Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Allometric Analysis Detects Brain Size-Independent Effects of Sex and Sex Chromosome Complement on Human Cerebellar Organization

The cerebellum is a large hindbrain structure that is increasingly recognized for its contribution to diverse domains of cognitive and affective processing in human health and disease. Although several of these domains are sex biased, our fundamental understanding of cerebellar sex differences—including their spatial distribution, potential biological determinants, and independence from brain volume variation—lags far behind that for the cerebrum. Here, we harness automated neuroimaging methods for cerebellar morphometrics in 417 individuals to (1) localize normative male–female differences in raw cerebellar volume, (2) compare these to sex chromosome effects estimated across five rare sex (X/Y) chromosome aneuploidy (SCA) syndromes, and (3) clarify brain size-independent effects of sex and SCA on cerebellar anatomy using a generalizable allometric approach that considers scaling relationships between regional cerebellar volume and brain volume in health. The integration of these approaches shows that (1) sex and SCA effects on raw cerebellar volume are large and distributed, but regionally heterogeneous, (2) human cerebellar volume scales with brain volume in a highly nonlinear and regionally heterogeneous fashion that departs from documented patterns of cerebellar scaling in phylogeny, and (3) cerebellar organization is modified in a brain size-independent manner by sex (relative expansion of total cerebellum, flocculus, and Crus II-lobule VIIIB volumes in males) and SCA (contraction of total cerebellar, lobule IV, and Crus I volumes with additional X- or Y-chromosomes; X-specific contraction of Crus II-lobule VIIIB). Our methods and results clarify the shifts in human cerebellar organization that accompany interwoven variations in sex, sex chromosome complement, and brain size. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Cerebellar systems are implicated in diverse domains of sex-biased behavior and pathology, but we lack a basic understanding of how sex differences in the human cerebellum are distributed and determined. We leverage a rare neuroimaging dataset to deconvolve the interwoven effects of sex, sex chromosome complement, and brain size on human cerebellar organization. We reveal topographically variegated scaling relationships between regional cerebellar volume and brain size in humans, which (1) are distinct from those observed in phylogeny, (2) invalidate a traditional neuroimaging method for brain volume correction, and (3) allow more valid and accurate resolution of which cerebellar subcomponents are sensitive to sex and sex chromosome complement. These findings advance understanding of cerebellar organization in health and sex chromosome aneuploidy.
Delay test generation. I. Concepts and coverage metrics

An approach to test for delay faults is presented. A variable size delay fault model is used to represent these failures. The nominal gate delays with the manufacturing tolerances are an integral part of the model and are used in the propagation of simplified waveforms through the logic network. The faulty waveforms are functions of the variable-size delay fault. For each fault and test pattern, a threshold is computed such that this fault is detected if its size exceeds epsilon . This threshold is used (along with the minimum slack at the fault site) to determine a metric called quality. The quality of detection for a fault measures how close the test came to exposing the ideally smallest-size fault at that point. This metric (together with the traditional fault coverage) gives a complete measure of the goodness of the test. <<ETX>>
Mosaic Neurofibromatosis Type 1 in Children: A Single-Institution Experience

Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a neurocutaneous disorder caused by loss-of-function mutation in the NF1 gene. Segmental or mosaic NF1 (MNF) is an uncommon presentation of the NF1 result of postzygotic mutations that present with subtle localised clinical findings. Objectives: Our study’s objectives were to describe the clinical characteristics of children with MNF. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of children diagnosed with MNF at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, from January 1992 to September 2012. Data were abstracted from health records and analysed using a standardised data collection form approved by our hospital Research Ethics Board. Results: We identified 60 patients with MNF; 32 of 60 (53.3%) were female. Mean ± SD age at first assessment was 10.6 ± 4.6 years. The most common initial physical manifestation in 39 of 60 (65.0%) patients was localised pigmentary changes only, followed by plexiform neurofibromas only in 10 of 60 (16.7%) and neurofibromas only in 9 of 60 (15.0%). Unilateral findings were seen in 46 of 60 (76.7%) patients. Most common associations identified included learning disabilities (7/60; 12%) and bony abnormalities (6/60; 10.0%). Conclusions: MNF is an underrecognised condition with potential implications for patients. Children mostly present with pigmentary anomalies only. Most patients do not develop associated findings or complications before adulthood, but long-term follow-up will help determine outcomes and possible associations. Recognition and confirmation of the diagnosis is important to provide follow-up and genetic counselling to patients.
Postoperative diabetes insipidus associated with pituitary apoplexy during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND Pituitary apoplexy during pregnancy is so rare that only 15 cases (12 pituitary adenomas, 2 lymphocytic neurohypophysitis, and 1 normal pituitary gland) have been published to date. Here, we report the case of a pregnant woman presenting with pituitary apoplexy from a nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma and provide a possible mechanism and management option for postoperative diabetes insipidus (DI). CASE PRESENTATION A 26-year-old woman presented with sudden onset of headache and bitemporal hemianopsia in the 26th week of her first pregnancy. Magnetic resonance imaging clearly revealed an 18 mm pituitary mass with a fluid-fluid level component displacing the optic chiasma upward. Endonasal endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery was successfully carried out 7 days after the onset of symptoms. DI became apparent immediately after the operation and was not controllable by arginine vasopressin (AVP) but by 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) instead. This finding suggests an association between DI and vasopressinase secretion from the placenta, because vasopressinase can degrade AVP but not DDAVP. DI had diminished by the time the patient delivered a healthy girl at the 40th week of gestation. CONCLUSION Postoperative DI associated with pituitary apoplexy during pregnancy should be treated by DDAVP, which is not affected by placental vasopressinase secretion.
Protists in Arctic drift and land‐fast sea ice

Global climate change is having profound impacts on polar ice with changes in the duration and extent of both land‐fast ice and drift ice, which is part of the polar ice pack. Sea ice is a distinct habitat and the morphologically identifiable sympagic community living within sea ice can be readily distinguished from pelagic species. Sympagic metazoa and diatoms have been studied extensively since they can be identified using microscopy techniques. However, non‐diatom eukaryotic cells living in ice have received much less attention despite taxa such as the dinoflagellate Polarella and the cercozoan Cryothecomonas being isolated from sea ice. Other small flagellates have also been reported, suggesting complex microbial food webs. Since smaller flagellates are fragile, often poorly preserved, and are difficult for non‐experts to identify, we applied high throughput tag sequencing of the V4 region of the 18S rRNA gene to investigate the eukaryotic microbiome within the ice. The sea ice communities were diverse (190 taxa) and included many heterotrophic and mixotrophic species. Dinoflagellates (43 taxa), diatoms (29 taxa) and cercozoans (12 taxa) accounted for ~80% of the sequences. The sympagic communities living within drift ice and land‐fast ice harbored taxonomically distinct communities and we highlight specific taxa of dinoflagellates and diatoms that may be indicators of land‐fast and drift ice.
Central nervous system congenital anomalies: A prospective neurosurgical observational study from Nigeria

This is a prospective observational study on the profile of central nervous system (CNS) anomalies in a neurosurgical unit in Ikeja, Nigeria. All cases of CNS anomalies seen by the authors in 1 year, January to December 2005, were analyzed. Descriptive variables include some demographics of the patients and their parents; profiles of CNS anomalies, cranial or spinal, neural tube defects (NTD) or others; presence of associated anomalies; and rate of surgical correction of these anomalies. Sixty‐one cases were recorded, approximately 64% of our total pediatric neurosurgical output. Forty‐one cases were males, 20 females, with a male to female ratio of approximately 2 to 1. The age at presentation ranged from 2 days to 60 months (mean 5.6 months) and the majority of the parents were young (the mean ages of the fathers and mothers were 35 years and 28 years, respectively), and low income earners (70%). The cases comprised cranial (61%) and spinal (39%) anomalies, or 54% of NTD versus others. The cranial lesions were mainly congenital primary hydrocephalus in 44% of cases, encephalocele in 28%, and microcephaly in 17%. The spinal lesions were spinal dysraphism in more than 90%; all in the lumbosacral region. Seventy percent of the NTD had associated cranial or other system anomalies, mainly secondary hydrocephalus in 65%. The surgical correction rate of all of these cases was 38%. NTD were significantly more likely to present early, be associated with other anomalies and undergo surgical correction in this series (P < 0.001). CNS congenital anomalies are under‐reported in Nigeria and other developing countries. A call is made for the establishment of nationwide efforts to fully clarify the epidemiology of this silent epidemic.
Premedication with melatonin vs midazolam in anxious children

Aim: Failure of dental treatment caused by anxiety is a common problem in children. Oral midazolam has been the most commonly used premedication for pediatric patient but the use of midazolam may be associated with paradoxical reactions in children. Melatonin may induce a natural sleepiness and improve sedation. We have investigated premedication with melatonin compared with midazolam in children under nitrous oxide/oxygen (N2O/O2) sedation for dental treatment.
Protein recovery from enzyme‐assisted aqueous extraction of soybean

Enzyme‐assisted aqueous oil extraction from soybean is a “green” alternative to hexane extraction that must realize potential revenues from a value‐added protein co‐product. Three technologies were investigated to recover protein from the skim fraction of an aqueous extraction process. Ultrafiltration achieved overall protein yields between 60% and 64%, with solids protein content of 70%, and was effective in reducing stachyose content, with fluxes between 4 and 10 L/m2 hr. Protein content was limited because of high retention of lipids and the loss of polypeptides below 13.6 kDa. Isoelectric precipitation was effective in recovering the minimally hydrolyzed proteins of skim, with a protein content of 70%, again limited by lipid content. However, protein recovery was only 30% because of the greater solubility of the hydrolyzed proteins. Recovery by the alternative of protein capture on dextran‐grafted agarose quaternary‐amine expanded bed adsorption resins decreased with decreasing polypeptide molecular weight. Proteins with molecular mass greater than 30 kDa exhibited slow adsorption rates. Expanded bed adsorption was most effective for recovery of proteins with molecular weight between 30 and 12 kDa. Overall, adsorption protein yields were between 14% and 17%. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog. , 2010
Prefrontal and Interhemispheric Functional EEG Connectivity Associated with Tactile Stimulation

Developing quantitative means to measure the effects of tactile stimulation on user experience is gaining increasing attention over the past decade. This paper strives to find quantitative evidence, based on brain wave analysis, of the relationship between tactile stimulation and cognitive processes. In this study, participants per- formed an active touch task comprising of stroking the strings of a virtual guitar displayed on a touch-screen device while measuring the 64-channel EEG signal. For the analysis, phase locking values from alpha, beta, and gamma frequency bands are extracted and compared during the absence and presence of tactile stimulation. Results demonstrated an increase in the connectivity of beta and gamma bands in the prefrontal cortex in the presence of tactile stimulation. Such increase is potentially associated with the development of Bereitschaftspotential, which reflects the intention, planning, and execution of precise voluntary movements. Another interesting finding was an increased interhemispheric connectivity in the absence of tactile stimulation, which is associated with motor impairments. These findings suggest that tactile stimulation not only trigger sensation, but further activate cognitive processing associated with motor skills.
Diversity of Extremely Halophilic Archaeal and Bacterial Communities from Commercial Salts

Salting is one of the oldest food preservation techniques. However, salt is also the source of living halophilic microorganisms that may affect human health. In order to determine the microbial communities of commercial salts, an investigation were done using amplicon sequencing approach in four commercial salts: Ethiopian Afdera salt (EAS), Ethiopian rock salt (ERS), Korean Jangpan salt (KJS), and Korean Topan salt (KTS). Using domain-specific primers, a region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced using a Roche 454 instrument. The results indicated that these microbial communities contained 48.22–61.4% Bacteria, 37.72–51.26% Archaea, 0.51–0.86% Eukarya, and 0.005–0.009% unclassified reads. Among bacteria, the communities in these salts were dominated by the phyla Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes. Of the archaea, 91.58% belonged to the class Halobacteria, whereas the remaining 7.58, 0.83, and 0.01% were Nanoarchaea, Methanobacteria, and Thermococci, respectively. This comparison of microbial diversity in salts from two countries showed the presence of many archaeal and bacterial genera that occurred in salt samples from one country but not the other. The bacterial genera Enterobacter and Halovibrio were found only in Korean and Ethiopian salts, respectively. This study indicated the occurrence and diversity of halophilic bacteria and archaea in commercial salts that could be important in the gastrointestinal tract after ingestion.
Imaging features of primary and secondary adult rhabdomyosarcoma.

OBJECTIVE Rhabdomyosarcomas are rare and aggressive soft-tissue sarcomas in adults. The purpose of this article is to describe the imaging features of primary and secondary adult rhabdomyosarcomas utilizing MRI, CT, and (18)F-FDG PET/CT. CONCLUSION MRI is the imaging technique of choice for the evaluation of primary rhabdomyosarcoma involving most body sites (extremity, pelvis, head, and neck), with the added advantages of diffusion-weighted imaging and whole-body MRI for staging. CT and FDG PET/CT play major roles in the evaluation of metastatic disease. Because the imaging features of adult rhabdomyosarcoma are nonspecific, other parameters, such as clinical findings, age, site, lymphadenopathy, and metastatic disease, should be combined to narrow the differential diagnosis.
Bioprosthetic heart valves of the future

Glutaraldehyde‐fixed bioprosthetic heart valves (GBHVs), derived from pigs or cows, undergo structural valve deterioration (SVD) over time, with calcification and eventual failure. It is generally accepted that SVD is due to chemical processes between glutaraldehyde and free calcium ions in the blood. Valve companies have made significant progress in decreasing SVD from calcification through various valve chemical treatments. However, there are still groups of patients (e.g., children and young adults) that have accelerated SVD of GBHV. Unfortunately, these patients are not ideal patients for valve replacement with mechanical heart valve prostheses as they are at high long‐term risk from complications of the mandatory anticoagulation that is required. Thus, there is no “ideal” heart valve replacement for children and young adults. GBHVs represent a form of xenotransplantation, and there is increasing evidence that SVD seen in these valves is at least in part associated with xenograft rejection. We review the evidence that suggests that xenograft rejection of GBHVs is occurring, and that calcification of the valve may be related to this rejection. Furthermore, we review recent research into the transplantation of live porcine organs in non‐human primates that may be applicable to GBHVs and consider the potential use of genetically modified pigs as sources of bioprosthetic heart valves.
Fluoroquinolones Reported Hepatotoxicity

Fluoroquinolones are known to be safe and well tolerated. They are said to have the widest clinical acceptability when compared with other antibiotics. Their reported side effects include gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system effect and blood disorder. Rare side effects include phototoxicity, hypersensitivity, convulsion, psychosis, tendinitis, hypoglycemia, cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Some of these side effects have led to the withdrawal of some fluoroquinolones like travofloxacin from clinical use in some countries. Of recent fluoroquinolones induce cardiotoxicity and hepatotoxicity has gain attention. Due to increasing reports on fluoroquinolones associated hepatotoxicity in experimental Animal studies and clinical experience. This study reviews reported hepatotoxicity associated with clinically used fluoroquinolones and their safety profile on liver function. It was observed that some fluoroquinolones may have hepatotoxic potential. Reported fluoroquinolones induce hepatotoxicity manifested as hepatitis, pancreatis, jaundice, liver injury and hepatic failure. Most reported cases of fluoroquinolones induced hepatotoxicity were marked by elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, direct bilirubin, total bilirubin and prolong prothrobin time. In some reported cases liver biopsy revealed hepatocellular damage, necrosis and degeneration. Mixed inflammatory infiltrates containing eosinophils, portal edema, bile ductular proliferation and lobular cholestasis were also observed in some cases. The mechanism of fluoroquinolones induce hepatotoxicity may involve generation of oxidative radicals in the liver during drug metabolism which induces DNA damage, mitochondrial damage and gene regulation leading to hepatocellular damage. This was observed in travofloxacin which enhances hepatic mitochondrial peroxynitrite stress in mice with underlying increased basal levels of super oxide leading to the disruption of critical mitochondrial enzyme and gene regulation. This mechanism could be associated with fluoroquinolones mechanism of action which includes DNA damage. In conclusion fluoroquinolones are well tolerated but some may have hepatotoxic potential. Most clinically used fluoroquinolones are relatively safe but Clinicians should consider patients liver function status before fluoroquinolones clinical recommendation. In some cases biochemical parameters associated with liver function should be monitored in patients with impaired liver function.
Patient and physician satisfaction in a clinical study of telemedicine in a hypertensive patient population

We studied patient and physician satisfaction with telemedicine for the care of a hypertensive population. Once recruited, participants were seen both in person and via telemedicine (in random order) on the same day. After each meeting, patient and physician satisfaction surveys were completed. In the 12-month study, there were 107 pairs of visits. The physicians reported a small but significant increase in workload, mental effort, technical skills and visit duration for telemedicine when compared with face-to-face consultations. They noted that the telemedicine system worked well in the majority of cases and could reduce the need for future treatment. Patients reported slightly but significantly higher satisfaction scores for the following for in-person than for telemedicine meetings: technical quality, interpersonal care and time spent. Patients reported high satisfaction scores for both telemedicine and in-person visits.
Cholera immunology. II. Serum and intestinal secretion antibody response after naturally occurring cholera.

Antibacterial antibody was measured in the sera and intestinal secretions of patients with diarrhea due either to cholera or to some other condition and during convalescence. The immunoglobulin class of this antibody was determined. The antibody in serum was measured by various methods; it was predominantly IgG, as has been shown in other studies. Antibody in secretions could not be detected by bacterial-agglutination tests; however, some convalescents had detectable vibriocidal antibody in their secretions. Increased amounts of antibody in intestinal secretions were regularly found by radioactive assay methods in the patients with cholera. The immunoglobulin class of the antibody was predominantly IgA.
IS THE TEAM TIGHT ENOUGH TO DELIVER

Groups are increasingly becoming the norm in the largely dynamic and complex environment surrounding organizations. Due to this, understanding group dynamics is imperative for modern managers. It is commonly assumed that once a group is put together, group members will harness their collective abilities to accomplish group tasks. This is especially at the top of the organization where top managers are largely aware of overall organization objectives. However, the ability of the group to deliver group goals depends on how well the group members can work together and support each other. The self categorization theory proposes that this ability is driven by how cohesive the group is. This study therefore sought to determine the effect of group cohesion on firm performance through a cross sectional descriptive survey. Primary and secondary data was obtained relating to 53 large food and beverage manufacturing firms in Kenya and was analyzed using ordinary linear regression. The study established that the teams in these firms were moderately to highly cohesive. Further, group cohesion significantly affected financial, customer, internal processes, social and learning and development performance perspectives positively which was consistent with the self categorization theory. The study therefore concluded that group cohesion was a key ingredient in the performance of teams and recommended that managers should always craft measures to engender task and social cohesion in designing working teams if such teams were to deliver superior performance.