Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism Comparing Functional (pet) Images: the Assessment of Significant Change

Statistical parametric maps (SPMs) are poten­ tially powerful ways of localizing differences in regional cerebral activity. This potential is limited by uncertainties in assessing the significance of these maps. In this report, we describe an approach that may partially resolve this issue. A distinction is made between using SPMs as im­ ages of change significance and using them to identify foci of significant change. In the first case, the SPM can be reported nonselectively as a single mathematical object with its omnibus significance. Alternatively, the SPM constitutes a large number of repeated measures over the brain. To reject the null hypothesis, that no change has Statistical maps are an important alternative to region of interest (ROI) analysis in the localization of differences in positron emission tomography (PET) images. Statistical maps can be looked at in two ways. They represent images of change signif­ icance, as opposed to change magnitude, allowing brain regions to be compared qualitatively in terms of relative significance. Alternatively, they have the potential to localize change at a given level of sig­ nificance. The distinction between images of change size and change significance relates to regional differ­ ences in the variability of cerebral activity. Signifi­ cance has two components: the size of the differ­ ence and the error variance associated with its mea­ surement. Statistical parametric maps (SPMs) are 690 occurred at a specific location, a threshold adjustment must be made that accounts for the large number of com­ parisons made. This adjustment is shown to depend on the SPM's smoothness. Smoothness can be determined empirically and be used to calculate a threshold required to identify significant foci. The approach models the SPM as a stationary stochastic process. The theory and appli­ cations are illustrated using uniform phantom images and data from a verbal fluency activation study of four normal subjects. therefore functions of change size (e.g., subtraction images or change score images) and reliability of measuring change, or error variance. Qualitative in­ terpretation and reporting of SPMs as single objects is justifiable given that the probability of obtaining the SPM, or a more unlikely one, is calculated. This sort of approach has been described for images of change scores by Fox et al. (1988) as part of "change distribution analysis. " With SPMs, the es­ timation of this "omnibus significance" reduces to comparing the number of expected and observed pixels above a given threshold using the X2 …
Fractional Combinatorial Two-Player Games

: During the last decades, many combinatorial games involving two persons playing on a (directed) graph have received a lot of attention. Some examples of such games are the Angel problem, the Cops and Robbers, the Surveillance game, the Eternal Dominating Set and Eternal Set Cover. One of the main questions in these games is to decide if a given player has a winning strategy. That is, if it can always win regardless of behaviour of the other player. This question is often NP-hard. In the Cops and Robbers game and for the Surveillance game this question is PSPACE-complete [Mamino 2012, Fomin et al. 2012]. In this paper, we propose a fractional relaxation of these games. That is, we present a framework, based on linear programming techniques, that can be used to model any of the aforementioned games and some of its variants. As far as we know, it is the (cid:28)rst time that such combinatorial games have been studied in this way and perspectives are promising. We also propose an algorithm that decides whether the (cid:28)rst player can win the game in at most t turns. Moreover, under a weak assumption which is valid for all the aforementioned games, the fractional game gives us a lower bound for the integral game. For the Surveillange game and the Angel problem we show that there is, with high probability, a winning strategy which is in a O (log n ) factor of the correspondent fractional parameter against a surfer or angel that follows a particular behaviour. On the other hand, we prove that our framework cannot be used to approximate the classical Cops and Robber game.
Osteoporosis knowledge and beliefs among postmenopausal women: A cross-sectional study from a teaching hospital in southern India

Objectives: Osteoporosis continues to be underrecognized in many parts of India. This study was undertaken to assess the level of knowledge of osteoporosis among postmenopausal women referred for a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan in a teaching hospital in southern India. Methodology: This cross-sectional study assessed the state of awareness in consecutive postmenopausal women referred for a DXA scan using a validated questionnaire – Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool. The proportion of correct responses was expressed as percentages. The mean scores obtained were also compared between different educational groups. Results: A total of 302 consecutive postmenopausal women who were referred for DXA participated in this study. The mean (standard deviation) age of the postmenopausal women included in this study was 58.8 (6) years. Although most subjects were aware of the consequences of osteoporosis, there was generalized lack of awareness with regard to risk factors and available treatment options. Overall about 60% had poor awareness about osteoporosis. Conclusion: This study showed a gross deficit in awareness of osteoporosis in Indian postmenopausal women. There is a need to prioritize on designing appropriate awareness campaigns in subjects at risk, according to their level of literacy.
Antagonism of the Melanocortin System Reduces Cold and Mechanical Allodynia in Mononeuropathic Rats

The presence of both pro-opiomelanocortin-derived peptides and melanocortin (MC) receptors in nociception-associated areas in the spinal cord suggests that, at the spinal level, the MC system might be involved in nociceptive transmission. In the present study, we demonstrate that a chronic constriction injury (CCI) to the rat sciatic nerve, a lesion that produces neuropathic pain, results in changes in the spinal cord MC system, as shown by an increased binding of125I-NDP-MSH to the dorsal horn. Furthermore, we investigated whether intrathecal administration (in the cisterna magna) of selective MC receptor ligands can affect the mechanical and cold allodynia associated with the CCI. Mechanical and cold allodynia were assessed by measuring withdrawal responses of the affected limb to von Frey filaments and withdrawal latencies upon immersion in a 4.5°C water bath, respectively. We show that treatment with the MC receptor antagonist SHU9119 has a profound anti-allodynic effect, suggesting that the endogenous MC system has a tonic effect on nociception. In contrast, administration of the MC4 receptor agonists MTII andd-Tyr-MTII primarily increases the sensitivity to mechanical and cold stimulation. No antinociceptive action was observed after administration of the selective MC3 receptor agonist Nle-γ-MSH. Together, our data suggest that the spinal cord MC system is involved in neuropathic pain and that the effects of MC receptor ligands on the responses to painful stimuli are exerted through the MC4 receptor. In conclusion, antagonism of the spinal melanocortin system might provide a new approach in the treatment of neuropathic pain.
New Patrolling Strategies with Short-Range Perception

In a Multi-Agent Patrolling Problem (MAPP), a team of agents must optimize a collective metric by moving through a given environment model. MAPPs have a wide range of applications, like continuous surveillance, floor cleaning, and detecting gas leakage. Many heuristic strategies for MAPPs were proposed in the literature using different techniques. In the k-range strategies, autonomous agents communicate indirectly by reading and writing information in the surrounding nodes that are located up to k edges away from the agent. From these, the 0-range strategies (where agents can only sense its current node) are especially suitable for the design of robust autonomous robots with simple hardware. In this work, we propose a new method to convert 1-range strategies (the most common case) into 0-range strategies. We evaluated the new strategies in simulations comparing them to the original 1-range versions. We also built a real low-cost robot that runs the 0-range strategies.
The BDNF Val 66 Met Polymorphism , Hippocampal Volume and Cognitive Function in Geriatric Depression

Objective—The Val66Met polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene is associated with geriatric depression. In studies of younger adults without depression, met allele carriers exhibit smaller hippocampal volumes and have poorer performance on neuropsychological tests. We examined the relationship between the BDNF gene and hippocampal volumes in depressed and non-depressed older individuals and its relationship with memory functions mediated by the hippocampus. Design—One hundred seventy-six elderly depressed Caucasian participants and eighty-eight non-depressed participants completed clinical assessments, neuropsychological testing and provided blood samples for genotyping. One hundred seventy-three participants also underwent brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Statistical modeling tested the relationship between genotype and hippocampal volume and function while controlling for diagnosis and other covariates. Results—BDNF genotype was not associated with a difference in performance on tests mediated by the hippocampus, including word-list learning, prose recall, non verbal memory, or digit span. After controlling for covariates, BDNF genotype was not significantly associated with hippocampal volume (F1, 171 = 1.10, p=0.30). Conclusion—Despite different findings in younger populations, the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism is not significantly associated with hippocampal volume or function in a geriatric population. We hypothesize that other factors may have a stronger effect on hippocampal structure in older individuals, and that the association between the Val66Met polymorphism and geriatric depression is mediated through other mechanisms.
Historical Development of HRV Analysis

CONTENTS 2.1 History of HRV.18 2.2 Methods of HRV Analysis Based on Sinus Rhythm.22 2.2.1 Linear Methods—Time Domain . 22 2.2.2 Linear Methods—Frequency Domain . 25 2.2.3 Nonlinear Dynamics . 26 2.2.3.1 Power Law (Scaling Exponent ). 26 2.2.3.2 Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (Fractal Scaling Exponent ↵1 and ↵2) . 26 2.2.3.3 Multifractal Analysis.27 2.2.3.4 Symbolic Dynamics . 27 2.2.3.5 Correlation Dimension.28 2.2.3.6 Lyapunov Exponent /Finite-Time Growth Rates k . 28 2.2.3.7 Poincaré Plot Analysis . 29 2.2.3.8 Recurrence Plots.29 2.2.3.9 Approximate Entropy/Sample Entropy . 30 2.2.3.10 Multiscale Entropy . 30 2.2.3.11 Compression Entropy . 31 2.3 Methods of HRV Analysis Not Based on Sinus Rhythm . 34 2.3.1 Heart Rate Turbulence . 34 2.4 Applications of HRV Analysis . 34 2.4. 1 Heart Disease.35 2.4. 2 Monitoring and Anesthesia.36 2.4. 3 Hypertension.36 2.4. 4 Sleep Disorders.37 2.4. 5 Diseases of the Central Nervous System and Brain Damage.37 2.4. 6 Fetal and Neonatal Development and Pregnancy . 38 2.4. 7 Autonomic Neuropathies and Diabetes . 38 2.4. 8 Mental Stress, Fatigue, and Concentration . 39 2.4. 9 Mind and Body Exercises . 40 2.4. 10 Sports and Physical Activity . 40 2.4. 11 Physiological Influences on HRV . 41 2.4. 11.1 Influences of Age, Gender, and Ethnicity.41 2.4. 11.2 Influences of Lifestyle . 41 2.5 Time Course of HRV Analysis in Two Different Fields.41 2.5. 1 HRV in Patients with DCM . 41 2.5. 2 HRV in Women Suffering from Preeclampsia . 49 2.6 Outlook.56 References . 58
NEUROREHABILITATION WITH PADOVAN METHOD IN A NEWBORN WITH TREACHER COLLINS SYNDROME: A CASE REPORT

Treacher Collins Syndrome (TCS) is an autosomal dominant disorder that leads to congenital craniofacial malformation, and may then be assisted by the Padovan Method® for neurological rehabilitation. That being said, the aim of this article is to report the functional improvements obtained by a patient with TCS who underwent the Padovan Method®. The child was born on november 26th of 2014, cesarean delivery, 37 weeks, Apgar 9/10, weighted 3625g, PC = 35cm, C = 49CM, presenting mild respiratory discomfort, absence of suction and the presence of syndromic facies, which is characteristic of TCS with retrognathism, oblique palpebral cleft downward divergent strabismus on left, pointed ears with cleft lobes, narrow auditory canal, malar hypoplasia and narrow palate. Padovan therapy was initiated at the 6th day of life, from orofacial, vestibular, ocular and motor exercises that seek to recapitulate the neuroevolutionary phases of human development with the purpose of propitiating a motor and neurological maturation of the central nervous system (CNS) and the correction of its possible failures. The child presented suction on the second day of therapy and on the fifth day was discharged from the hospital with good suction to the breast. The patient was followed up on an outpatient office and was given physiotherapy and speech therapy. The patient no longer received the Padovan Method® because at that time it was not available outside the hospital. Upon returning to childcare at age of 3, a good motor coordination performance was noticed, also speaking few loose words, but with good interaction and understanding. Therefore, due to the lack of standard behavior in neonatal neurological rehabilitation, considering the concepts of neuroplasticity andknowing the importance of early intervention, the Padovan Method® is shown as an alternative in the CNS reorganization in patients with TCS.
Using Fos Imaging in the Rat to Reveal the Anatomical Extent of the Disruptive Effects of Fornix Lesions

Activity of the immediate early gene c-fos was compared across hemispheres in rats with unilateral fornix lesions. To engage Fos production, rats first performed a radial arm maze task that is severely disrupted by bilateral fornix lesions. Using immunohistochemical techniques, Fos-positive cells were visualized and counted in 39 sites in both hemispheres. Fornix lesions led to a significant reduction in Fos in all ipsilateral hippocampal subfields, as well as the entorhinal cortex and most of the subicular complex. Other sites that showed reduced activity included the ipsilateral retrosplenial, anterior cingulate, and postrhinal cortices. Subcortical regions showing significant Fos decreases included the anterior thalamic nuclei, supramammillary nucleus, diagonal band of Broca, and lateral septum. Thus, the effects of fornix lesions extended beyond the hippocampal formation and included sites not directly innervated by the tract. These changes were nevertheless selective, as shown by the lack of hemispheric difference in any of the preselected control sites, the perirhinal cortex, or nucleus accumbens. Furthermore, there were no hemispheric differences in an additional group of animals with unilateral fornix lesions that were killed directly from the home cage. The location of Fos changes closely corresponded to those brain regions that when lesioned disrupt spatial working memory. Moreover, there was a correspondence between those brain regions that show increased Fos production in normal animals performing the radial arm maze task and those affected by fornix lesions. These results show that fornix transection has widespread, but selective, effects on a network of structures normally activated by spatial memory processes, with these effects extending beyond the hippocampal formation.
The impact of psychological contracts on employee engagement at a university of technology

Orientation: Changing organisational dynamics have caused a need for organisations to understand the employment relationship processes and outcomes in order to improve organisational effectiveness, increase productivity and retain talented employees.Research purpose: The purpose of the study is to determine which elements of the academic employee’s psychological contract are impacting employee engagement at a university of technology.Motivation for the study: The study was motivated by the findings of a 2013 climate survey at an institute of higher education, indicating that many employees were dissatisfied and believed that their expectations were not met by the organisation.Research approach/design and method: A quantitative technique via online questionnaires was employed for data collection. The sample size was 400 out of 900 academic staff members.Main findings: The study confirmed that most employees appear to have developed a positive psychological contract. It indicated, however, that many employees may be experiencing discord in the employment relationship. Both transactional and relational elements of the psychological contract appeared to be essential to academic employees.Practical/managerial implications: The study identified factors of importance to academic employees that should be considered in the compilation of retention policies.Contribution/value-add: The results of the study could contribute towards addressing some of the challenges by creating a better understanding of the needs of academic employees and the impact of psychological contract fulfilment and breach. This could benefit the higher education sector as a whole.
Effects of Open versus Laparoscopic Nephrectomy Techniques on Oxidative Stress Markers in Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma

The aim of the study was to determine the concentration of lipid peroxidation products, the activity of selected antioxidant and lysosomal enzymes, and protease inhibitor in patients with renal cell carcinoma who underwent radical nephrectomy. The studied group included 44 patients: 21 of them underwent open surgery, while 23 underwent laparoscopy. Blood samples were collected three times: before treatment and 12 hours and five days after nephrectomy. In blood of participants, the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), the activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and the activity of acid phosphatase (AcP), arylsulfatase (ASA), cathepsin D (CTSD), and α 1-antitrypsin (AAT) were assayed. No statistically significant differences in investigated parameters were found between studied groups. Moreover, TBARS concentration and CAT, SOD, and GPx activity were not altered in the course of both types of surgery. Five days after both open and laparoscopic nephrectomy techniques, AAT activity was higher than its activity 12 hours after the procedure. The obtained results suggest that laparoscopy may be used for nephrectomy as effectively as open surgery without creating greater oxidative stress. Reduced period of convalescence at patients treated with laparoscopy may be due to less severe response of acute-phase proteins.
Exact beta function from the holographic loop equation of large-N QCD4

We construct and study a quantum holographic effective action, ? q, whose critical equation implies the holographic loop equation of large-N QCD4 for planar self-avoiding loops in a certain regularization scheme. We extract from ? q the exact beta function in the given scheme. For the Wilsonean coupling constant the beta function is exactly one loop and the first coefficient, ? 0, agrees with its value in perturbation theory. For the canonical coupling constant the exact beta function has a NSV Z form and the first two coefficients in powers of the coupling, ? 0 and ? 1, agree with their value in perturbation theory.
School‐based support for children with conduct disorders; a qualitative longitudinal study of high‐need families

Primary school-aged children with conduct problems are at risk for future antisocial and criminal behaviour, particularly when there are additional family-level risk factors. However little is known about how school-related factors can reduce that risk. This qualitative longitudinal study investigates school-related influences on changes in the behaviour of at-risk children in high need families over a period of five years. Families of eleven children with serious behaviour problems were followed over the transition to secondary school. In-depth interviews with mothers, and with practitioners who support the child or family, explored school-related factors which appeared helpful or unhelpful in improving children’s behaviour over time. The analysis found that the disjuncture between the nurture experienced at primary school and a lack of nurture later at secondary school was problematic. Children tended to change primary school until they found one prepared to offer them a high level of nurture and supervision. Consistent relationships with supportive adults were important, but were rare after the transfer to secondary school. Literacy problems remained unrecognised or unaddressed for too long, contributing to children’s lack of engagement. Inconsistent disciplinary responses to minor behaviour issues tended to escalate problems and most children were eventually excluded from mainstream education. Communication between parents and school staff was often problematic; parents sometimes experienced school contacts as burdensome, ill-informed and unsupportive. However good communication could aid development of successful approaches to supporting children with difficult behaviour.
ec 2 00 1 Breakdown and recovery in traffic flow models ⋆

Most car-following models show a transition from laminar to “congested” flow and vice versa. Deterministic models often have a density range where a disturbance needs a sufficiently large critical amplitude to move the flow from the laminar into the congested phase. In stochastic models, it may be assumed that the size of this amplitude gets translated into a waiting time, i.e. until fluctuations sufficiently add up to trigger the transition. A recently introduced model of traffic flow however does not show this behavior: in the density regime where the jam solution co-exists with the high-flow state, the intrinsic stochasticity of the model is not sufficient to cause a transition into the jammed regime, at least not within relevant time scales. In addition, models can be differentiated by the stability of the outflow interface. We demonstrate that this additional criterion is not related to the stability of the flow. The combination of these criteria makes it possible to characterize commonalities and differences between many existing models for traffic in a new way.