Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Residual neuropathy in long-term population-based follow-up of Guillain–Barré syndrome

Objective: To estimate the occurrence of residual neuropathy and its self-reported health consequences in a population-based group of patients with Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) and to characterize quantitatively the concomitant motor, sensory, and autonomic impairments. Methods: Forty patients (mean age 46 years) with a confirmed diagnosis of GBS were studied a mean of 7 years (range 1 to 13 years) after the acute attack together with 40 healthy control subjects. The Dyck minimal criteria of neuropathy, the Neuropathy Symptom Score, the Neuropathy Disability Score, the Short Form-36 (SF-36) generic health questionnaire, isokinetic dynamometry at ankle and wrist, quantitative sensory testing of thresholds for vibration, cold, and pain, autonomic function tests, nerve conduction studies, and a summed Neuropathy Rank Sum Score (NRSS) were applied. Results: Nineteen patients (48%) had residual neuropathy, which was independent of follow-up time. The patients with GBS reported lower health status than control subjects on the SF-36 Physical Component Summary Scale (PCS; p = 0.01), and the PCS scores correlated with the NRSS (r = −0.41, p = 0.009). In patients with GBS, muscle strength at ankle dorsal flexion was reduced by 13.9% (p = 0.001), sensory thresholds for vibration were increased in the foot (p < 0.05), and sensory thresholds for cold were increased in the hand and foot (p < 0.05), whereas autonomic functions and pain thresholds were unaffected. Conclusions: Residual neuropathy affecting large- and medium-sized myelinated fibers endures long after the acute attack of Guillain–Barré syndrome in approximately half of all patients, leads to motor and sensory dysfunction, and shows a trend toward impairing self-reported physical health status.
Multiplex 16S rRNA haplotype‐specific PCR, a rapid and convenient method for fish species identification: an application to West African Clupeiform larvae

A multiplex haplotype‐specific polymerase chain reaction (MHS‐PCR) method was developed, which identified seven Clupeiform species living in the tropical Eastern Atlantic region: Sardinella aurita, Sardinella maderensis, Ethmalosa fimbriata, Sardina pilchardus, Engraulis encrasicholus, Pellonula leonensis and Ilisha africana. 16S rRNA fragments were amplified using a species‐specific set of primers, yielding species‐specific size fragments, and then separated using agarose gel electrophoresis, enabling direct visual identification of targeted species. This method provides an accurate, easy and rapid tool for identifying species within large Clupeiform samples. It is suitable for investigations on early Clupeiform stages, species and identification in fishery management in the tropical Eastern Atlantic area.
An ensemble of k-nearest neighbours algorithm for detection of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is a disease of the central nervous system that leads to severe difficulties in motor functions. Developing computational tools for recognition of Parkinson's disease at the early stages is very desirable for alleviating the symptoms. In this paper, we developed a discriminative model based on a selected feature subset and applied several classifier algorithms in the context of disease detection. All classifier performances from the point of both stand-alone and rotation-forest ensemble approach were evaluated on a Parkinson's disease data-set according to a blind testing protocol. The new method compared to hitherto methods outperforms the state-of-the-art in terms of both predictions of accuracy (98.46%) and area under receiver operating characteristic curve (0.99) scores applying rotation-forest ensemble k-nearest neighbour classifier algorithm.
Ochratoxins-A review

The economic and health implications of ochratoxin contamination are discussed together with efforts by various bodies to set standards and ensure compliance. Occurrence on African crops, detection techniques and management systems are highlighted. This mycotoxin produces diverse morbidities in animals and man It also compromises export value of crops. Good agricultural and manufacturing practices still hold the promise for an effective ochratoxin control in store, home and industry. The need to set and ensure compliance with standard on OTA in crops and livestock is highlighted. This could also come only after a credible country wide assessment on ochratoxin is carried out and an Africa Union attention centred on it
Rationally inattentive preferences and hidden information costs

We show how information acquisition costs can be identified using observable choice data. Identifying information costs from behavior is especially relevant when these costs depend on factors—such as time, effort, and cognitive resources—that are difficult to observe directly, as in models of rational inattention. Using willingness-to-pay data for opportunity sets—which require more or less information to make choices—we establish a set of canonical properties that are necessary and sufficient to identify information costs. We also provide an axiomatic characterization of the induced rationally inattentive preferences and show how they reveal the amount of information a decision-maker acquires.
Structures of Complex Networks and of their Dynamics

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés. Structures of Complex Networks and of their Dynamics Christophe Crespelle
Self-energy meter in duty-cycle battery operated sensor nodes

Reduced levels of energy consumption is one of the major goals in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), making the design of a sensor node a challenging task. On-field real-time measurement of the energy consumption of sensor nodes could have a major impact on developing wireless networks. It could be applied to predict the remaining battery charge or to asses the energy efficiency of communication protocols. However, designing such a system presents many challenges that will be discussed in this work. Moreover, we present a measurement method and circuit, named self-energy meter (SEM), that easily adds to a sensor node the capability of measuring its own energy consumption. SEM is a novel approach focused in solving the problem of covering a dynamic range of five decades in duty-cycle battery operated sensor nodes. Experimental results show that SEM has very low power consumption, ensuring an almost negligible impact in the battery lifetime, is highly linear, presents a very low temperature drift, and is almost independent of the power supply.
Compromised Endothelium‐Dependent Hyperpolarization‐Mediated Dilations can be Rescued by NS309 in Obese Zucker Rats

NO and a non‐NO/prostacyclin EDH mechanism are major contributors of vascular tone and cerebral blood flow. However, the effect of metabolic syndrome on EDH‐mediated responses in cerebral vessels remains unknown and may offer another avenue for therapeutic targeting. The purpose of this study was to investigate EDH‐dependent responses in cerebral arteries during metabolic syndrome.
Screening and Phylogenetic Analysis of Deep-Sea Bacteria Capable of Metabolizing Lignin-Derived Aromatic Compounds

Lignin is one of the most abundant biomasses in nature. It is composed of aromatic moieties and has great potential for use in the production of chemical alternatives to petroleum products. Because of increasing interest in biocatalysis, the potential for industrial application of microbial metabolism of lignin-derived compounds has gained considerable recent attention. Functional screenings of culturable bacteria isolated from sediments and sunken wood collected from the deep sea revealed the existence of a number of previously unidentified bacteria capable of metabolizing lignin-related aromatic compounds. Of the 510 isolates obtained in the present study, 208 completely or partially metabolized these compounds. The 208 isolates were classified into diverse phyla, including Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria. Among the 208 isolates, 61 unique 16S rRNA gene sequences were detected including previously unidentified marine lineage isolates. The metabolites of the isolates were analysed using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) or gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Most of the representative 61 isolates non-oxidatively decarboxylated the substrates to produce the corresponding aromatic vinyl monomers, which are used as feed stocks for bio-based plastics production. Oxidative metabolism of the lignin-related compounds for assimilation was frequently observed. Our study showed that the deep-sea environment contains an abundance of microorganisms capable of both non-oxidative and oxidative bioconversion of lignin-derived aromatic compounds. The ability for bio-conversion of aromatic compounds found in this study will facilitate the development of future biotechnological applications.
Response of Metastatic Epidermoid Anal Cancer to Single Agent Irinotecan: A Case Report

We report a case of a patient affected by epidermoid anal cancer who had hepatic progression after standard therapy with the Nigro regimen (fluorouracil and mitomycin C plus radiotherapy). This is an uncommon neoplasm against which only few chemotherapeutic agents have been tested. In our patient salvage treatment with low dose irinotecan resulted in a partial response.
Evolocumab (AMG 145) for primary hypercholesterolemia

Evolocumab is a fully human monoclonal IgG2 antibody that inhibits proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, a protein that targets LDL receptors for degradation and thereby reduces the liver’s ability to remove LDL-C from the blood. In Phase II and III trials in more than 6000 subjects with primary hypercholesterolemia, evolocumab reduced LDL-C by 50–75% compared with placebo and by 35–45% compared with ezetimibe. Evolocumab reduced the proatherogenic lipid profile, including Lp(a), and modestly increased HDL-C and ApoA1. In subjects with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, evolocumab reduced LDL-C by 30%. Safety and tolerability of evolocumab was similar to that of placebo and ezetimibe. The ongoing FOURIER trial, anticipated to report in 2017, will provide definitive evidence on cardiovascular endpoints and additional long-term safety.
The target of rapamycin kinase affects biomass accumulation and cell cycle progression by altering carbon/nitrogen balance in synchronized Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells

Several metabolic processes tightly regulate growth and biomass accumulation. A highly conserved protein complex containing the target of rapamycin (TOR) kinase is known to integrate intra- and extracellular stimuli controlling nutrient allocation and hence cellular growth. Although several functions of TOR have been described in various heterotrophic eukaryotes, our understanding lags far behind in photosynthetic organisms. In the present investigation, we used the model alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to conduct a time-resolved analysis of molecular and physiological features throughout the diurnal cycle after TOR inhibition. Detailed examination of the cell cycle phases revealed that growth is not only repressed by 50%, but also that significant, non-linear delays in the progression can be observed. By using metabolomics analysis, we elucidated that the growth repression was mainly driven by differential carbon partitioning between anabolic and catabolic processes. Accordingly, the time-resolved analysis illustrated that metabolic processes including amino acid-, starch- and triacylglycerol synthesis, as well RNA degradation, were redirected within minutes of TOR inhibition. Here especially the high accumulation of nitrogen-containing compounds indicated that an active TOR kinase controls the carbon to nitrogen balance of the cell, which is responsible for biomass accumulation, growth and cell cycle progression.
Impact of Previous Abdominal Surgery on Colorectal Laparoscopy Results: A Comparative Clinical Study

To assess the results of laparoscopic colorectal surgery in patients who have previously undergone abdominal surgery. Between November 2002 and June 2004, 86 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery for colorectal disease at our hospital. Patients were divided into 2 groups depending on whether they had previously undergone abdominal surgery (previous surgery group, n=27) or not (nonprevious surgery group, n=59). Data were prospectively collected for statistical analyses of demographic, clinical, and histologic variables. Groups were comparable in age, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, diagnosis, technique performed, and tumor size and distance to anal verge. There was no difference in perioperative complication rates. A higher conversion rate was found in the previous surgery group (26.1% vs. 5.1%, P=0.02). In patients with tumor diseases, resection evaluations were no different regarding specimen length, distal and radial resection margins, or number of lymph nodes harvested. Laparoscopic colorectal surgery has proved to be a reliable technique for patients who have previously undergone abdominal surgery, its results comparable to those obtained with patients who have not.
RELATIONSHIP OF SEPARATION TO DEPRESSION.

There is considerable clinical evidence that psychological factors are of great importance in the precipitation and development of depression. Mendelson 1 has pointed out that an extensive body of literature exists with an impressive consensus that in even the most endogenous depressions, emotional factors play a highly significant etiologic role. In the majority of psychological theories concerned with depression, the role of emotional trauma in early life has been stressed. Clinical observations suggest that of all the possible early traumatic experiences, separation in childhood from important persons, and especially parents, plays an important and critical role in depression. Although there exists an overwhelming agreement in the literature 2-6 that severe early deprivation results in pathological personality development, no impressive correlation had been reported until recently between early separation and adult depressive reactions. A significant relationship between parental loss in childhood and adult depression was
Tracking the delivery of prevention-oriented care among primary care providers who have adopted electronic health records

The Primary Care Information Project is a New York City initiative aimed at improving population health through the improved delivery of preventive care. It has assisted with the adoption of a fully functional electronic health record (EHR) in over 300 primary care practices. Practices with EHRs automatically transmit summary data that can be used to track population health indicators for recommended preventive care. Early analysis, focusing on small practices with fewer than 10 providers serving Medicaid and uninsured populations, showed increases in the delivery of recommended services of 0.1-2.4% per month (p ≤ 0.05). However, measurement of preventive care across this population is limited by some inconsistency of data transmission. This study shows that EHRs can be used to track the delivery of recommended preventive care across small primary care practices serving lower income communities in which few data are generally available for assessing population health.
Common Architecture Design of Novel Recursive MDCT and IMDCT Algorithms for Application to AAC, AAC in DRM, and MP3 Codecs

This paper presents a novel recursive algorithm to compute the modified discrete cosine transform (MDCT) and the inverse MDCT (IMDCT) based on type IV of the discrete cosine transform (DCT-IV) algorithm. The proposed algorithm has the following advantages: In contrast with parallel designs, the input sequence fed by serial in/serial out (SISO) can dynamically be switched with the variable window length. The data throughput per transformation for the MDCT and IMDCT algorithms is four times higher than that of the previous algorithms, and the ROM size can be reduced by 50%-79%. Less memory is required for accessing; thus, it can reduce the chip area in hardware implementation. The chip efficiency is also increased, and the proposed architecture makes a feasible design to integrate several audio standards [i.e., advanced audio coding (AAC)/AAC in digital radio mondiale (DRM/MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3)] into one portable media player. The proposed algorithm is designed and fabricated by using 0.18-mum 1P6M complimentary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process. The core area is 441 times 437 mum2, including the MDCT, IMDCT, and DCT-IV modules. For modern audio applications, i.e., AAC/AAC in DRM/MP3, this processor only consumes 14.077/3.482/0.3138 mW at 50/12.5/1 MHz. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm can calculate the 2048/1920/256/240/36/12-point MDCT and the 1024/960/128/120/18/6-point IMDCT.
Design of Polarization Diversity Patch Antenna Based on a Compact Reconfigurable Feeding Network

A design of stacked square-ring patch antennas with quadri-polarization diversity is proposed. The polarization switching is realized with a 1-to-4 reconfigurable feeding network composed of a quasi-lumped coupler and PIN diodes. The size of the feeding network is less than 0. 01λ02, where λ0 is the free-space wavelength of the operating frequency. In addition, by controlling dc voltages, the operation of the feeding network can be varied among four different modes. The performances of the stacked patch antenna and the reconfigurable feeding network are respectively exhibited. A prototype that integrates the feeding network into the inner slot of the lower square-ring patch of the stacked patch antenna is designed and constructed. The prototype can provide dual orthogonal linear polarizations and dual orthogonal circular polarizations at 1.98 GHz. Details of the experimental results for the prototype are shown.
Preliminary evaluation of posterior dynamic lumbar stabilization in lumbar degenerative disease in Chinese patients.

BACKGROUND There has been some controversy related to the use of the Wallis system, rather than disc fusion in the treatment of patients with degenerative spine disease. Furthermore, there are no reports concerning the application of this dynamic stabilization system in Chinese patients, who have a slightly different lifestyle with Western patients. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of the dynamic stabilization system in the treatment of degenerative spinal diseases in Chinese patients. METHODS The clinical outcomes of 20 patients with lumbar degenerative disease treated by posterior decompression with the Wallis posterior dynamic lumbar stabilization implant were studied. All of the patients completed the visual analogue scale and the Chinese version of the Oswestry Disability Index. The following radiologic parameters were measured in all patients: global lordotic angles and segmental lordotic angles (stabilized segments, above and below adjacent segments). The range of motion was then calculated. RESULTS Nineteen patients (95%) were available for follow-up. The mean follow-up period was (27.25 ± 5.16) months (range 16 - 35 months). The visual analogue scale decreased from 8.55 ± 1.21 to 2.20 ± 1.70 (P < 0.001), and the mean score on the Chinese version of the Oswestry Disability Index was improved from 79.58% ± 15.93% to 22.17% ± 17.24% (P < 0.001). No significant changes were seen in the range of motion at the stabilized segments (P = 0.502) and adjacent segments (above, P = 0.453; below, P = 0.062). The good to excellent result was 94.4% at the latest follow-up. No complications related to the use of the Wallis posterior dynamic lumbar stabilization occurred. CONCLUSIONS It was found to be both easy and safe to use the Wallis posterior dynamic lumbar stabilization implant in the treatment of degenerative lumbar disease, and the early therapeutic effectiveness is good. The Wallis system provides an alternative method for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease.
Systemic Diseases in Association with Microbial Species in Oral Biofilm from Elderly Requiring Care

Background: The oral cavity is a reservoir for colonization and infection of systemic organs by pathogenic bacteria. It is understood that aging, tooth eruption, hormonal changes, active disease, oral hygiene, and other factors have an influence on biofilm formation and bacterial accumulation in the oral cavity. Objective: To understand the influence of systemic health care on microfloral changes, we conducted epidemiological studies of nursing home residents in an attempt to elucidate the relationship between underlying systemic diseases and the isolation frequency of oral opportunistic pathogens. Methods: The prevalence of bacteria and fungi causing pneumonia in association with oral biofilm bacteria were determined using detection culture plates. The influences of gender, age, denture-wearing status, number of teeth, and bedridden status in the patients residing in nursing homes were then analyzed. Results: The isolation frequency rates of Candida albicans, Pseudomonadaceae, Staphylococcus spp. , and some strains of Enterobacteriaceae in plaque samples, as well as C. albicans and Xanthomonas maltophilia in samples from the pharynx, were significantly higher in those requiring systemic care (mean age 83.9 years) than in those who did not require such care (mean 71.0 years). In particular, the frequencies of Pseudomonas spp. , C. albicans, and Serratia marcescens in plaque were significantly higher in those who were bedridden. Furthermore, the isolation of Pseudomonas spp. and Klebsiella pneumoniae, and/or C. albicans in plaque was significantly associated with heart disease. Conclusion: The coexistence of Pseudomonas spp. and C. albicans in elderly with 10–19 teeth is a potential indicator of high risk for pneumonia and heart disease. Therefore, attention to oral hygiene and professional care for removing the indicators may diminish the occurrence of systemic disease in the elderly requiring systemic care.
Tree LSTMs for Learning Sentence Representations

English. In this work we obtain sentence embeddings with a recursive model using dependency graphs as network structure, trained with dictionary definitions. We compare the performance of our recursive Tree-LSTMs against other deep learning models: a recurrent version which considers a sequential connection between sentence elements, and a bag of words model which does not consider word ordering at all. We compare the approaches in an unsupervised similarity task in which general purpose embeddings should help to distinguish related content. Italiano. In questo lavoro produciamo sentence embedding con un modello ricorsivo, utilizzando alberi di dipendenze come struttura di rete, addestrandoli su definizioni di dizionario. Confrontiamo le prestazioni dei nostri alberi-LSTM ricorsivi con altri modelli di apprendimento profondo: una rete ricorrente che considera una connessione sequenziale tra le parole della frase, e un modello bag-ofwords, che non ne considera l’ordine. La valutazione dei modelli viene effettutata su un task di similarit non supervisionata, in cui embedding di uso generale aiutano a distinguere i contenuti correlati.