Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Treatment With Nilvadipine Mitigates Inflammatory Pathology and Improves Spatial Memory in Aged hTau Mice After Repetitive Mild TBI

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is the most common form of brain trauma worldwide. The effects of mTBI are not well-studied within the elderly population, yet older adults constitute a significant portion of all mTBI patients. Few preclinical studies have focused on the effects of mTBI, or mTBI treatments, in the aged brain, and none have explored repetitive mTBI (r-mTBI). In this study, we have administered our well-characterized 5-injury model (5 r-mTBI) to hTau mice aged 24 months to explore the neurobehavioral and neuropathological outcomes, and the effects of treatment with the dihydropyridine, Nilvadipine. Our previous studies have shown that Nilvadipine inhibits spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), is effective at reducing inflammation, tau hyperphosphorylation, and amyloid production, and it has recently been investigated in a European Phase III clinical trial for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In our 24-month-old r-mTBI mice, we observed increased neuroinflammation and a trend toward impaired cognitive performance compared to sham controls. Treatment with Nilvadipine mitigated the TBI-induced inflammatory response in aged r-mTBI animals and significantly improved spatial memory. To our knowledge, this is the only preclinical study focusing on the treatment of r-mTBI in aged, and these results suggest a therapeutic potential of Nilvadipine for consequences of mTBI.
In vitro Models of Bone Remodelling and Associated Disorders

Disruption of bone remodelling by diseases such as osteoporosis results in an imbalance between bone formation by osteoblasts and resorption by osteoclasts. Research into these metabolic bone disorders is primarily performed in vivo; however, in the last decade there has been increased interest in generating in vitro models that can reduce or replace our reliance on animal testing. With recent advances in biomaterials and tissue engineering the feasibility of laboratory-based alternatives is growing; however, to date there are no established in vitro models of bone remodelling. In vivo, remodelling is performed by organised packets of osteoblasts and osteoclasts called bone multicellular units (BMUs). The key determinant of whether osteoclasts form and remodelling occurs is the ratio between RANKL, a cytokine which stimulates osteoclastogenesis, and OPG, its inhibitor. This review initially details the different circumstances, conditions, and factors which have been found to modulate the RANKL:OPG ratio, and fundamental factors to be considered if a robust in vitro model is to be developed. Following this, an examination of what has been achieved thus far in replicating remodelling in vitro using three-dimensional co-cultures is performed, before overviewing how such systems are already being utilised in the study of associated diseases, such as metastatic cancer and dental disorders. Finally, a discussion of the most important considerations to be incorporated going forward is presented. This details the need for the use of cells capable of endogenously producing the required cytokines, application of mechanical stimulation, and the presence of appropriate hormones in order to produce a robust model of bone remodelling.
p53 deletion rescues lethal microcephaly in a mouse model with neural stem cell abscission defects

Building a cerebral cortex of the proper size involves balancing rates and timing of neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation, neurogenesis, and cell death. The cellular mechanisms connecting genetic mutations to brain malformation phenotypes are still poorly understood. Microcephaly may result when NSC divisions are too slow, produce neurons too early, or undergo apoptosis, but the relative contributions of these cellular mechanisms to various types of microcephaly are not understood. We previously showed that mouse mutants in Kif20b (formerly called Mphosph1, Mpp1, or KRMP1) have small cortices that show elevated apoptosis, and defects in maturation of NSC midbodies, which mediate cytokinetic abscission. Here we test the contribution of intrinsic NSC apoptosis to brain size reduction in this lethal microcephaly model. By making double mutants with the pro-apoptotic genes Bax and Trp53 (p53), we find that apoptosis of cortical NSCs accounts for most of the microcephaly, but that there is a significant apoptosis-independent contribution as well. Remarkably, heterozygous p53 deletion is sufficient to fully rescue survival of the Kif20b mutant into adulthood. In addition, the NSC midbody maturation defects are not rescued by p53 deletion, showing that they are either upstream of p53 activation, or in a parallel pathway. Thus, this work potentially identifies a novel midbody-mediated pathway for p53 activation, and elucidates both NSC apoptosis and abscission mechanisms that could underlie human microcephaly or other brain malformations.
Medial thalamus in the territory of oculomotor basal ganglia represents stable object value

Many visual objects are attached with values which were created by our long rewarding history. Such stable object values attract gaze. We previously found that the output pathway of basal ganglia from caudal‐dorsal‐lateral portion of substantia nigra pars reticulata (cdlSNr) to superior colliculus (SC) carries robust stable value signal to execute the automatic choice of valuable objects. An important question here is whether stable value signal in basal ganglia can influence on other inner processing such as perception, attention, emotion, or arousal than motor execution. The key brain circuit is another output path of basal ganglia: the pathway from SNr to temporal and frontal lobes through thalamus. To examine the existence of stable value signal in this pathway, we explored thalamus in a wide range. We found that many neurons in the medial thalamus represented stable value. Histological examination showed that the recorded sites of those neurons included ventral anterior nucleus, pars magnocellularis (VAmc) which is the main target of nigrothalamic projection. Consistent with the SNr GABArgic projection, the latency of value signal in the medial thalamus was later than cdlSNr, and the sign of value coding in the medial thalamus was opposite to cdlSNr. As is the case with cdlSNr neurons, the medial thalamus neurons showed no sensitivity to frequently updated value (flexible value). These results suggest that the pathway from cdlSNr to the medial thalamus influences on various aspects of cognitive processing by propagating stable value signal to the wide cortical area.
A complex peripheral code for salt taste in Drosophila

Each taste modality is generally encoded by a single, molecularly defined, population of sensory cells. However, salt stimulates multiple taste pathways in mammals and insects, suggesting a more complex code for salt taste. Here, we examine salt coding in Drosophila. After creating a comprehensive molecular map comprised of five discrete sensory neuron classes across the fly labellum, we find that four are activated by salt: two exhibiting characteristics of ‘low salt’ cells, and two ‘high salt’ classes. Behaviorally, low salt attraction depends primarily on ‘sweet’ neurons, with additional input from neurons expressing the ionotropic receptor IR94e. High salt avoidance is mediated by ‘bitter’ neurons and a population of glutamatergic neurons expressing Ppk23. Interestingly, the impact of these glutamatergic neurons depends on prior salt consumption. These results support a complex model for salt coding in flies that combinatorially integrates inputs from across cell types to afford robust and flexible salt behaviors.
Decentralized event-triggered control with one bit communications

Abstract In this paper we propose an implementation of control systems in which measurements from the different sensors do not need to be synchronized in time and are aperiodically transmitted. Furthermore all the communication between sensors and controller, and between controller and sensors, require only the transmission of one bit of information (with the exception of an initialization round of measurements). The proposed implementation is based on the idea of measurements and transmissions being triggered by local events at the sensors. In this paper we extend our previous results proposing a fully event-triggered implementation for asymptotic stability of the closed loop system, and show how this new approach enables more efficient implementations in terms of communication requirements. From the more practical perspective, the proposed techniques can aid at greatly reducing power consumption of wireless sensors in a control system by not only reducing the amount of transmissions, but also the time the sensors spend listening for communications from other sensors or the controller.
Spatio-temporal grid mining applied to image classification and cellular automata analysis. (Fouille de grilles spatio-temporelles appliquées à la classification d'image et à l'analyse d'automate cellulaire)

During this thesis, we consider the exhaustive graph mining problem for a special kind of graphs : the grids. Theses grids can be used to model objects that present a regular structure. These structures are naturally present in multiple board games (checkers, chess or go for instance) or in ecosystems models using cellular automata. It is also possible to find this structure in a lower level in images, which are 2D grids of pixels, or even in videos, which are 2D+t spatio-temporal grids of pixels. In this thesis, we proposed a new algorithm to find frequent patterns dedicated to spatio-temporal grids, GriMA. Use of regular grids allow our algorithm to reduce the complexity of the isomorphisms test. These tests are often use by generic graph mining algorithm but because of their complexity, they are rarely used on real data. Two applications were proposed to evaluate our algorithm: image classification for 2D grids mining and prediction of cellular automata for 2D+t grids mining.
Assessment of Vestibulo-ocular Reflex Gain and Catch-up Saccades During Vestibular Rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE To assess, in patients referred to vestibular rehabilitation (VR) for persistence of disability after acute unilateral vestibulopathy (AUV), whether the video head impulse test (vHIT) can be a useful technique to define the efficacy of the treatment. STUDY DESIGN Prospective clinical study. SETTING Tertiary academic referral hospitals. PATIENTS Thirty patients with residual symptoms after AUV were included. INTERVENTION Patients underwent a 10-week VR program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Evaluation of dizziness handicap inventory score, high-velocity vestibulo-ocular reflex gain, asymmetry index, and catch-up saccade parameters before and after VR. RESULTS All patients reported a clear clinical improvement after VR, also demonstrated by better dizziness handicap inventory scores (p < 0.001). A consistent increased gain and decreased asymmetry index were also observed (p < 0.001 for both). Patients did not show any change in covert catch-up saccades, while a statistically significant reduction of the number and amplitude of the overt catch-up saccades was interestingly detected (p = 0.009 and p = 0.030, respectively). CONCLUSION VR is a valid approach for patients with residual disability after AUV. A reduction in number and amplitude of overt catch-up saccades seems useful to evaluate the efficacy of VR and to be related to clinical improvement.
[Comparison of standard and fast track rehabilitation in patients with acute appendicitis. Intermediate results of multicenter prospective randomized trial].

AIM To analyze outcomes of fast track rehabilitation in patients with acute appendicitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS Prospective, randomized multi-center trial including 86 patients was conducted. There were 38 patients in the main group and 48 in the control group. All patients underwent laparoscopic appendectomy under endotracheal anesthesia. Protocol included informing, no premedication, glucose infusion prior to surgery, antibiotics administration, mesoappendix excision, limited deployment of drainage tubes, intraabdominal prolonged anesthesia, minimal pneumoperitoneum, limited irrigation, minimum power monopolar electrocautery, antiemetics, early activation and eating (2 and 6 hours after surgery). Pain was evaluated by visual-analogue scale. Auscultative peristalsis was considered every 2 hours after surgery. Cortisol level was assessed preoperatively, in 6 and 12-24 hours after surgery in 11 (29%) and 15 (31%) patients of the main and control groups respectively. Discharge criteria: no leukocytosis, fever and pain syndrome requiring anesthesia, no signs of complications and patient's consent. RESULTS Terms of disease, gender, age and comorbidities were similar in all patients. Duration of surgery under minimal pneumoperitoneum and standard pressure was also similar: 69.2±3.98 and 70.9±3.89 min (p=0.762). Pain syndrome grade and need for analgesics were significantly lower in the main group within entire follow-up. Pain syndrome was absent at the 1st postoperative day in 16 (42%) and 2 (4.1%) patients of both groups, respectively (score 0-1). Phrenic nerve syndrome was observed in 36.8% of the main group and 60.4% of the control group (p=0.05). Incidence of dyspepsia and terms of peristalsis onset were similar. Length of hospital-stay was 1.45 days in the main group and 3.15 days in the control group (p=0.002). In the main group 18 (47%) patients were discharged on the first day after surgery. There were only 4 (8.3%) patients with similar hospital-stay in the control group (p<0.001). There were no repeated hospitalizations. Postoperative cortisol concentration was similar in both groups as well as in complicated and uneventful postoperative period. In the main group postoperative intestinal paresis (Clavien-Dindo grade 2) occurred in 1 patient. In the control group 7 patients had postoperative infiltrate and 1 patient - intestinal paresis (Clavien-Dindo grade 2). Postoperative drainage tube was deployed in 3 out of 7 patients with postoperative infiltrates and 6 of them received antibiotic therapy. Medication was successfully applied in all patients with complications. CONCLUSION There are some advantages of FTR for AA including reduced pain syndrome, morbidity and less length of hospital-stay. Issue of cortisol concentration requires further trials.
Two mixed breed dogs with sensory neuropathy are homozygous for an inversion disrupting FAM134B previously identified in Border Collies

Two unrelated 8‐month‐old male mixed breed dogs were presented for evaluation of progressive ataxia, knuckling, and lack of pain perception in the distal limbs. Because of the similarity in age of onset, progression, and clinical findings with previously described sensory neuropathy in Border Collies, the affected dogs were screened for an FAM134B mutation and were determined to be homozygous for the mutation. Despite few phenotypic similarities with other breeds, genetic testing for specific diseases should be considered in mixed breed dogs with compatible clinical signs, especially if ancestry is unknown.
A Retrospective Review of Hospital-Based Data on Enteric Fever in India, 2014–2015

Abstract Background Enteric fever remains a threat to many countries with minimal access to clean water and poor sanitation infrastructure. As part of a multisite surveillance study, we conducted a retrospective review of records in 5 hospitals across India to gather evidence on the burden of enteric fever. Methods We examined hospital records (laboratory and surgical registers) from 5 hospitals across India for laboratory-confirmed Salmonella Typhi or Salmonella Paratyphi cases and intestinal perforations from 2014–2015. Clinical data were obtained where available. For laboratory-confirmed infections, we compared differences in disease burden, age, sex, clinical presentation, and antimicrobial resistance. Results Of 267536 blood cultures, 1418 (0.53%) were positive for S. Typhi or S. Paratyphi. Clinical data were available for 429 cases (72%); a higher proportion of participants with S. Typhi infection were hospitalized, compared with those with S. Paratyphi infection (44% vs 35%). We observed resistance to quinolones among 82% of isolates, with cases of cephalosporin resistance (1%) and macrolide resistance (9%) detected. Of 94 participants with intestinal perforations, 16 (17%) had a provisional, final, or laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of enteric fever. Discussion Data show a moderate burden of enteric fever in India. Enteric fever data should be systematically collected to facilitate evidence-based decision-making by countries for typhoid conjugate vaccines.
What am I thinking? Perspective-taking from the perspective of adolescents with autism

Autistic people are often described as being impaired with regard to theory of mind, though more recent literature finds flaws in the theory of mind deficit paradigm. In addition, the predominant methods for examining theory of mind often rely on “observational” modes of assessment and do not adequately reflect the dynamic process of real-life perspective taking. Thus, it is imperative that researchers continue to test the autistic theory of mind deficit paradigm and explore theory of mind experiences through more naturalistic approaches. This study qualitatively examined theory of mind in 12 autistic adolescents through a series of semi-structured interviews. Interpretive phenomenological analysis of the data revealed four core themes in participants’ theory of mind experiences and strategies, all of which highlighted how a more accurate representation of autistic theory of mind is one of difference rather than deficit. For instance, data showed that autistic heightened perceptual abilities may contribute to mentalizing strengths and that honesty in autism may be less dependent on systemizing rather than personal experience and choice. Such findings suggest that future research should reexamine autistic characteristics in light of their ability to enhance theory of mind processing. Understanding how an autistic theory of mind is uniquely functional is an imperative step toward both destigmatizing the condition and advocating for neurodiversity.
Limping on split-belt treadmills implies opposite kinematic and dynamic lower limb asymmetries

Walking on a split-belt treadmill (each of the two belts running at a different speed) has been proposed as an experimental paradigm to investigate the flexibility of the neural control of gait and as a form of therapeutic exercise. However, the scarcity of dynamic investigations challenges the validity of the available findings. The aim of the present study was to investigate the dynamic asymmetries of lower limbs of healthy adults during adaptation to gait on a split-belt treadmill. Ten healthy adults walked on a split-belt treadmill mounted on force sensors, with belts running either at the same speed (‘tied’ condition) or at different speeds (‘split’ condition, 0.4 vs. 0.8 or 0.8 vs. 1.2 m/s). The sagittal power and work provided by ankle, knee and hip joints, joint rotations, muscle lengthening, and surface electromyography were recorded simultaneously. Various tied/split walking sequences were requested. In the split condition a marked asymmetry between the parameters recorded from each of the two lower limbs, in particular from the ankle joint, was recorded. The work provided by the ankle (the main engine of body propulsion) was 4.8 and 2.2 times higher (in the 0.4 vs. 0.8, and 0.8 vs. 1.2 m/s conditions, respectively) compared with the slower side, and 1.2 and 1.1 times higher compared with the same speed in the tied condition. Compared with overground gait in hemiplegia, split gait entails an opposite spatial and dynamic asymmetry. The faster leg mimics the paretic limb temporally, but the unimpaired limb from the spatial and dynamic point of view. These differences challenge the proposed protocols of split gait as forms of therapeutic exercise.
The effects and costs of home-based rehabilitation for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: The REACH-HF multicentre randomized controlled trial

Background Cardiac rehabilitation improves health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and reduces hospitalizations in patients with heart failure, but international uptake of cardiac rehabilitation for heart failure remains low. Design and methods The aim of this multicentre randomized trial was to compare the REACH-HF (Rehabilitation EnAblement in CHronicHeart Failure) intervention, a facilitated self-care and home-based cardiac rehabilitation programme to usual care for adults with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The study primary hypothesis was that the addition of the REACH-HF intervention to usual care would improve disease-specific HRQoL (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire (MLHFQ)) at 12 months compared with usual care alone. Results The study recruited 216 participants, predominantly men (78%), with an average age of 70 years and mean left ventricular ejection fraction of 34%. Overall, 185 (86%) participants provided data for the primary outcome. At 12 months, there was a significant and clinically meaningful between-group difference in the MLHFQ score of –5.7 points (95% confidence interval –10.6 to –0.7) in favour of the REACH-HF intervention group (p = 0.025). With the exception of patient self-care (p < 0.001) there was no significant difference in other secondary outcomes, including clinical events (p > 0.05) at follow-up compared with usual care. The mean cost of the REACH-HF intervention was £418 per participant. Conclusions The novel REACH-HF home-based facilitated intervention for HFrEF was clinically superior in disease-specific HRQoL at 12 months and offers an affordable alternative to traditional centre-based programmes to address current low cardiac rehabilitation uptake rates for heart failure.
Image block encryption algorithm based on chaotic maps

Advanced in unpredictability, ergodicity and sensitivity to initial conditions and parameters, chaotic maps are widely used in modern image encryption algorithms. In this study, the authors propose a novel image block encryption algorithm based on several widely used chaotic maps. In their algorithm, the image blocking method is variable, and both shuffling and substitution algorithms are adopted based on different chaotic maps. Several simulations are provided to evaluate the performances of this encryption scheme. The results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is with high security level and fast encryption speed, which can be competitive with some other recently proposed image encryption algorithms.
Energy-efficient data reconstruction algorithm for spatially- and temporally correlated data in wireless sensor networks

This study introduces a novel algorithm for reconstruction of wireless sensor networks data which inherently have spatial and temporal correlations. The authors' algorithm is based on compressed sensing (CS) and benefits from sliding window processing. This new algorithm rearranges the data in form of a cube and uses this representation to extract more information about the data. There are two optimisation loops which are solved simultaneously and periodically reconstruct one part of the whole signal from measurements that arrive at the sink. In particular, the first reconstruction loop, which uses a modified version of basis pursuit reconstruction algorithm, is meant for reconstruction of a temporal data which is extracted from the data cube, and the second loop which uses a modified version of reweighted l 1 -norm algorithm is for reconstruction of data windows. The authors used a special kind of binary sparse random measurement matrices for sampling which is equipped with a condition to get samples as variously as possible and this, in turn, balances the duty among sensors and provides more information from the field. Simulation results verify that the proposed algorithm achieves better reconstruction accuracy and less energy consumption in comparison with state-of-the-art CS reconstruction methods.