Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Random forest feature selection, fusion and ensemble strategy: Combining multiple morphological MRI measures to discriminate among healhy elderly, MCI, cMCI and alzheimer’s disease patients: From the alzheimer’s disease neuroimaging initiative (ADNI) database

Background In the era of computer-assisted diagnostic tools for various brain diseases, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) covers a large percentage of neuroimaging research, with the main scope being its use in daily practice. However, there has been no study attempting to simultaneously discriminate among Healthy Controls (HC), early mild cognitive impairment (MCI), late MCI (cMCI) and stable AD, using features derived from a single modality, namely MRI. New Method Based on preprocessed MRI images from the organizers of a neuroimaging challenge2, we attempted to quantify the prediction accuracy of multiple morphological MRI features to simultaneously discriminate among HC, MCI, cMCI and AD. We explored the efficacy of a novel scheme that includes multiple feature selections via Random Forest from subsets of the whole set of features (e.g. whole set, left/right hemisphere etc.), Random Forest classification using a fusion approach and ensemble classification via majority voting. From the ADNI database, 60 HC, 60 MCI, 60 cMCI and 60 AD were used as a training set with known labels. An extra dataset of 160 subjects (HC: 40, MCI: 40, cMCI: 40 and AD: 40) was used as an external blind validation dataset to evaluate the proposed machine learning scheme. Results In the second blind dataset, we succeeded in a four-class classification of 61.9% by combining MRI-based features with a Random Forest-based Ensemble Strategy. We achieved the best classification accuracy of all teams that participated in this neuroimaging competition. Comparison with Existing Method(s) The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme to simultaneously discriminate among four groups using morphological MRI features for the very first time in the literature. Conclusions Hence, the proposed machine learning scheme can be used to define single and multi-modal biomarkers for AD. HIGHLIGHTS 1st place in International Challenge for Automated Prediction of MCI from MRI Data Multi-class classification of normal control, MCI, converting MCI, and Alzheimer’s disease Morphometric measures from 3D T1 brain MRI images have been analysed (ADNI1 cohort). A Random Forest Feature Selection, Fusion and Ensemble Strategy was applied to classification and prediction of AD. Accuracy and robustness have been assessed in a blind dataset
An Exploratory Study Investigating How Adults with Intellectual Disabilities Perform on the Visual Association Test (VAT)

BACKGROUND Neuropsychological tests of memory are believed to offer the greatest sensitivity at identifying people at the risk of developing dementia. There is a paucity of standardized and appropriate neuropsychological assessments of memory for adults with an intellectual disability. This study examines how adults with an intellectual disability perform on the Visual Association Test (VAT). METHODS Forty participants (18-45 years) with intellectual disability, without a diagnosis of dementia, completed the VAT and subtests of the CAMCOG-DS. Correlational analysis of the test variables was carried out. RESULTS All participants performed well on the VAT irrespective of age, gender or IQ. No significant correlations were found between the VAT and the subtests of the CAMCOG-DS. CONCLUSIONS The VAT was found to be an easy and quick test to use with people with intellectual disability and all participants scored above 'floor' level.
Phospholipase Cb1 regulates proliferation of neuronal cells

Cells have developed lineage‐specific mechanisms to control proliferation and drive morphologic changes upon differentiation. A hallmark of differentiation is the assembly of signaling molecules that transduce extracellular signals, such as the production of the G protein‐regulated enzyme phospholipase Cb (PLCb), which generates calcium signals from sensory stimuli. We found that in most cancerous cell lines there is positive correlation between PLCb 1 levels and cell proliferation. In cells of neuronal lineage, however, reducing PLCb 1 levels increases the rate of proliferation. Using a combination of biochemical and biophysical methods, we find that, in the G1 phase, a cytosolic population of PLCb 1 associates with cyclin‐dependent kinase 16 (CDK16), a neuron‐specific enzyme that is activated by cyclin Y to inactivate the antioncogenic protein p27Kip1. Binding of PLCb1 directly inhibits CDK16 activity and in turn reduces the ability of cells to enter the S phase. Activation of Gaq by carbachol causes movement of PLCb from the cytosol to the plasma membrane, reducing its association with CDK16. Similarly, the overexpression of activated Gaq moves PLCb 1 to the membrane, reverses G1 arrest, and promotes proliferation, thereby connecting external stimuli with cell proliferation. Our results present a model in which the transient high expression of PLCb1 that occurs at the onset of differentiation arrests cells in the G1 phase through its association with CDK16 and allows CDK16 to transition to its postmitotic function of neurite outgrowth and trafficking of synaptic vesicles. The novel role of PLCb 1 in neuronal cell proliferation offers a unique interaction that can be manipulated to guide cells into a neuronal phenotype or to develop therapies for neuroblastomas. — Garwain, O. , Valla, K. , Scarlata, S. Phospholipase Cb 1 regulates proliferation of neuronal cells. FASEB J. 32, 2891–2898 (2018). www.fasebj. org
Thermal reduction of graphene oxide: How temperature influences purity

Among various methods used for the reduction of graphene oxide (GO) into a purer form of graphene, the thermal reduction method provides a simpler, safer, and economic alternative, compared to other techniques. Thermal reduction of GO causes significant weight loss and volume expansion of the material. Current work investigates the onset temperature where reduction in terms of exfoliation takes place, which is determined to be 325 °C at standard atmospheric pressure. Reduction temperature plays the most crucial role as it controls the quality of reduced graphene oxide in terms of weight percentage of carbon and lattice defect. The study leads to achieving highest content with a minimum defect in the graphene lattice at the optimum temperature, which is found to be 350 °C at standard atmospheric pressure. The thermal reduction process has been analyzed with the help of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and thermal degradation kinetics. From thermal degradation kinetics of GO, the rate of reaction has been found to be independent of concentration and is a sole function of temperature.
Longer Nature-Based Rehabilitation May Contribute to a Faster Return to Work in Patients with Reactions to Severe Stress and/or Depression

The global burden of depression and stress-related mental disorders is substantial, and constitutes a major need for effective rehabilitation. Can nature-based rehabilitation help people return to work? Objective: To study if the length of a nature-based rehabilitation program affects the outcome with regard to return to work one year after the onset of the program, in a group of patients with long-term reactions to severe stress and/or depression. Methods: A prospective, quasi-experimental study comparing results from 8-, 12-, and 24-week periods of rehabilitation. The rehabilitation of 106 participants was carried out by a multimodal rehabilitation team in a specially designed rehabilitation garden. Return to work data were collected before the intervention and one year after the start of rehabilitation. In addition, data were collected regarding self-assessed occupational competence, personal control, and sense of coherence. As many as 68% of the participants returned to work or participated in job training or work-oriented measures, full- or part-time, after one year. Participants with a longer period of rehabilitation reported better results on occupational competence, and were more likely to participate in paid work, full-time or part-time, one year after rehabilitation. Study outcomes indicate that a longer rehabilitation period in a rehabilitation garden increases the possibility of a return to paid work.
Evaluation of a German version of the Strengthening Families Programme 10-14: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of a German adaptation of the Strengthening Families Programme 10-14 (SFP 10-14; Familien Stärken). METHODS A multi-centre randomised controlled trial comparing the German SFP version consisting of seven sessions and four booster-sessions with a minimal intervention on parenting as control condition. Outcomes comprise measures of adolescent substance use (initiation) and behaviour problems and are assessed at baseline, after programme delivery and at 6- and 18-month follow-ups. Primary outcomes were lifetime tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use at 18 months. Data of n = 292 families were analysed using baseline adjusted logistic regressions and mixed models. RESULTS We observed reduced rates of lifetime tobacco use in analyses with follow-up respondents, but not in data using the complete intention to treat sample with multiple imputation estimates for missing data. Parents reported fewer adolescent behaviour problems in analyses with the total sample and multiple imputed data, but not in data with follow-up respondents only. There were no other significant effects of SFP 10-14. CONCLUSION Overall the medium size effects found in previous US trials could not be replicated in a German context.
Patient-reported outcome measures for patients with meniscal tears: a systematic review of measurement properties and evaluation with the COSMIN checklist

Objective Meniscal tears occur frequently in the population and the most common surgical treatment, arthroscopic partial meniscectomy, is performed in approximately two million cases worldwide each year. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarise and critically appraise the evidence for the use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in patients with meniscal tears. Design A systematic review was undertaken. Data on reported measurement properties were extracted and the quality of the studies appraised according to Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments. Data sources A search of MEDLINE, Embase, AMED and PsycINFO, unlimited by language or publication date (last search 20 February 2017). Eligibility criteria for selecting studies Development and validation studies reporting the measurement properties of PROMs in patients with meniscal tears were included. Results 11 studies and 10 PROMs were included. The overall quality of studies was poor. For measurement of symptoms and functional status, there is only very limited evidence supporting the selection of either the Lysholm Knee Scale, International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form or the Dutch version of the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score. For measuring health-related quality of life, only limited evidence supports the selection of the Western Ontario Meniscal Evaluation Tool (WOMET). Of all the PROMs evaluated, WOMET has the strongest evidence for content validity. Conclusion For patients with meniscal tears, there is poor quality and incomplete evidence regarding the validity of the currently available PROMs. Further research is required to ensure these PROMs truly reflect the symptoms, function and quality of life of patients with meniscal tears. PROSPERO registration number CRD42017056847.
WebVision Challenge: Visual Learning and Understanding With Web Data

We present the 2017 WebVision Challenge, a public image recognition challenge designed for deep learning based on web images without instance-level human annotation. Following the spirit of previous vision challenges, such as ILSVRC, Places2 and PASCAL VOC, which have played critical roles in the development of computer vision by contributing to the community with large scale annotated data for model designing and standardized benchmarking, we contribute with this challenge a large scale web images dataset, and a public competition with a workshop co-located with CVPR 2017. The WebVision dataset contains more than $2.4$ million web images crawled from the Internet by using queries generated from the $1,000$ semantic concepts of the benchmark ILSVRC 2012 dataset. Meta information is also included. A validation set and test set containing human annotated images are also provided to facilitate algorithmic development. The 2017 WebVision challenge consists of two tracks, the image classification task on WebVision test set, and the transfer learning task on PASCAL VOC 2012 dataset. In this paper, we describe the details of data collection and annotation, highlight the characteristics of the dataset, and introduce the evaluation metrics.
WciG O-Acetyltransferase Functionality Differentiates Pneumococcal Serotypes 35C and 42

ABSTRACT Streptococcus pneumoniae expresses capsular polysaccharides (CPSs) to protect itself from opsonophagocytic killing. The genes responsible for capsules synthesized by the Wzy-dependent mechanism, which accounts for 96 of the 98 known pneumococcal capsule types, are in a chromosomal region known as the cps locus. The nucleotide sequence in this region has been determined for all serotypes. In contrast, not all CPS structures have been defined. The structure of the serotype 35C polysaccharide was recently reported, but the presence of O-acetyltransferase genes in the serotype 35C cps locus suggested that it could be incomplete, as the reported structure contains no O-acetylation. In addition, the genetic distinction of serotype 35C from the closely related serotype 42 was unclear, as their reported cps loci are nearly identical. To clarify these discrepancies, we obtained serotype 35C and 42 clinical and reference isolates and studied their serological and genetic properties, as well as the structures of CPSs purified from reference isolates. We demonstrated that the O-acetyltransferase WciG was functional in serotype 35C but nonfunctional in serotype 42 due to a deletion in wciG. Serotype 35C was O-acetylated at the 5- and 6-positions of 3-β-galactofuranose, as well as the 2-position of 6-β-galactofuranose. However, serotype 42 has only O-acetylation at 3-β-galactofuranose, an observation consistent with its loss of WciG functionality, which is associated with O-acetylation at the 2-position and subsequent reaction with typing antiserum 35a. These findings provide a comprehensive view of the genetic, biochemical structural, and serological bases of serotypes 35C and 42.
Effect of power on microstructure and properties of laser cladding NiCrBSi composite coating

A laser clad NiCrBSi composite coating was fabricated on the surface of 42CrMo steel using 6 kW fibre laser. The morphology and composition of the composite coating formed under different powers were studied using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy. The microhardness and wear resistance were measured with a MICROMET-5103 digital microhardness tester and a MM-200 ring-block wear testing machine, respectively. The results showed that the cladding layer and the substrate have good metallurgical bonding. The microstructure nearing the fusion line is a columnar grain and that of the cladding layer is mainly a cellular grain. The main phases of the laser cladding layer are γ-Ni, (Fe,Ni), M7C3, M23C6 and CrB. The dilution rate of the laser cladding layer increased with the increase of laser power. The microhardness of the cladding layers decreased with the increase of laser power, and wear resistance of the cladding layer first increased and then decreased with the increase of laser power. When the laser power was 2000 W, the wear resistance of the composite coating was at its highest.
Population pharmacokinetic model of levetiracetam in Korean neonates with seizures .

OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to develop a population pharmacokinetic (PK) model of levetiracetam in Korean neonates with seizures. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data were obtained from a retrospective study of 18 neonates with seizures admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Severance Children's Hospital for the period of from 2013 to 2015. Sampling and dosing times were recorded by clinical research coordinators on case report forms. Demographic factors and laboratory results were tested as potential covariates for PK parameters. Model development was performed within a mixed-effect modeling framework using NONMEM. RESULTS With a one-compartment model with first-order elimination chosen as a basic PK model based on theory-based allometric relationships, postmenstrual age and serum creatinine were found to have significant influences on clearance (CL). Typical parameter estimates of the final PK model obtained, evaluated at covariate medians, were 1.08 L/kg for volume of distribution (V) and 0.073 L/h/kg (= 1.23 mL/min/kg) for CL, illustrating that V in Korean neonates is a little larger than in Western population while CL is similar. CONCLUSION A population PK model of levetiracetam for Korean neonates with seizures was developed in this study. The result of this study can be used as a basis to develop an optimal dosage regimen in Korean neonates with seizures.
Importance of anatomical dominance in the evaluation of coronary dilatation in Kawasaki disease

Abstract Introduction In Kawasaki disease, although coronary dilatation is attributed to vasculitis, the effect of myocardial inflammation is underestimated. Coronary dilatations are determined by Z-scores, which do not take into account dominance. The aim of the present study was to describe the impact of coronary dominance on dilatation in Kawasaki disease. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of coronary dilatations according to angiography categorisation of dominance. Results Of 28 patients (2.6 [0.2–10.1] years), right dominance was present in 15 patients and left in 13. Early dilatation was present in all patients, of whom 11 were ipsilateral to the dominant segment and 17 contralateral. Ipsilateral dilatations were present at diagnosis (9/11 versus 6/17, p=0.02) compared with contralateral dilatations, which developed 2 weeks after diagnosis (9/11 versus 16/17, p=0.29). Coronary artery Z-scores of patients with contralateral dilatation increased at 2 weeks, before returning to baseline values (2.0±2.2 at diagnosis, 4.1±1.8 at 2 weeks, 1.8±1.2 at 3–6 months, p=0.001), compared with patients with ipsilateral dilatation in whom Z-scores were maximal at diagnosis and remained stable (3.0±0.9, 2.7±1.1 and 2.6±1.5, respectively, p=0.13). Dominant coronary artery Z-scores were higher compared with non-dominant segments at diagnosis (3.0±0.9 versus 1.0±0.8, p<0.001) and at late follow-up (2.6±1.5 versus 0.4±1.4, p=0.002) in patients with ipsilateral dilatation. Conclusion Progression of coronary dilatation after diagnosis may be a sign of dilatation secondary to vasculitis, as opposed to regression of Z-scores in ipsilateral dilatations, probably related to physiological vasodilatation in response to carditis. This needs to be validated in larger studies against vasculitic and myocardial inflammatory markers.
Sealing of Corneal Lacerations Using Photoactivated Rose Bengal Dye and Amniotic Membrane

Purpose: Watertight closure of perforating corneoscleral lacerations is necessary to prevent epithelial ingrowth, infection, and potential loss of the eye. Complex lacerations can be difficult to treat, and repair with sutures alone is often inadequate. In this study, we evaluated a potentially sutureless technology for sealing complex corneal and scleral lacerations that bonds the amniotic membrane (AM) to the wound using only green light and rose bengal dye. Methods: The AM was impregnated with rose bengal and then sealed over lacerations using green light to bond the AM to the deepithelialized corneal surface. This process was compared with suture repair of 3 laceration configurations in New Zealand White rabbits in 3 arms of the study. A fourth study arm assessed the side effect profile including viability of cells in the iris, damage to the blood–retinal barrier, retinal photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium, and choriocapillaris in Dutch Belted rabbits. Results: Analyses of the first 3 arms revealed a clinically insignificant increase in polymorphonuclear inflammation. In the fourth arm, iris cells appeared unaffected and no evidence of breakdown of the blood–retinal barrier was detected. The retina from green light laser-treated eyes showed normal retinal pigment epithelium, intact outer segments, and normal outer nuclear layer thickness. Conclusions: The results of these studies established that a light-activated method to cross-link AM to the cornea can be used for sealing complex penetrating wounds in the cornea and sclera with minimal inflammation or secondary effects.
Glutamine‐rich toxic proteins GrtA, GrtB and GrtC together with the antisense RNA AsgR constitute a toxin–antitoxin‐like system in Corynebacterium glutamicum

The Corynebacterium glutamicum R grtA (cgR_2936), grtB (cgR_2934) and grtC (cgR_2933) genes were identified as paralogs encoding glutamine‐rich toxic proteins. We also identified a new antisense small RNA AsgR (antisense sRNA for grtA) that overlaps the 3′ end of the grtA gene. Single over‐expressions of grtA, grtB and grtC resulted in complete inhibition of Escherichia coli cell growth. This growth was rescued by co‐expression of AsgR. Similar effects were observed in C. glutamicum, although the toxicities of these proteins were moderate. Inhibition of AsgR transcription resulted in increased levels and prolonged half‐lives of grtA, grtB and grtC mRNAs. We also found that the expression levels of grtA, grtB and grtC were increased in an RNase III deletion mutant. Primer extension analysis revealed the RNase III cleavage site to be in the 3′ untranslated region (3′‐UTR) of the grtA mRNA. The expression levels of grtA, grtB and grtC were increased after exposure to several stresses, including heat shock, treatment with penicillin G, lysozyme or H2O2. The deletions of grtABC and asgR genes resulted in decreased survival rate under several stresses. These results indicate that GrtABC and AsgR constitute a type I toxin–antitoxin‐like system in C. glutamicum.
Enhancing HIV Medication Adherence in India

Background: This pilot study evaluated an intervention designed to enhance adherence among those new to antiretroviral therapy. Methods: Participants (n = 80) were recruited from a hospital clinic in Chandigarh, India, and randomized to a 3-month group intervention or individual enhanced standard of care followed by crossover of condition and assessed over 6 months. Adherence was measured by prescription refill, pill count, and self-report. Results: At baseline, 56% of group condition (immediate intervention) and 54% of individual condition (delayed intervention) participants were nonadherent by pill count and 23% of group and 26% of individual condition participants self-reported skipping medication at least once over the last 3 months. From the postintervention to long-term follow-up, adherence in the group condition (immediate intervention) improved in comparison with adherence in the individual condition (delayed intervention; χ2 = 5.67, P = .02). Conclusions: Results support the use of interventions early in treatment to provide information and social support to establish long-term healthy adherence behaviors.