Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neuropsychological performance of a patient suspected of dementia taking lorazepam and retested 1 year later following titration

ABSTRACT The effects of medication on neuropsychological performance have yet to be fully investigated, particularly in older patients. As such, the present case study was undertaken to examine the specific impact of benzodiazepine use on neuropsychological performance by providing a comparison of the test–retest data of an 81-year-old patient taking lorazepam. A comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation was conducted: (a) during the initial referral, while the patient had been taking high doses of lorazepam for approximately 3 years; and (b) 6 months after complete titration, which was 1 year after the initial evaluation. Normative scores derived from the 2 trials were compared via calculation of Reliable Change Indexes. Neuropsychological performance during both evaluations was indicative of dementia, including similar degrees of impairment in delayed memory, verbal fluency, and olfaction. However, scores obtained during the second evaluation were somewhat higher, with significant improvements observed in immediate memory, visuospatial/construction abilities, language function, abstract concept formation, and set shifting. Results of the current case study suggest that several neuropsychological domains may be particularly sensitive to chronic benzodiazepine use. Although the overall diagnostic picture in the present study remained unaltered, clinicians should be cognizant of such medication effects and the potential for these neuropsychological alterations to obscure differential diagnosis.
Neuronal regulation of pre-mRNA splicing by polypyrimidine tract binding proteins, PTBP1 and PTBP2

Alternative splicing patterns are regulated by RNA binding proteins that assemble onto each pre-mRNA to form a complex RNP structure. The polypyrimidine tract binding protein, PTB, has served as an informative model for understanding how RNA binding proteins affect spliceosome assembly and how changes in the expression of these proteins can control complex programs of splicing in tissues. In this review, we describe the mechanisms of splicing regulation by PTB and its function, along with its paralog PTBP2, in neuronal development.
Issues in Elderly Patient-Provider Interactions

The current state of knowledge concerning relationships between elderly patients and their health care providers is reviewed in this article, chiefly in terms of physicians as providers. Characteristics of physicians, including age, gender, practice styles, and psychological attitudes, are shown to be relevant to the course and content of interactions. Equally critical are characteristics of the elderly patients, such as cohort membership, health status, gender, race, and health-related attitudes and beliefs. Also significant are the organizational settings in which interactions occur. Implications for elderly patient compliance and satisfaction, as well as health services utilization, are discussed in light of communication issues. The need for according elderly patients respect and dignity is stressed, particularly in light of ageist attitudes still prevalent among health practitioners and the society at large.
A wideband, wide-scan tightly coupled dipole array with parasitic elements

In this paper, a wideband, wide-scan tightly coupled dipole array (TCDA) is designed. The antenna element composed of a parasitic element and a horizontal inter-digital electric dipole, which printed on a printed circuit board (PCB) and backed with a ground plane. Parasitic element can expand the scanning angle range in E-plane. The antenna profile is very low, approximately 0.341 (λ is the minimum free-space wavelength in the operating band) and element size is 0. 49λ The antenna is excited by lump port with 170Ω port impedance. Simulated results show the design provides a 2.4:1 (from 1.85 GHz to 4.45 GHz) bandwidth while scanning to ±75° in the E-plane, scanning to ±45° in the H-plane, subject to VSWR < 2.5.
Convenience voids: an important new factor in urinary frequency volume chart analysis.

PURPOSE We assessed the impact of convenience voids (CVs) on urinary frequency volume chart (FVC) analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 53 healthy volunteers completed a FVC for 1 week, highlighting as CVs samples when there was no sensation of bladder fullness, but rather a social reason to pass urine instead. RESULTS Of the volunteers 72% had at least 1 CV during the week. Removing the CVs from analysis resulted in an increase of 17 ml in average mean individual voided volume from 308 to 325 ml (p <0.001). The average mean interval between voids increased by 11 minutes from 4 hours 34 minutes to 4 hours 45 minutes (p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS Convenience voids have a small but significant effect on parameters analyzed on FVCs. They should be considered for inclusion in the FVCs used in research when changes in voided volume are being investigated.
GLOBAL ASSIGNMENT AND EXTENSION OF MILLIMETER- AND SUBMILLIMETER-WAVE SPECTRAL DATABASE OF 13C1-METHYL FORMATE (H13COOCH3) IN THE GROUND AND FIRST EXCITED STATES

A compilation of the available spectroscopic millimeter- and submillimeter-wave data of the ground and first excited states of 13C1-methyl formate (H13COOCH3) has been carried out. The exhaustive analysis of the available transition lines of H13COOCH3 has led to the assignment of 7457 spectral lines by means of a global fit of 45 parameters, using the Rho-Axis Method and the BELGI-Cs code, with a resulting unitless standard deviation of 0.57. Over 1600 lines are included for the first time in the fit. In addition, the line strengths of spectral lines are also calculated using the most recent experimental measurement of the electric dipole moment. In conclusion, the present study represents a notable improvement with respect to previous H13COOCH3 spectral analyses. Therefore, the better accuracy of the present analysis may help the future identification of new H13COOCH3 lines in the interstellar and circumstellar media, and may contribute to decrease some of the spectral confusion due to these species in astronomical surveys.
Overexpression of maize ZmDBP3 enhances tolerance to drought and cold stress in transgenic Arabidopsis plants

C-repeat/dehydration-responsive element binding factors (CBF/DREBs), belonging to the AP2/ERF superfamily, play a vital regulatory role in abiotic stress responses in plants. The ZmDBP3 gene, a member of the A-1 subgroup of the CBF/DREB subfamily, was isolated from maize seedlings. The predicted ZmDBP3 protein contained a putative nuclear localization signal and an activation region. As a trans-acting factor, the ZmDBP3 protein accumulated in the nucleus in a subcellular localization assay, and activated CRT/DRE-containing genes under normal growth conditions in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. ZmDBP3 transcription was highly activated by cold and moderately by salt. Overexpression of ZmDBP3 improved drought and cold stress tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. These results suggested that ZmDBP3 produces a CRT/DRE-binding transcription factor and may have an important role in improving drought and cold tolerance in plants.
Exclusive Whole Protein Enteral Diet Versus Prednisolone in the Treatment of Acute Crohn's Disease in Children

Nineteen children with either newly diagnosed or relapsed Crohn's disease were enrolled in a randomized study in which the efficacy of enteral feeding with a whole protein-based formula was compared to high-dose corticosteroids in achieving clinical remission and normalization of laboratory measurements. Ten children were treated by enteral feeding (Nutrison Standard, Nutricia), and nine received corticosteroids. Both treatment regimens lasted 11 weeks. The activity of Crohn's disease was similar in both groups before the commencement of the treatment. Clinical symptoms and signs, as judged by the pediatric Crohn's disease activity index and measurements relating to inflammatory activity (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, blood leukocyte and platelet count, and serum immunoglobulins G and A) and to nutritional status (concentrations of serum albumin, prealbumin, hemoglobin) improved rapidly and significantly with as little as 2 weeks' treatment in both treatment groups. In both groups, there was one relapse within 8 weeks after discontinuation of treatment, and one patient in both groups was operated on during the treatment period. During the routine follow-up after the trial (0.3–2.5 years; mean, 1.3 years) five of the corticosteroid group experienced a clinical relapse, whereas only one from the enteral feeding group relapsed. No side effects of enteral feeding were seen. Enteral feeding with a whole protein-based formula proved to be as effective as high-dose corticosteroid in the treatment of the acute phase of Crohn's disease and may prove to be the treatment of choice in pediatric patients with acute Crohn's disease.
Power equalization using polarization rotation in semiconductor optical amplifiers

We develop an analytical expression for the output polarizer placement angle of a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)-based power equalizer in terms of the input polarizer angle and further investigate the relationship between the magnitudes of output power, input power, and input polarizer angle. We have taken into consideration time-dependence of the output power from the SOA and numerical simulation results have been provided to illustrate the concept using typical values.
Neurocognitive Correlates of Positive and Negative Perfectionism

The present study examined the neurocognitive correlates of positive and negative perfectionism. A clinical sample of 160 patients undergoing standard neuropsychological testing was administered the Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale (PANPS), a 40-item questionnaire measure of positive and negative perfectionism. The main question addressed in the study was how individual differences in positive and negative perfectionism relate to differences in neurocognitive performance. The general hypotheses to be tested were that positive perfectionism would be associated primarily with tests that relied on mental and physical “effort,” while negative perfectionism would be associated with tests involving both “speed and accuracy. ” The results of the study provided general support for these hypotheses. Implications for the perfectionism literature and sports psychology are briefly discussed.
Prevalence and molecular characterization of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and plasmidic AmpC β-lactamase (pAmpC) producing Escherichia coli in dogs

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of fecal carriage of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and/or plasmidic AmpC β-lactamase (pAmpC) producing Escherichia coli among dogs (n=428) in Turkey. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing were used to characterize genes encoding β-lactamase and plasmid mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and PCRs for virulence genes and phylogenetic groups were also performed. Cefotaxime resistant E. coli isolates were detected in 95 (22.2%) of the swab samples. Sequencing analysis results showed occurrence of various β-lactamase genes: blaCTX-M-15 (62), blaTEM-1b (42), blaCMY-2 (22), blaCTX-M-3 (16), blaCTX-M-1 (15), blaOXA-1 (9) and blaSHV-12 (3) alone or in combination. The most frequently encountered phylogenetic group was group A1 (35.8%), followed by group D2 (22.1%), B1 (15.8%), D1 (9.5%), A0 (7.4%), B22 (5.3%) and B23 (4.2%), respectively. PMQR genes, aac(6’)-Ib-cr, qnrS1 and qnrB10 were detected in 25.3, 10.5 and 1.1% of the isolates, respectively. While all isolates were susceptible to imipenem and amikacin, resistance rates to non-β-lactam antibiotics ranged from 20.0% for tobramycin to 56.8% for tetracycline. The virulence genes were only detected in 34 (36.2%) of the isolates and this isolates carried single or various combination of virulence genes of iucD, papC, papE, f17a-A and eaeA. Four isolates were identified as human virulent pandemic CTX-M-15 producing E. coli clone O25b:ST131/B2. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show fecal carriage of ESBL/pAmpC type β-lactamase producing E. coli isolates among dogs in Turkey.
A note on the activity and species composition of sesiids [Lepidoptera: Sesiidae] as measured by pheromone traps and trunk sampling in apple orchards of southwestern Quebec

Adult males and larvae of sesiids were monitored in ten (1989–1991), five (2000) and two (2004) Quebec apple orchards. Multi Pher III traps baited with 99.1% Z, Z-3, 13-octadecadienyl acetate and 0.9% Z, E plus E, Z-3, 13-octadecadienyl acetate were used for adults, and trunk sampling was used for larvae. Synanthedon scitula, S. pyri, Podosesia syringae, S. acerrubri, S. fulvipes, S. exitiosa, S. acerni and Sesia tibialis males were captured between 1989 and 1991. Only 5 of the 347 adults of the S. scitula/pyri complex captured in 2000 belonged to S. pyri.
Photoenolization of o‐Methylvalerophenone Ester Derivative

Photolysis of ester 1 in argon‐saturated methanol and acetonitrile does not produce any product, whereas irradiation of 1 in oxygen‐saturated methanol yields peroxide 2. Laser flash photolysis studies demonstrate that 1 undergoes intramolecular H atom abstraction to form biradical 3 (λmax ~340 nm), which intersystem crosses to form photoenols Z‐4 and E‐4 (λmax ~380 nm). Photoenols 4 decay by regenerating ester 1. With the aid of density functional theory calculations, it was concluded the photoenol E‐4 does not undergo spontaneous lactonization or electrocyclic ring closure because the transition state barriers for these reactions are too large to compete with reketonization of E‐4 to form 1.
Isolation of genomic DNA from milk samples by using Chelex resin

A rapid procedure for isolating genomic DNA from milk samples has been devised, based on the use of Chelex resin. By using this protocol, genomic DNA was extracted from milk samples from 15 cows and 15 goats. The suitability of these DNA preparations as a template for performing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was tested by amplifying three different loci of the bovine genome: exon 4 of the κ-casein gene and the INRA5 and INRA23 microsatellites, together with two others: exon 19 of the αs1-casein gene and exon 2 and part of intron 2 of the DRB gene of the caprine genome. No amplification products could be obtained from any samples at 30 cycles. In contrast, at 45 cycles the number of amplified samples ranged from 86 to 100% and at 65 cycles all the DNA targets were amplified, indicating that the number of cycles was a critical factor to be optimized for obtaining the desired PCR target. These results suggest that this method may be a useful tool for analysing genetic polymorphism at the DNA level by PCR and relating it to milk composition and other traits of economic interest.
Tissue Engineering for Cutaneous Wounds: Selecting the Proper Time and Space for Growth Factors, Cells and the Extracellular Matrix

Currently, autografts are the best treatment to any substantial cutaneous injury, and their success is well known as a burn therapy. However, autografts have been less successful in the treatment of chronic ulcers, and are usually a last-resort therapy because of infection at the injured site, high surgical expense, additional morbidity and engraftment failure. In addition, patients with burns covering more than 50% of their skin have limited donor sites for autograft harvest. Therefore, there is a great need for a cost-effective, user-friendly, tissue-engineered construct (TEC) that can provide successful treatments to both acute and chronic wounds in a wider repertoire of patients, including diabetics and the elderly. One approach to the challenge is to create a substitute for skin in vitro that can integrate into the engraftment site in vivo. An alternative is to engineer a biocompatible, resorbable matrix that can recruit the proper, native tissue cells to the injured site and induce them to heal the wound without scarring. This chapter reviews the 3 essential components of cutaneous wound healing, that is, cells, extracellular matrix molecules and bioactive molecules, that must be considered for designing TECs to potentially enhance the healing process. In nature, a ‘dynamic reciprocity’ exists amongst cells and extracellular matrix that is mediated by bioactive molecules at the site of injury. Thus, it is important to examine the interplay of all 3 components when engineering a TEC. This chapter also includes examples of commercially available products to highlight how researchers have already begun to find success in tissue engineering.
Materials Cartography: Representing and Mining Material Space Using Structural and Electronic Fingerprints

As the proliferation of high-throughput approaches in materials science is increasing the wealth of data in the field, the gap between accumulated-information and derived-knowledge widens. We address the issue of scientific discovery in materials databases by introducing novel analytical approaches based on structural and electronic materials fingerprints. The framework is employed to (i) query large databases of materials using similarity concepts, (ii) map the connectivity of materials space (i.e., as a materials cartograms) for rapidly identifying regions with unique organizations/properties, and (iii) develop predictive Quantitative Materials Structure–Property Relationship models for guiding materials design. In this study, we test these fingerprints by seeking target material properties. As a quantitative example, we model the critical temperatures of known superconductors. Our novel materials fingerprinting and materials cartography approaches contribute to the emerging field of materials informati.
Digitally controlled low-EMI switching converter with random pulse position modulation

A fully digital controlled low-EMI switching converter combining RPPM (Random Pulse Position Modulation), our improved version of Hybrid DPWM (Digital Pulse Width Modulator) and AEDPWM (Area-Efficient DPWM) schemes is proposed to achieve low-EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) with reduced area and power consumption. A FPGA-controlled prototype buck converter operating at 1 MHz switching frequency with 1.8 V input voltage and 0.6–1.2V output voltage is presented to demonstrate the technique. The resulting switching noise suppression capability is up to 18 dB in average.
The Effectiveness of Macroprudential Policy on Bank Risk

Following the 2007-2009 financial crisis, there has been an increase in the use of macroprudential policy tools – such as loan-to-value ratio caps and interbank exposure limits – to achieve financial stability. While the existing research on the effectiveness of macroprudential policy has focused on country-level variables, this study looks at how policy effectiveness varies across banks and policy tools. Using system GMM on bank-level data from 30 European countries for the time period between 2000 and 2014, I document that stricter regulation in the form of exposure limitations tends to decrease banks’ risk levels whereas capital-based tools tend to induce higher risktaking. After a policy tightening, loan loss provisions and non-performing loans ratios of banks suffering losses can increase substantially, up to five percentage points, while they are likely to decrease for profitable banks. Constraining activities by stricter regulation can lead to a search for yield. Therefore, policy designers should pay particular attention to the increase in risk-taking following policy tightening, especially by banks suffering losses.
Prévision séquentielle par agrégation d'ensemble : application à des prévisions météorologiques assorties d'incertitudes . (Sequential prediction with ensemble aggregation: application to meteorological prediction with uncertainties )

Dans cette these, nous nous interessons a des problemes de prevision tour apres tour. L'objectif est d'imaginer et d'appliquer des strategies automatiques, qui tirent de l'experience du passe et s'aident eventuellement de predicteurs elementaires. Nous souhaitons que ces strategies obtiennent des garanties mathematiques robustes et soient valables dans des cas de figure tres generaux. Cela nous permet en pratique d'appliquer les algorithmes qui en decoulent a la prevision concrete de grandeurs meteorologiques. Enfin, nous nous interessons aux declinaisons theoriques et pratiques dans un cadre de prevision de fonctions de repartition. Nous etudions dans un premier temps la prevision sequentielle de processus bornes stationnaires ergodiques. Dans ce but, nous nous placons dans le cadre des suites individuelles et proposons un arbre de regression deterministe dont les previsions sont asymptotiquement meilleures que le meilleur predicteur lipschitzien pour une certaine constante L. Puis nous montrons que les bornes de regret obtenues impliquent que les strategies envisagees sont asymptotiquement optimales par rapport a la classe des processus stationnaire ergodique bornes. Dans un second temps, nous presentons une methode d'agregation sequentielle des simulations meteorologiques de pression reduite au niveau de la mer. L'objectif est d'obtenir, grâce a l'algorithme ridge, de meilleures performances en prevision qu'une certaine prevision de reference, a preciser. Tout d'abord, nous rappelons le cadre mathematique et les fondamentaux des sciences environnementales. Puis nous decrivons en detail les jeux de donnees utilises et les performances pratiques de l'algorithme. Enfin, nous precisons certains aspects du jeu de donnees et certaines sensibilites aux parametres l'algorithme ridge. Puis, nous declinons la methode precedente a l'etude d'une seconde grandeur physique : la norme de la vitesse du vent a dix metres au-dessus du sol. Plusieurs remarques d'ordre physique sont faites au passage concernant ce jeu de donnees. Dans le dernier chapitre, nous presentons les enjeux et les outils de la prevision probabiliste avant de mettre en pratique deux algorithmes sur les jeux de donnees decrits precedemment. La premiere partie motive l'utilisation de previsions probabilistes et expose l'etat de l'art dans ce domaine et la seconde partie presente des scores probabilistes historiques et populaires. Les algorithmes utilises sont ensuite decrits dans la troisieme partie avant que ne soient detailles les resultats empiriques de ceux-ci sur les jeux de donnees de pression reduite au niveau de la mer et de norme de la vitesse du vent.