Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison between visual assessment of MTA and hippocampal volumes in an elderly, non-demented population

Background It is important to have a replicable easy method for monitoring atrophy progression in Alzheimer's disease. Volumetric methods for calculating hippocampal volume are time-consuming and commonly used in research. Visual assessments of medial temporal lobe atrophy (vaMTA) is a rapid method for clinical use. This method has not been tested in a large non-demented population in comparison with volumetry mesurements. Since hippocampal volume decreases with time even in normal aging there is also a need to study the normal age differences of medial temporal lobe atrophy. Purpose To compare visual assessment of medial temporal lobe atrophy (vaMTA) with hippocampal volume in a healthy, non-demented elderly population. To describe normal ageing using vaMTA. Material and Methods Non-demented individuals aged 60, 66, 72, 78, 81, 84, and ≥87 years old were recruited from the Swedish National study on Ageing and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K), Sweden. Standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, vaMTA, and calculations of hippocampal volumes were performed in 544 subjects. Results Significant correlation (rs = −0.32, P < 0.001, sin; and rs = −0.26, P < 0.001, dx) was found between hippocampal volume measurements and vaMTA. In normal ageing, almost 95% of ≤66-year-olds had a medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) score ≤1, with possible scores ranging from 0 to 4. Subjects aged 72, 78, and 81 years scored ≤2, while the two oldest age groups had scores ≤3. Conclusion There was a highly significant correlation between volumetric measurements of the hippocampus and MTA scoring. In normal ageing, there is increasing MTA score. For non-demented elderly individuals ≤70 years, an MTA score of 0–1 may be considered normal, compared with MTA ≤2 for 70–80-years and MTA 3 for >80-year-old individuals.
Effect of the stagnation temperature on the normal shock wave

When the stagnation temperature increases, the specific heat does not remain constant and start to vary with this temperature. The gas is perfect, it's state equation remains always valid, except, it was called by gas calorically imperfect or gas at high temperatures. The purpose of this work is to develop a mathematical model for a normal shock wave normal at high temperature when the stagnation temperature is taken into account, less than the dissociation of the molecules as a generalisation model of perfect for constant heat specific. A study on the error given by the perfect gas model compared to our model is presented in order to find a limit of application of the perfect gas model. The application is for air.
Ventilatory Threshold, Running Economy and Distance Running Performance of Trained Athletes

Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships among ventilatory threshold T(vent), running economy and distance running performance in a group (N=9) of trained experienced male runners with comparable maximum oxygen uptake ([Vdot]O2 max). Maximal oxygen uptake and submaximal steady state oxygen uptake were measured using open circuit spirometry during treadmill exercise. Ventilatory threshold was determined during graded treadmill exercise using non-invasive techniques, while distance running performance was assessed by the best finish time in two 10-kilometer (km) road races. The subjects averaged 33.8 minutes on the 10km runs, 68.6 ml · kg -1 · min -1 for [Vdot]O2 max, and 48.1 ml · kg -1 · min -1 for steady state [Vdot]O2 running at 243 meters · min -1. The T(vent) (first deviation from linearity of [Vdot]E, [Vdot]CO 2 ) occurred at an oxygen consumption of 41.9 ml · kg -1 · min -1. The relationship between running economy and performance was r = . 51 (p>0.15) and the relationship b.
A positive deviance approach to early childhood obesity: cross-sectional characterization of positive outliers.

OBJECTIVE Positive deviance methodology has been applied in the developing world to address childhood malnutrition and has potential for application to childhood obesity in the United States. We hypothesized that among children at high-risk for obesity, evaluating normal weight children will enable identification of positive outlier behaviors and practices. METHODS In a community at high-risk for obesity, a cross-sectional mixed-methods analysis was done of normal weight, overweight, and obese children, classified by BMI percentile. Parents were interviewed using a semistructured format in regard to their children's general health, feeding and activity practices, and perceptions of weight. RESULTS Interviews were conducted in 40 homes in the lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas with a largely Hispanic (87.5%) population. Demographics, including income, education, and food assistance use, did not vary between groups. Nearly all (93.8%) parents of normal weight children perceived their child to be lower than the median weight. Group differences were observed for reported juice and yogurt consumption. Differences in both emotional feeding behaviors and parents' internalization of reasons for healthy habits were identified as different between groups. CONCLUSIONS We found subtle variations in reported feeding and activity practices by weight status among healthy children in a population at high risk for obesity. The behaviors and attitudes described were consistent with previous literature; however, the local strategies associated with a healthy weight are novel, potentially providing a basis for a specific intervention in this population.
Sorting Out the Roles of Research in the Improvement of Practice

This paper discusses the effectiveness of research–based educational approaches on classroom practice. In order to help educators maximize benefits from research in improving practice, it is important to inform them of the nature and roles of research. This essay begins by discussing current cynicism regarding the usefulness of research–based strategies in the field of education. Because of the large body of conflicting “research–based” information, many educators are finding themselves confused and alienated by the phrase “research shows. ” Using examples of high–quality research that utilizes diverse methodologies, a framework is presented for thinking about various types of research and their implications.
A New Approach to Define and Diagnose Cardiometabolic Disorder in Children

The aim of the study was to test the performance of a new definition of metabolic syndrome (MetS), which better describes metabolic dysfunction in children. Methods. 15,794 youths aged 6–18 years participated. Mean z-score for CVD risk factors was calculated. Sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate which parameters best described the metabolic dysfunction by analysing the score against independent variables not included in the score. Results. More youth had clustering of CVD risk factors (>6.2%) compared to the number selected by existing MetS definitions (International Diabetes Federation (IDF) < 1%). Waist circumference and BMI were interchangeable, but using insulin resistance homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) instead of fasting glucose increased the score. The continuous MetS score was increased when cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and leptin were included. A mean z-score of 0.40–0.85 indicated borderline and above 0.85 indicated clustering of risk factors. A noninvasive risk score based on adiposity and CRF showed sensitivity and specificity of 0.85 and an area under the curve of 0.92 against IDF definition of MetS. Conclusions. Diagnosis for MetS in youth can be improved by using continuous variables for risk factors and by including CRF and leptin.
Esophageal Body Motility for Clinical Assessment in Patients with Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms

Background/Aims Little data exists about esophageal body dysmotility and reflux patterns in refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (RGERD) patients off therapy. We aimed to evaluate effects of esophageal body dysmotility on reflux parameters in RGERD patients by combining impedance-pH monitoring and high-resolution manometry (HRM). Methods We retrospectively reviewed the impedance-pH data and HRM metrics in patients with refractory gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. Impedance-pH monitoring and manometric data were compared between 2 groups: ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) and normal motility. Results Forty-eight patients (30 males, mean age 54.5 years) were included (16 erosive esophagitis, 24 non-erosive reflux disease, and 8 functional heartburn), amongst which 24 subjects showed IEM, and others had normal motility. Number of patients who had a large break in the IEM group was significantly higher than that of normal motility patients. IEM group had more patients with weakly acid reflux and long term acid reflux than the normal group (P = 0.008, P = 0.004, respectively). There was no statistical difference in baseine impedance levels from z4 to z6 between the 2 groups (2911 ± 1160 Ω vs 3604 ± 1232 Ω, 2766 ± 1254 Ω vs 3752 ± 1439 Ω, 2349 ± 1131 Ω vs 3038 ± 1254 Ω, all P > 0.05). Acid exposure time, numbers of long term acid reflux and weakly acid reflux showed strong negative correlation with esophageal body motility and/or lower esophageal sphincter function. Conclusions IEM was associated more with acid exposure, abnormal weakly acid reflux, and long term acid reflux in RGERD patients. These data suggested the role of esophageal body dysmotility in the pathophysiological mechanisms of RGERD patients.
Structures of Two Coronavirus Main Proteases: Implications for Substrate Binding and Antiviral Drug Design

ABSTRACT Coronaviruses (CoVs) can infect humans and multiple species of animals, causing a wide spectrum of diseases. The coronavirus main protease (Mpro), which plays a pivotal role in viral gene expression and replication through the proteolytic processing of replicase polyproteins, is an attractive target for anti-CoV drug design. In this study, the crystal structures of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) Mpro and a severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV (SARS-CoV) Mpro mutant (H41A), in complex with an N-terminal autocleavage substrate, were individually determined to elucidate the structural flexibility and substrate binding of Mpro. A monomeric form of IBV Mpro was identified for the first time in CoV Mpro structures. A comparison of these two structures to other available Mpro structures provides new insights for the design of substrate-based inhibitors targeting CoV Mpros. Furthermore, a Michael acceptor inhibitor (named N3) was cocrystallized with IBV Mpro and was found to demonstrate in vitro inactivation of IBV Mpro and potent antiviral activity against IBV in chicken embryos. This provides a feasible animal model for designing wide-spectrum inhibitors against CoV-associated diseases. The structure-based optimization of N3 has yielded two more efficacious lead compounds, N27 and H16, with potent inhibition against SARS-CoV Mpro.
Analysis of high DC bus voltage stress in the design of single stage single switch switch mode rectifier

Single stage single switch switch mode rectifier (S4 SMR) is the integration of input power factor correction (PFC) stage with the dc-dc output stage utilizing a single switch and having isolation between input and output. Converter topology is selected to possess sufficient degree of freedom to allow the input voltage, energy storage capacitor voltage and the load voltage to vary independently. In this design input PFC stage is discontinuous current mode (DCM) boost topology, which is cascaded by a continuous mode converter providing wide bandwidth response. Analytical expressions are derived for boost inductance by applying equal area criterion (EAC), critical inductance of output flyback converter, voltage transfer function and relationship between duty ratio and output load. Based on this a 100 W, 230 V, 50 Hz A.C. / 50 V D.C S4 SMR was designed, fabricated and tested. Simulation results using SABER software package and actual test results are compared and analyzed. Under open loop condition voltage stress of twice the rated voltage is observed but under closed loop condition output voltage regulation using duty ratio control, the voltage stress is quite insignificant. Input current waveform is found to be sinusoidal and in phase with the AC input voltage with a predominant component of fundamental frequency.
Influences on exchange processes: Buyers' preconceptions of a seller's trustworthiness and bargaining toughness.

Exchange theories posit that trust has an important and favorable influence on dyadic interactions. This paper examines the notion that trust plays a key role in making a seller's tough bargaining strategy successful. In a bargaining experiment, we manipulated subjects' preconceptions about a seller's trustworthiness and bargaining toughness. As hypothesized, a seller's expected trustworthiness-plus-toughness in bargaining led to higher levels of buyer-seller cooperation and agreement and a higher level of buyer concessions.
Connectivity-Based Parcellation of the Cortical Mantle Using q-Ball Diffusion Imaging

This paper exploits the idea that each individual brain region has a specific connection profile to create parcellations of the cortical mantle using MR diffusion imaging. The parcellation is performed in two steps. First, the cortical mantle is split at a macroscopic level into 36 large gyri using a sulcus recognition system. Then, for each voxel of the cortex, a connection profile is computed using a probabilistic tractography framework. The tractography is performed from q fields using regularized particle trajectories. Fiber ODF are inferred from the q-balls using a sharpening process focusing the weight around the q-ball local maxima. A sophisticated mask of propagation computed from a T1-weighted image perfectly aligned with the diffusion data prevents the particles from crossing the cortical folds. During propagation, the particles father child particles in order to improve the sampling of the long fascicles. For each voxel, intersection of the particle trajectories with the gyri lead to a connectivity profile made up of only 36 connection strengths. These profiles are clustered on a gyrus by gyrus basis using a K-means approach including spatial regularization. The reproducibility of the results is studied for three subjects using spatial normalization.
Exaltation of the Development of Poliovirus by Semicarbazide

Grossberg, Sidney E. (Institut Pasteur, Paris, France), Marguerite Lwoff, and André Lwoff. Exaltation of the development of poliovirus by semicarbazide. J. Bacteriol. 92:1473–1477. 1966. —Semicarbazide (NH2—NH—CO—NH2) remarkably increases the development of poliovirus. In single-cycle experiments, semicarbazide (SCZ) acted to (i) diminish the length of the latent period, (ii) increase the rate of production of virions, and (iii) increase the final yield of virus. These effects were demonstrable in KB cells, a human malignant cell line, and other primate cells. The dose range over which the compound exerts its effect was relatively large, i.e., from 0.3 to 20 mm, whereas higher concentrations inhibited viral growth. SCZ achieved its exalting effect only when it was added during the first 3 hr of viral development; later addition had no effect. Withdrawal of SCZ at intervals during the viral cycle confirmed that its action occurred within 3 hr after infection. The possible mode of action of SCZ is discussed. SCZ appeared to act, at least in part, by increasing the rate of synthesis of the viral ribonucleic acid.
Integration of auditory and visual communication information in the primate prefrontal cortex

Social communication relies on the integration of auditory and visual information. To understand how these two modalities are integrated during social communication we recorded from the primate ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) during the simultaneous and separate presentation of vocalizations and corresponding facial gestures. The stimuli consisted of short video clips of conspecific macaques vocalizing which were deconstructed into audio and visual components and presented separately and simultaneously. The single units we encountered responded robustly to auditory, visual and combined face-vocalization stimuli. The multimodal neurons represented one-third of the task responsive population and exhibited significantly enhanced or suppressed responses to bimodal stimuli. Combination of face or movie stimuli with incongruent vocalizations resulted in significant changes in neuronal firing compared to congruent stimuli. Moreover, alterations of the temporal onset of auditory-visual stimuli also resulted in a significant change when the onset of the auditory stimulus preceded the visual motion stimulus. Our results suggest that VLPFC neurons in the rhesus monkey integrate communication-relevant auditory and visual information. Analysis of multimodal processing in the VLPFC of non-human primates may help us to understand social communication in the human brain, in which the integration of multimodal sensory information is crucial.
Homicide–parasuicide: a qualitative comparison with homicide and parasuicide

Previous studies on homicides followed by the suicide of the perpetrator have mostly regarded this phenomenon as a variation of homicidal or as a variation of suicidal behaviour resulting from external or internal blame attribution. The aim of this study is to qualitatively assess to what extent homicide–suicide can be understood as a dichotomous phenomenon, using homicides followed by a failed suicide by the perpetrator (homicide–parasuicides). Particular attention is paid to both internal and external blame attribution. Three different homicide–parasuicide groups emerged from the data: one being primarily homicidal, one being primarily suicidal and one constituting a separate phenomenon. Blame attribution as well as interpersonal dependency on the victim differentiated homicide–parasuicides from other homicides and other parasuicides. The findings of this study suggest that homicide–parasuicide cannot easily be dichotomized into either a homicide or a suicide category. More insight into the concept of interpersonal dependency may aid the prevention of this phenomenon.
Viral load and ganciclovir (GCV) concentration in cerebrospinal fluid of patients successfully treated with GCV or valGCV for human herpesvirus 6 encephalitis/myelitis following umbilical cord blood transplantation

We describe successful treatment of 3 cases of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV‐6) encephalitis/myelitis following cord blood transplantation (CBT). Ganciclovir (GCV) (10 mg/kg/day) reduced HHV‐6 load to undetectable levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Early dose reduction in the presence of HHV‐6 detectable in CSF resulted in an increased HHV‐6 load. GCV was capably shifted to valganciclovir (VGCV) with an almost equivalent concentration. GCV/VGCV may be effective for HHV‐6 encephalitis/myelitis after CBT, although HHV‐6 load in CSF should be monitored.
Recurrence Rate after Herniotomy only versus Discectomy in Lumbar Disc Herniation

Objective Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) recurrence necessitating reoperation can pose problems following spinal surgery, with an overall reported incidence of approximately (3-13%). The purpose of this study is to identify the rate of recurrent disc herniation, to discuss the radiologic indications for herniotomy and to analyze clinical outcomes compared with conventional discectomy. Methods This study is a retrospective case control study. The authors retrospectively reviewed 114 patients who underwent herniotomy & conventional discectomy by a single surgeon for single-level LDH between June 2009 and May 2012. Herniotomy group was 57 patients and conventional discectomy group was 57 patients that were selected from 631 patients using stratified randomization. Evaluation for LDH recurrence included detailed medical chart and radiologic review and telephone interview. Postoperative VAS and the Korean version of ODI were examined one week after surgery. Clinical outcome was investigated according to Odom's criteria from three months to three years. Results Of the 114 patients for whom the authors were able to definitively assess symptomatic recurrence status, four patients (7%) experienced LDH recurrence following single-level herniotomy and three patients (5.2%) conventional discectomy. There were no differences in the VAS and Korean version of ODI between herniotomy group and conventional discectomy group. The herniotomy group had better results than the conventional discectomy group in clinical outcome from three months to three years, but the difference was not significant. Conclusion There were no significant differences in clinical outcome between herniotomy and conventional discectomy. Recurrence rates following herniotomy for LDH compare favorably with those in patients who have undergone conventional discectomy, lending further support for its effectiveness in treating herniotomy.
Prognostic significance of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor levels in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer treated on Cancer and Leukemia Group B 9480.

PURPOSE Plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels are significantly elevated in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) compared with patients with localized disease and have been associated with disease progression in other cancer patient populations. Therefore, we measured VEGF levels in plasma prospectively collected from patients enrolled in Cancer and Leukemia Group B 9480, an intergroup study of suramin in patients with HRPC, to determine whether these levels had prognostic significance. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Pretreatment plasma was collected from patients with HRPC enrolled in Cancer and Leukemia Group B 9480. In a subset of samples representative of the entire cohort, plasma VEGF levels were determined in duplicate using a Quantiglo chemiluminescent ELISA kit (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN). Statistical analyses were performed to determine the correlation between pretreatment plasma VEGF levels and time of overall survival. The proportional hazards model was used to assess the prognostic significance of various cut points in multivariate models. RESULTS Plasma VEGF levels in this population ranged from 4-885 pg/ml, with a median level of 83 pg/ml. As a continuous variable, plasma VEGF levels inversely correlated with survival time (P = 0.002). Using various exploratory cut points, plasma VEGF levels appeared to correlate with survival. In multivariate models in which other prognostic factors (serum prostate-specific antigen, alkaline phosphatase, evidence of measurable disease, and hemoglobin) were included, plasma VEGF levels were significant at various cut points tested. CONCLUSION Although these data are exploratory and need to be confirmed in an independent data set, they suggest that VEGF may have clinical significance in patients with HRPC.