Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity of the Mini‐Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment and the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III to everyday activity impairments in dementia: an exploratory study

The Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) is one of the most frequently used cognitive measures for dementia severity and linked to deficits in everyday functioning. Recently, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III (ACE‐III) increasingly substitute for the MMSE. However, there are no specific cutoffs in the ACE‐III for mild dementia. The objectives of this exploratory study were to assess the sensitivity of each scale to everyday functioning and to examine the cutoffs between mild and moderate dementia on the ACE‐III.
Comparative Study of Antibacterial Activity of Pancreatic Juice in Six Mammalian Species

A comparative study of antibacterial activity of pancreatic juice was conduced on six mammalian species. Pancreatic juice collections were conducted as acute (rabbit, guinea pig, rat) and chronic (pig, sheep, cattle) experiments, in the former before and after stimulation [cholecystokinin (CCK) and secretin] and in the latter under basal conditions alone. Antibacterial activity was tested on Micrococcus pyogenes and compared with that of neomycin. The samples were tested under normal conditions and after heating and dilution. The pancreatic juice of rat showed no activity against Micrococcus pyogenes. The antibacterial activity of rabbit and guinea pig pancreatic juice under basal conditions was similar within the group but significantly higher than that of pig, sheep and cattle which also did not differ significantly within the group. On stimulation with CCK and secretin, no significant change could be observed in the potency of antimicrobial activity of pancreatic juice in the rabbit and guinea pig. The antibacterial activity remained unchanged after heating to 65°C and upon dilution to 1:10.
COMT GENOTYPE , SEX STEROIDS AND BONE PHENOTYPE IN MAN AND MICE

Sex steroids are of profound importance for several physiological processes including reproduction, growth, and maintenance of skeletal integrity. Serum levels of sex steroids are associated with bone mineral density (BMD) and have been shown to be predictive of fracture risk in older people. Sex steroid levels in serum, and also BMD and fracture risk, are under genetic control. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is an important estrogen-degrading enzyme. In the COMT gene there is a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), COMT val108/158met, differentiating three levels of activity: high (COMT), intermediate (COMT), and low (COMT), as a result of lower enzyme activity of the Met variant. The aim of the studies in this thesis was to investigate the role of COMT val108/158met for serum levels of sex steroids, skeletal phenotype, and fracture risk. Four human cohorts and one mouse strain devoid of COMT activity (COMT KO) were used. In girls in early puberty, COMT was found to be associated with higher estradiol (E2) levels, increased longitudinal and radial cortical bone growth, and an earlier pubertal development compared with COMT. Girls with the COMT genotype were 5.4 cm taller on average than girls with COMT. Regression models indicated that most of the associations with pubertal development and growth were mediated through elevated levels of E2. This is plausible, because in theory the COMT genotype would be associated with higher E2 levels due to impaired degradation of estrogens. Increased longitudinal and radial cortical bone growth was also seen in COMT KO mice, compared with their wild-type siblings. In young adult men, COMT genotype was found to be associated with BMD and it was also found to be a modulator of the positive associations previously found in these young adult men between physical activity (PA) and BMD. In general, the association between PA and BMD was stronger in the COMT genotype than in the COMT genotype. In elderly men, COMT genotype was associated with an increased risk of self-reported fractures during their lifetime. In addition, COMT was found to be associated with increased E2 levels in middle-aged men and a decreased risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in middle-aged men and women combined. In conclusion, the findings in this thesis indicate that COMT may be implicated in several physiological processes including the regulation of timing of puberty and growth in young girls and female mice, bone phenotype in young adult men, fracture risk in elderly men, the incidence of MI in middle-aged individuals, and serum E2 levels in middle-aged men.
THE PORCINE REPRODUCTIVE AND RESPIRATORY SYNDROME Characteristics and diagnosis of the causative virus

W Central Veterinary Institute, Department of Virology, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA, Lelystad, The Netherlands ® Dept of Veterinary Pathobiology, Univ. of Minnesota, 1971 Commonwealth Avenue, St. Paul , MN 55108, U S A ^ Dept of Veterinary Science, South Dakota State Univ., PO Box 2175, N. Campus Drive, Brookings, S D 57007, U S A ^ Federal Research Centre for Virus Diseases of Animals, Paul Ehrlich Strasse 28, D-72076 Tubingen, Germany
Single-polarization SAR imaging in the presence of Faraday rotation

We discuss the single-polarization SAR imaging with the Faraday rotation (FR) taken into account. The FR leads to a reduction in the intensity of the received radar signal that varies over the signal length. That, in turn, results in a degradation of the image. In particular, the image of a point target may have its intensity peak split in the range direction. To distinguish between the cases of low reflectivity and those where the low antenna signal is due to the FR, we employ the image autocorrelation analysis. This analysis also helps determine the parameters of the FR, which, in turn, allow us to introduce an approach for correcting the single-polarization SAR images distorted by FR.
Surface water quality and cropping systems sustainability under a changing climate in the Upper Mississippi River Basin

Agricultural nonpoint source pollution is the main source of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in the intensely row-cropped Upper Mississippi River Basin (UMRB) stream system and is considered the primary cause of the northern Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. A point of crucial importance in this region is therefore how intensive corn (Zea mays L.)-based cropping systems for food and fuel production can be sustainable and coexist with a healthy water environment, not only under existing climate conditions but also under a changed climate in the future. To address this issue, a UMRB integrated modeling system has been built with a greatly refined 12-digit subbasin structure based on the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) water quality model, which is capable of estimating landscape and in-stream water and pollutant yields in response to a wide array of alternative cropping and/or management strategies and climatic conditions. The effects of the following four agricultural management scenarios on crop production and pollutant loads exported from the cropland of the UMRB to streams and rivers were evaluated: (1) expansion of continuous corn across the entire basin, (2) adoption of no-till on all corn and soybean (Glycine max L.) fields in the region, (3) substitution of the traditional continuous corn and corn–soybean rotations with an extended five-year rotation consisting of corn, soybean, and three years of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and (4) implementation of a winter cover crop within the baseline rotations. The effects of each management scenario were evaluated both for current climate and a projected midcentury (2046 to 2065) climate from a General Circulation Model (GCM). All four scenarios behaved similarly under the historical and future climate, generally resulting in reduced erosion and nutrient loadings to surface water bodies compared to the baseline agricultural management. Continuous corn was the only scenario which resulted in increased N pollution while no-till was the most environmentally effective and able to sustain production at almost the same levels. Rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop within the fallow period was also effective in reducing erosion and both sediment-bound and soluble forms of nutrients. The results indicated that alternative management practices could reduce sediment, N, and P exports from UMRB cropland by up to 50% without significantly affecting yields. Results for the climate change scenario showed that the effectiveness of the management scenarios was strongly linked to the reduced water availability predicted under the future climate, which assisted in mitigating pollutant transport, although with a small loss of production.
Comparison of methods for detecting medication errors in 36 hospitals and skilled-nursing facilities.

The validity and cost-effectiveness of three methods for detecting medication errors were examined. A stratified random sample of 36 hospitals and skilled-nursing facilities in Colorado and Georgia was selected. Medication administration errors were detected by registered nurses (R.N.s), licensed practical nurses (L.P.N.s), and pharmacy technicians from these facilities using three methods: incident report review, chart review, and direct observation. Each dose evaluated was compared with the prescriber's order. Deviations were considered errors. Efficiency was measured by the time spent evaluating each dose. A pharmacist performed an independent determination of errors to assess the accuracy of each data collector. Clinical significance was judged by a panel of physicians. Observers detected 300 of 457 pharmacist-confirmed errors made on 2556 doses (11.7% error rate) compared with 17 errors detected by chart reviewers (0.7% error rate), and 1 error detected by incident report review (0.04% error rate). All errors detected involved the same 2556 doses. All chart reviewers and 7 of 10 observers achieved at least good comparability with the pharmacist's results. The mean cost of error detection per dose was $4.82 for direct observation and $0.63 for chart review. The technician was the least expensive observer at $2.87 per dose evaluated. R.N.s were the least expensive chart reviewers at $0.50 per dose. Of 457 errors, 35 (8%) were deemed potentially clinically significant; 71% of these were detected by direct observation. Direct observation was more efficient and accurate than reviewing charts and incident reports in detecting medication errors. Pharmacy technicians were more efficient and accurate than R.N.s and L.P.N.s in collecting data about medication errors.
Advanced animation and rendering techniques - theory and practice

Part I Basics 1. Rendering polygonal objects Part II Theoretical Foundations 2. The theory and practice of light/object interaction 3. The theory and practice of parametric representation techniques 4. The theory and practice of anti-aliasing techniques Part III Advanced Rendering Techniques: Approaches, Applications and Algorithms 5. Shadow generation techniques 6. Mapping techniques: texture and environment mapping 7. Procedural texture mapping and modelling 8. Ray tracing I: basic recursive ray tracing 9. Ray tracing II: practical ray tracing 10. Ray tracing III: advanced ray tracing models 11. Radiosity methods 12. Global illumination models 13. Volume rendering techniques 14. Advanced rendering interfaces: shading languages and RenderMan Part IV Advanced Animation 15. Overview and low-level motion specification 16. Animating articulated structures 17. Soft object animation 18. Procedural animation Reference Index
AMP-activated protein kinase activator AICAR acutely lowers blood pressure and relaxes isolated resistance arteries of hypertensive rats

Objectives: AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity may alter blood pressure by directly influencing vascular tone. The purpose of this study is to examine if these effects occur acutely in a model of hypertension. Methods and results: Using distinct groups of Wistar–Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) we compare baseline aortic and mesenteric artery AMPK activation (by immunoblotting), hemodynamic (blood pressure and heart rate via carotid catheter) and biochemical responses to an acute injection of AMPK activator 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxyamide-1-&bgr;-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR) in vivo and vasomotor responses of isolated mesenteric vessels to AICAR exposure in vitro using myography. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) decreased from 196 ± 3 to 122 ± 15 mmHg (P < 0.001) during the 30 min following AICAR injection in SHR (an effect partially prevented by NOS inhibitor L-NAME), but in WKY MAP was unaffected by AICAR. Basal AMPK activation (phosphorylation of AMPK activation site threonine 172) was reduced by approximately 50% in aorta of SHR vs. WKY (0.49 ± 0.1 vs. 1.0 ± 0.1 arbitrary units, P < 0.001), and was improved approximately 1.6-fold in SHR but not in WKY aorta 30 min following AICAR injection. In isolated vessel experiments, dose-dependent vasorelaxation to AICAR was similar in mesenteric arteries of SHR and WKY, although responses were more reliant on nitric oxide in SHR vs. WKY. Conclusions: The ability of AICAR to improve vascular AMPK activation, and to generate parallel reductions in blood pressure and relaxation of SHR resistance vasculature, highlights the potential importance of AMPK in the regulation of blood pressure and vascular tone.
AIT Based Randomness Testing of Quantum Random Bits

Ramsey Theory[3, 7] and Algorithmic Information Theory[1] have proved that there is no “true" randomness: in any finite or infinite sequence there are patterns. So, correlations and patterns exist no matter how randomness is generated, from the environment (for example, Brownian motion, with hardware random number generators), from the initial conditions in systems whose behaviour is very sensitive to small variations in initial conditions (such as pachinko machines and dice) or from software based random generators.
Assessing the Value of the Umbrella‐Species Concept for Conservation Planning with Meta‐Analysis

Abstract: The umbrella‐species concept, which suggests that conservation strategies designed for one species may benefit co‐occurring species, has been promoted as a framework for conservation planning. Nevertheless, there has been considerable variation in the outcome of empirical tests of this concept that has led researchers to question its value, so we used data from 15 published studies in a meta‐analysis to evaluate whether conservation of putative umbrella species also conserves co‐occurring species. We tested the effectiveness of putative umbrella species categorized by taxonomic group, taxonomic similarity to co‐occurring species, body size, generality of resource use, and trophic level to evaluate criteria proposed to guide the selection of umbrella species. We compared species richness and number of individuals (by species and higher taxonomic group) between sites with and without putative umbrella species to test whether more co‐occurring species were present in greater abundances when the area or resource needs of umbrella species were met. Species richness and abundance of co‐occurring species were consistently higher in sites where umbrella species were present than where they were not and for conservation schemes with avian than with mammalian umbrella species. There were no differences in species richness or species abundance with resource generalist or specialist umbrella species or based on taxonomic similarity of umbrella and co‐occurring species. Taxonomic group abundance was higher in across‐taxonomic umbrella species schemes than when umbrella species were of the same taxon as co‐occurring species. Co‐occurring species had similar, or higher, species richness with small‐bodied umbrella species relative to larger‐bodied umbrella species. The only significant difference among umbrella species categorized by trophic level was that species richness was higher with omnivorous than it was with carnivorous avian umbrella species. Our results suggest there is merit to the umbrella‐species concept for conservation, but they do not support the use of the criteria we used to identify umbrella species.
A Multistage Interleaved Synchronous Buck Converter With Integrated Output Filter in 0.18  $\mu$m SiGe Process

The design and analysis of a fully integrated multistage interleaved synchronous buck dc-dc converter with on-chip filter inductor and capacitor is presented. The dc-dc converter is designed and fabricated in 0.18 mum SiGe RF BiCMOS process technology and generates 1.5 V-2.0 V programmable output voltage supporting a maximum output current of 200 mA. High switching frequency of 45 MHz, multiphase interleaved operation, and fast hysteretic controller reduce the filter inductor and capacitor sizes by two orders of magnitude compared to state-of-the-art converters and enable a fully integrated converter. The fully integrated interleaved converter does not require off-chip decoupling and filtering and enables direct battery connection for integrated applications. This design is the first reported fully integrated multistage interleaved, zero voltage switching synchronous buck converter with monolithic output filters. The fully integrated buck regulator achieves 64% efficiency while providing an output current of 200 mA.
Musculoskeletal Injury in the Masters Runners

ObjectiveTo determine if injury patterns and risk factors for injury differ between masters and younger runners. DesignRetrospective survey. SettingHood to Coast running relay, Oregon, USA. ParticipantsA total of 2886 runners consented to participate and completed the survey. Ninety-four (2712/2886) percent completed the survey electronically and 6% (174/2886) manually. Master runners (≥40 years) made up 34% of the population. InterventionThe survey was distributed to all participants in the largest running relay in North America. Runners reported on training patterns, injury location, and diagnosis over the previous year. Main Outcome MeasuresDescriptive statistics and χ2 analysis were used to detect differences in injury rate and location between masters and younger runners. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify risk factors for injury for each group. ResultsThe injury rate for the entire population was 46%. Significantly more masters runners were injured than younger runners (P<0.05). More masters runners suffered multiple injuries than younger runners (P<0.001). Significantly more masters runners were male, had 7 or more years of running experience, run more than 30 miles/wk, 6 or more times/week and wear orthotics than younger runners (P<0.001). The knee and foot were the most common locations of injury for both groups. The prevalence of soft-tissue-type injuries to the calf, achilles, and hamstrings was greater in masters runners than their younger counterparts (P<0.001). Younger runners suffered more knee and leg injuries than masters runners (P<0.005). Running more times/wk increased the risk of injury for both groups. ConclusionsThere were subtle differences in injury rate and location between masters runners and younger runners, which may reflect differences in training intensity.
Public safety, mental disorders, and guns.

I N THE AFTERMATH OF THE shooting of 20 schoolchildren and 6 teachers in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012, attention quickly focused on the presumed link between mental disorder and violence. With no more than rumors to rely on, the media speculated wildly on the gunman’s diagnosis and drew parallels to earlier shootings involving persons with mental illness. Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the National Rifle Association, announced at a press conference that the problem of violence was largely due to people with mental illness, “genuine monsters . that are so deranged, so evil, so possessed by voices and driven by demons, that no sane person can even possibly comprehend them. ” The validity of this widely accepted causal connection between mental disorder and violence is of critical importance for the formulation of appropriate policy responses to the risk of violence. Moreover, inaccurate representations of the relationship between mental disorder and violence have the potential to further stigmatize people with mental disorders and impede their treatment and integration into the broader community.
Hypertensive episodes during and after open heart surgery.

Since our initial description of hypertension following myocardial revascularization in 1973, hypertension has been recognized more frequently as Fawzy G. Estafanous, M.D. a complication before, during, and after surgery for , . myocardial revascularization and heart valve reCleveland, Ohio . placement. A classification based upon the timing of occurrence of the hypertension in relation to surgery is more feasible than a classification based on a specific mechanism (Table). Systemic arterial pressure is determined by several variables, cardiac output, peripheral resistance, blood volume, aortic compliance, autonomic activity, and other humoral factors. All of these are affected by premedication, anesthesia, surgery on the heart itself, cannulation of the big vessels, cardiopulmonary bypass, and the postoperative setup. Preoperative stress, discomfort, and inadequate premedication can cause a sudden rise in blood pressure more pronounced in preoperatively hypertensive patients, particularly if antihypertensive treatment and beta blockers were discontinued. A sudden rise in blood pressure at this stage increases myocardial oxygen consumption, can cause anginal pain and vice versa, therefore, a vicious circle of hypertension and myocardial ischemia. Reflex sympathetic activity due to endotracheal intubation, nasopharyngeal, rectal, or urethral manipulation 139
Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with ulcer recurrence after partial gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Recurrent ulceration of the stomach occurs in some patients after surgery for peptic ulcer disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association of Helicobacter pylori infection with ulcer recurrence in patients after partial gastrectomy due to peptic ulcer disease. METHODOLOGY A total of 186 patients after partial gastrectomy with Billroth I or Billroth II anastomosis presenting with dyspepsia or bleeding were included. An ulcer recurrence was documented by endoscopic examination. Biopsy specimens were taken from the remnant gastric bodies in all patients. H. pylori infection was diagnosed by either a positive biopsy urease test or the presence of the microorganism on histology. RESULTS Eighty-three (44.6%) patients among the 186 patients had recurrent ulcers. H. pylori infection was found in 29 (36%) patients in the ulcer group and 42 (41%) patients in the non-ulcer group. The incidence of H. pylori infection did not differ significantly between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS H. pylori infection may not play an important role in the pathogenesis of recurrent ulcer after partial gastrectomy. Other factors should be studied further.
A Taxonomy and Research Overview of Perishable-Asset Revenue Management: Yield Management, Overbooking, and Pricing

This paper proposes the term perishable-asset revenue management to denote the field that combines the areas of yield management, overbooking, and pricing for perishable assets. After summarizing the characteristics common to problems in this field, the paper discusses the objectives and constraints faced by decision makers. Then it offers a comprehensive taxonomy with 14 different elements and reviews the research that has been done related to each element. Finally, it suggests some important areas of future research that can help bridge the gap between theory and application.