Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Schizencephaly as a cause of spastic cerebral palsy.

PURPOSE The objective was to investigate the clinical features of schizencephaly in children with spastic cerebral palsy. MATERIAL AND METHODS The present study included 180 children with cerebral palsy, spastic tetraplegia, diplegia, and hemiplegia. All magnetic resonance (MR) scans were obtained using a 1.5 T MR scanner with the use of a standard circularly polarized head coil. RESULTS Significant abnormalities relevant to cerebral palsy were evident on MRI in 95%. Periventicular leukomalacia was detected more frequently in children with spastic diplegia than in other patients. Cerebral atrophy was found more often in tetraplegic patients. Porencephalic cysts were detected more often in children with spastic hemiplegia. Congenital brain anomalies were evident in 20 (11.1%) children with spastic cerebral palsy. Twelve patients had schizencephaly with cerebral palsy. Children with spastic diplegia and tetraplegia had bilateral schizencephaly; patients with spastic hemiplegia only had unilateral schizencephaly. Most patients with schizencephaly had epilepsy. CONCLUSIONS Schizencephaly occurred more often in patients with spastic hemiplegia. Early detection of brain abnormalities in children with cerebral palsy may help in the prognosis and in the introduction of appropriate therapy.
Vaccination of chimpanzees against infection by the hepatitis C virus.

A high incidence of community-acquired hepatitis C virus infection that can lead to the progressive development of chronic active hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and primary hepatocellular carcinoma occurs throughout the world. A vaccine to control the spread of this agent that represents a major cause of chronic liver disease is therefore needed. Seven chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) have been immunized with both putative envelope glycoproteins [E1 (gp33) and E2 (gp72)] that were copurified from HeLa cells infected with a recombinant vaccinia virus expression vector. Despite the induction of a weak humoral immune response to these viral glycoproteins in experimentally infected chimpanzees, a strong humoral immune response was obtained in all vaccines. The five highest responders showed complete protection against an i.v. challenge with homologous hepatitis C virus 1. The remaining two vaccines became infected, but both infection and disease may have been ameliorated in comparison with four similarly challenged control chimpanzees, all of which developed acute hepatitis and chronic infections. These results provide considerable encouragement for the eventual control of hepatitis C virus infection by vaccination.
[The links between neuropsychology and neurophysiology].

AIM The aim of the study was to establish current scope of knowledge regarding associations between neurophysiological functioning, neuropsychology and psychoterapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS A systematic review was performed including 93 publications from Science Server, which contains the collections of Elsevier, Springer Journals, SCI-Ex/ICM, MEDLINE/PubMed, and SCOPUS. The works have been selected basing on following key words: 'neuropsychology, neurocognitive correlates, electrodermal response, event related potential, EEG, pupillography, electromiography' out of papers published between 2004-2015. RESULTS Present reports on the use of neurophysiological methods in psychology can be divided into two areas: experimental research and research of the practical use of conditioning techniques and biofeedback in the treatment of somatic disease. Among the experimental research the following have been distinguished: research based on the startle reflex, physiological reaction to novelty, stress, type/amount of cognitive load and physiological correlates of emotion; research on the neurophysiological correlates of mental disorders, mostly mood and anxiety disorders, and neurocognitive correlates: of memory, attention, learning and intelligence. Among papers regarding the use of neurophysiological methods in psychology two types are the most frequent: on the mechanisms of biofeedback, related mainly to neuro- feedback, which is a quickly expanding method of various attention and mental disorders'treatment, and also research of the use of conditioning techniques in the treatment of mental disorders, especially depression and anxiety. A special place among all the above is taken by the research on electrophysiological correlates of psychotherapy, aiming to differentiate between the efficacy of various psychotherapeutic schools (the largest amount of publications regard the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy) in patients of different age groups and different diagnosis.
Propagation time estimation between underwater acoustic modems during data exchange via synchronous instant messages

Modern underwater acoustic modems, besides transmitting and receiving data, are capable for measuring signal propagation time and thus also for evaluation of the distance between the transmitter and the receiver. Such capabilities can be exploited for synchronization of underwater acoustic sensor networks, where sensing and actuation must be coordinated across multiple nodes. However such problem, as accuracy of propagation time measurement, especially in reverberant environments, have been investigated rather poorly. Main objectives of this paper consist in analytical and experimental evaluation of the accuracy of propagation time measurements during bidirectional data exchange between underwater acoustic modems via synchronous instant messages.
Too much too young? Teenage pregnancy is a public health, not a clinical, problem.

This article criticizes an article that concentrates on the biological outcomes of full-term pregnancies among teenagers. Gabriel Scally points out that the authors failed to deal with more important issues like the educational and social effects of early motherhood. Scally also defends Tony Blairs foreword in the Social Exclusion Units Teenage Pregnancy report which was misconstrued by Lawlor and Shaw.
Acapella vs. PEP mask therapy: A randomised trial in children with cystic fibrosis during respiratory exacerbation

The Acapella is a positive pressure device designed to assist mucociliary clearance. This study investigated the effectiveness of the Acapella in comparison to PEP mask therapy. Twenty-three participants with cystic fibrosis (CF) with a median age of 12 years (range 7–18 years), who were admitted to hospital for a respiratory exacerbation were randomised to either the PEP mask or Acapella treatment group. Both groups completed two treatment sessions each day (10 sets of 10 breaths in sitting) over a 10-day period. Outcome measures were change in lung function (FEV1, FVC, FEF25–75, and PEF) and exercise performance (modified 10-metre shuttle). In addition, total sputum production during treatment (wet weight) and patient satisfaction were assessed over the 10-day period. At the end of 10 days there were no statistically significant differences between the groups for any of the outcome measures. Participants were highly satisfied with both devices. The results suggest that there is no statistically significant difference between the Acapella device and the PEP mask for use in CF during an acute exacerbation. Larger studies are required to determine whether differences between PEP mask and Acapella noted in this trial are clinically worthwhile.
Characterization of GaWRKY1, a Cotton Transcription Factor That Regulates the Sesquiterpene Synthase Gene (+)-δ-Cadinene Synthase-A1

The cotton (+)-δ-cadinene synthase (CAD1), a sesquiterpene cyclase, catalyzes a branch-point step leading to biosynthesis of sesquiterpene phytoalexins, including gossypol. CAD1-A is a member of CAD1 gene family, and its promoter contains a W-box palindrome with two reversely oriented TGAC repeats, which are the proposed binding sites of WRKY transcription factors. We isolated several WRKY cDNAs from Gossypium arboreum. One of them, GaWRKY1, encodes a protein containing a single WRKY domain and a putative N-terminal Leu zipper. Similar to genes encoding enzymes of cotton sesquiterpene pathway, GaWRKY1 was down-regulated in a glandless cotton cultivar that contained much less gossypol. GaWRKY1 showed a temporal and spatial pattern of expression comparable to that of CAD1-A in various aerial organs examined, including sepal, stigma, anther, and developing seeds. In suspension cells, expression of both GaWRKY1 and CAD1-A genes and biosynthesis of sesquiterpene aldehydes were strongly induced by a fungal elicitor preparation and methyl jasmonate. GaWRKY1 interacted with the 3× W-box derived from CAD1-A promoter in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) one-hybrid system and in vitro. Furthermore, in transgenic Arabidopsis plants, overexpression of GaWRKY1 highly activated the CAD1-A promoter, and transient assay in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) leaves demonstrated that W-box was required for this activation. These results suggest that GaWRKY1 participates in regulation of sesquiterpene biosynthesis in cotton, and CAD1-A is a target gene of this transcription factor.
Adoption, non-adoption, and abandonment of a personal electronic health record: case study of HealthSpace

Objective To evaluate the policy making process, implementation by NHS organisations, and patients’ and carers’ experiences of efforts to introduce an internet accessible personal electronic health record (HealthSpace) in a public sector healthcare system. Design Mixed method, multilevel case study. Setting English National Health Service; the basic HealthSpace technology (available throughout England) and the advanced version (available in a few localities where this option had been introduced) were considered. Main outcome measures National statistics on invitations sent, HealthSpace accounts created, and interviews and ethnographic observation of patients and carers. Data analysis was informed by a socio-technical approach which considered macro and micro influences on both adoption and non-adoption of innovations, and by the principles of critical discourse analysis. Participants 56 patients and carers (of whom 21 opened a basic HealthSpace account, 20 had diabetes but were not initially using HealthSpace, and 15 used advanced HealthSpace accounts to exchange messages with their general practitioner), 3000 pages of documents (policies, strategies, business plans, minutes of meetings, correspondence), observational field notes, and 160 interviews with policy makers, project managers, and clinical staff. Results Between 2007 and October 2010, 172 950 people opened a basic HealthSpace account. 2913 (0.13% of those invited) opened an advanced account, compared with 5-10% of the population anticipated in the original business case. Overall, patients perceived HealthSpace as neither useful nor easy to use and its functionality aligned poorly with their expectations and self management practices. Those who used email-style messaging were positive about its benefits, but enthusiasm beyond three early adopter clinicians was low, and fewer than 100 of 30 000 patients expressed interest. Policy makers’ hopes that “deploying” HealthSpace would lead to empowered patients, personalised care, lower NHS costs, better data quality, and improved health literacy were not realised over the three year evaluation period. Conclusion Unless personal electronic health records align closely with people’s attitudes, self management practices, identified information needs, and the wider care package (including organisational routines and incentive structures for clinicians), the risk that they will be abandoned or not adopted at all is substantial. Conceptualising such records dynamically (as components of a socio-technical network) rather than statically (as containers for data) and employing user centred design techniques might improve their chances of adoption and use. The findings raise questions about how eHealth programmes in England are developed and approved at policy level.
Primary care referral of children with psychosocial problems.

OBJECTIVES To examine primary care provider referral patterns for patients with psychosocial problems and to understand the factors that influence whether a mental health referral is made. DESIGN Secondary analysis of the Child Behavior Study data collected during 1994-1997 from background survey of providers, visit survey of providers and parents, and follow-up survey of parents. SETTING Two hundred six primary care offices in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. PATIENTS Four thousand twelve of 21 150 patients aged 4 to 15 years in the Child Behavior Study with a clinician-identified psychosocial problem. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Referral for psychosocial problem at index visit and reported follow-up with mental health care provider within 6 months. RESULTS Six hundred fifty (16%) of 4012 patients with psychosocial problems were referred at the initial visit. In multivariate analysis, significant factors associated with likelihood of referral included patient factors (severity, type of problem, academic difficulties, prior mental health service use) and family factors (mental health referral of parent); however, none of the provider factors were significant. Clinicians reported frequent barriers to referral and mental health services in the general background survey; however, these factors were rarely reported as influences on individual management decisions. Only 61% of referred families reported that their child saw a mental health care provider in the 6-month period after the initial primary care referral. CONCLUSIONS Most psychosocial problems are initially managed in primary care without referral. However, referral is an important component of care for patients with severe problems, and many families are not effectively engaged in mental health services, even after a referral is made.
The impact of foreign ownership and control on the organizational identification of host country managers working at MNC subsidiaries

Abstract This study builds on social identity and self-categorization theories to examine how foreign ownership and control affect the organizational identification (OI) of host country national managers working at local subsidiaries of multinational corporations (MNCs). We suggest that the degree of foreign ownership and the extent of the foreign parent’s control over the subsidiary have negative effects on the strength with which the host country managers identify with the foreign-owned firm. The results from analyses of a sample of 428 Korean managers working at 43 MNC subsidiaries in Korea demonstrate the negative relationships between foreign ownership share and control, as exerted through mechanisms such as the centralization of decision-making authority by foreign headquarters and the assignment of expatriates to subsidiaries, and the OI of the host country managers. In addition, we found that the extent to which the foreign firm is perceived as being socially responsible within the host country mitigates the negative impact of foreign ownership and control on the OI of the host country managers.
The New Normal for the Thai Economy

A question that has increasingly concerned many of us is whether the mounting pressure of economic slowdown and other mostly unpleasant macroeconomic changes we are experiencing are cyclical or structural. Is it the legacy of the global financial crisis (GFC), i.e., the ongoing cyclical adjustment that follows a balance sheet recession? Or has the world reset itself because of several structural transformation that have long been underway independently of the GFC? This article discusses Thailand’s new normal, paying particular attention to what future growth and inflation will be.
Strategies for the implementation of sensors and RF barcodes based on transmission lines loaded with symmetric resonators

Transmission lines loaded with electrically small symmetric resonators are useful for the implementation of sensors and spectral signature barcodes based on symmetry properties. This paper tries to point out and discuss several strategies for the implementation of these devices. Both microstrip and coplanar waveguide (CPW) transmission lines are considered. The loading resonators are split ring resonators (SRRs), stepped impedance resonators (SIRs), electric-coupled LC (ELC) resonators and magnetic-coupled LC (MLC) resonators. Advantages and disadvantages for the different configurations are discussed.
Modulation of nitric oxide bioavailability by erythrocytes

Nitric oxide (NO) activates soluble guanylyl cyclase in smooth muscle cells to induce vasodilation in the vasculature. However, as hemoglobin (Hb) is an effective scavenger of NO and is present in high concentrations inside the red blood cell (RBC), the bioavailability of NO would be too low to elicit soluble guanylyl cyclase activation in the presence of blood. Therefore, NO bioactivity must be preserved. Here we present evidence suggesting that the RBC participates in the preservation of NO bioactivity by reducing NO influx. The NO uptake by RBCs was increased and decreased by altering the degree of band 3 binding to the cytoskeleton. Methemoglobin and denatured hemoglobin binding to the RBC membrane or cytoskeleton also were shown to contribute to reducing the NO uptake rate of the RBC. These alterations in NO uptake by the RBC, hence the NO bioavailability, were determined to correlate with the vasodilation of isolated blood vessels. Our observations suggest that RBC membrane and cytoskeleton associated NO-inert proteins provide a barrier for NO diffusion and thus account for the reduction in the NO uptake rate of RBCs.
Glycosylation‐dependent interaction between CD69 and S100A8/S100A9 complex is required for regulatory T‐cell differentiation

Cluster of differentiation (CD) 69 is a leukocyte activation receptor involved in the maintenance of immune homeostasis and is positively selected in activated regulatory T (Treg) cells, implicating its role during Treg‐cell differentiation. By RNA interference, we show that CD69 is not sufficient to support the conversion of CD4+ naive T cells into Treg cells, whereas it does that of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs) (P < 0.01), suggesting that a ligand‐receptor interaction is required for CD69 function. Using immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry, we identified the S100A8/S100A9 complex as the natural ligand of CD69 in hPBMCs. CD69 specifically associates with S100A8/S100A9 complex as confirmed by in vitro binding and competition assay, and the treatment of CD69 with peptide‐N‐glycosidase significantly abolishes such association. In agreement, the glycomics analysis determines the glycosylation site and the N‐glycan composition of CD69, and terminal removal of sialic acid from that N‐linked glycans reverses the generation of forkhead box P3‐positive Treg cells (23.21%; P < 0.05). More specifically, we showed that CD69‐S100A8/S100A9 association is required for the up‐regulation of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 resulting in inhibited signaling of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (36.54% increase upon CD69 silencing; P< 0.01). This might in turn support the secretion of key regulator TGF‐β (∼3.28‐fold decrease upon CD69 silencing; P < 0.05), leading to reduced production of IL‐4 in hPBMCs. Our results demonstrate the functional and mechanistic interplays between CD69 and S100A8/S100A9 in supporting Treg‐cell differentiation. —Lin, C. ‐R. , Wei, T. ‐Y. W. , Tsai, H. ‐Y. , Wu, Y. ‐T. , Wu, P.‐Y. , Chen, S. ‐T. Glycosylation‐dependent interaction between CD69 and S100A8/S100A9 complex is required for regulatory T‐cell differentiation. FASEB J. 29, 5006–5017 (2015). www.fasebj. org
The complexity of selecting maximal solutions

Specific maximization problems, such as the maximal independent set problem and the minimal unsatisfiability problem, are studied in a general framework. The goal is to show what factors make maximization problems hard or easy to solve and how the factors influence the complexity of solving the problems. Maximization problems are divided into several classes, and both upper and lower bounds for them are proved. An important consequence of the results is that finding an X-minimal satisfying truth assignment to a given CNF Boolean formula is complete for NPMV/OptP(O(log n)), solving an open question of C.H. Papadimitriou (1991). <<ETX>>
The response dynamics of primate visual cortical neurons to simulated optical blur

Abstract Neurons in visual cortical area V1 typically respond well to lines or edges of specific orientations. There have been many studies investigating how the responses of these neurons to an oriented edge are affected by changes in luminance contrast. However, in natural images, edges vary not only in contrast but also in the degree of blur, both because of changes in focus and also because shadows are not sharp. The effect of blur on the response dynamics of visual cortical neurons has not been explored. We presented luminance-defined single edges in the receptive fields of parafoveal (1–6 deg eccentric) V1 neurons of two macaque monkeys trained to fixate a spot of light. We varied the width of the blurred region of the edge stimuli up to 0.36 deg of visual angle. Even though the neurons responded robustly to stimuli that only contained high spatial frequencies and 0.36 deg is much larger than the limits of acuity at this eccentricity, changing the degree of blur had minimal effect on the responses of these neurons to the edge. Primates need to measure blur at the fovea to evaluate image quality and control accommodation, but this might only involve a specialist subpopulation of neurons. If visual cortical neurons in general responded differently to sharp and blurred stimuli, then this could provide a cue for form perception, for example, by helping to disambiguate the luminance edges created by real objects from those created by shadows. On the other hand, it might be important to avoid the distraction of changing blur as objects move in and out of the plane of fixation. Our results support the latter hypothesis: the responses of parafoveal V1 neurons are largely unaffected by changes in blur over a wide range.
Error Detection, Correction, and Prevention in the Brain: A Brief Review of Data and Theories

Errors during speeded response tasks are typically immediately followed by a large component in the event-related potential, the error-related negativity; various lines of research have suggested that this component is primarily generated by the anterior cingulate cortex. This error-related activity has generated a high level of interest and investigation by cognitive neuroscientists because of the importance of online action monitoring for theories of cognitive regulation. A subsequent component, the error positivity, has remained more elusive to date. In this review we will discuss some of the extensive research which has suggested that these components are related to performance monitoring, and, should performance be compromised, dynamically adjusting control processes. Furthermore, evidence from patients with mental illnesses, including schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder, suggests that such illnesses might be understood as resulting in part from disturbances in this action monitoring function.