Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neuromuscular respiratory failure in Guillain-Barre Syndrome: evaluation of clinical and electrodiagnostic predictors.

UNLABELLED Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) has an unpredictable clinical course with up to 30% of patients requiring assisted ventilation during the course of their illness. Successful management mandates anticipation, prompt recognition and optimal treatment of neuromuscular respiratory failure in GBS. AIMS To identify clinical and electrodiagnostic predictors of neuromuscular respiratory paralysis in GBS. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty six patients of GBS were studied over a 6 year period, the study being 2 year retrospective and 4 year prospective. Clinical and electrodiagnostic data were compared between ventilated (28) and non-ventilated (18) patients. The clinical parameters assessed were median age, gender, antecedent infection, prior lung disease, time to peak disability, bifacial weakness, upper limb weakness, bulbar paralysis, neck weakness and autonomic dysfunction. Electrodiagnostic studies included motor nerve conduction studies in 11 ventilated and 13 non-ventilated patients, done prior to maximum disability in each group. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to compare the two groups. RESULTS Comparing the clinical data in the ventilated and non-ventilated groups, 'early peak disability', autonomic dysfunction and bulbar weakness predicted the onset of respiratory paralysis. Age, gender, neck or bifacial weakness, upper limb paralysis, or preceding infection did not influence the development of neuromuscular respiratory weakness. Electrodiagnostic testing revealed abnormal H reflex and F waves to be the commonest abnormality in either group. Although data was not sufficient for statistical analysis, the presence of markedly attenuated Compound Muscle Action Potentials inexcitable motor nerves and denervation changes on the electromyography, was commoner in the ventilated group. Thirty six patients received treatment with either plasmapheresis (12) or intravenous immunoglobulin (24). Overall mortality was 5, all 5 patients being on assisted ventilation. CONCLUSION Early progression to peak disability, bulbar dysfunction and autonomic instability predicted the development of neuromuscular respiratory paralysis in GBS. Early electrodiagnostic studies in this series suggest axonopathic GBS as a predictor of respiratory paralysis, a finding that needs to be evaluated with sufficient data to permit statistical analysis.
Random graphs

An introduction to the mathematics of the Poisson random graph, the simplest model of a random network. The chapter starts with a definition of the model, followed by derivations of basic properties like the mean degree, degree distribution, and clustering coefficient. This is followed with a detailed derivation of the large-scale structural properties of random graphs, including the position of the phase transition at which a giant component appears, the size of the giant component, the average size of the small components, and the expected diameter of the network. The chapter ends with a discussion of some of the shortcomings of the random graph model.
A viscoelastic model with non-local damping application to the human lungs

In this paper we elaborate a model to describe some aspects of the human lung considered as a continuous, deformable, medium. To that purpose, we study the asymptotic behavior of a spring-mass system with dissipation. The key feature of our approach is the nature of this dissipation phenomena, which is related here to the flow of a viscous fluid through a dyadic tree of pipes (the branches), each exit of which being connected to an air pocket (alvelola) delimited by two successive masses. The first part focuses on the relation between fluxes and pressures at the outlets of a dyadic tree, assuming the flow within the tree obeys Poiseuille-like laws. In a second part, which contains the main convergence result, we intertwine the outlets of the tree with a spring-mass array. Letting again the number of generations (and therefore the number of masses) go to infinity, we show that the solutions to the finite dimensional problems converge in a weak sense to the solution of a wave-like partial differential equation with a non-local dissipative term.
Effect of vitamin D deficiency on mouse mammary gland and milk.

Lactational performance, milk composition, mammary calcium pools and serum calcium were examined in vitamin D-deficient lactating mice to determine whether the mammary gland is a target organ for vitamin D. CD1 mice were fed vitamin D-deficient or control diets containing 1.2% calcium and 0.5% phosphorus 8-12 weeks prior to breeding. Plasma calcium levels were within normal limits in all mice. Vitamin D deficiency was verified by lack of detectable serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol. Deficient mice had fewer pups per litter than controls (7.1 +/- 0.5 vs. 8.4 +/- 0.3; P less than 0.05). Pups from vitamin D-deficient and repleted mothers grew at the same rate. Mammary tissue intracellular and extracellular calcium pools, measured by an efflux technique, did not differ in the two groups. Milk samples were collected by suction after injection of 0.1 IU of oxytocin i.p. or anaerobically by a surgical technique. Although protein, Na, K, ionized calcium and pH did not differ, milk from vitamin D-deficient mice had lower lactose (114.6 vs. 135.9 mM; P less than 0.02) and slightly lower calcium (66.8 vs. 75.4 mM; P less than 0.1) concentrations than controls. The data do not demonstrate any direct effects of vitamin D on mammary gland calcium metabolism.
Tricin inhibits the CCL5 induction required for efficient growth of human cytomegalovirus

Treatment of human embryonic lung fibroblast (HEL) cells with tricin (4′, 5, 7‐trihydroxy‐3′, 5′‐dimethoxyflavone) following infection with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) reportedly significantly suppresses HCMV replication. In the present work, the mechanisms for the anti‐HCMV effects of tricin in HEL cells were examined. It was found that exposure of HEL cells to tricin inhibited HCMV replication, with concomitant decreases in amounts of transcripts of the CC chemokine RANTES (CCL5)‐encoding gene and in expression of the CCL5 protein. It was also found that transcripts of HCMV immediate early 1 (IE1), and HCMV UL54 (encoding DNA polymerase) and replication of HCMV was significantly lower in CCL5 gene‐knockdown cells. These results suggest that the anti‐HCMV activity of tricin differs from that of ganciclovir and that CCL5 is one of the chemokines involved in HCMV replication. In addition, it is possible that chemokine CCL5 is one of the targets of tricin.
Prediction, pre-emption and limits to dissent: Social media and big data uses for policing protests in the United Kingdom

Social media and big data uses form part of a broader shift from ‘reactive’ to ‘proactive’ forms of governance in which state bodies engage in analysis to predict, pre-empt and respond in real time to a range of social problems. Drawing on research with British police, we contextualize these algorithmic processes within actual police practices, focusing on protest policing. Although aspects of algorithmic decision-making have become prominent in police practice, our research shows that they are embedded within a continuous human–computer negotiation that incorporates a rooted claim to ‘professional judgement’, an integrated intelligence context and a significant level of discretion. This context, we argue, transforms conceptions of threats. We focus particularly on three challenges: the inclusion of pre-existing biases and agendas, the prominence of marketing-driven software, and the interpretation of unpredictability. Such a contextualized analysis of data uses provides important insights for the shifting terrain of possibilities for dissent.
Plasma palmitoleic acid content and obesity in children.

BACKGROUND Palmitoleic acid (16:1n-7) is a product of endogenous lipogenesis. In human obesity, 16:1n-7 is reported to correlate with indexes of adiposity and insulin concentrations. OBJECTIVE We investigated the relation between adiposity, especially in the abdominal region, and plasma monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) profiles in obese children. DESIGN A case-control study was performed. The study subjects were 59 obese children (x +/- SD age: 11.8 +/- 3.8 y) and 53 age- and sex-matched healthy, nonobese children (aged 12.5 +/- 0.5 y). The study's variables included anthropometric measurements, serum lipids, leptin, and fatty acid composition in plasma. RESULTS MUFA profiles of obese subjects showed a significantly higher content of 16:1n-7, 18:1n-9, and 20:1n-9 and significantly higher stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) activity (ratio of 16:1n-7 to 16:0) than in nonobese controls. In a multiple regression analysis, percentage body fat, waist-to-height ratio, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were significant determinants of 16:1n-7 content. SCD activity had a positive, significant correlation with leptin. However, in a multiple regression analysis that included percentage body fat, WHR, and leptin as independent determinants, WHR was the only determinant of SCD activity. CONCLUSIONS Plasma 16:1n-7 content has a significant relation with abdominal adiposity in obese children. This change in the MUFA profile may be caused by activation of SCD that is not sufficiently suppressed by leptin. Endogenous lipogenesis may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of obesity in children.
ACI-DAfStb Database of Shear Tests on Slender Reinforced Concrete Beams without Stirrups

Nearly all code provisions for the shear capacity of structural concrete members without shear reinforcement have been empirically derived and some were calibrated decades ago. Since then, a significant volume of new test data has been generated that can aid in understanding. To address this issue, a database of 439 shear test results had been created in 2003 that contained the data of beams without shear reinforcement subjected to point loads. The 2003 database was considerably expanded in recent years by a joint ACI-DAfStb (American Concrete Institute - Deutscher Ausschuss fur Stahlbeton, German Committee for Structural Concrete) Group, with new test data including 40 tests on beams with uniformly distributed loads. The newly extended database now contains 784 tests that can be used for the evaluation of shear design provisions. A comparison of ACI 318-11 Eq. (11-3) with this extended database has revealed that current code provisions can be unconservative for large, lightly reinforced members and that the influences of important parameters are not adequately captured.
Effect of Whole Exome Sequencing in Diagnosis of Inborn Errors of Metabolism and Neurogenetic Disorders

Objective Inborn errors of metabolism are complex disorders with huge variability in clinical manifestations. Decreasing cost of whole exome sequencing (WES) in recent years, made it affordable. Therefore, we witnessed an increase in using WES in diagnosis of genetic diseases, including inherited metabolic disorders. Methods A systematic search was done in well-known databases including Medline, Google, Cochrane, and PubMed until 1 Oct 2017. We reviewed the articles addressing the use of WES in diagnosis of metabolic and neurogenetic diseases to evaluate its impact in diagnosis of these conditions. Results WES is an effective technology with remarkable impact in diagnosis of metabolic and neurologic diseases, especially in complex cases. Diagnostic yield of WES for these conditions has large variety, ranging from 16% to 68% with an increase during recent years. WES can provide fresh valuable information about new disease, new variants and phenotypes. Careful analysis and interpretation of data obtained by WES and precise evaluation of correlation between clinical manifestation and WES findings are necessary to achieve a correct diagnosis. Conclusion WES is effective and useful technology for diagnosis of metabolic and neurogenetic diseases, especially in complex or unsolved cases.
Role of sulfiredoxin as a peroxiredoxin-2 denitrosylase in human iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons

Significance S-nitrosylation, addition of an NO group to a cysteine thiol, can regulate protein activity. Aberrant protein S-nitrosylation, however, can disrupt normal enzyme function, as is the case for S-nitrosylated peroxiredoxin (SNO-Prx), which would otherwise catabolize toxic peroxides that occur under neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. Here, we describe a paradigm of N-phosphorylation–mediated denitrosylation by the enzyme sulfiredoxin that removes NO from Prx. The findings are at the center of redox control of the cell, explaining reactivation by sulfiredoxin of both Prx-SO2H and SNO-Prx and thus describe a master regulator of redox reactions that combats nitrosative and oxidative stress in cells. These results suggest that sulfiredoxin may be an important target for therapeutic intervention in neurodegenerative disorders. Recent studies have pointed to protein S-nitrosylation as a critical regulator of cellular redox homeostasis. For example, S-nitrosylation of peroxiredoxin-2 (Prx2), a peroxidase widely expressed in mammalian neurons, inhibits both enzymatic activity and protective function against oxidative stress. Here, using in vitro and in vivo approaches, we identify a role and reaction mechanism of the reductase sulfiredoxin (Srxn1) as an enzyme that denitrosylates (thus removing -SNO) from Prx2 in an ATP-dependent manner. Accordingly, by decreasing S-nitrosylated Prx2 (SNO-Prx2), overexpression of Srxn1 protects dopaminergic neural cells and human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons from NO-induced hypersensitivity to oxidative stress. The pathophysiological relevance of this observation is suggested by our finding that SNO-Prx2 is dramatically increased in murine and human Parkinson’s disease (PD) brains. Our findings therefore suggest that Srxn1 may represent a therapeutic target for neurodegenerative disorders such as PD that involve nitrosative/oxidative stress.
Heterosis and outbreeding depression between strains of young-of-the-year brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill, 1814)) supports a lucrative fish aquaculture industry in Quebec and production of this species is mainly oriented to stock enhancement supporting sport fisheries. The aim of this study was to verify the expression of interstrain heterosis, i.e., increased performance of first generation hybrid progeny, during the first stages of development in brook trout. Two wild populations that were recently introduced to fish production in Quebec, the Laval (L) and the Rupert (R) strains, and a domestic strain (D) that is present in most Quebec fish farms were used in this study. The growth of 72 full-sibling families, representing three pure (♀D × ♂D, ♀L × ♂L, ♀R × ♂R) and five hybrid (♀D × ♂L, ♀D × ♂R, ♀L × ♂D, ♀L × ♂R, ♀R × ♂L) cross types, were surveyed from hatching to 2136 degree-days. Both heterosis and outbreeding depression were observed, depending on the hybrid cross type. The occurrence of heterosis was dependent on the developmental stage, and growth advantage.
Predictive History in an Allergy Prediction Task

Two experiments are reported that demonstrate rate of learning in an allergy prediction task can b e a ffected b y the predictive history of the c ues involved, even if that history relates to ou tcomes different t o those being currently learned about. Predictive history is defined here as a cue’s prior status as either a good or a poor predictor of outcomes. Our r esults are problematic for commonly employed associative theories of human contingency learning but also p rovide e vidence for the sort of associability-change process envisaged by the Mackintosh (1975) theory.
Nash at Wimbledon: Evidence from Half a Million Serves

Minimax and its generalization to mixed strategy Nash equilibrium is the cornerstone of our understanding of strategic situations that require decision makers to be unpredictable. Using a dataset of nearly half a million serves from over 3000 matches, we examine whether the behavior of professional tennis players is consistent with the Minimax Hypothesis. The large number of matches in our dataset requires the development of a novel statistical test, which we show is more powerful than the tests used in prior related studies. We find that win rates conform remarkably closely to the theory for men, but conform somewhat less neatly for women. We show that the behavior in the field of more highly ranked (i.e., better) players conforms more closely to theory.
Strategies to Stimulate Mobilization and Homing of Endogenous Stem and Progenitor Cells for Bone Tissue Repair

The gold standard for the treatment of critical-size bone defects is autologous or allogenic bone graft. This has several limitations including donor site morbidity and the restricted supply of graft material. Cell-based tissue engineering strategies represent an alternative approach. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been considered as a source of osteoprogenitor cells. More recently, focus has been placed on the use of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), since vascularization is a critical step in bone healing. Although many of these approaches have demonstrated effectiveness for bone regeneration, cell-based therapies require time consuming and cost-expensive in vitro cell expansion procedures. Accordingly, research is becoming increasingly focused on the homing and stimulation of native cells. The stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) – CXCR4 axis has been shown to be critical for the recruitment of MSCs and EPCs. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key factor in angiogenesis and has been targeted in many studies. Here, we present an overview of the different approaches for delivering homing factors to the defect site by absorption or incorporation to biomaterials, gene therapy, or via genetically manipulated cells. We further review strategies focusing on the stimulation of endogenous cells to support bone repair. Finally, we discuss the major challenges in the treatment of critical-size bone defects and fracture non-unions.
Musculoskeletal pain profile of obese individuals attending a multidisciplinary weight management service

Abstract Obesity is associated with numerous chronic diseases, including musculoskeletal (MSK) pain, which affects on quality of life (QoL). There is, however, limited research providing a comprehensive MSK pain profile of an obese cohort. This retrospective study used a patient database at a national weight management service. After ethical approval, anonymized patient data were statistically analyzed to develop a pain profile, investigate relationships between pain, sleep, and function, and explore variables associated with having low back pain (LBP) and knee pain. Overall, 915 individuals attended the weight management service from January 2011 to September 2015 [male, 35% (n = 318; confidence interval [CI] = 32-38); female, 65% (n = 597; CI = 62-68); mean age 44.6]. Mean body mass index was 50.7 kg/m2 [class III obese (body mass index ≥40 kg/m2), 92% (n = 835; CI = 91-94)]. Approximately 91% reported MSK pain: LBP, 69% (n = 539; CI = 65-72) [mean Numeric Rating Scale 7.4]; knee pain, 58% (n = 447; CI = 55-61) [mean Numeric Rating Scale 6.8]. Class III obese and multisite pain patients had lower QoL and physical activity levels, reduced sleep, and poorer physical function than less obese patients and those without pain (P < 0.05). Relationships were found between demographic, pain, self-report, psychological, and functional measures (P < 0.05). Patients who slept fewer hours and had poorer functional outcomes were more likely to have LBP; patients who were divorced, had lower QoL, and more frequent nocturia were more likely to have knee pain (P < 0.05). Multisite MSK pain is prevalent and severe in obese patients and is negatively associated with most self-report and functional outcomes. This high prevalence suggests that pain management strategies must be considered when treating obesity.
Protein and calorie malnutrition among preschool Navajo Indian children.

I N THE PAST FEW YEARS much attention has been focused on the problem of protein-calorie malnutrition in the underdeveloped areas of the world. Scattered reports of kwashiorkor have been made in the United States. In 1960, Diamond and Vahibona (1) reported a case in an 1 1-yearold boy in Kentucky. In 1961, Dr. Charles Wolfe (2) reported three cases from the Navajo Reservation. All four of these cases were related to poverty. Another case was reported from the Bronx, New York City, by Taitz and Finberg (3). In this case, the child was on a very restricted Imypoallergenic diet, and inadequate medical care, maternal ignorance, and language barriers were more at fault. In all of these instances time disease was thought to be an unusual occurrence and was not considered to be a significant nutritional problem among any group of preschool cimildren in time United States.
Biochar-Rhizosphere Interactions – a Review

Abstract Biochar is a solid material of biological origin obtained from biomass carbonization, designed as a mean to reduce greenhouse gases emission and carbon sequestration in soils for a long time. Biochar has a wide spectrum of practical utilization and is applied as a promising soil improver or fertilizer in agriculture, or as a medium for soil or water remediation. Preparations of biochar increase plant growth and yielding when applied into soil and also improve plant growth conditions, mainly bio, physical and chemical properties of soil. Its physical and chemical properties have an influence on bacteria, fungi and invertebrates, both in field and laboratory conditions. Such effects on rhizosphere organisms are positive or negative depending on biochar raw material origin, charring conditions, frequency of applications, applications method and doses, but long term effects are generally positive and are associated mainly with increased soil biota activity. However, a risk assessment of biochar applications is necessary to protect food production and the soil environment. This should be accomplished by biochar production and characterization, land use implementation, economic analysis, including life cycle assessment, and environmental impact assessment.
Impact of Event Scale: A Measure of Subjective Stress

&NA; Clinical, field, and experimental studies of response to potentially stressful life events give concordant findings: there is a general human tendency to undergo episodes of intrusive thinking and periods of avoidance. A scale of current subjective distress, related to a specific event, was based on a list of items composed of commonly reported experiences of intrusion and avoidance. Responses of 66 persons admitted to an outpatient clinic for the treatment of stress response syndromes indicated that the scale had a useful degree of significance and homogeneity. Empirical clusters supported the concept of subscores for intrusions and avoidance responses.