Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease: regional diffusivity of water.

PURPOSE To compare the regional diffusivity of water in the brains of normally aging elderly people and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS Magnetic resonance images were obtained in 21 patients with Alzheimer disease, 19 patients with MCI, and 55 normally aging elderly control subjects without evidence of cognitive impairment. Regions of interest were drawn to compare the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and the anisotropy index (AI) in frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, anterior, and posterior cingulate white matter (WM), and the thalami and hippocampi. RESULTS Hippocampal ADC was higher in MCI and Alzheimer disease patients than in control subjects. ADC of the temporal stem and posterior cingulate, occipital, and parietal WM was higher in Alzheimer disease patients than in control subjects. Except for occipital AI, which was lower in MCI patients than in control subjects, there were no differences in AI among the three groups for any of the regions. CONCLUSION Hippocampal ADC was significantly different between control subjects and MCI patients, many of whom likely have preclinical Alzheimer disease. Elevation in hippocampal ADC may reflect early ultrastructural changes in the progression of Alzheimer disease.
SRA Gene Knockout Protects against Diet-induced Obesity and Improves Glucose Tolerance*

Background: The non-coding RNA, steroid receptor RNA activator (SRA), promotes adipocyte differentiation in vitro. Results: SRA gene knock-out protects against obesity and improves glucose tolerance in mice fed a high fat diet. Conclusion: SRA is an important regulator of adiposity in diet-induced obesity. Significance: This is the first report that the Sra1 gene plays an important role in adipose tissue biology in vivo. We have recently shown that the non-coding RNA, steroid receptor RNA activator (SRA), functions as a transcriptional coactivator of PPARγ and promotes adipocyte differentiation in vitro. To assess SRA function in vivo, we have generated a whole mouse Sra1 gene knock-out (SRA−/−). Here, we show that the Sra1 gene is an important regulator of adipose tissue mass and function. SRA is expressed at a higher level in adipose tissue than other organs in wild type mice. SRA−/− mice are resistant to high fat diet-induced obesity, with decreased fat mass and increased lean content. This lean phenotype of SRA−/− mice is associated with decreased expression of a subset of adipocyte marker genes and reduced plasma TNFα levels. The SRA−/− mice are more insulin sensitive, as evidenced by reduced fasting insulin, and lower blood glucoses in response to IP glucose and insulin. In addition, the livers of SRA−/− mice have fewer lipid droplets after high fat diet feeding, and the expression of lipogenesis-associated genes is decreased. To our knowledge, these data are the first to indicate a functional role for SRA in adipose tissue biology and glucose homeostasis in vivo.
Disease‐modifying capability of murine Flt3‐ligand DCs in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Dendritic cells (DCs) bridge the innate and adaptive immune response, are uniquely capable of priming naïve T cells, and play a critical role in the initiation and regulation of autoimmune and immune‐mediated disease. At present, in vivo expansion of DC populations is accomplished primarily through the administration of the recombinant human growth factor fms‐like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (hFL), and in vitro DCs are generated using cytokine cocktails containing GM‐CSF ± IL‐4. Although hFL has traditionally been used in mice, differences in amino acid sequence and biological activity exist between murine FL (mFL) and hFL, and resultant DC populations differ in phenotype and immunoregulatory functional capabilities. This study developed and characterized mFL‐generated DCs and determined the therapeutic capability of mFL DCs in the autoimmune disease experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Our findings demonstrate that mFL and hFL expand splenic DCs equally in vivo but that mFL‐expanded, splenic DCs more closely resemble normal, resting, splenic DCs. In addition, a novel method for generating mFL‐derived bone marrow‐derived DCs (BM‐DCs) was developed, and comparison of mFL with hFL BM‐DCs found mFL BM‐DCs to be less mature (i.e., lower MHC Class II, CD80, and CD86) than hFL BM‐DCs. These immature mFL DCs up‐regulated costimulatory molecules in response to maturation stimuli LPS and TNF‐α. Mature mFL BM‐DCs were immunogenic and exacerbated the clinical disease course of EAE.
Some plasma constituents correlate with human cataract location and nuclear colour.

AIMS To look for differences in levels of various plasma constituents between pair-matched controls and patients who had cataracts classified by location and appearance of lens opacity and nuclear colour in order to identify systemic risk factors. METHODS One thousand patients were taken from the cataract waiting list of a specialist eye hospital. For each patient, a matched control of the same sex and half-decade of age but without cataract was taken from the patient-list of the family doctor of the patient; the control was the next alphabetically after the patient on the doctor's list. At an early morning visit to the homes of both patients and controls, fasting, a team of nurses performed venepunctures and collected information for a questionnaire. Eye examinations were performed by a team of ophthalmologists. RESULTS Predominantly nuclear cataract was significantly associated with raised plasma alanine aminotransferase and bilirubin, posterior subcapsular cataract with increased calcium and urea, cuneiform with reduced potassium, mature/hypermature with raised potassium and reduced total carbon dioxide. The following were consistently significantly associated with all forms of cataract; diabetes and raised plasma glucose (not in non-diabetics), use of steroid medication, raised levels of cortisol (steroid users excluded), albumin, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, sodium and total protein and reduced levels of cholesterol and albumin/(total protein-albumin) ratio (an approximation for the albumin/globulin ratio). The multivariate analysis indicated that the most important non-specific cataractogenic effects were those of increased total protein, diabetes and use of steroid medication. CONCLUSION This and other studies support, broadly, the conclusions that senile or age-related cataract is not merely caused by increasing age and also that various morphological types have different risk factors. The mechanisms underlying the biochemical associations with different patterns of lens opacification and the identification of the ultimate risk factors remain to be elucidated.
Experience of hepatitis C testing among injecting drug users in Sydney, Australia

Abstract Testing injecting drug users (IDUs) for HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) provides a useful opportunity for health promotion, risk-reduction assessment and counselling, and increases opportunities for treatment assessment, yet little is known about IDUs’ experience of testing. This study aimed to examine the experiences of testing among IDUs recruited through primary healthcare and drug treatment services. Almost all the 229 participants recruited had been previously tested for HIV (96%) and HCV (97%), a median of five and four times respectively. Reasons for seeking testing were similar for both HIV and HCV, the most common being to protect others (72 and 74%, respectively), blood/needle exposure (66 and 70%, respectively) and to receive early treatment (66%, both). The most common locations for testing were general medical practices (GPs) (53%), specialised clinics (45%) and methadone clinics (43%). Preferred locations were similar for HIV and HCV testing: methadone clinics (47 and 48%, respectively), GPs (42%, both), specialised clinics (32%, both). The most common reasons for delaying testing were being anxious about waiting for results (66%), scared or afraid of finding out results (65%) and having trouble keeping appointments (64%). The majority of participants (HIV 62%; HCV 59%) reported that they would prefer pre-test counselling to be delivered in person rather than receiving written information and would prefer test results to be delivered face-to-face (HIV 83%; HCV 80%). High prevalence of testing suggests good uptake and high acceptability among this population in Australia. Specialised services for drug users such as methadone clinics and primary healthcare are suitable locations to provide access to testing.
The Mannose Receptor Mediates Uptake of Pathogenic and Nonpathogenic Mycobacteria and Bypasses Bactericidal Responses in Human Macrophages

ABSTRACT The mannose receptor (MR) is involved in the phagocytosis of pathogenic microorganisms. Here we investigated its role in the bactericidal functions of human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs), using (i) trimannoside-bovine serum albumin (BSA)-coated latex beads and zymosan as particulate ligands of the MR, and (ii) mannan and mannose-BSA as soluble ligands. We show that phagocytosis of mannosylated latex beads did not elicit the production of O2−. Zymosan, which is composed of α-mannan and β-glucan, was internalized by the MR and a β-glucan receptor, but the production of O2− was triggered only by phagocytosis through the β-glucan receptor. Activation and translocation of Hck, a Src family tyrosine kinase located on lysosomes, has previously been used as a marker of fusion between lysosomes and phagosomes in human neutrophils. In MDMs, Hck was activated and recruited to phagosomes containing zymosan later than LAMP-1 and CD63. Phagosomes containing mannosylated latex beads fused with LAMP-1 and CD63 vesicles but not with the Hck compartment, and the kinase was not activated. We also demonstrate that the MR was unable to distinguish between nonpathogenic and pathogenic mycobacteria, as they were internalized at similar rates by this receptor, indicating that this route of entry cannot be considered as a differential determinant of the intracellular fate of mycobacteria. In conclusion, MR-dependent phagocytosis is coupled neither to the activation of NADPH oxidase nor to the maturation of phagosomes until fusion with the Hck compartment and therefore constitutes a safe portal of entry for microorganisms.
The importance of diagnostic accuracy in colonic inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVE:Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) may both affect the colon. However, in approximately 10–20% of these cases, it is impossible to distinguish between these two entities either clinically or histologically, and a diagnosis of indeterminate colitis (IC) is made. Correct diagnosis is important because surgical treatment and long-term prognosis differ for UC and CD. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of interobserver agreement among board-certified pathologists and a specialist gastrointestinal (GI) pathologist regarding the histological diagnosis of colonic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS:A total of 24 university medical center pathologists from eight institutions evaluated 84 colectomy specimens and 35 sets of biopsy specimens from 119 consecutive patients with colonic IBD. A specialist GI pathologist subsequently reviewed all cases without knowledge of clinical data and prior diagnosis.RESULTS:The GI pathologist's diagnoses differed from the initial diagnoses in 45% of surgical specimens and 54% of biopsy specimens. Of 70 cases initially diagnosed as UC, 30 (43%) were changed to CD or IC, whereas 4 of 23 cases (17%) initially diagnosed as CD were changed to UC or IC. The κ coefficient for the overall agreement of initial diagnoses with the specialist GI pathologist's diagnoses was −0.01 (p = 0.98). CONCLUSIONS:There is significant interobserver variation in the histological diagnosis of colonic IBD. This may have a profound effect on clinical patient care and, especially, on the choice of operation. More accurate diagnostic criteria are needed to facilitate patient care and to optimize treatment outcome.
BEM-based SISO detection of orthogonal space-time block codes over frequency flat-fading channels

The expectation-maximization algorithm for maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation of a random vector is applied to the problem of detection of orthogonal space-time block codes over time-selective Rayleigh fading channels. This results in a soft-in soft-out detection algorithm suitable for iterative detection/decoding schemes. Simulation results show that the error performance of the proposed detection algorithm is very close to that of a MAP detector endowed with an ideal knowledge of the channel state if the fading rate is not too fast.
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors from Corydalis yanhusuo

In a bioassay-guided search for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors from Chinese natural resources, eight isoquinoline alkaloids, tetrahydropalmatine (1), corydaline (2), protopine (3), berberine (4), palmatine (5), jatrorrhizine (6), coptisine (7) and dehydrocorydaline (8), were isolated from the methanolic extract of the tubers of Corydalis yanhusuo. Structures of these compounds were identified by spectroscopic techniques. Compounds 4–8 inhibited AChE activity in a dose-dependent manner, and the IC50 values were 0.47 ± 0.01, 0.74 ± 0.06, 2.08 ± 0.09, 1.01 ± 0.03 and 0.62 ± 0.05 µM, respectively. Structure–activity relationship analysis suggested that aromatisation at ring C, as well as substitutions at C-2, C-3, C-9, C-10 and C-13 affect the AChE activity of protoberberine alkaloids.
"Cafe coronaries" in psychiatric patients.

To the Editor. — The article by Mittleman and Wetli entitled "The Fatal Cafe Coronary: Foreign-Body Airway Obstruction" (1982;247:1285) interested us, since we have been investigating the possible association between psychotropic drugs and disorders of swallowing among psychiatric patients for the past several years. Recently, we have reported two studies that showed (1) that psychiatric patients who choked to death were twice as likely to have been receiving multiple drugs with strong anticholinergic effects at the time of death as living control subjects (71.4%v35.7%, respectively) and (2) that impairment of the gag reflex was more than three times as likely among living schizophrenic patients with tardive dyskinesia who were also receiving anticholinergic drugs (73.7%) as compared with patients without tardive dyskinesia with (12.5%) or without (22.2%) anticholinergic drug exposure and patients with tardive dyskinesia without anticholinergic drug exposure (30.0% ). 2The previously described findings have led us to postulate
Online and automated reliable system design to remove blink and muscle artefact in EEG

Electroencephalograms (EEGs) are progressively emerging as a significant measure of brain activity and are very effective tool for the diagnosis and treatment of mental and brain diseases and disorders including sleep apnea, Alzheimer's disease and Neurodevelopmental disorders. However, EEG signal is mixed with other biological signals including Ocular and Muscular artefacts making it difficult to extract the diagnostic features. Therefore, the contaminated EEG channels are often discarded by the medical practitioners resulting less accurate diagnosis. In this paper we propose a real-time low-complexity and reliable system design methodology to remove these artefacts and noise in an automated fashion to aid online diagnosis under the pervasive personalized healthcare set-up without the need of any reference electrode. The simulation and hardware performance of the proposed methodology are measured and compared in terms of correlation and regression statistics lying above 80% and 67% which are much improved over the state-of-the art methodologies.
Perceptions of visibility degradation in Hong Kong

The human dimensions of visibility degradation remain under-researched academically. Based on Zube and Sell's Process Model of the Perception of, and Response to, Environmental Change, a questionnaire survey was conducted in Hong Kong between 5 June 2012 and 26 January 2013 (n = 1,203). The respondents’ perceptions towards visibility degradation were collected. The results show that respondents were moderately knowledgeable to visibility degradation, perceiving the problem as anthropogenic and unfavorable and identifying the fight against the degradation as an important environmental issue. It is further deduced that the respondents’ physical and sociocultural attributes, and the way they gain information about visibility degradation, can affect their perceptions of visibility degradation. The results reveal that improving information channels can positively promote human sensitivity to and understanding of visibility degradation in order to mitigate it. Yet, any attempts to educate the lay public should not assume the existence of a homogenous community of like-minded people.
Eye tracking in normals: spem asymmetries and association with schizotypy.

SPEM was recorded electro-oculographically during visual tracking of sinusoidal targets oscillating at . 4 and . 8 cycles per second in one hundred nineteen undergraduates. The logarithms of median root mean square values were used to assess tracking accuracy for leftward and rightward halfcycles of tracking. Over the entire sample, there was a significant superiority of rightward over leftward tracking, which, given evidence for the ipsilateral mediation of SPEM at the cortical level, suggests a right hemisphere predominance in the control of SPEM in normal subjects. Individual tracking asymmetry was associated with overall tracking accuracy such that subjects with relatively deficient leftward tracking and those with a larger absolute magnitude of asymmetry had poorer overall tracking. High scores on an MMPI schizotypy measure (Sum 2-7-8-0) were significantly related to poorer overall SPEM accuracy, individual tracking asymmetry, the absolute magnitude of tracking asymmetry, and phase lag, though the subjects' sex, handedness, and crossed hand-foot dominance were found to affect the relationships between schizotypy and tracking accuracy. These findings suggest that although control of SPEM may be predominantly right hemispheric, in some persons with a vulnerability to schizophrenia spectrum disorders, expressed as poorer overall SPEM accuracy and high schizotypy scores, left hemisphere-mediated (leftward) SPEM may be particularly impaired.
Construct Reliability and Validity of the Shortened Version of the Information-Seeking Behavior Scale

This study aimed to translate the information-seeking behavior scale from English to Thai, and to ascertain the construct reliability and validity of the scale. Data were collected from 664 undergraduate students in Thailand. The descriptive statistics were explored to see the extent to which various information sources are being used by undergraduate students. The researchers conducted Exploratory Factor Analysis EFA and Confirmatory Factor Analysis CFA for the 33 Likert-type items. Results from EFA suggested the elimination of some items and results from CFA confirmed the validity of the scales. The shortened version was comprised of three constructs: 'regulation activities when applying search strategies' five items, 'regulation activities when evaluating information on websites' four items, and 'referring to information' four items. Educators and researchers may find this shortened version of the scale as a useful tool to assess students' information-seeking behavior.
Distributed Active Anti-Disturbance Consensus for Leader-Follower Higher-Order Multi-Agent Systems With Mismatched Disturbances

This technical note studies the finite-time consensus problem of leader-follower higher-order multi-agent systems with mismatched disturbances. To solve such a problem, by combining the non-singular terminal sliding-mode control (NTSMC) and disturbance observer based control (DOBC) methods together, a distributed active anti-disturbance cooperative control scheme is proposed. Firstly, to estimate the matched/mismatched disturbances of each follower, a finite-time disturbance observer is constructed. Secondly, by distributedly employing the mismatched disturbances estimates, integral-type non-singular terminal sliding-mode surfaces are designed for followers. Thirdly, distributed protocols are proposed based on the surfaces. In the presence of mismatched disturbances, these protocols achieve finite-time output consensus for the agents. Simulations validate the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.
Iterative Reweighting Heterogeneous Transfer Learning Framework for Supervised Remote Sensing Image Classification

Supervised classification methods have been widely used in the hyperspectral remote sensing image analysis. However, they require a large number of training samples to guarantee good performance, which costs a large amount of time and human labor, motivating researchers to reuse labeled samples from the mass of pre-existing related images. Transfer learning methods can adapt knowledge in the existing images to solve the classification problem in new yet related images, and have drawn increasing interest in the remote sensing field. However, the existing methods in the RS field require that all the images share the same dimensionality, which prevents their practical application. This paper focuses on the transfer learning problem for heterogeneous spaces where the dimensions are different. We propose a novel iterative reweighting heterogeneous transfer learning (IRHTL) framework that iteratively learns a common space for the source and target data and conducts a novel iterative reweighting strategy to reweight the source samples. In each iteration, the heterogeneous data are first mapped into a common space by two projection functions based on a weighted support vector machine. Second, based on the common subspace, the source data are reweighted by using the iterative reweighting strategy and reused for the transferring, according to their relative importance. Experiments undertaken on three data sets confirmed the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed IRHTL method.