Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cerebral perfusion as a diagnostic marker of early Alzheimer's disease

Clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not fully satisfactory, and laboratory markers of this disease are not yet established. We report substantial regional Cerebral Blood Flow (rCBF) abnormalities in patients with documented early stages of the disease, when differential diagnosis is most critical. Thirty-six patients with carefully documented clinical diagnosis of early AD (mean disease duration, 3.25 ± 1.80 years) and 12 elderly healthy controls participated in rCBF studies using the 133Xe inhalation method. Whole-brain perfusion was significantly (p < 0.001) lower in the AD group, and a characteristic perfusion deficit was consistently found in temporoparietal cortex of the AD patients. Discriminant analyses demonstrated over 90% correct classification of the two groups. Two subgroups of patients with mildest disease manifestations were equally well discriminated. The similarity of these findings to those in late stages, which have been validated neuro-pathologically, offers indirect confirmation of validity and specificity. These results suggest that rCBF procedures may provide an accurate and sensitive laboratory marker for early AD.
Generating Cultural Personas from Social Data: A Perspective of Middle Eastern Users

We conduct a mixed-method study to better understand the content consumption patterns of Middle Eastern social media users and to explore new ways to present online data by using automatic persona generation. First, we analyze millions of content interactions on YouTube to dynamically generate personas describing behavioral patterns of different demographic groups. Second, we analyze interview data on social media users in the Middle Eastern region to generate additional insights into the dynamically generated personas. Our findings provide insights into social media users in the Middle East, as well as present a novel methodology of using computational analysis and qualitative data enrichment to generate descriptive and culturally receptive personas from social media audiences.
Naive Trading Rules in Financial Markets and Wiener-Kolmogorov Prediction Theory: A Study of "Technical Analysis."

This article attempts a formal study of technical analysis, which is a class of informal prediction rules, often preferred to Wiener-Kolmogorov prediction theory by participants of financial markets. Yet Wiener-Kolmogorov prediction theory provides optimal linear forecasts. This article investigates two issues that may explain this contradiction. First, the article attempts to devise formal algorithms to represent various forms of technical analysis in order to see if these rules are well defined. Second, the article discusses under which conditions (if any) technical analysis might capture those properties of stock prices left unexploited by linear models of Wiener-Kolmogorov theory. Copyright 1991 by University of Chicago Press.
Changes in Ratio of Soluble Sugars and Free Amino Nitrogen in the Apical Meristem During Floral Transition of Tobacco

Under a modification of the nutrient diversion hypothesis, we propose that an inequality in carbohydrate and nitrogen translocation to the apical meristem may be a controlling factor in floral transition. Experiments were conducted in controlled-environment chambers to determine the associations between microscopic characteristics of the transition from vegetative to floral stages of the apical meristem of fluecured tobacco and to assimilate concentrations in the plant and apical meristem. Low temperature, nitrogen withdrawal, and restriction of nitrogen uptake were used as treatment variables. In all of these stress treatments, flowering occurred at a lesser number of leaves than in control treatments. Low temperature stress accelerated the time of transition to the floral stage as compared with a high temperature control; however, nitrogen stress did not accelerate the time of transition. All stress treatments affected the levels of nitrogen and carbohydrate in whole plants. Most notable was an increase in the percentage of starch and a decrease in the percentage of total soluble carbohydrate induced by the stress treatments. These data indicate that tobacco plants under stress accumulate excess carbohydrate in the form of starch. An apparent inequality in the relative concentrations of carbohydrate and nitrogen in the apical meristem was observed in all treatments at the time of floral transition and is in support of the nutrient diversion hypothesis.
Coexpression of gonadotropic hormones and their corresponding FSH‐ and LH/CG‐receptors in the human prostate

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) affects the majority of elderly men, and prostate cancer is the most common male cancer. Prostatic growth and function are thought to be regulated by steroid hormones, primarily androgens and estrogens, but nonandrogenic hormones must also be considered. The increasing evidence of para/autocrine functions of the gonadotropic glycoprotein‐hormones (GPH), their allocation to the superfamily of cystine‐knot growth factors, and luteinizing hormone (LH)/chorionic gonadotropin (CG)‐receptor (R) gene expression in nongonadal tissues led us to investigate intraprostatic GPH and GPH‐R gene expression.
Role of the Outer Membrane and Porins in Susceptibility of β-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae to Ceftazidime-Avibactam

ABSTRACT This study examined the activity of the novel antimicrobial combination ceftazidime-avibactam against Enterobacteriaceae exhibiting different outer membrane permeability profiles, specifically with or without porins and with or without expression of the main efflux pump (AcrAB-TolC). The addition of the outer membrane permeabilizer polymyxin B nonapeptide increased the antibacterial activities of avibactam alone, ceftazidime alone, and ceftazidime-avibactam against the characterized clinical isolates of Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. This enhancement of activities was mainly due to increased passive penetration of compounds since inhibition of efflux by the addition of phenylalanine-arginine β-naphthylamide affected the MICs minimally. OmpF (OmpK35) or OmpC (OmpK36) pores were not the major route by which avibactam crossed the outer membranes of E. coli and K. pneumoniae. In contrast, Omp35 and Omp36 allowed diffusion of avibactam across the outer membrane of E. aerogenes, although other diffusion channels for avibactam were also present in that species. It was clear that outer membrane permeability and outer membrane pore-forming proteins play a key role in the activity of ceftazidime-avibactam. Nevertheless, the MICs of ceftazidime-avibactam (with 4 mg/liter avibactam) against the ceftazidime-resistant clinical isolates of the three species of Enterobacteriaceae studied were ≤8 mg/liter, regardless of outer membrane permeability changes resulting from an absence of defined porin proteins or upregulation of efflux.
PS191. Association between BclI C/G (rs41423247), Hippocampal Shape, and White Matter Integrity of the Parahippocampal Cingulum in Major Depressive Disorder

Objective: Early antidepressant response predicts later treatment outcome in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) [1]. MDD is characterized by changes to the behavioral and neuronal correlates of emotion processing [2]. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have demonstrated that neuronal activity related to emotion processing allows for prediction of antidepressant response after 6–8 weeks [3, 4]. We aimed to investigate if emotion processing related fMRI activity predicts early response to antidepressant psychopharmacologic treatment. Methods: 23 MDD patients (16 female, mean age±SD=32.61 ± 9.44 years) were investigated once with fMRI (EPI-sequence, TE/TR=23/1400ms, matrix size 128x128 voxel, FOV 192x192 mm, 78 slices of 1mm with 0.25 mm gap, Siemens Magnetom 7T scanner), during which they performed a blockdesign emotion discrimination task (EDT). Standard preprocessing was carried out using SPM12. First level analysis comprised the contrast EDT vs. the control condition (object discrimination task, ODT). Following baseline fMRI, patients received Escitalopram in a flexible dose schema and were assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. Correlation analyses were performed using SPM12. Results: Deactivation of the posterior cingulate cortex at baseline correlated with change in HAM-D scores from baseline to 2-weeks after treatment start (p < 0.05 cluster level FWEcorrected). This correlation remained significant when correcting for baseline symptom severity, age, and sex (p < 0.05 cluster level FWE-corrected). Baseline EDT vs. ODT activity did not correlate with HAM-D change after four weeks of Escitalopram treatment. Conclusion: As an emotion-processing task, the EDT represents a promising target for fMRI response prediction studies, considering the integral nature of affective and emotional dysregulation to MDD. The lack of correlation between baseline fMRI activity and HAM-D reduction by 4 weeks suggests that neuronal processes related to early response may differ from those associated with more long-term outcome.
Paramagnetic liposomes as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents. Assessment of contrast efficacy in various liver models.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES Liposomal gadolinium (Gd)-HP-DO3A has been evaluated as a contrast agent for liver magnetic resonance imaging. The influence of various liposomal physicochemical properties on the liver uptake and contrast efficacy was investigated in various ex vivo and in vivo liver models. METHODS Liposomes of different size and membrane properties were prepared. The liposome size ranged from 74 to 304 nm. Two types of phospholipid compositions were studied; a mixture of hydrogenated phosphatidylcholine (HPC) and hydrogenated phosphatidylserine (HPS) with a phase transition temperature (Tm) of 51 degrees C and, a blend composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG) displaying a Tm of 41 degrees C. Ex vivo tissue relaxometry and in vivo liver imaging were used to study the influence of liposome composition on the liver uptake and contrast efficacy of intravenously injected liposomes. The influence of liposome size and composition on the kinetics of liver uptake and imaging effect was assessed ex vivo in the perfused rat liver. RESULTS The HPC/HPS preparations showed generally a higher and faster liver uptake than the DPPC/DPPG preparations due to a higher stability in blood/perfusate (high Tm) and to the HPS component. The liposome size modulated the extent and kinetics of liver uptake; the larger the size, the faster and more extensive was the liver uptake. Both types of liposome preparations were shown to be efficient liver susceptibility agents both ex vivo and in vivo due to their uptake by the Kupffer cells of liver. The lack of full correlation between the extent of liver uptake and degree of contrast enhancement might be attributed to different regimes of susceptibility-based relaxation. CONCLUSIONS The present study has demonstrated the influence of key liposomal physicochemical properties on the liver uptake and contrast efficacy of liposome-encapsulated Gd chelates, exemplified by Gd-HP-DO3A.
IMPACT OF THE NEW ZEALAND SEAT BELT LAW

Offsetting consumer behavior may have reduced the effectiveness of a mandatory seat belt law in reducing fatalities in New Zealand. It appears that the favorable effect on automobile occupants may be offset partially, or in some models perhaps completely, by deaths among cyclists and pedestrians that may be caused by more dangerous driving by drivers who feel safer. Furthermore, the improvements in safety found for occupants is smaller than generally reported in the literature. A caveat is that speed may be endogenous for some models Copyright 1991 by Oxford University Press.
Functions of melatonin in plants: a review

The number of studies on melatonin in plants has increased significantly in recent years. This molecule, with a large set of functions in animals, has also shown great potential in plant physiology. This review outlines the main functions of melatonin in the physiology of higher plants. Its role as antistress agent against abiotic stressors, such as drought, salinity, low and high ambient temperatures, UV radiation and toxic chemicals, is analyzed. The latest data on their role in plant–pathogen interactions are also discussed. Both abiotic and biotic stresses produce a significant increase in endogenous melatonin levels, indicating its possible role as effector in these situations. The existence of endogenous circadian rhythms in melatonin levels has been demonstrated in some species, and the data, although limited, suggest a central role of this molecule in the day/night cycles in plants. Finally, another aspect that has led to a large volume of research is the involvement of melatonin in aspects of plant development regulation. Although its role as a plant hormone is still far of from being fully established, its involvement in processes such as growth, rhizogenesis, and photosynthesis seems evident. The multiple changes in gene expression caused by melatonin point to its role as a multiregulatory molecule capable of coordinating many aspects of plant development. This last aspect, together with its role as an alleviating‐stressor agent, suggests that melatonin is an excellent prospect for crop improvement.
Understanding Players' Experiences in Location-based Augmented Reality Mobile Games: A Case of Pokémon Go

In recent years, location-based Augmented Reality (AR) mobile games have been widely played by many players, and the Pokémon Go game is a success story, which has become a global phenomenon. As this game has attracted millions of players in the world, it is interesting and important to understand players' experiences in playing the Pokémon Go game in which players need to play in both physical and virtual environment. We conducted a pilot exploratory study of the Pokémon Go game with 8 participants in Finland. We used both questionnaires and interview study to understand their experiences in the gameplay. The findings show that the Pokémon Go game has the potential to promote players' physical and social well-being in terms of physical activities in the physical world and social connectedness among players. In addition, it is a fun and safe game for players to play in the real-world. The preliminary findings from this study can be insightful for our future study with a larger number of participants in different countries, as well as other practitioners and researchers in the same areas
Multimarket Contact and Collusive Behavior

Traditional analyses of industrial behavior typically link the exercise of market power in an industry to internal features such as demand conditions, concentration, and barriers-to-entry. Nevertheless, some economists have remained concerned that external factors, such as contact across markets, may also play a significant role in determining the level of competitiveness in any particular industry. In this article, we examine the effect of multimarket contact on the degree of cooperation that firms can sustain in settings of repeated competition. We isolate conditions under which multimarket contact facilitates collusion and show that these collusive gains are achieved through modes of behavior that have been identified in previous empirical studies of multimarket firms.
The Long-Run Equity Risk Premium

Peter Bernstein's "points of inflection" raise some important issues about research, indexing, benchmarking, and the "long-only" constraint. Underlying these inflection points is the question of how the equity market will perform in the future. Historically, the equity market has returned almost 7 percent a year after inflation, but based on various assumptions, the future return looks to be more in the 5–6 percent range. Nonetheless, equities should still offer a reasonable risk premium over bonds.
Real Time Data, Regime Shifts, and a Simple But Effective Estimated Fed Policy Rule, 1969-2009

Estimates of Taylor rule equations for Federal Reserve policy over periods before the Greenspan period are misleading. Until 1979 Fed policy changed the real funds rate in response to the output gap, with no response to an inflation target. During the Volcker period the policy rule kept the real funds rate at a high but constant level, with no response to the output gap. Taking into account the regime shifts, a simple but effective funds rate equation can be estimated using only inflation and output gap.
Educational metadata for mobile learning

We propose an educational metadata schema for use with mobile learning. The development of metadata schemas has been at the core of the learning technology standardisation process. These proposals have been aimed at conventional elearning on a desktop computer in a formal training and teaching environment. Our aim has been to specify a metadata schema, based on the existing IEEE Learning Object Metadata and IMS Learner Information Profile standards, to cover mobile and informal learning scenarios. In this paper we describe the design process of the Mobile Learning Metadata (MLM) schema; we explain the new fields and structures introduced or amended with the reasons behind them.
Psychiatric disorders: a conceptual taxonomy.

This article summarizes six conceptual dimensions that underlie common assumptions about what counts as an adequate category of psychiatric disorder. These dimensions are 1) causalism-descriptivism, 2) essentialism-nominalism, 3) objectivism-evaluativism, 4) internalism-externalism, 5) entities-agents, and 6) categories-continua. Four different versions of the medical model are described and compared with respect to these dimensions. The medical models vary in several ways, but all can be considered "essentialistic. " As a counter to the essentialist homogeneity among the medical models, two nominalist analyses of psychiatric classification are reviewed. In order to fill out the space defined by the conceptual dimensions, two alternatives to medical model approaches are also described. After making some suggestions about where DSM-V might best be aligned with respect to the conceptual dimensions, the authors review the distinction between empirical and nonempirical aspects of classification--and argue that nonempirical aspects of classification are legitimate and necessary.
Ontario’s micro-brewing industry: an exploratory study

This study researched Ontario's micro-brewing industry and used the firm's strategy obtained from policies, plans, and priorities to develop an industry framework to measure the industry's contribution to Ontario's standard of living and, ultimately, to Ontario's economic well-being. Nine microbreweries were surveyed and 14 websites were analysed based on four research objectives: 1) identify industry success factors; 2) validate a portion of Menna's model; 3) apply lessons of this study to the creation of successful models in new venture creation; 4) instil a uniquely micro-brewing model for affecting growth and benefits in the province of Ontario. Results show that Ontario's microbreweries thrive in niche markets with unique strategies and distinctive advantages that contribute to Ontario's economy. This is a first step in understanding key factors that may help Ontario transition to a community-based, creative-oriented enterprise system of wealth creation.
Taxation of International Investment and Accounting Valuation

This paper develops a model of a firm's foreign investment decisions and characterizes its optimal investment and repatriation strategies. It then derives the theoretical relation between firm value and the book value of the deferred tax liability associated with such investments or, if no liability is recognized for financial reporting purposes, the reduction in firm value associated with permanently reinvested foreign earnings. It shows that the valuation relevance of these items depends on whether the earnings are invested in operating assets or financial assets. It also shows the effects of a temporary tax holiday on firm value.
Illicit network structures in cyberspace

Different types of covert illicit networks in cyberspace hold the potential to become actors in cyber conflicts. Current literature on structures of covert networks in cyberspace is often constrained by the lack of quantitative data and researchers mostly focus on networks operating outside the cyberspace. The purpose of this paper is to review the current state of research into illicit networks in cyberspace and to apply the terminology and concepts of Social Network Analysis on criminal organisations operating online. Social Network Analysis is a quantitative data analysis method, which can identify hierarchies, subgroups, individuals and their relative importance in covert illicit networks, by using data from multiple sources (academic research, law enforcement, black market trading, semantic web analysis etc.). Here I explore how Social Network Analysis offers methods to discover hidden structures of covert networks in cyberspace.
Entrepreneurship and the Role of Policy

Entrepreneurship and the role of policy Introduction Entrepreneurship is commonly recognised as a crucial element in fostering economic growth. It is now widely recognised that the promotion of entrepreneurship is not only necessary for a healthy economy but is also critical for sustaining prosperity and creating new jobs (Henry et al, 2003). In consequence, the entrepreneur has gained increased consideration among public policy makers, and a low regulation route versus a high support route have been identifi ed as the key policy choices, although they are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, as entrepreneurship is itself multifaceted, policy responses to enterprise are varied and wide-ranging (Mole and Bramley, 2006). The pervasiveness of enterprise policies has led to the policy ‘fad’ of uncritically advocating that entrepreneurship is a key route for improving individual and societal economic development (Blackburn and Ram, 2006). Yet the effectiveness of policy is often debated, and, in an age of austerity, understanding which interventions are most likely to be effective is more important than ever. This theme issue draws on papers that were mostly originally presented at the 34th annual Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) conference held in Sheffi eld in November 2011. The conference attracted approximately 1000 delegates from around the world and included academics, entrepreneurship researchers, and policy practitioners. A total of 374 abstracts were submitted, resulting in 224 being accepted and presented within the parallel sessions. Under the chairmanship of Dr Andrew Hird (Sheffi eld Hallam University) the ISBE papers were presented within fourteen dedicated tracks, with topics ranging from enterprise education, social enterprise, and family business to business creation, gender, and networks and innovation. Papers with a particular policy focus were considered for publication in this theme issue of Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy. In addition to ISBE’s standard reviewing process conducted by the conference track teams, all papers selected for this theme issue have been peer reviewed in the same way as normal submissions to mainstream issues of this journal. As a result of these reviews, signifi cant revisions have been made to the papers.