Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Refractory Epilepsy: A Clinically Oriented Review

About one third of patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy do not achieve seizure control despite medical therapy and should be assessed in detail to confirm the diagnosis, to determine the epilepsy syndrome and to plan treatment strategy. Refractory epilepsy is established when there is inadequate seizure control despite using potentially effective antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) at tolerable levels for 1–2 years, and excluding nonepileptic events and poor compliance. An overview of patient management in everyday clinical practice is given. Risk factors for refractoriness include (1) generalized epilepsy with lesions; (2) focal epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis, cortical dysplasia or hemorrhages; (3) early epilepsy onset; (4) high seizure frequency; (5) absence of response to the first 2 AEDs; (6) high frequency of interictal spikes, and (7) multifocal spikes. The efficacy of surgery ranges from curative (resection) to palliative (vagus nerve stimulation, callosotomy, multiple subpial transections) depending on the epilepsy syndrome and etiology. Using a new antiepileptic drug benefits about one third of patients. Refractoriness is constitutive in most patients and shows a progressive or remission-relapse course in others. As the transporter and target hypotheses do not entirely explain refractoriness, other hypotheses are emerging. New treatments under investigation are described.
THE ANGULAR MOMENTUM OF MAGNETIZED MOLECULAR CLOUD CORES: A TWO-DIMENSIONAL–THREE-DIMENSIONAL COMPARISON

In this work, we present a detailed study of the rotational properties of magnetized and self-gravitating dense molecular cloud (MC) cores formed in a set of two very high resolution three-dimensional (3D) MC simulations with decaying turbulence. The simulations have been performed using the adaptative mesh refinement code RAMSES with an effective resolution of 40963 grid cells. One simulation represents a mildly magnetically supercritical cloud and the other a strongly magnetically supercritical cloud. We identify dense cores at a number of selected epochs in the simulations at two density thresholds which roughly mimic the excitation densities of the NH3 (J − K) = (1,1) transition and the N2H+ (1–0) emission line. A noticeable global difference between the two simulations is the core formation efficiency (CFE) of the high-density cores. In the strongly supercritical simulations, the CFE is 33% per unit free-fall time of the cloud (tff,cl), whereas in the mildly supercritical simulations this value goes down to ∼6 per unit tff,cl. A comparison of the intrinsic specific angular momentum (j3D) distributions of the cores with the specific angular momentum derived using synthetic two-dimensional (2D) velocity maps of the cores (j2D) shows that the synthetic observations tend to overestimate the true value of the specific angular momentum by a factor of ∼8–10. We find that the distribution of the ratio j3D/j2D of the cores peaks at around ∼0.1. The origin of this discrepancy lies in the fact that contrary to the intrinsic determination of j which sums up the individual gas parcels' contributions to the angular momentum, the determination of the specific angular momentum using the standard observational procedure which is based on a measurement on the global velocity gradient under the hypothesis of uniform rotation smoothes out the complex fluctuations present in the 3D velocity field. Our results may well provide a natural explanation for the discrepancy by a factor of ∼10 observed between the intrinsic 3D distributions of the specific angular momentum and the corresponding distributions derived in real observations. We suggest that previous and future measurements of the specific angular momentum of dense cores which are based on the measurement of the observed global velocity gradients may need to be reduced by a factor of ∼10 in order to derive a more accurate estimate of the true specific angular momentum in the cores. We also show that the exponent of the size-specific angular momentum relation is smaller (∼1.4) in the synthetic observations than their values derived in the 3D space (∼1.8).
Overlapped event-note separation based on partials amplitude and phase estimation for polyphonic music transcription

We propose a discriminative model for polyphonic music transcription that deals with the well-known overlapped partial problem by taking into account the instrument envelope pattern for each note. The process to obtain the music scene-adaptive envelope patterns for each note is detailed. Firstly, spectral features are obtained individually for each note. Then, support vector machines (SVM) are trained on the notes energy. We apply a scheme of one-versus-all (OVA) SVM classifiers to make an approximation of the active frame-level note instances. Finally, amplitudes and phases are estimated by considering the envelope patterns for different notes, distributing the energy according to the note estimated envelope pattern adjustment. Also, temporal information is added by introducing Hidden Markov Models. Our approach has been tested with synthesized and real music recordings, obtaining promising results.
Trypanocidal and Cytotoxic Effects of 30 Ethiopian Medicinal Plants

Trypanocidal and cytotoxic effects of traditionally used medicinal plants of Ethiopia were evaluated. A total of 60 crude plant extracts were prepared from 30 plant species using CH2Cl2 and MeOH. Effect upon cell proliferation by the extracts, for both bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei brucei and human leukaemia HL-60 cells, was assessed using resazurin as vital stain. Of all CH2Cl2 and MeOH extracts evaluated against the trypanosomes, the CH2Cl2 extracts from five plants showed trypanocidal activity with an IC50 value below 20 μg/mL: Dovyalis abyssinica (Flacourtiaceae), IC50 = 1.4 μg/mL; Albizia schimperiana (Fabaceae), IC50 = 7.2 μg/mL; Ocimum urticifolium (Lamiaceae), IC50 = 14.0 μg/mL; Acokanthera schimperi (Apocynaceae), IC50 = 16.6 μg/mL; and Chenopodium ambrosioides (Chenopodiaceae), IC50 = 17.1 μg/mL. A pronounced and selective killing of trypanosomes with minimal toxic effect on human cells was exhibited by Dovyalis abyssinica (CH2Cl2 extract, SI = 125.0; MeOH extract, SI = 57.7) followed by Albizia schimperiana (CH2Cl2 extract, SI = 31.3) and Ocimum urticifolium (MeOH extract, SI = 16.0). In conclusion, the screening of 30 Ethiopian medicinal plants identified three species with good antitrypanosomal activities and low toxicity towards human cells. Dovyalis abyssinica might be a promising candidate for phytotherapy of trypanosomiasis
Science Epistemological Beliefs of Form Four Students and Their Science Achievement Using Web-Based Learning

Epistemological beliefs affect student motivation and learning. They have been found to play a significant role in the acquisition of the capacity to control and direct one’s cognitive processing (Lindner, 1993). In particular, science epistemological belief is considered an important factor in science achievement and positive science attitudes among students (Cobern, 1991). Based on the premise above, the purpose of this study was (1) to examine the science epistemological beliefs of Form Four students in Malaysia, and (2) to find out if there was a significant difference in the science achievement of students with high science epistemological beliefs and those with low belief when learning science using different Web-based modules. The sample comprised 169 students from ten schools in the state of Perak. The instrument used in this study was the “Nature of Scientific Knowledge Scale” developed by Rubba (1977). Six factors of the science epistemological beliefs, that is amoral, creative, developmental, parsimonious, testable and unified, were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that the highest ranked factor was testable, followed by unified, creative, developmental and amoral. The lowest ranked factor was parsimonious. Analysis of t-tests for independent means showed that the science achievement of students with high science epistemological beliefs who followed the constructivist approach was significantly higher than those who followed the direct instruction approach. However, there was no significant difference between the science achievement of students with low science epistemological beliefs who followed the constructivist approach and those who followed the direct instruction approach. 2-way ANOVA analysis showed that the interaction effect between type of approach for web-based learning and science epistemological beliefs was significant, suggesting that the effect of the type of web-based learning approach is dependent on the science epistemological beliefs held by the students.
An approach resulting in a deliberated elaboration of the concept animal according to the concept-context approach in Dutch primary science education.

Recently, developments in Dutch biology education led to a conceptual framework for primary science education in which the concept-context approach holds a central position. The framework includes combinations of concepts and contexts. This study describes how choices can be made in the selection of concepts of the framework to include in the curriculum and which guidelines can be followed. The focus lies on the concept animal. It is aimed to arrive at an elaboration of the concept animal in terms of underlying and related concepts for primary science education. Especially guidelines were collected to justify choices for including certain concepts in the curriculum over others. Primary teacher educators for science education and primary school students along a range of ages (4, 8, and 12 years old) were interviewed, alongside an analysis of methods for primary science education and a questionnaire to experts was carried out. This was done in order to identify guidelines, underlying concepts and/or everyday life contexts interesting for primary school students. With this two example elaborations for different age categories were made and subsequently presented, along with the found guidelines, to experts during a focus group discussion to discuss it on possibilities and limitations. The findings revealed that various guidelines can be used. Ultimately, three cornerstones (context, subject and didactics) should be taken into account when selecting concepts. To elaborate the concept animal, a suggested procedure, in which the interaction between selecting concepts and contexts is central, can be used. This might be a further step to translate the concept-context approach to the educational practice in primary science education.
SLC5A8 Gene, A Transporter of Butyrate: A Gut Flora Metabolite, Is Frequently Methylated in African American Colon Adenomas

Background Colon cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths. Its impact on African Americans (AAs) is higher than in the general population both in the incidence and mortality from the disease. Colon cancer aggressiveness in AAs as well as non-frequent check-ups and follow up in this population have been proposed as ways to explain the observed discrepancies. These facts made the detection of early carcinogenesis markers in this population a priority. Materials and Methods Here, we analyzed 50 colon adenomas from AA patients for both microsatellite instability (MSI) and the methylation status of SLC5A8 gene. This gene's product is involved in the transport of butyrate that has anti-proliferative properties through its effects on histone acetylation and gene expression. A proteomic analysis to check the expressed histones in adenoma and normal tissues was also performed. Results The analyzed samples displayed 82% (n = 41) methylation level of SLC5A8 gene in adenomas. The MSI-H (high) adenoma were about 18% (n = 9) while the rest were mostly MSS (microsatellite stable) with few MSI-L (Low). No association was found between SLC5A8 methylation and the MSI status. Also, there was no association between SLC5A8 methylation and the sex and age of the patients. However, there were more right sided adenomas with SLC5A8 methylation than the left sided ones. The proteomic analysis revealed distinct histone expression profiles between normal and adenoma tissues. Conclusion SLC5A8 is highly methylated in AA colon adenomas which points to its potential use as a marker for early detection. The MSI rate is similar to that found in colon cancer tumors in AAs. These findings suggest that both processes stem from the same epigenetic and genetic events occurring at an early stage in colon carcinogenesis in AAs.
Using Vocal and Silent Reading Approaches for the Enhancement of Effective Teaching and Learning of Reading Skills in English Language

This study used the quasi experimental design to investigate the effectiveness of teaching reading skills in English Language through the use of vocal and silent reading approaches in Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A total of 182 junior secondary two (JS II) students made up the sample of this study. The instruments used for this study were Reading Instructional Package (RIP) and English Language Achievement Test (ELAT). From the findings, it was observed that vocal and silent reading approaches enhanced the academic performance of students in English Language. However, there was no significant difference in the academic performance of English Language students taught with vocal and silent reading approaches. The results also showed that gender is not a significant factor in the academic performance of students in English language when taught with vocal and silent reading approaches. It is therefore recommended that silent reading must precede vocal reading and both approaches should be adopted by the English Language teachers for the enhancement of reading skills of the students. Keywords: Reading Skills, Vocal Reading, Silent Reading, Students’ Performance, English Language, Effective Teaching and Learning.
Comparison of ASTM C311 Strength Activity Index Testing versus Testing Based on Constant Volumetric Proportions

Currently, the (pozzolanic) strength activity indices of fly ashes and natural pozzolans are typically evaluated using the procedures outlined in ASTM C311 [“Standard Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Fly Ash or Natural Pozzolans for Use in Portland-Cement Concrete,” Annual Book of ASTM Standards, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2007]. In this test, the 7 and 28 d compressive strengths of mortar cubes with a 20 % mass replacement of cement by pozzolan are compared to those of a control without pozzolan, at constant flow conditions. In its current form, this procedure confounds two other properties of the pozzolan with its strength activity, namely its density and its water-reducing/increasing capabilities. In this study, the current C311 testing procedure is evaluated against an alternative in which the 20 % fly ash replacement for cement is performed on a volumetric basis and the volume fractions of water and sand are held constant, which should provide a true evaluation of the strength activity index of the pozzolan, free of these confounding influences. Class C and Class F fly ashes, a natural pozzolan, and a sugar cane ash are evaluated using both approaches, with some significant differences being noted. For a subset of the materials, the strength measurements are complemented by measurements of isothermal calorimetry on the mortars to an age of 7 d. For the constant volumetric proportions approach, a good correlation is exhibited between the cumulative heat release of the mortar at 7 d and the measured 7 d strength, suggesting the potential to evaluate 7 d pozzolanic activity via calorimetric measurements on much smaller specimens.
Dealing with Concept Drift in Exploratory Search: An Interactive Bayesian Approach

In exploratory search, when the user formulates a query iteratively through relevance feedback, it is likely that the feedback given earlier requires adjustment later on. The main reason for this is that the user learns while searching, which causes changes in the relevance of items and features as estimated by the user -- a phenomenon known as {it concept drift}. It might be helpful for the user to see the recent history of her feedback and get suggestions from the system about the accuracy of that feedback. In this paper we present a timeline interface that visualizes the feedback history, and a Bayesian regression model that can estimate jointly the user's current interests and the accuracy of each user feedback. We demonstrate that the user model can improve retrieval performance over a baseline model that does not estimate accuracy of user feedback. Furthermore, we show that the new interface provides usability improvements, which leads to the users interacting more with it.
Blood Pressure Control and Risk of Stroke: A Population-Based Prospective Cohort Study

Background and Purpose— Adequate control of blood pressure (BP) is a cornerstone in stroke prevention. This study explored the risk of stroke in relation to the quality of BP control in a population-based cohort and whether control of hypertension was related to background characteristics of patients. Methods— A total of 27 936 subjects (10 953 men and 16 983 women), 45 to 73 years old, living in Malmö, Sweden participated in the study. Incidence of stroke was followed-up for a mean period of 6 years. Controlled BP was defined as BP <140/90 mm Hg in subjects with pharmacological treatment for hypertension. Results— In the whole cohort, 16 648 subjects (60%) had hypertension (BP ≥140/90 mm Hg) and 23% of them received treatment. Among treated hypertensives, 88.2% had BP levels ≥140/90 mm Hg and 49.5% had BP levels ≥160/100 mm Hg. During the follow-up, 137 strokes occurred among treated hypertensive subjects. The crude incidence of stroke was 289/100 000 person-year in controlled hypertensive subjects and 705/100 000 person-year in treated hypertensive subjects with BP ≥140/90 mm Hg. It was estimated that ≈45% of all strokes among subjects with treatment for hypertension might be attributed to uncontrolled BP. In treated hypertensives, the risk of stroke increased significantly with advancing age, current smoking, high level of diastolic BP, and diabetes. In hypertensive subjects without treatment (n=12 819), incidence of stroke was 363/100 000 person-year. Conclusion— Uncontrolled BP is highly prevalent in patients with pharmacological treatment for hypertension. More than 90% of stroke in this group occurred in those with uncontrolled BP. Adequate hypertension control may prevent a substantial proportion of first-ever stroke among treated hypertensives.
Racial and ethnic differences in job-search strategies in Atlanta, Boston, and Los Angeles

Recent research on employer hiring and worker search behavior has emphasized the importance of social ties in matching workers to job opportunities. There are mixed results in the empirical research, however, regarding the effects of informal search methods for minorities. In the present study we examine two questions: Do racial and ethnic groups vary in their job-search strategies? Do the effects of job-search strategies vary for racial and ethnic groups? Data are drawn from the Multi-City Study of Urban Inequality, which includes a random sample of households in Atlanta, Boston, and Los Angeles. We find that Hispanics rely much more heavily on informal search strategies than do other race and ethnic groups, and that use of these informal strategies leads to lower-paying jobs. We also find that relying on a friend or relative to locate a job is especially detrimental for Hispanics and that using a multiplex tie (i.e., a person who is a friend or relative, a coworker, and a neighbor) leads to lower-paying jobs for Blacks and higher-paying jobs for Whites. Our findings suggest that a better understanding of racial and ethnic differences in search strategy results may require a more detailed examination of racial and ethnic differences in the kinds of jobs produced by informal searches and the types of employers who are more likely to use word-of-mouth recruitment.
Neuromuscular effects of rapacuronium on the diaphragm and skeletal muscles in anaesthetized patients using cervical magnetic stimulation for stimulating the phrenic nerves

Background and objective: Non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents have a shorter duration of action on the diaphragm than on skeletal muscles. It was to be tested if this also held true for rapacuronium, a short-acting, amidosteroid non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocker, lately withdrawn from the market, using a novel technique for stimulating the diaphragm and assessing its function. Methods: Anaesthesia was induced with propofol 2 mg kg−1 and remifentanil 1 μg kg−1, and the trachea was intubated after topical anaesthesia. Rapacuronium was given at a dose of 1.5 mg kg−1. The diaphragm was stimulated by cervical magnetic stimulation of the phrenic nerves (2 Tesla, single coil) and airway pressure responses were measured at the endotracheal tube connector. The neuromuscular effects at the adductor pollicis and orbicularis oculi muscles were measured by acceleromyography. Results: Fifteen males and five females (ASA I and II; 27 ± 8 yr; 73 ± 13 kg; mean ± SD) were recruited. Median maximal relaxation was less (P < 0.01) for the diaphragm (89%) than for the adductor pollicis or orbicularis oculi muscles (each 100%). The time to 25% recovery was shorter for the diaphragm than for adductor pollicis or orbicularis oculi (7.5 ± 3.1 versus 14.1 ± 3.7 and 15.1 ± 3.5 min, respectively, P < 0.01). Recovery from 25 to 75% was identical for the diaphragm and adductor pollicis (9.4 ± 2.9 versus 9.1 ± 3.5 min), but longer for orbicularis oculi (13.4 ± 4.2 min, P < 0.01). The median recovery time to TOF0.8 was shorter for the diaphragm (23.9 min) than for the adductor pollicis or orbicularis oculi muscles (31.5 and 28.4 min, respectively; P < 0.05). Conclusions: As with other non-depolarizing muscle relaxants, the duration of the clinical effect of rapacuronium was shorter for the diaphragm than for skeletal muscle. The recovery index was identical for the diaphragm and adductor pollicis.
Conference on ‘ Nutrition and health : cell to community ’ Nutrition Society Silver Medal Lecture Development and use of FFQ among adults in diverse settings across the globe

In nutritional epidemiology, development of valid dietary assessment instruments specific to populations in diverse settings is of paramount importance. Such instruments are essential when trying to characterise dietary patterns and intake, investigate diet–disease associations, inform and evaluate nutrition interventions, assess nutrient–gene interactions, conduct cross-country comparison studies and monitor nutrition transitions. The FFQ is a relatively inexpensive tool for measuring long-term dietary intake for large populations and for allowing researchers to track dietary changes over time. However, FFQ must be population specific to capture the local diet and available foods. Collecting 24-h dietary recalls and utilising community feedback to build the FFQ ensures that a culturally appropriate instrument is developed. This article presents several examples describing FFQ development and utilisation in different settings globally. In the Canadian Arctic, FFQ were developed and utilised to inform and evaluate a communitybased intervention programme, characterise the diet and track dietary changes occurring among Inuit and Inuvialuit, populations experiencing rising rates of chronic disease and likely to be extremely vulnerable to the potential effects of climate change. Another example is an FFQ developed to assess sodium intake and evaluate a sodium reduction trial in a high-risk population in Barbados. An example is provided from Brazil, where an FFQ was developed to assess associations between diet, heterocyclic aromatic amines and colorectal adenoma among Japanese Brazilians and to conduct cross-country comparisons. These and other case studies highlight the diversity in dietary intake between populations and the need for FFQ to be developed to capture this diversity.