Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prediagnosi de l’estat de l’edificació residencial a la Barceloneta, raval nord i el born nord, com àmbits de vulnerabilitat de la ciutat de Barcelona

El present document recull els resultats del projecte d’R+D sobre la “PREDIAGNOSI DE L’ESTAT DE L’EDIFICACIO RESIDENCIAL A LA BARCELONETA, RAVAL NORD I SANT PERE-SANTA CATERINA-LA RIBERA, COM AMBITS DE VULNERABILITAT DE LA CIUTAT DE BARCELONA” signat entre la UPC i l’Ajuntament de Barcelona. L’estudi, impulsat des del Districte de Ciutat Vella, ha d’aportar una primera base de coneixement sobre l’estat de l’edificacio en les arees mes vulnerables que permeti als tecnics i gestors portar a terme les tasques i presa de decisions necessaries per a la millora del teixit residencial en aquests ambits.
A Word Elimination Strategy for Learning Document Representation

Computing word vectors based on neural network has motivations on document representation. Word elimination can enhance the extract effective of the quality of valuable feature of a document. In this paper, we propose a model named PV-IDF to eliminate redundancy and refine features to improve the performance of the classify model, with which tokens that carry semantic information of a document. The results show that PV-IDF model achieves state-of-art performance, especially for short-length document representation.
Assembly and Connection of Micropatterned Single Neurons for Neuronal Network Formation

Engineering of neuronal network geometry by micropatterning technology is a key future technology for creating artificial brains on a chip. However, engineering of network geometry at the single-cell-level with functional morphology (axon/dendrite) and connectivity (synapses) is still challenging. Here, we describe a method for controlling the axon and dendrite morphology of single primary-cultured neurons and assembling a neural circuit using mobile microplates. The microplates enabled morphological control of neurons by their shapes and bringing their ends into contact caused the formation of physical connections. Functional synapse formation at the connection was indicated by immunostaining of synapse-related proteins and intracellular Ca2+ imaging of neural activity. We believe that the method will be useful in engineering neural circuits with selected neurons and defined morphology.
Thymus gland size during recovery from complicated severe acute malnutrition: a prospective study of the role of probiotics

ABSTRACT Background: Children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) are prone to infections due to immune dysfunction including severe thymus atrophy which recovers during nutritional rehabilitation. Aim: To investigate predictors of thymus size recovery, including probiotics during nutritional rehabilitation of children admitted with complicated SAM. Methods: In this prospective study nested in a randomized controlled trial, children 6-59 months admitted with SAM received standard care and either probiotics or placebo during hospitalization until 8 weeks post-discharge. Thymus size was measured using ultrasound at admission, discharge, 8 weeks post-discharge and among 27 community controls. Predictors of thymus size recovery were assessed using linear regression. Results: Among 388 children with SAM, mean (SD) thymus size was 1.06 cm2 (0.41), 1.24 cm2 (0.48), 2.85 cm2 (1.07) and 4.2 cm2 (0.93) at admission, discharge, follow-up and in the healthy controls respectively (p < 0.05). Probiotics did not affect thymus recovery. During both inpatient therapeutic care (ITC) and outpatient therapeutic care (OTC), thymus recovery correlated positively with anthropometry but negatively with caregiver-perceived illness severity and Haemoglobin <8 g/dl. Negative predictors of thymus recovery during ITC included grade 3 oedema (β -0.13, 95%CI -0.25; -0.01), dermatosis (β -0.21, 95%CI -0.41; -0.01), C-reactive protein (CRP) >15mg/L (β -0.13, 95%CI -0.25; -0.02) and neutrophils (β -0.01, 95%CI -0.02; -0.002). During OTC, HIV negatively predicted thymus recovery. Conclusion: Children with SAM failed to regain thymus size at 8 weeks post-discharge. Probiotics did not predict thymus recovery during nutritional rehabilitation. More research is needed to find interventions which can accelerate immune recovery. Abbreviations: ART, Antiretroviral therapy; BB-12, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis; CRP, C-reactive protein; ITC, inpatient therapeutic care; LGG, Lactobacillus rhamnosus; MNU, Mwanamugimu Nutrition Unit; MUAC, mid-upper arm circumference; OTC, outpatient therapeutic care; PCR, Polymerised chain reaction; RUTF, ready-to-use therapeutic food; SAM, severe acute malnutrition; VAS, visual analogue score; WHO, World Health Organization; WHZ, weight-for-height score.
17β-Estradiol: Effect on CA1 Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity

An understanding of synaptic plasticity in the mammalian brain has been one of R. F. Thompson's major pursuits throughout his illustrious career. A current series of experiments of significant interest to R. F. Thompson is an examination of the interactions between sex hormones, synaptic plasticity, aging, and stress. This research is contained within a broader project whose aim is to investigate animal models that evaluate estrogen interactions with Alzheimer's disease. This paper reviews the recent results that have led to a better understanding of how the sex hormone estrogen influences synaptic plasticity in an important structure within the mammalian brain responsible for learning and memory: the hippocampus. In this review, a number of experiments have been highlighted that investigate the molecular mechanisms that underlie estrogen's effect on two specific forms of synaptic plasticity commonly studied in neurophysiology and the behavioral neurosciences: long-term potentiation and long-term depression.
An analysis of trail-following behaviour in the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus


Abstract Abstract. The daily movements of individual wood mice were recorded in the field using fluorescent pigments to investigate trail-following behaviour. The observed trail networks, corresponding to the accumulation of their traces over several days, were consistent with a strong tendency to follow previous traces. This was confirmed by a computer simulation of random movements modulated by trace attraction. The possible implications for the rodents' orientation mechanisms, caused by this way of moving in their home area, are discussed.
Acetylcholinesterase-Positive Fiber Deafferentation and Cell Shrinkage in the Septohippocampal Pathway of Aged Amyloid Precursor Protein London Mutant Transgenic Mice

Several lines of evidence implicate a cholinergic deficit in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Transgenic mice that overexpress clinical mutants of the human amyloid precursor protein (APP) have been generated that recapitulate many aspects of AD. We now analyzed the cholinergic system in aged APP/London transgenic mice. The major finding was the reorganization of acetylcholinesterase-positive fibers within the hippocampus and the reduced size of cholinergic cells in the medial septum. The reduction of acetylcholinesterase-positive fibers in the subiculum together with increased fiber density in the CA1 and in the dentate gyrus suggests a synaptic sprouting compensatory mechanism within the hippocampus. In the cortex, amyloid plaques were associated with intense acetylcholinesterase activity and surrounded by dystrophic acetylcholinesterase-positive fibers. Nevertheless, the overall pattern of cholinergic innervation was unchanged. These results demonstrate that overexpression of APP/London caused, besides amyloid plaques in aged mouse brain, also cholinergic deafferentation and cholinergic cell shrinkage.
Identifying Effective Behavior Change Techniques for Alcohol and Illicit Substance Use During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review

Abstract Background During pregnancy, consuming alcohol and using illicit drugs can have serious health implications for both mother and child. Behavioral change interventions, especially those underpinned by theoretical constructs, can be effective in reducing harmful substance use among pregnant women. Purpose To understand what type of behavior change mechanisms could be useful in reducing alcohol consumption or achieving abstinence from illicit drug use during pregnancy, this review aimed to identify behavior change techniques (BCTs), the smallest, active components of interventions that may be effective. It also aimed to establish the extent that psychosocial-based theories were used to inform intervention design. Methods To identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs), five databases were searched electronically from the end search dates of the most recent Cochrane systematic reviews on behavioral interventions for each behavior, until March 2018. Within the RCTs, intervention descriptions were analyzed for BCT content and extent of theory use in the intervention design process and outcome measurements, in each trial, was established. “Effectiveness percentages,” the number of times a BCT had been a component of an effective intervention divided by the total number of interventions it had been used in, were calculated for BCTs used in two or more trials. Results Including all RCTs from the Cochrane reviews, and those published subsequently, nine alcohol and six illicit drug trials were identified. Interventions tested in four alcohol RCTs and no illicit drugs RCTs showed positive results. Subsequent data were extracted for alcohol consumption trials only. Thirteen BCTs showed “potential effectiveness” for alcohol consumption. Six of nine included alcohol trials reported using theory but not extensively. Conclusions Action planning, behavioral contract, prompts/cues, self-talk, offer/direct toward written material, problem solving, feedback on behavior, social support (unspecified), information about health consequences, behavior substitution, assess current readiness and ability to reduce excess alcohol consumption, goal setting (behavior), and tailor interactions appropriately are BCTs that could be useful in helping reduce alcohol consumption among pregnant women.
Effects of socio demographic and institutional factors on utilization of antenatal care services among pregnant women in Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria

Pregnancy-related morbidities and mortalities remain a major challenge in developing countries like Nigeria where most of them were associated with poor/underutilization of antenatal care (ANC) services. This study, therefore, aims to examine the effect of socio-demographic and institutional factors on the utilization of antenatal care services among pregnant women in Damaturu, Yobe state, Nigeria. A descriptive study was carried out among 204 women (15-49 years) who have given birth within the last 12 months or are pregnant at the time of the study. Purposive sampling was used, and data were collected using structured questionnaire/interview guide. To establish the effect of socio-demographic and institutional factors on the utilization of ANC services, bivariate analysis using Pearson’s chi-square test was conducted. The results showed that majority of the Original Research Article Bande et al.; IJTDH, 29(2): 1-9, 2018; Article no.IJTDH. 39726 2 respondents are housewives between the ages of 30-34 years. Of these, only 49% of the women received the minimum required ANC of four visits. In the correlations analysis using chi-square test, age (P<0.001), marital status (P<0.001), level of education (P<0.001), level of income (P= 0.002), distance of health facility (P= 0.006), opening days (P<0.001), attitudes of health workers (P<0.001) and quality of service provided (P=0.003) were found to be strong indicators of utilization of ANC services. However, occupation (P= 0.114), religion (P= 0.249) and parity (P= 0.333) have no significant relationship with utilization of ANC services. The study thus concluded that increase in awareness and accessibility to health facilities were crucial towards enhancing women utilization of ANC services.
Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Insomnia: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

ABSTRACT Objective: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are clinically effective for insomnia, but the research findings have been mixed. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examined the effect of MBIs on insomnia. Method: Both English (PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases) and Chinese (WanFang and CNKI) databases were systematically and independently searched. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and risk ratio (RR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the random effects model. Results: Five RCTs (n = 520) comparing MBIs (n = 279) and control (n = 241) groups were identified and analyzed. Compared to the control group, participants in the MBIs group showed significant improvement in insomnia as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (n = 247; SMD: −1.01, 95% CI: −1.28 to −0.75, I2 = 0%, p < 0.00001) at post-MBIs assessment. Conclusion: In this comprehensive meta-analysis, MBIs appear to be effective in the treatment of insomnia. Further studies to examine the long-term effects of MBIs for insomnia are needed.
Pancha Indriya Buddhi: Association cortices

Ayurveda considers Buddhi (intellect/cognition) as a separate entity which works in collaboration with the Manas (mind). Buddhi provides confirmative knowledge after proper analysis. Buddhi is considered as the organ of perception. Pancha indriya buddhis (Chakshu buddhi, Shrotra buddhi, Ghraana buddhi, Rasana buddhi, and Sparshana buddhi) are the basic intelligence or knowledge which are responsible to generate pancha indriya gyana (knowledge related to five sensory organs). In Ayurveda, till date, no studies are available on Pancha indriya buddhis. Pancha indriya buddhi and their clinical significance have been underexplored. “Chakshu buddhi” helps in seeing and perceiving different objects with different shapes, colors, and sizes. Chakshu buddhi's functions resemble with the functions of visual association area of the brain. “Shrotra buddhi” helps to hear and understand the sounds as well as speech and its functions resemble with the functions of auditory association area. “Ghraana buddhi” helps to perceive or identify different types of smells, and its functions are equivalent to the functions of piriform cortex, amygdale, and orbitofrontal regions of the brain. “Rasana buddhi” helps to perceive taste, and its functions are similar to insula/operculum or anterior temporal lobe. To perceive the stimuli of touch and to recognize the objects by touch ‘Sparshana buddhi’ is essential. The functions of Sparshana Buddhi are equivalent to sensory association cortex. Functions of Pancha indriya buddhis resemble with the functions of association cortices of the brain and the pathological states of indriya buddhis denote different types of Agnosia.
A balanced pro-inflammatory and regulatory cytokine signature in young African children is associated with lower risk of clinical malaria.

Background The effect of timing of exposure to first Plasmodium falciparum infections during early childhood on the induction of innate and adaptive cytokine responses and their contribution to the development of clinical malaria immunity is not well established. Methods As part of a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial in Mozambique using monthly chemoprophylaxis with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine plus artesunate to selectively control timing of malaria exposure during infancy, peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected at ages 2.5, 5.5, 10.5, 15 and 24 months were stimulated ex vivo with parasite schizont and erythrocyte lysates. Cytokine mRNA expressed in cell pellets and proteins secreted in supernatants were quantified by real time quantitative PCR and multiplex flow cytometry, respectively. Children were followed up for clinical malaria from birth until 4 years of age. Results Higher pro-inflammatory (IL-1, IL-6, TNF) and regulatory (IL-10) cytokine concentrations during the second year of life were associated with reduced incidence of clinical malaria up to 4 years of age, adjusting by chemoprophylaxis and prior malaria exposure. Significantly lower concentrations of antigen-specific TH1 (IL-2, IL-12, IFN-) and TH2 (IL-4, IL-5) cytokines by 2 years of age were measured in children under chemoprophylaxis compared to children receiving placebo (p<0.03). Conclusions Selective chemoprophylaxis altering early natural exposure to malaria blood stage antigens during infancy had a significant effect on TH lymphocyte cytokine production more than one year later. Importantly, a balanced pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine signature probably by innate cells around age 2 years was associated with protective clinical immunity during childhood.
Adaptation to a novel host modifies host discrimination by the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus


Females of the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus avoid adding eggs to seeds that already bear eggs. Geographical variation in this behaviour has been thought to depend on differences in host size. In populations that attack small-seeded legumes, only one or two larvae can develop within a seed, and females are especially adept at detecting and rejecting occupied (egg-laden) seeds. We performed a mass-selection experiment in which replicate lines of a population associated with a small host (mung bean, Vigna radiata) were either maintained on this host or were transferred to a larger host (cowpea, Vigna unguiculata) that can support several larvae per seed. After more than 40 generations, we estimated the strength of host discrimination by presenting females a choice of egg-free and egg-laden seeds, and by quantifying how uniformly females spread their eggs among egg-free seeds. Compared to females maintained on mung bean, females from cowpea lines were more likely to accept occupied seeds in choice tests. They also distributed their eggs less uniformly, especially when cowpea served as the test host. Cowpea lines thus evolved to resemble populations that have long been associated with the larger host. A separate study showed that weaker host discrimination in the cowpea lines was accompanied by a decline in larval competitiveness, which may have further relaxed selection for avoidance of occupied hosts. Our results demonstrate that switching to a novel resource can produce rapid and predictable changes in a fitness-related insect behaviour.  2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
Exploring the Whole Value of Corporate Volunteering

Volunteering through the workplace is growing, with companies investing millions of dollars into it but possessing little knowledge of its value. This paper explores the value that a corporate volunteering programme (EDP Group) generated. The analysis was based on a new model, the “whole value model”, which resulted from the adaptation of a model that Andrew Haldane advocated in 2014. It showed that a corporate volunteering programme could generate an estimated average of at least € 3.55 for every € 1 invested and the potential return on a volunteer hour was guaranteed to be 5.75 times higher than its costs. This case study showed that the economic value was a small part of the whole value generated (estimated to be at least 22 times larger than just the economic value). The study facilitated the setting and testing of a new model for the value analysis of corporate volunteering.
Twenty years later: Oral health‐related quality of life and standard of treatment in patients with chronic periodontitis

BACKGROUND To assess oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) after long-term (20 years) periodontal treatment in patients with chronic periodontitis (ChP) and to compare it with the current clinical outcome and oral health status. METHODS Twenty years after therapy, 63 patients were reexamined. The dental and periodontal status and OHRQoL using the Oral Health Impact Profile-G49 (OHIP-G49) were assessed. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and tests for differences were calculated. RESULTS Up to 75% of patients showed no probing depths > 5mm, bleeding on probing (BOP) ≤25%, no pain and satisfactory function. A comparatively low perceived oral impact of ChP was represented by an OHIP-G49 overall score of 18.89 ± 21.66. The most common reported impairment was physical pain followed by "functional limitation. " A correlation between oral quality standard and the OHIP-G49 was limited to the physical pain subdomain. CONCLUSIONS Satisfaction with oral status was perceived high by most patients treated for chronic periodontitis. A comparably high OHRQoL can be achieved and retained long-term after periodontal treatment. The objective and subjective evaluation of oral health only correlated in the subscale "physical pain. "
PLSDB: a resource of complete bacterial plasmids

Abstract The study of bacterial isolates or communities requires the analysis of the therein included plasmids in order to provide an extensive characterization of the organisms. Plasmids harboring resistance and virulence factors are of especial interest as they contribute to the dissemination of antibiotic resistance. As the number of newly sequenced bacterial genomes is growing a comprehensive resource is required which will allow to browse and filter the available plasmids, and to perform sequence analyses. Here, we present PLSDB, a resource containing 13 789 plasmid records collected from the NCBI nucleotide database. The web server provides an interactive view of all obtained plasmids with additional meta information such as sequence characteristics, sample-related information and taxonomy. Moreover, nucleotide sequence data can be uploaded to search for short nucleotide sequences (e.g. specific genes) in the plasmids, to compare a given plasmid to the records in the collection or to determine whether a sample contains one or multiple of the known plasmids (containment analysis). The resource is freely accessible under https://ccb-microbe.cs. uni-saarland.de/plsdb/.
The Effect of Listening to Holy Quran Recitation on Anxiety: A Systematic Review

Background: Among all mental health disorders in the general population, anxiety is the most frequent. Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions are used to manage anxiety in various settings. There is a growing interest among researchers on religion therapy as a non-pharmacological intervention for anxiety management. Hence, due to the importance of Holy Quran in Muslims' lives, this systematic review was performed to assess the studies that evaluated the effect of Quran recitation on anxiety in various settings. Materials and Methods: This systematic review study was performed on articles published between January 1990 and September 2017. Several online databases including SID, Iranmedex, Magiran, IranDoc, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched with the keywords of “Quran,” “anxiety,” “clinical trial. ” The risk of bias across all included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool. Results: Of the 973 articles found in the initial search, 28 randomized controlled trials and quasi-experiments were selected for the systematic review. In most studies, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to measure participants' anxiety. Findings of this review revealed a positive effect of listening to Holy Quran recitation in reducing anxiety in various settings. Only one study had reported that anxiety level in Holy Quran recitation group was less than that of the control group, but it was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Based on the available researches, Quran recitation can be used as a useful non-pharmacological treatment to reduce anxiety. However, methodologically strong randomized controlled trials are needed in this area.