Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On Superlinear Scaling of Network Delays

We investigate scaling properties of end-to-end delays in packet networks for a flow that traverses a sequence of H nodes and that experiences cross traffic at each node. When the traffic flow and the cross traffic do not satisfy independence assumptions, we find that delay bounds scale faster than linearly. More precisely, for exponentially bounded packetized traffic, we show that delays grow with Θ(H logH) in the number of nodes on the network path. This superlinear scaling of delays is qualitatively different from the scaling behavior predicted by a worst-case analysis or by a probabilistic analysis assuming independence of traffic arrivals at network nodes.
Zoonotic Trematodiasis Zoonotic Trematodiasis

Parasitic zoonoses are diseases caused by parasites shared between animal hosts and humans. Most of parasitic zoonoses are considered as neglected because of the absence of campaigns destined to prevention control and treatment of these diseases in most developed and undeveloped nations, ignoring that parasitic zoonoses affect almost half of the world human population and the vast majority of livestock worldwide is at risk of acquiring or sick because of a zoonotic disease. Zoonotic trematodiasis are numerous in almost every nation and responsible for serious and debilitating helminthic diseases in about 75 million people as well as the billions of dollars in production losses to the livestock industry. The perspective of global warming, habitat loss and new host range adaptation indicates that unless a new approach based in genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics assessment of new biomarkers and anthelmintic targets is achieved, the incidence of zoonotic trematodiasis will increase for both human and animal hosts.
Tracking left ventricular borders in 3D echocardiographic sequences using motion-guided optical flow

For obtaining quantitative and objective functional parameters from three-dimensional (3D) echocardiographic sequences, automated segmentation methods may be preferable to cumbersome manual delineation of 3D borders. In this study, a novel optical-flow based tracking method is proposed for propagating 3D endocardial contours of the left ventricle throughout the cardiac cycle. To take full advantage of the time-continuous nature of cardiac motion, a statistical motion model was explicitly embedded in the optical flow solution. The cardiac motion was modeled as frame-to-frame affine transforms, which were extracted using Procrustes analysis on a set of training contours. Principal component analysis was applied to obtain a compact model of cardiac motion throughout the whole cardiac cycle. The parameters of this model were resolved in an optical flow manner, via spatial and temporal gradients in image intensity. The algorithm was tested on 36 noncontrast and 28 contrast enhanced 3D echocardiographic sequences in a leave-one-out manner. Good results were obtained using a combination of the proposed motion-guided method and a purely data-driven optical flow approach. The improvement was particularly noticeable in areas where the LV wall was obscured by image artifacts. In conclusion, the results show the applicability of the proposed method in clinical quality echocardiograms.
Uso da eletroestimulação na clínica fonoaudiológica: uma revisão integrativa da literatura

The purpose of this study is to present the integrative literature review: about the applying result of the electrical stimulation use in the speech therapy clinic. The methodology used followed the concepts of the Cochrane Handbook involved question formulation related to the topic of investigation, identification and selection of the studies, and a critical evaluation of the selected articles. Selection of articles data bases of Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System on-line(Medline), Latin American Literature and the Caribe in Health Science, PubMed and Web of Science/ISI were used. The descriptors used were "transcutaneous nervous electrical stimulation", "dysphagia", "swallowing disorder", "dysphonia", "voice disorder" AND "speech language" in English, Portuguese and Spanish and its combinations, from 2003 to 2013. The electrical stimulation brings benefits the rehabilitation in speech therapy, but the methodology used in the studies was divergent and the studied population was very heterogeneous and it makes difficult its clinical use by the professionals of the area. The electrical stimulation brings benefits the rehabilitation in speech therapy clinic. But the new studies should be carried out using a more homogeneous sample and describing the methodology and the speech therapy techniques used into procedures, in order to prove its results and make its use feasible to the professionals of the area.
Early second-trimester plasma levels of NT-proBNP in women who subsequently develop early-onset preeclampsia

Abstract Plasma levels of NT-proBNP are elevated in women with preeclampsia at the time of diagnosis. The objective of this case-control study was to evaluate N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) in maternal plasma as an early second-trimester biomarker for prediction of early-onset preeclampsia. In early second-trimester samples, women who later developed preeclampsia at gestational age 34 wk + 0 or earlier (n = 16) had similar plasma levels of NT-proBNP (median 51.8, range 26.1–131.9 pg/ml) as women with uncomplicated pregnancy outcomes (n = 43) (53.0, 14.9–184.2 pg/ml). The early second-trimester level of NT-proBNP cannot therefore be used as a predictive biomarker of early-onset preeclampsia.
Cancer Regression and Autoimmunity in Patients After Clonal Repopulation with Antitumor Lymphocytes

We report here the adoptive transfer, to patients with metastatic melanoma, of highly selected tumor-reactive T cells directed against overexpressed self-derived differentiation antigens after a nonmyeloablative conditioning regimen. This approach resulted in the persistent clonal repopulation of T cells in those cancer patients, with the transferred cells proliferating in vivo, displaying functional activity, and trafficking to tumor sites. This led to regression of the patients' metastatic melanoma as well as to the onset of autoimmune melanocyte destruction. This approach presents new possibilities for the treatment of patients with cancer as well as patients with human immunodeficiency virus–related acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and other infectious diseases.
Hypophosphatemia and duration of respiratory failure and mortality in critically ill patients

Hypophosphatemia has been associated with prolonged duration of respiratory failure and increased mortality in critically ill patients, but there is very limited evidence supporting the negative effects of low phosphate. We examined the association between hypophosphatemia at ICU admission and time to successful weaning and 28‐day mortality.
Management of oral complications.

OBJECTIVES To explore what nurses were doing to prevent or treat oral complications related to cancer and cancer therapies. DATA SOURCES Review articles, research studies, consensus statements, and data collection. CONCLUSIONS Different practice patterns exist between physicians and nurses in providing oral care interventions. Nurses initiated less toxic and less costly interventions than those prescribed by physicians. Standard assessment parameters are used infrequently. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE Oral mucositis can be distressing by interfering with comfort, appetite, communication, and general well-being. Nurses need to initiate appropriate therapy for patient care.
Cyclosporine Increases Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Vector Transduction of Primary Mouse Cells

ABSTRACT Murine primary cells are poorly permissive to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vector infection. Retroviral infectivity is influenced by dominant inhibitors such as TRIM5α. Sensitivity to TRIM5α is altered by interactions between cyclophilin A and the HIV-1 capsid. Here we demonstrate that competitive inhibitors of cyclophilins, cyclosporine or the related Debio-025, stimulate HIV-1 vector transduction of primary murine cells, including bone marrow and macrophages, up to 20-fold. Unexpectedly, the infectivity of an HIV-1 mutant or a simian lentivirus that does not recruit cyclophilin A is also stimulated by these drugs. We propose that cyclosporine and related compounds will be useful tools for experimental infection of murine primary cells. It is possible that HIV-1 infection of murine cells is inhibited by dominant factors related to immunophilins.
VDAC1 Mediated Anticancer Activity of Gallic Acid in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cells.

AIMS Gallic acid (GA) is generally distributed in a variety of plants and foods, and possesses cell growth-inhibiting activities in cancer cell lines. In the present study, the impact of GA on cell viability, apoptosis induction and possible molecular mechanisms in cultured A549 lung carcinoma cells was investigated. METHODS In vitro experiments showed that treating A549 cells with various concentrations of GA inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. In order to understand the mechanism by which GA inhibits cell viability, comparative proteomic analysis was applied. The changed proteins were identified by Western blot and siRNA methods. RESULTS Two-dimensional electrophoresis revealed changes that occurred to the cells when treated with or without GA. Four up-regulated protein spots were clearly identified as malate dehydrogenase (MDH), voltagedependent, anion-selective channel protein 1(VDAC1), calreticulin (CRT) and brain acid soluble protein 1(BASP1). VDAC1 in A549 cells was reconfirmed by western blot. Transfection with VDAC1 siRNA significantly increased cell viability after the treatment of GA. Further investigation showed that GA down regulated PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. These data strongly suggest that up-regulation of VDAC1 by GA may play an important role in GA-induced, inhibitory effects on A549 cell viability.
A clinician‐administered observation and corresponding caregiver interview capturing DSM‐5 sensory reactivity symptoms in children with ASD

Background: Sensory reactivity is a new criterion for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM‐5). However, there is no consensus on how to reliably measure sensory reactivity, particularly in minimally verbal individuals. The current study is an initial validation of the Sensory Assessment for Neurodevelopmental Disorders (SAND), a novel clinician‐administered observation and corresponding caregiver interview that captures sensory symptoms based on DSM‐5 criteria for ASD. Methods: Eighty children between the ages of 2 and 12 participated in this study; 44 children with ASD and 36 typically developing (TD) children. Sensory reactivity symptoms were measured using the SAND and the already validated Short Sensory Profile (SSP). Initial psychometric properties of the SAND were examined including reliability, validity, sensitivity and specificity. Results: Children with ASD showed significantly more sensory reactivity symptoms compared to TD children across sensory domains (visual, tactile, and auditory) and within sensory subtypes (hyperreactivity, hyporeactivity and seeking). The SAND showed strong internal consistency, inter‐rater reliability and test‐retest reliability, high sensitivity (95.5%) and specificity (91.7%), and strong convergent validity with the SSP. Significance: The SAND provides a novel method to characterize sensory reactivity symptoms based on DSM‐5 criteria for ASD. This is the first known sensory assessment that combines a clinician‐administered observation and caregiver interview to optimally capture sensory phenotypes characteristic of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. The SAND offers a beneficial new tool for both research and clinical purposes and has the potential to meaningfully enhance gold‐standard assessment of ASD. Autism Res 2017, 10: 1133–1140. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Connectionist Model for Bootstrap Learning of Syllabic Structure.

We report on a series of experiments with simple recurrent networks (SRNs) solving phoneme prediction in continuous phonemic data. The purpose of the experiments is to investigate whether the network output could function as a source for syllable boundary detection. We show that this is possible, using a generalisation of the network resembling the linguistic sonority principle. We argue that the primary generalisation of the network, that is, the fact that sonority varies in a hat-shaped way across phonemic strings, ending and starting at syllable boundaries, is an indication that sonority might be a major cue in discovering the essential building bricks of language when confronted with unsegmented running speech. The segment which is most directly related to sonority patterns, the syllable, has received considerable attention in psycholinguistics as being an element of natural language that is easily grasped by language learners. The phoneme prediction network presents a simulation of the necessary boot.
Haemodynamic profile and responsiveness to anandamide of TRPV1 receptor knock‐out mice

The endocannabinoid anandamide and cannabinoid (CB) receptors have been implicated in the hypotension in various forms of shock and in advanced liver cirrhosis. Anandamide also activates vanilloid TRPV1 receptors on sensory nerve terminals, triggering the release of calcitonin gene‐related peptide which elicits vasorelaxation in isolated blood vessels in vitro. However, the contribution of TRPV1 receptors to the in vivo hypotensive effect of anandamide is equivocal. We compared the cardiac performance of anaesthetized TRPV1 knockout (TRPV1−/−) mice and their wild‐type (TRPV1+/+) littermates and analysed in detail the haemodynamic effects of anandamide using the Millar pressure–volume conductance catheter system. Baseline cardiovascular parameters and systolic and diastolic function at different preloads were similar in TRPV1−/− and TRPV1+/+ mice. The predominant hypotensive response to bolus intravenous injections of anandamide and the associated decrease in cardiac contractility and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were similar in TRPV1+/+ and TRPV1−/− mice, as was the ability of the CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716 to completely block these effects. In TRPV1+/+ mice, this hypotensive response was preceded by a transient, profound drop in cardiac contractility and heart rate and an increase in TPR, followed by a brief pressor response, effects which were unaffected by SR141716 and were absent in TRPV1−/− mice. These results indicate that mice lacking TRPV1 receptors have a normal cardiovascular profile and their predominant cardiovascular depressor response to anandamide is mediated through CB1 receptors. The role of TRPV1 receptors is limited to the transient activation of the Bezold‐Jarisch reflex by very high initial plasma concentrations of anandamide.
Mixed Neurodevelopmental and Neurodegenerative Pathology in Nhe6-Null Mouse Model of Christianson Syndrome

Abstract Christianson syndrome (CS) is an X-linked disorder resulting from loss-of-function mutations in SLC9A6, which encodes the endosomal Na+/H+ exchanger 6 (NHE6). Symptoms include early developmental delay, seizures, intellectual disability, nonverbal status, autistic features, postnatal microcephaly, and progressive ataxia. Neuronal development is impaired in CS, involving defects in neuronal arborization and synaptogenesis, likely underlying diminished brain growth postnatally. In addition to neurodevelopmental defects, some reports have supported neurodegenerative pathology in CS with age. The objective of this study was to determine the nature of progressive changes in the postnatal brain in Nhe6-null mice. We examined the trajectories of brain growth and atrophy in mutant mice from birth until very old age (2 yr). We report trajectories of volume changes in the mutant that likely reflect both brain undergrowth as well as tissue loss. Reductions in volume are first apparent at 2 mo, particularly in the cerebellum, which demonstrates progressive loss of Purkinje cells (PCs). We report PC loss in two distinct Nhe6-null mouse models. More widespread reductions in tissue volumes, namely, in the hippocampus, striatum, and cortex, become apparent after 2 mo, largely reflecting delays in growth with more limited tissue losses with aging. Also, we identify pronounced glial responses, particularly in major fiber tracts such as the corpus callosum, where the density of activated astrocytes and microglia are substantially increased. The prominence of the glial response in axonal tracts suggests a primary axonopathy. Importantly, therefore, our data support both neurodevelopmental and degenerative mechanisms in the pathobiology of CS.
Deficits in Mental State Attributions in Individuals with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (Velo‐Cardio‐Facial Syndrome)

Velo‐cardio‐facial syndrome (VCFS; 22q11.2 deletion syndrome) results from a genetic mutation that increases risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We compared Theory of Mind (ToM) skills in 63 individuals with VCFS (25% with an ASD diagnosis) and 43 typically developing controls, and investigated the relationship of ToM to reciprocal social behavior. We administered a video‐based task to assess mentalizing at two sites University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University. The videos depicted interactions representing complex mental states (ToM condition), or simple movements (Random condition). Verbal descriptions of the videos were rated for Intentionality (i.e. mentalizing) and Appropriateness. Using Repeated Measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), we assessed the effects of VCFS and ASD on Intentionality and Appropriateness, and the relationship of mentalizing to Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) scores. Results indicated that individuals with VCFS overall had lower Intentionality and Appropriateness scores than controls for ToM but not for Random scenes. In the SUNY sample, individuals with VCFS, both with and without ASD, performed more poorly than controls on the ToM condition; however, in the UCLA sample, only individuals with VCFS without ASD performed significantly worse than controls on the ToM condition. Controlling for site and age, performance on the ToM condition was significantly correlated with SRS scores. Individuals with VCFS, regardless of an ASD diagnosis, showed impairments in the spontaneous attribution of mental states to abstract visual stimuli, which may underlie real‐life problems with social interactions. A better understanding of the social deficits in VCFS is essential for the development of targeted behavioral interventions. Autism Res 2012, 5: 407–418. © 2012 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Language of Dementia Science and the Science of Dementia Language

Language is a balance of precision and flexibility, and scientific dialogue across disciplines faces challenges in how terms are used and how phenomena, including language itself, are described and explained. Taking dementia as its focus, this article offers linguistic perspectives on causes of inherent difficulty with terminological exactness. Attention is paid to the interface between the positivist imperatives of clinical evaluation and the relativist interpretations that help make sense of uses of terms across contexts. Two types of reason are examined for why the language produced by people with dementia is sometimes hard to characterize and predict: the theoretical challenges inherent in analyzing the language of dementia and the social variables that affect how that language is manifested. The article concludes with the vision of linguistic research using corpus-based discourse analysis to underpin and catalyze communication-bridging activities in interdisciplinary projects, within and beyond the dementia context.
Pharmacokinetics of Amodiaquine and Desethylamodiaquine in Pregnant and Postpartum Women with Plasmodium vivax Malaria

ABSTRACT In order to study the pharmacokinetic properties of amodiaquine and desethylamodiaquine during pregnancy, 24 pregnant women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and with Plasmodium vivax malaria were treated with amodiaquine (10 mg/kg of body weight/day) for 3 days. The same women were studied again at 3 months postpartum. Plasma was analyzed for amodiaquine and desethylamodiaquine by use of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. Individual concentration-time data were evaluated using noncompartmental analysis. There were no clinically relevant differences in the pharmacokinetics of amodiaquine and desethylamodiaquine between pregnant (n = 24) and postpartum (n = 18) women. The results suggest that the current amodiaquine dosing regimen is adequate for the treatment of P. vivax infections during pregnancy.
Bacterial Reduction after Gutta-Percha Removal with Single vs. Multiple Instrument Systems

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a reciprocating single-instrument system (Reciproc-REC) compared with combined continuously rotating multiple-instrument systems [D-Race (DR) and BioRace (BR)] in reducing Enterococcus faecalis (E.f.) after gutta-percha removal. Methods and Materials: Forty-six extracted human maxillary incisors were prepared and contaminated with E.f. strain (ATCC 29212) for 30 days. The samples were obturated and randomly divided into two experimental groups for gutta-percha removal (n=23): a REC group (R50) and a DR/BR group (DR1, DR2 and BR6). A standardized irrigation with 0.9% saline solution was performed. Root canal samples were taken with paper points before (S1) and after (S2) the removal of gutta-percha to establish bacterial quantification by culture. The time required for gutta-percha removal was also recorded. Positive and negative control groups (n=6) were used to test bacterial viability and control asepsis, respectively. Data were analysed using t-Student and one-way ANOVA tests (5% margin of error). Results: The mean percentage of bacterial reduction was significantly higher in DR/BR group (84.2%) than in REC group (72.3%) (P<0.05). The mean time for obturation removal was 74.00 sec in REC group and 107.53 sec in DR/BR group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The combined continuously rotating multiple-instrument system was more effective in reducing bacteria after the removal of gutta-percha than the single-instrument system. None of the tested systems was able to completely eliminate root canal infection after gutta-percha removal. Thus, additional techniques should be considered.
How inflammation modulates central nervous system vessel activation and provides targets for intervention—a personal perspective

I here describe a line of research that grew out of studies of spinal cord–damaging decompression sickness, focused on the blood–endothelial interface, that was influenced by the local Shwartzman phenomenon, addressed innate immune and inflammatory mechanisms, and ultimately arrived at mucosal tolerance approaches to prevent stroke. Intranasal instillation of E‐selectin is under development as a novel means of targeting immunomodulation to activating blood vessels within the vascular tree supplying the brain. The goal of this form of focused immunomodulation is to prevent recurrent strokes in patients that have previously suffered transient ischemic attacks or strokes.