Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electrical stimulation for preventing and treating post-stroke shoulder pain: a systematic Cochrane review

Background: Shoulder pain after stroke is common and disabling. The optimal management is uncertain, but electrical stimulation (ES) is often used to treat and prevent pain. Objectives: The objective of this review was to determine the efficacy of any form of surface ES in the prevention and/or treatment of pain around the shoulder at any time after stroke. Search strategy: We searched the Cochrane Stroke Review Group trials register and undertook further searches of Medline, Embase and CINAHL. Contact was established with equipment manufacturers and centres that have published on the topic of ES. Selection criteria: We considered all randomized trials that assessed any surface ES technique (functional electrical stimulation (FES), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) or other), applied at any time since stroke for the purpose of prevention or treatment of shoulder pain. Data collection and analysis: Two reviewers independently selected trials for inclusion, assessed trial quality and extracted the data. Main results: Four trials (a total of 170 subjects) fitted the inclusion criteria. Study design and ES technique varied considerably, often precluding the combination of studies. Population numbers were small. There was no significant change in pain incidence (odds ratio (OR) 0.64; 95% CI 0.19–2.14) or change in pain intensity (standardized mean difference (SMD) 0.13; 95% CI –1.0–1.25) after ES treatment compared with control. There was a significant treatment effect in favour of ES for improvement in pain-free range of passive humeral lateral rotation (weighted mean difference (WMD) 9.17; 95% CI 1.43–16.91). In these studies ES reduced the severity of glenohumeral subluxation (SMD –1.13; 95% CI –1.66 to –0.60), but there was no significant effect on upper limb motor recovery (SMD 0.24; 95% CI –0.14–0.62) or upper limb spasticity (WMD 0.05; 95% CI –0.28–0.37). There did not appear to be any negative effects of electrical stimulation at the shoulder.
Effect of growth temperatures on the protein levels in a psychrotrophic bacterium, Pseudomonas fragi

Pseudomonas fragi has the ability to grow between 0 and 35 degrees C and grows optimally at 30 degrees C. Cellular proteins from mid-log-phase cells growing from 4 to 34 degrees C were labeled with L-[35S]methionine during 1 generation time and analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The electrophoretic patterns revealed differences in the patterns of protein synthesis over this temperature span. A qualitative comparison of cellular proteins led to their separation into five thermal classes. The first class contained proteins whose relative rates of synthesis were unaffected by the growth temperature. Three other classes included proteins with optimal expression at 4 to 10, 15 to 20, and 25 to 30 degrees C. A fifth class contained proteins which were more specifically synthesized at a supraoptimal growth temperature (34 degrees C). Two low-molecular-mass proteins, designated C7.0 and C8.0, were highly concentrated at 4 to 10 degrees C, and their relative rates of synthesis steadily increased with decreasing temperature. Polyclonal antibodies were separately raised against these two proteins. Immunological analyses revealed cross-reaction between these two proteins and between two additional low-molecular-mass proteins which were maximally produced at elevated temperatures. Antisera directed against C8.0 recognized the major cold shock protein of Escherichia coli, CspA, indicating the presence of similarities between these proteins.
Nonseparable Shearlet Transform

Over the past few years, various representation systems which sparsely approximate functions governed by anisotropic features, such as edges in images, have been proposed. Alongside the theoretical development of these systems, algorithmic realizations of the associated transforms are provided. However, one of the most common shortcomings of these frameworks is the lack of providing a unified treatment of the continuum and digital world, i.e., allowing a digital theory to be a natural digitization of the continuum theory. In this paper, we introduce a new shearlet transform associated with a nonseparable shearlet generator, which improves the directional selectivity of previous shearlet transforms. Our approach is based on a discrete framework, which allows a faithful digitization of the continuum domain directional transform based on compactly supported shearlets introduced as means to sparsely encode anisotropic singularities of multivariate data. We show numerical experiments demonstrating the potential of our new shearlet transform in 2D and 3D image processing applications.
Attrition of Women in the Biological Sciences: Workload, Motherhood, and Other Explanations Revisited

Women and men enter graduate programs in biology in about equal numbers, but women are less likely to become academic scientists. Various hypotheses have been suggested to explain this higher rate of attrition, most of which cite family issues as the reason. However, medicine successfully recruits and retains women physicians, despite being less family friendly than biology in terms of workload, stress, and inflexible work hours. Both professions are competitive but at different times in a person's career. Competition for entry into medical school is intense, but this period of competition occurs prior to family formation for most women. For women biologists, the most intense period of competition occurs during the search for faculty positions. Many women have partners or children at this time. The increasing competition for academic positions threatens to reverse the gains that women have made into the professoriate in biology, as well as in other sciences.
The importance of fragmented QRS in the early detection of cardiac involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis

Objective: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune connective tissue disorder characterized by fibrosis. The prognosis of the disease is bad when clinically symptomatic cardiac dysfunction is occurred, therefore early detection of cardiac dysfunction is important in patients with SSc. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of fQRS in superficial electrocardiography in cardiacally asymptomatic patients with SSc and its relation to the systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP). Methods: This study included 31 cardiacally asymptomatic patients with SSc (23 females, 40.4±9.2 years) and 41 healthy volunteers as the control (31 females, 38.2±11.8 years). The ECGs with 12 derivations and transthoracic echocardiographies of the patients were evaluated. The presence of fQRS in the superficial ECG, and its relation to systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) were investigated. Results: The mean sPAP value in the SSc group was observed to be higher than that of the control group (26 mm Hg and 20 mm Hg, respectively, p<0.001). The presence of fQRS in the SSc group was more frequent than the control group (55% and 10%, respectively, p<0.001). In SSc patients presence of fQRS become relevant with ≥24 mm Hg sPAP by 88% sensitivity and 79% specificity. Conclusion: In our study, the presence of fQRS in SSc patients, were more frequent than in the normal population. Since pulmonary hypertension is the primary cause of mortality in patients with SSc, the correlation of fQRS with sPAP should also be considered.
On the Performance of Multihop-Intervehicular Communications Systems Over n*Rayleigh Fading Channels

We investigate the performance of multihop-intervehicular communication systems with regenerative and nonregenerative relaying. We consider the so-called “n*Rayleigh distribution” as an adequate multipath fading channel model for vehicle-to-vehicle communication scenarios. We derive a novel approximation for the outage probability of maximum ratio combining (MRC) diversity reception. In addition, we analyze the amount of fading and optimize the power allocation for the investigated scenario. Numerical results show that regenerative systems are more efficient than nonregenerative systems when the cascading order (n) is small; however, for large n, our results demonstrate that the performance of both relaying techniques is rather similar.
An analysis of drug resistance among people living with HIV/AIDS in Shanghai, China

Background Understanding the mechanisms of drug resistance can facilitate better management of antiretroviral therapy, helping to prevent transmission and decrease the morbidity and mortality of people living with HIV/AIDS. However, there is little data about transmitted drug resistance and acquired drug resistance for HIV/AIDS patients in Shanghai. Methods A retrospective cohort study of HIV-infected patients who visited the Department of Infectious Disease from June 2008 to June 2015 was conducted in Shanghai, China. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze risk factors for drug resistance among HIV-infected people with virological failure. The related collected factors included patient age, gender, marital status, infection route, baseline CD4 count, antiretroviral therapy regimens, time between HIV diagnosis and initiating antiretroviral therapy. Factors with p<0.1 in the univariate logistic regression test were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression test. Results There were 575 subjects selected for this study and 369 participated in this research. For the antiretroviral therapy drugs, the rates of transmitted drug resistance and acquired drug resistance were significantly different. The non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) had the highest drug resistance rate (transmitted drug resistance, 10.9%; acquired drug resistance, 53.3%) and protease inhibitors (PIs) had the lowest drug resistance rate (transmitted drug resistance, 1.7%; acquired drug resistance, 2.7%). Logistic regression analysis found no factors that were related to drug resistance except marital status (married status for tenofovir: odds ratio = 6.345, 95% confidence interval = 1.553–25.921, P = 0.010) and the time span between HIV diagnosis and initiating antiretroviral therapy (≤6M for stavudine: odds ratio = 0.271, 95% confidence interval = 0.086–0.850, P = 0.025; ≤6M for didanosine: odds ratio = 0.284, 95% confidence interval = 0.096–0.842, P = 0.023; ≤6M for tenofovir: odds ratio = 0.079, 95% confidence interval = 0.018–0.350,P<0.001). Conclusion NNRTI had a higher DR rate compared with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) and PIs, consequently, LPV/r was a reasonable choice for patients with NNRTI drugs resistance in China. Only married status and a time span≤6 month between the HIV confirmed date and the time initiating antiretroviral therapy were risk factors for TDF drug resistance. Both baseline HIV-RNA load and resistance test is crucial for TDR diagnosis, and frequent monitoring of HIV-RNA load is crucial for ADR identification and intervention. Treatment adherence still plays a positive role on the outcome of ART.
The Differential Impact of Investor Sentiment on the Value Relevance of Book Value Versus Earnings

This study investigates the differential role of investor sentiment on the value relevance of book value versus earnings. I predict and find that the value relevance of book value is higher during low sentiment periods relative to high sentiment periods, and that the value relevance of earnings is higher during high sentiment periods relative to low sentiment periods. These findings are consistent with investors ― when optimistic ― placing a higher weight on earnings, which implies expected future earnings, whereas investors ― when pessimistic ― place a higher weight on book value, which is a conservative estimation of current value. Additional analyses suggest that this sentiment effect is more pronounced for book value components that are closely related to abandonment value, and for earnings components that have strong indication of future earnings (specifically, permanent earnings). Results are also robust to alternative measures of investor sentiment.
Optimal and Suboptimal Finger Selection Algorithms for MMSE Rake Receivers in Impulse Radio Ultra-Wideband Systems

The problem of choosing the optimal multipath components to be employed at a minimum mean square error (MMSE) selective Rake receiver is considered for an impulse radio ultra-wideband system. First, the optimal finger selection problem is formulated as an integer programming problem with a nonconvex objective function. Then, the objective function is approximated by a convex function and the integer programming problem is solved by means of constraint relaxation techniques. The proposed algorithms are suboptimal due to the approximate objective function and the constraint relaxation steps. However, they perform better than the conventional finger selection algorithm, which is suboptimal since it ignores the correlation between multipath components, and they can get quite close to the optimal scheme that cannot be implemented in practice due to its complexity. In addition to the convex relaxation techniques, a genetic-algorithm- (GA-) based approach is proposed, which does not need any approximations or integer relaxations. This iterative algorithm is based on the direct evaluation of the objective function, and can achieve near-optimal performance with a reasonable number of iterations. Simulation results are presented to compare the performance of the proposed finger selection algorithms with that of the conventional and the optimal schemes.
3q26 Amplification Is an Effective Negative Triage Test for LSIL: A Historical Prospective Study

Background Women with low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) at cervical cancer screening are currently referred for further diagnostic work up despite 80% having no precancerous lesion. The primary purpose of this study is to measure the test characteristics of 3q26 chromosome gain (3q26 gain) as a host marker of carcinogenesis in women with LSIL. A negative triage test may allow these women to be followed by cytology alone without immediate referral to colposcopy. Methods and Findings A historical prospective study was designed to measure 3q26 gain from the archived liquid cytology specimens diagnosed as LSIL among women attending colposcopy between 2007 and 2009. 3q26 gain was assessed on the index liquid sample; and sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were measured at immediate triage and at 6–16 months after colposcopic biopsy. The sensitivity of 3q26 gain measured at immediate triage from automated and manually reviewed tests in 65 non-pregnant unique women was 70% (95% CI: 35, 93) with a NPV of 89% (95% CI: 78, 96). The sensitivity and NPV increased to 80% (95% CI: 28, 99) and 98% (95% CI: 87, 100), respectively, when only the automated method of detecting 3q26 gain was used. Conclusions 3q26 gain demonstrates high sensitivity and NPV as a negative triage test for women with LSIL, allowing possible guideline changes to routine surveillance instead of immediate colposcopy. Prospective studies are ongoing to establish the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of 3q26 gain for LSIL over time.
Cytotoxicity effects determination of vitamin-mineral feed supplement for poultry « Ekstraselen-Vit » on broiler chickens liver cells

The purpose of the present research was to conduct a histological study of the broiler chickens’ liver (cross "Ross-308") separated into two groups: control and experimental, both kept in the same conditions. Broiler chickens from the experimental group got a biologically active comprehensive vitamin-mineral feed supplement «Ekstraselen-Vit» with drinking water at the dose of 0.1 ml per 1 liter continuously from 15 to 42 days of cultivation. Found that in the control group observed morphological and functional changes characterized by fatty and protein dystrophy of hepatocytes, which is associated with age-related physiology in birds industrial areas. In the test group under the influence of the specimen a clear structural composition of liver acinus with a distinct beamed arrangement of polygonal hepatocytes with an even coloring of cell cytoplasm can be seen. That indicates a sufficient amount of the protein – an indicator of preventive hepatoprotective specimen effect on liver and the whole organism.
Association of TNFRSF10D DNA-Methylation with the Survival of Melanoma Patients

In this retrospective pilot study, the DNA-methylation status of genes that have been demonstrated to be involved in melanoma carcinogenesis was analyzed in order to identify novel biomarkers for the risk assessment of melanoma patients. We analyzed DNA extracted from punch-biopsies from 68 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) melanoma specimens. Using MethyLight PCR, we examined 20 genes in specimens from a training set comprising 36 melanoma patients. Selected candidate genes were validated in a test set using FFPE tissue samples from 32 melanoma patients. First, we identified the TNFRSF10D DNA-methylation status (TNFRSF10D methylated vs. unmethylated) as a prognostic marker for overall (p = 0.001) and for relapse-free survival (p = 0.008) in the training set. This finding was confirmed in the independent test set (n = 32; overall survival p = 0.041; relapse-free survival p = 0.012). In a multivariate Cox-regression analysis including all patients, the TNFRSF10D DNA-methylation status remained as the most significant prognostic parameter for overall and relapse-free survival (relative-risk (RR) of death, 4.6 (95% CI: 2.0–11.0; p < 0.001), RR of relapse, 7.2 (95% CI: 2.8–18.3; p < 0.001)). In this study, we demonstrate that TNFRSF10D DNA-methylation analysis of a small tissue-punch from archival FFPE melanoma tissue is a promising approach to provide prognostic information in patients with melanoma.
The Responses of Arabidopsis Early Light-Induced Protein2 to Ultraviolet B, High Light, and Cold Stress Are Regulated by a Transcriptional Regulatory Unit Composed of Two Elements1[OPEN]

Prediction-oriented functional analysis uncovers a transcriptional regulatory unit composed of two unique elements for UV-B, high light, and cold stress responses. The Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) Early Light-Induced Protein (ELIP) is thought to act as a photoprotectant, reducing the damaging effects of high light (HL). Expression of ELIP2 is activated by multiple environmental stresses related to photoinhibition. We have identified putative regulatory elements in an ELIP2 promoter using an octamer-based frequency comparison method, analyzed the role of these elements using synthetic promoters, and revealed a key transcriptional regulatory unit for ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation, HL, and cold stress responses. The unit is composed of two elements, designated as Elements A (TACACACC) and B (GGCCACGCCA), and shows functionality only when paired. Our genome-wide correlation analysis between possession of these elements in the promoter region and expression profiles in response to UV-B, HL, and cold suggests that Element B receives and integrates these multiple stress signals. In vitro protein-DNA binding assays revealed that LONG HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5), a basic domain-Leucine zipper transcription factor, directly binds to Element B. In addition, mutant analysis of HY5 showed partial involvement in the UV-B and HL responses but not in the cold stress response. These results suggest that signals for UV-B, HL, and cold stress join at Element B, which recognizes the signals of multiple transcription factors, including HY5.
N‐Methyl d‐Aspartate Receptor Expression Patterns in the Human Fetal Cerebral Cortex

Abstract N‐methyl d‐aspartate receptors (NMDARs), a subtype of glutamate receptor, have important functional roles in cellular activity and neuronal development. They are well‐studied in rodent and adult human brains, but limited information is available about their distribution in the human fetal cerebral cortex. Here we show that 3 NMDAR subunits, NR1, NR2A, and NR2B, are expressed in the human cerebral cortex during the second trimester of gestation, a period of intense neurogenesis and synaptogenesis. With increasing fetal age, expression of the NMDAR‐encoding genes Grin1 (NR1) and Grin2a (NR2A) increased while Grin2b (NR2B) expression decreased. The protein levels of all 3 subunits paralleled the changes in gene expression. On cryosections, all 3 subunits were expressed in proliferative ventricular and subventricular zones, in radial glia, and in intermediate progenitor cells, consistent with their role in the proliferation of cortical progenitor cells and in the determination of their respective fates. The detection of NR1, NR2A, and NR2B in both glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons of the cortical plate suggests the involvement of NMDARs in the maturation of human cortical neurons and in early synapse formation. Our results and previous studies in rodents suggest that NMDAR expression in the developing human brain is evolutionarily conserved.
Social semantics : altruism , cooperation , mutualism , strong reciprocity and group selection

Scientific progress depends upon precise, reliable communication between scientists (Brown, 1983). This can be hindered if people use the same term to mean different things, or different terms to mean the same thing. In the extreme, this can lead to debates or disputes when in fact there is no disagreement, or the illusion of agreement when there is disagreement. Here, we are concerned with issues of semantic confusion that have arisen with research on the problem of cooperation. The problem is why should an individual carry out a cooperative behaviour that appears costly to perform, but benefits other individuals (Hamilton, 1963, 1964)? A large body of theory and a rich experimental literature have arisen on this problem in the wake of Hamilton’s pioneering papers. To a large extent, semantic confusion should not be a problem in this field. Several evolutionary theoreticians have developed comprehensive overviews of the area, and there is relatively general agreement between them (Grafen, 1985; Queller, 1985; Taylor, 1996; Frank, 1998, 2003; Rousset, 2004; Sachs et al., 2004; Foster & Wenseleers, 2006; Gardner et al., 2007; Grafen, 2006; Lehmann & Keller, 2006). Furthermore, several possible points of confusion have long been solved (Grafen, 1984; Frank, 1998; Reeve & Keller, 1999; Rousset, 2004). However, despite this, semantic problems are still managing to creep in from a number of directions. In particular, several factors have led to us writing this paper. First, extensions of social evolution theory to new taxa seem to allow old semantic problems to reoccur or new variants to arise. Two areas where this is currently important, that we shall discuss, are work on cooperation in humans and microbes. Other recent examples include Correspondence: Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, King’s Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK. Tel. : 0131 6505496; fax: 0131 6506564; e-mail: stu.west@ed.ac. uk