Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cognitive Profile and its Association with Neuroimaging Markers of Non-Demented Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy Patients in a Stroke Unit.

BACKGROUND Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is increasingly recognized as a cause of cognitive impairment in the elderly, but the cognitive profile in patients with the disease has not been well characterized. OBJECTIVE To characterize the neuropsychological profile of CAA patients without dementia and to determine the association between cognitive performance in different domains and neuroimaging lesions characteristic of CAA. METHODS Fifty-eight non-demented CAA patients were compared to 138 cognitively normal subjects using a standard neuropsychological test battery. Total brain volume (TBV), white matter hyperintensities, number of lobar cerebral microbleeds, hippocampal volume, and cortical superficial siderosis in all CAA patients were assessed. The association between these neuroimaging markers and neuropsychological performance in different cognitive domains in the CAA group were analyzed. RESULTS Patients with CAA had significantly worse performance on all individual neuropsychological domains tested, when compared to the cognitive normal group. The cognitive decline of CAA patients was most noticeable in tests for processing speed with a Z score of -1.92±1.56 (mean±SD), then followed by executive function (-0.93±1.01), episodic memory (-0.87±1.29), semantic fluency (-0.73±1.06), and attention (-0.42±0.98). TBV of the CAA patients was correlated with processing speed (β= 0.335, p = 0.03) and executive function (β= 0.394, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Non-demented patients with CAA had cognitive deficits in multiple areas. Lower TBV was related to slower processing speed and worse executive function.
Complications of indwelling central venous catheters in pediatric liver transplant recipients

In pLT recipients, the advantages of ICVCs need to be weighed against the risk of complications. This single‐center retrospective study aimed to review ICVC complications in our cohort of pLT recipients. We performed chart reviews of pLT patients having undergone transplant between 01/2000 and 03/2014 and who underwent ICVC placement either before or after LT. We identified 100 ICVC in 85 patients. Overall observation time was 90 470 catheter‐days. There was no difference in catheter lifespan between those inserted pre‐ or post‐transplant; 46% of ICVC presented a complication. Most frequent complications were MD and infection. The infection rate was 0.09 per 1000 catheter‐days, and MD rate was 0.36 per 1000 catheter‐days. Patients having received technical variant grafts were more at risk of complications. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study examining ICVC complications in pLT recipients. We conclude that ICVC have a high rate of MD. Children receiving technical variants may be more at risk of complications. By removing ICVC in a select number of patients at six months post‐insertion, we might avoid as much as 60% of complications.
Multiple cognitive deficits in patients during the mild cognitive impairment stage of Alzheimer's disease: how are cognitive domains other than episodic memory impaired?

ABSTRACT Background: Little is known about how cognitive domains other than episodic memory are affected during the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We attempted to clarify this issue in this study. Methods: Fifty-seven Japanese subjects were divided into two groups: one comprising people in the MCI stage of AD (MCI group, n = 28) and the other of normal controls (NC group, n = 29). Cognitive functions were assessed using the Japanese version of the neurobehavioral cognitive status examination (J-COGNISTAT). Results: The MCI group performed significantly worse than the NC group on subtests that assessed orientation, confrontational naming, constructive ability, episodic memory, and abstract thinking. Three-quarters of the MCI group had deficits in memory and other non-mnemonic domains, particularly constructive ability and abstract thinking. However, within-subject comparisons showed that the MCI group performed significantly worse on the memory subtest compared to any other subtest. Conclusions: Besides episodic memory, multiple non-mnemonic cognitive domains, such as constructive ability and abstract thinking, are also impaired during the MCI stage of AD; however, these non-mnemonic deficits are smaller than episodic memory impairment.
Application of a Ketogenic Diet in Children With Autistic Behavior: Pilot Study

A pilot prospective follow-up study of the role of the ketogenic diet was carried out on 30 children, aged between 4 and 10 years, with autistic behavior. The diet was applied for 6 months, with continuous administration for 4 weeks, interrupted by 2-week diet-free intervals. Seven patients could not tolerate the diet, whereas five other patients adhered to the diet for 1 to 2 months and then discontinued it. Of the remaining group who adhered to the diet, 18 of 30 children (60%), improvement was recorded in several parameters and in accordance with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale. Significant improvement (> 12 units of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale) was recorded in two patients (pre-Scale: 35.00 ± 1.41 [mean ± SD]), average improvement (> 8—12 units) in eight patients (pre-Scale: 41.88 ± 3.14[mean ± SD]), and minor improvement (2—8 units) in eight patients (pre-Scale: 45.25 ± 2.76 [mean ± SD]). Although these data are very preliminary, there is some evidence that the ketogenic diet may be used in autistic behavior as an additional or alternative therapy. ( J Child Neurol 2003; 18: 113—118).
Calcium-ion-sensing cell-surface receptors.

Calcium ions are essential for a wide variety of biologic functions, including vital extracellular processes, such as blood clotting, intercellular adhesion, and skeletal integrity, as well as intracellular processes, such as the regulation of hormonal secretion, cell division, and cell motility.1–4 Complex, free-living terrestrial organisms must maintain a near-constant concentration of extracellular calcium. How the body maintains and regulates extracellular calcium levels is a complex puzzle that has intrigued researchers for decades.3–5 One large piece of this puzzle that is falling into place concerns a cell-surface receptor that responds to, or “senses,” extracellular calcium-ion concentrations in parathyroid, kidney, .
Rohdella amazonica n. sp. (Aspidogastrea: Aspidogastridae) from the Amazoninan banded puffer fish Colomesus psittacus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Abstract Aspidogastreans are commonly found infecting freshwater and marine molluscs, teleosts fishes and freshwater turtles. The subclass comprises four families – Rugogastridae Schell 1973, Stichocotylidae Faust & Tang 1936, Multicalycidae Gibson & Chinabut 1984 and Aspidogastridae Poche 1907 – and it is characterized by the presence of a ventral adhesive disc divided into rows of alveoli. In the current work, using light and scanning electron microscopy and molecular approaches, a new species of Aspidogastridae of the genus Rohdella Gibson & Chinabut, 1984, is described as a parasite of Colomesus psittacus in Brazil. The new taxon is distinguishable by the presence of oesophageal glands, teguments covered by ciliated papillae, and the position and shape of the hermaphroditic duct. The present work describes the third species of the genus Rohdella, thereby adding new morphological and molecular data regarding Aspidogastridae.
p21 differentially regulates DNA replication and DNA-repair-associated processes after UV irradiation

Although p21 upregulation is required to block cell-cycle progression following many types of genotoxic insult, UV irradiation triggers p21 proteolysis. The significance of the increased p21 turnover is unclear and might be associated with DNA repair. While the role of p21 in nucleotide excision repair (NER) remains controversial, recent reports have explored its effect on translesion DNA synthesis (TLS), a process that avoids replication blockage during S phase. Herein, we analyze the effect of p21 on different PCNA-driven processes including DNA replication, NER and TLS. Whereas only the CDK-binding domain of p21 is required for cell-cycle arrest in unstressed cells, neither the CDK-binding nor the PCNA-binding domain of p21 is able to block early and late steps of NER. Intriguingly, through its PCNA-binding domain, p21 inhibits the interaction of the TLS polymerase, pol η (pol eta), with PCNA and impairs the assembly of pol η foci after UV. Moreover, this obstruction correlates with accumulation of phosphorylated H2AX and increased apoptosis. By showing that p21 is a negative regulator of PCNA-pol η interaction, our data unveil a link between efficient TLS and UV-induced degradation of p21.
Organizational commitment of public service employees in Ghana: do codes of ethics matter?

One of the most difficult and under-examined issues in the ethics research of developing countries is whether the establishment of codes of ethics in public service organizations leads to employees’ organizational commitment. This study investigates the link between codes of ethics and organizational commitment, as well as its three dimensions of affective, normative and continuance commitment, in Ghanaian public service organizations. Correlational, regression and descriptive statistics were used to study 228 participants conveniently sampled from selected public service organizations within the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Empirical evidence showed that codes of ethics significantly and positively predicted employees’ organizational commitment, as well as the three dimensions of the affective, normative and continuance commitment of employees. Points for practitioners Codes are intended to educate the general public, and employees in particular, about the mission of an organization, to foster a good ethical climate, and to provide guidance for resolving ethical problems in an organization. To ensure employee commitment to the organization, the codes should be effectively implemented, well communicated and strictly enforced with impartiality; otherwise, the codes will appear merely as ‘cosmetic dressing’ to the organization.
SIGNIFICANCE OF SYMPATRY TO BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION OF GREAT PLAINS MEADOWLARKS

Cases of interspecific territoriality are uncommon among birds that hold multipurpose breeding territories where they feed, mate and nest. Various authors (e.g., Simmons, 1951; Johnson, 1963; Orians and Willson, 1964) have noted that interspecific territories are likely to be maintained as a result of interspecific competition. Orians and Willson (1964) specifically comment that divergence in feeding habits sufficient for overlapping territories may be impossible when either the structure of the vegetation is simple, or when species are adapted to exploit the same stratified food sources in complex vegetation, or when other species are already exploiting similar resources in a diversified habitat. Johnson (1963) has proposed a hypothetical scheme for the origin of interspecific territoriality which is based on the process of geographic speciation. He notes that whether or not interspecific territories are defended depends upon the releasers that stimulate territorial defense. Species having similar vocal and behavioral signals of territory possession would not necessarily be expected to diverge in these characters when establishing secondary contact, even if their feeding habits were sufficiently different for coexistence. Orians and Willson (1964:737) seem to dismiss the possibility of such a fortuitous occurrence of interspecific territoriality by observing that the defense of a territory against individuals of other species demands increased expenditure of time and energy. However,
Specificity of transcriptional regulation by the zinc finger transcription factors Sp1, Sp3, and Egr‐1

The transcription factors Sp1, Sp3, and Egr‐1 bind with their zinc finger DNA‐binding domains to GC‐rich sequences in the regulatory regions of their target genes. The similarity of the DNA‐binding sites of Sp1, Sp3, and Egr‐1 has triggered the hypothesis that they compete for the same DNA‐binding site. We have investigated the specificity of transcriptional regulation by Sp1, Sp3, and Egr‐1 using dominant‐negative mutants that block the DNA‐binding site of Sp1, Sp3, or Egr‐1, respectively. The results show that constitutive transcription of Sp1 regulated reporter genes, containing Sp1 sites derived from the aldolase C and p21WAF1/Cip1 genes, or the long terminal repeat of HIV‐1, was impaired by dominant‐negative mutants of Sp1 and Sp3, but not by a dominant‐negative Egr‐1. Transcription mediated by Egr‐1 was induced by transfection of expression vectors encoding wild‐type or mutated Egr‐1 or by stimulation of the extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinase pathway via an inducible B‐Raf‐estrogen receptor fusion protein. In all cases transcription of Egr‐1‐regulated reporter genes, containing Egr‐1 binding sites derived from the Egr‐1 or the synapsin I gene was impaired by a dominant‐negative Egr‐1, but not by dominant‐negative Sp1 or Sp3 mutants. These results show that there are genuine Sp1/Sp3 or Egr‐1 controlled genes showing no cross‐regulation of Sp1/Sp3 and Egr‐1 through the same DNA‐binding site. This does not exclude the existence of composite Sp1/Sp3/Egr‐1 binding sites, where competition for a common DNA‐binding site occurs. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Heterodox Economic Analysis of the Housing Market Structure in Budapest Using Neural Network Classification

The development of the housing markets in different European metropolitan areas is of high interest for the urban development and the real estate markets, which are about to globalize. The Budapest housing market is well-suited for scrutiny from an institutional and evolutionary perspective due to its fragmented nature: different house types, age categories, price levels, and micro-locations, are found side by side. Applying two neural network techniques, namely the self-organizing map (the SOM) and the learning vector quantification (the LVQ), sheds some light about how physical and socio-demographic characteristics, price, and regulation are inter-related in this market.
Private Equity throughout the Financial Crisis

1. Gianfranco Gianfrate 1. is a Giorgio Ruffolo Fellow of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University in ­Cambridge, MA. (g_gianfrate{at}hks15.harvard.edu) 2. Simone Loewenthal 1. is an analyst at The Blackstone Group in London, U.K. (simone.
A multicenter study evaluating the sensitization potential of enamel matrix derivative after treatment of two infrabony defects.

BACKGROUND Several studies reported some success toward regeneration in infrabony defects using enamel matrix derivative (EMD). Clinically and statistically significant improvements in probing depth reduction, clinical attachment levels, and bone fill have been demonstrated. This multi-center study evaluated the potential for sensitization to EMD in a subgroup of periodontal patients treated at least twice with at least 2 months between treatments. METHODS Three hundred seventy-six (376) patients in 11 university-based postgraduate periodontics programs and five private practices were selected. Surgeries were performed on infrabony defects. Following reflection of mucoperiosteal flaps and debridement of the root surface and defect, root conditioning (either citric acid pH = 1 or 24% EDTA) was performed and the site was irrigated with sterile saline. Enamel matrix derivative was reconstituted and applied to the exposed root surface and the bony defect. Flaps were sutured and pressure applied for 5 minutes. The second test defect was treated in a similar manner at least 8 weeks after the first surgery. The patient was given a diary card where any subjective adverse events (erythema, swelling, itching, headache, root hypersensitivity, or pain) were recorded at weeks 1 and 2 post-surgery. In addition, objective adverse events (gingival inflammation, ulcers, abscess, cratering, and lesions) were recorded by the investigator on an adverse event form. RESULTS No clinical adverse reactions to multiple applications of EMD were noted. Of 376 patients, two were referred to a dermatologist for evaluation, but neither had signs indicating any adverse events due to EMD treatment. Instead their reactions were classified as a small local abscess and tinea cruris. The single immunoassay performed (on the patient with a small local abscess) did not demonstrate any EMD-reactive antibodies, neither IgE nor IgG. Other subjective/objective reactions that occurred during this study were of the type that are commonly experienced by patients immediately following periodontal surgery, but were not related to EMD. They included headache, swelling, itching, pain, and root hypersensitivity. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated a lack of clinical adverse reactions following two separate applications of EMD. Any subjective/objective adverse reactions experienced by the patient were typical complications following routine periodontal surgery and were not directly related to the use of enamel matrix derivative.
Using the self-determination theory to understand Chinese adolescent leisure-time physical activity

Abstract Purposes: This study applies the self-determination theory (SDT) to test the hypothesized relationships among perceived autonomy support from parents, physical education (PE) teachers, and peers, the fulfilment of psychological needs (i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness), autonomous motivation, and leisure-time physical activity of Chinese adolescents. Method: There are 255 grade six to eight student participants from four middle schools around Shanghai, China included in this study. An accelerometer was used to measure the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). The participants completed the questionnaires regarding SDT variables. The structural equation modelling was applied to examine the hypothesized relationships among the study variables. Results: The model of hypothesized relationships demonstrated a good fit with the data [X2 = 20.84, df = 9, P = . 01; CFI = 0.98; IFI = 0.98; SRMR = 0.04; RMSEA = 0.05]. The findings revealed that autonomy support from parents, PE teachers, and peers foster social conditions in which the three basic psychological needs can be met. In turn, autonomy, competence, and relatedness are positively associated with autonomous motivation for MVPA. The autonomous motivation positively relates to the MVPA time of adolescents. The three psychological needs partially mediate the influence of autonomy support from parents (β = 0.18, P < .01; Bootstrap 95% CI = 0.06–0.33) and teachers (β = 0.17, P < .01; Bootstrap 95% CI = 0.03–0.26) in the autonomous motivation. Conclusion: In conclusion, these findings support the applicability of SDT in understanding and promoting physical activity of Chinese adolescents.
Regional fat placement in physically fit males and changes with weight loss.

The abdomen is the principal site of fat deposition in men, and because abdominal fat is readily mobilized during exercise, the relative proportion of fat in the abdominal site may negatively correlate with the amount of regular physical activity, and even with physical fitness. This study presents data for regional fatness in 165 fit young men (U.S. Army Ranger candidates; initial body fat = 14.7 +/- 4.7%) assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), and for relative changes occurring following a 13% weight loss produced by a 1000 kcal.d-1 energy deficit over 8 wk. Fat-free mass was constant across quintiles of percent body fat; only fat mass was different (16.2 +/- 2.2 kg and 6.0 +/- 1.4 kg at upper and lower quintiles, respectively). Truncal fat accounted for about 41% of total body fat in all quintiles; only the proportion of fat distributed to the arms was significantly higher in the fattest quintiles of men. Among a group of less intensely trained soldiers with the same average fatness as the highest quintile of Ranger students (20%), relative fat distribution to the trunk approached 50% of the total fat. Following weight loss, Ranger students lost half of the fat in all regions assessed (legs, arms, and trunk). The only significant association between regional losses and initial fatness was a greater proportion of fat lost from the arms in the fattest Rangers. These data suggest a "fit fat" distribution in active young men in which fat remains in the arms and legs until extreme weight loss occurs and the metabolically more active abdominal fat approaches depletion.
Expression of AMPK, SIRT1, and ACC Differs between Winter- and Summer-Acclimatized Djungarian Hamsters

The wintering strategy of the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) includes a naturally occurring decrease in food intake and body mass. Our aim was to investigate the conceivable role of the metabolic regulators, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), in the seasonal adaptation of the Djungarian hamster. In addition, a rate-limiting enzyme in fatty acid synthesis and oxidation, acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), was studied. Relative protein expressions and phosphorylated forms (pAMPK and pACC) were determined by Western blot from subcutaneous white adipose tissues (sWAT), abdominal white adipose tissues (aWAT), interscapular brown adipose tissues (iBAT), skeletal muscle, and hypothalamus of winter- and summer-acclimatized hamsters. The winter group had higher AMPK expression in sWAT, aWAT, and iBAT, but the relative amount of phosphorylated protein (pAMPK/AMPK ratio) was lower in these tissues. Furthermore, ACC expression was higher in sWAT and iBAT of the winter animals. pACC (inactive form) levels were higher in all adipose tissues, yet a lower pACC/ACC ratio was detected in iBAT of the winter hamsters. Muscle AMPK expression was lower but pAMPK/AMPK ratio higher in the winter group. SIRT1 expression was higher in muscle and all adipose tissues of the winter hamsters. Hypothalamic protein expressions did not differ between the groups. Higher expressions of AMPK, ACC, and SIRT1 in WAT and iBAT of the winter hamsters suggest a role in the regulation of lipid reserves and increased thermogenic capacity characteristic to the winter-adapted Djungarian hamsters.