Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation of a French Version of an Informant-Based Questionnaire as a Screening Test for Alzheimer's Disease

Background Development of informant-based screening tests for dementia is an emerging field. The reliability and validity of the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE), an instrument that screens for dementia in general, have been established. We conducted a study to validate a French version of the IQCODE as a screening test for Alzheimer's dementia in the elderly living in the community. Method In the Canadian Study of Health and Aging, subjects were screened in their own homes using the Modified Mini-Mental State Exam (3-MS). Those who screened positive, along with a sample of subjects who screened negative, were referred for a complete clinical examination. In Quebec, an informant was asked to complete the French version, IQCODE (F), at that time. Based on the final clinical diagnoses, performances of the IQCODE (F) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE, converted from 3-MS) in screening for Alzheimer's disease were evaluated. Results Of the 237 subjects, the mean IQCODE (F) score was 3.4 (s.d. = 0.6), on a 5-point scale (1 = improvement in condition over the past 10 years, 5 = marked deterioration, 3 = no change). The mean MMSE score was 23.1 (s.d. = 4.5). The scores on the two scales were correlated (r = –0.44, P < 0.001). The IQCODE (F) scores were unrelated to education (r = –0.07, P > 0.3) in contrast to the MMSE scores (r = 0.28, P < 0.001). With respect to a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease, the IQCODE (F) (cut-off point 3.6) had a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 95.6%. The sensitivity and specificity of the MMSE (cut-off point 23) were 70% and 82.3% respectively. Conclusion The findings of the IQCODE (F) are consistent with those of the English version in correlation with the MMSE and apparent freedom from educational bias. The IQCODE is superior to the MMSE as a screening test for probable Alzheimer's disease in the elderly living in the community. It may be a useful addition to the screening tests already available, especially for the less well educated.
Restoring Insulin Secretion (RISE): Design of Studies of β-Cell Preservation in Prediabetes and Early Type 2 Diabetes Across the Life Span

OBJECTIVE The Restoring Insulin Secretion (RISE) Consortium is testing interventions designed to preserve or improve β-cell function in prediabetes or early type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS β-Cell function is measured using hyperglycemic clamps and oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs). The adult medication protocol randomizes participants to 12 months of placebo, metformin alone, liraglutide plus metformin, or insulin (3 months) followed by metformin (9 months). The pediatric medication protocol randomizes participants to metformin or insulin followed by metformin. The adult surgical protocol randomizes participants to gastric banding or metformin (24 months). Adult medication protocol inclusion criteria include fasting plasma glucose 95–125 mg/dL (5.3–6.9 mmol/L), OGTT 2-h glucose ≥140 mg/dL (≥7.8 mmol/L), HbA1c 5.8–7.0% (40–53 mmol/mol), and BMI 25–40 kg/m2. Adult surgical protocol criteria are similar, except for fasting plasma glucose ≥90 mg/dL (≥5.0 mmol/L), BMI 30–40 kg/m2, HbA1c <7.0% (<53 mmol/mol), and diabetes duration <12 months. Pediatric inclusion criteria include fasting plasma glucose ≥90 mg/dL (≥5.0 mmol/L), 2-h glucose ≥140 mg/dL (≥7.8 mmol/L), HbA1c ≤8.0% (≤64 mmol/mol), BMI >85th percentile and ≤50 kg/m2, 10–19 years of age, and diabetes <6 months. RESULTS Primary outcomes are clamp-derived glucose-stimulated C-peptide secretion and maximal C-peptide response to arginine during hyperglycemia. Measurements are made at baseline, after 12 months on treatment, and 3 months after treatment withdrawal (medication protocols) or 24 months postintervention (surgery protocol). OGTT-derived measures are also obtained at these time points. CONCLUSIONS RISE is determining whether medication or surgical intervention strategies can mitigate progressive β-cell dysfunction in adults and youth with prediabetes or early type 2 diabetes.
Enhanced Inhibition of Synaptic Transmission by Dopamine in the Nucleus Accumbens during Behavioral Sensitization to Cocaine

Neural adaptations in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a key component of the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system, are thought to mediate several of the long-term behavioral sequelas of chronic in vivoexposure to drugs of abuse. Here, we examine whether the modulation of excitatory synaptic transmission by DA in the NAc shell is modified after chronic cocaine exposure that induced behavioral sensitization. The DA-induced inhibition of AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic responses was enhanced in cocaine-treated mice, an effect that was caused by activation of D1-like receptors. DA did not enhance NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic responses in saline- and cocaine-treated mice or in the dorsal striatum of control mice. We hypothesize that the enhanced inhibitory effects of DA on synaptic transmission in the NAc are one of a number of adaptations that contribute to a decrease in excitatory drive to NAc after exposure to drugs of abuse.
Photonic crystal light-emitting sources

Photonic crystals (PhCs) are periodically structured optical media offering the opportunity for spontaneous emission (SpE) to be strongly controlled in spatial terms (directions) or in absolute terms (rates). We discuss the application of this concept for practical light-emitting sources, summarizing the principles and actual merits of various approaches based on two- and three-dimensional PhCs. We take into consideration the numerous constraints on real-world light-emitting structures and materials. The various mechanisms through which modified photonic bands and band gaps can be used are first revisited in view of their use in light sources. We then present an in-depth discussion of planar emitters and enhanced extraction of light thanks to grating diffraction. Applications to conventional III–V semiconductors and to III-nitrides are reviewed. Comparison with random surface roughening reveals some common physical limitations. Some advanced approaches with complex structures or etched active structures are also discussed. Finally, the most promising mechanism to enhance the SpE rate, the Purcell effect, is considered. Its implementation, including through plasmonic effects, is shown to be effective only for very specific sources. We conclude by outlining the mix of physics and material parameters needed to grasp the relevant issues.
SIMILAR GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND CANCER OF THE COLON

A search was made of all diseases listed in the Annual Statistics of the World Health Organization to determine if any disease had the peculiar geographical distribution of multiple sclerosis. Of the approximately 83 diseases listed, only cancer of the colon was similar in geographical distribution and in the slight preponderance of females dying with the disease. The epidemiology of both diseases is reviewed, particularly with regard to their appearance in certain migrant populations.
A multiple attribute decision algorithm for single-object benchmark

In order to effectively evaluate a single target tracking system, this paper proposes an effective method based on multiple attribute decision to construct a Benchmark library. Multiple motion models are composited to establish a flight track. Suitable indexes for performance evaluation are selected to form an index set. And fuzzy membership degree method is introduced to transform tracking performance value to tracking difficulty value. Based on the tracking difficulty values, the difficulty function set of a single motion model can be effectively constructed by using the least square method. According to the type of the index, the paper synthesizes the difficulty function sets of multiple motion modules in the generated flight track by using corresponding method. Optimization function obtained by adaptive sample learning optimizes the difficulty of the multiple motion models reasonably. For explaining the algorithm process mentioned in the paper, a Benchmark library including CA model and CT model is constructed in this paper. Based on the constructed Benchmark library, the tracking difficulty values of six typical flight tracks are computed reasonably. The paper also presents a design example of a flight track with a certain tracking difficulty value. Results show that the proposed method can effectively construct a Benchmark library which meets the test requirements.
Spike Pattern Structure Influences Efficacy Variability under STDP and Synaptic Homeostasis

In neural systems, synaptic plasticity is usually driven by spike trains. Due to the inherent noises of neurons, synapses and networks, spike trains typically exhibit externally uncontrollable variability such as spatial heterogeneity and temporal stochasticity, resulting in variability of synapses, which we call efficacy variability. Spike patterns with the same population rate but inducing different efficacy variability may result in neuronal networks with sharply different structures and functions. However, how the variability of spike trains influences the efficacy variability remains unclear. Here, we systematically study this influence when spike patterns possess four aspects of statistical features, i.e. synchronous firing, auto-temporal structure, heterogeneity of rates and heterogeneity of cross-correlations, under spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) after dynamically bounding the mean strength of plastic synapses into or out of a neuron (synaptic homeostasis). We then show the functional importance of efficacy variability on the encoding and maintenance of connection patterns and on the early development of primary visual systems driven by retinal waves. We anticipate our work brings a fresh perspective to the understanding of the interaction between synaptic plasticity and dynamical spike patterns in functional processes of neural systems.
Elderly Outpatients Respond Favorably To A Physician-Initiated Advance Directive Discussion

Background: Little is known about the emotional impact of physician-initiated advance directive discussions. Methods: One hundred ambulatory patients aged 65 years and older were randomly assigned to receive either a physician-initiated discussion of advance directive choices or a discussion of health promotion issues. Prediscussion, Immediate postdiscussion, and 1-week postdiscussion measures of positive and negative affect were measured for both groups. Results: Neither discussion topic resulted in adverse emotional or attitudinal responses. Only the advance directive participants showed positive affective and attitudinal responses to the discussion, including an increase in positive affect, an increased sense of physician-patient understanding, and increased thought and discussion about life-support issues in the week following the discussion. For those participants receiving the advance directive discussion, longer physician-patient relationships and higher educational levels significantly predicted a more positive affective response. Lower scores on indices of mental and physical health and a stronger belief that physicians should discuss advance directive issues signiftcantly predicted a more negative affective response to the advance directive discussion. Conclusions: Physicians should anticipate positive emotional responses when they initiate advance directive discussions with their elderly outpatients. Advance directive discussions will be received most positively by patients who enjoy good psychological and physical health and when initiated in the context of an established physician-patient relationship.
First Sight: A Human Body Outline Labeling System

First Sight, a vision system in labeling the outline of a moving human body, is proposed in this paper. The emphasis of First Sight is on the analysis of motion information gathered solely from the outline of a moving human object. Two main processes are implemented in First Sight. The first process uses a novel technique to extract the outline of a moving human body from an image sequence. The second process, which employs a new human body model, interprets the outline and produces a labeled two-dimensional human body stick figure for each frame of the image sequence. Extensive knowledge of the structure, shape, and posture of the human body is used in the model. The experimental results of applying the technique on unedited image sequences with self-occlusions and missing boundary lines are encouraging. >
β-Galactosidase: Isolation of and Antibodies to Incomplete Chains

A prematurely terminated polypeptide chain was purified to homogeneity from an Escherichia coli amber mutant strain containing the site of the mutation in the β-galactosidase structural gene. The polypeptide was highly active against anti-β-galactosidase, and had an amino acid composition similar to but not identical to that of β-galactosidase. The molecular weight of the reduced, carboxymethylated chain in 6 m guanidine hydrochloride was found to be 89,000, in excellent agreement with the size predicted from the position of the mutation. This result adds further support to the conclusion that the gene specifies the structure of a single polypeptide chain. Antisera were prepared against partially purified preparations of this polypeptide and a similar one, of molecular weight about 100,000, produced by another amber mutant. These sera had lower titers towards β-galactosidase than anti-β-galactosidase. In the double-diffusion test, they reacted towards extracts of nonsense and deletion mutant strains in a pattern similar to that previously observed with anti-β-galactosidase. A sensitive immunological test for cross-reacting protein was devised based on the inhibition by β-galactosidase of the reaction between such protein and antibodies prepared against incomplete chains.
THE PROCESSING OF CRISIS AND NON‐CRISIS STRATEGIC ISSUES

This paper asserts that organizations process different types of strategic issues in systematically different ways, proposing that organizational decision-makers expend greater resources, centralize authority and generate a greater volume of causal explanations during the processing of crisis versus non-crisis strategic issues. Data from comparative tracings of several crisis and non-crisis issues in a single organization lend preliminary support to the propositions. By conceptualizing the process of issue resolution both from an instrumental and symbolic perspective, this type of response to crisis issues can be interpreted. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
Changing Susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus in a US Pediatric Population

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of infection in both adult and pediatric populations. After several decades of increasing prevalence, the proportion of S aureus infections due to methicillin-resistant S aureus has been reported to be in decline in adults. Data for similar changes in pediatric populations are limited. METHODS: Evaluation of S aureus susceptibility data for pediatric patients receiving care in the US Military Health System was performed. Microbiology and demographic data were collected for years 2005 through 2014. Trends in antibiotic susceptibility results were evaluated. Clinical and demographic characteristics were explored to assess for association with antibiotic susceptibilities. RESULTS: In this study, 41 745 S aureus isolates from 39 207 pediatric patients were included. An overall increase in susceptibility of isolates to oxacillin was noted over this 10-year period; with over 60% of isolates oxacillin-susceptible in 2014. S aureus susceptibility to clindamycin declined over the study period; notably methicillin-susceptible S aureus susceptibility to clindamycin declined from 90% to 83% (P < .0001). Differences in oxacillin susceptibility between US regions decreased over time. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to recent trends seen in adults, the proportion of pediatric S aureus infections secondary to methicillin-resistant S aureus appear to be decreasing, as is variability in US geographical resistance rates. Increasing clindamycin resistance among methicillin-susceptible S aureus should raise caution in the use of empirical clindamycin in presumed S aureus infection. Clinicians should be aware of regional susceptibility patterns when choosing empirical regimens.
Minimally invasive treatment of unstable pelvic ring injuries with modified pedicle screw–rod fixator

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of the minimally invasive modified pedicle screw–rod fixator for unstable pelvic ring injuries, including its feasibility, merits, and limitations. Methods Twenty-three patients (13 males, 10 females; average age, 36.3 years) with unstable pelvic ring injuries underwent anterior fixation using a modified pedicle screw–rod fixator with or without posterior fixation using a transiliac internal fixator. The clinical findings were assessed using Majeed scores. The quality of reduction was evaluated using the Matta criteria. Results Clinical results at 1 year postoperatively were excellent in 14 patients, good in 7, and fair in 2. The two patients with fair results had intermittent pain at the sacroiliac joint because of the posterior implant. One woman complained of persistent pain at the pubic tubercle during sexual intercourse. Iatrogenic neuropraxia of the unilateral lateral femoral cutaneous nerve occurred in three patients. Unilateral femoral nerve palsy occurred in one patient. The quality of fracture reduction was excellent in 12 patients, good in 8, and fair in 3. Heterotopic ossification occurred in eight patients; all were asymptomatic. Conclusions Minimally invasive modified pedicle screw-rod fixation is an effective alternative treatment for pelvic ring injuries.
Phylogenetic Diversity of Sequences of Cyanophage Photosynthetic Gene psbA in Marine and Freshwaters

ABSTRACT Many cyanophage isolates which infect the marine cyanobacteria Synechococcus spp. and Prochlorococcus spp. contain a gene homologous to psbA, which codes for the D1 protein involved in photosynthesis. In the present study, cyanophage psbA gene fragments were readily amplified from freshwater and marine samples, confirming their widespread occurrence in aquatic communities. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that sequences from freshwaters have an evolutionary history that is distinct from that of their marine counterparts. Similarly, sequences from cyanophages infecting Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus spp. were readily discriminated, as were sequences from podoviruses and myoviruses. Viral psbA sequences from the same geographic origins clustered within different clades. For example, cyanophage psbA sequences from the Arctic Ocean fell within the Synechococcus as well as Prochlorococcus phage groups. Moreover, as psbA sequences are not confined to a single family of phages, they provide an additional genetic marker that can be used to explore the diversity and evolutionary history of cyanophages in aquatic environments.
Critical Role of Axonal A-Type K+ Channels and Axonal Geometry in the Gating of Action Potential Propagation along CA3 Pyramidal Cell Axons: A Simulation Study

A model of CA3 pyramidal cell axons was used to study a new mode of gating of action potential (AP) propagation along the axon that depends on the activation of A-type K+ current (Debanne et al., 1997). The axonal membrane contained voltage-dependent Na+ channels, K+ channels, and A-type K+ channels. The density of axonal A-channels was first determined so that (1) at the resting membrane potential an AP elicited by a somatic depolarization was propagated into all axon collaterals and (2) propagation failures occurred when a brief somatic hyperpolarization preceded the AP induction. Both conditions were fulfilled only when A-channels were distributed in clusters but not when they were homogeneously distributed along the axon. Failure occurs in the proximal part of the axon. Conduction failure could be determined by a single cluster of A-channels, local decrease of axon diameter, or axonal elongation. We estimated the amplitude and temporal parameters of the hyperpolarization required for induction of a conduction block. Transient and small somatic hyperpolarizations, such as simulated GABAA inhibitory postsynaptic potentials, were able to block the AP propagation. It was shown that AP induction had to occur with a short delay (<30 msec) after the hyperpolarization. We discuss the possible conditions in which such local variations of the axon geometry and A-channel density may occur and the incidence of AP propagation failures on hippocampal network properties.
A Study of Concurrency Control in Real-Time, Active Database Systems

Real-time active database systems (RTADBSs) have attracted a considerable amount of research attention in the past and a number of important applications have been identified for such systems, such as telecommunications network management, automated air traffic control, automated financial trading, process control and military command and control systems. In spite of the recognized importance of this area, very little research has been devoted to exploring the dynamics of transaction processing in RTADBSs. Concurrency control (CC) constitutes an integral part of any transaction processing strategy and, thus, deserves special attention. We study CC strategies in RTADBSs and postulate a number of CC algorithms. These algorithms exploit the special needs and features of RTADBSs and are shown to deliver substantially superior performance to conventional real-time CC algorithms.
A SCIENTIFIC WORLDVIEW OF ACCOUNTING ETHICS AND GOVERNANCE EDUCATION: THE RIGHT FOOTING OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARD 4, BUT...

This paper is a critique of the approach in which the issue of accounting ethics and governance has been tackled through education. In light of the existence of the International Education Standard (IES) 4 specifically on ethics as the relevant framework developed by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the discussion in this paper centres on the requirement of IES 4 and the manner it is suggested for implementation. Based on the ontological and epistemological reality of the world as reflected in science which also parallels religion and Eastern belief system, we are sceptical of the degree of representation of reality of the model of ethics and governance that is currently upheld by accounting curriculum designers. A framework on ethics education that is more holistic is proposed.