Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The dynamic gait index relates to self-reported fall history in individuals with vestibular dysfunction.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between gait instability and falls history in people with vestibular disorders. A total of 247 people (164 women, 83 men) participated in the study (mean age = 62.5). Falls history within the last 6 months and scores on the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) were compared using the Mantel-Hantzel Chi-square statistic. Thirty-seven percent of all subjects reported falling within the last 6 months. Odds ratios in favor of falls with DGI scores of 19 or lower was 2.58 (95% C.I. 1.47-4.53). Subjects with DGI scores of 19/24 or less were 2.58 times more likely to have reported a fall in the previous 6 months than subjects with scores above 19. Younger subjects (those under 65 years of age) with vestibular disorders reported more falls than persons 65 years of age or over. Younger people may be more willing to risk a fall while actively having a vestibular disorder. The DGI appears to be a good indicator of fall status in persons with vestibular disorders, regardless of age.
Band-selective HSQC and HMBC experiments using excitation sculpting and PFGSE.

Variants of the HSQC and HMBC experiments are described. They allow the restriction of the heteronuclear chemical shift domain without causing spectral folding. Selectivity is introduced in the HSQC experiment by means of excitation sculpting. The selective element of the pulse sequence is a double pulsed field gradient spin echo. It may be used either split by the t(1) evolution period, or not. The selectivity profile depends on the scheme used as well as on the number of protons attached to the heteronucleus. The selective HMBC experiment requires only a single echo sequence as no strict control of the signal phase is required. A complex glycoconjugate is used as a test compound for the new pulse sequences.
Seroepidemiology of Human Enterovirus 71 Infection among Children, Cambodia

Enterovirus 71 is reported to have emerged in Cambodia in 2012; at least 54 children with severe encephalitis died during that outbreak. We used serum samples collected during 2000–2011 to show that the virus had been widespread in the country for at least a decade before the 2012 outbreak.
Fast and accurate HLA typing from short-read next-generation sequence data with xHLA

Significance Regulation of the human immune system is largely controlled by the HLA gene complex on chromosome 6 and is important in infectious disease immunity, graft rejection, autoimmunity, and cancer. HLA typing is traditionally performed by serotyping and/or targeted sequencing. However, the advent of precision medicine and cheaper personal genome sequencing has sprung an unmet need for a fast and accurate way of predicting HLA types from short-read sequencing data. Here, we present xHLA, an algorithm for HLA typing based on translated short reads, exhaustive multiple sequence alignment-based alignment expansion, and iterative solution set refinement that is also faster and more accurate than existing methods. Results are achievable within minutes and could greatly benefit individuals who have had their genome sequenced. The HLA gene complex on human chromosome 6 is one of the most polymorphic regions in the human genome and contributes in large part to the diversity of the immune system. Accurate typing of HLA genes with short-read sequencing data has historically been difficult due to the sequence similarity between the polymorphic alleles. Here, we introduce an algorithm, xHLA, that iteratively refines the mapping results at the amino acid level to achieve 99–100% four-digit typing accuracy for both class I and II HLA genes, taking only ∼3 min to process a 30× whole-genome BAM file on a desktop computer.
Effect of variation of tin concentration on the properties of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films deposited using chemical spray pyrolysis

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films were prepared using chemical spray pyrolysis technique on soda lime glass (SLG) substrates. The effect of tin concentration on the structural, optical and electrical properties was investigated. We deposited films by varying tin concentration from 0.007 M to 0.013 M in steps of 0.0015 M keeping the concentration of copper, zinc and sulphur at 0.02 M, 0.01 M and 0.12 M respectively. It was found that crystallinity of the film increased up to the tin concentration of 0.01 M and then decreases. Band gap of the films steadily decreased from 1.48 to 1.26 eV with increase in tin concentration. All the samples were observed to be p-type by hot probe method. Resistivity of the films increased with increase in tin concentration. In this work we tuned the optoelectronic properties by varying the tin concentration alone and optimized the concentration of tin which yields samples ideal for photovoltaic applications.
All-trans retinoic acid modulates mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway activation in human scleral fibroblasts through retinoic acid receptor beta

Purpose All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is known to inhibit the proliferation of human scleral fibroblasts (HSFs) and to modulate the scleral intercellular matrix composition, and may therefore serve as a mediator for controlling eye growth. Cell proliferation is regulated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether changed activation of the MAPK pathway could be involved in the response of HSFs exposed to ATRA. Methods HSFs were cultured in Dulbecco Modified Eagle's Medium/F12 (DMEM/F12) and exposed to 1 μmol/l ATRA for 10 min, 30 min, 1 h, 8 h, or 24 h. The activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK 1/2), p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in HSFs was assessed with western blot analysis and immunocytofluorescence. Results After exposure to ATRA for 24 h, the HSFs appeared shrunken and thinner than the control cells. The intercellular spaces were wider, and the HSFs appeared less numerous than in the control culture. Western blot showed decreased activation of ERK 1/2 in the HSFs from 30 min (p=0.01) to 24 h (p<0.01) after the start of exposure to ATRA, and increased activation of the JNK protein from 10 to 30 min (p<0.01) after the start of exposure to ATRA. Indirect immunofluorescence confirmed changes in activation of ERK 1/2 and JNK in HSFs exposed to ATRA. No change in activation of p38 in HSFs was observed after exposure to ATRA. Pretreatment of the HSFs with LE135, an antagonist of retinoic acid receptor beta (RARβ), abolished the ATRA-induced changes inactivation of ERK 1/2 and JNK. Conclusions ATRA inhibits HSF proliferation by a mechanism associated with modulation of ERK 1/2 and JNK activation and depends on stimulation of retinoic acid receptor beta.
i-GAME: an implicit GTS allocation mechanism in IEEE 802.15.4 for time-sensitive wireless sensor networks

The IEEE 802.15. 4 medium access control (MAC) protocol is an enabling technology for time sensitive wireless sensor networks thanks to its guaranteed-time slot (GTS) mechanism in the beacon-enabled mode. However, the protocol only supports explicit GTS allocation, i.e. a node allocates a number of time slots in each superframe for exclusive use. The limitation of this explicit GTS allocation is that GTS resources may quickly disappear, since a maximum of seven GTSs can be allocated in each superframe, preventing other nodes to benefit from guaranteed service. Moreover, the GTSs may be only partially used, resulting in wasted bandwidth. To overcome these limitations, this paper proposes i-GAME, an implicit GTS allocation mechanism in beacon-enabled IEEE 802.15. 4 networks. The allocation is based on implicit GTS allocation requests, taking into account the traffic specifications and the delay requirements of the flows. The i-GAME approach enables the use of a GTS by multiple nodes, while all their (delay, bandwidth) requirements are still satisfied. For that purpose, we propose an admission control algorithm that enables to decide whether to accept a new GTS allocation request or not, based not only on the remaining time slots, but also on the traffic specifications of the flows, their delay requirements and the available bandwidth resources. We show that our proposal improves the bandwidth utilization compared to the explicit allocation used in the IEEE 802.15. 4 protocol standard. We also present some practical considerations for the implementation of i-GAME, ensuring backward compatibility with the IEEE 801.5. 4 standard with only minor add-ons
Regional Brain Atrophy and Functional Disconnection in Broca’s Area in Individuals at Ultra-High Risk for Psychosis and Schizophrenia

Background Abnormalities in cognitive abilities such as verbal fluency and in cognitive-related brain regions, particularly Broca’s area, have been reported in patients with schizophrenia. Additionally, previous studies have demonstrated that structural and functional abnormalities in Broca’s area were associated with clinical symptoms and cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting that deficits in this area may reflect the core pathology of schizophrenia. Thus, it is important to understand how the structural volume and functional connectivity in this area changes at rest according to the course of the illness. Methods/Principal Findings We used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure the structural volume of Broca’s area as a region of interest in 16 schizophrenia, 16 ultra-high risk (UHR), and 23 healthy matched controls. We also assessed verbal fluency and analyzed differences across groups in the functional connectivity patterns using resting-state functional MRI. The UHR group showed significantly reduced structural volume in Broca’s area and significantly reduced functional connectivity between Broca’s area and the lateral and medial frontal cortex as well as decreased cognitive performance. Altered functional connectivity in patients was correlated with their positive symptoms. Conclusions/Significance Our results suggest the existence of functional disconnections in Broca’s area, even during resting-states, among those with schizophrenia as well as those at UHR for this disorder. These alterations may contribute to their clinical symptoms, suggesting that this is one of the key regions involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
Smoking and Pulmonary Fibrosis: Novel Insights

The relationship between smoking and pulmonary fibrosis is under debate and intense investigation. The aim of this paper is to review the existing literature and identify further areas of research interest. Recently the negative influence of cigarette smoking on IPF outcome was highlighted, as non-smokers exhibit a better survival than ex-smokers and combined current- and ex-smokers. In patients with non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), a high prevalence of emphysema was recently demonstrated, providing an indirect support for a smoking pathogenetic hypothesis in NSIP. The coexistence of pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema has been extensively described in a syndrome termed combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE). Connective tissue disorders (CTDs) are a group of autoimmune diseases which affect the lung, as one of the most common and severe manifestations. However, the relationship between smoking and autoimmune disorders is still conflicting. Rheumatoid arthritis results from the interaction between genetic and environmental factors, while the best established environmental factor is tobacco smoking. Smoking has also a negative impact on the response of the RA patients to treatment. The aforementioned smoking-related implications give rise to further research questions and certainly provide one more important reason for physicians to advocate smoking cessation and smoke-free environment.
Silent Reading of Direct versus Indirect Speech Activates Voice-selective Areas in the Auditory Cortex

In human communication, direct speech (e.g., Mary said: “I'm hungry”) is perceived to be more vivid than indirect speech (e.g., Mary said [that] she was hungry). However, for silent reading, the representational consequences of this distinction are still unclear. Although many of us share the intuition of an “inner voice,” particularly during silent reading of direct speech statements in text, there has been little direct empirical confirmation of this experience so far. Combining fMRI with eye tracking in human volunteers, we show that silent reading of direct versus indirect speech engenders differential brain activation in voice-selective areas of the auditory cortex. This suggests that readers are indeed more likely to engage in perceptual simulations (or spontaneous imagery) of the reported speaker's voice when reading direct speech as opposed to meaning-equivalent indirect speech statements as part of a more vivid representation of the former. Our results may be interpreted in line with embodied cognition and form a starting point for more sophisticated interdisciplinary research on the nature of auditory mental simulation during reading.
Title Stability Analysis of Continuous-Time Switched Systems With aRandom Switching Signal

This technical note is concerned with the stability analysis of continuous-time switched systems with a random switching signal. The switching signal manifests its characteristics with that the dwell time in each subsystem consists of a fixed part and a random part. The stochastic stability of such switched systems is studied using a Lyapunov approach. A necessary and sufficient condition is established in terms of linear matrix inequalities. The effect of the random switching signal on system stability is illustrated by a numerical example and the results coincide with our intuition.
Growth hormone secretion in children and adolescents at high risk for major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND Decreased growth hormone (GH) response to pharmacologic stimulation has been found in children and adolescents during an episode of major depressive disorder and after recovery. In this study, we sought to determine whether GH secretion is similarly altered in children and adolescents who had never experienced depression but were at high risk of developing depression. METHODS Subjects were 8 through 16 years of age and selected for high- and low-risk status according to familial loading for mood disorders. Sixty-four high-risk and 55 low-risk healthy subjects participated in the study, which assessed the following GH measures: (1) GH before growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) infusion, every 15 minutes for 30 minutes; (2) GH response after intravenous infusion of GHRH (0.1 microg/kg), every 15 minutes for 90 minutes; and (3) nocturnal GH every 20 minutes from 9 PM until morning awakening. RESULTS After stimulation with GHRH, the high-risk subjects secreted significantly less GH compared with the low-risk healthy controls (effect sizes for mean and peak GH, 0.52 [P =.007] and 0.40 [P =.04], respectively). In contrast, there were no between-group differences in the pre-GHRH and nocturnal GH secretion levels. Exposure to recent stressors was not associated with GH secretion. CONCLUSIONS Taken together with previous evidence of decreased GH after GHRH infusion in acutely depressed and recovered children, these results indicate that the decreased GH response found in high-risk subjects may represent a trait marker for depression in children and adolescents.
MULTISCALE GENETIC STRUCTURE OF AN ENDANGERED SEAWEED AHNFELTIOPSIS PUSILLA (RHODOPHYTA): IMPLICATIONS FOR ITS CONSERVATION 1

Although marine macroalgae have recently entered the lists of endangered species, conservation efforts are still limited by a lack of data, particularly for naturally rare species. One example is the turf‐forming Ahnfeltiopsis pusilla (Mont.) P. C. Silva et DeCew. Albeit cataloged as vulnerable in the Northwest Iberian Peninsula (NWIP), where it occurs only at five enclaves separated by 1,200 km from the closest recorded presence of the species, nothing is known about its genetic diversity and population connectivity. We used amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and sequences of the intergenic region between the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 2 and subunit 3 genes (cox2‐3) to investigate its genetic structure at large (1,200 km), regional (<125 km), fine (<250 m), and patch (<1 m) scales. While cox2‐3 variability was too low for the intraspecific study, AFLP revealed that most of the genetic diversity was due to differences between populations. Locally, genetic diversity was always low, and clones were frequent, suggesting that asexual reproduction may be common; patches of turf, however, often were composites of various genetic individuals. Genetic structure at local, regional, and large scales indicated that A. pusilla is a poor disperser, and an assignment test found no evidence of real‐time dispersal between NWIP sites. Therefore, it is proposed that the five NWIP enclaves are designated independent management units (MUs). Bayesian‐clustering approaches suggested that the three southernmost sites are particularly valuable for conservation since they concentrate most of the genetic heritage of A. pusilla in NWIP. Our study shows that the approaches of conservation genetics may provide useful insights for endangered seaweeds.
UNIFIED TRAINING OF WFSA THROUGH A GENERIC INTERFACE

This paper describes a unified approach to the training of weighted finite-state automata (WFSA) that is based on a generic interface. Regardless of their internal structure, any automata implementing a simple interface can be managed by the system, not only for decoding but also for training purposes. This novel approach drastically simplifies the effort to incorporate new formalisms into a pattern recognition engine. This methodology has been integrated into Sautrela, a highly modular and pluggable open source package for generic purpose signal processing, focused on speech recognition.
Everyday memory in individuals with Down syndrome: Validation of the Observer Memory Questionnaire – Parent Form

ABSTRACT The memory profile of individuals with Down syndrome (DS) has mainly been examined through traditional laboratory tasks, often revealing substantial deficits in episodic and declarative memory. Little is known about the relation between memory abilities as measured in the laboratory versus naturalistic settings in this population, and no questionnaire assessments of everyday memory have been formally validated for this group. The current study’s aims were twofold: 1) to describe the psychometric characteristics of a parent-reported everyday memory measure (the Observer Memory Questionnaire – Parent Form, OMQ-PF) in this population with known hippocampal and memory impairment (i.e., DS, ages 7–35 years), and 2) to determine if the measure has the sensitivity to detect impairments, thus providing some of the first data to document parent reports of everyday memory in individuals with DS. The results indicate that this scale is a reliable instrument for detecting and tracking memory deficits over time in this population. We found a correlation between parent reports of everyday memory difficulties and well-replicated deficits in a laboratory-based memory task (i.e., place–object paired associates learning). Our results suggest that the OMQ-PF has the potential to be used as a tool to help to track the status of memory function in this group both for use in descriptive studies and in studies of behavior and pharmacological intervention.
Cholinergic control of excitability of spinal motoneurones in the salamander

The cholinergic modulation of the electrical properties of spinal motoneurones was investigated in vitro, with the use of the whole‐cell patch‐clamp recording technique in lumbar spinal cord slices from juvenile urodeles (Pleurodeles waltlii). Bath application of acetylcholine (20 μm) with eserine (20 μm) induced an increase in the resting membrane potential, a decrease of the input resistance, a decrease of the action potential amplitude, and a reduction of the medium afterhyperpolarization (mAHP) that followed each action potential. Moreover, the firing rate of motoneurones during a depolarizing current pulse and the slope of their stimulus current–spike frequency relation were increased. All of these effects were mimicked by extracellular application of muscarine (20 μm), and blocked by application of the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine (0.1–1 μm). They were not observed during bath application of nicotine (10 μm). These results suggest that the cholinergic modulation of spinal motoneurone excitability was mediated by activation of muscarinic receptors. Our results further show that the muscarinic action primarily resulted from a reduction of the Ca2+‐activated K+ current responsible for the mAHP, an inhibition of the hyperpolarization‐activated cation current, Ih, and an enhancement of the inward rectifying K+ current, IKir. We conclude that cholinergic modulation can contribute significantly to the production of motor behaviour by altering several ionic conductances responsible for the repetitive discharge of motoneurones.
Crossings and Nestings in Colored Set Partitions

Chen, Deng, Du, Stanley, and Yan introduced the notion of $k$-crossings and $k$-nestings for set partitions, and proved that the sizes of the largest $k$-crossings and $k$-nestings in the partitions of an $n$-set possess a symmetric joint distribution. This work considers a generalization of these results to set partitions whose arcs are labeled by an $r$-element set (which we call $r$-colored set partitions). In this context, a $k$-crossing or $k$-nesting is a sequence of arcs, all with the same color, which form a $k$-crossing or $k$-nesting in the usual sense. After showing that the sizes of the largest crossings and nestings in colored set partitions likewise have a symmetric joint distribution, we consider several related enumeration problems. We prove that $r$-colored set partitions with no crossing arcs of the same color are in bijection with certain paths in $\mathbb{N}^r$, generalizing the correspondence between noncrossing (uncolored) set partitions and 2-Motzkin paths. Combining this with recent work of Bousquet-M e lou and Mishna affords a proof that the sequence counting noncrossing 2-colored set partitions is P-recursive. We also discuss how our methods extend to several variations of colored set partitions with analogous notions of crossings and nestings.
HIV Disclosure to Partners and Family among Women Enrolled in Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV Program: Implications for Infant Feeding in Poor Resourced Communities in South Africa

The introduction of routine HIV counselling and testing (HCT) has increased the number of pregnant women being tested and receiving prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) interventions in South Africa. While many women may enroll in PMTCT, there are barriers that hinder the success of PMTCT programmes. The success of the PMTCT is dependent on the optimal utilization of PMTCT interventions which require the support of the woman's partner, and other members of her family. We conducted focus groups interviews with 25 HIV-positive post-natal women enrolled in PMTCT, in the City of Tshwane, South Africa. The study explored HIV-positive status disclosure to partners and significant family members and assessed the effect of nondisclosure on exclusive infant feeding. Most women disclosed to partners while few disclosed to significant family members. Most women initiated mixed feeding practices as early as one month and reported that they were pressurized by the family to mix feed. Mixed feeding was common among women who had not disclosed their HIV-positive status to families, and women who had limited understanding of mother to child transmission of HIV. Women who disclosed to partners and family were supported to adhere to the feeding option of choice. Health providers have a critical role to play in developing interventions to support HIV pregnant women to disclose in order to avoid mixed feeding. Improving the quality of information provided to HIV-positive pregnant women during counselling will also reduce mixed feeding.