Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The relation between the number of parasites/host and host age: population dynamic causes and maximum likelihood estimation

SUMMARY We examined dynamical factors that shape the distribution of the number of parasites/host in constant or temporally varying environments, and with or without host-age dependent variation in host susceptibility and parasite mortality. We predict properties of the parasite distribution in the absence of density-dependent factors such as densitydependent mortality or recruitment and parasite-induced host mortality. These properties provide a criterion for the detection of density dependence in temporally variable systems with host-age dependent interactions. We have then introduced methods to estimate and statistically evaluate the effects of host age or size on the distribution of parasites/host. The methods are based on a maximum likelihood protocol for linear and non-linear regression when data are negatively binomially distributed. We have illustrated the use of the theoretical results and statistical methods by re-analysing the data of Halvorsen & Andersen (1984) on cestode infections in Norwegian arctic charr and by analysing new data on nematode infections in Caribbean Anolis lizards.
Clinical grade adult stem cell banking

There has been a great deal of scientific interest recently generated by the potential therapeutic applications of adult stem cells in human care but there are several challenges regarding quality and safety in clinical applications and a number of these challenges relate to the processing and banking of these cells ex-vivo. As the number of clinical trials and the variety of adult cells used in regenerative therapy increases, safety remains a primary concern. This has inspired many nations to formulate guidelines and standards for the quality of stem cell collection, processing, testing, banking, packaging and distribution. Clinically applicable cryopreservation and banking of adult stem cells offers unique opportunities to advance the potential uses and widespread implementation of these cells in clinical applications. Most current cryopreservation protocols include animal serum proteins and potentially toxic cryoprotectant additives (CPAs) which prevent direct use of these cells in human therapeutic applications. Long term cryopreservation of adult stem cells under good manufacturing conditions using animal product free solutions is critical to the widespread clinical implementation of ex-vivo adult stem cell therapies. Furthermore, to avoid any potential cryoprotectant related complications, reduced CPA concentrations and efficient post-thaw washing to remove CPA are also desirable. The present review focuses on the current strategies and important aspects of adult stem cell banking for clinical applications. These include current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs), animal protein free freezing solutions, cryoprotectants, freezing & thawing protocols, viability assays, packaging and distribution. The importance and benefits of banking clinical grade adult stem cells are also discussed.
Hamon: An activity recognition framework for health monitoring support at home

In this paper, we introduce a Health signs and Activity recognition MONitoring framework (Hamon). Hamon, of German origin meaning a home protector [13], is designed to be an enabling prototype for health monitoring applications. As one of the possible applications, we implemented an activity detection prototype using off-the-shelf sensors. The new activity recognition algorithm we present here is based on accelerometers signals, a K-nearest neighbor (KNN) classifier and a Bayesian network. The framework collects and analyzes sensory data in real-time, and provides different feedback to the users. In addition, it can generate alerts based on the detected events and store the data collected to a medical sever. Context information such as the weather condition, the type of activity, and physiological data collected such as the heart rate, is also integrated in the framework.
Recent i.v.-drug users with chronic hepatitis C can be efficiently treated with daily high dose induction therapy using consensus interferon: an open-label pilot study.

AIM To investigate the use of high dose consensus-interferon in combination with ribavirin in former iv drug users infected with hepatitis C. METHODS We started, before pegylated (PEG)-interferons were available, an open-label study to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of high dose induction therapy with consensus interferon (CIFN) and ribavirin in treatment of naiive patients with chronic hepatitis C. Fifty-eight patients who were former iv drug users, were enrolled receiving 18 microg of CIFN daily for 8 wk, followed by 9 mug daily for up to wk 24 or 48 and 800 mg of ribavirin daily. End point of the study was tolerability and eradication of the virus at wk 48 and sustained virological response at wk 72. RESULTS More than 62% of patients responded to the treatment with CIFN at wk 24 or 48, respectively, showing a negative qualitative PCR [genotype 1 fourteen patients (56%), genotype 2 five (50%), genotype 3 thirteen (87%), genotype 4 four (50%)]. Forty-eight percent of genotype 1 patients showed sustained virological response (SVR) six months after the treatment. CONCLUSION CIFN on a daily basis is well tolerated and side effects like leuko- and thrombocytopenia are moderate. End of therapy (EOT) rates are slightly lower than the newer standard therapy with pegylated interferons. CIFN on a daily basis might be a favourable therapy regimen for patients with GT1 and high viral load or for non-responders after failure of standard therapy.
How Effective Is “Code Freeze” in Post–Cardiac Arrest Patients?

The use of therapeutic hypothermia or “code freeze” dates back to over 100 years in attempts to resuscitate injured soldiers, preserve limbs, and to provide analgesia for amputations. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of code freeze through a retrospective review of 187 charts of patients who had a cardiac arrest while hospitalized in a 1-year period. Data were collected to determine which post–cardiac arrest patients received the induced therapeutic hypothermia intervention and why they were selected for induced therapeutic hypothermia. The data were compared with post–cardiac arrest patients who did not receive the code-freeze intervention and why they were not eligible for the intervention. Mortality rates between the 2 patient populations were also compared. The results from this study are presented in this article.
CALICOTYLE CALIFORNIENSIS N. SP. AND CALICOTYLE UROBATI N. SP. (MONOGENEA: CALICOTYLINAE) FROM ELASMOBRANCHS IN THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA

Two new species of Calicotyle (Monocotylidae: Calicotylinae) are described from elasmobranchs in the western Gulf of California. Calicotyle californiensis n. sp. is described from a single specimen collected from a gray smoothhound shark (Mustelus californicus, Carcharhiniformes: Triakidae). It is distinguished from its congeners by the combination of having vaginal pores opening within the intercecal space, distal regions of the vaginae twisting, proximal regions of the vaginae fusing medially to form a kidney bean–shaped structure, and a relatively long male copulatory organ recurving 3 times and passing between the distal penis bulb and the seminal vesicle. Calicotyle urobati n. sp. is described from 16 specimens collected from at least the cloaca and rectum of the round rays Urobatis halleri and Urobatis maculatus (Rajiformes: Urolophidae). It is distinguished from its congeners by the combination of having vaginal pores opening outside the intercecal space and proximal regions of the vaginae terminating at the level of the ceca. Members of Calicotyle have not been reported previously from the eastern Pacific Ocean or from these hosts. In the past, species of Calicotyle have been distinguished based primarily on the shape and length of the male copulatory organ and hamuli. Divisions of the vaginae and the positions of the vaginal pores are also useful in distinguishing members of the genus.
Continuum and Integration of Pre-Dialysis Care and Dialysis Modalities

The principles of management of patients before dialysis and during dialysis have been well de scribed in the literature. The timing of the transition from pre-dialysis to dialytic care may be an important determinant of patient morbidity and mortality and has generated a great debate with the recent introduction by the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) of the U.S.A. Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative (DOQI) guidelines (1). Since the mid 1960s, dialysis is initiated based on several subjective symptoms, in conjunction with a few objective laboratory indices, which have their own limitations. Malangone et al found no association between the laboratory indices and the severity of symptoms and signs of uremia (2). Nephrologists have readily initiated dialysis when patients present with far advanced uremic symptomatology such as pericarditis, uremic encephalopathy, uremic neuropathy, pulmonary edema, hypertension, hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms refractory to medical therapy considered as absolute indications (3). In the presence of the less severe symptoms and signs considered as relative indicators, nephrologists have often waited for the above-stated absolute indications to appear before initiating dialysis. Certain major problems arise with this approach. Bonomini et al as early as two decades ago showed that some of these uremic manifestations are irreversible (4). As the disease progresses, patients adapt their lifestyle to a decreased level of energy. Moreover, several studies have shown that delayed referral and subsequently later initiation of dialysis is associated with more severe metabolic abnormalities such as acidosis, anemia, hyperphosphatemia , and hypoalbuminemia (5-8), and with prolonged hospitalizations and costs (5-7,9),
How robust is the entanglement entropy: Area relation?

We revisit the problem of finding the entanglement entropy of a scalar field on a lattice by tracing over its degrees of freedom inside a sphere. It is known that this entropy satisfies the area law--entropy proportional to the area of the sphere--when the field is assumed to be in its ground state. We show that the area law continues to hold when the scalar field degrees of freedom are in generic coherent states and a class of squeezed states. However, when excited states are considered, the entropy scales as a lower power of the area. This suggests that, for large horizons, the ground state entropy dominates, whereas entropy due to excited states gives power-law corrections. We discuss possible implications of this result to black hole entropy.
High incidence of neutropenia in patients with prolonged ceftaroline exposure.

OBJECTIVES We sought to determine the rate of incident neutropenia and identify potential clinical factors associated with incident neutropenia among patients treated with long courses of ceftaroline. METHODS We retrospectively identified adult patients who received ceftaroline for ≥7 days consecutively at two large academic medical centres in Boston, USA between November 2010 and March 2015. Clinical characteristics (age, gender, medication allergies, baseline renal function, duration of ceftaroline exposure, total daily ceftaroline dose, body mass-adjusted ceftaroline dose and development of rash and neutropenia) were recorded and the rate of incident neutropenia was calculated. The Naranjo probability scale was used to assess whether ceftaroline exposure was associated with neutropenia. We assessed whether clinical factors were associated with neutropenia. RESULTS The overall rate of incident neutropenia was 10%-14% with ≥2 weeks and 21% with ≥3 weeks of ceftaroline exposure. The median duration of ceftaroline exposure [26 days (IQR 22-44; range 13-68) in patients who developed neutropenia and 15 days (IQR 9-29; range 7-64) in patients without neutropenia] was associated with incident neutropenia (P = 0.048). The median total number of ceftaroline doses received [63 (IQR 44-126; range 36-198) by neutropenic patients and 32 (IQR 22-63; range 14-180) by non-neutropenic patients] was also associated with incident neutropenia (P = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS The overall rate of neutropenia was high and associated with duration of ceftaroline exposure and total number of doses received. Close laboratory monitoring is warranted with long-term ceftaroline use.
A method for the longitudinal study of human thenar motor units

Methods currently available to study the electrophysiological and contractile properties of single human motor units (MUs) preclude the same MU from being studied on repeated occasions. We have developed a method which allows single thenar MUs to be studied longitudinally. Sites were located along the median nerve where, using percutaneous stimulation, it was possible to selectively activate a single thenar motor axon as determined by: (a) the presence of an “all‐or‐nothing” surface‐detected motor unit action potential (S‐MUAP); (b) the occasional presence of F‐responses identical in size and shape to the direct S‐MUAP; (c) excitation thresholds widely separated from the next highest threshold motor axon so as to allow high frequency stimulation. To ensure that the same motor axon had been located and stimulated in successive studies, additional criteria included: (a) the motor axon was found at approximately the same site along the nerve; (b) the threshold for excitation remained widely separate from the next highest threshold motor axon; (c) the shape of the S‐MUAP was almost identical on repeated studies; (d) S‐MUAP and F‐response latencies were similar. This method provides, for the first time, the ability to track longitudinally the electrical and contractile properties of single MUs in health and during the course and treatment of disease. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The relationship between restless legs syndrome and cardiovascular disease

Sirs, I read with great interest the recent article by Pearson et al. [1]. The past few years have seen a number of studies that have helped us to have a better understanding of restless legs syndrome (RLS). One aspect of RLS that is now unfolding is its close relationship with cardiovascular disease. For instance, a recent study by Winkelman et al. [2] indicates that the risk of cardiovascular disease is almost two times greater in those with RLS compared with the risk in those without RLS. Similarly, studies indicate that periodic leg movements in sleep (PLMS) are associated with elevated systolic as well as diastolic blood pressures. For instance, Siddiqui et al. [3] in a recent study have reported an increase in systolic blood pressure by almost 17 mmHg during periodic limb movements in sleep with cortical arousal (PLMSA) and by 11 mmHg in periodic limb movements in sleep without cortical arousal (PLMSNA). These studies indicate that the elevated blood pressure in patients with RLS is significant enough to contribute towards the risk for cardiovascular disease. In addition, some of the medications used in the management of RLS have been shown to result in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. For instance, pergolide which was previously used in the management of RLS is an ergot derivative that has been shown to result in valvular heart disease [4]. There have also been some reports of cases of RLS that were triggered after the patient underwent cardiovascular surgery [5]. Clearly, there is a significant association between RLS and cardiovascular disease. Further large scale studies are needed to fully explore the extent of this relationship.
A ripple-spreading genetic algorithm for the network coding problem

The network coding problem (NCP) is an NP-hard combinatorial problem, and genetic algorithms (GAs) have recently been applied to address this problem. This paper reports a novel ripple-spreading GA (RSGA) for the NCP. In contrast to existing GAs where a chromosome directly represents a solution, the proposed RSGA separates chromosomes and solutions by introducing a purpose-designed pre-problem for the NCP. In the pre-problem, the nodes in the NCP are projected into an artificial space, in which some ripple epicenters are randomly generated. Then a specially parameterized ripple-spreading process is employed such that as ripples (starting from the epicenters) spread out in the artificial space, the incoming signals and outgoing signals of all nodes will be individually determined, according to the amplitudes of the ripples which have reached the node. Changing the values of the ripple-spreading parameters will result in different information flows in the networks. Therefore, a simple binary-string based GA, unlike existing GAs which employ permutation representations for the NCP, can be used to optimize the values of the ripple-spreading parameters, in order to find a good solution to the NCP. A potential advantage of the RSGA is its scalability in complex networks, where permutation representation based GAs may face serious memory-efficiency problems. The effectiveness of the proposed RSGA is illustrated in the context of some experiments.
Long-Term Follow-Up After Lymphaticovenular Anastomosis for Lymphedema in the Leg

Over the last 9 years, the authors analyzed lymphedema of the lower extremity in a total of 25 patients, comparing the use of supermicrosurgical lymphaticovenular anastomosis and/or conservative treatment. The most common cause of edema was hysterectomy, with or without subsequent radiation therapy for uterine cancer. Among 12 cases that underwent only conservative treatment, only one case showed a decrease of over 4 cm in the circumference of the lower leg. The average period for conservative treatment was 1.5 years, and the average decreased circumference was 0.6 cm (8 percent of the preoperative excess). Thirteen patients were followed after lymphaticovenular anastomoses, as well as pre- and postoperative conservative treatment. The average follow-up after surgery was 3.3 years, and eight patients showed a reduction of over 4 cm in the circumference of the lower leg. The average decrease in the circumference, excluding edema in the bilateral leg, was 4.7 cm (55.6 percent of the preoperative excess). These results indicate that supermicrosurgical lymphaticovenular anastomosis has a valuable place in the treatment of lymphedema.
Endometrial thickness as measured by transvaginal sonography: interobserver variation

Transvaginal sonography of the uterus has become an important tool for diagnosing endometrial pathology in women with postmenopausal bleeding. One parameter that has been claimed to be important for curly detection of endometrial pathology in this group of women is the endometrial thickness. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of measurements of endometrial thickness as performed by five inexperienced doctors and one doctor experienced in the transvaginal sonography technique. The endometrial thickness as measured by the experienced doctor was regarded as the ‘true measurement’, and the mean discrepancy from this true measurement was 1.5 mm for the inexperienced doctors. No endometrial pathology was found at the histopathological examination after dilatation and curettage (D & C) when the endometrial thickness was measured as ≤ 4 mm by both the inexperienced and the experienced doctors. However, there were considerable differences between the results obtained by the five inexperienced doctors. If this method is to be used for identifying those women who will not have a D & C performed, based on the findings of a thin endometrium (≤ 4 mm), training is needed in order to minimize the error. We believe that this will make measurement more accurate and it may then be used to exclude endometrial abnormality in women with postmenopausal bleeding.
Acute renal hemodynamic effects of dimanganese decacarbonyl and cobalt protoporphyrin.

BACKGROUND Heme oxygenase (HO) products have a protective role in acute renal failure (ARF) that may be hemodynamically mediated because the HO-derived carbon monoxide (CO) is an important control system of arteriolar tone. The vascular effects of HO may be caused directly through changes in CO synthesis, and indirectly by alterations in nitric oxide (NO) release. The present study evaluated in vivo the renal effects of a heme oxygenase inhibitor, Co(III)Protoporphyrin (CoPP) alone or in combination with the CO donor dimanganese decacarbonyl (Mn2(CO)10). METHODS All drugs were administered into the renal artery of anesthetized rats. Changes in renal cortical nitric oxide concentration were measured in vivo electrochemically. RESULTS The intrarenal administration of the CO donor Mn2(CO)10 increased blood carboxyhemoglobin levels (+74%), renal blood flow (+54%), glomerular filtration (+38%), and urinary cGMP excretion (+128%). On the other hand, the inhibition of renal HO with CoPP progressively induced an ARF characterized by a drop in renal blood flow (-77%), glomerular filtration (-93%), and urinary cGMP excretion (-93%). These deleterious effects of HO inhibition on renal function were nearly abolished by supplementing CO with the coadministration of Mn2(CO)10+ CoPP, indicating that they may be caused by inhibition of CO synthesis and the resulting hemodynamic changes. In addition, CoPP lowered the renal cortical NO concentration (-21%) and also decreased the urinary excretion of nitrates/nitrites, while Mn2(CO)10 increased renal NO levels (+20%) and raised the excretion of nitrates/nitrites, suggesting that changes in NO release may contribute to the renal effects of the HO-CO system. CONCLUSION These results indicate that heme oxygenase-derived CO plays a cardinal role in the control of renal hemodynamics and glomerular filtration.
Analysis of β‐Thalassemia Mutations in Northern Thailand Using an Automated Fluorescence DNA Sequencing Technique

A total of 218 β‐thalassemia (thal) genes from 109 β‐thal major patients were characterized using an automated fluorescence DNA sequencing technique. Eight different mutations were identified in all 218 alleles (100%). Four common mutations accounted for 96.8% [49.5% were codons 41/42 (–TTCT), 34.4% were codon 17 (A→T), 6.9% were IVS‐I‐1 (G→T) and, 6.0% were codons 71/72 (+A)]. There were three cases of −28 (A→G) and one of IVS‐II‐654 (C→T), mutations that have been previously described in Thai subjects. We also identified two mutations in the β‐globin promoter region which have not been reported in Thailand before [−31 (A→G) and −87 (C→A)]. Although these mutations are described as β+‐thal, the compound heterozygote with one of the common β0‐thal mutations exhibits the phenotype of β‐thal major. The frequency of β‐thal genes in northern Thailand were similar to the northeastern region, but different from those reported in southern and central Thailand, where IVS‐I‐5 (G→C) and IVS‐II‐654 (C→T) were the second most common anomalies, respectively. The spectrum of β‐globin gene mutations from this study will be useful for planning a prenatal diagnosis program especially for this region of Thailand.
Hyperopic LASEK treatments with mitomycin C using the SCHWIND AMARIS.

PURPOSE To investigate the outcomes of hyperopic laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) with mitomycin C (MMC) using the SCHWIND AMARIS platform. METHODS Prospective study of 28 eyes of 14 patients. Mean preoperative manifest spherical equivalent refraction was +2.71±0.72 diopters (D) (range: +1.50 to +4.50 D). All eyes underwent LASEK with an Aberration-Free™ algorithm with the SCHWIND AMARIS followed by a 35-second application of MMC with a 6.7-mm optical zone size. RESULTS At 1 year, mean manifest spherical equivalent refraction was 0.03±0.30 D (range: -0.53 to +0.50 D), with 13 eyes within -0.13 to +0.13 D and all 28 eyes within ±0.50 D. Mean uncorrected distance visual acuity was -0.03±0.09 logMAR, and the efficacy and safety indices were 1, respectively, at 1 year. The postoperative manifest spherical equivalent refraction was stable between 1 and 3 months and 1 year. CONCLUSIONS Hyperopic LASEK with MMC using the SCHWIND AMARIS provided good outcomes in terms of accuracy, efficacy, safety, and stability.