Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Aging on Audiovisual Temporal Order Judgments

Background/Study Context: The perception of naturalistic events depends on the ability to integrate perceptual information from multiple sensory systems. Currently, little is known about how multisensory integration is affected by normal aging. Methods: The authors conducted two experiments to investigate audiovisual temporal processing in younger (18–29 years) and older (70+ years) adults. In both experiments, participants were presented with a brief visual stimulus and a brief auditory stimulus separated by various temporal offsets, and participants judged which stimulus was presented first. In Experiment 1, the auditory and visual stimuli were presented from the same perceived location, whereas in Experiment 2 they were presented from different locations. Results: The authors found no effect of stimulus location, and no evidence of age-related declines in performance in either experiment. Conclusion: Older adults appear to retain the ability to discriminate the temporal order of audiovisual stimuli and can perform similarly to younger adults.
Static energy reduction by performance linked dynamic cache resizing

The increased power density with short channel effect in modern transistors significantly increases the leakage energy consumptions of on-chip Last Level Caches (LLCs) in recent Chip Multi-Processors(CMPs). Performance linked dynamic shrinking in the LLC size is a promising option for reducing cache leakage. Prior works attempt to reduce the cache leakage by predicting Working Set Size(WSS) of the applications and by putting some cache portions in low power mode. This paper aims to reduce leakage energy by using a combination of cache bank shutdown and way shutdown. The banks with minimal usages are candidates for shutdown. In banks with average usages, some ways are turned off to save leakage. To mitigate the impact of smaller set-size, we apply dynamic associativity management technique. Experimental evaluation using full system simulation on a 4MB 8-way set associative L2 cache gives 70% average savings in static energy with 35% average savings in EDP. In case application's cache demand increases we can turn-on some ways to maintain performance.
Casos notificados de AIDS no município do Rio de Janeiro, 1983-1993: análise de sobrevida

Analisa a sobrevida dos pacientes notificados com AIDS no Municipio do Rio de Janeiro de 1983 a 1993 enfocando, especialmente, os modelos de Kaplan-Meier e de riscos proporcionais de Cox. Utiliza o banco de dados (Aidscon) da Vigilância Epidemiologica do Programa de Doencas Sexualmente Transmissiveis/AIDS, da Secretaria de Saude do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Ate 1987, a duracao da sobrevida mediana correspondeu a 96 dias e quando foram retirados os individuos com somente um dia de observacao, esta aumentou para 146 dias. Observou-se uma mediana de 124 dias e 62 dias para individuos com idades respectivamente ate 35 anos e 36 anos ou mais, cuja razao da funcao de riscos (HR) correspondeu a 1,41 (95 por cento de I.C.= 1,20 - 1,66) com valor de p
Serum PSA level in Prostatic lesions with Histopathological correlation in Gujarat

Background: Prostate specific antigen (PSA) has been widely used in the diagnosis and management of patients with prostate cancer. It may be elevated in other prostatic diseases and surgical procedures. PSA exists in two forms, a major bound form (cPSA) and a free form (fPSA). Objectives: The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between serum fPSA levels and histologic findings in biopsy specimens of men with prostatic disease. Material and methods: This study includes 80 cases of prostatic diseases and 20 controls for the study were taken from the patients admitted in surgical wards with no prostate related complain, in different age were planned for transurethral resection of prostate (TURP). All the cases and controls were evaluated by serum prostate specific antigen level. Results: The median serum fPSA values for control, malignant and nonmalignant lesions were 3.66 ± 0.029 ng/ml, 20.33 ± 0.0106 ng/ml and 6.47 ± 0.8127 ng/ml respectively. Mean serum PSA values in cases of prostatic hyperplasia with or without dysplasia (PIN: Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia I to III), prostatitis, well to moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma were 6.49 ng/ml, 5.35 ng/ml, 18.92 ng/ml and 31.6 ng/ml respectively. Cut off value of serum PSA 4 ng/ml the sensitivity, specifically and positive predictive value were 100 % and 14.28 % respectively while using 10 ng/ml the findings were 77.77 %, 92.95% and 58.33% respectively. Difference is highly significant between control cases and nonmalignant cases, (p < 0.001) as well as between nonmalignant cases and malignant cases (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In cases of prostatic hyperplasia, chronic prostatitis and prostatic malignancy serum fPSA value increases significantly (P < 0.001) above the standard (0 to 4 ng/ml) as compare to control and nonmalignant group. Statistically there is significant difference in serum fPSA values between control cases and non malignant cases as well between nonmalignant cases and malignant cases of prostate, but when serum PSA values are between 4.0 to10.0 ng/ml. [ Goswami A et al . NJIRM 2011; 2(4) : 33-38]
Brain Copper Content and Cuproenzyme Activity Do Not Vary with Prion Protein Expression Level*

Prion diseases are neurodegenerative disorders that result from conformational transformation of a normal cell surface glycoprotein, PrPC, into a pathogenic isoform, PrPSc. Although the normal physiological function of PrPC has remained enigmatic, the recent observation that the protein binds copper ions with micromolar affinity suggests a possible role in brain copper metabolism. In this study, we have used mice that express 0, 1, and 10 times the normal level of PrP to assess the effect of PrP expression level on the amount of brain copper and on the properties of two brain cuproenzymes. Using mass spectrometry, we find that the amount of ionic copper in subcellular fractions from brain is similar in all three lines of mice. In addition, the enzymatic activities of Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase and cytochrome coxidase in brain extracts are similar in these groups of animals, as is the incorporation of 64Cu into Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase both in cultured cerebellar neurons and in vivo. Our results differ from those of another set of published studies, and they require a re-evaluation of the role of PrPC in copper metabolism.
Use of antipsychotic drugs and mood stabilizers in women of childbearing age with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: epidemiological survey

Aims. To determine the prevalence of women of childbearing age with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder exposed to antipsychotic (AP) drugs and mood stabilizers (MS) in Lombardy, a European region of 10 million inhabitants and 1 752 285 women of childbearing age. Methods. The data concerning psychiatric care, drug treatments and pregnancy outcomes were retrieved from local administrative databases during a 12-month census period. Results. During a 12-month census period, 2893 women of childbearing age with schizophrenia (74.8% of all women of childbearing age with schizophrenia) and 918 with bipolar disorder (80.1% of all women of childbearing age with bipolar disorder) were exposed to AP drugs or MS, yielding a prevalence of exposure for women with schizophrenia of 1.65 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.59–1.71) per 1000 female inhabitants, and for women with bipolar disorder of 0.52 (95% CI 0.49–0.55) per 1000 female inhabitants. Persistent exposure to potentially teratogenic medications accounted for one in every 1000 women of childbearing age. Of the 57 pregnancies in women with schizophrenia, normal delivery was recorded in 23 (40%) cases; of the 26 pregnancies in women with bipolar disorder, normal delivery was recorded in 10 (38%) cases. Conclusions. In women of childbearing age with severe mental disorders, exposure to psychotropic drugs is substantial, which suggests that the issue of reproductive health is epidemiologically relevant and a major public health concern.
Accuracy of three-dimensional gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography in the assessment of extracranial carotid artery disease.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess three-dimensional (3D) gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography, used alone or in association with duplex Doppler sonography, with a fast acquisition time (8 sec) for evaluating the extracranial carotid arteries. SUBJECTS AND METHODS In this prospective study, 48 successive patients with carotid artery stenoses were examined with 3D gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography and 3D time-of-flight MR angiography. Of the 44 eligible patients, conventional angiography was available in 33 and duplex sonography in 27. We used the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial technique to quantify stenosis on all angiograms, and a 250 cm/sec threshold at duplex sonography to diagnose stenoses greater than 70%. Image quality of 3D gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography and 3D time-of-flight MR angiography was assessed, as well as sensitivity and specificity for each technique alone and in combination with duplex sonography. Conventional angiography was the gold standard. RESULTS Three-dimensional gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography yielded good image quality in 90% of cases. When used alone, it yielded a sensitivity and a specificity of 94% and 85%, respectively, in screening stenoses greater than 70% (70-99%). When combined with duplex Doppler sonography, it provided a 100% sensitivity and specificity for detection of stenoses between 70% and 99% and would have obviated 61% of conventional angiography. In comparison, 3D time-of-flight MR angiography used alone yielded a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 94%. In combination with duplex Doppler sonography, its use would have obviated conventional angiography in 74% of cases. Three-dimensional gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography provided accurate results in the diagnosis of occlusions and ulcers and can visualize distant stenoses. CONCLUSION Used alone, 3D gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography is not accurate enough to replace conventional angiography in the evaluation of extracranial carotid arteries. In association with duplex Doppler sonography, however, it is accurate and may obviate a significant number of conventional angiographic examinations.
Sample size and proportion of Japanese patients in multi‐regional trials

In recent years, multi‐regional trials have received increasing attention by pharmaceutical companies carrying out global drug development programs. In Japan, new drugs are often approved several years after market release in other countries. The recently published guidance on ‘Basic Principles on Global Clinical Trials’ addresses specifically this time lag. A multi‐regional trial has at least two main objectives. First, it is necessary to show a significant benefit in effect of a new drug in the entire population. Second, one needs to demonstrate that the results for a particular region are consistent with those from the entire population. In this paper, we discuss the methods proposed in the Japanese regulatory guidance document and derive closed form expressions for the resulting probabilities, which require the evaluation of multivariate normal or t probabilities. In addition, we propose an alternative method with better operating characteristics than the current approaches. Moreover, we examine the performance of our suggested method by simulating the probability of achieving the objectives and calculating the false‐positive error rate. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Theory of neutrinoless double-beta decay

Neutrinoless double-beta decay, which is a very old and yet elusive process, is reviewed. Its observation will signal that the lepton number is not conserved and that the neutrinos are Majorana particles. More importantly it is our best hope for determining the absolute neutrino-mass scale at the level of a few tens of meV. To achieve the last goal certain hurdles must be overcome involving particle, nuclear and experimental physics. Nuclear physics is important for extracting useful information from the data. One must accurately evaluate the relevant nuclear matrix elements—a formidable task. To this end, we review the sophisticated nuclear structure approaches which have recently been developed, and which give confidence that the required nuclear matrix elements can be reliably calculated employing different methods: (a) the various versions of the quasiparticle random phase approximations, (b) the interacting boson model, (c) the energy density functional method and (d) the large basis interacting shell model. It is encouraging that, for the light neutrino-mass term at least, these vastly different approaches now give comparable results. From an experimental point of view it is challenging, since the life times are long and one has to fight against formidable backgrounds. One needs large isotopically enriched sources and detectors with high-energy resolution, low thresholds and very low background. If a signal is found, it will be a tremendous accomplishment. The real task then, of course, will be the extraction of the neutrino mass from the observations. This is not trivial, since current particle models predict the presence of many mechanisms other than the neutrino mass, which may contribute to or even dominate this process. In particular, we will consider the following processes: (i) The neutrino induced, but neutrino-mass independent contribution. (ii) Heavy left and/or right-handed neutrino-mass contributions. (iii) Intermediate scalars (doubly charged, etc). (iv) Supersymmetric (SUSY) contributions. We will show that it is possible to disentangle the various mechanisms and unambiguously extract the important neutrino-mass scale, if all the signatures of the reaction are searched for in a sufficient number of nuclear isotopes. (i) The neutrino induced, but neutrino-mass independent contribution. (ii) Heavy left and/or right-handed neutrino-mass contributions. (iii) Intermediate scalars (doubly charged, etc). (iv) Supersymmetric (SUSY) contributions.
The Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) Poverty Measures: Twenty-Five Years Later

Twenty-five years ago, the FGT class of decomposable poverty measures was introduced in Foster, Greer, and Thorbecke [54]. The present study provides a retrospective view of the FGT paper and the subsequent literature, as well as a brief discussion of future directions. We identify three categories of contributions: to measurement, to axiomatics, and to application. A representative subset of the literature generated by the FGT methodology is discussed and grouped according to this taxonomy. We show how the FGT paper has played a central role in several thriving literatures and has contributed to the design, implementation, and evaluation of prominent development programs: the breadth of its impact is evidenced by the many topics beyond poverty to which its methodology has been applied. We conclude with a selection of prospective research topics.
Revealing Stratum V at Megiddo

This article focuses on Stratum V, Stratum VA-IVB, and Stratum IVA at Megiddo. The true nature of Stratum V is revealed, showing it to be an important multiphased city, complete with two palatial buildings, one of which has similarities with the Omride Palace in Samaria. In addition, the existence of a distinct Stratum IVB (VA-IVB) is questioned, and an alternative layout for Stratum IV in the crucial southern area of the tell is proposed.
IS THERE STILL A PLACE FOR LIDOCAINE IN SPINAL ANAESTHESIA ?

Over the last decade, methods and practice of anaesthesia have changed considerably in favour of regional techniques whenever applicable. Based on data representative for France, which were commissioned by « La Société Française d’Anesthésie et de Réanimation » (SFAR), the percentage of procedures performed under regional anaesthesia has quadrupled between 1980 and 1996 [1]. According to this survey, 16 % of the anaesthetic workload comprised regional anaesthetic techniques among which spinal anaesthesia accounted for the largest part with a share of 37 %. This number represents an estimate of 442,000 spinal anaesthetic procedures performed in 1996 in 1,583 units offering anaesthesia services. Therefore, lack of side-effects attributable to drugs used for spinal anaesthesia is of paramount importance as any postanaesthetic morbidity may impinge on an otherwise rapid postoperative recovery and thus have important economic implications. This chapter focuses on lidocaine’s potential to cause neurological side-effects or even injury, additional data showing the impact of anaesthetic equipment (i.e., needle size and incidence of post-dural puncture headache) on postoperative morbidity will not be included.
Spirituality of parents of children in palliative care.

AIMS To determine the spirituality of parents whose children have life-limiting illnesses and to determine the factors associated with parents' spirituality. METHODS Telephone survey of 129 parents whose children were enrolled in a pediatric palliative care program in Florida. The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-being (FACIT-Sp) scale was used to measure parents' spirituality. The Health Utilities Index (HUI) was used to measure health status. RESULTS Parents' average score on the FACIT-Sp meaning/peace subscale was 24.1 out of 32, and 12.5 out of 16 for the faith subscale. Parents' average total FACIT-Sp score was 36.6 of 48. Multivariate analyses show that parental black non-Hispanic race, "other" race, being married, as well as children's higher vision and hearing health status were associated with higher spirituality, as measured by the total FACIT-Sp. Two parent household and children's higher speech health status were associated with lower FACIT-Sp scores. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that non-white parents have greater faith-based and overall spirituality than white parents. Spiritual assessments should be conducted for all parents as differing supportive services may be needed. The palliative care team should ensure that parents' spirituality is being incorporated, as appropriate, into their children's routine care.
Exercise in the fasted state facilitates fibre type‐specific intramyocellular lipid breakdown and stimulates glycogen resynthesis in humans

The effects were compared of exercise in the fasted state and exercise with a high rate of carbohydrate intake on intramyocellular triglyceride (IMTG) and glycogen content of human muscle. Using a randomized crossover study design, nine young healthy volunteers participated in two experimental sessions with an interval of 3 weeks. In each session subjects performed 2 h of constant‐load bicycle exercise (∼75%), followed by 4 h of controlled recovery. On one occasion they exercised after an overnight fast (F), and on the other (CHO) they received carbohydrates before (∼150 g) and during (1 g (kg bw)−1 h−1) exercise. In both conditions, subjects ingested 5 g carbohydrates per kg body weight during recovery. Fibre type‐specific relative IMTG content was determined by Oil red O staining in needle biopsies from m. vastus lateralis before, immediately after and 4 h after exercise. During F but not during CHO, the exercise bout decreased IMTG content in type I fibres from 18 ± 2% to 6 ± 2% (P= 0.007) area lipid staining. Conversely, during recovery, IMTG in type I fibres decreased from 15 ± 2% to 10 ± 2% in CHO, but did not change in F. Neither exercise nor recovery changed IMTG in type IIa fibres in any experimental condition. Exercise‐induced net glycogen breakdown was similar in F and CHO. However, compared with CHO (11.0 ± 7.8 mmol kg−1 h−1), mean rate of postexercise muscle glycogen resynthesis was 3‐fold greater in F (32.9 ± 2.7 mmol kg−1 h−1, P= 0.01). Furthermore, oral glucose loading during recovery increased plasma insulin markedly more in F (+46.80 μU ml−1) than in CHO (+14.63 μU ml−1, P= 0.02). We conclude that IMTG breakdown during prolonged submaximal exercise in the fasted state takes place predominantly in type I fibres and that this breakdown is prevented in the CHO‐fed state. Furthermore, facilitated glucose‐induced insulin secretion may contribute to enhanced muscle glycogen resynthesis following exercise in the fasted state.
Production of a Recombinant Major Inner Capsid Protein for Serological Detection of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus

ABSTRACT Constructs of the major core protein, designated VP7, from epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) type 1 were made by amino- or carboxyl-terminal fusion of a six-histidine residue tag to the VP7-1 gene. The resulting fusion proteins were produced in a baculovirus expression system and purified by a rapid, one-step procedure using nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid technology. A high level of VP7-1 protein expression was detected with the N-terminal six-histidine tag fusion construct and was comparable to the level of expression observed with an untagged VP7-1 Bam construct. In contrast, the inclusion of a six-histidine tag at the C terminus adversely affected protein expression. The antigenicity of the N-terminal six-histidine tag EHDV VP7-1 product was identical to that observed with the native virus antigen and untagged EHDV VP7-1 recombinant protein, as determined by reactivity with EHDV specific antibodies in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot. The high production and purity levels that can be attained for the N-terminal six-histidine tag VP7-1 protein and its reactivity with EHDV-specific sera in a competitive ELISA make it a suitable assay reagent.
Association between preoperative 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and hospital-acquired infections following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.

IMPORTANCE Postoperative hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) may result from disruption of natural barrier sites. Recent studies have linked vitamin D status and barrier site integrity. OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between preoperative vitamin D status and the risk for HAIs. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A retrospective analysis was performed using propensity score methods to construct a matched-pairs cohort to reduce baseline differences between patients with 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels less than 30 ng/mL vs 30 ng/mL or greater. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was then performed to examine the association between 25(OH)D levels and HAIs while adjusting for additional perioperative factors. Locally weighted scatterplot smoothing was used to depict the relationship between increasing 25(OH)D levels and the risk for HAIs. This study was conducted in a single, teaching hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and involved 770 gastric bypass surgery patients between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2011. EXPOSURES Preoperative 25(OH)D levels. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Association between preoperative 25(OH)D levels and the risk for postoperative HAIs. RESULTS The risk for HAIs was 3-fold greater (adjusted odds ratio, 3.05; 95% CI, 1.34-6.94) in patients with 25(OH)D levels less than 30 ng/mL vs 30 ng/mL or greater. Further adjustment for additional perioperative factors did not materially change this association. Locally weighted scatterplot smoothing analysis depicted a near inverse linear relationship between vitamin D status and the risk for HAIs for 25(OH)D levels around 30 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In our patient cohort, a significant inverse association was observed between preoperative 25(OH)D levels and the risk for HAIs. These results suggest that preoperative 25(OH)D levels may be a modifiable risk factor for postoperative nosocomial infections. Prospective studies must determine whether there is a potential benefit to preoperative optimization of vitamin D status.