Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic practices for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a national survey of primary care physicians.

BACKGROUND The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) clinical practice guideline emphasizes the appropriate diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in school-aged children. Although previous studies have shown wide variation in diagnostic practices for ADHD, few recent studies have examined nationally representative samples. OBJECTIVE To describe practice patterns of primary care physicians evaluating school-aged children for ADHD in the late 1990s and compare the patterns with subsequently published AAP guidelines. METHODS We surveyed a national sample of 2000 primary care pediatricians and family physicians. Of the 1076 returned surveys, 861 (43%) met data quality criteria and were included in the analysis. We tabulated frequencies for each item and used a chi2 test to examine relationships between survey items and physician characteristics. RESULTS Primary care physicians most commonly reported conducting 1-2 new evaluations for ADHD per month, the majority spending 15-45 minutes and at least 2 office visits to confirm a diagnosis of ADHD. Although 58% of physicians used formal diagnostic criteria, only 28% reported using criteria according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Eighty-three percent reported using any teacher or school information such as report cards and rating scales. Approximately 70% used ADHD-specific rating scales, and 60% used global behavior scales. A quarter of respondents obtained laboratory tests such as hematocrit, lead, and thyroid function profile. Most physicians reported routinely assessing for coexisting conditions, ranging from 74% for tic disorders to 91% for depression and conduct disorder. CONCLUSIONS Before the publication of AAP guidelines, primary care physicians' evaluation practices for school-aged children with ADHD varied widely, especially with respect to use of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders diagnostic criteria and inappropriate diagnostic tests.
Immunological changes among farmers exposed to phenoxy herbicides: preliminary observations.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate short term immunological changes after agricultural exposure to commercial formulations of chlorophenoxy herbicides. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 10 farmers within seven days before exposure, one to 12 days after exposure, and again 50 to 70 days after exposure. Whole blood was used to count lymphocyte subsets with monoclonal antibodies. Peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) cells were used to measure natural killer (NK) cell activity and lymphocyte response to mitogenic stimulations. Values before exposure were used as reference. RESULTS: In comparison with concentrations before exposure, a significant reduction was found one to 12 days after exposure in the following variables (P < 0.05): circulating helper (CD4) and suppressor T cells (CD8), CD8 dim, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), natural killer cells (NK), and CD8 cells expressing the surface antigens HLA-DR (CD8-DR), and lymphoproliferative response to mitogen stimulations. All immunological values found 50-70 days after exposure were comparable with concentrations before exposure, but mitogenic proliferative responses of lymphocytes were still significantly decreased. CONCLUSIONS: According to our data agricultural exposure to commercial 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) formulations may exert short term immunosuppressive effects. Further studies should clarify whether the immunological changes found may have health implications and can specifically contribute to cancer aetiology.
Harris feature vector descriptor

This paper defines a new image feature called Harris feature vector, which is able to describe the image gradient distribution in an effective way. By computing the mean and the standard deviation of the Harris feature vector in a local image region, novel descriptors are constructed for feature matching which are invariable to image rigid transformation and linear intensity change. Experimental evidence suggests that the novel descriptor for point matching has a good adaptability to slight view point changing, JPEG compression and nonlinear changing of intensity, besides, the descriptor for line matching performs well too.
Repeated Sprint and Change-of-Direction Abilities in Soccer Players: Effects of Age Group

Abstract Dellal, A and Wong, DP. Repeated sprint and change-of-direction abilities in soccer players: effects of age group. J Strength Cond Res 27(9): 2504–2508, 2013—The purpose of the present study was to compare the performance in repeated sprint ability (RSA) and repeated changes-of-direction (RCOD) among elite soccer players with different age categories. Forty-nine elite soccer players from the same club and from different age categories (Pro2: n = 8, U19: n = 18, U17: n = 13, and U15: n = 10) participated in this study. Each player was tested in both a RSA straight-line sprints (10 × 20 m with active recovery) and a RCOD test including four 100° COD at every 4 m (10 × 20 m with active recovery). The average time (AT), fastest time (FT), total time (TT), percentage of decrement score (%Dec), and RSA/RCOD index were recorded and calculated during all the RSA and RCOD tests. Results showed significant age group effects on RSA and RCOD parameters (p < 0.01) and RSA/RCOD index parameters (p < 0.01). Compared with other groups, U15 has significant (p < 0.05) higher values in RSA-AT, RSA-FT, RSA-TT, RCOD-AT, RCOD-FT, RCOD-TT, index-AT, index-FT, and index-TT. However, the trend of performance time and RSA/RCOD index was always similar (i.e., U15 > U17 > U19 > Pro2; Pro2 > U19 > U17 > U15) showing an age dependant for RSA and RCOD performance. The %Dec in RSA of U15 and U17 was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than U19 and Pro2, whereas the %Dec in RCOD of U15 was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than U19. In conclusion, the present study showed that the RSA and RCOD are age dependent, and therefore, coaches should plan a specific program differentiating the RSA and RCOD, while the individualized training could begin in U17.
Linux Device Driver Emulation in Mach

We describe the design and performance of code added to the Mach microkernel (Mach 4.0, version UK02p21) that permits one to build a Mach kernel that includes unmodified Linux device drivers. We have written emulation code to support all Linux 1.3. 35 network and SCSI drivers for the ISA and PCI I/O buses. Emulation increases latency, but very little. The degree depends on both device and operation, and varies from 2 microseconds for receiving small (60 byte) network packets up to 197 microseconds for writing 16KB to an ISA SCSI device.
Motor development and motor resonance difficulties in autism: relevance to early intervention for language and communication skills

Research suggests that a sub-set of children with autism experience notable difficulties and delays in motor skills development, and that a large percentage of children with autism experience deficits in motor resonance. These motor-related deficiencies, which evidence suggests are present from a very early age, are likely to negatively affect social-communicative and language development in this population. Here, we review evidence for delayed, impaired, and atypical motor development in infants and children with autism. We then carefully review and examine the current language and communication-based intervention research that is relevant to motor and motor resonance (i.e., neural “mirroring” mechanisms activated when we observe the actions of others) deficits in children with autism. Finally, we describe research needs and future directions and developments for early interventions aimed at addressing the speech/language and social-communication development difficulties in autism from a motor-related perspective.
'Tako-Tsubo' transient ventricular dysfunction: a case report.

During admission for investigation of dysphagia, an 82-year-old woman suddenly complained of dyspnea, which was followed by cardiogenic shock. Her symptoms, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram and laboratory data were compatible with an extensive acute anterior myocardial infarction. Emergency cardiac catheterization showed no atheromatous narrowing in any coronary artery. However, the contractions of the left and right ventricles were diffusely and severely impaired, except for some hyperkinesis of the basal area. The asynergy, as well as the abnormalities on the ECG, improved almost to normal by the 35th hospital day. An endomyocardial biopsy from the right ventricle during the acute phase showed atypical myocardial damage with proliferation of fine collagen fibers and small round-cell infiltration including polymorphologic leukocytes. This type of transient cardiac disorder has recently been described in Japan, and is called 'Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy' because of the characteristic appearance of the left ventricular asynergy. In the present case, ventricular asynergy was not limited to the left ventricle, but was also present in the right ventricle.
Late IL‐3–induced phenotypic and functional alterations in human basophils require continuous IL‐3 receptor signaling

Cytokines of the GM‐CSF family signal via the same receptor subunit (βc) and, thus, have overlapping effects on cells that express all cytokine‐specific α‐chains (IL‐3Rα, IL‐5Rα, GM‐CSFRα), such as human basophils, whose rapid effector functions are similarly enhanced by IL‐3, IL‐5, and GM‐CSF. However, previous work has shown that IL‐3, but not IL‐5 and GM‐CSF, supports and induces allergy‐associated functions of human basophils at later time points. This includes induction of Th2 cytokine and chemokine secretion, high‐affinity IgE receptor–independent leukotriene C4 (LTC4) formation, expression of enzymes (e.g., RALDH2, granzyme B), and kinases (e.g., Pim1). Here, we address the question of why IL‐3, but not IL‐5 or GM‐CSF, is capable of inducing these late responses in human basophils, and we investigate the mechanism that underlies the unique regulatory capacity of IL‐3. We find that IL‐3, IL‐5, and GM‐CSF rapidly activate the same canonical signaling cascades in a qualitatively identical manner with comparable strength, but we identify signaling duration as major discriminating factor. IL‐5 and GM‐CSF rapidly down‐regulate surface levels of their receptors within minutes, concomitant with a rapid decay in signaling molecule activation and time‐dependent loss of ability of these cytokines to prime basophils for functional responses. By contrast, IL‐3 hardly down‐regulates the α‐chain of its receptor without depleting the common β‐chain, which enables extraordinarily sustained signaling events, predominantly the activation of Stat5. Of interest, acute IL‐3 signaling is not sufficient to induce persistent phenotypical and functional changes in human basophils. Induction of these functional late responses depends on continuous IL‐3 receptor activation and signaling.
Dexmedetomidine is effective for monitored anesthesia care in outpatients undergoing cataract surgery

Background Dexmedetomidine has a sedative analgesic property without respiratory depression. This study evaluated the efficacy of dexmedetomidine as an appropriate sedative drug for monitored anesthesia care (MAC) in outpatients undergoing cataract surgery on both eyes compared with combination of propofol and alfentanil. Methods Thirty-one eligible patients were randomly divided into two groups on the first operation day. Dexmedetomidine was administered in group D at 0.6 µg/kg/h, and propofol and alfentanil was infused concomitantly in group P at a rate of 2 mg/kg/h and 20 µg/kg/h, respectively. Sedation was titrated at Ramsay sedation score 3. Iowa satisfaction with anesthesia scale (ISAS) of the patients was evaluated postoperatively. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR), and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded throughout the surgery. For the second operation, the group assignments were exchanged. Results Postoperative ISAS was 50.3 (6.2) in group D and 42.7 (8.7) in group P, which was statistically significant (P < 0.001). SBP was significantly lower in group D compared with group P from the beginning of the operation. HR, RR, and SpO2 were comparable between the two groups. There were 8 cases (25.8%) of hypertension in group P, and 1 case (3.2%) in group D (P < 0.05). In contrast, 1 case (3.2%) of hypotension and 1 case (3.2%) of bradycardia occurred in group D. Conclusions Compared with the combined use of propofol and alfentanil, dexmedetomidine could be used appropriately for MAC in cataract surgery with better satisfaction from the patients and a more stable cardiovascular state.
How Structural and Physicochemical Determinants Shape Sequence Constraints in a Functional Enzyme

The need for interfacing structural biology and biophysics to molecular evolution is being increasingly recognized. One part of the big problem is to understand how physics and chemistry shape the sequence space available to functional proteins, while satisfying the needs of biology. Here we present a quantitative, structure-based analysis of a high-resolution map describing the tolerance to all substitutions in all positions of a functional enzyme, namely a TEM lactamase previously studied through deep sequencing of mutants growing in competition experiments with selection against ampicillin. Substitutions are rarely observed within 7 Å of the active site, a stringency that is relaxed slowly and extends up to 15–20 Å, with buried residues being especially sensitive. Substitution patterns in over one third of the residues can be quantitatively modeled by monotonic dependencies on amino acid descriptors and predictions of changes in folding stability. Amino acid volume and steric hindrance shape constraints on the protein core; hydrophobicity and solubility shape constraints on hydrophobic clusters underneath the surface, and on salt bridges and polar networks at the protein surface together with charge and hydrogen bonding capacity. Amino acid solubility, flexibility and conformational descriptors also provide additional constraints at many locations. These findings provide fundamental insights into the chemistry underlying protein evolution and design, by quantitating links between sequence and different protein traits, illuminating subtle and unexpected sequence-trait relationships and pinpointing what traits are sacrificed upon gain-of-function mutation.
THE IMPACT OF CHILDREN ON WAGES, JOB TENURE, AND THE DIVISION OF HOUSEHOLD LABOUR*

In the absence of typical exclusion restrictions, covariance restrictions are used to obtain estimates of the effects of children on household behaviour. Using data from the PSID on two age samples, children are found to have a significant impact on many household decisions. However, while in the young sample exogenous fertility cannot be rejected, in the older sample this is not the case. Finally, if the average household had one less child, the male-female wage differential would decrease by 9.5 %.
Effects of insulin in vivo and in vitro on amino acid transport into cells from the R3230AC mammary adenocarcinoma and their relationship to tumor growth.

Abstract The R3230AC mammary carcinoma grows faster in diabetic rats; tumor cells from diabetic rats demonstrate increased proline transport and incorporation into proteins compared to tumor cells obtained from intact rats. Tumor cells from insulin-treated diabetic rats showed a decreased rate of proline transport and a lower amount of proline incorporation, both of which were comparable to that in cells from intact rats. The effects of insulin in vivo were time and dose related. The rate of α-aminoisobutyric acid entry, but not phenylalanine or leucine, was also higher in tumor cells from diabetic rats than in those from intact rats. Kinetic analysis of α-aminoisobutyric acid uptake indicated that α-aminoisobutyric acid was transported by two carriers. The increase in α-aminoisobutyrate uptake in the absence of insulin was due to an increase (∼170%) in the V max of the Na + -dependent component; no difference in K m was observed. The Na + -independent component of α-aminoisobutyric acid uptake was not significantly increased in cells from diabetic rats. No differences were observed in 3- O -methylglucose transport, 14 CO 2 production from uniformly labeled glucose, or incorporation of labeled glucose into fatty acids for cells from intact or diabetic rats. In contrast, insulin in vitro increased proline transport and its incorporation in cells from diabetic but not from intact rats. The response of cells from insulin-treated diabetic animals was blunted. These responses to insulin in vitro were shown to be dose related and occurred over the physiological range for insulin in vivo . Thus, the enhanced proline transport and incorporation seen in cells from diabetic rats may contribute to the enhanced tumor growth; administration of insulin in vivo reversed this effect on proline and reduced tumor growth. We suggest that these paradoxical effects of insulin in vivo versus those in vitro on proline transport may be due to the presence of other hormones in vivo , which modulate the effects of insulin.
Analysis of composition of microbiomes: a novel method for studying microbial composition

Background Understanding the factors regulating our microbiota is important but requires appropriate statistical methodology. When comparing two or more populations most existing approaches either discount the underlying compositional structure in the microbiome data or use probability models such as the multinomial and Dirichlet-multinomial distributions, which may impose a correlation structure not suitable for microbiome data. Objective To develop a methodology that accounts for compositional constraints to reduce false discoveries in detecting differentially abundant taxa at an ecosystem level, while maintaining high statistical power. Methods We introduced a novel statistical framework called analysis of composition of microbiomes (ANCOM). ANCOM accounts for the underlying structure in the data and can be used for comparing the composition of microbiomes in two or more populations. ANCOM makes no distributional assumptions and can be implemented in a linear model framework to adjust for covariates as well as model longitudinal data. ANCOM also scales well to compare samples involving thousands of taxa. Results We compared the performance of ANCOM to the standard t-test and a recently published methodology called Zero Inflated Gaussian (ZIG) methodology (1) for drawing inferences on the mean taxa abundance in two or more populations. ANCOM controlled the false discovery rate (FDR) at the desired nominal level while also improving power, whereas the t-test and ZIG had inflated FDRs, in some instances as high as 68% for the t-test and 60% for ZIG. We illustrate the performance of ANCOM using two publicly available microbial datasets in the human gut, demonstrating its general applicability to testing hypotheses about compositional differences in microbial communities. Conclusion Accounting for compositionality using log-ratio analysis results in significantly improved inference in microbiota survey data.
Beliefs about infant regulation, early infant behaviors and maternal postnatal depressive symptoms.

BACKGROUND Young infants may have irregular sleeping and feeding patterns. Such regulation difficulties are known correlates of maternal depressive symptoms. Parental beliefs about their role in regulating infant behaviors also may play a role. We investigated the association of depressive symptoms with infant feeding/sleeping behaviors, parent regulation beliefs, and the interaction of the two. METHOD In 2006, 272 mothers of infants aged up to 24 weeks completed a questionnaire about infant behavior and regulation beliefs. Participants were recruited from general medical practices and child health clinics in Brisbane, Australia. Depressive symptomology was measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Other measures were adapted from the ALSPAC study. RESULTS Regression analyses were run controlling for partner support, other support, life events, and a range of demographic variables. Maternal depressive symptoms were associated with infant sleeping and feeding problems but not regulation beliefs. The most important infant predictor was sleep behaviors with feeding behaviors accounting for little additional variance. An interaction between regulation beliefs and sleep behaviors was found. Mothers with high regulation beliefs were more susceptible to postnatal depressive symptoms when infant sleep behaviors were problematic. CONCLUSION Mothers of young infants who expect greater control are more susceptible to depressive symptoms when their infant presents challenging sleep behavior.
Frame-Semantic Role Labeling with Heterogeneous Annotations

We consider the task of identifying and labeling the semantic arguments of a predicate that evokes a FrameNet frame. This task is challenging because there are only a few thousand fully annotated sentences for supervised training. Our approach augments an existing model with features derived from FrameNet and PropBank and with partially annotated exemplars from FrameNet. We observe a 4% absolute increase in F1 versus the original model.
Ion Desorption from DNA Components Irradiated with 0.5 keV Ultrasoft X-Ray Photons

Abstract Fujii, K. , Akamatsu, K. and Yokoya, A. Ion Desorption from DNA Components by Ultrasoft X-Ray Photons. Radiat. Res. 161, 435–441 (2004). Positive ion desorption from thin films of DNA components, 2-deoxy-d-ribose, thymine, thymidine (dThd), and thymidine 5′-monophosphate (dTMP) was investigated in the oxygen K- shell edge excitation region using synchrotron ultrasoft X rays (538 eV). A large number of molecular fragments, H+, CHx+, C2Hx+, CO+, CHxO+, C3Hx+, C2HxO+ and C3HxO+ (x = 1, 2 and 3), were observed as desorbed ions from 2-deoxy-d-ribose. Some of these ions are related to simultaneous bond scission at particular C–C and C–O (or C–C) bonds in the furanose ring structure in the 2-deoxy-d-ribose molecule, indicating that the impact of photons on the oxygen atom and the impact of ejected secondary electrons (e.g. Auger electrons) cause an intense destruction of the furanose ring structure. In thymine thin films, H+, CHx+, CO+, CHxO+, C2HxN+ and CHxNO+ (x = 1, 2 and 3) fragments were observed. The yields of these ions were smaller than the yields from 2-deoxy-d-ribose. The desorption of CH3+ from thymine might induce a molecular conversion from thymine to uracil. The mass patterns of dThd and dTMP, and especially that of dTMP, were similar to that of 2-deoxy-d-ribose, indicating that a number of ions were generated at the sugar site, even in the nucleotide molecule. It is therefore predicted that the sugar moiety is more fragile than the thymine base.