Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of Diffusion-Weighted MRI Abnormalities in Patients With Transient Ischemic Attack: Correlation With Clinical Characteristics

Background and Purpose— Although diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) has demonstrated clear superiority over other conventional imaging modalities in the detection of hyperacute cerebral ischemia, its value in the evaluation of patients with transient symptoms has received only limited attention. We assessed the utility of DWI in patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) to further evaluate the usefulness of this technique in these individuals. Methods— A retrospective analysis was performed on all patients entered in the Stanford Stroke Center database during 1997–2001 who were clinically diagnosed with a TIA and who had also undergone a DWI scan ≤3 days after symptom onset. The relationship between DWI-detected findings and patients’ clinical presentation was then analyzed. Results— Seventy-five patients experiencing 78 TIAs who also underwent DWI within 3 days of symptom onset were identified. DWI-detected abnormalities were present in 16 of 78 cases (21%). Patients with positive DWI scans were 9.6 times more likely to have had symptom duration ≥1 hour, 16 times more likely to have had motor deficits, and 25 times more likely to have had aphasia than patients with negative DWI scans. The combination of all 3 symptoms was 100% specific for an abnormality on DWI. In 7 of 16 cases (44%), a DWI abnormality was present on both DWI and conventional imaging (T2-weighted imaging or fluid-attenuated inversion recovery [FLAIR]). In all of these cases the DWI clarified the extent or acuity of the lesion (n=7) or identified additional lesions not detected by conventional imaging (n=9). Conclusions— In TIA patients, symptom duration ≥1 hour, motor deficits, and aphasia were each independently correlated with detecting an abnormality with DWI. DWI was also helpful in differentiating between chronic versus acute lesions. These data may be of value in identifying those TIA patients for whom MRI evaluation with DWI is of greatest clinical utility.
Calibration of the Leg Muscle Responses Elicited by Predictable Perturbations of Stance and the Effect of Vision

Motor adaptation due to task practice implies a gradual shift from deliberate control of behavior to automatic processing, which is less resource- and effort-demanding. This is true both for deliberate aiming movements and for more stereotyped movements such as locomotion and equilibrium maintenance. Balance control under persisting critical conditions would require large conscious and motor effort in the absence of gradual modification of the behavior. We defined time-course of kinematic and muscle features of the process of adaptation to repeated, predictable perturbations of balance eliciting both reflex and anticipatory responses. Fifty-nine sinusoidal (10 cm, 0.6 Hz) platform displacement cycles were administered to 10 subjects eyes-closed (EC) and eyes-open (EO). Head and Center of Mass (CoM) position, ankle angle and Tibialis Anterior (TA) and Soleus (Sol) EMG were assessed. EMG bursts were classified as reflex or anticipatory based on the relationship between burst amplitude and ankle angular velocity. Muscle activity decreased over time, to a much larger extent for TA than Sol. The attenuation was larger for the reflex than the anticipatory responses. Regardless of muscle activity attenuation, latency of muscle bursts and peak-to-peak CoM displacement did not change across perturbation cycles. Vision more than doubled speed and the amount of EMG adaptation particularly for TA activity, rapidly enhanced body segment coordination, and crucially reduced head displacement. The findings give new insight on the mode of amplitude- and time-modulation of motor output during adaptation in a balancing task, advocate a protocol for assessing flexibility of balance strategies, and provide a reference for addressing balance problems in patients with movement disorders.
Semantic Dimensional Structures

This study represents a methodological attempt to discover the fundamental semantic dimensions underlying people's perceptions of the physical environment, applying both nonverbal and verbal techniques. Dimensional structures were assessed across people with urban, nonurban, and mixed backgrounds. The subjects sorted a set of envirionmental displays into as many groups as they wanted, and rated each of these displays on a set of selected bipolar scales. The sorting data (nonverbal) were analyzed by Kruskal's multidimensional scaling method and the rating data (verbal) by a factor-analytic technique. Both analyses revealed three significant dimensions upon which people based their judgments of th physical environment: evaluation, urbanization, and organization.
Carnosic acid attenuates obesity-induced glucose intolerance and hepatic fat accumulation by modulating genes of lipid metabolism in C57BL/6J-ob/ob mice.

BACKGROUND Carnosic acid (CA), a major bioactive component of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) leaves, is known to possess antioxidant and anti-adipogenic activities. In this study it was hypothesized that CA would ameliorate obesity-induced glucose intolerence and hepatic fat accumulation, and possible mechanisms are suggested. RESULTS It was observed that a 0.02% (w/w) CA diet effectively decreased body weight, liver weight and blood triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol levels (P < 0.05) compared with the control diet. CA at 0.02% significantly improved glucose tolerance, and hepatic TG accumulation was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. Hepatic lipogenic-related gene (L-FABP, SCD1 and FAS) expression decreased whereas lipolysis-related gene (CPT1) expression increased in animals fed the 0.02% CA diet (P < 0.05). Long-chain fatty acid content and the ratio of C18:1/C18:0 fatty acids were decreased in adipose tissue of animals fed the 0.02% CA diet (P < 0.05). Serum inflammatory mediators were also decreased significantly in animals fed the 0.02% CA diet compared with those of the obese control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION These results suggest that CA is an effective anti-obesity agent that regulates fatty acid metabolism in C57BL/6J-ob/ob mice.
Component Based Representation Using Probabilistic Neural Network Classifier

: The law enforcement agency make use of face recognition system for the identification of criminals. In some cases, the photograph of criminals is not available. In this situation,sketch is drawn by the information provided by the eyewitness. In the early stages sketches are drawn by the artist by the information provided by the eyewitness. Sometimes the witness does not recall the exact apperance of the suspect. In that case,sketch drawn is not helpfull for investigation. In this networked world, the sketch construction with the help of computer generated software arises. The computer generated composite sketch is constructed by selecting the facial components provided in the system database. The composite sketch construction gives more faster results for the law enforcement agency. The component based approach for face recognition using probabilistic neural network classifier gives more accurate result in photo to sketch matching. The proposed approach performs facial decomposition, some transformations and feature extraction for photo to composite matching. The use of classifier is helpfull for comparing the features of face images and gives the degree of match to make a decision. The advantage of using Probabilisitic Neural Network( PNN) classifier is that it requires only short training time.
Infant sleep problems: Origins, assessment, interventions

Infant sleep problems have become prevalent as complaints of parents to clinicians during the first 2 years of the child's life. This paper reviews (1) identification of multiple etiological sources for infant sleep problems from a systems perspective, (2) the assessment of sleep disturbances, and (3) the applica- tion of intervention methods to the appropriate component of system dysfunction. These areas are reviewed by integrating research findings with clinical vignettes from our practice as pediatric sleep clinicians. RgSUME: Les probltmes du sommeil infantile sont parmi des problemes repandus dont les parents font part aux cliniciens durant les deux premieres annees de la vie de l'enfant. Cet article passe en revue (1) I'identification de multiples sources etiologiques pour les problemes du sommeil infantile dans une perspective de systeme; (2) l'evaluation des troubles du sommeil; et (3) l'application de mtthodes d'intervention au composant approprie de disfonction du systeme. Ces domaines sont passes en revue en intkgrant des resultats de recherches avec des vignettes cliniques de notre cabinet de cliniciens pediatres spkcialises dans les troubles du sommeil.
Acidic Fibroblast Growth Factor is Present in the Enteric Nervous System of the Large Intestine

Acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) is a heparin binding protein that displays pleiotropic activity. The purpose of this study was to document the presence of the translated aFGF product, its mRNA, and its location in the colon. mRNA was extracted from bovine large intestine and reverse transcribed to cDNA. Nested-primer PCR was used to determine the presence of mRNA using primers homologous to the previously published bovine aFGF cDNA. Purification of translated aFGF was performed using an established HPLC protocol. Western blot analysis of the HPLC fractions was performed using two epitopeindependent antibodies against aFGF. Immunohistochemistry employed these antibodies to determine the locus of aFGF expression. The nested-primer PCR product of predicted size was homologous to the published bovine aFGF mRNA sequence, as determined by DNA sequencing. Intestinal aFGF had a mass similar to bovine aFGF isolated from other tissues, and immunocrossreacted with two peptide-based, epitope-independent anti-aFGF antisera on Western blotting. Immunohistochemical analysis of large intestine using these two independent antisera localized aFGF within the myenteric plexus. These data demonstrate that aFGF is present within the myenteric plexus of the enteric nervous system.
Routability driven white space allocation for fixed-die standard-cell placement

The use of white space in fixed-die standard-cell placement is an effective way to improve routability. In this paper, we present a white space allocation approach that dynamically assigns white space according to the congestion distribution of the placement. In the top-down placement flow, white space is assigned to congested regions using a smooth allocating function. A post allocation optimization step is taken to further improve placement quality. Experimental results show that the proposed allocation approach, combined with a multilevel placement flow, significantly improves placement routability and layout quality.In our experiments, we compared our placement tool with two other fixed-die placers using an industrial place and route flow. Placements created by all three tools have been routed with an industrial router (Warp Route of Cadence). Compared with a leading-edge industrial tool, our placer produces placements with similar or better routability and on average 8.8% shorter routed wirelength. Furthermore, our tool produces placement that runs faster through the Warp Route compared with the industrial tool. Compared with a state-of-the-art academic placement tool (Capo/MetaPlacer), our placer shows ability to produce more routable placements: for 15 out of all 16 benchmarks our placer's outputs are routable while Capo/MetaPlacer only creates 4 routable placements.
Post Hoc Subgroup Analysis of the HEART2D Trial Demonstrates Lower Cardiovascular Risk in Older Patients Targeting Postprandial Versus Fasting/Premeal Glycemia

OBJECTIVE To identify the Hyperglycemia and Its Effect After Acute Myocardial Infarction on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (HEART2D) trial subgroups with treatment difference. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In 1,115 type 2 diabetic patients who had suffered from an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the HEART2D trial compared two insulin strategies targeting postprandial or fasting/premeal glycemia on time until first cardiovascular event (cardiovascular death, nonfatal MI, nonfatal stroke, coronary revascularization, or hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome). The HEART2D trial ended prematurely for futility. We used the classification and regression tree (CART) to identify baseline subgroups with potential treatment differences. RESULTS CART estimated the age of >65.7 years to best predict the difference in time to first event. In the subgroup aged >65.7 years (prandial, n = 189; basal, n = 210), prandial patients had a significantly longer time to first event and a lower proportion experienced a first event (n = 56 [29.6%] vs. n = 85 [40.5%]; hazard ratio 0.69 [95% CI 0.49–0.96]; P = 0.029), despite similar A1C levels. CONCLUSIONS Older type 2 diabetic AMI survivors may have a lower risk for a subsequent cardiovascular event with insulin targeting postprandial versus fasting/premeal glycemia.
Paul Tappan Award Winner Keynote Address: The Justice Gap and the Promise of Criminological Research

This essay discusses the justice gap in the criminal justice system -- the difference between the promise of justice inherent in our formally democratic, legal institutions and the actual delivery of justice within these institutions. The author argues that criminologists are in a unique position to expose and study the justice gap in the American legal system by bringing methodologically rigorous empirical research skills and data-driven knowledge to bear on these problems. The essay details how empirical research has been instrumental in developing best practices to prevent wrongful convictions by improving the criminal justice system’s reliability. The author describes several justice gaps in the American criminal justice system and traces the history of empirical scholarship in American police interrogation, false confessions, and wrongful convictions over the last two decades.
Energy balancing of the Modular Multilevel Matrix Converter based on a new transformed arm power analysis

This paper presents a transformed arm power analysis of the Modular Multilevel Matrix Converter (M3C). It enables the energy balancing in the whole frequency range for high power variable-speed drive applications. Four balancing directions are identified for the active power exchange between the converter arms with minimal internal currents. At critical operating points a zero sequence voltage is used. Additionally, the reactive power components can be used to perform a real time calculation of the energy pulsation in all four balancing directions to improve the control performance. A low voltage prototype with 5 cells in each of the nine arms has been realized to verify the theoretical analysis.
Education Services for Youth with Disabilities in A State-Operated Juvenile Correctional System

Many youths in juvenile correctional facilities who are eligible for special education services do not receive them. Youths who do receive services often do not receive them in a timely manner, and the quality of services is often substandard when compared to public school programs. The research reported here was collected as part of the “discovery” phase of a lawsuit brought against a state system of juvenile services. The case study focused on procedural and substantive aspects of special education services for students with disabilities. In addition to describing specific practices, the research examined the “infrastructure” supporting appropriate educational services in juvenile corrections. Findings suggest that some students with disabilities received education, but few received related services. There were lengthy delays in obtaining students' records from prior school programs, and no system of referral existed for students suspected of having disabilities. Students enrolled in special education programs, as well as those with potential mental health problems and mental retardation, received a disproportionate number of disciplinary actions and spent a disproportionate amount of time in confinement. Implications are discussed.
Who drops out of treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder?

Significant proportions of participants drop out of cognitive behaviour therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study indexed the pretreatment characteristics of civilian trauma survivors who remained in (n = 95) and dropped out (n = 33) of therapy for chronic PTSD. Therapy involved either cognitive behaviour therapy or supportive counselling. Participants who dropped out of therapy had higher scores on the Impact of Event Scale – Avoidance and the Catastrophic Cognitions Questionnaire, controlling for the influence of pretreatment PTSD severity. These finding suggest that retaining participants in therapy for PTSD may be enhanced by focusing initial therapy attention on modification of catastrophic cognitive styles and avoidance tendencies.
Glycogen content and excitation‐contraction coupling in mechanically skinned muscle fibres of the cane toad

1 Mechanically skinned skeletal muscle fibres from the twitch region of the iliofibularis muscle of cane toads were used to investigate the relationship between fibre glycogen content and fibre capacity to respond to transverse tubular (T‐) system depolarization. 2 A large proportion of total fibre glycogen remained in mechanically skinned muscle fibres exposed to aqueous solutions. This glycogen pool (about 80 % of total fibre glycogen) was very stable when the preparation was incubated in a rigor solution (pH 7.0) but decreased gradually at a rate of 0.59 ± 0.20 % min−1 in a relaxing solution (200 nM [Ca2+]). The rate was considerably higher (2.66 ± 0.38 % min−1) when the preparations were exposed to 30 μM [Ca2+]. An even greater rate of glycogen loss was found after T‐system depolarization‐induced contractions. The Ca2+‐dependent loss of fibre glycogen was caused by endogenous glycogenolytic processes. 3 Silver stained SDS gels of components eluted into relaxing solution from single skinned fibres revealed a rapid (2 min) loss of parvalbumin and at least 10 other proteins varying in molecular mass between 10 and 80 kDa but there was essentially no loss of myosin heavy and light chains and actin. Subsequent elution for a further 30 min in either relaxing or maximally Ca2+‐activating solution did not result in additional, appreciable detectable loss of fibre protein. 4 Depletion of fibre glycogen was associated with loss of fibre ability to respond to T‐system depolarization even though the bathing solutions contained high levels of ATP (8 mM) and creatine phosphate (10 mM). 5 The capacity of mechanically skinned fibres to respond to T‐system depolarization was highly positively correlated (P < 0.0001) with initial fibre glycogen concentration. 6 In conclusion, the results show that (i) the capacity of skeletal muscle to respond to T‐system depolarization is related directly or indirectly to the non‐washable glycogen pool in fibres, (ii) this relationship holds for conditions where glycogen is not required as a source of energy and (iii) the mechanically skinned fibre preparation is well suited to study the regulation of endogenous glycogenolytic enzymes.
Finding Transcription Factor Binding Sites with Indels

Finding transcription factor binding sites is of great importance for biologists to understand gene expression regulatory mechanisms. Usually, researchers design algorithms to detect transcription factor biding sites with substitution mutations only, based on the conserved property of biological functional sequences. In this paper, we propose a randomized algorithm to find biding sites with indels. A tool is also developed to evaluate the performance of the algorithm based on simulated datasets.
Family History as a Predictor for Disease Risk in Healthy Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Study in Slovenia

Background Family history can be used as a genetic risk predictor for common non-communicable diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of healthy individuals at risk of developing these diseases, based on their self-reported family history. Methods and Findings This was a cross-sectional observational study. Data were collected in the three largest occupational practices in primary health care centres in Slovenia, a Central European country. The study population consisted of consecutive individuals who came to occupational practices for their regular preventive check-up from November 2010 to June 2012. We included 1,696 individuals. Data were collected by a self-developed questionnaire. The main outcome was the number of participants at a moderate or high risk for the development of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. The final sample consisted of 1,340 respondents. Moderate or high risk for the development of cardiovascular diseases was present in 280 (20.9%) participants, for the development of diabetes in 154 (11.5%) participants and for cancer in 163 (12.1%) participants. Conclusions In this study, we found a significant proportion of healthy individuals with an increased genetic risk for common non-communicable diseases; consequently further genetic and clinical evaluation and preventive measures should be offered.
Modeling knowledge for user-centric energy cost analysis of industrial automation systems

The gap between conventional electrical energy generation capabilities and electrical energy demand steadily increases. In consequence, energy costs raise and become an increasingly decisive factor in economy and society. A challenge that still is remaining is electrical energy analysis of complex systems during their operation time. During operation time these system reside in unique situations and are operated according to individual requirements of their users. Hence, in addition to complexity of the systems individuality and dynamic variability of their surroundings during operation time complicate identification of goal-oriented optimization measures. In this paper a model-based user-centric approach for automated energy analysis is proposed. It enables the users to reduce their energy costs by automatically generating optimization proposals that meet their individual situation and requirements. First prototypical implementations have shown promising results and are used for illustration purposes.
Academic Medicine Under Economic Stress: A Case Study of the Institutional Change Transforming American Health Care

American Academic medicine--the system of education and research that trains the coming generations of physicians, produces new basic and clinical bio-medical research and provides the medical safety net in many U.S. urban areas--is in a funding crisis. This essay lays out an historical and analytical account of the institutions, functions and funding mechanisms of this enterprise. The objective is to interpret the forces that led to the current impasse in which the medical education establishment now finds itself, and what the future is likely to hold as the forces of budgetary stringency and market competition continue to accelerate. A comprehensive review of the cross-subsidy system, its intricate relationship to the federal financing of health care and its origin in the Vannevar-Bush-inspired post-war research establishment is offered. The standpoint of economic theory is then taken to suggest that the intertwined functions of academic medicine be viewed from two perspectives. One, it can be viewed as a financially unnecessary mix of public and private goods. Two, it is an institutional framework for joint production that evolved under the post-Flexner, post-Bush era reforms of scientific medicine, but which now may be in need of modifications to its mission.