Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enantiomorphs differ in shape in opposite directions between populations

Abstract Development is left–right reversed between dextral and sinistral morphs of snails. In sympatry, they share the same gene pool, including polygenes for shell shape. Nevertheless, their shell shapes are not the mirror images of each other. This triggered a debate between hypotheses that argue either for a developmental constraint or for zygotic pleiotropic effects of the polarity gene. We found that dextrals can be wider or narrower than sinistrals depending on the population, contrary to the prediction of invariable deviation under a developmental constraint. If the pleiotropy is solely responsible instead, the mean shape of each morph should change, depending on the frequency of polarity genotype. Our simulations of this mean shape change under zygotic pleiotropy, however, show that the direction of interchiral difference remains the same regardless of genotype frequency. Our results suggest the presence of genetic variation among populations that changes the maternal or zygotic pleiotropic effect of the polarity gene.
Patterns and correlates of grip strength change with age in Afro-Caribbean men.

BACKGROUND muscle strength is essential for physical functions and an indicator of morbidity and mortality in older adults. Among the factors associated with muscle strength loss with age, ethnicity has been shown to play an important role. OBJECTIVE to examine the patterns and correlates of muscle strength change with age in a population-based cohort of middle-aged and older Afro-Caribbean men. METHODS handgrip strength and body composition were measured in 1,710 Afro-Caribbean men. Data were also collected for demographic variables, medical history and lifestyle behaviours. RESULTS the age range of the study population was 29-89 years. Grip strength increased below age 50 years, and decreased after age 50 years over 4.5-year follow-up. The average loss in grip strength was 2.2% (0.49% per year) for ages 50 years or older and 3.8% (0.64% per year) for ages 65 years or older. The significant independent predictors of grip strength loss included older age, a greater body mass index, lower initial arm lean mass and greater loss of arm lean mass. CONCLUSION Afro-Caribbean men experience a significant decline in muscle strength with advanced age. The major independent factors associated with strength loss were similar to other ethnic groups, including age, body weight and lean mass.
Taking a medical history and using a colour scale during clinical examination of pallor improves detection of anaemia

We developed a colour tint scale to use as an aid in the clinical assessment of anaemia by measuring conjunctival pallor. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the accuracy and agreement among observers in detecting anaemia in three sequential phases with incremental information using clinical pallor of different anatomical sites, subsequently adding subjects' medical history for physical symptoms and the colour scale. After training in the application of these three sequential assessments, 12 primary health workers were assigned to independently examine 198 anaemic and 254 non‐anaemic pregnant women while blind to the true anaemic status. Their assessments in each phase were then compared with the anaemic status based on haemoglobin level, measured using HemoCue, taken as the gold standard, to determine sensitivity and specificity, and agreements among observers in detecting anaemia were calculated. In the three sequential phases of assessment the sensitivities were 73.8, 78.3, 82.9% and specificities 76.0, 84.7 and 90.9%, respectively. In each subsequent step, the improvements in both the sensitivity and specificity were statistically significant [P(χ2McNemar) < 0.01]. Kappa statistics for agreement among 12 observers for assessing anaemia in the sequential phases were 0.50, 0.71 and 0.82, respectively. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient between haemoglobin level and the colour scale reading was 0.68 (P < 0.001). Taking medical history and incorporating a simple colour tint scale with examination of pallor improved the sensitivity, specificity and agreement for detection of anaemia by health workers.
Single-run gradient estimation via measure-valued differentiation

We show how single-run-based measure-valued differentiation gradient estimators can be obtained. The key idea is to apply a change of measure a posterior to the mathematical analysis of the derivative. From the point of view of the likelihood ratio method, we show that likelihood ratio type gradient estimators can be applied in situations where the mathematical conditions needed for applying a likelihood ratio analysis are not met.
Fast Partial Distance Estimation and Applications

We study approximate distributed solutions to the weighted all-pairs shortest-paths (APSP) problem in the CONGEST model. We obtain the following results. A deterministic (1+epsilon)-approximation to APSP with running time O(ε-2n log n) rounds. The best previously known algorithm was randomized and slower by a Theta(log n) factor. In many cases, routing schemes involve relabeling, i.e., assigning new names to nodes and that are used in distance and routing queries. It is known that relabeling is necessary to achieve running times of o(n log n). In the relabeling model, we obtain the following results. A randomized O(k)-approximation to APSP, for any integer k>1, running in ~O(n1/2+1/k+D) rounds, where D is the hop diameter of the network. This algorithm simplifies the best previously known result and reduces its approximation ratio from O(k log k) to O(k). Also, the new algorithm uses O(log n)-bit labels, which is asymptotically optimal. A randomized O(k)-approximation to APSP, for any integer k>1, running in time ~O((nD)1/2 n1/k+D) and producing compact routing tables of size ~O(n1/k). The node labels consist of O(k log n) bits. This improves on the approximation ratio of Theta(k2) for tables of that size achieved by the best previously known algorithm, which terminates faster, in ~O(n1/2+1/k+D) rounds. In addition, we improve on the time complexity of the best known deterministic algorithm for distributed approximate Steiner forest.
Role of RANK-RANKL-OPG Axis in Cranial Suture Homeostasis

Craniosynostosis is a significant disorder affecting 1 in 2500 live births worldwide. Although a large body of work has focused on dural regulation and the contributions of molecular mediators such as fibroblast growth factor, bone morphogenetic protein, and transforming growth factor &bgr;, minimal attention has been directed toward osteoclast function in cranial suture biology. Receptor activator of nuclear factor &kgr;B (RANK) is an essential mediator of osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast activation. In this study, physiologic fusion of posterior frontal sutures in murine development correlated with decreasing protein expression of RANK in comparison to age-matched coronal and sagittal sutures via immunohistochemical survey. However, RANK mRNA did not exhibit a similar pattern suggesting that RANK is regulated at the protein level. Fused cranial sutures in nonsyndromic craniosynostotic children also showed decreased levels of RANK staining in immunohistochemistry in comparison to patent sutures from the same patients. Immunohistochemistry with a RANK ligand antibody did not show differences in fused or patent sutures. Moreover, RANK knockdown in calvarial strip suture cultures displayed increased bone density specifically in the suture line after infection with small interfering RANK viruses. Cranial suture biology, similar to bone biology in general, likely depends on a complex interplay between osteoblasts and osteoclasts. We now report a temporospatial correlation between RANK expression and suture morphology that suggests that osteoclast activity is important in maintenance of cranial suture patency in normal physiology and disease. Furthermore, RANK downregulation promoted suture fusion establishing a causal relationship between the presence of RANK and patency.
The VASOGRADE: A Simple Grading Scale for Prediction of Delayed Cerebral Ischemia After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Background and Purpose— Patients are classically at risk of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. We validated a grading scale—the VASOGRADE—for prediction of DCI. Methods— We used data of 3 phase II randomized clinical trials and a single hospital series to assess the relationship between the VASOGRADE and DCI. The VASOGRADE derived from previously published risk charts and consists of 3 categories: VASOGRADE-Green (modified Fisher scale 1 or 2 and World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies scale [WFNS] 1 or 2); VASOGRADE-Yellow (modified Fisher 3 or 4 and WFNS 1–3); and VASOGRADE-Red (WFNS 4 or 5, irrespective of modified Fisher grade). The relation between the VASOGRADE and DCI was assessed by logistic regression models. The predictive accuracy of the VASOGRADE was assessed by receiver operating characteristics curve and calibration plots. Results— In a cohort of 746 patients, the VASOGRADE significantly predicted DCI (P<0.001). The VASOGRADE-Yellow had a tendency for increased risk for DCI (odds ratio [OR], 1.31; 95% CI, 0.77–2.23) when compared with VASOGRADE-Green; those with VASOGRADE-Red had a 3-fold higher risk of DCI (OR, 3.19; 95% CI, 2.07–4.50). Studies were not a significant confounding factor between the VASOGRADE and DCI. The VASOGRADE had an adequate discrimination for prediction of DCI (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve=0.63) and good calibration. Conclusions— The VASOGRADE results validated previously published risk charts in a large and diverse sample of subarachnoid hemorrhage patients, which allows DCI risk stratification on presentation after subarachnoid hemorrhage. It could help to select patients at high risk of DCI, as well as standardize treatment protocols and research studies.
Dimensional differences for evaluating the quality of footwear fit

Very few standards exist for fitting products to people. Footwear is a noteworthy example. This study is an attempt to evaluate the quality of footwear fit using two-dimensional foot outlines. Twenty Hong Kong Chinese students participated in an experiment that involved three pairs of dress shoes and one pair of athletic shoes. The participants' feet were scanned using a commercial laser scanner, and each participant wore and rated the fit of each region of each shoe. The shoe lasts were also scanned and were used to match the foot scans with the last scans. The ANOVA showed significant (p < 0.05) differences among the four pairs of shoes for the overall, fore-foot and rear-foot fit ratings. There were no significant differences among shoes for mid-foot fit rating. These perceived differences were further analysed after matching the 2D outlines of both last and feet. The point-wise dimensional difference between foot and shoe outlines were computed and analysed after normalizing with foot perimeter. The dimensional difference (DD) plots along the foot perimeter showed that fore-foot fit was strongly correlated (R 2 > 0.8) with two of the minimums in the DD-plot while mid-foot fit was strongly correlated (R 2 > 0.9) with the dimensional difference around the arch region and a point on the lateral side of the foot. The DD-plots allow the designer to determine the critical locations that may affect footwear fit in addition to quantifying the nature of misfit so that design changes to shape and material may be possible.
Hyaluronan Constitutively Regulates ErbB2 Phosphorylation and Signaling Complex Formation in Carcinoma Cells*

Hyaluronan is enriched in many types of human cancers, and manipulations of hyaluronan expression or interactions have a major influence on tumor progression in animal models. Increased ErbB2 activity is characteristic of several cancers and is responsible for many aspects of malignant cell behavior in these cancers. In this study we show that constitutively high levels of active, i.e. autophosphorylated, ErbB2 in HCT116 colon carcinoma cells and TA3/St mammary carcinoma cells are dependent on endogenous hyaluronan-CD44 interaction. Dependence on hyaluronan-CD44 interaction was demonstrated by the administration of hyaluronan oligomers, experimentally induced expression of soluble CD44, and small interfering RNA knockdown of CD44 expression. On the other hand, increasing hyaluronan production by overexpression of hyaluronan synthase 2 or emmprin causes elevated ErbB2 phosphorylation in MCF-7 mammary carcinoma cells, which normally exhibit low levels of ErbB2 activity. Furthermore, in HCT116 and TA3/St cells, inhibition of endogenous hyaluronan-CD44 interaction causes disassembly of a constitutive, lipid raft-associated, signaling complex containing phosphorylated ErbB2, CD44, ezrin, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, and the chaperone molecules, Hsp90 and cdc37. Stimulation of hyaluronan production in MCF-7 cells induces assembly of this complex. We conclude that hyaluronan regulates ErbB2 activity and its interactions with other signaling factors in carcinoma cells.
Identifying Unsaturated Hydraulic Parameters Using an Integrated Data Fusion Approach on Cross‐Borehole Geophysical Data

Cross‐borehole geophysical data can provide valuable information concerning hydrologic properties of the unsaturated zone. Such data are most often used sequentially, where images of soil physical properties are obtained through numerical inversion and then converted to hydrologic state properties using petrophysical relationships. If not accounted for, inversion artifacts are transferred to the resulting hydrologic images. We propose a framework in which multiple geophysical data sets can be incorporated using an integrated data fusion approach. The geophysical data collected are integrated in a forward modeling approach to evaluate a series of plausible hydrologic models. The approach permits an evaluation of the sensitivity of geophysical data for constraining hydrologic model parameters. We illustrate the approach using geophysical data collected during a dual water and solute tracer experiment in the unsaturated zone. Cross‐borehole ground penetrating radar and electrical resistivity tomography, measuring electromagnetic travel time and electrical transfer resistances, respectively, were collected during a 20‐d period. As a first approximation, one‐dimensional flow was considered and three models (one, two, and five layers) of the subsurface were evaluated. The five‐layered model was found to be the only model capable of mimicking the infiltration pattern satisfactorily. The results showed that only the hydraulic conductivity and one of the parameters (empirical parameter n) describing the soil moisture release curve for three of the five layers could be constrained by the data, illustrating the nonuniqueness of the problem. The data fusion approach proved, however, that application of multiple geophysical methods may reduce hydraulic parameter uncertainty.
Prevalence among adolescents in Bergen, Western Norway, of temporomandibular disorders according to the DC/TMD criteria and examination protocol

Abstract Objective: The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) among adolescents and to contrast the prevalence of TMD according to the DC/TMD clinical examination protocol versus the prevalence of pain related to TMD according to two screening questions. Material and methods: Two hundred and ten adolescents living in the county of Bergen, Norway, were offered an additional examination for TMD in connection with their regular dental check-up appointment. Five dental clinics were selected with differing socio-economic patient populations, as reflected by stratification of average levels of DMFT, and an equal number of girls and boys were invited to participate. The participants answered two screening questions for pain related to TMD followed by a clinical examination according to the DC/TMD protocol by five calibrated examiners. Results: Acceptable calibration results were obtained. Approximately 80% of eligible participants consented to partake. According to the criteria of DC/TMD, the prevalence of TMD among the study participants was 11.9%, with a peak at 16 years of age. According to the self-reported screening questions for pain related to TMD, 7.2% responded positively. Only seven participants with a TMD diagnosis established according to the DC/TMD clinical examination protocol reported also pain related to TMD based on answering the two screening questions. Conclusion: The prevalence of TMD is higher for girls than for boys and the prevalence of TMD established according to the DC/TMD criteria was higher than the prevalence of pain related to TMD estimated by use of two screening questions for self-reported pain.
REVISIÓN TAXONÓMICA DE LOS ÉQUIDOS DEL PLEISTOCENO DE MÉXICO CON BASE EN LA MORFOLOGÍA DENTAL

A quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the dental traits of five horse species from 15 fossiliferous areas from the Pleistocene of Mexico was performed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether Equus mexicanus, E. conversidens, E. excelsus, E. francisci (= E. tau) and E. cedralensis show particular dental morphologies (measurements and occlusal morphology of the molariform) that provide information of systematic significance. To this end, premolars and molars of adult individuals were used to evaluate a set of ten quantitative variables that were analyzed by bivariate and multivariate methods; also, 13 qualitative variables were used to estimate the frequency in the configuration and development degree of the enamel pattern on the occlusal surface for each species. Our results indicate that 60% of the quantitative variables and 40% of the qualitative provide information to distinguish dental morphologies. Based on measures and the enamel pattern the following specific characteristics were recognized: E. mexicanus: large-size occlusal area and relatively complex enamel pattern, E. conversidens: medium-size and moderately complex occlusal enamel and E. francisci: small-size and relatively simple enamel pattern on the occlusal surface. Concerning E. excelsus and E. cedralensis, their dental morphology is closely similar to those of E. conversidens and E. francisci respectively. The observed dental morphology of the Mexican specimens of E. excelsus indicates that part of those should be reconsidered as E. conversidens and part as E. mexicanus. Nevertheless, E. francisci and E. cedralensis are different species that can be recognized by limb characters rather than dental traits. Furthermore, the developing of particular dental patterns in these species is a factor that allowed their coexistence in Mexico during the Pleistocene. Key-words: d ental morphology, Equidae, Equus, Taxonomy, Pleistocene, Mexico. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.4072/rbp.2017. 2.07
Part 14: Pediatric Advanced Life Support

In contrast to adults, cardiac arrest in infants and children does not usually result from a primary cardiac cause. More often it is the terminal result of progressive respiratory failure or shock, also called an asphyxial arrest. Asphyxia begins with a variable period of systemic hypoxemia, hypercapnea, and acidosis, progresses to bradycardia and hypotension, and culminates with cardiac arrest.1 Another mechanism of cardiac arrest, ventricular fibrillation (VF) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT), is the initial cardiac rhythm in approximately 5% to 15% of pediatric in-hospital and out-of-hospital cardiac arrests;2,–,9 it is reported in up to 27% of pediatric in-hospital arrests at some point during the resuscitation.6 The incidence of VF/pulseless VT cardiac arrest rises with age.2,4 Increasing evidence suggests that sudden unexpected death in young people can be associated with genetic abnormalities in myocyte ion channels resulting in abnormalities in ion flow (see “Sudden Unexplained Deaths,” below). Since 2010 marks the 50th anniversary of the introduction of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR),10 it seems appropriate to review the progressive improvement in outcome of pediatric resuscitation from cardiac arrest. Survival from in-hospital cardiac arrest in infants and children in the 1980s was around 9%. 11,12 Approximately 20 years later, that figure had increased to 17%,13,14 and by 2006, to 27%. 15,–,17 In contrast to those favorable results from in-hospital cardiac arrest, overall survival to discharge from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in infants and children has not changed substantially in 20 years and remains at about 6% (3% for infants and 9% for children and adolescents). 7,9 It is unclear why the improvement in outcome from in-hospital cardiac arrest has occurred, although earlier recognition and management of at-risk patients on general inpatient units …
Chronic Pelvic Pain as a Somatoform Disorder

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine whether psychiatric disturbances, particularly somatization, and an increased number of traumatic and critical life events, which have been found in women with idiopathic chronic pelvic pain (ICPP), can also be observed in women with chronic pelvic pain and abdominal adhesions (ACPP). Methods: Forty women who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy were subdivided into three groups according to blind rated somatic pathologies: ICPP patients (n = 16), ACPP patients (n = 10), infertile controls without pain (n = 14). Besides the standardized assessment of DSM-III-R diagnosis, questionnaires and semistandardized interviews were used to estimate depression, somatization, pain, the prevalence of sexual and physical abuse, and the number of critical life events. Results: Diagnostic criteria for somatoform pain disorder were fullfilled in 73.3% of the ICPP patients, 60% of the ACPP patients and none of the controls. With respect to the somatization symptom checklist the two pain groups scored significantly higher than the controls (p < 0.05). Referring to perceived pain, ACPP patients differed from the ICPP patients by one out of seven subscales (higher persistence of pain; p < 0.05). No correlation was found between the intensity of pain and the severity of classified adhesions. The two groups of pain patients significantly differed from controls by a higher prevalence of sexual abuse (p < 0.05). Depression was found neither in the pain groups nor in the controls. Conclusions: Because high somatization and high prevalence rates of abuse were not only found in patients suffering from ICPP but also in ACPP patients, it seems to be doubtful that the somatic pathology may fully explain the psychopathology in patients with ACPP.