Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neurorehabilitation interventions to move beyond a plateau in motor outcomes.

DOI:10.1097/WCO.0000000000000398 The manuscripts that accompany this introduction all invoke the hypothesis that exercise and the practice of skilled movements can elicit neural adaptations that improve the outcomes of a motor learning paradigm. The authors also suggest that the outcomes delivered by training paradigms have yet to be optimized. They offer ways to refine the driving hypothesis of the field that repetitive practice of increasingly challenging task-related activities assisted by a therapist in an adequate dose will lead to gains in motor skills, mostly restricted to what was trained, via mechanisms of activitydependent induction of molecular, cellular, synaptic, and structural plasticity within spared neural ensembles and networks. Recent trials, however, suggest that basic strategies for motor learning may be equivalent in their efficacy [1], and the number of repetitions [2] may not be as important as other still to be defined parameters. This section offers some directions. Hornby et al. [3] argue that not enough attention has been paid to varying the context of training parameters for walking practice. By requiring different step patterns and perhaps allowing kinematic and spatiotemporal errors, learning may proceed with better retention across daily walking-related activities. Contextual interference during practice and various forms of provision of feedback are often discussed, but rarely deployed. The authors also point to the need to better understand the amount and intensity of training necessary to maximize walking skills and further modulate plasticity through practice that achieves cardiopulmonary fitness. Ploughman and Kelly [4] suggest a standardized method to try to increase aerobic walking exercise for fitness and promote neuroplasticity. Using the Frequency, Intensity, Type of exercise, Time, Initiation to stroke paradigm (FITTI), they would modulate the frequency, intensity, type of exercise, and time and duration of exercise, all in relation to the time of initiation after stroke onset. This proposal is a hypothesis built upon successful training methods in nondisabled persons. Dobkin [5] suggests that far more task-related upper extremity and lower extremity practice in the setting of
Mild cognitive impairment in the general population: occurrence and progression to Alzheimer disease.

OBJECTIVES Our aims were to 1) detect the occurrence of three mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subtypes in the general population; 2) identify cases of cognitive impairment which are not detected by current operational criteria for MCI and; 3) determine the predictive value of the subtypes for identifying future Alzheimer disease (AD). DESIGN Three-year prospective study. SETTING Population-based Swedish study, the Kungsholmen Project. PARTICIPANTS Three hundred seventy-nine nondemented older adults aged 75-95. MEASUREMENTS Standard plus modified MCI criteria were applied at baseline. In the modified definitions, the requirement for normal general cognition was removed. A category for persons without MCI who had only global cognitive deficits was added. Three-year progression to AD was assessed (DSM-III-R criteria). RESULTS Occurrence per 100 nondemented persons of MCI-amnestic, MCI-multidomains, and MCI-single-nonmemory was 2.1%, 1.8%, and 7.2%, respectively. When applying modified definitions for MCI-amnestic and MCI-multidomains, the occurrence almost doubled. Seven percent of the sample had impairment on a global cognitive task but performed at normal levels on all other domain-specific tasks. MCI-multidomains showed the highest progression to AD (hazard ratio [HR]: 23.6, 9.3-60.1). MCI-amnestic reached similar predictivity only when using the modified definition (HR: 17.9, 6.8-46.9). Even participants without MCI who had only global deficits had a ninefold risk of AD (HR: 9.1, 2.8-29.4). CONCLUSIONS Two-thirds of MCI-multidomains, but only half of MCI-amnestic progress to AD. The standard MCI criteria failed to identify those people with global cognitive deficits who have, however, a high risk of progressing to AD.
Assessing the importance of freshwater tributary systems for the recruitment of Eurasian Perch (Perca fluviatilis) in Baltic Sea Coastal Ecosystems

Populations of one of the most important predatory fish species within Baltic Sea coastal ecosystems, the Eurasian Perch (Perca fluviatilis), have declined in some coastal areas during recent decades. This has caused negative effects on an ecological, commercial, and cultural scale, and protection and restoration of recruitment areas (perch spawning grounds) are believed to be an important player in supporting future stocks. Freshwater systems close to coastal areas have previously been noted as important spawning grounds for other fish species resident in coastal areas, but relatively little is known of this for perch. In this study, the main aim was to assess the importance of freshwater systems for the recruitment of coastal perch along the Swedish Baltic Sea coast, using otolith micro-chemistry. Otoliths were removed from perch specimens and analysed for strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) ratios via particle induced x-ray emissions techniques (μPIXE). In order to determine birth origin of the coastal perch in the study areas, a freshwater baseline was established using other freshwater recruited coastal perch, as well as lake perch specimens. The results showed that the majority of perch juveniles in coastal areas were recruited in brackish water, albeit with variation across areas. In one area however, freshwater systems appeared to be extremely important for perch recruitment in the coastal area. Notable changes in habitat between resident maternal environment, and juvenile birth environment were also assessed (via changes in salinity) to speculate maternal spawning preferences. This study showed that on average 30 % of juvenile fish caught in coastal areas had a ‘pronounced dip’ in their Sr:Ca profiles, which suggests that adult perch migration into waters with notably lower salinity for spawning is not uncommon in the Baltic Sea. Often otolith strontium concentrations are suggested to be positively correlated to the respective salinity found in the resident habitat of a fish. This study found no correlation, and no apparent trends linking ambient salinity and Sr:Ca ratios in otolith cores. In order to restore and maintain future perch stocks in the Baltic Sea it seems that the most important habitats to protect are those in the coastal areas, but freshwater systems in some areas must also be considered. Once these important recruitment sites are identified, both land and water management measures should be employed in order to conserve these sensitive coastal ecosystems, or return them to a natural state.
Pressure-temperature gelatinization phase diagram of starch: An in situ Fourier transform infrared study.

The gelatinization of rice starch is reported as a function of temperature and pressure from the changes in the ir spectrum. The diagram that is observed is reminiscent of those obtained for the denaturation of proteins and the phase separation observed from the cloud point for several water soluble synthetic polymers. It is proposed that the reentrant shape of the diagram for starch is not only due to hydrogen bonding but also to the imperfect packing of amylose and amylopectin chains in the starch granule. The influence of pressure and temperature on thermodynamic parameters leading to this diagram is discussed.
A simplified scheme for obtaining precipitation and vertical hydrometeor profiles from passive microwave sensors

Presents a computationally simple technique for retrieving the precipitation and vertical hydrometeor profiles from downward viewing radiometers. The technique is computationally much less expensive than previous profiling schemes and has been designed specifically to allow for tractability of assumptions. In this paper, the emphasis is placed upon passive microwave applications, but the combination of passive with active microwave sensors, infrared sensors, or other a priori information can be adapted easily to the framework described. The technique is based upon a Bayesian approach. The authors use many realizations of the Goddard Cumulus Ensemble model to establish a prior probability density function of rainfall profiles. Detailed three-dimensional radiative transfer calculations are used to determine the upwelling brightness temperatures from the cloud model to establish the similarity of radiative signatures and thus the probability that a given profile is actually observed. In this study, the authors show that good results may be obtained by weighting profiles from the prior probability density function according to their deviation from the observed brightness temperatures. Examples of the retrieval results are shown for oceanic as well as land situations. Microwave data from the Advanced Microwave Precipitation Radiometer (AMPR) instrument are used to illustrate the retrieval structure results for high-resolution data while SSM/I is used to illustrate satellite applications. Simulations are performed to compare the expected retrieval performance of the SSM/I instrument with that of the upcoming TMI instrument aboard the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) to be launched in August 1997. These simulations show that correlations of /spl sim/0.77 may be obtained for 10-km retrievals of the integrated liquid water content based upon SSM/I channels. This correlation increases to /spl sim/0.90 for the same retrievals using the TMI channels and resolution. Due to the lack of quantitative validation data, hydrometeor profiles cannot be compared directly but are instead converted to an equivalent reflectivity structure and compared to existing radar observations where possible.
Youth with psychopathy features are not a discrete class: a taxometric analysis.

BACKGROUND Recently, researchers have sought to measure psychopathy-like features among youth in hopes of identifying children who may be progressing toward a particularly destructive form of adult pathology. However, it remains unclear whether psychopathy-like personality features among youth are best conceptualized as dimensional (distributed along a continuum) or taxonic (such that youth with psychopathic personality characteristics are qualitatively distinct from non-psychopathic youth). METHODS This study applied taxometric analyses (MAMBAC, MAXEIG, and L-Mode) to scores from two primary measures of youth psychopathy features: the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (N = 757) and the self-report Antisocial Process Screening Device (N = 489) among delinquent boys. RESULTS All analyses supported a dimensional structure, indicating that psychopathy features among youth are best understood as existing along a continuum. CONCLUSIONS Although youth clearly vary in the degree to which they manifest psychopathy-like personality traits, there is no natural, discrete class of young 'psychopaths. ' This finding has implications for developmental theory, treatment, assessment strategies, research, and clinical/forensic practice.
Recent Trends in the Southern Oscillation

The Southern Oscillation Index, the difference between standardized sea-level pressure between Tahiti (18°S, 150°W) and Darwin (12°S, 131°E) (hereafter denoted TN – DN), has tended to be lower during the past few decades than during the earlier part of the record. This shift is mainly a reflection of a pressure rise at Darwin: pressure at Tahiti has not fallen noticeably. The statistical significance of the pressure rise at Darwin and the drop in (TN DN) that took place in the mid1970's is difficult to assess for lack of an a priori hypothesis that the shift should have occurred precisely when it did as opposed to, say, ten years earlier or later. The downward trend in (TN DN) since the mid-twentieth century is not statistically significant. The upward trend in (TN + DN) during the second half of the 20th century is quite striking. Fluctuations in (TN + DN) are shown to be significantly correlated with fluctuations in tropical mean sea-level pressure and with indices of the Northern and Southern Hemisphere annular modes. The trend toward the high index polarity of the annular modes accounts for roughly half the observed rise in (TN + DN) since the mid-20th century.
Bone mineral density and frequency of osteoporosis in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis: results from 394 patients in the Oslo County Rheumatoid Arthritis register.

OBJECTIVE To examine the bone mineral density (BMD), frequency of osteoporosis, and risk factors for BMD reduction in a representative population of female rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients ages 20-70 years. METHODS BMD in the femoral neck, total hip, and spine L2-4 (anterior-posterior view) was measured in 394 RA patients recruited from a validated county RA register (completeness 85%) comprising 721 women ages 20-70 years. BMD was measured with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and age-specific values were compared with pooled values from a European/US population of healthy subjects free from earlier fractures, chronic diseases, and medications influencing bone metabolism. A multiple linear regression model was used to determine individual predictors of BMD. RESULTS No statistically significant differences were found in demographic, disease activity, disease severity, or health status parameters between the RA register patients in whom BMD was measured and the remaining register patients. Femoral neck BMD was significantly reduced by 4.2% in the age group 50-59 years, and by 5.0% in those ages 60-70 years. For BMD in the total hip, the significant reductions were 3.7%, 6.0%, and 8.5% in the age groups 40-49 years, 50-59 years, and 60-70 years, respectively. No significant reduction in spine L2-4 BMD was found. A 2-fold increased frequency of osteoporosis was observed in all 4 age groups of RA patients compared with the reference population, ranging from 0% to 28.6% in the femoral neck, 0% to 29.9% in the total hip, and 1.8% to 31.5% in the spine. Predictors of reduced BMD were as follows: at the femoral neck, older age, low body weight, current use of corticosteroids, greater physical disability (as measured by the modified Health Assessment Questionnaire [M-HAQ]), and presence of rheumatoid factor; at the total hip, older age, low weight, current use of corticosteroids, and higher M-HAQ disability score; and at the lumbar spine, older age, low weight, and current use of corticosteroids. CONCLUSION Register-based prevalence data on BMD reduction in female RA patients ages 20-70 years are presented for the first time in this report, which demonstrates a 2-fold increase in osteoporosis in this representative population.
Bi-orthogonal Waveforms for 5 G Random Access with Short Message Support

One of the main drivers for new waveforms in future 5G wireless communication systems is to handle efficiently the variety of traffic types and requirements. In this paper, we introduce a new random access within the standard acquisition procedures to support sporadic traffic as an enabler of the Internet of Things (IoT). The major challenge hereby is to cope with the highly asynchronous access of different devices and to allow transmission of control signaling and payload ”in one shot”. We address this challenge by using a waveform design approach based on bi-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing. We show that this approach allows data transmission in frequencies that otherwise have to remain unused. More precisely, we utilize frequencies previously used as guard bands, located towards the standard synchronous communication pipes as well as in between the typically small amount of resources used by each IoT device. We demonstrate the superiority of this waveform approach over the conventional random access using numerical experiments. 5GNOW is a European research project supported by the European commission within FP7 ICT Call 8. www.5gnow. eu
Identification of a fibroblast growth factor-binding protein in Drosophila melanogaster

As assessed by competitive binding and protein-crosslinking experiments, Drosophila melanogaster cells possess basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-specific binding proteins that are similar to FGF receptors on vertebrate cells in molecular weight and binding affinity; these D. melanogaster cells, however, have no detectable binding proteins for acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF). Consistent with the presence of bFGF-specific binding proteins, D. melanogaster cells degrade bFGF but not aFGF. These results indicate the conservation of heparin-binding growth factors and receptors between vertebrates and D. melanogaster.
Hypertension in Alaska Natives: association with overweight, glucose intolerance, diet and mechanized activity.

OBJECTIVE Determine the prevalence of hypertension in Alaska Natives and evaluate risk factors. DESIGN Population-based univariate and multivariate analysis of blood pressure in 1124 Alaska Natives over 20 years of age. RESULTS The sample had mean: age 45 years, body mass index 27, systolic pressure 123 mmHg and diastolic pressure 73 mmHg. The age-adjusted rate of hypertension > or = 160/95 mmHg was 9.1% and 6.8% among Athabascan Indians and Yup'ik Eskimos, respectively. After controlling for age and sex there was significantly more hypertension among Athabascan Indians (OR = 1.53, CI = 1.07-2.2, p = 0.019) compared to Yup'ik Eskimos. Race was significantly associated with blood pressure > or = 140/90 when controlled for age and overweight (p = 0.01, OR = 0.78, CI = 0.69-0.95). The presence of hypertension was significantly associated with the following: intake of non-indigenous food (p = 0.01); mechanized activities (p = 0.01); and glucose intolerance in both women (p = 0.043) and men (p = 0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed age (OR = 1.06, CI = 1.05-1.08) and overweight in both men (OR = 3.02, CI = 1.85-4.93) and women (OR = 2.76, CI = 1.81-4.19) to be significantly associated with BP > or = 140/90. CONCLUSION Hypertension is no longer rare in Alaska Natives and is associated with overweight, non-indigenous diet, mechanized activities, and glucose intolerance.
Effects of Soil Cover and Protective Measures on Reducing Runoff and Soil Loss under Artificial Rainfall

Zhang Y. , Feng M.M. , Yang J.Y. , Zhao T.N. , Wu H.L. , Shi C.Q. , Shen Y. (2015): Effects of soil cover and protective measures on reducing runoff and soil loss under artificial rainfall. Soil & Water Res., 10: 198–205. The hazards from wind, sand, and soil erosion caused by human activities, such as residue slopes in abandoned urban mines, have resulted in a vicious circle of environmental degradation. Selecting the optimal protective en gineering method in mountainous areas has become a major difficulty in recent years, and the primary goal of our research is to accelerate the process of ecosystem reconstruction to maintain water and soil quality. In this study, cover soil of 10, 20, and 30 cm in depth was spread on the 30° accumulation slopes composed of loose residue from the Huangyuan Quarry, Beijing, and combined with two protection measures: eco-bags and bamboo fences. Runoff and soil loss from the aboveground, soil and residue layers were measured under rainfall intensities of 30, 60 and 120 mm/h generated with a rainfall simulator. The results indicated that both eco-bags and bamboo fences decreased runoff and soil loss. Bamboo fences were better at intercepting water under low runoff, whereas soil loss was more strongly reduced by eco-bags. The analysis also demonstrated that the depth of soil cover had an effect on runoff and soil loss. These findings will enrich the understanding of the effects of human activities on surface mines and provide a scientific basis for the ecological restoration of mines using engineering methods.
Factors associated with hypoglycemia episodes in hospitalized type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in a tertiary health facility in Malaysia

Purpose : To determine the factors associated with severity of hypoglycemia in hospitalized type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in a tertiary health facility in Malaysia. Methods : This retrospective study involved 207 hospitalised T2DM patients with hypoglycaemia episodes from January 2008 to December 2012 and was conducted in University Malaya Medical Centre, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. Patients were classified into 2 groups, viz, those who had hypoglycaemia on admission and those who had hypoglycaemia during hospital stay. Patients with hypoglycemia on admission were those admitted due to hypoglycemia while patients with hypoglycemia during hospital stay were those admitted due to other causes but subsequently developed hypoglycemia during hospitalization. Results : The results for the 207 patients investigated show that most of the patients (72.2 %) were asymptomatic during hypoglycemic episodes. The majority of the episodes (57.4 %) experienced by the patients were mild hypoglycemia (< 3.9 mmol/L). Old age (p = 0.011) and presence of stroke (p = 0.033) were found to be significantly associated with severe hypoglycemia (< 2.2 mmol/L) while concurrent use of opioid (p = 0.008) was associated with mild hypoglycemia. Conclusion : The identification of the underlying factors associated with severity of hypoglycemia may help in preventing and resolving hypoglycemia in T2DM patients. Keywords : Hypoglycemia episodes, Type 2 diabetes, Associated factors, Elderly, Stroke, Opiods
Brain activation on fMRI and verbal memory ability: Functional neuroanatomic correlates of CVLT performance

We have recently reported (Saykin et al., 1999b) selective activation of left medial temporal lobe structures during processing of novel compared to familiar words using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The current study describes the relationship between a widely used clinical test of verbal learning, the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT), and the previously reported fMRI activations. Thirteen right-handed healthy adult participants were studied with whole brain echo-planar fMRI while listening to novel and recently learned (familiar) words intermixed pseudorandomly in an event-related design. These participants were also tested with the CVLT. Scores for CVLT Trial 1 (immediate encoding of novel words) and recognition discriminability (recognition of familiar vs. novel words) were correlated with fMRI signal change during processing of novel versus familiar words using a covariance model implemented in SPM96. For the novel words analysis, voxels in the right anterior hippocampus correlated significantly with Trial 1 (r = .76 at the maxima). For the recognition analysis, a significant cluster of voxels was found in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (r = .88 at the maxima). Our prior results of separable left medial temporal activation to novel and familiar words, together with results of the covariance analyses reported here, suggest that in addition to the left medial temporal lobe (MTL) regions that are engaged during novel and familiar word processing, the right hippocampus and right frontal lobe are also involved, particularly in those participants with better memory ability. This positive relationship between fMRI activation and CVLT performance suggests a role for these right hemisphere regions in successful memory processing of verbal material, perhaps reflecting more efficient encoding and retrieval strategies that facilitate memory. (JINS, 2001, 7, 55–62.)