Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical Features of Acute Flaccid Myelitis Temporally Associated With an Enterovirus D68 Outbreak: Results of a Nationwide Survey of Acute Flaccid Paralysis in Japan, August–December 2015

Fifty-nine acute flaccid myelitis cases were reported nationwide, coincident with enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) outbreak from August to December 2015. Strong temporal association was noted, and EV-D68 was detected from some cerebrospinal fluid and blood specimens. Antiganglioside antibodies were identified in some patients, and prognostic factors were analyzed.
Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of Melaleuca styphelioides on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in mice

Abstract Context: Liver disease is a serious problem. Polyphenolic compounds have marked antioxidant effect and can prevent the liver damage caused by free radicals. In vitro studies have revealed the strong antioxidant activity of an ellagitannin-rich plant, namely, Melaleuca styphelioides Sm. (Myrtaceae). Objective: In view of the limited therapeutic options available for the treatment of liver diseases, the hepatoprotective potential of the methanol extract of M. styphelioides leaves (MSE) was investigated against CCl4-induced liver injury in mice. Materials and methods: MSE was administered (500 and 1000 mg/kg/d p.o.) along with CCl4 for 6 weeks. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined in the serum. Glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione transferase (GST), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were estimated in the liver homogenate. The bioactive components of MSE were identified by NMR, UV and HRESI-MS/MS data. Results: MSE treatment (500 and 1000 mg/kg/d) markedly inhibited the CCl4-induced increase in the levels of AST (31 and 38%), ALT (29 and 32%), ALP (13 and 19%), and MDA (22 and 37%) at the tested doses, respectively. MSE treatment markedly increased the levels of GSH (29 and 57%) and antioxidant enzymes compared with the CCl4-treated group. MSE was more effective than silymarin in restoring the liver architecture and reducing the fatty changes, central vein congestion, Kupffer cell hyperplasia, inflammatory infiltration, and necrosis induced by CCl4. The LD50 of MSE was more than 5000 mg/kg. Conclusion: MSE confers potent antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects against CCl4-induced toxicity.
Performance on tasks of visuospatial memory and ability: A cross-sectional study in 330 adolescents aged 11 to 20

ABSTRACT Cognitive functions mature at different points in time between birth and adulthood. Of these functions, visuospatial skills, such as spatial memory and part-to-whole organization, have often been tested in children and adults but have been less frequently evaluated during adolescence. We studied visuospatial memory and ability during this critical developmental period, as well as the correlation between these abilities, in a large group of 330 participants (aged 11 to 20 years, 55% male). To assess visuospatial memory, the participants were asked to memorize and reproduce sequences of random locations within a grid using a computer. Visuospatial ability was tested using a variation of the Design Organization Test (DOT). In this paper-and-pencil test, the participants had one minute to reproduce as many visual patterns as possible using a numerical code. On the memory task, compared with younger participants, older participants correctly reproduced more locations overall and longer sequences of locations, made fewer mistakes and needed less time to reproduce the sequences. In the visuospatial ability task, the number of correctly reproduced patterns increased with age. We show that both visuospatial memory and ability improve significantly throughout adolescence and that performance on both tasks is significantly correlated.
A Novel Method for Assessing Muscle Power During the Standing Cable Wood Chop Exercise

Abstract Zemková, E, Cepková, A, Uvaček, M, and Šooš, L. A novel method for assessing muscle power during the standing cable wood chop exercise. J Strength Cond Res 31(8): 2246–2254, 2017—The study estimates the repeatability and sensitivity of a novel method for assessing (a) the maximal power during the standing cable wood chop exercise with different weights and (b) the endurance of the core muscles. A group of 23 fit men performed (a) maximal effort single repetitions of the standing cable wood chop exercise with weights increasing stepwise up to 1 repetition maximum (1RM) and (b) a set of 20 repetitions at a previously established weight at which maximal power was achieved. Results showed that mean power during the standing cable wood chop exercise is a reliable parameter, with intraclass correlation coefficient values above 0.90 for all weights tested. It was also shown to be a sensitive parameter able to discriminate within-group differences in the maximal power and endurance of core muscles. Substantial individual differences were found in mean power, especially at higher weights, and in the maximal power achieved at about 75% of 1RM (462.2 ± 57.4 W, n = 11), 67% of 1RM (327.2 ± 49.7 W, n = 7), and 83% of 1RM (524.0 ± 63.2 W, n = 5). At these weights, there were also significant differences between the initial and the final repetitions of the wood chop exercise (13.9%, p = 0.025; 10.2%, p = 0.036; and 13.8%, p = 0.028, respectively). These findings indicate that evaluation of the maximal power and endurance of the core muscles during the standing cable wood chop exercise on a weight stack machine is a reliable method and sensitive to differences among physically active individuals.
Auditory Stimulus Processing and Task Learning Are Adequate in Dyslexia, but Benefits From Regularities Are Reduced.

Purpose The reading deficit for people with dyslexia is typically associated with linguistic, memory, and perceptual-discrimination difficulties, whose relation to reading impairment is disputed. We proposed that automatic detection and usage of serial sound regularities for individuals with dyslexia is impaired (anchoring deficit hypothesis), leading to the formation of less reliable sound predictions. Agus, Carrión-Castillo, Pressnitzer, and Ramus, (2014) reported seemingly contradictory evidence by showing similar performance by participants with and without dyslexia in a demanding auditory task that contained task-relevant regularities. To carefully assess the sensitivity of participants with dyslexia to regularities of this task, we replicated their study. Method Thirty participants with and 24 without dyslexia performed the replicated task. On each trial, a 1-s noise stimulus was presented. Participants had to decide whether the stimulus contained repetitions (was constructed from a 0.5-s noise segment repeated twice) or not. It is implicit in this structure that some of the stimuli with repetitions were themselves repeated across trials. We measured the ability to detect within-noise repetitions and the sensitivity to cross-trial repetitions of the same noise stimuli. Results We replicated the finding of similar mean performance. However, individuals with dyslexia were less sensitive to the cross-trial repetition of noise stimuli and tended to be more sensitive to repetitions in novel noise stimuli. Conclusion These findings indicate that online auditory processing for individuals with dyslexia is adequate but their implicit retention and usage of sound regularities is indeed impaired.
HIV-1 persists in breast milk cells despite antiretroviral treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission

Background:The effects of short-course antiretrovirals given to reduce mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) on temporal patterns of cell-associated HIV-1 RNA and DNA in breast milk are not well defined. Methods:Women in Kenya received short-course zidovudine (ZDV), single-dose nevirapine (sdNVP), combination ZDV/sdNVP or short-course highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Breast milk samples were collected two to three times weekly for 4–6 weeks. HIV-1 DNA was quantified by real-time PCR. Cell-free and cell-associated RNA levels were quantified by the Gen-Probe HIV-1 viral load assay. Results:Cell-free HIV-1 RNA levels in breast milk were significantly suppressed by sdNVP, ZDV/sdNVP or HAART therapy compared with ZDV between day 3 and week 4 postpartum (P ≤ 0.03). Breast milk HIV-1 DNA levels (infected cell levels) were not significantly different between treatment arms at any timepoint during the 4–6-week follow-up. At 3 weeks postpartum, when the difference in cell-free RNA levels was the greatest comparing HAART directly with ZDV (P = 0.0001), median log10 HIV-1 DNA copies per 1 × 106 cells were 2.78, 2.54, 2.69, and 2.31 in the ZDV, sdNVP, ZDV/sdNVP and HAART arms, respectively (P = 0.23). Cell-associated HIV-1 RNA levels were modestly suppressed in HAART versus ZDV/sdNVP during week 3 (3.37 versus 4.02, P = 0.04), as well as over time according to a linear mixed-effects model. Conclusion:Cell-free and, to a lesser extent, cell-associated HIV-1 RNA levels in breast milk were suppressed by antiretroviral regimens used to prevent MTCT. However, even with HAART, there was no significant reduction in the reservoir of infected cells, which could contribute to breast milk HIV-1 transmission.
Epidemiology of Cancers in Serbia and Possible Connection with Cyanobacterial Blooms

Cyanobacteria produce toxic metabolites known as cyanotoxins. These bioactive compounds can cause acute poisoning, and some of them may promote cancer through chronic exposure. Direct ingestion of and contact with contaminated water is one of the many exposure routes to cyanotoxins. The aim of this article was to review the incidence of 13 cancers during a 10-year period in Serbia and to assess whether there is a correlation between the cancer incidences and cyanobacterial bloom occurrence in reservoirs for drinking water supply. The types of cancers were chosen and subjected to epidemiological analyses utilizing previously published data. Based on the epidemiological and statistical analysis, the group of districts in which the incidences of cancers are significant, and may be considered as critical, include Nišavski, Toplički, and Šumadijski district. A significantly higher incidence of ten cancers was observed in the three critical districts as compared to the remaining 14 districts in Central Serbia. These elevated incidences of cancer include: brain cancer, heart, mediastinum and pleura cancer, ovary cancer, testicular cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, retroperitoneum and peritoneum cancer, leukemia, malignant melanoma of skin, and primary liver cancer. In addition, the mean incidence of five chosen cancers was the highest in the three critical regions, then in the rest of Central Serbia, while the lowest values were recorded in Vojvodina. Persistent and recurrent cyanobacterial blooms occur during summer months in reservoirs supplying water to waterworks in the three critical districts. People in Central Serbia mainly use surface water as water supply (but not all the water bodies are blooming) while in Vojvodina region (control region in this study) only groundwater is used. Among the 14 “noncritical” districts, reservoirs used for drinking water supply have been affected by recurrent cyanobacterial blooms in two districts (Rasinski and Zaječarski), but the waterworks in these districts have been performing ozonation for more than 30 years. We propose that the established statistical differences of cancer incidences in Serbia could be related to drinking water quality, which is affected by cyanobacterial blooms in drinking water reservoirs in certain districts. However, more detailed research is needed regarding cyanobacterial secondary metabolites as risk factors in tumor promotion and cancerogenesis in general.
Neural Architecture Search with Bayesian Optimisation and Optimal Transport

Bayesian Optimisation (BO) refers to a class of methods for global optimisation of a function $f$ which is only accessible via point evaluations. It is typically used in settings where $f$ is expensive to evaluate. A common use case for BO in machine learning is model selection, where it is not possible to analytically model the generalisation performance of a statistical model, and we resort to noisy and expensive training and validation procedures to choose the best model. Conventional BO methods have focused on Euclidean and categorical domains, which, in the context of model selection, only permits tuning scalar hyper-parameters of machine learning algorithms. However, with the surge of interest in deep learning, there is an increasing demand to tune neural network \emph{architectures}. In this work, we develop NASBOT, a Gaussian process based BO framework for neural architecture search. To accomplish this, we develop a distance metric in the space of neural network architectures which can be computed efficiently via an optimal transport program. This distance might be of independent interest to the deep learning community as it may find applications outside of BO. We demonstrate that NASBOT outperforms other alternatives for architecture search in several cross validation based model selection tasks on multi-layer perceptrons and convolutional neural networks.
Pseudomonas canadensis sp. nov., a biological control agent isolated from a field plot under long-term mineral fertilization

The bacterial strain 2-92T, isolated from a field plot under long-term (>40 years) mineral fertilization, exhibited in vitro antagonistic properties against fungal pathogens. A polyphasic approach was undertaken to verify its taxonomic status. Strain 2-92T was Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, motile by one or more flagella, and oxidase-, catalase- and urease-positive. The optimal growth temperature of strain 2-92T was 30 °C. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that the strain is related to species of the genus Pseudomonas. Phylogenetic analysis of six housekeeping genes (dnaA, gyrB, recA, recF, rpoB and rpoD) revealed that strain 2-92T clustered as a distinct and well separated lineage with Pseudomonassimiae as the most closely related species. Polar lipid and fatty acid compositions corroborated the taxonomic position of strain 2-92T in the genus Pseudomonas. Phenotypic characteristics from carbon utilization tests could be used to differentiate strain 2-92T from closely related species of the genus Pseudomonas. DNA–DNA hybridization values (wet laboratory and genome-based) and average nucleotide identity data confirmed that this strain represents a novel species. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, it is concluded that this strain represents a separate novel species for which the name Pseudomonas canadensis sp. nov. is proposed, with type strain 2-92T (=LMG 28499T=DOAB 798T). The DNA G+C content is 60.30 mol%.
Magic year for multiple myeloma therapeutics: Key takeaways from the ASH 2015 annual meeting

Despite the availability of various anticancer agents, Multiple Myeloma (MM) remains incurable in most cases, along with high relapse rate in the patients treated with these agents. The year 2015 saw major advancements in our battle against multiple myeloma. In 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved three new therapies for multiple myeloma, namely Ixazomib (an oral proteasome inhibitor), Daratumumab and Elotuzumab (monoclonal antibodies against CD38 and SLAMF7 respectively). The purpose of this review is to provide a detailed analysis of these aforementioned breakthrough therapies and two other newer agents, Filanesib (kinesis spindle inhibitor) and selinexor (SINE inhibitor), presented at the 2015 annual meeting of American Society of Hematology (ASH). We also describe the role of agents targeting PD-1 axis and chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells in the treatment of MM.
Good Nutritional Practice from Producer to Consumer

Today we manage food safety through good practices at different levels of food production, distribution, and consumption. The paper analyses current good practices, parameters involved in the food safety circle along the food supply chain, and consumer dilemmas. As a result of the current situation the new approach called “Good Nutritional Practice” (GNP) is proposed to balance the food safety systems. It is shown how important it is to integrate actual the food safety solutions within GNP, which includes consumers, and is based on a model that covers subsystems from other relevant good practices (nine good practices along the food supply chain). It has been shown that present maintenance of food safety in the food supply chain can be easily broken down, because of the different kinds of barriers or a simple misunderstanding among stakeholders including consumers.
Correlates of Human Papillomavirus Infection Among a National Sample of Sexual Minority Women.

BACKGROUND Many sexual minority women are infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), yet little is known about correlates of HPV infection among this population. MATERIALS AND METHODS We analyzed data from a national sample of sexual minority women (i.e., women who either reported a history of female sexual partners or identified as nonheterosexual) aged 20-59 from the 2003 to 2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 830). Weighted logistic regression identified correlates of infection with any HPV type and infection with a high-risk HPV type. RESULTS About 53% of women were infected with any HPV type, and about 37% were infected with a high-risk HPV type. Women who reported five or more sexual partners during their lifetime (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 5.07, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.26-11.42) were more likely to be infected with a high-risk HPV type. Compared to women aged 20-29, women aged 40-49 (aOR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.32-0.81) or 50-59 (aOR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.14-0.53) were less likely to be infected with a high-risk HPV type, as were women who were married or living with a partner (aOR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.44-0.89). Mostly similar correlates were identified for infection with any HPV type, although infection with any HPV type was also less common among women who identified as lesbian compared to those who identified as heterosexual (aOR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.21-0.68). CONCLUSIONS Demographic and health-related characteristics were associated with HPV infection outcomes. Findings can inform HPV prevention efforts for sexual minority women by providing information about risk factors and subgroups at particular risk for infection.
Age at natural menopause and its associated factors in Canada: cross-sectional analyses from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Background: Early onset of menopause is associated with long-term disease and higher mortality risks. Research suggests that age at natural menopause (ANM) varies across populations. Little is known about factors that affect ANM in Canadian women. Objective: This study aims to estimate the median ANM and examine factors associated with earlier ANM among Canadian women. Methods: Baseline data from the Tracking cohort of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging was used for this analysis. The relation of sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health-related factors with ANM was examined among 7,719 women aged 40 and above. Nonparametric Kaplan-Meier cumulative survivorship estimates were used to assess the timing of natural menopause. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to characterize ANM and its association with relevant covariates. Results: Overall, median ANM was 51 years. Having no partner, low household income and education levels, current and former smoking, and cardiovascular disease were all associated with an earlier ANM, whereas current employment, alcohol consumption, and obesity were associated with later ANM. Conclusions: These findings provide a national estimate of ANM in Canada and show the importance of lifestyle factors and health conditions in determining menopausal age. These factors might help in risk assessment, prevention and early management of chronic disease risk during the menopausal transition.
Human mesenchymal stem cells inhibit osteoclastogenesis through osteoprotegerin production.

OBJECTIVE Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been proposed to be a useful tool for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), not only because of their multipotency but also because of their immunosuppressive effect on lymphocytes, dendritic cells, and other proinflammatory cells. Since bone destruction caused by activated osteoclasts occurs in RA, we undertook the present study to investigate the effect of MSCs on osteoclast function and differentiation in order to evaluate their potential use in RA therapy. METHODS Human MSCs and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured under cell-cell contact-free conditions with osteoclast induction medium. Differentiation into osteoclast-like cells was determined by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining and expression of osteoclast differentiation markers. RESULTS The number of osteoclast-like cells was decreased and expression of cathepsin K and nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NF-ATc1) was down-regulated by the addition of either MSCs or a conditioned medium obtained from MSCs. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) was constitutively produced by MSCs and inhibited osteoclastogenesis. However, osteoclast differentiation was not fully recovered upon treatment with either anti-OPG antibody or OPG small interfering RNA, suggesting that OPG had only a partial role in the inhibitory effect of MSCs. Moreover, bone-resorbing activity of osteoclast-like cells was partially recovered by addition of anti-OPG antibody into the conditioned medium. CONCLUSION The present results indicate that human MSCs constitutively produce OPG, resulting in inhibition of osteoclastogenesis and expression of NF-ATc1 and cathepsin K in the absence of cell-cell contact. Therefore, we conclude that human MSCs exert a suppressive effect on osteoclastogenesis, which may be beneficial in inhibition of joint damage in RA.
Performance evaluation of optical DQPSK using saddle point approximation

In this paper, the authors derive the moment generating function (MGF) of the decision variable for a practical optical differential quadrature phase shift keying (DQPSK) receiver affected by phase noise and the amplifier spontaneous emission noise. The effect of the different optical filters, Gaussian, Fabry-Peacuterot (FP), and optical integrator, on the phase noise is examined. Using the saddle point approximation, the authors obtain numerically the bit error rate (BER) for the above system, as a function of the optical-signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) and the source linewidth. The model is found to agree with previous published simulation results and the Monte Carlo simulations presented in this paper. The authors also calculate the BER floors for DQPSK inflicted by the phase noise and compare its performance with differential phase shift keying (DPSK). Finally, the authors examine the effect of interferometric demodulation on the relative intensity noise (RIN) spectra and the impact on the DQPSK system performance. In particular, the authors examine the influence of system dispersion on the receiver sensitivity