Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An evaluation of the effectiveness of PROMPT therapy in improving speech production accuracy in six children with cerebral palsy

Abstract This study evaluates perceptual changes in speech production accuracy in six children (3–11 years) with moderate-to-severe speech impairment associated with cerebral palsy before, during, and after participation in a motor-speech intervention program (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets). An A1BCA2 single subject research design was implemented. Subsequent to the baseline phase (phase A1), phase B targeted each participant's first intervention priority on the PROMPT motor-speech hierarchy. Phase C then targeted one level higher. Weekly speech probes were administered, containing trained and untrained words at the two levels of intervention, plus an additional level that served as a control goal. The speech probes were analysed for motor-speech-movement-parameters and perceptual accuracy. Analysis of the speech probe data showed all participants recorded a statistically significant change. Between phases A1–B and B–C 6/6 and 4/6 participants, respectively, recorded a statistically significant increase in performance level on the motor speech movement patterns targeted during the training of that intervention. The preliminary data presented in this study make a contribution to providing evidence that supports the use of a treatment approach aligned with dynamic systems theory to improve the motor-speech movement patterns and speech production accuracy in children with cerebral palsy.
Throughput Analysis of ARQ Schemes in Gaussian Block Fading Channels

This paper examines throughput performance, and its optimization, for lossless and truncated automatic repeat request (ARQ) schemes in Gaussian block fading channels. Specifically, ARQ, repetition redundancy, and in part also incremental redundancy-hybrid ARQ, are considered with various diversity schemes. We propose a parameterization-based method that allows (semi-)closed-form expressions, linking optimized throughput, optimal rate, and mean SNR, to be derived for any ARQ and repetition redundancy-HARQ method even when a non-parameterized closed-form does not exist. We derive numerous throughput and optimal throughput expressions for various ARQ schemes and diversity scenarios, potentially useful for benchmarking purposes or as design guidelines.
Active Transport and Diffusion Barriers Restrict Joubert Syndrome-Associated ARL13B/ARL-13 to an Inv-like Ciliary Membrane Subdomain

Cilia are microtubule-based cell appendages, serving motility, chemo-/mechano-/photo- sensation, and developmental signaling functions. Cilia are comprised of distinct structural and functional subregions including the basal body, transition zone (TZ) and inversin (Inv) compartments, and defects in this organelle are associated with an expanding spectrum of inherited disorders including Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS), Meckel-Gruber Syndrome (MKS), Joubert Syndrome (JS) and Nephronophthisis (NPHP). Despite major advances in understanding ciliary trafficking pathways such as intraflagellar transport (IFT), how proteins are transported to subciliary membranes remains poorly understood. Using Caenorhabditis elegans and mammalian cells, we investigated the transport mechanisms underlying compartmentalization of JS-associated ARL13B/ARL-13, which we previously found is restricted at proximal ciliary membranes. We now show evolutionary conservation of ARL13B/ARL-13 localisation to an Inv-like subciliary membrane compartment, excluding the TZ, in many C. elegans ciliated neurons and in a subset of mammalian ciliary subtypes. Compartmentalisation of C. elegans ARL-13 requires a C-terminal RVVP motif and membrane anchoring to prevent distal cilium and nuclear targeting, respectively. Quantitative imaging in more than 20 mutants revealed differential contributions for IFT and ciliopathy modules in defining the ARL-13 compartment; IFT-A/B, IFT-dynein and BBS genes prevent ARL-13 accumulation at periciliary membranes, whereas MKS/NPHP modules additionally inhibit ARL-13 association with TZ membranes. Furthermore, in vivo FRAP analyses revealed distinct roles for IFT and MKS/NPHP genes in regulating a TZ barrier to ARL-13 diffusion, and intraciliary ARL-13 diffusion. Finally, C. elegans ARL-13 undergoes IFT-like motility and quantitative protein complex analysis of human ARL13B identified functional associations with IFT-B complexes, mapped to IFT46 and IFT74 interactions. Together, these findings reveal distinct requirements for sequence motifs, IFT and ciliopathy modules in defining an ARL-13 subciliary membrane compartment. We conclude that MKS/NPHP modules comprise a TZ barrier to ARL-13 diffusion, whereas IFT genes predominantly facilitate ARL-13 ciliary entry and/or retention via active transport mechanisms.
A Survey of Telepractice in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology in India

Telepractice has emerged as a form of service delivery to assess and treat individuals with communication disorders. The present study surveyed speech-language pathologists and audiologists in India about the use of telepractice. Two hundred and five (N=205) speech-language pathologists and audiologists responded to a questionnaire, with 12.19% reporting their use of telepractice to deliver clinical services. Respondents also indicated an urgent shortage of professionals in India to deliver clinical services in speech-language pathology and audiology, and opined that these needs can be met via the use of telepractice. India is well known throughout the world for the advanced application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), with 931.95 million telephone subscribers, over 900 million mobile phone users, and the second-largest mobile phone usage in the world. India has also experienced a tremendous rise in the number of internet users. Therefore, India is well poised to fully develop telepractice to overcome the barriers of distance and amplify the availability of speech-language pathology, audiology and other healthcare services. But first, the widespread use of telepractice throughout the nation will require an improved infrastructure (e.g., to uphold privacy and security); training for professionals; and telepractice policies. While very promising, the deployment of telepractice throughout India will require the attention of policy makers and government organizations.
Malignant changes developing from odontogenic cysts: A systematic review

The aim of this study was to systematically review scientific literature in orderto describe the characteristics and prognosis of malignant entities developing from odontogenic cysts. A search in Pubmed (MEDLINE) and Cochrane databases was conducted. The inclusion criteria were articles published in English related to the malignisation of odontogenic cysts in humans. The exclusion criteria were articles that do not specify the type of odontogenic cyst, malignisation of parakeratinised keratocysts, the presence of an ameloblastic carcinoma and metastasis from distant primary tumours. The selected articles were classified according to Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy criteria. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using statistical package software SPSS version 22.0. From the 1,237 articles initially obtained, the authors included 3 case series and 45 case reports in the end. Descriptive analysis showed that men have a disposition for malignisation from odontogenic cysts and they frequently appear at the posterior mandible, with pain and swelling being the most frequent signs and symptoms. Follicular cysts were the entities that underwent the most malignant changes with well differentiated squamous cell carcinomas being the most prevalent type of malignancy. The real prognosis of this malignancy is not known because of the heterogeneity of available studies. Key words:Odontogenic cysts, squamous cell carcinoma, neoplastic cell transformation, oral cancer.
Effects of anticoagulant and time of plasma separation on measurement of homocysteine.

Current interest in plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) measurements has increased with evidence that even mild hyperhomocysteinemia may be an independent risk factor for vascular disease (1) and that increases occur with vitamin deficiencies and reduced renal function. This has led to the investigation of problems associated with measurement, in particular the stability of tHcy after blood collection (2)(3). Transfer of homocysteine from red cells to plasma after venesection may occur and produce a 10% per hour increase in plasma tHcy concentrations (4), and thus influence assessments of the relative risk of disease (5). To reduce this increase, samples may be stored on ice and centrifuged within 1 h of collection. In epidemiologic surveys or even routine collection, this may not always be feasible. We studied the stability of plasma tHcy measured by a fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) in samples from 9 cystathionine β-synthase (CβS)-deficient homocystinuric patients and 13 healthy individuals. Blood was collected into both EDTA (1.8 g/L) and NaF (1.8 g/L EDTA and 3 g/L NaF) tubes. For six of the healthy individuals, we also used lithium heparin (14 kIU/L), sodium citrate (32 g/L trisodium citrate + 4.2 g/L citric acid; 3.2% solution), and ACD-B (13.2 g/L trisodium citrate + 5.25 g/L citric acid + 14.7 g/L glucose; 1.3% solution) tubes. The CβS-deficient patients were diagnosed and treated as described previously (6)(7), and the controls were healthy staff. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Within 15 min of collection, samples were divided into five aliquots. One aliquot from each sample was centrifuged (10 000 g for 5 min) 15 min …
Ecdysone response elements in the distal promoter of the Bombyx Broad‐Complex gene, BmBR‐C

The Bombyx mori silkworm's homologue of the Broad‐Complex gene (BmBR‐C) is transcribed from two promoters: a distal promoter (Pdist) and a proximal promoter (Pprox). As determined by a luciferase assay, the transcriptional activity of Pdist, but not Pprox, was activated by ecdysone. Further analyses using reporters driven by sequential deletion Pdist mutants indicated that two regions, ecdysone responsive element (EcRE)‐D and EcRE‐P, −4950 bp and −3480 bp upstream from the distal transcription start site, respectively, were important in the responsiveness of Pdist to 20‐hydroxyecdysone (20E); however, no significant sequence similarities were found between the canonical EcRE and the EcRE‐D or EcRE‐P regions. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that both the EcRE‐D and ‐P sequences specifically bound to Bombyx protein(s). Sequence analyses and competition assays suggested that the protein(s) bound to EcRE‐P might include components other than the ecdysone receptor (EcR), suggesting that BmBR‐C transcription was indirectly activated by ecdysone through the EcRE‐P. Remarkably, protein binding to the mid‐region of the EcRE‐D, EcRE‐Db, was competitively inhibited by an oligonucleotide containing the Drosophila hsp27 EcRE sequence. Furthermore, an anti‐EcR antibody interfered with the formation of the protein‐EcRE‐Db complex. These results indicated that a functional Bombyx ecdysone receptor binds to EcRE‐D and activates the expression of BmBR‐C.
Caffeine acting on pregnant rat myometrium: analysis of its relaxant action and its failure to release Ca2+ from intracellular stores

1 The effect of caffeine on mechanical activity was studied in pregnant rat myometrium. 2 In muscle cells with intact plasmalemmae, caffeine (0.1–50 mm) produced no contraction whatever the experimental conditions. 3 Caffeine (0.1–10 mm) inhibited, in a concentration‐dependent manner, contractions induced by electrical stimulation, potassium‐rich (60 mm K+) solution, sodium‐free solution or oxytocin (22.5 nm). 4 In Ca2+‐free solution, various substances (oxytocin, sodium orthovanadate and prostaglandin E2) evoked sustained contractions that were suppressed by caffeine (5–10 mm). When caffeine (> 5 mm) was applied during Ca2+‐loading of the tissue (2.1 mm Ca2+, 5 min) in the presence of a K+‐rich solution, the subsequent transient contraction induced by a short application (10 s) of oxytocin (22.5 nm) in Ca‐free solution was reduced (63 ± 3.5% reduction for 20 mm caffeine, n = 4). 5 In saponin‐skinned strips, application of caffeine (5–10 mm) during loading of the Ca2+‐store increased the subsequent contraction induced by myo‐inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate (IP3, 10 μm). Caffeine (10–30 mm) decreased calcium‐activated contractions in skinned fibres lacking a functional internal Ca‐store. This effect was reduced by the cyclic AMP‐dependent protein kinase inhibitor Thr‐Thr‐Tyr‐Ala‐Asp‐Phe‐Ile‐Ala‐Ser‐Gly‐Arg‐Thr‐Gly‐Arg‐Arg‐Asn‐Ala‐Ile‐His‐Asp (8 μm). 6 In conclusion, it is suggested that the inability of caffeine to cause spasm of rat myometrium is due to the absence of a caffeine‐sensitive calcium‐release channel in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Relaxant effects of caffeine can be explained by mechanisms leading to a decrease in both the cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration and the Ca2+‐sensitivity of the contractile machinery.
Potential conditional mutual information: Estimators and properties

The conditional mutual information I(X;Y|Z) measures the average information that X and Y contain about each other given Z. This is an important primitive in many learning problems including conditional independence testing, graphical model inference, causal strength estimation and time-series problems. In several applications, it is desirable to have a functional purely of the conditional distribution p_{Y|X,Z} rather than of the joint distribution p_{X,Y,Z}. We define the potential conditional mutual information as the conditional mutual information calculated with a modified joint distribution p_{Y|X,Z} q_{X,Z}, where q_{X,Z} is a potential distribution, fixed airport. We develop K nearest neighbor based estimators for this functional, employing importance sampling, and a coupling trick, and prove the finite k consistency of such an estimator. We demonstrate that the estimator has excellent practical performance and show an application in dynamical system inference.
Decrease in gamma-band activity tracks sequence learning

Learning novel sequences constitutes an example of declarative memory formation, involving conscious recall of temporal events. Performance in sequence learning tasks improves with repetition and involves forming temporal associations over scales of seconds to minutes. To further understand the neural circuits underlying declarative sequence learning over trials, we tracked changes in intracranial field potentials (IFPs) recorded from 1142 electrodes implanted throughout temporal and frontal cortical areas in 14 human subjects, while they learned the temporal-order of multiple sequences of images over trials through repeated recall. We observed an increase in power in the gamma frequency band (30–100 Hz) in the recall phase, particularly in areas within the temporal lobe including the parahippocampal gyrus. The degree of this gamma power enhancement decreased over trials with improved sequence recall. Modulation of gamma power was directly correlated with the improvement in recall performance. When presenting new sequences, gamma power was reset to high values and decreased again after learning. These observations suggest that signals in the gamma frequency band may play a more prominent role during the early steps of the learning process rather than during the maintenance of memory traces.
Amphetamine‐induced release of dopamine in primate prefrontal cortex and striatum: striking differences in magnitude and timecourse

The psychostimulant amphetamine (AMPH) is frequently used to increase catecholamine levels in attention disorders and positron emission tomography imaging studies. Despite the fact that most radiotracers for positron emission tomography studies are characterized in non‐human primates (NHPs), data on regional differences of the effect of AMPH in NHPs are very limited. This study examined the impact of AMPH on extracellular dopamine (DA) levels in the medial prefrontal cortex and the caudate of NHPs using microdialysis. In addition to differences in magnitude, we observed striking differences in the temporal profile of extracellular DA levels between these regions that can likely be attributed to differences in the regulation of dopamine uptake and biosynthesis. The present data suggest that cortical DA levels may remain elevated longer than in the caudate which may contribute to the clinical profile of the actions of AMPH.
Human amniotic membrane-derived epithelial stem cells display anticancer activity in BALB/c female nude mice bearing disseminated breast cancer xenografts.

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors and the leading cause of mortality among women. In this study, we propose a human stem cell transplantation strategy, an important method for treating various cancers, as a potential breast cancer therapy. To this end, we used human amniotic membrane-derived epithelial stem cells (hAECs) as a cell source for performing human stem cell transplantation. hAECs have multipotent differentiation abilities and possess high proliferative potential. We transplanted hAECs into female BALB/c nude mice bearing tumors originating from MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Co-culturred hAECs and MDA-MB-231 cells at a ratio of 1:4 or 1:8 (tumor cells to stem cells) inhibited breast cancer cell growth by 67.29 and 67.33%, respectively. In the xenograft mouse model, tumor volumes were significantly decreased by 5-flurouracil (5-FU) treatment and two different ratios of hAECs (1:4 and 1:8) by 84.33, 73.88 and 56.89%, respectively. Treatment of nude mice with hAECs (1:4) produced remarkable antitumor effects without any side-effects (e.g., weight loss, death and bruising) compared to the mice that received only 5-FU treatment. Tumor progression was significantly reduced by hAEC treatment compared to the xenograft model. On the other hand, breast tissues (e.g., the epidermis, dermis and reticular layer) appeared to be well-maintained following treatment with hAECs. Taken together, these results provide strong evidence that hAECs can be used as a safe and effective cancer-targeting cytotherapy for treating breast cancer.
Latest advances in predicting DILI in human subjects: focus on biomarkers

Introduction: The quest for a biomarker that would reliably identify patients at risk of developing acute drug-induced liver injury (DILI) to a specific agent or class of agents before it occurs, has been underway for years. Historical host factors for DILI, such as older age and female gender, are not considered sufficient to truly predict an individual's inherent risk of DILI. In vitro and animal-based biomarker discoveries, in many instances, have not been considered accurate enough for drug development in human subjects nor for use in clinical practice. Areas covered: In order to assess the current state of biomarkers to predict idiosyncratic human DILI, the authors utilized the PubMed literature search tool to identify research reports dealing with clinical DILI biomarkers covering the period of 2010 through to June 2012. Studies involving pharmacogenetic, proteomic and toxicogenomic analyses are preferentially reviewed. Expert opinion: Although acute DILI has been linked to specific genetic associations (e.g., flucloxacillin and HLA-B*5701; and certain polymorphisms seen with anti-TB agent DILI), such predictors have been able to identify only some patients at risk for only a limited number of drugs. Proteomic-based biomarkers from stored sera in the US DILI Network, such as apolipoprotein E, have been identified as potential candidates, but require further study. As it currently stands, the quest for a widely applicable, validated DILI biomarker remains an ongoing clinical challenge.
Efficient broadcasting protocols for regular wireless sensor networks

The wireless sensor network (WSN) has attracted lots of attention recently. Since the sensor nodes usually have no plug-in power, we have to conserve power so that each sensor node can operate for a longer period of time. Here, we propose power and time efficient broadcasting protocols for four different WSN topologies. Our broadcasting protocols conserve power and time by choosing as few relay nodes as possible to scatter messages to the whole network. Besides, collisions are carefully handled such that our one-to-all broadcast protocols can achieve 100% reachability. Numerical evaluation results compare the performances of the four topologies and show that our broadcasting protocols are power and time efficient
The Use of Stable and Radioactive Sterol Tracers as a Tool to Investigate Cholesterol Degradation to Bile Acids in Humans in Vivo

Alterations of cholesterol homeostasis represent important risk factors for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Different clinical-experimental approaches have been devised to study the metabolism of cholesterol and particularly the synthesis of bile acids, its main catabolic products. Most evidence in humans has derived from studies utilizing the administration of labeled sterols; these have several advantages over in vitro assay of enzyme activity and expression, requiring an invasive procedure such as a liver biopsy, or the determination of fecal sterols, which is cumbersome and not commonly available. Pioneering evidence with administration of radioactive sterol derivatives has allowed to characterize the alterations of cholesterol metabolism and degradation in different situations, including spontaneous disease conditions, aging, and drug treatment. Along with the classical isotope dilution methodology, other approaches were proposed, among which isotope release following radioactive substrate administration. More recently, stable isotope studies have allowed to overcome radioactivity exposure. Isotope enrichment studies during tracer infusion has allowed to characterize changes in the degradation of cholesterol via the “classical” and the “alternative” pathways of bile acid synthesis. Evidence brought by tracer studies in vivo, summarized here, provides an exceptional tool for the investigation of sterol metabolism, and integrate the studies in vitro on human tissue.