Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measuring Animal Age with DNA Methylation: From Humans to Wild Animals

DNA methylation (DNAm) is a key mechanism for regulating gene expression in animals and levels are known to change with age. Recent studies have used DNAm changes as a biomarker to estimate chronological age in humans and these techniques are now also being applied to domestic and wild animals. Animal age is widely used to track ongoing changes in ecosystems, however chronological age information is often unavailable for wild animals. An ability to estimate age would lead to improved monitoring of (i) population trends and status and (ii) demographic properties such as age structure and reproductive performance. Recent studies have revealed new examples of DNAm age association in several new species increasing the potential for developing DNAm age biomarkers for a broad range of wild animals. Emerging technologies for measuring DNAm will also enhance our ability to study age-related DNAm changes and to develop new molecular age biomarkers.
Impact of complex network properties on routing in backbone networks

The properties found in complex networks (e.g., small-world, scale-free) have been used to characterize the behaviour of several processes such as epidemics or oscillators. We analyze the impact of such properties on the quality of a routing process. Using a Mixed Integer/Linear Program, the routing minimizes the number of ports installed in a previously designed network. Ports are network components which we use as a simplification of the capital cost in communication networks. Using data mining techniques, we are able to predict the minimal number of ports of a network with small error rate given the network's properties and under the assumption of a realistic traffic distribution. We find that the average betweenness and the average path length are good indicators of the number of ports. We then present exploratory work on the dynamic aspects by considering that nodes join the network, which corresponds to the deployment of communication equipment. We consider several approaches to deploy the equipment, and report on the number of ports for each approach. By comparing approaches, having less edges can still yield better performances which motivates investigations on the design. Furthermore, this dynamic case confirms the static one since a tradeoff between the average betweenness and the average path length seems to be a key element in efficient designs.
Load clamp analysis of maximal force potential of mammalian cardiac muscle.

1. Abrupt alterations in load (load clamps) have been imposed on cat papillary muscle during isotonic shortening and relaxation of afterloaded twitch and tetanic contractions, to assess the maximal force potential for a given contractile state. 2. These load clamps were accompanied by an initial fast lengthening reflecting an undamped series compliance. Even when exceeding isometric twitch and tetanic force, these loads could be borne for a considerable time, accompanied by a slower lengthening after the initial extension of the series compliance. At sufficiently high loads the muscle was pulled out very rapidly; a maximal supra‐isometric force potential was defined as the load the muscle could bear momentarily and this was measured at times throughout contraction and relaxation. 3. This maximal force potential was determined at different initial muscle lengths. Depending on the instantaneous loading conditions, various length‐force relations were obtained from : (a) peak force values of isometric twitches at different starting lengths, (b) the shortest length reached during after loaded isotonic twitches, and (c) the forces obtained in overloaded isotonic twitch contractions. 4. These results are consistent with a crossbridge model in which the delayed lengthening during isotonic overloading is due to back rotation and detachment of attached crossbridges and in which the inital phase of spontaneous isotonic relaxation is governed by the same mechanism.
Comparative chromosome painting in mammals: human and the Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak vaginalis).

We have used human chromosome-specific painting probes for in situ hybridization on Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak vaginalis, 2n = 6, 7) metaphase chromosomes to identify the homologous chromosome regions of the entire human chromosome set. Chromosome rearrangements that have been involved in the karyotype evolution of these two species belonging to different mammalian orders were reconstructed based on hybridization patterns. Although, compared to human chromosomes, the karyotype of the Indian muntjac seems to be highly rearranged, we could identify a limited number of highly conserved homologous chromosome regions for each of the human chromosome-specific probes. We identified 48 homologous autosomal chromosome segments, which is in the range of the numbers found in other artiodactyls and carnivores recently analyzed by chromosome painting. The results demonstrate that the reshuffling of the muntjac karyotype is mostly due to fusions of huge blocks of entire chromosomes. This is in accordance with previous chromosome painting analyses between various Muntjac species and contrasts the findings for some other mammals (e.g., gibbons, mice) that show exceptional chromosome reshuffling due to multiple reciprocal translocation events.
Lin-Telaranta classification: the importance of different procedures for different indications in sympathetic surgery.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The second sympathetic thoracic ganglion has long been regarded as the most important structure in all sympathetic procedures for any indication, be it hand sweating, blushing, or social phobia. Earlier, we had found an interesting new basis for the selection of more specific methods in individual disorders. The aim of the present study was to either confirm the old theory or to bring forward a more appropriate theory for sympathetic surgery to be used as a classified method. MATERIAL AND METHODS Altogether 193 patients were treated in Taiwan and 55 in Finland according to the new selective principle. Endoscopic sympathetic block of the second thoracic ganglion (ESB 2) was used as a method for conflicted type of social phobia or blushing for 25 patients. ESB 3 was used for facial sweating and blushing for 55 patients. ESB 4 was used for hand and axillary sweating for 168 patients. Reflex sweating was taken as the most important sign of unsuccessful surgery. RESULTS All patients benefited of the procedure in their presenting symptoms. Four of 25 cases in ESB 2 -group and three of 55 cases in ESB 3 -group had unacceptable reflex sweating. No patient with reflex sweating was found in ESB 4 -group. These results confirm our previous findings, that sympathetic nerves innervate the human body in similar dermatome fashion as the peripheral nervous system. According to this, we organized the various sympathetic disorders into three main categories: those restricted within the head, like conflicted type social phobia and conflicted type blushing, to Group 1; those on the head and face, like sweating with or without blushing, to Group 2; and those in the hands and underarms to Group 3. The principle of different surgical procedures for different disorders of the sympathetic system are proposed: ESB 2 for Group 1, ESB 3 for Group 2, and ESB 4 for Group 3 disorders. CONCLUSIONS We call this new classification "Lin-Telaranta classification". Not only the incidence of complication rates is lowered but also the side effects can be predicted by the Lin-Telaranta classification in sympathetic surgery.
Morphological correlates for LHRH self priming and anterior pituitary gland refractoriness to LHRH in proestrous rats: an immunocytochemical study.

Changes in rat anterior pituitary gland LU secretion were correlated with changes in morphology of pituitary LH cells during a simulated preovulatory surge of LU in serum. In phenobarbital blocked proestrous rats, LHRH was infused i.v. at a constant rate (50 ng/h) previously shown to restore the LH surge. Rats were decapitated prior to or after the start of L1-IRH infusion. Pars distalis tissue was stained with anti-rat LHI3 sera and examined by electron microscopy. The basic cell type which stained in control rats was polygonal to ovoid. Granules were, for the most part, evenly distributed throughout the cell or concentrated at 1 pole. The LHRH infused rats exhibited a cell type with a similar shape and granule size. LURI-I infusion appeared to result in LU cells becoming less irregular in shape, but our criteria for classification were probably too strict to demonstrate this quantitatively. Pituitary LH concentration and LH granule number were not decreased at 15 and 30 mm of the simulated LH surge despite a 6-fold increase in serum LU at these times (LHRH self priming period). The serum LH then rose rapidly by 1 h of LHRH infusion during the initial part of an augmented phase of LH release, an effect attributed to prior LHRH self priming. Similarly, pituitary the and the cells few granules lining the periph- ery of the cell. The results suggest that 1) only one basic cell type, which resembles the classical LU cell, is involved in LH secretion during the preovulatory surge in plasma, 2) the LHRH self priming period is associated with an acceleration of the synthesis of pituitary LH and packaging of LH granules as well as an increase in the LH release rate, 3) the augmented phase of LU release may be the result of a marked acceleration in both the rate of LU synthesis and packaging as well as the rate of LU release and 4) the refractory period is associated with a decreasCd ability of LU cells to synthesize and package LH in response to LHRH, resulting in less LH available for release.
Barrett's esophagus: histology and immunohistology

The following on histology and immunohistology of Barrett's esophagus (BE) includes commentaries on the various difficulties remaining in reaching a consensus on the definition of BE; the difficulties in the characterization of intestinal and cardiac mucosa, and in the role of submucosal glands in the development of BE; the importance of a new monoclonal antibody to recognize esophageal intestinal mucosa; the importance of pseudo goblet cells; the best techniques for the endoscopic detection of Barrett's epithelium; and the biomarkers for identification of patients predisposed to the development of BE.
Refining our Understanding of Traumatic Growth in the Face of Terrorism: Moving from Meaning Cognitions to Doing what is Meaningful

Recent studies related to global terrorism have suggested the potential of posttraumatic growth (PTG) following experiences of terror exposure. However, investigations of whether psychological distress is reduced or increased by PTG in other trauma contexts have been inconsistent. Results from our studies conducted in New York following the attacks of 11 September 2001 and in Israel during recent tumultuous periods of violence and terrorism, the Al Aqsa Intifada, have found posttraumatic growth to be related to greater psychological distress, more right-wing political attitudes, and support for retaliatory violence. Only when individuals were deeply involved in translating growth cognitions to growth actions in our research on the forced disengagement of settlers from Gaza did we find positive benefit in posttraumatic growth. Findings are considered within the framework of a new formulation of action-focused growth. De recentes recherches en rapport avec le terrorisme international ont souligne le potentiel du developpement post-traumatique (PTG) decoulant de la confrontation a la terreur. Toutefois, les travaux cherchant a savoir si la detresse psychologique etait attenuee ou accentuee par le PTG dans d’autres contextes traumatiques se sont reveles contradictoires. Nos investigations a New York apres l’attentat du 11 septembre 2001 et en Israel durant des periodes recentes de violence et de terrorisme, la seconde Intifada, ont montre que le developpement post-traumatique etait plutot liea une grande detresse psychologique, a des opinions politiques de droite et a une attente de represailles. On a observe lors du demenagement obligatoire des colons de Gaza que ce n’est que lorsque les individus etaient profondement impliques dans la transformation des cognitions de developpement en actions de developpement que le developpement post-traumatique avait des retombees positives. Ces resultats sont apprehendes dans le cadre d’une nouvelle approche du developpement centre sur l’action.
Effects of VerifyNow P2Y12 test and CYP2C19*2 testing on clinical outcomes of patients with cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The VerifyNow P2Y12 test is a whole-blood, light transmission-based optical detection assay that measures adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation in a cartridge containing fibrinogen-coated beads. The usefulness of this device to assess the effect of clopidogrel on platelet function was recently highlighted for predicting cardiovascular (CV) events. We therefore performed a meta-analysis to analyze whether adverse clinical outcomes of patients with CV disease increase in association with high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HPR) using the VerifyNow P2Y12 test. We also investigated the effect of the CYP2C19*2 polymorphism on the occurrence of CV events among clopidogrel-treated patients. Relevant studies were searched for in the PubMed database and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials database, and selected if they included data about platelet function assessed using the VerifyNow P2Y12 test or CYP2C19*2 polymorphism in clopidogrel-treated patients with CV disease, and the occurrence of CV events within 6–12 months. In our meta-analysis, 4817 subjects from eight studies and 5307 subjects from seven studies were included for review of platelet function and CYP2C19*2 polymorphism, respectively. Overall, 2237 (46.4%) patients had HPR and these patients had significantly higher odds of CV events compared to patients without HPR (odds ratio(OR) = 3.05, 95% confidence interval: 2.33–3.98, p < 0.001). Heterogeneity among studies was not significant (Cochran's Q-test, p = 0.80 and I2 = 0%). In the secondary investigation, 1926 (36.3%) patients had at least one CYP2C19*2 allele. Heterogeneity in the OR of the CV events between the CYP2C19*2 allele carriers and non-carriers was observed among the seven studies (Cochran's Q-test, p = 0.01 and I2 = 56.5%), and the range of the ORs among the seven studies was 0.58–16.6. In conclusion, HPR assessed by VerifyNow P2Y12 test was associated with increased adverse clinical outcomes of clopidogrel-treated patients with CV disease.
The relation between serum Vitamin D levels and body antioxidant status in ischemic stroke patients: A case–control study

Background: Stroke is the second cause of death among elderly people. Oxidative stress plays an important role in brain damage after stroke. Currently, Vitamin D has been shown as an antioxidant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the status of Vitamin D, antioxidant enzymes, and the relation between them in ischemic stroke patients. Materials and Methods: This case–control study was carried out on 36 patients with ischemic stroke patients and 36 matched subjects as controls. Intake of fruits and vegetables, exposure of sunlight, serum lipid profile, concentrations of serum 25-dihydroxy Vitamin D (25(OH) D), activities of serum superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase enzymes were determined. Results: Severe Vitamin D deficiency was seen in 30% of the patients versus 11% of the controls (P < 0.05). Consumption of fruits and vegetables was lower in patients than that of controls (P < 0.05). Activities of antioxidant enzymes and intake of fruits were positively correlated in stroke patients (P = 0.02). The most potent predictors of stroke risk were hypertension, high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) (odds ratios: 3.33, 3.15, and 3.14, respectively, P < 0.05 for all). There was no association between 25(OH) D levels with activities of serum antioxidant enzymes and lipid profile in the two groups. Conclusion: Ischemic stroke patients have higher prevalence of severe Vitamin D deficiency and lower intakes of fruits and vegetables. Intake of fruits was positive correlated to higher antioxidant enzymes levels. High levels of blood pressure, history of CVD, and high LDL-C levels are the strongest predictors of ischemic stroke.
Correlation Between Orbital Volume, Body Mass Index, and Eyeball Position in Healthy East Asians

PurposeThe objectives of this study were measure the orbital volume of healthy Koreans and analyze the differences between orbital tissue volume with respect to age and sex and to assess any correlation between body mass index (BMI), eyeball position, and orbital volume. MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated the scan results of patients who had undergone orbital computed tomography scans between November 2010 and November 2011. We assessed the scan results of 184 orbits in 92 adults who had no pathology of the orbit. The individuals were classified into 3 groups with respect to age. Orbital volume, effective orbital volume (defined as the difference between orbital and eyeball volume), extraocular muscle volume, orbital fat volume, and transverse globe protrusion were recorded and analyzed. The records of the subjects were reviewed retrospectively, and BMI was calculated. A correlation analysis was performed to investigate the correlation between BMI, eyeball position, and orbital volume. ResultsOrbital tissue volume, with the exception of orbital fat volume, was larger in men compared with women. In both sexes, orbital fat volume increased with increasing age, whereas the other volumes decreased. Orbital tissue volumes increased with increasing BMI, but transverse globe protrusion was not significantly related to BMI. In addition, orbital volume and effective orbital volume were positively correlated with transverse globe protrusion. ConclusionsThese results provide basic information about the effects of age, sex, and BMI on orbital volume and eyeball position in healthy Koreans. Furthermore, these results will be helpful in the diagnosis of orbital diseases and in planning orbital surgeries.
Speech Recognition for Environmental Control: Effect of Microphone Type, Dysarthria, and Severity on Recognition Results

This study examines the use of commercially available automatic speech recognition (ASR) across microphone options as access to environmental control for individuals with and without dysarthria. A study of two groups of speakers (typical speech and dysarthria), was conducted to understand their performance using ASR and various microphones for environmental control. Specifically, dependent variables examined included attempts per command, recognition accuracy, frequency of error type, and perceived workload. A further sub-analysis of the group of participants with dysarthria examined the impact of severity. Results indicated a significantly larger number of attempts were required (P = 0.007), and significantly lower recognition accuracies were achieved by the dysarthric participants (P = 0.010). A sub-analysis examining severity demonstrated no significant differences between the typical speakers and participants with mild dysarthria. However, significant differences were evident (P = 0.007, P = 0.008) between mild and moderate–severe dysarthric participants. No significant differences existed across microphones. A higher frequency of threshold errors occurred for typical participants and no response errors for moderate–severe dysarthrics. There were no significant differences on the NASA Task Load Index.
Imploding and Exploding Migraine Headaches: Comparison of Methods to Diagnose Pain Directionality

The study aims to compare methods of determining headache directionality (imploding, exploding, and/or ocular headaches) in women with migraine, investigate the concordance between physician assignment and patient self‐assignment of pain directionality, and evaluate whether patients assigned their headaches to the same direction when queried using different methods. Directionality of migraine headache pain (imploding, exploding, or ocular) may reflect differences in the underlying pathogenesis of individual migraine attacks among and within individuals. Emerging evidence suggests that directionality of pain in migraine sufferers may predict response to onabotulinumtoxin A. The best method of determining headache directionality in migraine sufferers has not been systematically explored.
Studies on genetic diversity for yield, quality and yield attributing traits in cluster bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] genotypes

Ab s t r a c t The study was carried out to assess the genetic divergence among 56 cluster bean genotypes using Mahalanobis D. Fifty-six genotypes were grouped into 8 clusters based on 11 characters. The intra-cluster distances were seen to be lower than the inter-cluster distances. The maximum inter-cluster distance was noticed between cluster VI and VII whereas, inter-cluster D value was least between cluster I and V. The maximum intra-cluster distance was observed in cluster IV. Clusters V, VII and VIII had only one genotype each and hence intra-cluster distance was 0.00. The per cent contribution towards genetic diversity was maximum in 100 seed weight (52.08%) followed by the protein content of pods (45.19%). On the basis of inter-cluster distances observed, the genotypes with specific characters can be utilized for the hybridization programme.
A review on political analysis and social media

En los paises democraticos, conocer la intencion de voto de los ciudadanos y las valoraciones de los principales partidos y lideres politicos es de gran interes tanto para los propios partidos como para los medios de comunicacion y el publico en general. Para ello se han utilizado tradicionalmente costosas encuestas personales. El auge de las redes sociales, principalmente Twitter, permite pensar en ellas como una alternativa barata a las encuestas. En este trabajo, revisamos la bibliografia cientifica mas relevante en este ambito, poniendo especial enfasis en el caso espanol.
Towards visual navigation in dynamic and unknown environment: trajectory learning and following, with detection and tracking of moving objects. (Vers une navigation visuelle en environnement dynamique inconnu : apprentissage et exécution de trajectoire avec détection et suivi d'objets mobiles)

The global objective of these works concerns the navigation of autonomous robots on long routes in outdoor dynamic environments, more precisely on the development and the evaluation of advanced perception functions, embedded on vehicles moving in a convoy formation, on an a priori unknown route in urban or natural environments. Three issues are tackled: first several methods from the State of the Art have been integrated in order to cope with the visual mapping and the trajectory learning problems for a vehicle A equipped with a stereovision sensor, moving in a large-scale environment, assumed static. Then it is proposed two modes for the execution of this trajectory by a vehicle B equipped by a single camera: either a delayed mode, in which B loads initially all representations learnt by A, and executes alone the recorded trajectory, or a convoy mode, in which B follows A, which sends him by a communication link, the trajectory sections as soon as they are learnt. Finally, it has been considered changing and dynamic environments, dealing with the detection of events from images acquired on a dynamic vehicle: detection of changes (disappearances or appearances of static objects, typically cars parked in a urban environment), or detection of mobile objects (pedestrians or other vehicles). Resume