Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do Neurodegenerative Diseases Affect Creativity? Divergent Thinking in Frontotemporal Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease

Creativity is considered to be one of the most important characteristics that humans possess. It emerges from fundamental cognitive operations and the activation of specific brain regions. In several neurological disorders, such as frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), creativity plays an important role in diagnosis and rehabilitation strategies. This study examined the link between creativity and pathology in a sample of neurological patients (idiopathic PD, n = 17; FTD, n = 11 with behavioural or semantic variants), and 15 healthy subjects (Mini Mental State Examination score ≥ 20; age range, 45 to 85 years) using the Divergent Thinking Test. The FTD group exhibited lower scores than the PD and control groups. Furthermore, PD patients performed significantly better on the single DTT factor, originality, than controls. These results are discussed in relation to neurological mechanisms that may influence creative strategies in dementia. Finally, it has been proposed creativity therapy as a cognitive rehabilitation approach, which may help patients enhance and maintain cognitive functions, reduce the severity of emotional disorders, and promote social interactions.
The evolution of functional hand replacement: From iron prostheses to hand transplantation

The hand is an integral component of the human body, with an incredible spectrum of functionality. In addition to possessing gross and fine motor capabilities essential for physical survival, the hand is fundamental to social conventions, enabling greeting, grooming, artistic expression and syntactical communication. The loss of one or both hands is, thus, a devastating experience, requiring significant psychological support and physical rehabilitation. The majority of hand amputations occur in working-age males, most commonly as a result of work-related trauma or as casualties sustained during combat. For millennia, humans have used state-of-the-art technology to design clever devices to facilitate the reintegration of hand amputees into society. The present article provides a historical overview of the progress in replacing a missing hand, from early iron hands intended primarily for use in battle, to today's standard body-powered and myoelectric prostheses, to revolutionary advancements in the restoration of sensorimotor control with targeted reinnervation and hand transplantation.
Empirical Evaluation of Convolutional Neural Networks Prediction Time in Classifying German Traffic Signs

This paper discusses the use of Deep Learning and neural networks to identify images which contain road signs to aid in the navigation of autonomous vehicles. Images of 32x32 pixels and 128x128 pixels of the GTSRB dataset were used in training the existing neural network models as well as our novel models. Existing neural network models mentioned in the literature study validate that very high accuracies in image classification are already achieved. Different neural network model architectures were also reviewed to determine which architecture produced the highest accuracy within the most efficient time. Modifications to these architectures were made to produce valid results with a reduced image identification time. Our results of classifying a traffic sign image of 32x32 pixels in 0.6ms is very reliable for real time output. By looking at the image identification times for a 32x32 pixel image and a 128x128 pixel image we observed that size of the image is not the main factor in the increase of the prediction time.
BLIMP1 regulates cell growth through repression of p53 transcription

Tight regulation of p53 is essential for maintaining normal cell growth. Here we report that BLIMP1 acts in an autoregulatory feedback loop that controls p53 activity through repression of p53 transcription. p53 binds to and positively regulates BLIMP1, which encodes for a known B cell transcriptional repressor. Knockdown of BLIMP1 by siRNA results in both apoptosis and growth arrest in human colon cancer cells and cell-cycle arrest in primary human fibroblasts. Interestingly, the levels of both p53 mRNA and protein are substantially increased after BLIMP1 depletion, which is accompanied by the induction of p53 target genes. Importantly, the apoptosis induced by BLIMP1 depletion in HCT116 cells is largely abrogated in cells lacking p53 or in cells depleted in p53 by siRNA. We further demonstrate that BLIMP1 binds to the p53 promoter and represses p53 transcription, and this provides a mechanistic explanation for the induction of p53 response in cells depleted of BLIMP1. Hence, suppression of p53 transcription is a crucial function of endogenous BLIMP1 and is essential for normal cell growth.
"Bone bruises" on magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of anterior cruciate ligament injuries

Magnetic resonance imaging of the knees of 98 con secutive patients with clinically diagnosed anterior cru ciate ligament injuries revealed 47 patients (48%) with focal signal abnormalities consistent with the diagnosis of a "bone bruise. " Seventy-one percent of the magnetic resonance images taken within 6 weeks of injury dem onstrated a bone bruise, whereas no scans done longer than 6 weeks after injury showed a bruise (P < 0.0001). Also significant was the tendency for lesions to be located in the lateral compartment (P < 0.0001). In the sagittal plane, lesions were most likely to be in the middle third of the lateral femoral condyle and the posterior third of the lateral tibial plateau (P < 0.0001). In 31 patients evaluated arthroscopically, there was no correlation between the presence or location of a bone bruise and articular alterations or meniscal tears ob served at surgery.
Synthesis and excretion of polygalacturonic acid trans-eliminase in Erwinia, Yersinia, and Klebsiella species.

Various enterobacteria exhibit several patterns of synthesis and excretion of polygalacturonic acid trans-eliminase (PATE), one of the enzymes involved in degradation of pectic substances. In a strain of Erwinia chrysanthemi, PATE is an extracellular enzyme and is almost totally excreted. In strains of Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, PATE is a periplasmic and cytoplasmic enzyme. In a strain of Erwinia carotovora, PATE activity is extracellular, periplasmic, and cytoplasmic. In an "oxytocum" strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae, PATE is entirely cytoplasmic; none is found in the periplasm and almost none in culture supernatants. Cells (but not supernatants, because PATE is not excreted) of K. pneumoniae show much higher levels of PATE activity when grown on polygalacturonate than when grown on other carbon sources. A clinical strain of Y. enterocolitica synthesizes high levels of PATE activity (almost all cell-bound) when grown in the presence of gluconate, glycerol, or polygalacturonat.
EXPERIENCES OF PREGNANT WOMEN WITH GESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS IN PHETCHABURI PROVINCE

Aims: This qualitative research aims to describe experiences of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Phetchaburi province focused on their perceptions and lifestyles. Methods: The hermeneutic phenomenological is used as the research methodology framework. The semi-structured in-depth interviews was conducted on acquiring experiences of pregnant women with GDM. The sample is chosen using purposive sampling and the acquired clarity and saturation of data to generate the sample of 20. All pregnant women’ rights were protected. Data collections are done during October-December 2013. The content analysis is conducted after each in-depth interview. Results: The pregnant women, aged 19-34 ( 50% ) and 35-40 ( 45% ) , the incidents of GDM comprised of A1 and A2. The GDM A1 was found among 70% of pregnant women in this study. The treatments given to GDM A1 were dietary control and exercise. Meanwhile, 30% of those suffering from GDM A2 are treated using dietary control, exercise and insulin injection. Content analysis focused on their perceptions with GDM revealed 2 themes: 1) Feelings of fear, concern, stress because of mental unpreparedness to deal with GDM related to insulin injection, selfblood sampling, fright of possible threats towards their baby and themselves, and 2) Awareness of their proneness to GDM because some of their family members are diabetes patients. The content analysis concerning lifestyles of pregnant women with GDM revealed 5 issues: 1) Dietary patterns among those who able and unable to achieve blood sugar control were different; 2) the family support benefits effort on blood sugar control of pregnant women with GDM; 3) the adherence to religion, faith, and belief in their unborn baby; 4) Tolerant to insulin injection for their baby; and 5) failure of exercise to improve the metabolism because poor exercise guidance and correct knowledge. Conclusions: The research result present the broader perspectives for health personnel to provide care for pregnant women with GDM and family for promoting self-care ability and engagement of family. The improvement of practical exercise guidance and the multidisciplinary care team comprising physicians, nurses, nutritionists and physical therapists to a pregnant woman should also be focused.
Humoral Heart Rejection (Severe Allograft Dysfunction with no Signs of Cellular Rejection or Ischemia): Incidence, Management, and the Value of C4d for Diagnosis

Severe allograft dysfunction after heart transplant (HT), without ischemia or evidence of cellular rejection upon endomyocardial biopsy (EMB), is a rare but potentially fatal condition that suggests humoral rejection (HR). Its incidence, and the methods of choice for its diagnosis and management, remain uncertain. We retrospectively studied 445 HT patients (April 1991–December 2003) to determine incidence of HR diagnosed by clinical and conventional histopathological criteria. We used immunofluorescence (IF) techniques to test archived frozen EMB issue for IgM, IgG, C1q, C3, fibrin and C4d. Twelve patients (2.7%) fulfilled the criteria for HR after a mean time post‐HT of 21.3 ± 24.7 months (range: 2–72 months). Patients were treated with high doses of steroids and plasmapheresis, with successful recovery in 11 cases. IF studies using classical markers were mainly negative for the six patients with enough EMB tissue for testing. All six patients showed positivity for C4d during the HR episode but not before or after. Humoral rejection was observed in less than 3% of HT patients. Plasmapheresis treatment was highly effective. Classical IF tests were not useful for diagnosis, but C4d appears to be useful both for confirmation of diagnosis and for monitoring response to treatment.
Temporal Analysis of Gene Expression in the Murine Schwann Cell Lineage and the Acutely Injured Postnatal Nerve

Schwann cells (SCs) arise from neural crest cells (NCCs) that first give rise to SC precursors (SCPs), followed by immature SCs, pro-myelinating SCs, and finally, non-myelinating or myelinating SCs. After nerve injury, mature SCs ‘de-differentiate’, downregulating their myelination program while transiently re-activating early glial lineage genes. To better understand molecular parallels between developing and de-differentiated SCs, we characterized the expression profiles of a panel of 12 transcription factors from the onset of NCC migration through postnatal stages, as well as after acute nerve injury. Using Sox10 as a pan-glial marker in co-expression studies, the earliest transcription factors expressed in E9.0 Sox10+ NCCs were Sox9, Pax3, AP2α and Nfatc4. E10.5 Sox10+ NCCs coalescing in the dorsal root ganglia differed slightly, expressing Sox9, Pax3, AP2α and Etv5. E12.5 SCPs continued to express Sox10, Sox9, AP2α and Pax3, as well as initiating Sox2 and Egr1 expression. E14.5 immature SCs were similar to SCPs, except that they lost Pax3 expression. By E18.5, AP2α, Sox2 and Egr1 expression was turned off in the nerve, while Jun, Oct6 and Yy1 expression was initiated in pro-myelinating Sox9+/Sox10+ SCs. Early postnatal and adult SCs continued to express Sox9, Jun, Oct6 and Yy1 and initiated Nfatc4 and Egr2 expression. Notably, at all stages, expression of each marker was observed only in a subset of Sox10+ SCs, highlighting the heterogeneity of the SC pool. Following acute nerve injury, Egr1, Jun, Oct6, and Sox2 expression was upregulated, Egr2 expression was downregulated, while Sox9, Yy1, and Nfatc4 expression was maintained at similar frequencies. Notably, de-differentiated SCs in the injured nerve did not display a transcription factor profile corresponding to a specific stage in the SC lineage. Taken together, we demonstrate that uninjured and injured SCs are heterogeneous and distinct from one another, and de-differentiation recapitulates transcriptional aspects of several different embryonic stages.
Risk factors for human illness with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection in China.

BACKGROUND In China, 30 human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection were identified through July 2008. We conducted a retrospective case-control study to identify risk factors for influenza H5N1 disease in China. METHODS A questionnaire about potential influenza H5N1 exposures was administered to 28 patients with influenza H5N1 and to 134 randomly selected control subjects matched by age, sex, and location or to proxies. Conditional logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS Before their illness, patients living in urban areas had visited wet poultry markets, and patients living in rural areas had exposure to sick or dead backyard poultry. In multivariable analyses, independent risk factors for influenza H5N1 were direct contact with sick or dead poultry (odds ratio [OR], 506.6 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 15.7-16319.6]; P<.001), indirect exposure to sick or dead poultry (OR, 56.9 [95% CI, 4.3-745.6]; P=.002), and visiting a wet poultry market (OR, 15.4 [95% CI, 3.0-80.2]; P=.001). CONCLUSIONS To prevent human influenza H5N1 in China, the level of education about avoiding direct or close exposures to sick or dead poultry should be increased, and interventions to prevent the spread of influenza H5N1 at live poultry markets should be implemented.
A high PSR SOI current-mode bandgap reference

This paper presents a high PSR current mode bandgap references. The circuits are designed with adopting GSMC 130 nm SOI process. The bandgap's output voltage value is 0.528V and current value is 10μA. It is tapped out that the temperature coefficient of voltage reference is 115 ppm/°C from -40°C to 125°C and current reference is less than 59.4 ppm/°C, power consumption is 173 μW, the PSR is 95.8 dB at 100kHz, and adjusting output resistance can realize other output voltage value with no variation on temperature coefficient.
Long-term outcomes in thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair for chronic type B dissection.

INTRODUCTION Open repair for chronic aortic dissection remains a challenging surgical option. Different centers report diverse experiences and outcomes pertaining to thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair (TAAAR) for chronic type B dissection. We highlight our center's experience and results on a background of published literature and current evidence. METHODS We reviewed 214 open TAAAR performed between October 1998 and February 2014. Of these, chronic type B dissection was present in 62 (29.0%) patients. We reviewed these patients in terms of demographics, operative characteristics and outcomes. Thirteen (21.0%) patients had surgery on the descending thoracic aorta [Category A =2 (3.2%), B =0 (0%), C =11 (17.7%)] and 49 (79.0%) in the thoracoabdominal thoracic aorta [Crawford extent I =5 (8.1%), extent II =39 (62.9%), extent III =4 (6.5%), extent IV =1 (1.6%)]. Left heart bypass was used in 12 (19.4%) patients. RESULTS The composite in-hospital endpoint, adverse outcome-defined as operative death, renal failure necessitating dialysis at discharge, stroke, or permanent paraplegia or paraparesis-occurred after 28 (45.2%) procedures. There were 14 (22.6%) operative deaths. In-hospital mortality was seven (16.3%) out of 43 elective patients, and increased to seven (36.8%) of the 19 non-elective ones. Permanent paraplegia or paraparesis occurred after two (3.2%) cases, stroke occurred after seven (11.3%) and renal failure requiring dialysis occurred after 16 (25.8%). Mean follow-up time was 3.2 years and actuarial 5-year mortality was 27.4% [nine (14.5%) elective and eight (12.9%) non-elective patients]. CONCLUSIONS TAAAR in chronic type B dissection carries a substantial risk of early adverse outcomes. The results could be well alleviated with cases directed towards specialized regional and supra-regional centers. Although the endovascular approaches offer relatively low mortality and morbidity, there is a lack of long-term data and guidelines on their use. There is a need for a multidisciplinary international registry on the management of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms and dissection. This would provide a degree of guidance on relevant clinical and surgical judgments and outcomes.
Familial prion disease in a Hungarian family with a novel 144-base pair insertion in the prion protein gene

About 15% of human prion diseases are inherited, and are associated with point or insertional mutations of the prion protein gene (PRNP). Four families with six octapeptide repeat insertions (OPRI) in the PRNP gene have been described in the literature so far. Here we report two cases in a Hungarian family with a new six OPRI (R1R2R2R3R2R3gR3R2R2R3R4) in the PRNP gene. The clinical features (progressive ataxia, dementia and anosmia), the age of onset and the duration of disease were almost identical. In addition to the cerebellar and parahippocampal pathological changes already described, we also found deposits of pathological prion protein in the olfactory system.
The role of infrastructure, markets and government support in the success of small scale enterprises in Lesotho

This article presents the findings of a study that assesses the role of enabling factors for success of small enterprises. The results of the study show that success of small-scale enterprises in Lesotho depends on provision of infrastructural services, use of modern marketing facilities, access to markets and government support. However, some enterprises do not have access to these important determining factors. This paper assesses the role of infrastructure, access to markets and government support to success of small enterprises. Policy recommendations are suggested for improvement of small-scale enterprises in Lesotho.
Biosynthesis of the immunosuppressants FK506, FK520, and rapamycin involves a previously undescribed family of enzymes acting on chorismate

The macrocyclic polyketides FK506, FK520, and rapamycin are potent immunosuppressants that prevent T-cell proliferation through initial binding to the immunophilin FKBP12. Analogs of these molecules are of considerable interest as therapeutics in both metastatic and inflammatory disease. For these polyketides the starter unit for chain assembly is (4R,5R)-4,5-dihydroxycyclohex-1-enecarboxylic acid derived from the shikimate pathway. We show here that the first committed step in its formation is hydrolysis of chorismate to form (4R,5R)-4,5-dihydroxycyclohexa-1,5-dienecarboxylic acid. This chorismatase activity is encoded by fkbO in the FK506 and FK520 biosynthetic gene clusters, and by rapK in the rapamycin gene cluster of Streptomyces hygroscopicus. Purified recombinant FkbO (from FK520) efficiently catalyzed the chorismatase reaction in vitro, as judged by HPLC-MS and NMR analysis. Complementation using fkbO from either the FK506 or the FK520 gene cluster of a strain of S. hygroscopicus specifically deleted in rapK (BIOT-4010) restored rapamycin production, as did supplementation with (4R,5R)-4,5-dihydroxycyclohexa-1,5-dienecarboxylic acid. Although BIOT-4010 produced no rapamycin, it did produce low levels of BC325, a rapamycin analog containing a 3-hydroxybenzoate starter unit. This led us to identify the rapK homolog hyg5 as encoding a chorismatase/3-hydroxybenzoate synthase. Similar enzymes in other bacteria include the product of the bra8 gene from the pathway to the terpenoid natural product brasilicardin. Expression of either hyg5 or bra8 in BIOT-4010 led to increased levels of BC325. Also, purified Hyg5 catalyzed the predicted conversion of chorismate into 3-hydroxybenzoate. FkbO, RapK, Hyg5, and Bra8 are thus founder members of a previously unrecognized family of enzymes acting on chorismate.
The Role of Intensity Upon Pitch Perception in Cochlear Implant Recipients

Objectives: Pitch plays a key role in the perception of speech and music, the recognition of a speaker's voice, and in analyzing complex auditory patterns. To date, little consideration has been given to the influence of stimulation level on pitch perception. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a sound's intensity on pitch perception in cochlear implant recipients using monopolar stimulation.
Turnover-size effect, time-varying and asymmetry of market beta on Taiwan stock returns

Abstract This study is to explore the turnover-risk-return-relation in the stock market. The target of study is Taiwan Stock Market for it is an emerging market with long-term high turnover rate. The common stocks of listed companies are sequenced to establish the turnover-based-ranked portfolios by their monthly turnover rate in order to discuss another size effect in the turnover. We employ the dual time-varying beta market model to test the fact that the systematic risks of long-term turnover-sorted portfolios are non-stationary. Meanwhile, we also test whether there are differences between bull and bear market months for constant market betas and time-varying market risk coefficients. Major empirical results indicate that there is a positive turnover-size effect in Taiwan Stock Market in bull market months, January months and all sample months. Furthermore, only the constant market beta of the highest turnover-sorted portfolio appears to be asymmetric in bull and bear market months. The time-varying coefficient of higher turnover-sorted portfolios is significant in bear market months. However, no sufficient evidence supports the fact that the time-varying market risk coefficients of all portfolios are not asymmetric in bull and bear market months.
Respiratory syncytial virus--viral biology and the host response.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most important cause of respiratory tract infection in infants. We have an incomplete understanding of the reasons why some infants are more severely affected by RSV than others. There is no effective antiviral treatment for the infection. Advances in our understanding of the biology of RSV, particularly in relation to the attachment protein G and the fusion protein F, have revealed potential targets for new antiviral therapies and vaccine development. In response to RSV infection an intense inflammatory response is triggered, mediated initially by the infected airway epithelial cells. Cell mediated responses are important in controlling the extent of infection and in viral clearance. Humoral responses are important in protection. There is early evidence that genetic variation of the host response can influence the outcome of RSV-induced bronchiolitis.