Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anxiety-related symptomatology in young children on the autism spectrum

Anxiety symptomatology is frequently reported in autistic children, and the prevalence of anxiety disorder is estimated at around 40%. However, most studies have focused upon children of age 8 years or above, so little is known about early signs of anxiety in younger children with autism. This study sought to describe anxiety-related symptomatology in 95 5- to 6-year-old autistic children using the Anxiety Scale for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Wide variability was found in levels of symptomatology with the most frequently reported items within the ‘uncertainty’ subscale and the least frequently reported items in the ‘anxious arousal’ subscale. Comparisons of those with scores less than or greater than 70 on adaptive behaviour suggests some influence of ability on presentation of anxiety-related symptomatology.
The reliability of the German version of the Richards Campbell Sleep Questionnaire

BACKGROUND The assessment of sleep quality in critically ill patients is a relevant factor of high-quality care. Despite the fact that sleep disturbances and insufficient sleep management contain an increased risk of severe morbidity for these patients, a translated and applicable instrument to evaluate sleep is not available for German-speaking intensive care settings. AIM This study aimed to translate the Richards Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ), a simple and validated instrument eligible for measuring sleep quality in critically ill patients, and subsequently to evaluate the internal consistency of the German version of the RCSQ. Furthermore, it also aimed to inquire into the perception of sleep in a sample of critically ill patients. METHODS The RCSQ was translated following established methodological standards. Data were collected cross-sectionally in a sample of 51 patients at 3 intensive care units at a university hospital in Germany. RESULTS The German version of the RCSQ showed an overall internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) of 0·88. The mean of the RSCQ in the sample was 47·00 (SD ± 27·57). Depth of sleep was rated the lowest and falling asleep again the highest of the RCSQ sleep items. CONCLUSION The study demonstrated very good internal consistency of the German version of the RCSQ, allowing for its application in practice and research in German-speaking countries. Quality of sleep perception was generally low in this sample, emphasizing the need for enhanced care concepts regarding the sleep management of critically ill patients. Relevance to clinical practice Assessment of self-perception of sleep is crucial in order to plan an individually tailored care process.
Self-Calibration Highly Sensitive Photonic Crystal Fiber Biosensor

A novel design of a highly sensitive self-calibration biosensor based on a surface plasmon photonic crystal fiber is presented and analyzed using a full-vectorial finite-element method. In this paper, the sensor geometrical parameters are optimized to achieve high sensitivity for the two polarized modes. The numerical results reveal that the resonant peaks corresponding to the two polarized beams are highly sensitive to the variation of the analyte refractive index. Therefore, high refractive index sensitivity of about 6700 nm/refractive index unit (RIU) and 10000 nm/RIU with the corresponding resolution of 1.49 × 10-5 and 1.0 × 10-5 RIU can be obtained according to the quasi-transverse magnetic (TM) and quasi-transverse electric (TE) modes, respectively. Additionally, the reported self-calibration biosensor has high linearity and high accuracy. Furthermore, the suggested biosensor has great potential for biological and biochemical analytes detection.
Genetically Encoded Sensors to Elucidate Spatial Distribution of Cellular Zinc*

Transition metals are essential enzyme cofactors that are required for a wide range of cellular processes. Paradoxically, whereas metal ions are essential for numerous cellular processes, they are also toxic. Therefore cells must tightly regulate metal accumulation, transport, distribution, and export. Improved tools to interrogate metal ion availability and spatial distribution within living cells would greatly advance our understanding of cellular metal homeostasis. In this work, we present genetically encoded sensors for Zn2+ based on the principle of fluorescence resonance energy transfer. We also develop methodology to calibrate the probes within the cellular environment. To identify both sources of and sinks for Zn2+, these sensors are genetically targeted to specific locations within the cell, including cytosol, plasma membrane, and mitochondria. Localized probes reveal that mitochondria contain an elevated pool of Zn2+ under resting conditions that can be released into the cytosol upon glutamate stimulation of hippocampal neurons. We also observed that Zn2+ is taken up into mitochondria following glutamate/Zn2+ treatment and that there is heterogeneity in both the magnitude and kinetics of the response. Our results suggest that mitochondria serve as a source of and a sink for Zn2+ signals under different cellular conditions.
Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies specific for the transmembrane protein of simian immunodeficiency virus from the African green monkey

Mouse monoclonal antibodies were produced against simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) from the African green monkey (SIVAGM). The antibodies reacted with the transmembrane protein of all five SIVAGM isolates but not with those of SIVs from the rhesus macaque and mandrill or of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 or type 2, indicating that they recognize a species-specific epitope strongly conserved in SIVAGM. The transmembrane proteins of several SIVAGM isolates were found to vary in molecular size, even in the deglycosylated form after N-glycanase treatment, indicating heterogeneity of the SIVAGM isolates.
Digital technique for impedance protection of transmission lines

A digital scheme for impedance protection of transmission lines is presented in this paper. The scheme is based on the vector representation of fundamental components of voltage and current waveforms. The 60 Hz impedance is calculated using 16 samples per cycle over a time window of one cycle. The one cycle window and high sampling rate have the advantage of less than 3/4 cycle fault detection as well as high dc and harmonic rejection. An algorithm, its implementation and real-time test-results on a laboratory model for various faults are included. Theoretical analysis is also provided to illustrate the behaviour of the digital impedance algorithm.
Estimating a State-Space Model from Point Process Observations: A Note on Convergence

Physiological signals such as neural spikes and heartbeats are discrete events in time, driven by continuous underlying systems. A recently introduced data-driven model to analyze such a system is a state-space model with point process observations, parameters of which and the underlying state sequence are simultaneously identified in a maximum likelihood setting using the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm. In this note, we observe some simple convergence properties of such a setting, previously un-noticed. Simulations show that the likelihood is unimodal in the unknown parameters, and hence the EM iterations are always able to find the globally optimal solution.
Quantitative trait loci detection and benefits from marker-assisted selection in dairy cattle

The first objective of this study was to map quantitative trait loci (QTL)affecting economically important traits: milk production traits, health traits and fertility traits in the Finnish Ayshire population. The second objective was to investigate the effects of using QTL information in marker-assisted selection (MAS) on the genetic response and the linkage disequilibrium between the different parts of the genome. In conclusion, several QTL affecting economically important traits of dairy cattle were detected. Futher studies are needed to verify these QTL, check their presence in the present breeding population, look for pleiotropy and fine map the most interesting QTL regions. The results of the simulation studies show that using MAS together with embryo transfer to pre-select young bulls within families is a useful approach to increase genetic merit of the AI-bulls compared to conventional selection.
Adoption of Mobile Video: An Empirical Study in Beijing

Although mobile video has provided high-speed, convenient and personalized services, reports now on mobile video show that potential users may not be using the systems. Thus, research is needed to identify the factors determining users' acceptance of mobile video. Theoretical and empirical analysis were undertaken and reported to explain the factors that influence potential users' adoption of it by extending the technology acceptance model. Seven factors are identified: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, subjective norm perceived fun, perceived cost, network quality, and attitude. Perceived usefulness is the most important factor affecting attitude. Moreover, several implications for mobile video acceptance research and practices are discussed.
THE VALUE RELEVANCE OF FIRMS ’ INTEGRAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT : EVIDENCE FROM RUSSIA

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the value relevance of firms’ integral environmental impact. Design/methodology/approach: In this study we utilize data from 74 Russian listed firms for the years 2005-2007. For the proxy of environmental performance we use the integral environmental impact measure, which we construct on the basis of the data provided by the Russian Independent Ecological Rating Agency (NERA). Findings: The results indicate that environmental performance measured as integral environmental impact is value relevant and is valued as an investment. Originality/value: In our analysis, we extend the literature on the valuation properties of environmental performance introducing the measure of integral environmental impact. We also address the question of the legitimacy of environmental performance disclosure by examining differences between firms with different disclosure policies. Moreover, we contribute to the literature on the impact of ownership on environmental disclosure and performance by examining how foreign ownership affects environmental performance.
Identification and Characterization of Nucleolin as a c-myc G-quadruplex-binding Protein*

myc is a proto-oncogene that plays an important role in the promotion of cellular growth and proliferation. Understanding the regulation of c-myc is important in cancer biology, as it is overexpressed in a wide variety of human cancers, including most gynecological, breast, and colon cancers. We previously demonstrated that a guanine-rich region upstream of the P1 promoter of c-myc that controls 85–90% of the transcriptional activation of this gene can form an intramolecular G-quadruplex (G4) that functions as a transcriptional repressor element. In this study, we used an affinity column to purify proteins that selectively bind to the human c-myc G-quadruplex. We found that nucleolin, a multifunctional phosphoprotein, binds in vitro to the c-myc G-quadruplex structure with high affinity and selectivity when compared with other known quadruplex structures. In addition, we demonstrate that upon binding, nucleolin facilitates the formation and increases the stability of the c-myc G-quadruplex structure. Furthermore, we provide evidence that nucleolin overexpression reduces the activity of a c-myc promoter in plasmid presumably by inducing and stabilizing the formation of the c-myc G-quadruplex. Finally, we show that nucleolin binds to the c-myc promoter in HeLa cells, which indicates that this interaction occurs in vivo. In summary, nucleolin may induce c-myc G4 formation in vivo.
New discrepancy measures for segmentation evaluation

In this paper, we propose new evaluation measures for scene segmentation results, which are based on computing the difference between a region extracted from a segmentation map and the corresponding one on an ideal segmentation. The proposed measures take into account separately both under and over detected pixels. It also associates in its computation the compactness of the region under investigation.
Prospective comparison of plateletapheresis using four apheresis systems on the same donors

To address the demand for higher plateletapheresis efficiency while maintaining consistent leukoreduction, manufacturers of apheresis systems have introduced new equipment or modifications to existing equipment. Using the same 20 donors, we compared the Fresenius AS104 (AS104), Fenwal Amicus, and COBE Spectra Version 7 Leukoreduction System (Turbo) to the COBE Spectra Version 5 Leukoreduction System (V5‐LRS) and each other in regard to platelet (plt) collection efficiencies, processing times, and leukoreduction consistency. Using current pre‐procedure platelet counts, target endpoints were set at 6–6.5 × 1011 plt or 3.3–4.0 × 1011 plt in up to 100 minutes processing time. Median platelet yields for V5‐LRS, AS104, Amicus, and Turbo were 3.98, 3.63, 5.03, and 4.99 × 1011 plt respectively; median collection efficiencies were 53, 46, 73, and 56% respectively; median collection rates were . 049, . 039, . 065, and . 060 × 1011 plt/minute respectively; double product frequencies were 35, 10, 40, and 30% respectively; and median processing times were 87, 92, 77, and 79 minutes, respectively. Amicus had a significantly higher collection efficiency and higher incidence of double products than all other systems. While AS104 had a significantly lower collection efficiency and lowest double product frequency than all other systems, Amicus and Turbo had significantly lower processing times than V5‐LRS and AS104. AS104 leukoreduction was inconsistent, but V5‐LRS, Amicus, and Turbo were consistently leukoreduced ((99.8% had <5 × 106 WBC at 95% confidence interval). The best overall performance was for the Amicus with Turbo a close second. J. Clin. Apheresis 14:163–170, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Outpatient treatment of moderate croup with dexamethasone: intramuscular versus oral dosing.

OBJECTIVE Steroid use for the treatment of croup has been supported by several studies, although few have addressed the use of oral dexamethasone for outpatient management. The efficacy of oral (PO) versus intramuscular (IM) dosing of dexamethasone in the outpatient treatment of moderate croup are compared in this study. METHODS Patients between the ages of 3 months and 12 years with moderate croup (history or presence of stridor, cyanosis, or retractions) were eligible for enrollment in this single-blind, prospective study. Patients were randomized to receive a single dose (0.6 mg/kg, maximum 8 mg) of IM or PO dexamethasone. Parents were contacted by phone to assess resolution of symptoms and need for further evaluation. RESULTS Two hundred seventy-seven patients were enrolled (median age: 2.1 years). One hundred thirty-nine patients received IM dexamethasone, and 138 received PO. At phone follow-up, 141 (51%) had total resolution of symptoms (75 in IM, 66 in PO). Eighty patients (29%) returned for further evaluation (45 in IM, 35 in PO). Twenty-three (8%) received either more steroids, racemic epinephrine, or admission (11 in IM, 12 in PO). CONCLUSION No statistically significant difference was found in the need for subsequent interventions after a single dose of either IM or PO dexamethasone. A single PO dose of dexamethasone can be effectively and safely used for the outpatient treatment of moderate croup.
Propagation of smooth and discontinuous pulses through materials with very large or very small group velocities

We investigate the propagation of optical pulses through two different solid-state optical materials, ruby and alexandrite, for which the group velocity can be very small () or superluminal ( or negative). We find that for smooth pulses the fractional delay or advancement is maximized through the use of pulses with durations comparable to the response time of the physical process—coherent population oscillations—that leads to these extreme group velocities. However, we find that the transmitted pulse shape becomes distorted unless the pulse is much longer or much shorter than this response time. We also investigate the transmission of pulses that possess an abrupt change in pulse amplitude. We find that, to within experimental accuracy, this nearly discontinuous jump propagates at the usual phase velocity of light c/n, even though the smoothly varying portions of the pulse propagate at the group velocity.
Changes in frontal-parietal activation and math skills performance following adaptive number sense training: Preliminary results from a pilot study

Number sense is believed to be critical for math development. It is putatively an implicitly learned skill and may therefore have limitations in terms of being explicitly trained, particularly in individuals with altered neurodevelopment. A case series study was conducted using an adaptive, computerised programme that focused on number sense and general problem-solving skills. The study was designed to investigate training effects on performance as well as brain function in a group of children with Turner syndrome who are at risk for math difficulties and altered development of math-related brain networks. Standardised measurements of math and math-related cognitive skills as well as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were used to assess behavioural and neurobiological outcomes following training. Participants demonstrated significantly increased basic math skills, including number sense, and calculation as well as processing speed, cognitive flexibility and visual-spatial processing skills. With the exception of calculation, increased scores also were clinically significant (i.e., recovered) based on reliable change analysis. Participants additionally demonstrated significantly increased bilateral parietal lobe activation and decreased frontal-striatal and mesial temporal activation following the training programme. These findings show proof of concept for an accessible training approach that may be potentially associated with improved number sense, math and related skills, as well as functional changes in math-related neural systems, even among individuals at risk for altered brain development.
Erasable coercions: a unified approach to type systems. (Coercions effaçables : une approche unifiée des systèmes de types)

Functional programming languages, like OCaml or Haskell, rely on the lambda calculus for their core language. Although they have different reduction strategies and type system features, their proof of soundness and normalization (in the absence of recursion) should be factorizable. This thesis does such a factorization for theoretical type systems featuring recursive types, subtyping, bounded polymorphism, and constraint polymorphism. Interestingly, soundness and normalization for strong reduction imply soundness and normalization for all usual strategies. Our observation is that a generalization of existing coercions permits to describe all type system features stated above in an erasable and composable way. We illustrate this by proposing two concrete type systems: first, an explicit type system with a restricted form of coercion abstraction to express subtyping and bounded polymorphism; and an implicit type system with unrestricted coercion abstraction that generalizes the explicit type system with recursive types and constraint polymorphism---but without the subject reduction property. A side technical result is an adaptation of the step-indexed proof technique for type-soundness to calculi equipped with a strong notion of reduction.
Aberrant DNA methylation in the IFITM 1 promoter enhances the metastatic phenotype in an intraperitoneal xenograft model of human ovarian cancer

A lack of reliable biomarkers for the early detection and risk of metastatic recurrences makes ovarian cancer the most lethal gynecological cancer. To understand the molecular mechanisms involved in ovarian cancer metastasis in vivo, we analyzed the transcriptional expression pattern in metastatic implants of human ovarian carcinoma xenografts in mice. The expression of 937 genes was significantly different, by at least 2-fold, in the xenografts compared with that in SK-OV-3 cells. We investigated the mechanisms that regulate the expression of one of the profoundly upregulated genes, interferon-induced transmembrane protein 1 (IFITM1), in the metastatic implants. Specific CpG sites within the IFITM1 promoter were hypomethylated in the metastatic implants relative to those in the wild-type SK-OV-3 cells. Treating wild-type SK-OV-3 cells with the demethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine enhanced IFITM1 expression in a dose-dependent manner, implying transcriptional regulation by promoter methylation. We also found that IFITM1 overexpression caused increased migration and invasiveness in SK-OV-3 cells. Our results demonstrate that IFITM1 could be a novel metastasis-promoting gene that enhances the metastatic phenotype in ovarian cancer via epigenetic transcriptional regulation. Our findings also suggest that the status of DNA methylation within the IFITM1 promoter region could be a biomarker indicating metastatic progression in ovarian cancer.
Global and Regional CpG Methylation in Pheochromocytomas and Abdominal Paragangliomas: Association to Malignant Behavior

Purpose: This study aims to quantitatively assess promoter and global methylation changes in pheochromocytomas and abdominal paragangliomas and its relation to tumor phenotypes. Experimental Design: A panel of 53 primary tumors (42 benign, 11 malignant) was analyzed by quantitative bisulfite pyrosequencing. Based on methylation levels in the tumor suppressor genes, p16INK4A, CDH1, DCR2, RARB, RASSF1A, NORE1A, TP73, APC, DAPK1, p14ARF, and PTEN, a CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) was defined as concerted hypermethylation in three or more genes. Mean Z scores for the hypermethylated promoters were calculated to characterize overall promoter methylation. Global DNA methylation was quantified for LINE-1 promoter sequences and by using luminescent methylation analysis. Results: Five primary tumors (9.4%) exhibited a CIMP phenotype, four of which were malignant paragangliomas. CIMP was significantly associated with malignant behavior (P = 0.005) and younger age at presentation (P < 0.007) but did not result from BRAF V600E mutation. Global hypomethylation of LINE-1 elements was observed in tumors compared with normal adrenal samples (P < 0.02). Conclusion: We here describe the identification of CIMP in abdominal paragangliomas and a strong association of this phenotype with malignant behavior, as well as young age at presentation. The findings raise a prospective for potential benefits of epigenetically acting drugs for a subgroup of young abdominal paraganglioma patients with adverse prognosis.
Translation ability of mitochondrial tRNAsSer with unusual secondary structures in an in vitro translation system of bovine mitochondria

Background Metazoan mitochondrial (mt) tRNAs are structurally quite different from the canonical cloverleaf secondary structure. The mammalian mt tRNASerGCU for AGY codons (Y = C or U) lacks the entire D arm, whereas tRNASerUGA for UCN codons (N = A, G, C or U) has an extended anti‐codon stem. It has been a long‐standing problem to prove experimentally how these tRNAsSer work in the mt translation system.
Angle β of greater than 80° at the start of spirometry may identify high‐quality flow volume curves

The American Thoracic Society (ATS) and European Respiratory Society (ERS) emphasize a satisfactory start in maximal expiratory flow–volume (MEFV) curves and highlight subjective parameters: performance without hesitation and expiration with maximum force. We described a new parameter, angle β for characterization of the start to the MEFV curve.