Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A risk factor screening and assessment protocol for schizophrenia and related psychosis.

OBJECTIVE The Psychological Assistance Service (PAS) opened in Newcastle, New South Wales in 1997 as a clinical service for the assessment and treatment of young people at high risk of psychosis and those experiencing a first psychotic episode. The aim of this paper is to describe the assessment protocol of PAS, which is strongly influenced by the neurodevelopmental perspective on early onset psychosis. METHOD The systematic assessment of patients referred to PAS using a protocol over a 2 week period is described. The protocol includes a narrative history, structured diagnostic interview, quantitative assessment of symptoms and other clinical features, a neurological examination and comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. RESULTS The clinic has received over 250 referrals in a 2 year period and accepted 116 patients for a full assessment, of whom 60 were deemed to be 'at-risk' of psychosis and 56 were experiencing their first psychotic episode. Both groups were similar with respect to gender and there were minor age differences. The first-episode group experienced more reality distortion, schizotypal and negative symptoms. While both groups showed some neuropsychological and neurological impairment, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups on these variables except for a test of executive functioning in which the first-episode group was more impaired than the 'at-risk' group. A low rate of conversion to psychosis occurred in the 'at-risk' group. CONCLUSIONS The minor differences between the two groups may have been related to relatively small sample sizes, although some similarities between the groups were to be expected. The low rate of conversion to psychosis in the 'at-risk' group is discussed. Further analyses using larger samples are necessary to determine the validity of the various 'at-risk' categories and this will involve following a sufficiently large sample over an adequate time. The most efficient way of doing this would be to pool data across centres with comparable early intervention programs.
JOGOS ELETRÔNICOS COMO METODOLOGIA ALTERNATIVA NO ENSINO DE CITOLOGIA

O objetivo deste trabalho foi fundamentar a proposta de introducao de games educativos como metodologia auxiliar no processo de ensino-aprendizagem em Biologia. O estudo da Celula ou Citologia e considerado pelos alunos como um dos assuntos mais complexos devido ao seu carater abstrato, principalmente quando o tema se refere a Membrana Plasmatica. Um dos fatores que contribuem para esta dificuldade de entendimento sao as metodologias de ensino utilizadas, elas foram elaboradas para o processo de ensino-aprendizagem das geracoes passadas e por isso tornaram-se ineficientes para os jovens de hoje, nascidos na era digital e que aprendem com a interacao com as novas tecnologias. Com isso, torna-se imprescindivel a introducao de novas metodologias de ensino que facilitem a abstracao na criacao de representacoes mentais e que facam parte do cotidiano do aluno, despertando assim, seu interesse na construcao de seu proprio conhecimento de maneira ativa. Foi construida uma revisao bibliografica descritiva atraves de pesquisa e levantamento bibliografico em sites de busca, livros e artigos cientificos abordando as dificuldades no ensino de Citologia, as mudancas na forma de apropriacao do conhecimento, as contribuicoes para o ensino-aprendizagem do uso de games educativos e alguns jogos eletronicos disponiveis na internet envolvendo o tema Citologia. Espera-se que este trabalho possa contribuir com o ensino das Ciencias Fisicas e Quimicas, uma vez que tambem possuem conteudos microscopicos e abstratos de dificil aprendizagem.
Towards simple methods for mass production of suspended graphene

This paper reports simple fabrication approaches that can be used to generate a suspended graphene sheet with the desired thickness, while eliminating the need for a crytical point dryer. Two methods have been developed to achieve a large suspended area of graphenes. In the first approach, SF6 plasma was used to make holes or channels with specific dimensions. Then micromechanical exfoliation was applied to deposit the graphene sheet suspended over these channels or holes. In the second method, we used SF6 plasma to make suspended graphenes by undercutting planar graphenes. To tune the number of graphene layers, thick graphene samples was etched layer by layer until the desired thickness was obtained. Additionally, the effect of using various plasmas etching (SF6 or O2) on the layer-by-layer graphene removal has been studied. Raman spectra of plasma-treated graphenes have shown higher amount of defects in case of SF6, specially for thin graphene sheet. However, these surface defects could be recovered by annealing the samples in an argon environment at about 1000 °C.
Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography and its Clinical Applications in Glaucoma

Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT) is an imaging modality that provides both quantitative and qualitative information on the cornea, anterior chamber angle, iris and crystalline lens. ASOCT shows excellent repeatability and reproducibility for the measurement of corneal thickness, anterior chamber angle and anterior chamber depth. With realtime video recording, ASOCT can also effectively capture the dynamic changes of the iris and lens in response to light and eye accommodation. With this additional information, physiological and pathological changes of the anterior segment structures are now better understood. This article aims to provide an overview of the current applications of ASOCT in glaucoma. How to cite this article Li H, Jhanji V, Dorairaj S, Liu A, Lam DSC, Leung CK. Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography and its Clinical Applications in Glaucoma. J Current Glau Prac 2012;6(2):68-74.
Complejidad computacional y descriptiva de la programación en lógica rebatible

En el marco del Proyecto de Investigacion “Tecnicas de Inteligencia Computacional para el diseno e implementacion de Sistemas Multiagentes”, de la Universidad Nacional del Comahue, se ha abierto una linea de investigacion que da continuidad al desarrollo de la semantica GS, y que tiene como objetivo estudiar la Complejidad Computacional y Descriptiva de la Programacion en Logica Rebatible a traves de la semantica declarativa definida. El proposito de este trabajo es presentar los resultados alcanzados en esta linea de investigacion, los desarrollos en progreso y los trabajos a futuro.
Comparison of Paenibacillus azotofixans Strains Isolated from Rhizoplane, Rhizosphere, and Non-Root-Associated Soil from Maize Planted in Two Different Brazilian Soils

ABSTRACT Paenibacillus azotofixans is a nitrogen-fixing bacterium often found in soil and in the rhizospheres of different grasses. In this study, two Brazilian clay soils were planted with cross-hybrid maize (BR-201) and four stages of plant growth were analyzed to characterize the P. azotofixans populations present in the rhizoplanes, rhizospheres, and non-root-associated soils (herein called nonrhizospheres). A total of 106 strains were isolated and identified as P. azotofixans with an API 50CH kit, by classical biochemical tests, and via the use of specific primers based on the 16S rRNA gene in PCRs. To compare the isolated strains, phenotypic characteristics were determined and three different probes were used in hybridization experiments: two nif probes and one probe comprising a 0.58-kb fragment cloned from the P. azotofixans C3L4 genome. These results were used to construct a dendrogram, in which two main clusters could be observed. One cluster contained exclusively strains from Várzea soil, and the other contained the majority of strains from Cerrado soil. The 60 strains from Várzea soil and the 46 strains from Cerrado soil were further analyzed with REP and BOX primers, respectively. Based on the patterns obtained, it was possible to identify 21 different groups among strains from Várzea soil and 4 different groups among strains from Cerrado soil. These different patterns were tested by multivariate analysis of variance, and differences in the populations of P. azotofixans during the four stages of plant growth were demonstrated. Moreover, strains isolated from the rhizoplanes, rhizospheres, and nonrhizospheres of maize planted in Cerrado and Várzea soils were shown to be statistically different; the diversity of P. azotofixans strains was affected by the soil type.
III-2 : LA NEURORETINE : ASPECTS FONCTIONNELS

« … ou la rencontre entre photons et photorecepteurs… » Le fonctionnement de la neuroretine est declenche par l’absorption des photons lumineux par les photopigments des photorecepteurs. Il s’en suit une cascade, comme un jeu de domino qui modifie l’etat de l’epithelium pigmentaire en amont et du deuxieme et troisieme etage retinien, en aval… Le signal retinien initial correspond, au niveau des deux premiers etages, a des propagations de variations de differences de potentiels, pour devenir, au troisieme etage, un influx visuel forme de potentiels d’action qui se propagent le long des voies visuelles, jusqu’aux nombreuses aires visuelles corticales. Seules sont decrites les principales etapes fonctionnelles qui introduisent a la comprehension de la genese des signaux electrophysiologiques utilises en exploration clinique. Elles mettent en lumiere les proprietes fonctionnelles differentielles des systemes scotopique et photopique en soulignant leur comportement specifique vis-a-vis des caracteristiques de la stimulation. Ces proprietes sont mises a profit dans le cadre de l’exploration fonctionnelle clinique pour isoler de facon indirecte la reponse et le mode de fonctionnement de chacun de ces deux systemes. Le fonctionnement de l’epithelium pigmentaire est expose au chapitre suivant. Il ne sera cependant pas oublie ici que son niveau de potentiel se modifie au cours de differents etats d’adaptation de la neuroretine a la lumiere ou a l’obscurite avec de possibles retenti
Operational Evaluation of a GBAS System

Satellite navigation (GNSS) is a worldwide available technology that represents a full range of opportunities. For civil aviation, these systems represent a new era, as they have the potential to provide an all-weather gate-to-gate guidance within a global coverage, and will allow decommissioning most traditional navigation aids. Their sole performance, however, is not compliant with the requirements for the most demanding civil aviation operations, as GNSS systems particularly fail to grant integrity to the navigation solution they are providing, and therefore they require augmentation. The Ground-Based Augmentation System (GBAS) intends to help GNSS meet the requirements for Precision Approach operations, this way fulfilling the objective of gate-to-gate navigation. As an additional feature, GBAS systems will also provide a Positioning service that will allow GNSSsupported Departure, Landing and Surface Movements operations. This dissertation presents the process of operational evaluation of a GBAS system, by simulation of a GBAS ground station at the Lisbon International Airport. This simulation will be performed using PEGASUS, a program developed intentionally for the purpose of augmentation systems operational evaluation. GBAS state-of-the-art is also presented and it is seen that GBAS systems are already being acknowledged as a valid alternative to CAT-I ILS and are expected to be the primary system to support CAT-I Precision Approach operations by 2015.
Adaptive position/force control of coordinated multiple manipulators based on a new sliding mode

For the position/force control problem of multiple manipulators grasping a rigid object, an adaptive position/force control strategy is proposed based on a new sliding mode. With the Jacobian matrix, the joint space model for multiple manipulators can be converted into the task space model. In the process of controller design, we add the force error term into the sliding mode and design the position/force controller directly instead of decoupling the position and the force. The new position/force controller can make the force error converge to zero asymptotically, but the conventional controller can only guarantee it bounded. Considering the uncertainties of the dynamic model, adaptive control is introduced. The Lyapunov stability analysis demonstrates that the proposed strategy can guarantee the asymptotic convergence of position and force error. Simulation results of the two planar two-link manipulators are presented to validate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method in comparison with the conventional controller.
Twice-daily triple nucleoside intensification treatment with lamivudine-zidovudine plus abacavir sustains suppression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1: results of the TARGET Study.

This open-label, multicenter, single-arm clinical trial assessed the 48-week efficacy of a twice-daily triple nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor regimen containing a lamivudine (150 mg)-zidovudine (300 mg) combination tablet (COM) and abacavir (ABC; 300 mg) in 87 antiretroviral therapy-experienced, protease inhibitor-naive patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). At baseline, the median plasma HIV-1 RNA level was 3.10 log(10) copies/mL, and the median CD4 cell count was 506 cells/mm(3). An intent-to-treat&rcolon;observed analysis showed that, at weeks 24 and 48 of treatment, HIV-1 RNA level was <400 copies/mL in 48 (76%) of 63 and 45 (82%) of 55 patients, respectively, and <50 copies/mL in 37 (59%) of 63 and 31 (56%) of 55 patients, respectively. Previous zidovudine or lamivudine use and presence at baseline of the M184V reverse-transcriptase mutation did not impact virologic response. Median CD4 cell counts were maintained above baseline throughout the study. COM plus ABC was generally well tolerated.
Spiking Neural Networks

Most current Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models are based on highly simplified brain dynamics. They have been used as powerful computational tools to solve complex pattern recognition, function estimation, and classification problems. ANNs have been evolving towards more powerful and more biologically realistic models. In the past decade, Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) have been developed which comprise of spiking neurons. Information transfer in these neurons mimics the information transfer in biological neurons, i.e., via the precise timing of spikes or a sequence of spikes. To facilitate learning in such networks, new learning algorithms based on varying degrees of biological plausibility have also been developed recently. Addition of the temporal dimension for information encoding in SNNs yields new insight into the dynamics of the human brain and could result in compact representations of large neural networks. As such, SNNs have great potential for solving complicated time-dependent pattern recognition problems because of their inherent dynamic representation. This article presents a state-of-the-art review of the development of spiking neurons and SNNs, and provides insight into their evolution as the third generation neural networks.
Growth of Legionella pneumophila in association with blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)

Legionella pneumophila (Legionnaires disease bacterium) of serogroup 1 was isolated from an algal-bacterial mat community growing at 45 degrees C in a man-made thermal effluent. This isolate was grown in mineral salts medium at 45 degrees C in association with the blue-green alga (cyanobacterium) Fischerella sp. over a pH range of 6.9 to 7.6. L. pneumophila was apparently using algal extracellular products as its carbon and energy sources. These observations indicate that the temperature, pH, and nutritional requirements of L. pneumophila are not as stringent as those previously observed when cultured on complex media. This association between L. pneumophila and certain blue-green algae suggests an explanation for the apparent widespread distribution of the bacterium in nature.
Antibody response to influenza infection of mice: different patterns for glycoprotein and nucleocapsid antigens

Our previous studies of C57BL/6 mice intranasally infected with influenza virus (A/PR8) revealed a spike of virus‐specific immunoglobulin A (IgA)‐secreting antibody‐forming cells (AFC) in the mediastinal lymph node (MLN) 7 days post‐infection. Here we show that these AFC are directed only against viral glycoprotein, and not nucleocapsid antigens. The early IgA spike associates with a decline in glycoprotein‐specific AFC during week 2 post‐infection. In contrast to the glycoprotein‐specific AFC, nucleocapsid‐specific, IgA‐secreting AFC develop gradually in the MLN and persist for more than 3 weeks post‐infection. As peripheral lymph node reactions wane, the nucleocapsid‐specific AFC appear as long‐sustained populations in the bone marrow. Microanatomical examination of the respiratory tract in infected mice shows foci of infection established in the lung 2 days post‐infection, from which virus spreads to infect the entire lining of the trachea by day 3. At this time, viral haemagglutinin can be seen within the MLN, probably on projections from infected dendritic cells. This feature disappears within a day, though viral antigen expression continues to spread throughout the respiratory tract. Total IgA‐ and IgG‐secreting AFC appear histologically in large numbers during the first week post‐infection, significantly preceding the appearance of germinal centres (revealed by peanut agglutinin staining in week 2). To explain these results, we suggest that the initial immunogenic encounter of B cells with viral antigens occurs about 3 days post‐infection in the MLN, with antigens transported by dendritic cells from airway mucosa, the only site of viral replication. Viral glycoproteins expressed as integral membrane components on the surface of infected dendritic cells [probably in the absence of cognate T helper (Th) cells] promote members of expanding relevant B‐cell clones to undergo an IgA switch and terminal local plasmacytoid differentiation. Anti‐glycoprotein specificities are thus selectively depleted from progeny of activated B‐cell clones which are channelled to participate in germinal centre formation (perhaps by cognate T helper cells when they become sufficiently frequent). One product of the germinal centre reaction is the long‐sustained, bone marrow‐resident population, which is accordingly rich in anti‐nucleoprotein, but not anti‐glycoprotein specificities. Of note, we find that AFC responses toward influenza virus and Sendai virus differ, even though viral replication is limited to the airway mucosa in each case. The response towards Sendai virus exhibits neither the early appearance of anti‐glycoprotein AFC expressing IgA in draining lymph nodes, nor the subsequent relative deficit of this specificity from bone marrow AFC populations.
A relativização no português culto

Neste artigo tentamos mostrar que a distincao semântica entre oracoes restritivas e nao restritivas do portugues culto do Brasil tem uma contraparte sintatica: as primeiras sao constituintes internos de um SN, enquanto as ultimas ocupam uma posicao de adjuncao. Todos os relativizadores sao pronomes, exceto que, o qual pode classificar-se como uma particula altamente pronominal.
Tratamiento de los espasmos infantiles (Sindrome de West) con clobazan y valproato de sodio

En un estudio prospectivo, se tratran 18 pacientes con sindrome de west utilizando en la mitad de ellos valproato de sodio y en el resto una benzodiazepina (1-5 benzodiazepina clobazam), despues de un minimo de tres meses de terapia, se obtuvo una respuesta buena (control total de las crisis) en 4 casos, regular (control parcial) en 2 casos y mala (ninguna respuesta) en 2 casos, en el grupo que tomaba valproato de sodio y una respuesta buena en 5 casos, regular en un caso y mala en dos casos en el grupo tratado con clobazam. Dos pacientes no regresaron a control. Tres de los pacientes que obtuvieron una mala respuesta recibieron una combinacion de clobazam y valproato de sodio logrando una respuesta regular, sin lograr un control total de los espasmos. El trabajo corrobora la utilidad del valproato de sodio en el control parcial o total de las crisis del sindrome de West, obteniendo similares resultados a los reportados en la literatura mundial, e introduce al clobazam como una nueva droga que puede ser utilizada en el manejo de este tipo de epilepsia
Simulation de fissures courbes en trois dimensions avec extraction directe des facteurs d'intensité des contraintes : En vue de l'identification de lois de propagation de fatigue

La comprehension du comportement de structures jusqu'a leur ruine est necessaire pour concevoir au mieux ces structures. Selon le materiau et les sollicitations considerees, les mecanismes physiques a l'origine de la rupture changent. Nous nous interesserons a des materiaux homogenes pour lesquels la ruine passe par le developpement de fissures autour desquelles les non-linearites de comportement n'ont pas un role dominant. Ces conditions sont reunies pour les materiaux fragiles pour lesquels la source principale de dissipation est la generation non reversible d'une surface libre, et pour certaines fissures de fatigue. Sur un cycle de chargement, il existe de nombreuses applications pour lesquelles les non-linearites restent confinees. La theorie de la mecanique lineaire elastique de la rupture est alors un modele pertinent pour approcher le comportement de la structure. Sous ces hypotheses, le front de la fissure introduit une singularite. L'etude asymptotique de cette singularite dans des situations plane et anti-plane permet de definir les series de Williams. La singularite est alors d'ordre un demi et elle est quantifiee par les facteurs d'intensite des contraintes (FIC) pour chacun des trois modes de sollicitations. En 3D, la fissure peut avoir une geometrie complexe, et aucune expression generale de la singularite n'existe. Dans cette these, les series de Williams en deplacements sont utilisees et regularisees le long du front au sens des elements finis. A partir de cette definition 3D des series asymptotiques en pointe de fissure, une methode d'extraction directe des FIC (DEK-FEM) est etendue au cas 3D. Le domaine est decompose en deux domaines, raccordes en moyenne sur l'interface. Au voisinage du front, les champs mecaniques sont approches par une troncature des champs asymptotiques. La singularite est donc traitee avec des champs adaptes, et les degres de liberte associes sont directement les coefficients asymptotiques. Parmi ces coefficients asymptotiques, on retrouve les FIC et les T-stresses. Pour des raisons d'efficacite numerique et pour pouvoir relier l'echelle de la structure a l'echelle de la fissure, cette methode est integree dans un contexte multigrilles localisees X-FEM. Ainsi nous montrons que cette approche permet une bonne evaluation des evolutions des FIC et du T-stress. Cette methode est developpee en parallele d'une strategie de post-traitement experimental (mesure de champs de deplacements par correlation d'images) basee sur les memes series asymptotiques. Les images tridimensionnels d'un essai de fatigue in situ sont obtenues par micro-tomographie a rayons X et reconstruction. La correlation et la regularisation basees sur les series asymptotiques permettent d'obtenir la geometrie de la fissure et les FIC pour pouvoir identifier des lois de propagation de fissures 3D en fatigue. L'efficacite de cette methode en parallele d'une simulation DEK-FEM est illustree en 2D.