Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of constraint-induced therapy on upper limb functions: A randomized control trial

Abstract Aims: Children with congenital hemiparesis have unilateral upper extremity involvement, limiting their ability in unilateral or bilateral manual tasks, thus negatively influencing their participation in daily activities. Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) has been shown to be promising for improving upper-limb functions in children with cerebral palsy. Clinical assessments may be needed to quantify and qualify changes in children's performance following its application. Methods: This study investigated the effectiveness of a child-friendly form of CIMT to improve upper extremity functional performance. Thirty congenitally hemiparetic children aged 4–8 years were randomly assigned to receive either a CIMT program (study group) or a conventional non-structured therapy program (control group). The programs were applied for both groups for six hours daily, five days weekly for four successive weeks. The Pediatric Arm Function Test, Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test, and isokinetic muscular performances of shoulder flexors, extensors, and abductors expressed as peak torque were used to evaluate immediate and long-lasting efficacy of CIMT. Results: The results showed improvement in the involved upper extremity performances in different evaluated tasks immediately post-CIMT program application compared with the control group. These improvements continued three months later. Conclusion: Pediatric CIMT with shaping produced considerable and sustained improvement in the involved upper extremity movements and functions in children with congenital hemiparesis.
Evaluating the effectiveness of conservation and development investments in reducing deforestation and fires in Ankeniheny-Zahemena Corridor, Madagascar

Forest conservation and REDD+ projects invest millions of dollars each year to reduce local communities’ dependence on forests and prevent forest loss and degradation. However, to date, there is limited evidence on whether these investments are effective at delivering conservation outcomes. We explored the relationships between 600+ small-scale conservation and development investments that occurred from 2007 to 2014 and conservation outcomes (deforestation rates and fire detections) within Ankeniheny-Zahamena Corridor in Madagascar using linear fixed effects panel regressions. We derived annual changes in forest cover and fires from satellite remote sensing. We found a statistically significant correlation between presence of any investment and reduced deforestation rates in 2010 and 2011 –years with accelerated deforestation elsewhere in the study area. This result indicated investments abated deforestation rates during times of political instability and lack of governance following a 2009 coup in Madagascar. We also found a statistically significant relationship between presence of any investment and reduced fire detections in the study area, suggesting investments had an impact on reducing burning of forest for agriculture. For both outcomes (i.e., deforestation rates and fire detections), we found that more dollars invested led to greater conservation outcomes (i.e. fewer fires or less deforestation), particularly when funding was sustained for one to two years. Our findings suggest that conservation and development investments can reduce deforestation and fire incidence, but also highlight the many challenges and complexities in assessing relationships between investments and conservation outcomes in a dynamic landscape and a volatile political context.
The Influence of Acute Hyperglycemia in an Animal Model of Lacunar Stroke That Is Induced by Artificial Particle Embolization

Animal and clinical studies have revealed that hyperglycemia during ischemic stroke increases the stroke's severity and the infarct size in clinical and animal studies. However, no conclusive evidence demonstrates that acute hyperglycemia worsens post-stroke outcomes and increases infarct size in lacunar stroke. In this study, we developed a rat model of lacunar stroke that was induced via the injection of artificial embolic particles during full consciousness. We then used this model to compare the acute influence of hyperglycemia in lacunar stroke and diffuse infarction, by evaluating neurologic behavior and the rate, size, and location of the infarction. The time course of the neurologic deficits was clearly recorded from immediately after induction to 24 h post-stroke in both types of stroke. We found that acute hyperglycemia aggravated the neurologic deficit in diffuse infarction at 24 h after stroke, and also aggravated the cerebral infarct. Furthermore, the infarct volumes of the basal ganglion, thalamus, hippocampus, and cerebellum but not the cortex were positively correlated with serum glucose levels. In contrast, acute hyperglycemia reduced the infarct volume and neurologic symptoms in lacunar stroke within 4 min after stroke induction, and this effect persisted for up to 24 h post-stroke. In conclusion, acute hyperglycemia aggravated the neurologic outcomes in diffuse infarction, although it significantly reduced the size of the cerebral infarct and improved the neurologic deficits in lacunar stroke.
Testosterone secretion by the early fetal pig testes in organ culture.

The production and secretion of testosterone by fetal pig testes in vitro was investigated at the stage of sexual differentiation. Single gonads from 76 fetal pigs between 2.0 and 5.2 cm crown-rump (C-R) length were cultivated for 36 h on synthetic TC Medium 199. Steroids were extracted from the media (n 72) and explants (n = 46) with methylene chloride. Contratateral gonads (n = 58) were extracted without cultivation. Testosterone was isolated by partition chromatography on Celite and measured by a competitive protein-binding radioassay. The earliest stage of fetal development at which testosterone was detected in the gonad (>0.5 ng/gonad, n = 6) was at 2.2-2.3 cm C-R length. Greater quantities of the hormone (P 4.0 cm C-R length). It was concluded that the fetal pig testis is capaule of secreting testosterone and shows a peak in this activity at the stage of sexual differentiation.
Evaluating the potential carcinogenic hazard of glyphosate

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) published a monograph in 2015 concluding that glyphosate is "probably carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2A) based on limited evidence in humans and sufficient evidence in experimental animals. It was also concluded that there was strong evidence of genotoxicity and oxidative stress. Four Expert Panels have been convened for the purpose of con­ ducting a detailed critique of the evidence in light of lARC's assessment and to review all relevant infor­ mation pertaining to glyphosate exposure, animal carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, and epidemiologic studies. Two of the Panels (animal bioassay and genetic toxicology) also provided a critique of the IARC position with respect to conclusions made in these areas. The incidences of neoplasms in the animal bioassays were found not to be associated with glyphosate exposure on the basis that they lacked stat­ istical strength, were inconsistent across studies, lacked dose-response relationships, were not associ­ ated with preneoplasia, and/or were not plausible from a mechanistic perspective. The overall weight of evidence from the genetic toxicology data supports a conclusion that glyphosate (including GBFs and AMPA) does not pose a genotoxic hazard and therefore, should not be considered support for the classification of glyphosate as a genotoxic carcinogen. The assessment of the epidemiological data found that the data do not support a causal relationship between glyphosate exposure and nonHodgkln's lymphoma while the data were judged to be too sparse to assess a potential relationship between glyphosate exposure and multiple myeloma, As a result, following the review of the totality of the evidence, the Panels concluded that the data do not support lARC's conclusion that glyphosate is a "probable human carcinogen" and, consistent with previous regulatory assessments, further concluded that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic risk to humans. ARTICLE HISTOMV Received £ April 2016 Revised 20 June 2016 Accepted IS July 2016
Reactivation of Chlamydia trachomatis lung infection in mice by cortisone

To study the latency, chronicity, and recurrent nature of chlamydial infection, we attempted to reactivate Chlamydia trachomatis lung infection in mice by immunosuppressive therapy with cortisone. Mice were treated with subcutaneous injections of cortisone acetate (125 mg/kg) every other day, starting on day 14 after intranasal inoculation of C. trachomatis serotype B (TW-5). C. trachomatis was recovered from the lungs beginning day 6 after the start of cortisone treatment until the end of the observation period on day 12 of treatment. Overall, the reactivation was successful in 8 of 55 mice treated with cortisone, in contrast to 0 of 41 inoculated, untreated mice (P = 0.009) and 0 of 35 uninoculated, treated mice. Cortisone treatment affected the ability of peritoneal exudate cells to respond to migratory inhibition after exposure to purified whole organisms of C. trachomatis serotype B (TW-5) but had little effect on serum antibody titers, indicating a possible role for cellular immunity in resistance against C. trachomatis infection in the lung.
The protective effect of low-dose dopamine on renal functions in hypotensive rats: an experimental study.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of low-dose dopamine on markers of the renal functions in a rat model of hypotension. METHODS Forty Wistar rats were divided into control, hypotension, dopamine, and hypotension+dopamine groups. Hypotension was achieved by sodium-nitroprusside infusion. Samples were drawn for analysis during the two-hour study period. RESULTS Blood urea nitrogen levels were significantly increased in hypotension group during the early phase but this difference disappeared at the end of the second hour. Dopamine infusion had no effect on creatinine and potassium clearance. Despite the significance of improved sodium clearance in the hypotensive rats treated with dopamine, natriuresis did not occurred in the dopamine-only group. CONCLUSION It can be stated that low dose dopamine infusion at a rate of 0.5 microg kg(-1) min(-1) has a short-term preventive action against the increase of blood urea nitrogen during the early phase of pharmacologically induced hypotension.
Women and Nature: Using memory-work to rethink our relationship to the natural world

Memory-work is a feminist research methodology that is used by research collectives to study socialization within the dominant values that make up a particular culture. The power of memory-work lies with its potential to interrupt hegemonic ways of seeing and knowing the world. Consequently, it can open up possibilities for individual and social transformation. Intrigued by memory-work, the authors of this article formed a research collective and studied their socialization in relation to the natural world. We examined our early memories of trees and the natural elements earth, air, fire, and water. Initial analysis of these memories showed predictable and gendered patterns of socialization reflecting dominant values in relation to nature. For example, fathers defined many of our experiences in the natural world and taught us that nature was separate from the human realm and subject to control. Additional analysis of the memories moved us below this layer of socialization. We found sensual connection with the elements and discovered the influence of our mothers.
Severe hypersensitivity syndrome due to sulfasalazine associated with reactivation of human herpesvirus 6.

BACKGROUND A severe adverse reaction to sulfasalazine therapy has been associated with hypersensitivity syndrome, the clinical features of which are similar to infectious mononucleosis. No serologic evidence of viral infections has been reported with this syndrome; however, human herpesvirus 6 infection has not been specifically investigated, which could cause an infectious mononucleosislike syndrome. OBSERVATIONS We report 2 cases of hypersensitivity syndrome induced by the use of sulfasalazine. The clinical features of the syndrome appeared 18 and 32 days after administration of sulfasalazine. Clinical signs included a maculopapular rash progressing to exfoliate erythroderma, fever, and lymphadenopathy. Leukocytosis, atypical lymphocytes, liver dysfunction, and renal disturbance were also observed. In 1 patient, human herpesvirus 6 variant B was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and in both patients anti-human herpesvirus 6 IgG titers increased considerably. CONCLUSIONS Two cases of hypersensitivity syndrome due to sulfasalazine use were associated with the reactivation of human herpesvirus 6, which may be a required cause of hypersensitivity syndrome.
Improving Cost-effectiveness and Access to Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Depression: Providing Remote-Ready, Computer-Assisted Psychotherapy in Times of Crisis and Beyond

Introduction: There is growing evidence that computer-delivered or computer-assisted forms of cognitive behavior therapy (CCBT) are helpful, but cost-effectiveness versus standard therapies is not well established. Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a therapist-supported method for CCBT in comparison to standard cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Methods: A total of 154 drug-free major depressive disorder outpatients were randomly assigned to either 16 weeks of standard CBT (up to twenty 50-min sessions) or CCBT using the Good Days Ahead program (including up to 5.5 h of therapist contact). Outcomes were assessed at baseline, weeks 8 and 16, and at 3 and 6 months post-treatment. Economic analyses took into account the costs of services received and work/social role impairment. Results: In the context of almost identical efficacy, a form of CCBT that used only about one third the amount of therapist contact as conventional CBT was highly cost-effective compared to conventional therapy and reduced the adjusted cost of treatment by USD 945 per patient. Conclusions: A method of CCBT that blended internet-delivered modules and abbreviated therapeutic contact reduced the cost of treatment substantially without adversely affecting outcomes. Results suggest that use of this approach can more than double the access to CBT. Because clinician support in CCBT can be provided by telephone, videoconference, and/or email, this highly efficient form of treatment could be a major advance in remote treatment delivery.
Zinc and Copper Enhance Cucumber Tolerance to Fusaric Acid by Mediating Its Distribution and Toxicity and Modifying the Antioxidant System

Fusaric acid (FA), the fungal toxin produced by Fusarium oxysporum, plays a predominant role in the virulence and symptom development of Fusarium wilt disease. As mineral nutrients can be protective agents against Fusarium wilt, hydroponic experiments employing zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) followed by FA treatment were conducted in a glasshouse. FA exhibited strong phytotoxicity on cucumber plants, which was reversed by the addition of Zn or Cu. Thus, Zn or Cu dramatically reduced the wilt index, alleviated the leaf or root cell membrane injury and mitigated against the FA inhibition of plant growth and photosynthesis. Cucumber plants grown with Zn exhibited decreased FA transportation to shoots and a 17% increase in toxicity mitigation and showed minimal hydrogen peroxide, lipid peroxidation level with the increased of antioxidant enzymes activity in both roots and leaves. Cucumber grown with additional Cu absorbed less FA but showed more toxicity mitigation at 20% compared to with additional Zn and exhibited decreased hydrogen peroxide level and increased antioxidant enzymes activity. Thus, adding Zn or Cu can decrease the toxicity of the FA by affecting the absorption or transportation of the FA in plants and mitigate toxicity possibly through chelation. Zn and Cu modify the antioxidant system to scavenge hydrogen peroxide for suppressing FA induction of oxidative damage. Our experiments could provide a theoretical basis for the direct application of micro-fertilizer as protective agents in farming.
Investigation of Core Loss Effect on Steady-State Characteristics of Inverter Fed Brushless Doubly Fed Machines

Brushless doubly fed machine (BDFM) shows promising results for wind power and adjustable-speed drive applications. Due to poor rotor magnetic coupling and relatively high value of slip, core loss is an important factor which can affect the steady-state and dynamic performance of BDFM. Specifically, core loss plays a major role when evaluating the efficiency of the machine. By now, there is no comprehensive study on core loss effect on performance characteristics of BDFM in the literature. In this paper, based on the derived relations and applying transformation of parameters from one winding to another one, the steady-state equivalent circuit model of BDFM without core loss is modified in order to take the core loss into account. Experimental results from a BDFM prototype are compared with the predicted results given by the model and the accuracy and effectiveness of the new approach is validated.
Crystal Quality Effect on Low-Frequency Noise in ZnO TFTs

The effect of ZnO active film quality on the low-frequency noise behavior in ZnO thin-film transistors has been investigated. The film crystalline is varied by differentiating the thickness and adding postannealing. To discriminate the origin of 1/f noise, the gate bias dependence of noise spectra is investigated. It is found that the number fluctuation noise model related with trapping/detrapping by traps near the interface becomes dominant as the crystal quality improves, which is also confirmed by another noise parameter, i.e., α Extracted αapp can also well explain the electrical characteristics.
Evaluation of Sexual Function and Quality of Life in Women Treated for Stress Urinary Incontinence: Tension-Free Transobturator Suburethral Tape Versus Single-Incision Sling.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to investigate the change in quality of life (QoL) and sexual function in women treated for pure stress urinary incontinence (SUI) using tension-free transobturator suburethral tape (TVT-O) and single-incision sling (SIS) procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS From December 2013 to January 2015, a total of 48 female patients with pure SUI and normotonic urethra were consecutively enrolled and randomized into two treatment groups: TVT-O versus SIS. Both groups were homogeneous in the preoperative evaluation of age, body mass index, comorbidities, and pregnancies. Exclusion criteria included urge urinary incontinence, neurogenic bladder, previous surgery for incontinence, and mental or neurological disorders. The female sexual function and QoL were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively (3-12 months follow-up), using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire. RESULTS A total of 42 patients completed both the questionnaires (21 patients in the TVT-O group and 21 patients in the SIS group, whereas 6 patients were lost to follow-up). Of the 19/21 (90.4%) of patients who successfully underwent the SIS procedure, 17 (80.9%) reported a complete resolution of SUI, whereas 2 (9.5%) reported an improvement in urinary incontinence at follow-up. In the TVT-O group, 18/21 (85.7%) of patients reported complete recovery, whereas 4.1% patients reported an improvement in the incontinence. The FSFI score increased significantly in both the SIS groups (from 23:51 ± 3.78 to 27.42 ± 3.34; p < 0.001) and TVT-O group (from 23.96 ± 5:56 to 28.09 ± 3.62) with no statistically significant differences between the two treatment groups. CONCLUSION In our study, both slings showed a high rate of continence without any major complications. The sexual function also improved sharply in all the six FSFI domains, with no statistically significant difference between the two treatment groups.
Mapping of IS6110 flanking regions in clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis demonstrates genome plasticity

Southern hybridization was used in combination with IS6110 insertion‐locus‐specific probes in a comparative study to determine the structure of chromosomal domains flanking IS6110 elements in clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The resulting restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) data demonstrated three mutational mechanisms responsible for the polymorphisms observed: IS6110 insertion, chromosomal mutation and deletion. The frequency of IS6110 insertion within many of the chromosomal regions demonstrates that preferential integration regions are common in M. tuberculosis. Mapping the IS6110 insertion positions and chromosomal deletions in relation to the M. tuberculosis H37Rv and M. bovis BCG genome sequences reveals numerous disruptions of predicted open reading frames (ORFs). A phylogenetic tree, based on the mutational data, showed a number of independently evolving lineages of M. tuberculosis, while analysis of the mutational events occurring at each branch point suggests both divergent and convergent evolution. A significant positive correlation was demonstrated between the mutation rate and the frequency of occurrence of different isolates in families of strains, suggesting that evolution may impact on strain ‘fitness’ or that strain proliferation may increase the chance of mutation. We conclude that the genome of clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis continues to evolve.
Lipocalin‐2 expression and serum levels as early predictors of type 2 diabetes mellitus in obese women

Obesity and diabetes are increasing in epidemic proportions globally. Lipocalin‐2 (LCN‐2) is an inflammatory adipocytokine and obesity‐related marker of low‐grade inflammation. We aimed to investigate, for first time, the possible role of LCN‐2 expression and serum levels in prediction of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among obese Egyptian women. This study included 188 obese women and 180 controls. Obese women were subdivided into three subgroups according to their fasting blood glucose, normal glucose tolerance (NGT), IGT and T2DM. Circulating LCN‐2 expression levels were determined by real time polymerase chain reaction. Serum LCN‐2 concentrations were assessed by ELISA. Our findings revealed that LCN‐2 expression and serum levels were higher in obese women compared to lean controls. They were higher in IGT and T2DM obese cases than in NGT obese women. Receiver operating characteristic analyses revealed that LCN‐2 expression level was a useful biomarker discriminating IGT from NGT and T2DM from IGT obese women (AUC were 0.735 and 0.740, respectively). It was an independent predictor of IGT and T2DM among obese women. Serum LCN‐2 level was a useful biomarker discriminating IGT from NGT and T2DM from IGT obese women (AUC were 0.705 and 0.728, respectively). It was independent predictor of T2DM without predicting IGT among obese women. The power of combined LCN‐2 serum levels and expression in discriminating between IGT from NGT and T2DM from IGT obese women was high (AUC = 0.717 and 0.741, respectively). In conclusion, LCN‐2 expression and serum levels could discriminate IGT from NGT and T2DM from IGT obese women and early predicting T2DM among obese women. While, LCN‐2 expression level was the independent predictor of IGT in obese women. Combination of both LCN‐2 expression and serum levels improved their diagnostic value in early detection of IGT and T2DM among obese women. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 69(2):88–97, 2017