Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New animal models of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder mainly characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons from the substantia nigra pars compacta and the presence, in the affected brain regions, of protein inclusions named Lewy Bodies. Despite the fact that numerous mutations causing hereditary forms of Parkinson's disease have been identified in the last decade, current transgenic animal models do not adequately reproduce cardinal features of the human disease. Altogether, the animal models derived of human mutations indicate that the nigrostriatal degenerative process results from the combination of several mechanisms that implicate mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative damage, and protein degradation impairment.
Diagnosis of Dyslexia using computation analysis

This paper introduces to diagnosis of Dyslexia using computing system, considered people difficulties in reading, spelling, writing and speaking. Consequently, a computational analysis classifier will be achieved using dyslexia metrics techniques. Accordingly, Gibson test of brain skills will be used with effect of working memory, auditing (hearing and speech) and visual memory and cognition, visual and auditing perceptions, writing and motor skills, math and time management, behavior, health, development and personality, cognitive ability in peoples with learning specially reading difficulties taken into our consideration. Computation analysis with classifiers will be used to analyze the proposed dataset that includes 80 children records. This computation model is designed and implemented to help uncover the underlying problems that may affect learning to read or write as well as problems that may also cause issues with memorizes comprehension. This model is implemented to help counselors and parents understand the difficulty and get kid in the correct passageway to education success.
Negative Affectivity Predicts Individual Differences in Decision Making for Preschoolers

The authors' goal in conducting this study was to explore the association between temperament and future-oriented decision making. Forty-three preschoolers (mean age = 51 months) were given a child variant of the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and asked to choose between a deck with higher immediate rewards and a deck with higher future rewards. Children who were higher on the Extraversion/Surgency factor of the Child Behavior Questionnaire chose more frequently from the higher immediate rewards deck early in the game. The externalizing dimension of Negative Affectivity (anger/frustration, soothability and discomfort) made the greatest contribution to prediction of performance in the last block of the game. Children who were more easily frustrated and had difficulty regulating negative emotions chose more from the deck with higher immediate rewards. There was a significant interaction between the externalizing dimension of Negative Affectivity, the internalizing dimension of Negative Affectivity (sadness and fear) and Extraversion/Surgency on the last block. These results suggest a complex association between IGT performance and temperament in preschoolers.
Tax Policy for Emerging Markets: Developing Countries

This paper discusses important tax policy issues facing developing countries today. It views tax policy from both the macroeconomic perspective, which focuses on broad questions such as the level and composition of tax revenue, and the microeconomic perspective, which focuses on certain design aspects of selected major taxes, such as the personal income tax, the corporate income tax, the value-added tax, excises, and import tariffs. It provides a review of the role of tax incentives in these countries, and identifies some policy challenges posed by the globalization of the world economy.
Motivations to Remit: Evidence from Botswana

In this article a theory of motivations to send remittances is described and tested with data from Botswana. Altruism is one of the motivations tested and found to be an insufficient explanation for remittances among migrants in Botswana. A refinement of the model stipulates a modified altruism or "enlightened self-interest. " In this model the relationship between the migrant and family is tempered by an implicit understanding of mutual benefit. The household strategy may be to encourage some members to migrate as a means of spreading risk and sharing gains. The household strategy is similar to an insurance policy where migration is to places where market potential is high. The risks incurred might be high. The example is given of migration during a drought in Botswana. Migrant remittances were greater in households with more cattle or households with more to lose. Drought alone was not statistically related to remittances. Increases in remittances were related to increased levels of education. It is suggested that repayment was the motive for parents investment in migrants education. Migrants gains are identified as the potential for an inheritance the security of channeling investments through a trusted family member and security in having a home to return to. It is pointed out that the altruism and family remittances from urban migration were strategies that bridged the simple dynamic of either urban development or rural development impacting on family welfare. It is suggested that household models of economy adopt some measure to express the relationship of household wealth to remittances from urban migrants.
One-year prognosis of primary care dyspepsia: predictive value of symptom pattern, Helicobacter pylori and GP management

Background and aims Dyspepsia is a highly prevalent, heterogeneous condition with a poorly defined clinical course in family practice. We observed its clinical outcome and identified prognostic factors. Patients We studied 583 patients presenting to their general practitioner (GP) with a new episode of dyspeptic complaints. Methods A validated dyspepsia severity score was used to observe deterioration of dyspepsia. Furthermore, the general health status and the patient's perception of no improvement were registered. As prognostic determinants, demographic characteristics, concomitant conditions, and management were studied. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results A total of 518 (89%) patients completed the 1-year follow-up. Of these, 111 patients (22%, 95% CI 18% to 25%) had a negative change in their dyspepsia score after 1 year; 46 patients (9%, 95% CI 6% to 11%) noted impairment of general health; and 122 patients (24%, 95% CI 20% to 28%) regarded complaints as not improved. Frequent dyspepsia (> 1 episode/year) and a history of peptic ulcer predicted deterioration of dyspepsia, while smoking and little psychological distress predicted impairment of general health. Eradication of Helicobacter pylori reduced the chance of patient's negative judgement for especially those with frequent dyspepsia. Conclusion One-quarter of the dyspepsia patients had an unfavourable 1-year prognosis, which was predictable because of frequent complaints and previously diagnosed ulcers. Psychological factors need to be identified, since they are related to general health improvement. The observed benefit of H. pylori eradication on perceived improvement of complaints may well be placebo effect.
Node detection and message integrity through quantum circuits

This paper designs quantum testing circuit to detect intermediate malicious node and achieve message integrity in the distributed quantum computing. The proposed mechanism has several improvements shown as follows. The random key generation between Alice and Bob such that an attack cannot break this deriving process. Local unitary operations and quantum teleportation in the entangled particles can be used to transfer quantum information in a secure way. For intermediate node has no capability to differentiate which qubit is quantum superposition state or quantum entangled state. In regard to node detection, the receiver has the capability to judge whether intermediate node is honest or not by using quantum testing circuit. Based on this physical property, quantum circuit could be detect malicious node and achieve message integrity. The proposed circuit is scalable.
Expedient GPR survey schemes

Practical GPR survey schemes based on a geometrical migration algorithm are implemented and tested: (1) random GPR data collection from water surface along a tangled path and interpolation to a regular grid for bottom reconstruction; (2) double-pass B-scan with different antennas offset for estimation of the upper ground layer thickness and permittivity.
Does Using Disaggregate Components Help in Producing Better Forecasts for Aggregate Inflation

This paper analyzes how the information contained in the disaggregate components of aggregate inflation helps improve the forecasts of the aggregate series. Direct univariate forecasting of the aggregate inflation data by an autoregressive (AR) model is used as the benchmark with which all autoregressive (AR), moving average (MA) and vector autoregressive (VAR) models of the disaggregates are compared. The results show that directly forecasting the aggregate series from the benchmark model is generally superior to aggregating forecasts from the disaggregate components. Additionally, including information from the disaggregates in the aggregate model rather than aggregating forecasts from the disaggregates performs best in all forecast horizons when appropriate disaggregates are used. The implication of these results is that better inflation forecasts for Ghana are produce by using information from relevant disaggregates in the aggregate model rather than direct forecasts of the aggregate or aggregating forecasts from the disaggregates.
The influence of policy on the roles of agriculture in South Africa

This article provides a framework for the analysis of the relationship between different macroeconomic, sector and commodity policies and the multiplier effects of agriculture. It starts with a listing of the macroeconomic, sector and commodity policies that have been included in the analysis. These should be considered in conjunction with the likely roles of agriculture along each of the dimensions of the social, poverty and cultural roles of agriculture. These policies and roles should be conceptualised as the vertical and horizontal axes respectively of a ‘policy role’ matrix. The ‘cells’ of this matrix – the policy role interactions – are discussed with respect to the immediate macroeconomic, agricultural, economic, institutional and social impact of the policy change on the agricultural sector at farm, regional, national and multinational levels, and thereafter on the role of agriculture in terms of each of the dimensions identified above.
How to Foster Organisational Capacity for Integrated Biosphere Reserve Management The Biosphere Reserve Mananara-Nord, Madagascar

Biosphere reserves often lack organisational capacities. As one of the world's poorest countries, bestowed with a rich bio diversity, Madagascar is particularly faced with this challenge. In a qualita- tive social research approach, we identified success and failure factors of Malagasy biosphere reserves and brought them into conjunction with the organisational capacities at hand. With regard to integrated management, interviewees emphasised the need to enhance collaboration with external experts in the areas of conservation and development, and to promote involvement of local communities in management tasks. The Biosphere Reserve Mananara-Nord in Northeastern Madagascar, which is the focus of this article, responded to this claim by decentralising the man- agement. This requires efficient organisation and information ex- change. Therefore, we propose to establish a "learning work envi- ronment" to facilitate knowledge exchange, improve coordination, and foster employee's motivation and capacity building. Efficient use of organisational capacities allows for effective integrated management backed with external expertise and local knowledge. This also needs to be achieved at other biosphere reserves. r q
The demand for intercity public transport: the case of business passengers

Using a stated preference survey on business passengers travelling by rail or air between the two largest cities in Sweden, business passengers' preferences for different modes of transport and their corresponding attributes are investigated. Compared to what previous studies have found, the values put on attributes are very high, this including the environmental impact of the modes. This is largely explained by the fact that business passengers do not bear the cost of the trip, but still have the possibility of deciding the mode of transport. The usefulness of a more flexible specification of the demand for transport is explored using a random parameter logit model. It is found that there is a gain in using a random parameter model compared to a standard logit model, in the sense that it provides richer information about passengers' preferences. However, no consistent pattern is found in the differences in willingness to pay for attributes between the econometric specifications.
Interaction between Warfarin and Danshen (Salvia Miltiorrhiza)

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the potential for an adverse interaction between the Chinese herb danshen, the dry root and rhizome of Salvia miltiorrhizaBge, and warfarin. DATA SOURCES: A MEDLINE search was performed (from January 1966 through October 2000) using the key words danshen and Salvia miltiorrhiza. All articles written in English or with an English extract were considered for review. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: All studies of antithrombotic effects of danshen or interaction between danshen and warfarin were evaluated. Previous case reports of an adverse interaction between danshen and warfarin were reviewed. DATA SYNTHESIS: Danshen is commonly used in mainland China for the treatment of atherosclerosis-related disorders such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Danshen can affect hemostasis in several ways, including inhibition of platelet aggregation, interference with the extrinsic blood coagulation, antithrombin III—like activity, and promotion of fibrinolytic activity. Single-dose and steady-state studies in rats indicated that danshen increased the absorption rate constants, AUCs, maximum concentrations, and elimination half-lives, but decreased the clearances and apparent volume of distribution of both R- and S-warfarin. Consequently, the anticoagulant response to warfarin was exaggerated. Three cases have previously been published reporting gross overanticoagulation and bleeding complications when patients receiving chronic warfarin therapy also took danshen. CONCLUSIONS: Because of both pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions, danshen should be avoided in patients taking warfarin.
Caffeine ingestion and muscle metabolism during prolonged exercise in humans.

We examined the effects of a high-caffeine dose on endurance performance and muscle acetyl group metabolism during prolonged exercise. Eight subjects cycled to exhaustion at approximately 80% maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) 1 h after ingestion of 9 mg/kg body wt dextrose (Pl) or caffeine (Caf). In the Pl trial, muscle biopsies were taken at rest (1 h postingestion) and at 15 min and exhaustion during exercise. The Caf trial followed the same protocol 1 wk later, with an additional biopsy at the time corresponding to Pl exhaustion. The subjects cycled significantly longer during the Caf trial (96.2 +/- 8.8 min) than in the Pl trial (75.8 +/- 4.8 min). Net glycogenolysis during the initial 15 min of cycling was reduced in the Caf vs. Pl trial (4.7 +/- 1.5 vs. 10.6 +/- 1.3 mmol.kg dry muscle-1.min-1; P less than 0.05). Muscle citrate concentration was increased at rest with Caf (0.59 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.37 +/- 0.05 mmol/kg dry muscle; P less than 0.05) but increased to similar values in both trials during cycling. Caf elevated the acetyl-CoA/CoA-SH ratio at rest (0.316 +/- 0.046 vs. 0.201 +/- 0.023; P less than 0.05) but had no effect on the increases in muscle acetyl-CoA and acetylcarnitine during exercise. The results indicate that Caf before exercise decreased muscle glycogenolysis by approximately 55% over the first 15 min of exercise at approximately 80% VO2max. This "spared glycogen" was available late in exercise and coincided with a prolonged time to exhaustion. Increased utilization of intramuscular triacylglycerol and/or extramuscular free fatty acids after caffeine ingestion may inhibit carbohydrate use at rest and early during exercise via elevations in muscle citrate and the acetyl-CoA/CoA-SH ratio. Muscle acetyl-CoA and acetylcarnitine were maintained above resting contents even at exhaustion when muscle glycogen was depleted.
Functional Imaging of Stroke Recovery: An Ecological Review from a Neural Network Perspective with an Emphasis on Motor Systems

Functional imaging is beginning to outline the brain's functional architecture and mechanisms of recovery from injury. I will review primarily the motor‐function literature from normal populations, learning trials, stroke recovery, and rehabilitation with a neural network approach that may prove fruitful in further advancing our understanding of brain plasticity in response to focal lesions. A key consideration in this review will be how the development of distributed motor networks might constrain recovery as a function of the altered connectivity between damaged and nondamaged areas. It will be argued that this connectivity is central to both recovery from injury and response to treatment.
Language as a barrier to the acquisition of anatomical knowledge

The language of instruction for medical students at the University of Hong Kong is English, which is their second language. This presents a potential barrier to their academic learning. We have studied the extent of this problem by looking at the amount of terminology students have to assimilate during their anatomy course and the way in which the terminology is structured and explained (this provides, more generally, an indication of the factual loading to which medical students are exposed). We have also investigated the effect of the quality of students' language skills on their examination results in anatomy class tests and MBBS exams. It was found that students' entrance levels in English correlated well with their final examination results and that the quality and quantity of their English also correlated highly with scores in class tests. On this basis, we conclude that language is one of the most important barriers to students' academic success in the department and that current teaching materials may not be appropriate.
Prevalence of clinical referrals having hearing thresholds within normal limits

Abstract Objectives: To document the prevalence of clinically normal air conduction thresholds (0.5–4 kHz, bilaterally, ≤20 dB HL) among children and adults in a large audiology service and to estimate the prevalence of auditory processing disorder (APD). Design: Over a period of one year, clinicians implemented their usual protocol and recorded a brief history for those with normal audiometry. Study Sample: The number of people seen by the service was 2924 children (0–16 years old) and 4757 adults (17–100 years old). Results: Adults and school-age children were most commonly referred by their primary care doctor for difficulties listening in noise or following a conversation, and younger children by their home health visitor for speech production problems. Children tended to be referred on to speech pathology or APD clinics whereas adults were discharged. Conclusions: The prevalence of normal cases was 5.1% among the children and 0.9% among all adults. For younger adults (17–60 years, n = 1025), the prevalence was 4.0%. Based on comparison with those referred with hearing loss, we estimate the prevalence of APD among children and adults, defined as listening problems despite normal audiometry, to be about 0.5–1.0% of the general population. Sumario Objetivos: Documentar la prevalencia de umbrales aéreos clínicamente normales (0.5 – 4 kHz bilateralmente ≤20 dB HL) en niños y adultos en un servicio de audiología grande y estimar la prevalencia de trastornos de procesamiento central de la audición (APD). Diseño: Por un periodo de 1 año, los clínicos implementaron su protocolo acostumbrado y obtuvieron una historia breve de aquellos con audiometría normal. Muestra: la cantidad de personas vistas en el servicio fueron 2924 niños (0 a 16 años de edad) y 4757 adultos (17 a 100 años de edad). Resultados: Por lo regular, los adultos y los niños en edad escolar fueron referidos por su médico de contacto primario por dificultades para escuchar en ruido o para seguir una conversación, y los niños pequeños fueron referidos por su visitador de salud por problemas en la producción del lenguaje. La tendencia fue que los niños fueran referidos al terapeuta del lenguaje o clínicas APD, en tanto que los adultos eran dados de alta. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de audición normal fue de 5.1% entre los niños y 0.9% entre los adultos. La prevalencia entre los adulos jóvenes (17-60 años, n=1025) fue de 4%. Basados en la comparación con aquellos referidos con hipoacusia, estimamos que la prevalencia de APD entre los niños y adultos, definida como problemas de escucha a pesar de una audiometría normal normal, es de 0.5 – 1 % en la población general.
Interest Rates in Group Lending: A Behavioural Investigation

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) serve more than 5 million households in developing countries. A crucial variable for MFI schemes is the interest rate to be charged from borrowers. This paper studies the behavioural impacts of the repayment burden on repayment performance. In a laboratory experiment, we vary the amount a borrower group has to repay and study how this affects free-riding behaviour. We can identify two counteracting effects: a higher repayment burden intensifies the incentives to free-ride as shirking saves more money. On the other hand, high-interest loans are less tolerant towards defaulters, which exerts a disciplining effect. Copyright 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Facial action video capture interactive mode designed for embedded device

This study was designed to develop solutions for facial action human computer interaction on embedded devices. This paper presents a new facial detection algorithm using dimension reduction and regionalization computing. Then, a dynamic action judgement algorithm based on simplified Facial Expression Coding System is proposed to describe human facial action. This paper also provide the facial action capture system architecture. Finally, an accuracy report is presented to validate the usefulness of system.