Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Retrospective review of the epidemiology of epilepsy in special schools for children with cerebral palsy, learning difficulties, and language and communication difficulties

Purpose of the study: To determine in children the proportion and characteristics of epilepsy associated with cerebral palsy, learning difficulties and language and communication difficulties in a specific population of two special schools. Basic procedures: Retrospective review of case notes for 142 children in two special schools (school A and school B) in Newcastle, UK Main findings: School A had more children with learning difficulties (X2 = 32.41, p < 0.01) and active epilepsy (X2 = 3.03, p=0.08) than school B. There were more children with cerebral palsy (X2 = 9.56, p < 0.01) and language and communication problems (X2 = 4.25, p = 0.03) at school B compared to school A. Active epilepsy is significantly more common in children with cerebral palsy (X2 = 7.58, p = 0.01). All children with cerebral palsy and learning difficulties had epilepsy (n = 6). Although not statistically significant, those children who developed epilepsy within the first 24 hours of life were more likely to have cerebral palsy than those who developed epilepsy later in life (X2 = 3.10, p = 0.08). Those children with cerebral palsy tended to have a lower birth weight (t = 3.15, p < 0.01) and a shorter gestation (t = 3.17, p < 0.01) than children without cerebral palsy. Principal conclusions: The data supports evidence from previous studies, demonstrating that epilepsy commonly accompanies cerebral palsy, thus complicating this difficult chronic condition. We show an association between both low birth weight and gestational age, and early age of onset of seizures, in children with cerebral palsy. This illustrates the importance, in these children, of past medical history from birth to determine risk factors for epilepsy later in life.
Electro-osmosis and the reabsorption of fluid in renal proximal tubules

The lateral intercellular spaces (LIS) are believed to be the final common pathway for fluid reabsorption from the renal proximal tubule. We postulate that electrogenic sodium pumps in the lateral membranes produce an electrical potential within the LIS, that the lateral membranes bear a net negative charge, and that fluid moves parallel to these membranes because of Helmholtz-type electro-osmosis, the field- induced movement of fluid adjacent to a charged surface. Our theoretical analysis indicates that the sodium pumps produce a longitudinal electric field of the order of 1 V/cm in the LIS. Our experimental measurements demonstrate that the electrophoretic mobility of rat renal basolateral membrane vesicles is 1 micron/s per V/cm, which is also the electro-osmotic fluid velocity in the LIS produced by a unit electric field. Thus, the fluid velocity in the LIS due to electro-osmosis should be of the order of 1 micron/s, which is sufficient to account for the observed reabsorption of fluid from renal proximal tubules. Several experimentally testable predictions emerge from our model. First, the pressure in the LIS need not increase when fluid is transported. Thus, the LIS of mammalian proximal tubules need not swell during fluid transport, a prediction consistent with the observations of Burg and Grantham (1971, Membranes and Ion Transport, pp. 49-77). Second, the reabsorption of fluid is predicted to cease when the lumen is clamped to a negative voltage. Our analysis predicts that a voltage of -15 mV will cause fluid to be secreted into the Necturus proximal tubule, a prediction consistent with the observations of Spring and Paganelli (1972, J. Gen. Physiol., 60:181).
γ‐Actin regulates cell migration and modulates the ROCK signaling pathway

Cell migration plays a crucial role in numerous cellular functions, and alterations in the regulation of cell migration are required for invasive transformation of a tumor cell. While the mechanistic process of actin‐based migration has been well documented, little is known as to the specific function of the nonmuscle actin isoforms in mammalian cells. Here, we present a comprehensive examination of γ‐actin's role in cell migration using an RNAi approach. The partial suppression of γ‐actin expression in SH‐EP neuroblastoma cells resulted in a significant decrease in wound healing and transwell migration. Similarly, the knockdown of γ‐actin significantly reduced speed of motility and severely affected the cell's ability to explore, which was, in part, due to a loss of cell polarity. Moreover, there was a significant increase in the size and number of paxillin‐containing focal adhesions, coupled with a significant decrease in phosphorylated paxillin in γ‐actin‐knockdown cells. In addition, there was a significant increase in the phosphorylation of cofilin and myosin regulatory light chain, suggesting an overactivated Rho‐associated kinase (ROCK) signaling pathway in γ‐actin‐knockdown cells. The alterations in the phosphorylation of paxillin and myosin regulatory light chain were unique to γ‐actin and not β‐actin knockdown. Inhibition of the ROCK pathway with the inhibitor Y‐27632 restored the ability of γ‐actin‐knockdown cells to migrate. This study demonstrates γ‐actin as a potential upstream regulator of ROCK mediated cell migration. —Shum, M. S. Y. , Pasquier, E. , Po'uha, S. T. , O'Neill, G. M. , Chaponnier, C. , Gunning, P. W. , Kavallaris, M. γ‐Actin regulates cell migration and modulates the ROCK signaling pathway. FASEB J. 25, 4423–4433 (2011). www.fasebj. org
Fostering open science to research using a taxonomy and an eLearning portal

The term "Open Science" is recently widely used, but it is still unclear to many research stakeholders - funders, policy makers, researchers, administrators, librarians and repository managers - how Open Science can be achieved. FOSTER (Facilitate Open Science Training for European Research) is a European Commission funded project, which is developing an e-learning portal to support the training of a wide range of stakeholders in Open Science and related areas. In 2014 the FOSTER project co-funded 28 training activities in Open Science, which include more than 110 events, while in 2015 the project has supported 24 community training events in 18 countries. In this paper, we describe the FOSTER approach in structuring the Open Science domain for educational purposes, present the functionality of the FOSTER training portal and discuss its use and potential for training the key stakeholders using self-learning and blended-learning methods.
The continuing evolution of semiconductor materials for power cable applications

Significant improvements of the semiconductive materials and the measurement techniques have been made in the last decades. This article has demonstrated that semiconductive materials with more robust processing properties can be developed. The cleanliness and surface smoothness have been dramatically improved because of continuous attention to raw materials, compounding, and techniques to monitor the quality of the semiconductive material. Both at distribution and transmission voltages, improving semiconductive materials have made vital contributions to the increasing dependability of XLPE cable systems.
EphA/ephrin A reverse signaling promotes the migration of cortical interneurons from the medial ganglionic eminence

Inhibitory interneurons control the flow of information and synchronization in the cerebral cortex at the circuit level. During embryonic development, multiple subtypes of cortical interneurons are generated in different regions of the ventral telencephalon, such as the medial and caudal ganglionic eminence (MGE and CGE), as well as the preoptic area (POA). These neurons then migrate over long distances towards their cortical target areas. Diverse families of diffusible and cell-bound signaling molecules, including the Eph/ephrin system, regulate and orchestrate interneuron migration. Ephrin A3 and A5, for instance, are expressed at the borders of the pathway of MGE-derived interneurons and prevent these cells from entering inappropriate regions via EphA4 forward signaling. We found that MGE-derived interneurons, in addition to EphA4, also express ephrin A and B ligands, suggesting Eph/ephrin forward and reverse signaling in the same cell. In vitro and in vivo approaches showed that EphA4-induced reverse signaling in MGE-derived interneurons promotes their migration and that this effect is mediated by ephrin A2 ligands. In EphA4 mutant mice, as well as after ephrin A2 knockdown using in utero electroporation, we found delayed interneuron migration at embryonic stages. Thus, besides functions in guiding MGE-derived interneurons to the cortex through forward signaling, here we describe a novel role of the ephrins in driving these neurons to their target via reverse signaling.
HPCC: An ensembled framework for the prediction of the onset of diabetes

Diagnosing Diabetes is one of the problems that require high level of accurate analysis and prediction. Traditional techniques for clinical decision support systems are grounded on a single classifier or combination of various classifiers which are used for the diagnosis of the disease and its prediction. Recently much heed has been paid to improve the performance of disease prediction with the use of ensemble-based methods. Using ensemble methods in decision support systems assist in analyzing theses type of diseases. To improve the performance of weak classifiers boosting and bagging can be used. These techniques are based on combining the outputs and functionality of the classifiers. A weighted majority vote or a simple majority vote which has been used in this study are the most common rules for bagging and boosting. In this paper, we compare the performance of bagging and boosting with our hybrid approach called Hierarchical and Progressive Combination of Classifiers (HPCC) through the study of the famous Pima Indians Diabetes Dataset and the best classifier is chosen on the basis of the accuracy achieved.
Selection through Female Fitness Helps to Explain the Maintenance of Male Flowers

Andromonoecy, the production of both male and hermaphrodite flowers in the same individual, is a widespread phenomenon that occurs in approximately 4,000 species distributed in 33 families. Hypotheses for the evolution of andromonoecy suggest that the production of intermediate proportions of staminate flowers may be favored by selection acting through female components of fitness. Here we used the andromonoecious herb Solanum carolinense to determine the pattern of selection on the production of staminate flowers. A multivariate analysis of selection indicates that selection through female fitness favors the production of staminate flowers in at least one population. We conclude that this counterintuitive benefit of staminate flowers on female fitness highlights the importance of considering female components of fitness in the evolution of andromonoecy, a reproductive system usually interpreted as a “male” strategy.
Metabolism and pharmacokinetics of resveratrol and pterostilbene

Beneficial properties of resveratrol and pterostilbene, a dimethyl ether analog of resveratrol, have attracted increasing interest in recent years. Resveratrol and pterostilbene exhibit many pharmacological similarities and both of them are generally considered to be safe for human consumption. Beyond the structural and general bioactivity similarities between them, large amounts of data are now available to reveal the metabolic fate and pharmacological differences between them. Pterostilbene was found to be more metabolically stable and usually exhibited stronger pharmacological activities than that of resveratrol. As a contribution to clarify and compare aspects like metabolic stability and pharmacokinetics of resveratrol and pterostilbene, as well as explain the pharmacological similarities and differences between them, this review presents and compares recent data on the metabolism and pharmacokinetics of resveratrol and pterostilbene. © 2018 BioFactors, 44(1):16–25, 2018
Volumetric measurements of subcortical nuclei in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy

Objective: To determine the volumes of subcortical nuclei in patients with chronic epilepsy. Background: Animal and human data suggest a crucial role for subcortical structures in the modulation of seizure activity, mostly as seizure-suppressing relays. Although cortical epileptogenic foci can vary in localization and extent, it nevertheless appears that these structures subsequently influence seizure propagation in a universal fashion. There is, however, little knowledge about the size of implicated subcortical structures in patients with epilepsy. Method: Using high-resolution MRI, the volumes of selected subcortical nuclei, such as the thalamus, caudate nucleus, putamen, and pallidum, were measured in both hemispheres of 27 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Fourteen healthy volunteers served as controls. Statistical analysis was done for both normalized volumes (by total brain volume) and unnormalized volumes. Results: Overall, the patient group had smaller thalamic and striatal volumes in both hemispheres, mostly ipsilateral to the epileptic focus. No significant correlations were noted between volume measurements and age, age at onset, duration of epilepsy, or total seizure frequency, including frequency of generalized seizures. The putamen and thalamus seemed to be affected predominantly in patients with a history of febrile convulsions, whereas patients without febrile convulsions had smaller caudate nuclei bilaterally. Conclusions: Volumetric measurements of subcortical nuclei reveal atrophy of distinct subcortical nuclei in the patient group, predominantly ipsilateral to the focus. This finding probably reflects persistent abnormalities and not secondary change. In addition, the structural differences between patients with and patients without previous febrile convulsions suggest that these conditions may have different causes.
[Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors].

INTRODUCTION The dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors tend to occur in young patients, with partial complex partial seizures which is refractory to medical treatment. These are stable lesions, with defined histological features, specially with clinical data corroboration. CLINICAL CASES The clinical, imagiological, operative, and histopathological data of six patients with proved dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors were reviewed. All patients had seizures with age at onset ranged from 7 to 27 years. Five lesions were located in the temporal lobe and one in the parietal lobe. Common features included cortical to subcortical location, low density in CT-scan, very low signal intensity on T1-weighted images and high signal on T2-weighted images. Calcification occurred in two lesions, and three showed contrast enhancement. Complete resection of the tumor was performed in three cases, and subtotal resection in other three cases. Pathological features included oligodendroglial-like cells, glioneural component, and few cases showed dysplastic cortical disorganization. The postoperative period of follow-up ranged from 2 to 18 months. Four patients were seizure free, two of which had subtotal resection of the lesion. The remaining two patients maintained seizures. CONCLUSIONS The clinical, imagiological and histopathological data of the six cases presented are generally compatible with those of the reports reviewed by the authors. The imagiological features are nonspecific. Surgical treatment permits histological diagnosis and epilepsy control.
Risk Factors for Long-Term Coronary Artery Calcium Progression in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Background Coronary artery calcium (CAC) detected by noncontrast cardiac computed tomography scanning is a measure of coronary atherosclerosis burden. Increasing CAC levels have been strongly associated with increased coronary events. Prior studies of cardiovascular disease risk factors and CAC progression have been limited by short follow-up or restricted to patients with advanced disease. Methods and Results We examined cardiovascular disease risk factors and CAC progression in a prospective multiethnic cohort study. CAC was measured 1 to 4 times (mean 2.5 scans) over 10 years in 6810 adults without preexisting cardiovascular disease. Mean CAC progression was 23.9 Agatston units/year. An innovative application of mixed-effects models investigated associations between cardiovascular disease risk factors and CAC progression. This approach adjusted for time-varying factors, was flexible with respect to follow-up time and number of observations per participant, and allowed simultaneous control of factors associated with both baseline CAC and CAC progression. Models included age, sex, study site, scanner type, and race/ethnicity. Associations were observed between CAC progression and age (14.2 Agatston units/year per 10 years [95% CI 13.0 to 15.5]), male sex (17.8 Agatston units/year [95% CI 15.3 to 20.3]), hypertension (13.8 Agatston units/year [95% CI 11.2 to 16.5]), diabetes (31.3 Agatston units/year [95% CI 27.4 to 35.3]), and other factors. Conclusions CAC progression analyzed over 10 years of follow-up, with a novel analytical approach, demonstrated strong relationships with risk factors for incident cardiovascular events. Longitudinal CAC progression analyzed in this framework can be used to evaluate novel cardiovascular risk factors.
Higher origination and extinction rates in larger mammals

Do large mammals evolve faster than small mammals or vice versa? Because the answer to this question contributes to our understanding of how life-history affects long-term and large-scale evolutionary patterns, and how microevolutionary rates scale-up to macroevolutionary rates, it has received much attention. A satisfactory or consistent answer to this question is lacking, however. Here, we take a fresh look at this problem using a large fossil dataset of mammals from the Neogene of the Old World (NOW). Controlling for sampling biases, calculating per capita origination and extinction rates of boundary-crossers and estimating survival probabilities using capture-mark-recapture (CMR) methods, we found the recurring pattern that large mammal genera and species have higher origination and extinction rates, and therefore shorter durations. This pattern is surprising in the light of molecular studies, which show that smaller animals, with their shorter generation times and higher metabolic rates, have greater absolute rates of evolution. However, higher molecular rates do not necessarily translate to higher taxon rates because both the biotic and physical environments interact with phenotypic variation, in part fueled by mutations, to affect origination and extinction rates. To explain the observed pattern, we propose that the ability to evolve and maintain behavior such as hibernation, torpor and burrowing, collectively termed “sleep-or-hide” (SLOH) behavior, serves as a means of environmental buffering during expected and unexpected environmental change. SLOH behavior is more common in some small mammals, and, as a result, SLOH small mammals contribute to higher average survivorship and lower origination probabilities among small mammals.
Occupational Choice and the Spirit of Capitalism

The British Industrial Revolution triggered a reversal in the social order whereby the landed elite was replaced by industrial capitalists rising from the middle classes as the economically dominant group. Many observers have linked this transformation to the contrast in values between a hard-working and thrifty middle class and an upper class imbued with disdain for work. We propose an economic theory of preference formation in which both the divergence of attitudes across social classes and the ensuing reversal of economic fortunes are equilibrium outcomes. In our theory, parents shape their children's preferences in response to economic incentives. If financial markets are imperfect, this results in the stratification of society along occupational lines. Middle-class families in occupations that require effort, skill, and experience develop patience and work ethic, whereas upper-class families relying on rental income cultivate a refined taste for leisure. These class-specific attitudes, which are rooted in the nature of pre-industrial professions, become key determinants of success once industrialization transforms the economic landscape.
Academy for Eating Disorders position paper: the role of the family in eating disorders.

Position It is the position of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) that whereas family factors can play a role in the genesis and maintenance of eating disorders, current knowledge refutes the idea that they are either the exclusive or even the primary mechanisms that underlie risk. Thus, the AED stands firmly against any etiologic model of eating disorders in which family influences are seen as the primary cause of anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, and condemns generalizing statements that imply families are to blame for their child’s illness. The AED recommends that families be included in the treatment of younger patients, unless doing so is clearly ill advised on clinical grounds. The position articulated in this article is in line with the World Wide Charter for Action on Eating Disorders.
Glycine Receptors are Present in Human Epidermis

The inhibitory glycine receptor (GlyR) is a member of the nicotinoid receptor superfamily. This heteropen- tameric Cl - channel is composed of different � (1-4) and a � -subunit and mediates fast synaptic transmission in the central nervous system. Since glycine, the natural ligand of GlyR has been found to enhance epidermal barrier recovery; we aimed at characterizing GlyR distribution in human skin and their function in skin physiology. We detected different � - subunits and the � - GlyR subunit on mRNA and protein level in human skin and cultured keratinocytes and fibroblasts. In cultured human keratinocytes but not in fibroblasts, glycine induced proliferation. Epidermis-equivalents were signifi- cantly thicker than control if cultured in the presence of glycine. In human skin, GlyR immunoreactivity (IR) was detected in the upper epidermal layers. In eczema and psoriasis, GlyR IR was reduced in areas with parakeratosis suggesting a role of GlyR in terminal differentiation and epidermal barrier control.
Support Vector Machines Under Adversarial Label Noise

In adversarial classication tasks like spam ltering and intrusion detection, malicious adversaries may manipulate data to thwart the outcome of an automatic analysis. Thus, besides achieving good classication performances, machine learning algorithms have to be robust against adversarial data manipulation to successfully operate in these tasks. While support vector machines (SVMs) have shown to be a very successful approach in classication problems, their eectiveness in adversarial classication tasks has not been extensively investigated yet. In this paper we present a preliminary investigation of the robustness of SVMs against adversarial data manipulation. In particular, we assume that the adversary has control over some training data, and aims to subvert the SVM learning process. Within this assumption, we show that this is indeed possible, and propose a strategy to improve the robustness of SVMs to training data manipulation based on a simple kernel matrix correction.