Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Connectivity Between Brain Networks Dynamically Reflects Cognitive Status of Parkinson’s Disease: A Longitudinal Study

Background: Cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with altered connectivity of the resting state networks (RSNs). Longitudinal studies in well cognitively characterized PD subgroups are missing. Objectives: To assess changes of the whole-brain connectivity and between-network connectivity (BNC) of large-scale functional networks related to cognition in well characterized PD patients using a longitudinal study design and various analytical methods. Methods: We explored the whole-brain connectivity and BNC of the frontoparietal control network (FPCN) and the default mode, dorsal attention, and visual networks in PD with normal cognition (PD-NC, n = 17) and mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI, n = 22) as compared to 51 healthy controls (HC). We applied regions of interest-based, partial least squares, and graph theory based network analyses. The differences among groups were analyzed at baseline and at the one-year follow-up visit (37 HC, 23 PD all). Results: The BNC of the FPCN and other RSNs was reduced, and the whole-brain analysis revealed increased characteristic path length and decreased average node strength, clustering coefficient, and global efficiency in PD-NC compared to HC. Values of all measures in PD-MCI were between that of HC and PD-NC. After one year, the BNC was further increased in the PD-all group; no changes were detected in HC. No cognitive domain z-scores deteriorated in either group. Conclusion: As compared to HC, PD-NC patients display a less efficient transfer of information globally and reduced BNC of the visual and frontoparietal control network. The BNC increases with time and MCI status, reflecting compensatory efforts.
Agreeing on global research priorities for medication safety: an international prioritisation exercise

Objectives Medication errors continue to contribute substantially to global morbidity and mortality. In the context of the recent launch of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Third Global Patient Safety Challenge: Medication Without Harm, we sought to establish agreement on research priorities for medication safety. Methods We undertook a consensus prioritisation exercise using an approach developed by the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative. Based on a combination of productivity and citations, we identified leading researchers in patient and medication safety and invited them to participate. We also extended the invitation to a further pool of experts from the WHO Global Patient Safety Network. All experts independently generated research ideas, which they then independently scored based on the criteria of: answerability, effectiveness, innovativeness, implementation, burden reduction and equity. An overall Research Priority Score and Average Expert Agreement were calculated for each research question. Findings 131 experts submitted 333 research ideas, and 42 experts then scored the proposed research questions. The top prioritised research areas were: (1) deploying and scaling technology to enhance medication safety; (2) developing guidelines and standard operating procedures for high-risk patients, medications and contexts; (3) score-based approaches to predicting high-risk patients and situations; (4) interventions to increase patient medication literacy; (5) focused training courses for health professionals; and (6) universally applicable pictograms to avoid medication-related harm. Whilst there was a focus on promoting patient education and involvement across resource settings, priorities identified in high-resource settings centred on the optimisation of existing systems through technology. In low- and middle-resource settings, priorities focused on identifying systemic issues contributing to high-risk situations. Conclusions WHO now plans to work with global, regional and national research funding agencies to catalyse the investment needed to enable teams to pursue these research priorities in medication safety across high-, middle- and low-resource country settings.
Exploration of New Contrasts, Targets, and MR Imaging and Spectroscopy Techniques for Neuromuscular Disease – A Workshop Report of Working Group 3 of the Biomedicine and Molecular Biosciences COST Action BM1304 MYO-MRI

Neuromuscular diseases are characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and muscle weakness resulting in functional disabilities. While each of these diseases is individually rare, they are common as a group, and a large majority lacks effective treatment with fully market approved drugs. Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy techniques (MRI and MRS) are showing increasing promise as an outcome measure in clinical trials for these diseases. In 2013, the European Union funded the COST (co-operation in science and technology) action BM1304 called MYO-MRI (www.myo-mri.eu), with the overall aim to advance novel MRI and MRS techniques for both diagnosis and quantitative monitoring of neuromuscular diseases through sharing of expertise and data, joint development of protocols, opportunities for young researchers and creation of an online atlas of muscle MRI and MRS. In this report, the topics that were discussed in the framework of working group 3, which had the objective to: Explore new contrasts, new targets and new imaging techniques for NMD are described. The report is written by the scientists who attended the meetings and presented their data. An overview is given on the different contrasts that MRI can generate and their application, clinical needs and desired readouts, and emerging methods.
YESdb: integrative analysis of environmental stress in yeast

Abstract The stress response in the model organisms Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a well-studied system for which many data sets are available. Already in 2000, it was discovered that yeast cells trigger a similar transcriptional response when different types of stress are applied. However, the exact regulatory mechanisms and differences between the different types of stress are still not understood. Here, we present the Yeast Environmental Stress database (YESdb), a database containing all high-throughput experiments measuring various kinds of stress in yeast. The goal of the database is to allow the user to execute complex, integrative analyses of selected data sets, e.g. the comparison of measurements of the same stress using different platforms or differences between strains, stress strengths or types of stress. The analyses can be visualized in various ways and can be compiled into interactive reports to summarize and communicate the results. The data sets are available as differential conditions (typically stressed vs control), which are grouped to time or concentration series when multiple measurements over time or concentrations are done in one experiment. An annotation ontology has been constructed to annotate the data sets with the type, duration and strength of the applied stress, the used strain and experimental platform as well as the publication date. These annotations can easily be combined to select all relevant data sets for an analysis. YESdb allows to construct and execute Petri net-based workflows to perform predefined and custom analyses. E.g. to compare two types of stress (e.g. salt vs oxidative stress), the corresponding data sets are selected from the database, the consistently changed genes are defined and combined and the shared genes are characterized by enrichment analysis. A broad collection of visualizations is available most of which are also interactive. The results of all analyses can be summarized in an interactive report. Visualizations of individual steps (transitions) of YESdb workflows can be automatically added to this report or customized visualizations as well as interpretive text can manually be added to the report. Overall, YESdb aims at making all published data sets on yeast stress immediately available and comparable for integrated analysis of data sets and sets of genes in order to identify and assess hypotheses and mechanisms.
Microtubule plus-ends act as physical signaling hubs to activate RhoA during cytokinesis

Microtubules (MTs) are essential for cleavage furrow positioning during cytokinesis, but the mechanisms by which MT-derived signals spatially define regions of cortical contractility are unresolved. In this study cytokinesis regulators visualized in Drosophila melanogaster (Dm) cells were found to localize to and track MT plus-ends during cytokinesis. The RhoA GEF Pebble (Dm ECT2) did not evidently tip-track, but rather localized rapidly to cortical sites contacted by MT plus-tips, resulting in RhoA activation and enrichment of myosin-regulatory light chain. The MT plus-end localization of centralspindlin was compromised following EB1 depletion, which resulted in a higher incidence of cytokinesis failure. Centralspindlin plus-tip localization depended on the C-terminus and a putative EB1-interaction motif (hxxPTxh) in RacGAP50C. We propose that MT plus-end-associated centralspindlin recruits a cortical pool of Dm ECT2 upon physical contact to activate RhoA and to trigger localized contractility.
M-Ras/Shoc2 signaling modulates E-cadherin turnover and cell–cell adhesion during collective cell migration

Significance Noonan syndrome belongs to a group of related developmental disorders termed the RASopathies, and both the M-Ras GTPase and its effector Shoc2 are signaling proteins mutated in specific subtypes of this disorder. Previously, the M-Ras/Shoc2 complex has been shown to act as a positive regulator of growth factor-mediated ERK cascade activation, and, here, we demonstrate a function for M-Ras/Shoc2/ERK cascade signaling in the dynamic control of cell–cell adhesion that is required for collective cell migration. Given the essential role of collective cell migration in human embryogenesis and organ development, our elucidation of M-Ras/Shoc2 function in this highly regulated process may provide insight regarding the cellular basis of defects associated with Noonan syndrome and other RASopathies. Collective cell migration is required for normal embryonic development and contributes to various biological processes, including wound healing and cancer cell invasion. The M-Ras GTPase and its effector, the Shoc2 scaffold, are proteins mutated in the developmental RASopathy Noonan syndrome, and, here, we report that activated M-Ras recruits Shoc2 to cell surface junctions where M-Ras/Shoc2 signaling contributes to the dynamic regulation of cell–cell junction turnover required for collective cell migration. MCF10A cells expressing the dominant-inhibitory M-RasS27N variant or those lacking Shoc2 exhibited reduced junction turnover and were unable to migrate effectively as a group. Through further depletion/reconstitution studies, we found that M-Ras/Shoc2 signaling contributes to junction turnover by modulating the E-cadherin/p120-catenin interaction and, in turn, the junctional expression of E-cadherin. The regulatory effect of the M-Ras/Shoc2 complex was mediated at least in part through the phosphoregulation of p120-catenin and required downstream ERK cascade activation. Strikingly, cells rescued with the Noonan-associated, myristoylated-Shoc2 mutant (Myr-Shoc2) displayed a gain-of-function (GOF) phenotype, with the cells exhibiting increased junction turnover and reduced E-cadherin/p120-catenin binding and migrating as a faster but less cohesive group. Consistent with these results, Noonan-associated C-Raf mutants that bypass the need for M-Ras/Shoc2 signaling exhibited a similar GOF phenotype when expressed in Shoc2-depleted MCF10A cells. Finally, expression of the Noonan-associated Myr-Shoc2 or C-Raf mutants, but not their WT counterparts, induced gastrulation defects indicative of aberrant cell migration in zebrafish embryos, further demonstrating the function of the M-Ras/Shoc2/ERK cascade signaling axis in the dynamic control of coordinated cell movement.
A quantitative study of student veterans' intent to persist

In August 2009, the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill went into effect. Eligible veterans receive full tuition and fees, a monthly housing stipend, and an annual stipend for books and supplies. Colleges and universities are anticipating an influx of student veterans at the highest level since World War II. The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze the factors that contribute to the intent to persist of student veterans that receive educational funding from the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill. Results of this study indicated that the campus environment was the only statistically significant predictor variable that influenced a student veteran‟s intent to persist at his or her current institution of higher education. To assist institutions of higher education in developing a plan of action to improve the overall campus climate, the Veteran Friendly Environment Model was introduced.
Targeting of IL-1 and IL-18 in experimental arthritis using soluble receptors - A gene thereapeutic approach.

Both IL-1 and IL-18 are important proinflammatory cytokines, which play an important role in the initiation and maintenance of inflammatory processes for instance during RA. As it appears, this process of IL-1/IL-18 signal transduction is tightly regulated at receptor level, by membrane associated decoy receptors and soluble receptor antagonists. However, the exact physiological role of the recently described natural occurring murine soluble receptors,like sIL-1RAcP, sIL-18Rs and the IL-18BP, which are partial analogues of the membrane signaling receptors, needs to be further elucidated. In this thesis we describe the role of IL-1 and IL-18 in experimental arthritis and show the results of gene therapeutic soluble receptor overexpression in models of experimental arthritis, revealing their role in modulation of IL-1 and IL-18 signaling.
Psychometric properties of Spector’s job satisfaction survey in the Iranian population

Introduction: of the important the of Job satisfaction survey developed by Paul Spector to measure this variable in job settings. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of Spector’s Job Satisfaction (JSS) Survey in Iran. Materials and Methods: In this study, Spector’s questionnaire was translated in Persian languge. A sample of 415 employees in Kerman (Iran) hospitals participated in this study and filled out the questionnaires. Results: Cronbach’s alpha reliability analysis showed appropriate item-total correlations for subscales and a good total scale internal consistency. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) identified 6 factors in participants’ reponses which could explain 65.44 percent of the total variance altogether. Conclusion: EFA identified dimensions of pay, promotion, supervision, coworkers, nature of work, and communication. These findings showed that JSS has a good construct validity and internal consistency. Persian translation of JSS is a reliable and valid measure to assess job satisfaction in Iran.
Natural Wool Fabrics in Physiotherapy

Prevention of heat loss, thermal insulation and heat treatment play an important role in physiotherapy. For example, peripheral vascular disease associated with metabolic diseases (e.g., diabetes, arteriosclerosis), arthritis, paresis and paralysis of peripheral nerves all require interventions involving heat therapy. Wool products such as garment linings, shoulder-straps, knee pads and lumber pads exert a very positive effect on the above mentioned circulatory disturbances. Moreover, due to its unique physical and chemical properties, knitwear increases the pain threshold and reduces muscle tension; knitwear can be used both before and after exercise to prolong the therapeutic effect. Physiotherapy sessions for little children on wool mattresses also evoke additional sensory impulses thus improving sensorimotor outcomes. Extending the heat effect on the skin resulting from physical procedures such as massage, heat therapy and ultrasounds is regarded as one of the main theraputic advantages. Last but not least, there are also some easily perceivable economic benefits.
Practical Dementia Care

1. Definitions and Overview of the Book 2. The Evaluation and Formulation of Dementia 3. Diseases Causing a Cortical Pattern of Dementia 4. Diseases Typically Causing Subcortical or Mixed Pattern Dementias 5. Overview of Dementia Care 6. Supportive Care for the Patient with Dementia 7. Supporting the Family and Care Provider 8. Noncognitive Behavioral and Neuropsychitric Disorders 9. Noncognitive Functional Disorders and Disturbances in Sleeping, Eating and Sexuality 10. Pharmacologic and Other Biologic Treatments in Dementia 11. Prevention, Early Detection and Mild Cognitive Impairment 12. Terminal Care 13. Ethical and Legal Issues 14. Clinical Genetics and Dementia
The Impact of Tumour Characteristics on Hereditary Breast Cancer Screening

textabstractIn the Western world breast cancer is a fairly common disease in women, nearly one in ten is diagnosed with breast cancer during her life. Worldwide 1.200. 000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually, in the Netherlands about 12.000, 25% of them before age 50 years 1. Worldwide the incidence doubled between 1975 and 2000, with the steepest increase in developing countries. Survival has clearly improved the last decade, mainly as a result of earlier detection by women’s awareness and mammography screening, and also by increased use of adjuvant hormonal and chemotherapy 2,3. The diagnosis is still frightening as approximately 3.500 women die annually of breast cancer metastases in the Netherlands, but an increasing number of women survives after the disease. The main risk factors for breast cancer are associated with; increasing age, a family history for the disease and previous breast cancer. Only a small fraction, about 20%, of all breast cancer deaths in the western world and worldwide are estimated to be caused by preventable behavioural risk-factors like physical inactivity, obesity, alcohol consumption and use of hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) 4. These factors influence the hormonal balance, leading for instance to early menarche and late menopause, hormonal factors that are known to increase breast cancer risk. Like in postmenopausal hormonal replacement therapy, and nulliparity, the harmful effect seems to be the cumulative exposure to ovarian hormones/ ovulatory cycles. While also the preventive effect of prolonged breast-feeding may be caused by reduced ovulatory cycles, the protective effect of a first full-term pregnancy at a relatively young age seems associated with early terminal differentiation of the breast epithelium. The increase in breast cancer risk with increasing ovulatory cycles and the decrease associated with terminal differentiation are explained by their influence on the number of cell divisions of the breast epithelial cells and accumulation of molecular and DNA damage.
Developing an App-Based Library Programme to Support Early Childhood Learning

The aim of this research project has been todevelop a mobile app-based library programmeto support early childhood learning. The app-based library programme involved the design,implementation and evaluation of six workshopsbetween July and September 2014 in a medium-sized public library in north Taiwan. This researchcontributes to a growing literature that providesevidence of the value of handheld devices andapps in contributing to early childhood learning,particularly in the context of public libraries. Thepotential of apps for fostering early childhoodlearning in public libraries in Taiwan is recognisedand it is suggested that library staff need time forprofessional development and experimentation ifthey are to respond appropriately to new digitaltechnologies. Limitations of this research projectare acknowledged and suggestions for futureresearch in this area are also provided.
Why Do ECE Teachers Need to Be Mentored by ECE Administrators?

Why do ECE teachers need to be mentored by ECE administrators? At the data site, the research problem was that students are not meeting the required standards of proficiency in state testing and schools are failing to make adequate yearly progress (AYP) as mandated by the No Child Left Behind of 2001. In an effort to comply with the NCLB Act (2001) mandates, the local school district supported ECE teachers through a mentoring program to address student achievement. School leaders at the data site needed research-based findings on the evaluation of the ECE mentoring program. A sample of n = 66 participants was purposefully selected and interviewed. The findings revealed that mentoring helps ECE teachers. Institutes of higher education, professional development providers, administrators’ associations, school districts, and school leaders may benefit from having an awareness of how mentoring helps ECE teachers to improve their instructional practices. Effectiveness of teachers can be increased through opportunities for ongoing, systemic, and systematic mentoring; however, mentoring needs to be intentional, ongoing, and both systemic and systematic.
Analysis of Patient Presentation and Admission Data for Prediction Modelling

We describe data analysis undertaken as part of a patient admissions prediction project underway through Emergency Departments (EDs) at two hospitals in the Southern Area Health Service within Queensland Health. The project involves the modelling and software development of forecasting tools that predict ED admission for time and day of the year. These tools may assist with the allocation of inpatient beds to aide in alleviating two major problems of most EDs: overcrowding and access block. The modelling data consists of five years of ED presentations and admissions (1/7/02 - 30/6/07) from the Gold Coast and Toowoomba hospitals which were chosen for their different demographic characteristics. Toowoomba reflects an entire population ( 90,000) served by one ED with a fairly stable population, unlike the Gold Coast, which has one of the busiest EDs in the state, a large itinerant population ( 500,000) and numerous other EDs serving the area. Many useful characteristics which can help shape health management practices have been identified from the data. For example, the date and time when admitted patients leave the ED, indicating the times of highest demand on hospital beds; patient arrival time in the ED, which represents a staffing impact with workload; and the days of the week which represent higher ED workloads and hospital bed demand. The data also enables the analysis of 'frequent-flyers' - those patients who presented multiple times during the analysis period. From the analysis of this data, we have been generating forecast estimates and associated confidence intervals based on several forecasting approaches and validating the forecasts against actual data. The project also includes packaging the most accurate technique into a standalone software application.
Using administrative data to investigate wait times for total joint replacement surgery in Newfoundland and Labrador

Objective: Total wait time for total joint replacement surgery is described, and comorbidities and health service utilization of patients during the wait and length of stay after the procedure are examined. -- Methods: Surgery department data for 2002-2005 from eastern Newfoundland and Labrador was linked to physician claims and hospital data to measure total wait time and examine health service utilization and comorbidities. Wait time was grouped into short, moderate, long and very long. -- Results: Median total wait time was 47.1 months. Age, hospitalizations and new comorbidities during the wait time were positively associated with length of stay after the replacement. No association was found between total wait time and physician visits or hospitalizations. A weak positive association was found between number of comorbidities and wait time. -- Conclusions: Patients wait times are longest before the wait list begins. It may be beneficial to both patients and the health system to reduce the total wait time.