autocorrelation function. It is further investigated whether correct soil roughness parameters, as obtained from long surface roughness profiles, can be determined from 4-m-long profiles. Therefore, the extrapolation of an empirical relationship between roughness parameters and profile length is investigated, for three different roughness classes. The technique yields parameter values which are comparable to the 25-m roughness parameters.
Co-delivery of honokiol, a constituent of Magnolia species, in a self-microemulsifying drug delivery system for improved oral transport of lipophilic sirolimus

Abstract Sirolimus is recognized as a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrate with poor water-solubility. To improve its solubility and bioabsorption, self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS) containing a novel P-gp inhibitor, honokiol, were prepared. The aim of this work was to evaluate the enhanced transport of sirolimus SMEDDS as well as the roles of honokiol. In situ single-pass intestinal perfusion and in vitro human colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cell models were applied to study the effects of honokiol within SMEDDS on the transport of sirolimus. The results indicated that a combination of honokiol with sirolimus in SMEDDS did not significantly alter the particle size, polydispersity index and release of drugs. In addition, the absorption rate constant (Ka) as well as the effective permeability coefficients (Peff) of sirolimus in situ intestinal absorption, and the apparent permeability coefficients (Papp) of sirolimus in caco-2 cells were significantly enhanced by cremophor EL-based SMEDDS with honokiol as compared with those of SMEDDS without honokiol. Rhodamine123 uptake rate in caco-2 cells and in vitro cytotoxicity of sirolimus were enhanced by honokiol in SMEDDS indicating a substantial P-gp inhibition of honokiol. In conclusion, coadministration of honokiol with poor soluble P-gp substrate in SMEDDS, could serve as a favorable approach for oral delivery.
In vitro microleakage of six different dental materials as intraorifice barriers in endodontically treated teeth.

The aim of this study was to compare the coronal sealing ability of six different dental materials: Three MTA-based cements and three established restorative materials by in vitro dye penetration method. For in vitro infiltration experiments, seventy extracted single-rooted human teeth were used. After crowns of teeth were reduced, root canals were prepared, and filled with gutta-percha cone. Teeth were randomly divided into 6 groups with 10 teeth per group. The orifice of each tooth was prepared to 3 mm depth and filled with the following materials: (I) ProRoot WMTA; (II) EndoCem Zr; (III) Angelus White; (IV) LuxaCore; (V) Fuji II LC; and (VI) Elite. After 5,000 cycles of thermocycling between 5°C and 55°C, dye penetration of each specimen was measured. The order of less dye infiltration of coronal filling materials was: ProRoot WMTA
Term Infants Fed Formula Supplemented With Selected Blends of Prebiotics Grow Normally and Have Soft Stools Similar to Those Reported for Breast-fed Infants

Objectives: The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of 2 different combinations of prebiotic ingredients, polydextrose (PDX), galactooligosaccharides (GOS), and lactulose (LOS), at 2 different intake levels on the overall growth and tolerance in healthy term infants up to 120 days of age. Patients and Methods: Healthy, formula-fed, term infants (n = 226) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 study formula groups: control group (n = 76), PG4 group (control formula supplemented with 4 g/L of a prebiotic blend, n = 74), or PGL8 group (control formula supplemented with 8 g/L of a prebiotic blend, n = 76). Anthropometric measurements were taken at 14, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days of age, and 24-hour dietary recall and 24-hour tolerance recall were recorded at 30, 60, 90, and 120 days of age. Adverse events were recorded throughout the study. Results: There were no statistically significant differences among the 3 formula groups for weight growth rate or length growth rate at any time point. Significant differences in stool consistency were detected among the 3 formula groups at 30, 60, and 90 days of age (P < 0.001, P = 0.025, P = 0.004, respectively), with the supplemented formula groups having looser stools than the control group. The PGL8 group had significantly higher stool frequency compared with the control and PG4 groups at 30 days of age (P = 0.021 and P = 0.017, respectively), but all of the groups were similar at 60, 90, and 120 days of age. A statistical difference was detected among the formula groups in 3 categories of adverse events: diarrhea (control vs PG4, 4% vs 18%, P = 0.008), eczema (PG4 vs control, 18% vs 7%, P = 0.046; PG4 vs PGL8, 18% vs 4%, P = 0.008), and irritability (control vs PGL8, 4% vs 16%, P = 0.027). Conclusions: Infants fed formula supplemented with a prebiotic mixture achieved normal growth and stool characteristics more similar to those of breast-fed infants in comparison with infants fed an unsupplemented formula. A pediatrician needs to consider the risk of possible intolerance against the benefits of prebiotics.
HJB Equations for the Optimal Control of Differential Equations with Delays and State Constraints, II: Verification and Optimal Feedbacks

This paper, which is the natural continuation of part I [S. Federico, B. Goldys, and F. Gozzi, SIAM J. Control Optim. , 48 (2010), pp. 4910-4937], studies a class of optimal control problems with state constraints where the state equation is a differential equation with delays. In part I the problem is embedded in a suitable Hilbert space $H$ and the regularity of the associated Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation is studied. The goal of the present paper is to exploit the regularity result of part I to prove a verification theorem and find optimal feedback controls for the problem. While it is easy to define a feedback control formally following the classical case, the proof of its existence and optimality is hard due to lack of full regularity of $V$ and to the infinite dimensionality of the problem. The theory developed is applied to study economic problems of optimal growth for nonlinear time-to-build models. In particular, we show the existence and uniqueness of optimal controls and their characterization as feedbacks.
Complexity of the primary genetic response to mitogenic activation of human T cells

We describe the isolation and characterization of more than 60 novel cDNA clones that constitute part of the immediate genetic response to resting human peripheral blood T cells after mitogen activation. This primary response was highly complex, both in the absolute number of inducible genes and in the diversity of regulation. Although most of the genes expressed in activated T cells were shared with the activation response of normal human fibroblasts, a significant number were more restricted in tissue specificity and thus likely encode or effect the differentiated functions of activated T cells. The activatable genes could be further differentiated on the basis of kinetics of induction, response to cycloheximide, and sensitivity to the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A. It is of note that cyclosporin A inhibited the expression of more than 10 inducible genes, which suggests that this drug has a broad genetic mechanism of action.
Effects of ambient humidity and temperature on partial discharge characteristics of conventional and nanocomposite enameled magnet wires

Effects of ambient humidity and temperature on partial discharge (PD) characteristics in twisted pairs with conventional and nanocomposite enameled magnet wires have been investigated. Measurements of the PD inception voltage (PDIV) and the apparent PD charge were performed by applying an AC sinusoidal waveform voltage of 60 Hz to the twisted pair. The observed PDIV in this study can be classified into the following three behaviors. First, the PDIV in both wires decreases with increasing relative humidity (RH) at low temperature. Secondly, the PDIV in both wires slightly increases when increasing the RH at high temperature. Thus, there is a certain value of the absolute humidity to determine the lowest PDIV in both cases with the conventional and nanocomposite enameled wires. Thirdly, the PDIV in the conventional enameled wire significantly decreases at the RH of 95%, while the decrease rate of that in the nanocomposite enameled wire is relatively small. The observed PD phenomena are discussed in terms of material characterization of the enameled wires such as changes in permittivity due to moisture absorption and wettabilitiy under voltage application.