Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A longitudinal study of differences in late- and early-onset geriatric depression: Depressive symptoms and psychosocial, cognitive, and neurological functioning

Objectives: Studies suggest early-onset depression (EOD) is associated with a more severe course of the depressive disorder, while late-onset depression (LOD) is associated with more cognitive and neuroimaging changes. This study examined if older adults with EOD, compared with those with LOD, would exhibit more severe symptoms of depression and, consistent with the glucocorticoid cascade hypothesis, have more hippocampal volume loss. A second goal was to determine if LOD, compared with EOD, would demonstrate more cognitive and neuroimaging changes. Method: At regular intervals over a four-year period non-demented, older, depressed adults were assessed on the Mini-Mental Status Examination and the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale. They were also assessed on magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Compared with LOD, EOD had more depressive symptoms, more suicidal thoughts, and less social support. Growth curve analyses indicated that EOD demonstrated higher levels of residual depressive symptoms over time. The LOD group exhibited a greater decrement in cognitive scores. Contrary to the glucocorticoid cascade hypothesis, participants with EOD lost right hippocampal volume at a slower rate than did participants with LOD. Right cerebrum gray matter was initially smaller among participants with LOD. Conclusions: EOD is associated with greater severity of depressive illness. LOD is associated with more severe cognitive and neurological changes. These differences are relevant to understanding cognitive impairment in geriatric depression.
The Influence of Cultural Synchronization on a Teacher’s Perceptions of Disruption

Although a significant body of research addresses teachers’ perceptions of student disruption, the views of African American teachers remain underrepresented. In particular, little is known about African American teachers’ disciplinary practices with students of the same race. The purpose of the current study was to examine if and how the concept of cultural synchronization relates to an African American middle-school teacher’s responses to student disruption. Qualitative data were gathered from an eighth-grade classroom in a public, urban middle school. The findings suggest that cultural synchronization between the teacher and her students contributed to an effective style of classroom management that differs from traditional models. The discussion highlights the importance of cultural issues as related to effective disciplinary tactics for urban African American students.
A Focus on Natural Variation for Abiotic Constraints Response in the Model Species Arabidopsis thaliana

Plants are particularly subject to environmental stress, as they cannot move from unfavourable surroundings. As a consequence they have to react in situ. In any case, plants have to sense the stress, then the signal has to be transduced to engage the appropriate response. Stress response is effected by regulating genes, by turning on molecular mechanisms to protect the whole organism and its components and/or to repair damage. Reactions vary depending on the type of stress and its intensity, but some are commonly turned on because some responses to different abiotic stresses are shared. In addition, there are multiple ways for plants to respond to environmental stress, depending on the species and life strategy, but also multiple ways within a species depending on plant variety or ecotype. It is regularly accepted that populations of a single species originating from diverse geographic origins and/or that have been subjected to different selective pressure, have evolved retaining the best alleles for completing their life cycle. Therefore, the study of natural variation in response to abiotic stress, can help unravel key genes and alleles for plants to cope with their unfavourable physical and chemical surroundings. This review is focusing on Arabidopsis thaliana which has been largely adopted by the global scientific community as a model organism. Also, tools and data that facilitate investigation of natural variation and abiotic stress encountered in the wild are set out. Characterization of accessions, QTLs detection and cloning of alleles responsible for variation are presented.
Antibody-induced modulation of the CD3/T cell receptor complex causes T cell refractoriness by inhibiting the early metabolic steps involved in T cell activation

We investigated the mechanism involved in T cell unresponsiveness that follows the monoclonal antibody-induced surface modulation of the CD3- TCR complex. We determined whether modulation of CD3-TCR affected the early metabolic steps such as [Ca2+]i rise and InsP3 formation. A strong inhibition of the increase on [Ca2+]i mediated by either anti- TCR or anti-CD2 mAbs was detected. In contrast, surface modulation of CD2 molecules did not prevent the [Ca2+]i increase induced by anti-TCR mAb. Similarly, InsP3 increase was strongly reduced only after modulation of CD3-TCR complex (but not of CD2 molecules). Therefore, it appears that surface modulation of CD3-TCR complex causes T cell refractoriness by inhibiting the very early metabolic events that follow receptor-ligand interactions.
Using Natural Language Processing techniques and fuzzy-semantic similarity for automatic external plagiarism detection

Plagiarism is one of the most serious crimes in academia and research fields. In this modern era, where access to information has become much easier, the act of plagiarism is rapidly increasing. This paper aligns on external plagiarism detection method, where the source collection of documents is available against which the suspicious documents are compared. Primary focus is to detect intelligent plagiarism cases where semantics and linguistic variations play an important role. The paper explores the different preprocessing methods based on Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques. It further explores fuzzy-semantic similarity measures for document comparisons. The system is finally evaluated using PAN 20121 data set and performances of different methods are compared.
Sympathetic Nerve Activity: Role in Regulation of Blood Pressure in the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat

Sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and high pressure baroreceptor regulation of SNA were studied in the Okamoto strain of spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and SNA were not significantly affected by anesthesia with low doses of pentobarbital (20–25 mg/kg). Thus, most of these studies were performed in anesthetized rats. SNA in visceral sympathetic nerves increased rapidly with age up to 24 weeks and slowly thereafter. MAP increased with SNA, following the same time course. Both SNA and MAP in SHR were significantly greater than that found in normotensive Wistar control rats of comparable ages. Abolition of ganglionic transmission with hexamethonium in both SHR and normotensive controls reduced postganglionic SNA and MAP to comparable levels. In SHR less than 16 weeks old, increased baroreceptor stimulation effectively inhibited SNA with the same sensitivity as found in Wistar control rats. However, older SHR appeared to lose their ability to completely inhibit SNA during induced hypertension, whereas in Wistar control rats as old as 52 weeks, elevation of blood pressure to 165.3 ± 2.3 mm Hg completely suppressed SNA. These results suggest that SNA may play an important role in the development and maintenance of hypertension in SHR, and that central sympathetic centers, uninhibited by baroreceptor afferents, become active during the development of hypertension in the SHR.
Optic Disc Localization in Ocular Fundus Images

paper presents a novel approach to the fast localization and extraction of optic disc from fundus images of the human retina. Optic disc continues to be a major landmark for fundus image registration and is indispensible for the understanding of retinal fundus images. For the detection of optic disc, we first decompose the image into its bit planes. The lower order bit planes are found to carry important information of the location of optic disc. Then we find the exact location by means of mathematical morphology. The algorithm has been tested on a subset of MESSIDOR 1 image database with various visual qualities. Robustness with respect to the changes of the parameters of the algorithm has been evaluated.
Occurrence of yeasts, enterococci and other enteric bacteria in subgingival biofilm of HIV-positive patients with chronic gingivitis and necrotizing periodontitis

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of enteric bacteria and yeasts in biofilm of 80 HIV-positive patients with plaque-associated gingivitis or necrotizing periodontitis. Patients were subjected to extra, intra oral and radiographic examinations. The oral hygiene, bleeding on probing, gingival conditions, and attachment loss were evaluated. Clinical specimens were collected from gingival crevices or periodontal pockets, transferred to VMGA III, diluted and transferred to Sabouraud Dextrose agar with 100 μg/ml of chloramphenicol, peptone water, EVA broth, EMB agar, SS agar, Bile esculin agar and Brilliant green agar. Isolation of yeasts was carried out at room temperature, for 3-7 days; and for the isolation of enteric microorganisms plates were incubated at 37°C, for 24-48 h. The yeasts identification was performed according to the carbon and nitrogen assimilation, fermentation of carbohydrates and germ tube formation. Bacteria were identified according to their colonial and cellular morphologies and biochemical tests. Yeasts were identified as Candida albicans and its occurrence was more common in patients with CD4+ below 200/mm3 and was affected by the extension of periodontal involvement (P = 0.0345). Enteric bacteria recovered from clinical specimens were identified as Enterobacter sakazakii, Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia liquefaciens, Klebsiella oxytoca and Enterococcus sp. Enterobacteriaceae and enterococci were detected in 32.5% of clinical samples from patients with necrotizing periodontitis. In conclusion, non-oral pathogenic bacteria and C. albicans were more prevalent in periodontal sites of HIV-positive patients with necrotizing periodontitis and chronic gingivitis.
Research on an Optimized Method for Submarine Torpedo Attacking with Incomplete Information

The anti-submarine ability of the warship improved quickly as the increasing threat of the submarine. On the other hand, the submarine commander should make tactical decision quickly and accurately under high threat environment. This fact means that not only should be launch torpedo snugly, quickly and accurately, but also make this decision with incomplete target information. This paper takes a new approach to find the possibility distribution of the target with limited information. Based upon the results, particle swarm optimization method was applied to find the optimized torpedo advance angle. A test-bed was constructed to demonstrate the process of torpedo attacking and validation of the optimized method. Simulation results illustrated that the optimize torpedo advance angle exist and could cover a wide scope of target movement information error. Thus provides the submarine commander an optimized method to use torpedo in such a situation.
Psychometric properties and validation of Persian version of quality of life in epilepsy inventory (QOLIE-89)

Background: Several epilepsy-specific quality of life questionnaires have been developed. One of them is quality of life in epilepsy-89 version. The objective of this study was to develop a Persian version of QOLE-89 and confirm its psychometric properties. Materials and Methods: Participants were 75 patients with epilepsy. The quality of life questionnaire was adapted to Persian language through a translation and translation-back procedure. Internal consistency by Cronbach's α, was determined and construct validity was assessed by correlation with GHQ-12 and BDI-PC and discriminant validity was confirmed by comparing scores for known groups. Results: Reliability based on internal consistency (Cronbach's α) for QOIE-89 was 0/96 and for 17 subscales was varied form 0/70 to 0/89 and Test-retest reliability (Pearson's correlation coefficient) for the Farsi version of the QOLIE-89 ranged from 0.75 to 0.88. Total score of QOLIE-89 discriminated well between the patients according to depression severity and drug resistance and seizure controllability. Correlation between the total scores, BDI-PC and GHQ-R to confirm construct validity was 0/55 and 0/63, respectively. Conclusion: In this cross-sectional survey, Persian version of the QOLIE-89 was reliable and showed properties supporting the construct and discriminant validity at a level comparable with the original and some other versions. Thus, this questionnaire has suitable properties in Iranian population and can be used in clinical trials with epileptic patients.
Self-Diffusion as an indicator of the solid-fluid phase transition 1

N hard disks are injected into a 2-dimensional container. The initial velocities of the disks are generated according to a centered normal distribution. The Newtonian dynamics is imposed on the (thermodynamic) system. The average quadratic displacement of the disks from their initial positions is sampled as function of time for different densities of the system. It turns out that this function depends qualitatively on whether the system is in the fluid/solid phase; the average quadratic displacement indicates the self-diffusion phenomenon in a fluid and performs a different behavior in a solid. Based on computer experimental data the density of the solid-fluid phase transition for hard disks is localized.
Improvement After Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Is Independent of Infarct Location in Chronic Stroke Patients

Background and Purpose— Disruption of the corticospinal tract at various locations in the brain has been shown to predict worse spontaneous motor recovery after stroke. However, the anatomic specificity of previous findings was limited by the categorical classification of infarct locations. Here we used computational methods to more precisely determine the specific anatomic locations associated with impaired motor ability. More important, however, our study also used these techniques to evaluate whether infarct location could influence motor outcomes after Constraint-Induced Movement therapy (CI therapy), a specific and controlled form of physical therapy. Methods— Quantitative voxel-based analyses were used to determine whether infarct location could predict either initial motor ability or clinical improvement after CI therapy in chronic stroke patients. Results— Although corona radiata infarcts were associated with worse in-laboratory motor ability at pretreatment, infarct location did not predict improvement in either the laboratory or the life situation after CI therapy. Conclusions— The extent of improvement from CI therapy does not depend on the location of neurological damage, despite there being a pretreatment relationship between infarct location and in-laboratory motor ability. This dissociation could be explained by brain plasticity induced by CI therapy.
Impacts of a regional drought on the productivity, dieback, and biomass of western Canadian aspen forests

We examined the impacts of a severe, regional drought (2001–2002) on trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) forests in the western Canadian interior. A total of 150 plots were established in 25 study areas as part of a regional-scale study (CIPHA). Aspen health and mortality were assessed annually during 2000–2005, and changes in stem biomass were estimated using tree-ring analysis and plot-based measurements. Net mean increment in living biomass for all plots was 2.2 t·ha–1·year–1 during 2000–2002 but subsequently decreased to near zero. This collapse was driven by a more than two-fold increase in stem mortality and a 30% decrease in regional stem growth during and following the drought. The analysis showed that spatial variation in aspen productivity and biomass across the region was positively related to multiyear mean values of a climate moisture index and mineral soil silt content but was negatively related to levels of insect defoliation and wood-boring insects. In contrast, mortality and dieb.
GP job satisfaction in view of contract reform: a national survey.

BACKGROUND Job satisfaction has been associated with intentions to quit and aspects of quality of care. In 2001, GP job satisfaction in England had fallen to its lowest point for over a decade. AIM To assess GP job satisfaction and stressors immediately prior to implementation of the 2004 contract. DESIGN OF STUDY National survey of a random sample of GPs. SETTING England. METHOD One thousand, nine hundred and fifty principal and salaried GPs surveyed in February 2004 were compared with 1828 principals surveyed in 1998 and 1841 principal and salaried GPs surveyed in 2001. Job satisfaction and stressor scores were adjusted for 2004 age-sex distributions. Determinants of overall satisfaction were examined through ordinary least squares regression. RESULTS The 2004 response rate was 53%. GPs were most dissatisfied with hours of work, recognition for good work and remuneration, and experienced most pressure from paperwork, increasing workloads and having insufficient time. The majority of doctors were satisfied with their job overall. Satisfaction was higher than in 2001 and approximately the same as in 1998. Overall stress in 2004 was lower than in 2001 but still higher than in 1998. After allowing for personal, practice and job characteristics, higher satisfaction was associated with lower job stress, involvement in decision making, increasing job interest and ability to meet conflicting demands. CONCLUSIONS Despite recent initiatives to enhance workforce capacity and working lives for GPs, workload, time pressures and job control remain potential areas of concern. Addressing such issues may be key to maintaining morale as the new contract is implemented.
Symbiotic Fungi Produce Laccases Potentially Involved in Phenol Degradation in Fungus Combs of Fungus-Growing Termites in Thailand

ABSTRACT Fungus-growing termites efficiently decompose plant litter through their symbiotic relationship with basidiomycete fungi of the genus Termitomyces. Here, we investigated phenol-oxidizing enzymes in symbiotic fungi and fungus combs (a substrate used to cultivate symbiotic fungi) from termites belonging to the genera Macrotermes, Odontotermes, and Microtermes in Thailand, because these enzymes are potentially involved in the degradation of phenolic compounds during fungus comb aging. Laccase activity was detected in all the fungus combs examined as well as in the culture supernatants of isolated symbiotic fungi. Conversely, no peroxidase activity was detected in any of the fungus combs or the symbiotic fungal cultures. The laccase cDNA fragments were amplified directly from RNA extracted from fungus combs of five termite species and a fungal isolate using degenerate primers targeting conserved copper binding domains of basidiomycete laccases, resulting in a total of 13 putative laccase cDNA sequences being identified. The full-length sequences of the laccase cDNA and the corresponding gene, lcc1-2, were identified from the fungus comb of Macrotermes gilvus and a Termitomyces strain isolated from the same fungus comb, respectively. Partial purification of laccase from the fungus comb showed that the lcc1-2 gene product was a dominant laccase in the fungus comb. These findings indicate that the symbiotic fungus secretes laccase to the fungus comb. In addition to laccase, we report novel genes that showed a significant similarity with fungal laccases, but the gene product lacked laccase activity. Interestingly, these genes were highly expressed in symbiotic fungi of all the termite hosts examined.
Prognostic Value of Acute Kidney Injury after Cardiac Surgery according to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes Definition and Staging (KDIGO) Criteria

Objectives The definition of acute renal failure has been recently reviewed, and the term acute kidney injury (AKI) was proposed to cover the entire spectrum of the syndrome, ranging from small changes in renal function markers to dialysis needs. This study was aimed to evaluate the incidence, morbidity and mortality associated with AKI (based on KDIGO criteria) in patients after cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting or cardiac valve surgery) and to determine the value of this feature as a predictor of hospital mortality (30 days). Methods From January 2003 to June 2013, a total of 2,804 patients underwent cardiac surgery in our service. Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine the association between the development of AKI and 30-day mortality. Results A total of 1,175 (42%) patients met the diagnostic criteria for AKI based on KDIGO classification during the first 7 postoperative days: 978 (35%) patients met the diagnostic criteria for stage 1 while 100 (4%) patients met the diagnostic criteria for stage 2 and 97 (3%) patients met the diagnostic criteria for stage 3. A total of 63 (2%) patients required dialysis treatment. Overall, the 30-day mortality was 7.1% (2.2%) for patients without AKI and 8.2%, 31% and 55% for patients with AKI at stages 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The KDIGO stage 3 patients who did not require dialysis had a mortality rate of 41%, while the mortality of dialysis patients was 62%. The adjusted Cox regression analysis revealed that AKI based on KDIGO criteria (stages 1–3) was an independent predictor of 30-day mortality (P<0.001 for all. Hazard ratio = 3.35, 11.94 and 24.85). Conclusion In the population evaluated in the present study, even slight changes in the renal function based on KDIGO criteria were considered as independent predictors of 30-day mortality after cardiac surgery.
Antiviral suppression vs restoration of RIG-I signaling by hepatitis C protease and polymerase inhibitors.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Expression of the nonstructural protein (NS)3/4A protease in cells infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) results in cleavage of the mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS) and disruption of signaling pathways that lead to viral activation of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF-3) and synthesis of type 1 interferons (IFN-alpha/beta). High concentrations of inhibitors of NS3/4A reverse this signaling defect, but quantitative analyses of this potential therapeutic effect are lacking. This study quantitatively assessed the rescue of IRF-3 signaling by NS3/4A inhibitors, compared with in vitro antiviral activity. METHODS Antiviral activities of 2 NS3/4A protease inhibitors (TMC435350 and an analog, TMC380765) and a nonnucleoside polymerase inhibitor (Tib-3) were determined in HCV replicon cells and in cells infected with genotype 1a and 2a viruses. The capacity to rescue IRF-3 activation in these cells was assessed by monitoring IFN-beta promoter activity following challenge with Sendai virus. Inhibitor-induced changes in NS3 and MAVS expression were assessed in immunoblots. RESULTS Both protease inhibitors were capable of rescuing IFN-beta promoter activation but only at concentrations approximately 100-fold the antiviral 50% effective concentration (EC(50)) for genotype 1 virus. No rescue was observed with the polymerase inhibitor, even at a concentration 600-fold greater than the EC(50). IRF-3 activation did not correlate with reductions in NS3/4A levels or detection of full-length MAVS. Overexpression of the product of NS3/4A cleavage of MAVS did not result in a dominant-negative effect on signaling. CONCLUSIONS NS3/4A protease inhibitors can restore IRF-3 signaling in HCV-infected cells but only at concentrations far in excess of the antiviral EC(50).