Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigating the Accuracy of a Novel Telehealth Diagnostic Approach for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Research indicates that a substantial amount of time elapses between parents’ first concerns about their child’s development and a formal diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Telehealth presents an opportunity to expedite the diagnostic process. This project compared a novel telehealth diagnostic approach that utilizes clinically guided in-home video recordings to the gold standard in-person diagnostic assessment. Participants included 40 families seeking an ASD evaluation for their child and 11 families of typically developing children. Children were between the ages of 18 months and 6 years 11 months; mean adaptive behavior composite = 75.47 (SD = 15.94). All parent participants spoke English fluently. Families completed the Naturalistic Observation Diagnostic Assessment (NODA) for ASD, which was compared to an in-person assessment (IPA). Agreement between the 2 methods, as well as sensitivity, specificity, and interrater reliability, were calculated for the full sample and the subsample of families seeking an ASD evaluation. Diagnostic agreement between NODA and the IPA was 88.2% (&kgr; = 0.75) in the full sample and 85% (&kgr; = 0.58) in the subsample. Sensitivity was 84.9% in both, whereas specificity was 94.4% in the full sample and 85.7% in the subsample. Kappa coefficients for interrater reliability indicated 85% to 90% accuracy between raters. NODA utilizes telehealth technology for families to share information with professionals and provides a method to inform clinical judgment for a diagnosis of ASD. Due to the high level of agreement with the IPA in this sample, NODA has potential to improve the efficiency of the diagnostic process for ASD.
A Method for Estimating the Dynamic Moduli of Cement Paste-Aggregate Interfacial Zones in Mortar

The objective of this paper is to propose a method to estimate the average values of the dynamic modulus of elasticity and the dynamic shear modulus of cement paste-aggregate interfacial zones in mortar by applying the Logarithmic Mixture Rule (LMR). Both portland cement mortars (PC mortars) and portland cement mortars with silica fume (SF mortars) are investigated and compared, The influence of silica fume on the dynamic moduli of interfacial zone is also examined. Results indicate that for the specific ingredients and mix design used, the dynamic modulus of elasticity of interfacial zone falls between 0.4 and 2.0 (×10 6 psi) for PC mortar and 1.2 to 2.2 (× 10 6 psi) for SF mortar. These values are lower than the values obtained for PC mortar (4.2 ×10 6 psi), PC paste (2.7 ×10 6 psi), SF mortar (4.4 ×10 6 psi), and SF paste (2.5 × 10 6 psi).
Contextual Cueing Improves Attentional Guidance, Even When Guidance Is Supposedly Optimal

Visual search through previously encountered contexts typically produces reduced reaction times compared with search through novel contexts. This contextual cueing benefit is well established, but there is debate regarding its underlying mechanisms. Eye-tracking studies have consistently shown reduced number of fixations with repetition, supporting improvements in attentional guidance as the source of contextual cueing. However, contextual cueing benefits have been shown in conditions in which attentional guidance should already be optimal—namely, when attention is captured to the target location by an abrupt onset, or under pop-out conditions. These results have been used to argue for a response-related account of contextual cueing. Here, we combine eye tracking with response time to examine the mechanisms behind contextual cueing in spatially cued and pop-out conditions. Three experiments find consistent response time benefits with repetition, which appear to be driven almost entirely by a reduction in number of fixations, supporting improved attentional guidance as the mechanism behind contextual cueing. No differences were observed in the time between fixating the target and responding—our proxy for response related processes. Furthermore, the correlation between contextual cueing magnitude and the reduction in number of fixations on repeated contexts approaches 1. These results argue strongly that attentional guidance is facilitated by familiar search contexts, even when guidance is near-optimal.
Detecting alcohol problems in older adults: can we do better?

Alcohol problems in older adults aged 65 years or over, in the United Kingdom and internationally, have risen steadily over the past decade. These are a common but underdiagnosed and under-recognized problem. A UK survey in 2008 found that 21% of men and 10% of women aged 65 years and over reported drinking more than four and three units of alcohol respectively on at least one day per week (National Health Service Information Centre, 2010). A recent Royal College of Psychiatrists Report (2011) cited research that showed there has been a rise in the number drinking over weekly recommended limits by 60% in men and 100% in women between 1990 and 2006 with the number of people aged over 65 years requiring treatment for a substance misuse problem, set to more than double between 2001 and 2020, all of which points to a significant public health problem both now and in the future (National Health Service Information Centre, 2009).
The Informational Value of Social Tagging Networks

Social tagging is a new way to share and categorize online content that enables users to express their thoughts, perceptions, and feelings with respect to diverse concepts. In social tagging, content is connected through user-generated keywords—“tags”—and is readily searchable through these tags. The rich associative information that social tagging provides marketers new opportunities to infer brand associative networks. This article investigates how the information contained in social tags can act as a proxy measure for brand performance and can predict the financial valuation of a firm. Using data collected from a social tagging and bookmarking website, Delicious, the authors examine social tagging data for 44 firms across 14 markets. After controlling for accounting metrics, media citations, and other user-generated content, they find that social tag–based brand management metrics capturing brand familiarity, favorability of associations, and competitive overlaps of brand associations can explain unanticipated stock returns. In addition, they find that in managing brand equity, it is more important for strong brands to enhance category dominance, whereas it is more critical for weak brands to enhance connectedness. These findings suggest a new way for practitioners to track, measure, and manage intangible brand equity; proactively improve brand performance; and influence a firm's financial performance.
Effect of dietary fat supplementation on the carcass composition of three genetic lines of broilers.

Three genetic lines of broilers - a commercial line (Ross X Arbor-Acres), and lines selected for low abdominal fat (lean line), and high abdominal fat (fat line) were fed one of two isocaloric and isonitrogenous purified diets differing in total fat content (2 vs. 9%). Carcass composition (crude protein, ether-extract, ash, and total dry matter content) was determined on four broilers/line/diet at 21 days of age and at 1 kg body weight. Carcass protein and ether-extract were not significantly (P less than .05) affected by diet at 21 days of age or at 1 kg weight. Carcass ash was significantly (P less than .01) affected by diet at 21 days of age but not at 1 kg body weight. Genetic line of broiler significantly (P less than .05) affected carcass protein, ether-extract, and ash at 21 days of age and at 1 kg body weight. Lean line broilers had a significantly (P less than .05) higher percentage of carcass protein and a significantly (P less than .05) lower percentage of carcass ether-extract than the fat line or commercial broilers.
Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells promote cell proliferation of multiple myeloma through inhibiting T cell immune responses via PD-1/PD-L1 pathway

ABSTRACT Objectives: This study aims to explore the effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on multiple myeloma (MM) development and the underlying mechanism. Materials and Methods: BMSCs from C57BL/6 J mice were isolated and the third passage was used for subsequent experiments. Additionally, a series of in vitro transwell coculture assays were performed to explore the effects of BMSCs on the proliferation of MM cells 5TGM1 and CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, a 5TGM1-induced MM mice model was established. Moreover, PD-L1 shRNA was transfected into BMSCs to investigate whether PD-1/PD-L1 pathway involved in BMSCs-mediated regulation of T cells and MM growth. Results: Data revealed that BMSCs significantly promoted 5TGM1 proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, BMSCs administration exerted stimulatory effects on MM development in terms of shortening the mouse survival rate, promoting tumor growth, and enhancing inflammatory infiltration in the MM model mice. Moreover, BMSCs decreased the percentage of Th1 and Th17 cells, whereas increased that of Th2 and Treg cells. Their corresponding cytokines of these T cell subsets showed similar alteration in the presence of BMSCs. Additionally, BMSCs significantly suppressed CD4+ T cell proliferation. We also found that PD-L1 shRNA inhibited 5TGM1 proliferation likely through activation of CD4+ T cells. Further in vivo experiments confirmed that PD-L1 inhibition attenuated BMSCs-induced MM growth, inflammation infiltration and imbalance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg. Conclusion: In summary, our findings demonstrated that BMSCs promoted cell proliferation of MM through inhibiting T cell immune responses via PD-1/PD-L1 pathway.
Genetic and biochemical interactions between the bacterial replication initiator DnaA and the nucleoid‐associated protein Rok in Bacillus subtilis

We identified interactions between the conserved bacterial replication initiator and transcription factor DnaA and the nucleoid‐associated protein Rok of Bacillus subtilis. DnaA binds directly to clusters of DnaA boxes at the origin of replication and elsewhere, including the promoters of several DnaA‐regulated genes. Rok, an analog of H‐NS from gamma‐proteobacteria that affects chromosome architecture and of Lsr2 from Mycobacteria, binds A+T‐rich sequences throughout the genome and represses expression of many genes. Using crosslinking and immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing (ChIP‐seq), we found that DnaA was associated with eight previously identified regions containing clusters of DnaA boxes, plus 36 additional regions that were also bound by Rok. Association of DnaA with these additional regions appeared to be indirect as it was dependent on Rok and independent of the DNA‐binding domain of DnaA. Gene expression and mutant analyses support a model in which DnaA and Rok cooperate to repress transcription of yxaJ, the yybNM operon and the sunA‐bdbB operon. Our results indicate that DnaA modulates the activity of Rok. We postulate that this interaction might affect nucleoid architecture. Furthermore, DnaA might interact similarly with Rok analogues in other organisms.
Accounting for non-genetic factors by low-rank representation and sparse regression for eQTL mapping

MOTIVATION Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) studies investigate how gene expression levels are affected by DNA variants. A major challenge in inferring eQTL is that a number of factors, such as unobserved covariates, experimental artifacts and unknown environmental perturbations, may confound the observed expression levels. This may both mask real associations and lead to spurious association findings. RESULTS In this article, we introduce a LOw-Rank representation to account for confounding factors and make use of Sparse regression for eQTL mapping (LORS). We integrate the low-rank representation and sparse regression into a unified framework, in which single-nucleotide polymorphisms and gene probes can be jointly analyzed. Given the two model parameters, our formulation is a convex optimization problem. We have developed an efficient algorithm to solve this problem and its convergence is guaranteed. We demonstrate its ability to account for non-genetic effects using simulation, and then apply it to two independent real datasets. Our results indicate that LORS is an effective tool to account for non-genetic effects. First, our detected associations show higher consistency between studies than recently proposed methods. Second, we have identified some new hotspots that can not be identified without accounting for non-genetic effects. AVAILABILITY The software is available at: http://bioinformatics.med.yale.edu/software.aspx. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Safety and Tolerability of Ixekizumab: Integrated Analysis of Injection-Site Reactions from 11 Clinical Trials.

BACKGROUND: Injection-site reactions (ISRs) are reported with biologic therapies. The objective of this study was to comprehensively characterize ISRs among moderate-to-severe psoriasis patients treated with ixekizumab, a high-affinity monoclonal antibody that selectively targets interleukin (IL)-17A. METHODS: ISRs are presented from UNCOVER-1, UNCOVER-2, and UNCOVER-3 (12 weeks) and all ixekizumab-exposed patients in 11 controlled and uncontrolled trials (156 weeks). RESULTS: At week 12, reported ISR frequency with 80 mg ixekizumab every 2 weeks (IXE Q2W, 16.8%) was comparable with etanercept twice weekly (16.4%); both were significantly higher than placebo (3.3%). With IXE Q2W, ISRs were mild (12.3%), moderate (3.9%), or severe (0.7%), typically reported in the first 2 weeks (median onset, 6.6 days), and most commonly characterized as nonspecified, erythema, and pain. Generally, erythema onset was delayed, whereas pain occurred around drug administration. Discontinuation from ixekizumab due to ISRs (0.4%) occurred in the first 12 weeks. After 2 weeks, ISR frequency decreased and remained stable (≤4.2%) through week 156. No ISR-related serious adverse events were reported in ixekizumab-treated patients. ISR data were solicited if patients reported injection-associated events. Since nonspecified ISR was the most commonly reported term, specific types might be underreported. CONCLUSIONS: ISRs have been reported with ixekizumab during clinical trials. These reactions are typically tolerable, manageable, and decrease over time. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01474512 (UNCOVER-1); NCT01597245 (UNCOVER-2); NCT01646177 (UNCOVER-3); NCT01777191 (UNCOVER-A); NCT01624233 (UNCOVER-J); NCT01107457 (I1F-MC-RHAJ); NCT02561806 (I1F-MC-RHBS); NCT02387801 (I1F-US-RHBO);NCT02513550 (I1F-MC-RHBP); NCT02634801 (I1F-EW-RHBZ) J Drugs Dermatol. 2018;17(2):200-206. THIS ARTICLE HAD BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO ACCESS THE FULL TEXT OF THIS ARTICLE WITHOUT LOGGING IN. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PLEASE CONTACT THE PUBLISHER WITH ANY QUESTIONS.
Hummingbirds can fuel expensive hovering flight completely with either exogenous glucose or fructose

Summary 1. Hummingbirds have specialized on a diet consisting almost exclusively of a mixture of sucrose, glucose and fructose found in floral nectar. Previous studies have shown that hummingbirds can fuel energetically expensive hovering flight almost exclusively using recently ingested sucrose. However, the relative capacities for the direct utilization of glucose and fructose by hovering hummingbirds remain unknown. 2. 13 C-enriched solutions of glucose and fructose were fed to ruby-throated hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) separately. Along with simultaneous measurements of gas exchange during hovering we collected exhaled breath samples using feeder-mask respirometry and analysed these to determine the isotopic signatures of exhaled carbon dioxide. We found that hovering hummingbirds transition from exclusively oxidizing endogenous fatty acids when fasted, to oxidizing newly ingested carbohydrates when given access to either glucose or fructose solutions. We then switched hummingbirds to the respective unlabelled solutions of glucose or fructose to estimate carbohydrate turnover kinetics. 3. During the period of availability of enriched solutions, the percentage of metabolism supported by exogenous sugar increased from 0% to near 100% in some individuals. On average, hummingbirds fuelled 81% and 88% of their metabolism during hovering flight with exogenous glucose and fructose, respectively. 4. The amount of energy ingested, fractional turnover of ingested sugars in the pool of actively metabolized substrates, amount oxidized, energy expended and proportion of hovering metabolism supported by each hexose were all similar between glucose and fructose. 5. By foraging frequently and fuelling hovering flight directly with ingested monosaccharides hummingbirds avoid the energetic tax associated with the cost of synthesis of fats from these sugars prior to their oxidation. Remarkably, hovering hummingbirds are able to utilize fructose and glucose equally, a physiological feat which no mammals are thought to match, and one that suggests novel physiological capacities for the oxidation of fructose by active muscle tissues in hummingbirds. The data presented here indicate hummingbirds enhance net energy intake though specialization of diet, behaviour, and, uniquely, metabolic physiology.
Rebuttal from Paula Rodriguez‐Miguelez, Melissa L. Erickson, Kevin K. McCully and Ryan A. Harris

We read with great interest the opposing view presented by Hulzebos et al. (2017), which provides evidence that skeletal muscle oxidative capacity is preserved in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). It is clear that both of our positions acknowledge the strong importance of understanding how skeletal muscle function contributes to exercise intolerance in patients with CF. Nonetheless, Hulzebos and colleagues (2017) defend the viewpoint that a reduction in muscle mass, not muscle function, is the underlying mechanism of exercise intolerance in patients with CF. Patients with CF spend less time performing moderate and/or vigorous physical activities compared to healthy controls, even during periods of enhanced wellbeing (Troosters et al. 2009; Ward et al. 2013). It is therefore logical to consider that physical inactivity can contribute to quantitative impairments of skeletal muscle (i.e. muscle deconditioning and smaller muscle mass), which can result in exercise intolerance (de Meer et al. 1999). However, reductions in muscle strength and peak power during exercise have been observed in physically active, competitive athletes with CF compared to their healthy peers (Selvadurai et al. 2003). Importantly, these results were supported by the presence of similar muscle and bone cross-sectional area between patients and healthy controls, ruling out the possibility of skeletal muscle deconditioning in this athletic CF cohort. The data that indicate a preserved skeletal muscle function in patients with CF are scant. In contrast, there are a handful of studies that provide compelling data to support an impaired mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in patients with CF compared to controls (de Meer et al. 1995; Selvadurai et al. 2003; Wells et al. 2011; Erickson et al. 2015), even when controlling for skeletal muscle cross-sectional area (Selvadurai et al. 2003; Wells et al. 2011). It is likely that the disparity in findings can be explained by inclusion of a younger, healthier CF population (Werkman et al. 2016) and/or the evaluation of different muscle groups that are composed of different fibre-type proportions (Decorte et al. 2017). In conclusion, there are convincing data that document both qualitative and quantitative impairments of skeletal muscle in patients with CF. Results from different studies provide strong evidence to support the existence of mitochondrial dysfunction and altered skeletal muscle oxidative metabolism in CF, independent of muscle mass. Although it is reasonable to speculate that reductions in both muscle mass and muscle function contribute to exercise intolerance in CF, further investigation of the link between skeletal muscle function and exercise capacity in CF is certainly warranted.
Effect of Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) on Body Temperature in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Double-Blind, Randomized Phase II Clinical Trial

Background and Purpose— Body temperature is a strong predictor of outcome in acute stroke. However, it is unknown whether antipyretic treatment leads to early and clinically worthwhile reduction of body temperature in patients with acute stroke, especially when they have no fever. The main purpose of this trial was to study whether early treatment of acute ischemic stroke patients with acetaminophen (paracetamol) reduces body temperature. Methods— Seventy-five patients with acute ischemic stroke confined to the anterior circulation were randomized to treatment with either 500 mg (low dose) or 1000 mg (high dose) acetaminophen or with placebo, administered as suppositories 6 times daily during 5 days. Body temperatures were measured with a rectal electronic thermometer at the start of treatment and after 24 hours and with an infrared tympanic thermometer at 2-hour intervals during the first 24 hours and at 6-hour intervals thereafter. The primary outcome measure was rectal temperature at 24 hours after the start of treatment. Results— Treatment with high-dose acetaminophen resulted in 0.4°C lower body temperatures than placebo treatment at 24 hours (95% CI 0.1°C to 0.7°C). The mean reduction from baseline temperature with high-dose acetaminophen was 0.3°C (95% CI 0°C to 0.6°C) higher than that in placebo-treated patients. Treatment with low-dose acetaminophen did not result in lower body temperatures. After 5 days of treatment, no differences in temperature were found between the placebo and the high- or low-dose acetaminophen groups. Conclusions— Treatment with a daily dose of 6000 mg acetaminophen may result in a small, but potentially beneficial, decrease in body temperature shortly after ischemic stroke, even in normothermic and subfebrile patients. Further studies should determine whether this effect is reproducible and whether early reduction of body temperature leads to improved outcome.
Performance in 100-km ultra-marathoners - At which age it reaches its peak?

The number of those participating in 100-km ultra-marathon has increased over the last years; however, we have limited knowledge about performance trends in this sport, and particularly the effect of age. The aim of the present study was to analyze the age when women and men runners achieve their peak performance considering 1- and 5-year age group intervals, and examining all or the fastest (i.e. top ten) participants in each age group. We analyzed 370,051 athletes (i.e. 44,601 women and 325,450 men) who finished a 100-km ultra-marathon between 1959 and 2016, and studied the age of peak performance using a second-order non-linear regression analysis. The age of peak performance was 40-44 years in women and 45-49 years in men when all finishers were analysed, whereas it was 30-34 years in women and 35-39 years in men when the top ten finishers were considered in 5-year age groups. When we analyzed finishers in 1-year age groups, we found the age of peak performance at 41 years in women and 45 years in men considering all finishers, and at 39 years in women and 41 years in men considering the top ten finishers. In conclusion, the age of peak performance was younger in women than in men, which might reflect the overall younger age of women participants than men. Compared to previous studies, we observed the peak performance at an age older by ∼10 years, which could be attributed to an increase of finishers' age across calendar years. Since the knowledge of the age of peak performance is unique for each sport, coaches and fitness trainers might benefit from the findings of the present study in the long-term training of their athletes.