Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comorbidities Affecting Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Retrospective Chart Review

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder characterized by deficits in social interaction/communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. Recent discussions have emerged worldwide regarding the heterogeneity around presentation/etiology and comorbidities. This study aimed to determine the frequency and characteristics of comorbidities among children diagnosed with ASD in Manitoba and to evaluate differences in presentation between those with and without medical comorbidities. We conducted a retrospective chart review of >1900 electronic charts at the only publicly funded referral site for children ≤6 years requiring evaluation for ASD in Manitoba. All children aged 0–6 years diagnosed with ASD at this site between May 2016 and September 2021 were identified. χ2 and t-tests were used to compare groups. Of the total of 1858 children identified, 1452 (78.1%) were boys, 251 (13.5%) were prematurely born, and 539 (29.0%) had ≥1 medical comorbidity. Global developmental delay (GDD) was diagnosed in 428 (23.0%). The age of referral and diagnosis did not differ between groups. Comorbidities were more common among premature children (16.0% vs. 12.5%, p: 0.005) and children with comorbid GDD (34.9% vs. 18.2%, p < 0.001). Neurological comorbidities were most common (37.1%). No sex difference in the overall presence of comorbidities was found (boys = 77.1% vs. 78.5%, p: 0.518); however, girls had a higher incidence of neurological comorbidities, e.g., cerebral palsy, seizures, hypotonia (14.8% vs. 9.64%, p: 0.009), as well as genetic comorbidities (4.92% vs. 2.75%, p: 0.04). The high rates of associated neurological conditions, GDD, and prematurity add heterogeneity to this group leading to potential difficulties with prognosis and service allocation. Primary vs. secondary ASD can be a way of separating individuals based on relevant medical comorbidities.
Home-administered transcranial direct current stimulation is a feasible intervention for depression: an observational cohort study

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is an emerging treatment for major depression. We recruited participants with moderate-to-severe major depressive episodes for an observational clinical trial using Soterix Medical's tDCS telehealth platform as a standard of care. The acute intervention consisted of 28 sessions (5 sessions/week, 6 weeks) of the left anodal dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) tDCS (2.0 mA × 30 min) followed by a tapering phase of weekly sessions for 4 weeks (weeks 7–10). The n = 16 completing participants had a significant reduction in depressive symptoms by week 2 of treatment [Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Baseline: 28.00 ± 4.35 vs. Week 2: 17.12 ± 5.32, p < 0.001] with continual improvement across each biweekly timepoint. Acute intervention responder and remission rates were 75 and 63% and 88 and 81% following the taper period (week 10).
A Comprehensive Quality Analysis of Different Colors of Medicinal and Edible Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle (the dried flower bud or opening flower of Lonicera japonica Thunb.), a medicinal and edible substance, has is greatly popular among consumers for its remarkable health effects, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, due to the influences of processing methods, storage conditions, and other factors, honeysuckles show different colors which can directly reflect the quality and the price on the market. In order to comprehensively compare the quality of different colors, 55 batches of honeysuckle samples were collected and analyzed. Their color parameters, chlorophyll content (chl), total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activity (AA), main active compounds, and metabolites were measured. As a result, the initial green-white (GW) samples, a kind of highest-quality honeysuckle, had the smallest a* value, largest h*, chl, TPC, TFC, and AA values, and highest content of chlorogenic acid and cynaroside. There was a significant difference between GW samples and a series of discolored samples. As the color darkened or lightened, the quality gradually decreased. The yellow-brown (YB) samples were of the worst quality and were no longer available for clinical and health purposes. A series of differential metabolites, such as quercetin-7-O-glucoside and secologanoside, could be used as important references to evaluate the quality of differently colored samples. The metabolic profile of honeysuckle provided new insights into the process of color change and laid a foundation for further honeysuckle quality control. The correlation results showed that the a* and h* values significantly affect the abovementioned quality indicators and the 10 main active compounds. In other words, the color difference could directly reflect the quality and clinical efficacy. Multiple regression analysis was carried out using combined L*, a*, and b* values to predict the quality of honeysuckle. This is the first time the quality of different color honeysuckle samples on the post-harvest link has been systematically compared and a demonstration of medicinal and edible substances with different colors has been provided.
Portal Selection for Suture Anchor Placement During Hip Arthroscopic Labral Repair: A Study Based on 3-Dimensional Model Reconstruction

Background: Arthroscopic suture repair is the main treatment option for hip labral tears; however, anchor insertion and placement from arthroscopic portals is difficult. Purpose: To quantitatively evaluate the safety of various arthroscopic portals for suture anchor placement during hip labral repair. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: The computed tomography scans of 20 patients with normally developed hip joints were used to create 3-dimensional models. The distances from the anchor to the articular cartilage (DAC) and from the acetabular insertion point to the cortical bone (DCB) were measured in the anterolateral portal (AL), posterolateral portal (PL), midanterior portal (MAP), medial MAP, and 3 distal anterolateral accessory portals (DALAs): DALA-proximal, DALA-middle, and DALA-distal. Labral tears were divided into anterior (4, 3, and 2 o’clock), lateral (1, 12, and 11 o’clock), and posterior (10, 9, and 8 o’clock) acetabular zones, and the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare DAC and DCB in the zones. The success rate was defined as anchors placed with DAC ≥1 mm and DCB ≥15 mm. Results: The DAC was significantly smaller in the AL at 1 o’clock (0.68 ± 0.32 mm; P < .001) and 12 o’clock (0.37 ± 0.30 mm; P < .001), and in the PL at 12 o’clock (-0.35 ± 0.38 mm; P < .001) and 11 o’clock (0.60 ± 0.24 mm; P < .001). The DCB was significantly smaller in the DALA-P at 3 o’clock (8.93 ± 2.12 mm; P < .001) and 11 o’clock (9.59 ± 2.84 mm; P < .001), the MAP at 12 o’clock (13.76 ± 3.89 mm; P < .001) and 11 o’clock (0.27 ± 0.27 mm; P < .001), and the MMA at 12 o’clock (5.96 ± 2.31 mm; P < .001) and 11 o’clock (0 mm; P < .001). Success rates were high for MAP and MMA between 4 o’clock and 1 o’clock, for DALA-proximal at 12 o’clock, for AL at 11 o’clock, and for PL between 10 o’clock and 8-o’clock. Conclusion: There were significant differences in the success rate of anchor placement using different portals during hip arthroscopic labral repair. Clinical Relevance: MAP is recommended for labral repair between 4 o’clock and 1 o’clock, DALA-P is recommended between 2 o’clock and 12 o’clock, AL is suitable at 11 o’clock, and PL is suitable between 10 o’clock and 8 o’clock.
Inhibitory Effects of Simvastatin on IL-33-Induced MCP-1 via the Suppression of the JNK Pathway in Human Vascular Endothelial Cells

An alarmin, interleukin (IL)-33 is a danger signal that causes inflammation, inducing chemotactic proteins such as monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 in various cells. As statins have pleiotropic actions including anti-inflammatory properties, we investigated the effects of simvastatin on IL-33-induced MCP-1 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). HUVECs were stimulated with IL-33 in the presence or absence of simvastatin. Gene expression and protein secretion of MCP-1, phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear translocation of phosphorylated c-Jun, and human monocyte migration were investigated. Immunocytochemical staining and Western immunoblot analysis revealed that IL-33 augmented MCP-1 protein expression in HUVECs. Real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed that IL-33 significantly increased MCP-1 mRNA and protein secretion, which were suppressed by c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor SP600125 and p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580. Simvastatin inhibited IL-33-induced MCP-1 mRNA, protein secretion, phosphorylation of JNK and c-Jun. Additionally, the IL-33-induced nuclear translocation of phosphorylated c-Jun and THP-1 monocyte migration were also blocked by simvastatin. This study demonstrated that IL-33 induces MCP-1 expression via the JNK and p38 MAPK pathways in HUVECs, and that simvastatin inhibits MCP-1 production by selectively suppressing JNK. Simvastatin may inhibit the progression of IL-33-induced inflammation via suppressing JNK to prevent MCP-1 production.
Circulating Biomarkers Associated with the Diagnosis and Prognosis of B-Cell Progenitor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Simple Summary Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a hematological disease characterized by the malfunction of the hematopoietic system. This process is generated and perpetuated by several mechanisms that provide the disease with part of its malignancy potential and genetic and cytological characteristics. Disease pathological features are used for diagnosis and prognosis; however, most of them are obtained by a bone marrow aspirate, so it is crucial to find other less invasive methods to establish or complement the diagnosis, prognosis, and follow-up of the disease. A cancer biomarker is any measurable indicator demonstrating the presence of malignancy, tumor behavior, prognosis, or treatment responses. This review will summarize circulating diagnostic and prognosis biomarkers for B-cell progenitor ALL. Abstract Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a hematological disease characterized by the dysfunction of the hematopoietic system that leads to arrest at a specific stage of stem cells development, suppressing the average production of cellular hematologic components. BCP-ALL is a neoplasm of the B-cell lineage progenitor. BCP-ALL is caused and perpetuated by several mechanisms that provide the disease with its tumor potential and genetic and cytological characteristics. These pathological features are used for diagnosis and the prognostication of BCP-ALL. However, most of these paraclinical tools can only be obtained by bone marrow aspiration, which, as it is an invasive study, can delay the diagnosis and follow-up of the disease, in addition to the anesthetic risk it entails for pediatric patients. For this reason, it is crucial to find noninvasive and accessible ways to supply information concerning diagnosis, prognosis, and the monitoring of the disease, such as circulating biomarkers. In oncology, a biomarker is any measurable indicator that demonstrates the presence of malignancy, tumoral behavior, prognosis, or responses to treatments. This review summarizes circulating molecules associated with BCP-ALL with potential diagnostic value, classificatory capacity during monitoring specific clinic features of the disease, and/or capacity to identify each BCP-ALL stage regarding its evolution and outcome of the patients with BCP-ALL. In the same way, we provide and classify biomarkers that may be used in further studies focused on clinical approaches or therapeutic target identification for BCP-ALL.
Logistics systems for sustainable cities : proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on City Logistics (Madeira, Portugal, 25-27 June, 2003)

Preface. Visions For City Logistics. Urban Freight Movements and Public Private Partnerships. Transport Demand, Transport and Traffic Flow - Key Elements of City Logistics. Assessment of the Relationship Between Vehicle Type Mix and the Benefit of Freight Projects. Estimation of an Origin-Destination Matrix for Urban Freight Transport. Application to the City of Seville. A New Interactive Approach on Route Planning with Tight Delivery Time Windows. Intelligent Vehicle Routing and Scheduling. Road Network Reliability Analysis Using Vehicle Routing and Scheduling Procedures. On the Estimation of the Maximum Efficiency of the Trucking Industry. Implications for City Logistics. Modelling Effects of e-commerce on Urban Freight Transport. Last-Mile, a Procedure to set-up an Optimized Delivery Scheme. Towards a Matching System for the Auction of Transport Orders. Systems Theory, Complexity and Supply Organizational Models to Enrich City Logistics: An Approach. Assessing Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Abatement Measures on Urban Freight. The Environmental Assessment of Urban Goods Movement. Route Choice and the Impact of 'Logistic Routes'. Empirical Analysis on Hazardous Material Transportation Using Road Traffic Census and Accident Data. Analysing the Potential Impacts of Sustainable Distribution Measures in UK Urban Areas. Future City Logistics in Japan from the Shippers' and carriers' View. City Logistics in Italy: a National Project. Developments in Urban Distribution in London. An Experimental Cooperative Parcel Pick-up System Using the Internet in the Central Business District in Tokyo. New Ideas for the City-Logistics Project in Kassel. A Study on the Setting-up of Lorry-Dedicated Routes in the Brussels Capital Region. New Concepts for City Logistics. Urban Rail and Intermodal Freight Strategies in the Zurich Area: A Case Study From Switzerland. On-Line Retailing in France Current and Future Effects on City Logistics. Dispelling the E-Commerce and Urban Transport Environmental Doomsday Forecasts: A Counter Intuitive Australian Case Study- The Postal Transport Network Restructure, 1995 to 2000. E-Commerce and End Delivery Issues. Web-based Transport Exchange Systems in Japan and its Implication to Traffic Volume. Summary of the OECD Report Delivering the Goods-21st Century Challenges to Urban Goods Transport OECD Programme of Research on Road Transport and Intermodal Linkages Working Group on Urban Freight Logistics. Sustainable City Logistic Solutions. The E+Transport Environmental Operator Classification System. Relationships Between Goods Distribution and Public Transport in Urban Areas.
Can Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Be Considered a Biomarker for Bipolar Disorder? An Analysis of the Current Evidence

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a key role in brain development, contributing to neuronal survival and neuroplasticity. Previous works have found that BDNF is involved in several neurological or psychiatric diseases. In this review, we aimed to collect all available data on BDNF and bipolar disorder (BD) and assess if BDNF could be considered a biomarker for BD. We searched the most relevant medical databases and included studies reporting original data on BDNF circulating levels or Val66Met polymorphism. Only articles including a direct comparison with healthy controls (HC) and patients diagnosed with BD according to international classification systems were included. Of the 2430 identified articles, 29 were included in the present review. Results of the present review show a reduction in BDNF circulating levels during acute phases of BD compared to HC, which increase after effective therapy of the disorders. The Val66Met polymorphism was related to features usually associated with worse outcomes. High heterogeneity has been observed regarding sample size, clinical differences of included patients, and data analysis approaches, reducing comparisons among studies. Although more studies are needed, BDNF seems to be a promising biomarker for BD.
WATER AND AIR QUALITY PERFORMANCE OF A RECIPROCATING BIOFILTER TREATING DAIRY WASTEWATER

Agricultural non-point source pollution is the leading water quality problem in surface water and the second leading problem in ground water in the US. Among the contaminants, nutrients (such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) can be transported from agricultural fields when cropland is not managed properly. In California, dairy manure application to cropland has become tightly regulated with the goal of decreasing such nutrient pollution. Dairies unable to balance their manure nutrient supply with cropland application area may benefit from a nitrogen removal technology. One such technology is the reciprocating biofilter, known as the ReCip ® technology. A pilot-scale ReCip ® unit was installed at the Cal Poly dairy to evaluate its treatment efficacy, in particular for nitrogen removal, when treating wastewater from flush dairies. This pilot-scale system was the first application of the ReCip ® technology to dairy wastewater, and recently it was found to be effective for removal of ammonium, total nitrogen, and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). In the ReCip ® , wastewater is repeatedly pumped back and forth between two gravel-filled basins. This reciprocation creates two treatment environments: an aerobic environment, which promotes reactions such as nitrification and BOD oxidation, and an anoxic/anaerobic environment, which promotes reactions such as denitrification of nitrate into nitrogen gas and methanogenesis. At Cal Poly, the ReCip ® treated storage lagoon water, and ReCip ® effluent containing nitrate was returned v to the lagoon, possibly contributing to odor control. Emission of air pollutants is a concern about dairy waste in general (volatile organic compounds, hydrogen sulfide, methane, etc.) and for nitrification-denitrification systems in particular (nitrous oxide). In the present work, the first detailed air emission study was conducted on ReCip ®. Emissions of air pollutants were measured with flux chambers during different seasons, and, simultaneously, the water quality within the pore volume of the gravel beds was measured to explore whether pore water quality correlated to air emissions. These air emissions studies were performed within a yearlong study of overall ReCip ® treatment performance. Water quality constituents measured were pH, alkalinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), soluble nitrogen, soluble non-purgeable organic carbon, nitrite, and nitrate. During the submerged phase of the reciprocation cycle, pore water DO generally declined from 1-2 mg/L to <0.1 mg/L, while TAN declined and nitrate accumulated, although total nitrogen also declined due to denitrification. The extent of denitrification was correlated to influent BOD loading. The average …
Statistically equivalent representative volume elements (SERVE) for material behaviour analysis and multiscale modelling

ABSTRACT Mechanical properties of materials and associated engineered components are controlled by the material structure at various lengths and time scales. As materials are being further utilised to the maximum extent of their capabilities, tails on property distributions become significant. These tails are often driven by the extremities of microstructural feature distributions, suggesting the need for a statistically relevant description of the microstructure and a reciprocity relationship with the range of property measurement capabilities and the models that represent this information. Representative volume elements (RVE) and statistically equivalent representative volume elements (SERVE) have emerged as frameworks for such microstructural characterisation and quantification. This review covers the evolution of quantitative microstructure description for use in material behaviour predictions from homogenised representations, large volume statistical representation, to the determination of the minimum spatial size to statistically represent a microstructure based on features of interest and properties of interest.
Numerical Investigations of a Class of Biological Models on Unbounded Domain

This paper is concerned with numerical computations of a class of biological models on unbounded spatial domains. To overcome the unboundedness of spatial domain, we first construct efficient local absorbing boundary conditions (LABCs) to reformulate the Cauchy problem into an initial-boundary value (IBV) problem. After that, we construct a linearized finite difference scheme for the reduced IVB problem, and provide the corresponding error estimates and stability analysis. The delay-dependent dynamical properties on the Nicholson’s blowflies equation and the Mackey-Glass equation are numerically investigated. Finally, numerical examples are given to demonstrate the efficiency of our LABCs and theoretical results of the numerical scheme. AMS subject classifications: 34A45, 65M12, 65N12
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Skin Care Among Elderly Patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

As people age, the likelihood that they will experience maladies of the skin increases. It is therefore important that older individuals possess the necessary knowledge and proper attitudes and practices regarding their skincare. The purpose of this study was to examine such knowledge, attitudes, and practices among older members of the Saudi Arabian population. The results of the study showed that among the majority of the participants, skincare practices could be considered insufficient and, surprisingly, elderly men undertake better skincare practices than women of this age category. It is recommended that more should be done to educate those within the older Saudi population regarding skin care practices.
Plastid phylogenomics of the Eriostemon group (Rutaceae; Zanthoxyloideae): support for major clades and investigation of a backbone polytomy

ABSTRACT Most of Australia’s sclerophyllous Rutaceae belong to a clade informally known as the ‘Eriostemon group’ (including 16 genera, ~209 species). We investigated generic relationships in this group using analyses of complete plastome sequence data for 60 species and analyses of a supermatrix including sequences of four plastome spacer regions for 22 additional species. Maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference, and shortcut coalescent phylogenetic analyses produced congruent phylogenies that were highly supported, except for a series of short unsupported branches in the backbone of the Eriostemon group. We found high support for four major clades branching from this polytomy and discuss evolutionary inferences of generic relationships in each lineage. In an effort to resolve the polytomy, we analysed gene tree topologies in tree space, phylogenetic informativeness with likelihood mapping, and conducted topology tests to assess support for all possible topological resolutions of the polytomy. These approaches did not clarify the polytomy, which may be caused by insufficient data, features of plastome evolution, or rapid radiation. Results from analyses of the combined supermatrix dataset suggest that Philotheca section Philotheca is paraphyletic with regards to Drummondita and Geleznowia. In all phylogenies, Philotheca sections Corynonema and Cyanochlamys were not placed with other members of Philotheca.