Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation of a Hemodynamic Model for the Study of the Cerebral Venous Outflow System Using MR Imaging and Echo-Color Doppler Data

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A comprehensive parameter model was developed to investigate correlations between cerebral hemodynamics and alterations in the extracranial venous circulation due to posture changes and/or extracranial venous obstruction (stenosis). The purpose of this work was to validate the simulation results by using MR imaging and echo-color Doppler experimental blood flow data in humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To validate the model outcomes, we used supine average arterial and venous extracerebral blood flow, obtained by using phase-contrast MR imaging from 49 individuals with stenosis in the acquisition plane at the level of the disc between the second and third vertebrae of the left internal jugular vein, 20 with stenosis in the acquisition plane at the level of the disc between the fifth and sixth vertebrae of the right internal jugular vein, and 38 healthy controls without stenosis. Average data from a second group of 10 healthy volunteers screened with an echo-color Doppler technique were used to evaluate flow variations due to posture change. RESULTS: There was excellent agreement between experimental and simulated supine flows. Every simulated CBF fell inside the standard error from the corresponding average experimental value, as well as most of the simulated extracerebral arterial flow (extracranial blood flow from the head and face, measured at the level of the disc between second and third vertebrae) and venous flows. Simulations of average jugular and vertebral blood flow variations due to a change of posture from supine to upright also matched the experimental data. CONCLUSIONS: The good agreement between simulated and experimental results means that the model can correctly reproduce the main factors affecting the extracranial circulation and could be used to study other types of stenotic conditions not represented by the experimental data.
Effect of hemodialysis on plasma amino acid concentrations in healthy dogs.

OBJECTIVE To characterize the effect of maintenance hemodialysis on plasma amino acid concentrations and to quantitate free amino acid losses into the dialysate during hemodialysis in healthy dogs. ANIMALS 8 healthy adult dogs. PROCEDURE Five dogs received hemodialysis treatments 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Plasma amino acid concentrations were evaluated once per week for 4 weeks in each of the 5 dogs prior to hemodialysis (time 0), 90 minutes during hemodialysis, and immediately after hemodialysis (180 minutes). Total free amino acid concentrations and plasma amino acid concentrations (time 0, 90 minutes, and 180 minutes) in the dialysate were evaluated in 3 dogs that received 1 hemodialysis treatment. RESULTS Significant time versus week interactions with any plasma amino acid were not detected; however, significant decreases in all plasma amino acid concentrations measured were detected at the midpoint of dialysis (46 +/- 2%) and at the end of each dialysis session (38 +/- 2%). Mean (+/- SEM) total free amino acid loss into the dialysate was 2.7 +/- 0.2 g or 0.12 g/kg of body weight. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Hemodialysis is associated with significant alterations in plasma amino acid concentrations and loss of free amino acids into the dialysate. Loss of amino acids into the dialysate, coupled with protein calorie malnutrition in uremic patients, may contribute to depletion of amino acid stores.
Electrochemical evidence that pyranopterin redox chemistry controls the catalysis of YedY, a mononuclear Mo enzyme

Significance The mononuclear Mo enzymes are ubiquitous throughout life, and the notion that their activity arises from Mo(VI/V/IV) redox cycling is a central dogma of bioinorganic chemistry. We prove that YedY, a structurally simple mononuclear Mo enzyme, operates via a strikingly different mechanism: the catalytically active state is generated from addition of three electrons and three protons to the Mo(V) form of the enzyme, suggesting for the first time (to our knowledge) that organic-ligand–based electron transfer reactions at the pyranopterin play a role in catalysis. We showcase Fourier-transformed alternating-current voltammetry as a technique with powerful utility in metalloenzyme studies, allowing the simultaneous measurement of redox catalysis and the underlying electron transfer reactions. A long-standing contradiction in the field of mononuclear Mo enzyme research is that small-molecule chemistry on active-site mimic compounds predicts ligand participation in the electron transfer reactions, but biochemical measurements only suggest metal-centered catalytic electron transfer. With the simultaneous measurement of substrate turnover and reversible electron transfer that is provided by Fourier-transformed alternating-current voltammetry, we show that Escherichia coli YedY is a mononuclear Mo enzyme that reconciles this conflict. In YedY, addition of three protons and three electrons to the well-characterized “as-isolated” Mo(V) oxidation state is needed to initiate the catalytic reduction of either dimethyl sulfoxide or trimethylamine N-oxide. Based on comparison with earlier studies and our UV-vis redox titration data, we assign the reversible one-proton and one-electron reduction process centered around +174 mV vs. standard hydrogen electrode at pH 7 to a Mo(V)-to-Mo(IV) conversion but ascribe the two-proton and two-electron transition occurring at negative potential to the organic pyranopterin ligand system. We predict that a dihydro-to-tetrahydro transition is needed to generate the catalytically active state of the enzyme. This is a previously unidentified mechanism, suggested by the structural simplicity of YedY, a protein in which Mo is the only metal site.
Tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

AIM To evaluate the role of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in cirrhotic patients who have hepatic and renal impairment with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). METHODS We prospectively studied 120 cirrhotic patients with SBP and 80 cirrhotic patients with sterile ascitic fluid. They included 144 males and 56 females with ages ranging between 34 and 62 years. The diagnosis of cirrhosis was established by clinical and laboratory criteria that did not require histological confirmation. The severity of underlying liver disease was evaluated using Pugh's modification of Child's criteria (Child-Pugh scores). Ascitic fluid was sent to the laboratory for cell count, culture, sensitivity testing, and measurement of chemical elements (i.e., albumin, glucose). Specimens were inoculated into aerobic and anaerobic blood culture bottles. Serum and ascitic fluid were also collected in sterile tubes at study entry (before the initiation of antibiotic treatment) and 48 h later. Assays for TNF-α and IL-6 in the serum and ascitic fluid were performed with an immunoenzymometric assay using manufacture's instructions. RESULTS Cytokine levels in serum and ascitic fluid were significantly higher in the patients with SBP. (plasma TNF-α: 135.35 ng/mL ± 11.21 ng/mL vs 92.86 ng/mL ± 17.56 ng/mL, P < 0.001; plasma IL-6: 32.30 pg/mL ± 7.07 pg/mL vs 12.11 pg/mL ± 6.53 pg/mL, P < 0.001; ascitic fluid TNF-α: 647.54 ± 107.11 ng/mL vs 238.43 ng/mL ± 65.42 ng/mL, P < 0.001); ascitic fluid IL-6: 132.84 ng/mL ± 34.13 vs 40.41 ± 12.85 pg/mL, P < 0.001). About 48 (40%) cirrhotic patients with SBP developed renal and hepatic impairment and showed significantly higher plasma and ascitic fluid cytokine levels at diagnosis of infection. [(plasma TNF-α: 176.58 ± 17.84 vs 135.35 ± 11.21 ng/mL) (P < 0.001) and (IL-6: 57.83 ± 7.85 vs 32.30 ± 7.07 pg/mL) (P < 0.001); ascitic fluid TNF-α: 958.39 ± 135.72 vs 647.54 ± 107.11 ng/mL, (P < 0.001), ascitic fluid IL-6: 654.74 ± 97.43 vs 132.84 ± 34.13 pg/mL, (P < 0.001)]. Twenty nine patients (60.4%) with SBP and renal impairment died whereas, only four patients (5.55%) with SBP but without renal impairment died from gastrointestinal hemorrhage (P < 0.0005). CONCLUSION It appears that TNF-α production may enhance liver cell injury and lead to renal impairment. This correlated well with the poor prognosis and significantly increased mortality associated with SBP in cirrhotic patients.
Retinotopic Organization of Scene Areas in Macaque Inferior Temporal Cortex

Primates have specialized domains in inferior temporal (IT) cortex that are responsive to particular image categories. Though IT traditionally has been regarded as lacking retinotopy, several recent studies in monkeys have shown that retinotopic maps extend to face patches along the lower bank of the superior temporal sulcus (STS) and neighboring regions of IT cortex. Here, we used fMRI to map the retinotopic organization of medial ventral temporal cortex in four monkeys (2 male and 2 female). We confirm the presence of visual field maps within and around the lower bank of the STS and extend these prior findings to scene-selective cortex in the ventral-most regions of IT. Within the occipitotemporal sulcus (OTS), we identified two retinotopic areas, OTS1 and OTS2. The polar angle representation of OTS2 was a mirror reversal of the OTS1 representation. These regions contained representations of the contralateral periphery and were selectively active for scene versus face, body, or object images. The extent of this retinotopy parallels that in humans and shows that the organization of the scene network is preserved across primate species. In addition retinotopic maps were identified in dorsal extrastriate, posterior parietal, and frontal cortex as well as the thalamus, including both the lateral geniculate nucleus and pulvinar. Together, it appears that most, if not all, of the macaque visual system contains organized representations of visual space. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Primates have specialized domains in inferior temporal (IT) cortex that are responsive to particular image categories. Though retinotopic maps are considered a fundamental organizing principle of posterior visual cortex, IT traditionally has been regarded as lacking retinotopy. Recent imaging studies have demonstrated the presence of several visual field maps within the lateral IT. Using neuroimaging, we found multiple representations of visual space within ventral IT cortex of macaques that included scene-selective cortex. Scene domains were biased toward the peripheral visual field. These data demonstrate the prevalence of visual field maps throughout the primate visual system, including late stages in the ventral visual hierarchy, and support the idea that domains representing different categories are biased toward different parts of the visual field.
Do Convolutional Networks need to be Deep for Text Classification ?

We study in this work the importance of depth in convolutional models for text classification, either when character or word inputs are considered. We show on 5 standard text classification and sentiment analysis tasks that deep models indeed give better performances than shallow networks when the text input is represented as a sequence of characters. However, a simple shallow-and-wide network outperforms deep models such as DenseNet with word inputs. Our shallow word model further establishes new state-of-the-art performances on two datasets: Yelp Binary (95.9\%) and Yelp Full (64.9\%).
Anti-beta2-glycoprotein I antibodies in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion, unexplained fetal death, and antiphospholipid syndrome.

OBJECTIVE Studies in rheumatologic and hematologic populations suggest that anti-beta(2)-glycoprotein I antibodies are more specific for the clinical manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome than anticardiolipin antibodies. However, the association between anti-beta(2)-glycoprotein I and pregnancy loss remains uncertain. We sought to determine whether anti-beta(2)-glycoprotein I is associated with the obstetric features of antiphospholipid syndrome. STUDY DESIGN Sera from 4 groups of women were studied: (1) 152 healthy fertile control subjects, (2) 141 subjects with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortions, (3) 58 subjects with unexplained fetal deaths, and (4) 73 subjects with well-characterized antiphospholipid syndrome. Serum anticardiolipin and anti-beta(2)-glycoprotein I levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay. RESULTS Patients with antiphospholipid syndrome had significantly higher levels of immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M anticardiolipin and anti-beta(2)-glycoprotein I than the other 3 groups (P <.0001). However, women in the recurrent spontaneous abortion, fetal death, and fertile control groups had similar levels of each antibody. Similarly, there were no differences in the proportion of women with positive test results for each autoantibody in these 3 groups. Linear regression analysis showed significant correlation between anticardiolipin immunoglobulin G and beta(2)-glycoprotein I immunoglobulin G (R (2) = 0.544786, P =. 0001) and anticardiolipin immunoglobulin M and beta(2)-glycoprotein I immunoglobulin M (R (2) = 0.525048, P =. 0001). CONCLUSION Both anticardiolipin and anti-beta(2)-glycoprotein I are associated with antiphospholipid syndrome. However, testing for anti-beta(2)-glycoprotein I does not identify additional patients with either recurrent spontaneous abortions or unexplained fetal deaths who initially have negative test responses for anticardiolipin. This is likely because of the strong correlation between the 2 autoantibodies. Our data do not support routine testing for anti-beta(2)-glycoprotein I in addition to testing for antiphospholipid antibodies in women with recurrent pregnancy loss and unexplained fetal death.
Sleep apnea & automobile crashes.

BACKGROUND As a group, patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at increased risk of having automobile accidents. Previous studies using actual accident data have used only small numbers of subjects. OBJECTIVE To determine the rate of automobile accidents in a large population of OSA patients using objective data from the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO). DESIGN Retrospective study SETTING Academic sleep disorders clinic and laboratory. PARTICIPANTS All cases of OSA polygraphically confirmed between June 1990 and June 1994. INTERVENTIONS Cases of OSA were a priori divided into groups based on apnea-hypopnea index (AHI): (OSA1 - AHI 10-25, OSA2 - AHI 26-40, OSA3 - AHI>40) and driving records were obtained from the MTO. Age and sex matched controls were selected at random from drivers in the MTO driver database who hold passenger vehicle licences. Analysis was restricted to drivers with the same licence class. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Primary outcome measure was accidents in the five years preceding diagnosis. Secondary outcome was citations during the same period. RESULTS There were 155 of 460 OSA patients with one or more accidents compared with 150 of 581 Controls for the same time period (x2=7.7,p<0.01). The rate of accidents/year, for the preceding five years, was 0.07+/-0.14 for Controls versus 0.09+/-0.14 for OSA (p <0.05). This difference could all be accounted for by increased accident rate in OSA patients with the highest AHI (OSA3) (MVA/yr: 0.11+/-0.15, 0.08+/-0.12, 0.06+/-0.14 for OSA groups 3,2,1 respectively) as there was no differences among Control, OSA1 and OSA2 accident rates. OSA patients had twice as many citations as Controls (1.74+/-2.13 vs 0.86+/-1.43 p<0.001) although the types of citation were the same. CONCLUSIONS Increased automobile accidents in OSA may be restricted to cases with more severe apnea (AHI >40). Despite the large sample size (an order of magnitude greater than previous reports using accident data) further study is needed with even larger numbers, including more measures of disease severity and rigorously controlling for driving exposure.
Participation in social internet-based activities: Five seniors' intervention processes

Abstract Objective: To explore how client-centred occupational therapy intervention processes for participation in meaningful Social Internet-Based Activities (SIBAs) can be designed, and to explore the influences of participation in SIBAs on seniors' social activities and social contacts. Method. A qualitative, descriptive, multiple-case study was conducted, and an intervention was provided to the five participants, who were aged 65–85. Data were collected through assessment tools, field notes, and interviews. Results: The participants' needs and challenges related to SIBAs varied during the intervention processes. Individual-adapted support was provided for the seniors (by the occupational therapist) to managing the introduction to different SIBAs, their appearance on the internet, and the lack of privacy. The association between the seniors' participation in SIBAs and their satisfaction with these activities, as well as their social contacts, requires further exploration. Conclusions: Client-centred occupational therapy interventions can support seniors' participation in SIBAs and their self-reliance when performing these activities.
Potential medical adverse events associated with death: a forensic pathology perspective.

OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence of potential medical adverse events among patients undergoing forensic autopsy, and to present the characteristics of potential medical adverse events. DESIGN Retrospective review of consecutive autopsy records. SETTING Department of Forensic Medicine, the Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. PARTICIPANTS A total of 3355 forensic autopsy cases between 1983 and 2006. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Incidence of potential medical adverse events identified in decedents undergoing forensic autopsy, classified by actual occurrence as 'confirmed', 'equivocal' and 'negative' cases; proportion of potential diagnostic, performance and system errors among potential medical adverse events. RESULTS Of 291 autopsies (8.7%) with potential medical adverse events, 66 cases (22.7%) were confirmed, 42 cases (14.4%) were negative and 183 cases (62.9%) were equivocal. Confirmed cases consisted of potential diagnostic errors in 49 cases (74.2%) and performance errors in 17 cases (25.8%). Equivocal cases included 99 cases associated with potential diagnostic errors (54.1%) and 60 cases associated with potential system errors (32.8%). In 38 of the confirmed cases (57.5%), serious exacerbation of patient condition occurred outside the medical facility. CONCLUSIONS Potential medical adverse events are not uncommon in decedents undergoing forensic autopsy. They are particularly associated with potential diagnostic errors. Forensic autopsy may provide information that could be used to improve care and reduce deaths due to potential medical adverse events.
Relation between Water Balance and Climatic Variables Associated with the Geographical Distribution of Anurans

Amphibian species richness increases toward the equator, particularly in humid tropical forests. This relation between amphibian species richness and environmental water availability has been proposed to be a consequence of their high rates of evaporative water loss. In this way, traits that estimate water balance are expected to covary with climate and constrain a species’ geographic distribution. Furthermore, we predicted that coexisting species of anurans would have traits that are adapted to local hydric conditions. We compared the traits that describe water balance in 17 species of anurans that occur in the mesic Atlantic Forest and xeric Cerrado (savannah) habitats of Brazil. We predicted that species found in the warmer and dryer areas would show a lower sensitivity of locomotor performance to dehydration (SLPD), increased resistance to evaporative water loss (REWL) and higher rates of water uptake (RWU) than species restricted to the more mesic areas. We estimated the allometric relations between the hydric traits and body mass using phylogenetic generalized least squares. These regressions showed that REWL scaled negatively with body mass, whereas RWU scaled positively with body mass. Additionally, species inhabiting areas characterized by higher and more seasonally uniform temperatures, and lower and more seasonally concentrated precipitation, such as the Cerrado, had higher RWU and SLPD than species with geographical distributions more restricted to mesic environments, such as the Atlantic Forest. These results support the hypothesis that the interspecific variation of physiological traits shows an adaptation pattern to abiotic environmental traits.
Breastfeeding Concerns and Experiences of African American Mothers

Objective:To explore the perinatal experiences of African American women in Florida for obtaining information about breastfeeding and also their breastfeeding experiences. Methods:This qualitative study utilized convenience sampling of 253 African American women 18 to 35 years old in three Florida counties. Data were derived from the Healthy Futures Perinatal Research and System Design study. One month after giving birth, face-to face interviews were conducted using an interview schedule. Questions about breastfeeding education and experiences were explored. Taped responses were transcribed and analyzed qualitatively. Through subject-level content analysis, key themes were identified. Results:Most women received some information about breastfeeding during prenatal care. Mothers who chose to breastfeed were usually aware of some of the benefits for the baby and occasionally benefits for themselves. Mothers who did not breastfeed were concerned about pain associated with breastfeeding, time constraints, returning to work or school, personal health choices, or felt uncomfortable with the idea of breastfeeding. Factors facilitating breastfeeding included healthcare providers that encouraged the practice, knowing the advantages, attending a breastfeeding class or support group, breastfeeding in the birth or recovery room, latch assistance, rooming-in, nesting, and the availability of a breast pump. Reasons for supplementation and cessation were latch problems, pain, concerns the baby wasn't getting enough, mother–infant separation, and medical complications. Implications:Intensified prenatal and postpartum efforts to support breastfeeding are needed to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration for African American mothers.
Pediatric urticaria in the Emergency Department: epidemiological characteristics and predictive factors for its persistence in children.

Summary Introduction.Acute urticaria (AU) in children is a common clinical manifestation responsible for admission to the emergency department (ED). We aimed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of AU in children and to identify predictors of both severity and progression. Material and methods.We evaluated 314 children admitted to the ED with a diagnosis of AU. We analyzed information concerning its onset, duration, severity, possible triggering factors and the persistence of symptoms after 1, 3, and 6 months. Results.The most common etiological factors were infections (43.9%); in up to 32.4% of cases, AU was considered as idiopathic. AU was significantly most common in males and pre-school children. At the 6-month follow-up, 9.5% of children presented a persistence of urticaria, mainly those with contact (44.4%) or idiopathic (30.4%) forms. Conclusions.The AU etiology identified by history in the ED may be a significant predictor of persistence after a first attack of AU.