Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comprehensive Functional Assessment: An Overview

Aging itself is a relatively benign process that, although it brings some usually modest loss of functional abilities, is compatible with maintaining an active an varied independent life when no or little chronic disease has developed. Unfortunately, most persons as they grow older acquire chronic diseases and resulting disabilities which do limit their independence and, with increasing frequency with very old age, result in the need for long-term assistance and care. Beyond the age of 65 years, 80 per cent of persons have at least one chronic condition, and many, of course, have several. These chronic conditions become reflected in limitations of activity: in the National Center for Health Statistics' most recent surveys, 45 per cent of persons age 65 years and older not living in institutions were found to have some degree of limitation of daily activities; this figure rises to 60 per cent for those aged 85 years and older. 1 Faced with such frequent losses of function and limitations of activity among elderly persons, physicians and other health-care providers must assess these problems thoroughly to help identify remediable conditions, the types of assistance that are needed, and what interventions are indicated so that the elderly person may maintain as much independence as possible. In short, the physician and other health-care professionals involved must carry out a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation or assessment of functional status that is fully analogous and complementary to the careful, disease-oriented diagnostic work-ups that must precede any treatment decisions. The medical conditions that underlie and contribute to functional losses must be identified and appropriately treated. But, in addition, the types and degrees of functional losses themselves must be carefully assessed, as well as the extent of family and other resources available to help meet the patient's identified needs. If the functional losses cannot be reversed, the patient and family
Geographic patterns of microsatellite variation in Boechera stricta, a close relative of Arabidopsis

The genus Boechera is a widespread North American group with great potential for studies of ecology and evolution: Boechera is closely related to Arabidopsis and exhibits different ecological and reproductive strategies. Boechera stricta (previously Arabis drummondii) is a morphologically and genetically well‐defined, perennial crucifer species. Fifteen natural populations of diploid individuals from the Rocky Mountains were analysed using 21 microsatellite loci. In accordance with our expectation for this predominately inbreeding species, a high FIS value (0.89) was observed. Furthermore, populations of B. stricta were highly differentiated, as indicated by FST = 0.56. Three clusters were identified using structure— the majority of populations belonged to either the Northern or Southern cluster. Together, the north–south partitioning and evenness of genetic variation across the two clusters suggested multiple refugia for this perennial herb in the Rocky Mountains. Pleistocene glaciation, together with the topographically and climatologically heterogeneous cordillera, has profoundly influenced the genetic architecture of B. stricta. Genetic population structure was also influenced by relatively recent genome admixture at two levels: within species (involving individuals from the Northern and Southern clusters) and between species (with the hybridization of B. stricta and Boechera holboellii). This complexity of population structure at presumably neutral microsatellite loci located throughout the genome in B. stricta provides a baseline against which to test whether functional genetic variation is undergoing local adaptive evolution throughout the natural species range.
Determination of initial tsunami wave shape at sea surface

Any Tsunami Early Warning System (TEWS) should provide reliable prediction of the wave parameters as early as possible. Numerical calculation of the tsunami wave propagation over the particular part of the ocean can be implemented rather efficiently using modern high-performance system. It is possible when the initial wave shape at tsunami source is given. In this paper we discuss and show the fast algorithm for reconstructing the initial sea surface displacement at tsunami source. Based on the Fourier approximation theory, the presented algorithm treats the measured wave profile as a linear combination of synthetic (calculated) waves from the so-called unit sources. Using an artificial bathymetry, we evaluate the algorithm parameters focusing on its precision and performance. Moreover, a large tsunami sources (several hundred kilometers long) are also simulated.
Properties of a Metagenome-Derived β-Glucosidase from the Contents of Rabbit Cecum

In this study, a previously cloned β-glucosidase gene, umbgl3B, was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, and the biochemical properties of the purified enzyme were characterized. The recombinant enzyme was stable over a wide range of pH values (5.0–9.0) and below 30 °C. It displayed optimum enzymatic activity at pH 6.5 at 40 °C, under condition similar to that in the rabbit cecum, suggesting an active role of the native enzyme in vivo. The recombinant β-glucosidase Umbgl3B showed high activity to aryl β-D-glucosides and low activity to cellooligosaccharides, with a polymerization degree of less than 5. The enzyme had no activity toward long cellooligosaccharides or polysaccharides. The aspartic acid residue, D772, of the wild-type Umbgl3B was predicted as a nucleophile. Mutant D772A was constructed. It showed less than 1/10,000 activity of the wild-type enzyme, but had the same properties, suggesting that residue D772 plays a key role in the enzyme’s activity.
Protocol for the TIDAL Melanoma Study: topical imiquimod or diphenylcyclopropenone for the management of cutaneous in-transit melanoma metastases—a phase II, single centre, randomised, pilot study

Introduction Patients with in-transit melanoma metastases present a therapeutic challenge. Complete surgical excision of localised disease is considered as the gold standard; however, surgery is not always acceptable and alternatives are required. Treatment results reported using imiquimod and diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) suggest that topical immunotherapies can be used to successfully treat select patients with melanoma metastases. A phase II, randomised, single centre, pilot study was designed to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of DPCP and imiquimod for the treatment of superficial, cutaneous in-transit melanoma metastases. Methods and analysis This is an open-label, non-superiority, pilot study with no treatment cross-over. Eligible patients are randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive topical therapy for up to 12 months with a minimum follow-up period of 12 months. The target sample size is 30 patients, with 15 allocated to each treatment arm. The primary endpoint is the number of patients experiencing a complete response of treated lesions as determined clinically using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours. This trial incorporates health-related quality of life measures and biological tissue collection for further experimental substudies. The study will also facilitate a health economic analysis. Ethics and dissemination Approval was obtained from the Human Research Ethics Committee at the participating centre, and recruitment has commenced. The results of this study will be submitted for formal publication within a peer-reviewed journal. Trial registration number Prospectively registered on 16 October 2015 with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12615001088538). This study conforms to WHO Trial Registration Data Set.
Heme Oxygenase-1 Exerts a Protective Role in Ovalbumin-induced Neutrophilic Airway Inflammation by Inhibiting Th17 Cell-mediated Immune Response*

Background: Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is an inducible enzyme that exerts multiple physiological functions. Results: Induction of HO-1 inhibits Th17-mediated neutrophilic airway inflammation in vivo and suppresses Th17 cell differentiation in vitro. Conclusion: HO-1 exhibits anti-inflammatory activity in non-eosinophilic asthma (NEA) by inhibiting Th17 responses. Significance: HO-1 may become a novel therapeutic target in NEA. Allergic asthma is conventionally considered as a Th2 immune response characterized by eosinophilic inflammation. Recent investigations revealed that Th17 cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of non-eosinophilic asthma (NEA), resulting in steroid-resistant neutrophilic airway inflammation. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, and anti-apoptosis functions. However, its role in NEA is still unclear. Here, we explore the role of HO-1 in a mouse model of NEA. HO-1 inducer hemin or HO-1 inhibitor tin protoporphyrin IX was injected intraperitoneally into ovalbumin-challenged DO11.10 mice. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was delivered into mice to knock down HO-1 expression. The results show that induction of HO-1 by hemin attenuated airway inflammation and decreased neutrophil infiltration in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid and was accompanied by a lower proportion of Th17 cells in mediastinal lymph nodes and spleen. More importantly, induction of HO-1 down-regulated Th17-related transcription factor retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt) expression and decreased IL-17A levels, all of which correlated with a decrease in phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3) level and inhibition of Th17 cell differentiation. Consistently, the above events could be reversed by tin protoporphyrin IX. Also, HO-1 siRNA transfection abolished the effect of hemin induced HO-1 in vivo. Meanwhile, the hemin treatment promoted the level of Foxp3 expression and enhanced the proportion of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Collectively, our findings indicate that HO-1 exhibits anti-inflammatory activity in the mouse model of NEA via inhibition of the p-STAT3-RORγt pathway, regulating kinetics of RORγt and Foxp3 expression, thus providing a possible novel therapeutic target in asthmatic patients.
Regional fMRI hypoactivation and altered functional connectivity during emotion processing in nonmedicated depressed patients with bipolar II disorder.

OBJECTIVE Although the amygdala and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex have been implicated in the pathophysiology of bipolar I disorder, the neural mechanisms underlying bipolar II disorder remain unknown. The authors examined neural activity in response to negative emotional faces during an emotion perception task that reliably activates emotion regulatory regions. METHOD Twenty-one nonmedicated depressed bipolar II patients and 21 healthy comparison subjects underwent functional MRI (fMRI) while performing an emotional face-matching task. Within- and between-group whole-brain fMRI activation and seed-based connectivity analyses were conducted. RESULTS In depressed bipolar II patients, random-effects between-group fMRI analyses revealed a significant reduction in activation in several regions, including the left and right ventrolateral prefrontal cortices (Brodmann's area [BA] 47) and the right amygdala, a priori regions of interest. Additionally, bipolar patients exhibited significantly reduced negative functional connectivity between the right amygdala and the right orbitofrontal cortex (BA 10) as well as the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (BA 46) relative to healthy comparison subjects. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that bipolar II depression is characterized by reduced regional orbitofrontal and limbic activation and altered connectivity in a fronto-temporal circuit implicated in working memory and emotional learning. While the amygdala hypoactivation observed in bipolar II depression is opposite to the direction seen in bipolar I mania and may therefore be state dependent, the observed orbitofrontal cortex hypoactivation is consistent with findings in bipolar I depression, mania, and euthymia, suggesting a physiologic trait marker of the disorder.
Females with de novo aberrations in PHF6: Clinical overlap of Borjeson–Forssman–Lehmann with Coffin–Siris syndrome

Recently, de novo aberrations in PHF6 were identified in females with intellectual disability and with a distinct phenotype including a characteristic facial gestalt with bitemporal narrowing, prominent supraorbital ridges, synophrys, a short nose and dental anomalies, tapering fingers with brachytelephalangy, clinodactyly and hypoplastic nails, short toes with hypoplastic nails, and linear skin hyperpigmentation. In adolescent or older patients, this phenotype overlaps but is not identical with Borjeson–Forssman–Lehmann syndrome in males, caused by X‐linked recessive mutations in PHF6. In younger girls there seems to be a striking phenotypic overlap with Coffin–Siris syndrome, which is characterized by intellectual disability, sparse hair and hypoplastic nails. This review will summarize and characterize the female phenotype caused by de novo aberrations in PHF6 and will discuss the overlapping and distinguishing features with Coffin–Siris syndrome. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Students’ Beliefs About and Perceived Effectiveness of a Tobacco-Free Campus Policy

Tobacco-free (TF) college campus policies have potential to be a high-impact tobacco control strategy. The purposes of the study presented here were to (a) determine the demographic and personal characteristics associated with students’ beliefs about and perceived effectiveness of a TF campus policy and (b) assess whether tobacco use status and exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) predicted beliefs and perceived effectiveness. Five thousand randomly selected students from a large southeastern university were invited by e-mail to participate in an online survey in April 2013, three and a half years after policy implementation. Students held positive beliefs about the policy (average rating 84% of the maximum possible score). Sixty-one percent believed that the policy was successful at reducing SHS exposure; and 40% thought the policy encouraged quitting. Males were less likely than females to believe the policy was effective in reducing SHS exposure and encouraging quitting. Lower undergraduates were more likely to perceive the policy as less effective in reducing SHS exposure; international students were more likely than domestic students to perceive the policy as more effective at encouraging quitting. Students most exposed to SHS were less likely to perceive the policy was effective. Compared with nonusers, those who smoked cigarettes were less likely to perceive the policy as effective in encouraging quitting. Tailored messaging regarding policy benefits are necessary. Perceived effectiveness of TF policies may be related to compliance with the policy and should be further investigated. Objective measures of effectiveness and tobacco use behaviors are needed to fully measure the success of TF campus policies.
Progressive loss of protective reflexes in the airway with the advance of age.

Aspiration pneumonia is a common and serious complication, especially among elderly patients. By using randomized concentrations of ammonia gas as an irritant, the threshold of the protective airway reflex was determined in 103 subjects. The end-point was a brief stop in the inspiration as recorded on a metabolic spirometer. The median threshold was found to increase sixfold from the second to the eighth and ninth decades of life. This decrease in sensitivity explains, in part, why silent tracheal aspiration seems to occur oftener in older people. The protective airway reflex can be further depressed by injudicious use of depressant drugs in elderly patients. The effects of various drugs on the reflex can be determined readily by applying the method here described.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL OF STALK LENGTH IN THE BLOOM‐FORMING, FRESHWATER BENTHIC DIATOM DIDYMOSPHENIA GEMINATA (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) 1

Blooms of the freshwater stalked diatom Didymosphenia geminata (Lyngb.) M. Schmidt in A. Schmidt typically occur in oligotrophic, unshaded streams and rivers. Observations that proliferations comprise primarily stalk material composed of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) led us to ask whether or not the production of excessive EPS is favored under nutrient‐limited, high‐light conditions. We conducted experiments in outdoor flumes colonized by D. geminata using water from the oligotrophic, D. geminata–affected Waitaki River, South Island, New Zealand, to determine the relationship between D. geminata stalk length, cell division rates, and light intensity under ambient and nutrient‐enriched conditions. Stalk lengths were measured in situ, and cell division rates were estimated as the frequency of dividing cells (FDC). FDC responded positively to increasing light intensity and to nutrient additions (N+P and P). Under ambient conditions, stalk length increased as light level increased except at low ambient light levels and temperature. Nutrient enrichment resulted in decreased stalk length and negative correlations with FDC, with this effect most evident under high light. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that extensive stalk production in D. geminata occurs when cell division rates are nutrient limited and light levels are high. Thus, photosynthetically driven EPS production in the form of stalks, under nutrient‐limited conditions, may explain the development of very high biomass in this species in oligotrophic rivers. The responses of FDC and stalk length under nutrient‐replete conditions are also consistent with occurrences of D. geminata as a nondominant component of mixed periphyton communities in high‐nutrient streams.
[Evolution of nutritional status in hospitalized children].

OBJECTIVE To assess the evolution of nutritional status in children admitted to the Teaching Hospital of Universidade Federal de Alagoas. METHODS A retrospective study was performed on 52 children (0-10 yrs) whose length of hospital stay exceeded 10 days (from February to July/2001). We compared their nutritional status, expressed in terms of Z score of the weight-for-age ratio at the beginning (T1) and at the end of the hospitalization period (T2). RESULTS The predominant age range (44.2%) was less than 1 year (median=1.4 yrs). The hospitalization period varied from 10 to 77 days (median=20 days). Although the prevalence rates of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) in T1 and T2 were, respectively, 71.2% and 69.2%, only 15.4% had this diagnosis on the medical records. These children diagnosed with protein-energy malnutrition presented extreme wasting and greater length of hospital stay than the others (PEM, n=8: -4.38 +/- 2.1, T=30 +/- 4.5; undiagnosed PEM, n=13: -3.13 +/- 0.9, T=23 +/- 18; other conditions, n=31: -0.63 +/- 1.1, T=21 +/- 13). Among the 52 children analyzed, only 29 showed positive weight variation. However, the average magnitude of negative Z values was higher than that of positive values: -0.56 and 0.50. Children who remained in hospital for a longer period of time showed larger weight deficits, indicating that hospitalization did not contribute towards the improvement of their initial nutritional status. CONCLUSION The prevalence of weight-for-age deficit among children at hospital admission was very high. This situation remained unchanged at hospital discharge.
The effect of membrane exposure on the outcome of regenerative procedures in humans: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND The significance of early membrane exposure on the regenerative outcome in guided tissue regeneration (GTR) and guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedures is somewhat controversial. Several clinical trials have shown better response when the membranes remained submerged (S) compared to those that have become exposed (E) during healing. Other studies have failed to show any such difference. Small sample size and/or large standard deviation of the changes might account for these discrepancies. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to critically combine the existing data in order to provide meaningful information based on a large database. METHODS Studies of GTR in Class II furcation and intrabony defects (IBD), together with GBR around dental implants, where the membrane became exposed during the postoperative period, were combined to form 3 separate databases. A meta-analysis was employed to compare the 2 subgroups (E versus S) in each of the databases. First, weighted mean changes and weighted standard errors were calculated for each subgroup. Next, an individual study P value was calculated (1-tailed Student t test); finally, a combined Fisher's P statistic (with 5% significance level) was calculated from the individual P values. RESULTS Five studies with a total of 101 sites were included in the furcation database; 43 of these sites became exposed. Mean horizontal attachment level (AL) gain for the S sites (3.72 +/- 0.15 mm) was slightly greater than that of the E sites (3.06 +/- 0.15 mm; P = 0.030257). For the intrabony group, there were 309 sites in 5 studies: of these, 142 sites became exposed. Mean gain in vertical AL was 4.22 +/- 0.15 mm and 4.69 +/- 0.13 mm for the E and S group, respectively (P = 0.011415). The GBR group included 60 sites in 2 studies: new bone formation in the 24 S sites (3.01 +/- 0.38 mm) was 6-fold greater compared with the 36 E sites (0.56 +/- 0.45 mm). These differences were also statistically significant (P = 0.001875). CONCLUSIONS Membrane exposure during healing had a major negative effect on GBR around dental implants but only a minimal effect on GTR around natural teeth.
Extrapersonal Visual Unilateral Spatial Neglect and Its Neuroanatomy

The neural correlates of left extrapersonal visual unilateral spatial neglect (VUSN), the more extensively investigated component of the neglect syndrome, are reviewed. Damage to a number of right-hemisphere regions brings about VUSN: the posterior parietal cortex (inferior parietal lobule) and, although less frequently, the premotor cortex and subcortical structures, such as the thalamus and the basal ganglia, and white matter fiber tracts. In recent years, a number of studies have investigated the possible association of specific components of left VUSN with damage to specific brain regions within the right hemisphere. The putative distinction most extensively investigated from an anatomical perspective concerns the perceptual vs premotor components of VUSN. In addition, a fine-grain componential analysis of the behavioral tasks used to investigate VUSN is providing more specific insight into the pathological mechanisms underlying the variety of its manifestations. The emerging pattern is that USN is a multifarious disorder, in which specific deficits are associated with damage localized in discrete brain regions and neural circuits. These data concur with evidence from other domains (functional neuroimaging, neurophysiology) to suggest a highly multicomponential neural and functional architecture of spatial cognition.