Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Drug-specific laterality effects on frontal lobe activation of atomoxetine and methylphenidate in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder boys during working memory

Background The catecholamine reuptake inhibitors methylphenidate (MPH) and atomoxetine (ATX) are the most common treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study compares the neurofunctional modulation and normalization effects of acute doses of MPH and ATX within medication-naive ADHD boys during working memory (WM). Method A total of 20 medication-naive ADHD boys underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging during a parametric WM n-back task three times, under a single clinical dose of either MPH, ATX or placebo in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design. To test for normalization effects, brain activations in ADHD under each drug condition were compared with that of 20 age-matched healthy control boys. Results Relative to healthy boys, ADHD boys under placebo showed impaired performance only under high WM load together with significant underactivation in the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Both drugs normalized the performance deficits relative to controls. ATX significantly enhanced right DLPFC activation relative to MPH within patients, and significantly normalized its underactivation relative to controls. MPH, by contrast, both relative to placebo and ATX, as well as relative to controls, upregulated the left inferior frontal cortex (IFC), but only during 2-back. Both drugs enhanced fronto-temporo-striatal activation in ADHD relative to control boys and deactivated the default-mode network, which were negatively associated with the reduced DLPFC activation and performance deficits, suggesting compensation effects. Conclusions The study shows both shared and drug-specific effects. ATX upregulated and normalized right DLPFC underactivation, while MPH upregulated left IFC activation, suggesting drug-specific laterality effects on prefrontal regions mediating WM.
Effect of chelators on functionality of milk protein concentrates obtained by ultrafiltration at a constant pH and temperature

Modulating conditions during ultrafiltration of skim milk appears to be a feasible strategy to obtain milk protein concentrates (MPC) with tailored functionalities. Adjustment of pH and process temperature attenuated properties of casein micelle resulting in enhanced emulsification capacity. Additional pre-treatment options such as addition of calcium chelators can further impact on the functionality of MPC by modifying the calcium distribution and casein micelle integrity. The objective of the project was to establish effects of pre-treating skim milk with calcium chelators (EDTA or citrate) in concentrations between 10 to 30 mm prior to UF on the physical properties of the feed, corresponding retentates and dried MPC, including particle size, zeta potential and calcium distribution in skim milk and the corresponding retentates, as well as the physical functionalities such as solubility, heat stability and emulsifying properties. Addition of calcium chelators (EDTA or citrate), at levels 20–30 mm concentrations reduced casein micelle size as well as total, soluble and ionic calcium contents that resulted in MPC with enhanced solubility and heat stability. The emulsion capacity was, however, improved only with EDTA at 10 mm concentration. The enhanced functionality is attributed to the reduced particle size resulting from the removal of calcium from the retentate that could modify micellar casein to an extent sufficient to cause such improvements.
Ionic Interactions in Alkali -Aluminium Tetrafluoride Clusters

Complex anion structures ((AlF4)-, (AlF5)2- and (AIF6)3-) coexist in liquid mixtures of alu-minium trifluoride and alkali fluorides in composition-dependent relative concentrations and are known to interact with the alkali counterions. We present a comparative study of the static and vibrational structures of MA1F4 molecules (with M = any alkali), with the aim of developing and testing a refined model of the ionic interactions for applications to the M-Al fluoride mixtures. We find that, whereas an edge-bridged coordination is strongly favoured for Li in LiAlF4 , edge-bridging and face-bridging of the alkali ion become energetically equivalent as one moves from Na to the heavier alkalis. This result is sensitive to the inclusion of alkali polarizability and may be interpreted as implying (for M = K, Rb or Cs) almost free relative rotations of the M+ and (AlF4)- partners at temperatures of relevance to experiment. The consistency of such a viewpoint with electron diffraction data on vapours and with Raman spectra on melts is discussed.
How does early maternal separation and chronic stress in adult rats affect the immunoreactivity of serotonergic neurons within the dorsal raphe nucleus?

Abstract Vulnerability to emotional disorders like depression derives from interactions between early and late environments, including stressful conditions. The serotonin (5HT) system is strongly affected by stress and chronic unpredictable stress can alter the 5HT system. We evaluated the distribution of active serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DR) through immunohistochemistry in maternally separated and chronically stressed rats treated with an antidepressant, tianeptine, whose mechanism of action is still under review. Male Wistar rats were subjected to daily maternal separation (MS) for 4.5 h between postnatal days (PND) 1–21, or to animal facility rearing (AFR). Between (PND) days 50–74, rats were exposed to chronic unpredictable stress and were treated daily with tianeptine (10 mg/kg) or vehicle. We found an interaction between the effects of MS and chronic unpredictable stress on Fos-5HT immunoreactive cells at mid-caudal level of the DR. MS-chronically stressed rats showed an increase of Fos-5HT immunoreactive cells compared with AFR-chronically stressed rats. The ventrolateral (DRL/VLPAG) and dorsal (DRD) subdivisions of the DR were significantly more active than the ventral part (DRV). At the rostral level of the DR, tianeptine decreased the number of Fos-5HT cells in DR in the AFR groups, both unstressed and stressed. Overall, our results support the idea of a match in phenotype exhibited when the early and the adult environment correspond.
Continuous Adaptation via Meta-Learning in Nonstationary and Competitive Environments

Ability to continuously learn and adapt from limited experience in nonstationary environments is an important milestone on the path towards general intelligence. In this paper, we cast the problem of continuous adaptation into the learning-to-learn framework. We develop a simple gradient-based meta-learning algorithm suitable for adaptation in dynamically changing and adversarial scenarios. Additionally, we design a new multi-agent competitive environment, RoboSumo, and define iterated adaptation games for testing various aspects of continuous adaptation strategies. We demonstrate that meta-learning enables significantly more efficient adaptation than reactive baselines in the few-shot regime. Our experiments with a population of agents that learn and compete suggest that meta-learners are the fittest.
Communications-surveys Hypovitaminosis D and elevated serum alkaline phosphatase in elderly Irish , 2

The vitamin D status of 181 elderly Irish community-dwelling and institutionalized subjects was studied during Winter-Spring. The mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was 10 nmol/L (95% range < 5.0-59 nmol/L); values were below 25 nmol/L in 79 percent of subjects. A significant seasonal variation of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels was noted in elderly communitydwelling subjects. The previously documented age-related increase in serum alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly less in vitamin D replete subjects than in vitamin D deplete subjects in this study (P < 0.005). The higher serum alkaline phosphatase values found in the vitamin D deplete subjects may represent mild secondary hyperparathyroidism or osteomalacia. The relationship of vitamin D status to both dietary intake and effective sunlight (latitude) is examined. Am J Clin Nutr 1985:101-109.
The influence of adipose tissue volume can significantly affect the metabolic activity of reference organs in 18F-FDG PET/CT studies of a normal healthy population.

OBJECTIVE This study investigated whether fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) uptake of reference organs can be affected by subjects' factors in positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in a healthy population. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A total of 208 normal healthy subjects without diabetes or dyslipidemia were included. Adipose tissue volume was measured by CT images from a dedicated PET/CT scan. Uptake of 18F-FDG of reference organs was measured from liver, blood pool, and muscle, and was normalized by lean body anthropometric data and adipose tissue volume. RESULTS Of 208 participants, 118 were metabolically healthy lean (MHL); with body mass index (BMI) <25kg/m2 and 90 were metabolically healthy obese (MHO) with; BMI≥25kg/m2 . These subjects had significantly higher values of liver, blood pool, and muscle than did the MHL subjects (P<0.001 for both). Among subjects' factors, adipose tissue volume revealed strongest correlation with standardized uptake value multiplied by lean body weight divided by body weight (SUL) of liver (r=0.754, P<0.001), of blood pool (r=0.756, P<0.001) and of muscle (r=0.635, P<0.001). On regression analysis, adipose tissue volume was determined to be a common independent predictor for SUL of liver, blood pool and muscle (P<0.001) and furthermore was serum C-reactive protein level for SUL of the liver and also age and serum insulin level for SUL of blood pool. CONCLUSION Adipose tissue volume can significantly affect SUL of liver, blood pool, and muscle in a healthy population. Liver and blood pool may have limited roles as reference organs for normalization of 18F-FDG uptake of the lesion.
Microbial Community Dynamics during Rearing of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens) and Impact on Exploitation Potential

ABSTRACT The need to increase sustainability in agriculture, to ensure food security for the future generations, is leading to the emergence of industrial rearing facilities for insects. One promising species being industrially reared as an alternative protein source for animal feed and as a raw material for the chemical industry is the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens). However, scientific knowledge toward the optimization of the productivity for this insect is scarce. One knowledge gap concerns the impact of the microbial community associated with H. illucens on the performance and health of this insect. In this review, the first steps in the characterization of the microbiota in H. illucens and the analysis of substrate-dependent dynamics in its composition are summarized and discussed. Furthermore, this review zooms in on the interactions between microorganisms and the insect during H. illucens development. Finally, attention is paid to how the microbiome research can lead to alternative valorization strategies for H. illucens, such as (i) the manipulation of the microbiota to optimize insect biomass production and (ii) the exploitation of the H. illucens-microbiota interplay for the discovery of new enzymes and novel antimicrobial strategies based on H. illucens immunity using either the whole organism or its molecules. The next decade promises to be extremely interesting for this research field and will see an emergence of the microbiological optimization of H. illucens as a sustainable insect for industrial rearing and the exploitation of its microbiome for novel biotechnological applications.
Mechanisms of glyphosate resistance and response to alternative herbicide-based management in populations of the three Conyza species introduced in southern Spain.

BACKGROUND In perennial crops, the most common method of weed control is to spray herbicides, and glyphosate has long been the first choice of farmers. Three species of the genus Conyza are among the most problematic weeds for farmers, exhibiting resistance to glyphosate. The objectives of this study were to evaluate resistance levels and mechanisms, and to test chemical control alternatives in putative resistant (R) populations of Conyza bonariensis, Conyza canadensis and Conyza sumatrensis. RESULTS Plants from the three R populations of Conyza spp. survived high doses of glyphosate compared with plants from susceptible (S) populations. The rate of movement of 14 C glyphosate out of treated leaves in plants from S populations was higher than in plants from R populations. Only plants from the R population of C. sumatrensis contained the known target site 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase mutation Pro106-Thr. Field responses to the different alternative herbicide treatments tested indicated injury and high effectiveness in most cases. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that non-target site resistant (NTSR) mechanisms explain resistance in C. bonariensis and C. canadensis, whereas both NTSR and target site resistant (TSR) mechanisms contribute to resistance in C. sumatrensis. The results obtained in the field trials suggest that the resistance problem can be solved through integrated weed management. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
Recognizing expressions of children in real life scenarios View project PhD ( Doctor of Philosophy ) View project

This article proposes a novel framework for the recognition of six universal facial expressions. The framework is based on three set of features extracted from the face image: entropy, brightness and local binary pattern. First, saliency maps are obtained by state-of-the-art saliency detection algorithm i.e. “frequency-tuned salient region detection”. The idea is to use saliency maps to find appropriate weights or values for extracted features (i.e. brightness and entropy). To validate the performance of saliency detection algorithm against human visual system, we have performed a visual experiment. Eye movements of 15 subjects were recorded with an eye-tracker in free viewing conditions as they watch a collection of 54 videos selected from Cohn-Kanade facial expression database. Results of the visual experiment provided the evidence that obtained saliency maps conforms well with human fixations data. Finally, evidence of the proposed framework’s performance is exhibited through satisfactory classification results on Cohn-Kanade database, FG-NET FEED database and Dartmouth database of children’s faces.
Differing effects of microtubule depolymerizing and stabilizing chemotherapeutic agents on t-SNARE–mediated apical targeting of prostate-specific membrane antigen

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a protein up-regulated in the vast majority of prostate cancers. Antibodies to PSMA have proved highly specific for prostate cancer cells, and the therapeutic potential of such antibodies is currently being assessed in clinical trials. We have previously shown that PSMA at the cell surface of polarized epithelial cells is predominantly expressed at the apical plasma membrane and that microtubule depolymerization abolishes apical PSMA targeting. In the current report, we implicate a functional role for a target membrane soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor adaptor protein receptor, syntaxin 3, in the microtubule-dependent apical targeting of PSMA. PSMA and syntaxin 3 are similarly localized to the apical plasma membrane of the prostatic epithelium and Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Introduction of a point mutation into syntaxin 3 abolishes its polarized distribution and causes PSMA to be targeted in a nonpolarized fashion. Additionally, treatment of polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney cells with vinblastine, a microtubule depolymerizing chemotherapeutic agent, causes both syntaxin 3 and PSMA to redistribute in a nonpolarized fashion. However, following treatment with the microtubule stabilizing chemotherapeutic agent Taxotere, both syntaxin 3 and PSMA continue to localize in a polarized manner at the apical plasma membrane. Thus, microtubule depolymerizing and stabilizing chemotherapeutic drugs might exact similar cytotoxic effects but have disparate effects on protein targeting. This phenomenon might have important clinical implication, especially related to antibody-mediated immunotherapy, and could potentially be exploited for therapeutic benefit. [Mol Cancer Ther 2006;5(10):2468–73]
Effectiveness of an integrated care intervention on supervisor support and work functioning of workers with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract Purpose: In this manuscript, we evaluated the effectiveness of an intervention programme consisting of integrated care and a participatory workplace intervention on supervisor support, work instability and at-work productivity after 6 months of follow-up among workers with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial; we compared the intervention programme to usual care. Eligible patients were diagnosed with RA, had a paid job (> 8 h per week) and who experienced, at least, minor difficulties in work functioning. Supervisor support was measured with a subscale of the Job Content Questionnaire, work instability with the Work Instability Scale for RA, and at-work productivity with the Work Limitations Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using linear regression analyses. Results: A beneficial effect of the intervention programme was found on supervisor support among 150 patients. Analyses revealed no effects on work instability and at-work productivity. Conclusion: We found a small positive effect of the intervention on supervisor support, but did not find any effects on work instability and at-work productivity loss. Future research should establish whether this significant but small increase in supervisor support leads to improved work functioning in the long run. This study shows clinicians that patients with RA are in need of efforts to support them in their work functioning. Implications for Rehabilitation Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease with a severe impact on work functioning, even when a patient is still working. It is important to involve the workplace when an intervention is put in place to support RA patients in their work participation. Supervisor support influences health outcomes of workers, and it is possible to improve supervisor support by an intervention which involves the workplace and supervisor.
Impact of a Carbapenem Antimicrobial Stewardship Program on Patient Outcomes

ABSTRACT Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) aim to improve appropriate antimicrobial use. However, concerns of the negative consequences from accepting ASP interventions exist, particularly when deescalation or discontinuation of broad-spectrum antibiotics is recommended. Hence, we sought to evaluate the impact on clinical outcomes when ASP interventions for inappropriate carbapenem use were accepted or rejected by primary providers. We retrospectively reviewed all carbapenem prescriptions deemed inappropriate according to institutional guidelines with ASP interventions between July 2011 and December 2014. Intervention acceptance and outcomes, including carbapenem utilization, length of stay, hospitalization charges, 30-day readmission, and mortality rates were reviewed. Data were analyzed in two groups, one in which physicians accepted all interventions (“accepted”) and one in which interventions were rejected (“rejected”). A total of 158 ASP interventions were made. These included carbapenem discontinuation (35%), change to narrower-spectrum antibiotic (32%), dose optimization (17%), further investigations (including imaging and procalcitonin) (11%), infectious diseases referral (3%), antibiotic discontinuation (other than carbapenem) (1%), and source control (1%). Of 220 unique patients, carbapenem use was inappropriate in 101 (45.9%) patients. A significant reduction in carbapenem utilization was observed in the accepted group versus rejected group (median defined daily doses, 0.224 versus 0.668 per 1,000 patient-days, respectively; P < 0.001). There was a significant reduction in 30-day mortality in the accepted (none) versus rejected group (10 deaths, P = 0.015), but there were no differences in length of stay, hospitalization charge, or 30-day readmission rates. Hypotension was independently associated with mortality in multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 5.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.34 to 20.6). In our institution, acceptance of carbapenem ASP interventions did not compromise patient safety in terms of clinical outcomes while reducing consumption.
Digested Early Preterm Human Milk Suppresses Tumor Necrosis Factor–induced Inflammation and Cytotoxicity in Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of digested whole human milk (HM; first sample available after birth from mothers of premature infants) on inflammation, oxidative stress, and cytotoxicity in Caco-2 human intestinal epithelial cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharides or tumor necrosis factor (TNF) to mimic the potential in vivo insults facing the premature infant's gastrointestinal tract. Methods: Fully differentiated Caco-2 cells were exposed to digested HM (n = 10; samples from 10 different individuals) before stimulation with lipopolysaccharides, TNF, or no stimulation overnight. Inflammation was determined by production of interleukin-8, oxidative stress by levels of F2-isoprostane, and cytotoxicity by released lactate dehydrogenase. Results: HM significantly suppressed interleukin-8 production and cytotoxicity in TNF-stimulated cells, while also suppressing cell death under baseline conditions. Individual HM samples differed widely in their ability to modulate cellular responses. Conclusions: Results from this study provide evidence that digested HM can reduce both an exaggerated inflammatory response and intestinal damage that contribute to the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis.
Highly Penicillin-Resistant Multidrug-Resistant Pneumococcus-Like Strains Colonizing Children in Oeiras, Portugal: Genomic Characteristics and Implications for Surveillance

ABSTRACT While performing surveillance studies in Oeiras, Portugal, designed to describe the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on colonization, we observed an increase from 0.7% in 2003 to 5% in 2006 in the prevalence of penicillin resistance (MIC of 2 to 6 mg/liter) among presumptively identified pneumococcal isolates. Although 15 of the 22 penicillin-resistant isolates obtained in 2006 were optochin resistant, they were bile soluble and thus considered to be bona fide pneumococci. This study aimed to clarify the nature of these isolates by using a combination of phenotypic and genotypic approaches that included routine strategies for pneumococcal identification, multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA), and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). By MLSA, all isolates were classified as “streptococci of the mitis group” that, however, were distinct from typical Streptococcus pneumoniae or Streptococcus mitis. A single isolate was identified as Streptococcus pseudopneumoniae. CGH confirmed these findings and further indicated that a considerable part of the proposed pneumococcal core genome is conserved in these isolates, including several pneumococcal virulence genes (e.g., pavA, spxB, cbpE, and cbpD). These results suggest that among pneumococci and closely related streptococci, universal unique phenotypic and genetic properties that could aid species identification are virtually impossible to define. In pneumococcal colonization studies, when atypical strains are found, MLSA and CGH are informative tools that can be used to complement routine tests. In our study, after correct identification of the penicillin-resistant true pneumococci, we found that penicillin resistance levels among pneumococci remained stable from 2003 to 2006.