Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Autoimmune Encephalitis Concomitant with SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Insight from 18F-FDG PET Imaging and Neuronal Autoantibodies

We report the case of a 72-y-old man with concomitant autoimmune encephalitis and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The patient presented with subacute cerebellar syndrome and myoclonus several days after general infectious symptoms began. Methods: Clinical examination, CT, PET, MRI, and autoantibody testing were performed. Results: The oropharyngeal swab test was positive for SARS-CoV-2. The brain MRI results were normal. Cerebrospinal fluid testing showed normal cell counts, a negative result on reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction testing, and no oligoclonal banding. Brain 18F-FDG PET showed diffuse cortical hypometabolism associated with putaminal and cerebellum hypermetabolism, compatible with encephalitis and especially cerebellitis. The immunologic study revealed high titers of IgG autoantibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid directed against the nuclei of Purkinje cells, striatal neurons, and hippocampal neurons. Whole-body 18F-FDG PET and CT scans did not show neoplasia. Treatment with steroids allowed a rapid improvement in symptoms. Conclusion: This clinical case argues for a possible relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and autoimmune encephalitis and for the use of 18F-FDG PET in such a context.
Alternative treatments in bean seeds for repelling Acanthoscelides obtectus (SAY)

Abstract: The objectives of this study were to evaluate treatments with alternative products for repelling bean weevils, and to assess their influence on the physiological quality of Phaseolus vulgaris seeds. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, with four replications, in a two-factorial scheme (10x4). It comprised 10 treatments: Piper nigrum, diatomaceous earth and kaolin (4 g/kg of seed); Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Citrus sinensis and Eucalyptus sp. (1% of the seed weight); Azadirachta indica oil (3 mL/kg of seed); Gastoxin (6 g/t of seed); PET container; control; and the storage times of 0, 25, 50, and 75 days. The variables seed moisture content, germination, emergence speed, mean emergence time, weight of one thousand seeds, seed infestation, and repellency were evaluated. The treatments with kaolin and A. indica had a repellent effect at first, but they lost effectiveness by the end of the storage period. The products based on C. zeylanicum and Eucalyptus sp. did not have such impact during early periods of storage, albeit repellency grew with time. On the other hand, C. sinensis and diatom-based products were repellents, both at the beginning and at the end of storage. The treatments with diatomaceous earth, kaolin, P. nigrum, C. zeylanicum, Eucalyptus sp. , A. indica, and PET container all proved to be effective in reducing bean weevil infestation, without negatively impacting the physiological quality of the seeds.
Influence of right versus left unilateral spatial neglect on the functional recovery after rehabilitation in sub-acute stroke patients

ABSTRACT Unilateral spatial neglect (USN) may lead to poor functional rehabilitation outcomes. However, studies investigating the rehabilitation outcomes of right-sided USN are lacking. We aimed to investigate (1) the clinical impacts of USN, including right-sided USN, for stroke patients in sub-acute rehabilitation, and (2) evaluate the differences in clinical characteristics and rehabilitation outcomes between right- and left-sided USN patients. We retrospectively screened the medical records of 297 inpatients at the Tokyo-Bay Rehabilitation Hospital who experienced a cerebrovascular accident with supratentorial lesions between January 1st, 2014 and December 31st, 2016. We performed independent multiple regression analysis in patients with left and right hemisphere damage. The Behavioral Inattention Test was a significant independent variable for predicting the motor, cognitive, and total functional independence measure (FIM), compared to the Stroke Impairment Assessment Set and Mini-Mental State Examination. USN affects motor FIM recovery more than cognitive FIM recovery regardless of the damaged hemisphere. Our study results confirm that both right- and left-sided USN influence the functional recovery of stroke patients. USN occurs, slightly less frequently, following a left hemisphere stroke. However, USN negatively affected rehabilitation outcomes, regardless of the neglected side. Therefore, USN treatment is necessary for patients with left and right hemisphere damage.
Evaluation of Face Detectors and Feature Association Metrics for Real-Time Multi-Face Tracking

Video annotation, control of camera direction, labelling and other tasks can benefit from online visual multi-face tracking. Given the availability of high quality general purpose detectors and tracking-by-detection frameworks, we develop a multi-face tracker and comparatively evaluate its components. In this thesis, we train common object detectors on large databases of faces to understand how well these detectors can perform, specifically on faces. We evaluate different face association methods and appearance metrics with different classifier loss functions to track detected faces across frames. We find that while online tracking based on combining state-of-the-art methods can lead to high-quality tracking results, there is still a large gap between offline and online methods. We develop a multi-tracking system in order to achieve an online and real-time standard, one that can track most of the faces in unconstrained settings.
Anuran forelimb muscle tendinous structures and their relationship with locomotor modes and habitat use

Abstract The interaction between organisms and their environment is central in functional morphology. Differences in habitat usage may imply divergent morphology of locomotor systems; thus, detecting which morphological traits are conservative across lineages and which ones vary under environmental pressure is important in evolutionary studies. We studied internal and external morphology in 28 species of Neotropical anurans. Our aim was to determine if internal morphology (muscle and tendons) shows lower phylogenetic signal than external morphology. In addition, we wanted to know if morphology varies in relation to the habitat use and if there are different functional groups. We found differences in the degree of phylogenetic signal on the groups of traits. Interestingly, postaxial regions of the forelimb are evolutionarily more labile than the preaxial regions. Phylomorphospace plots show that arboreal (jumpers and graspers) and swimmer frogs cluster based on length of fingers and the lack of sesamoid, also reflected by the use of habitat. These functional clusters are also related to phylogeny. Sesamoid and flexor plate dimensions together with digit tendons showed to be important to discriminate functional groups as well as use of habitat classification. Our results allow us to identify a “grasping syndrome” in the hand of these frogs, where palmar sesamoid and flexor plate are absent and a third metacarpal with a bony knob are typical. Thus, a lighter skeleton, long fingers and a prensile hand may be key for arboreality.
SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING AND FIRM PERFORMANCE IN DEVELOPING CLIMES: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

The study basically examined the impact of sustainability reporting on firm performance in developing climes. A systematic content analysis approach was adopted in the study and it formed the basis for the researcher’s conclusion and recommendations. The findings of reviewed extant literature showed that there were inconclusive findings on the impact of sustainability reporting on firm performance. However, a large number of works submitted a positive relationship between sustainability reporting and firms’ performance. Secondly, financial performance measures often used by researchers include the profitability measures (ROA and ROE) and market-base measure (EPS and DPS), and the fourth version of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework in calculating sustainability disclosure index via content analysis. Thirdly, we also found that sustainability disclosure level was low in developing climes compared to other developed climes. We observed some methodological flaws in extant literature on the sector investigated and sample size employed. This study, therefore, recommended that further studies should be carried out on the impact of sustainability reporting on firms’ performance based on the suggested methodological improvement.
A study to assess the treatment adherence among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in rural and urban population of Bengaluru, South India

Diabetes mellitus is no longer a disease of predominantly rich community, the prevalence of diabetes is increasing everywhere. According to the WHO factsheet, the number of people with diabetes has been risen from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014 and was the seventh leading cause of death leading to 1.6 million deaths in 2016. Almost half of all deaths attributable to high blood glucose occur before the age of 70 years. The disease not only affects individuals’ health but also imposes a large economic burden on global health care system and the wider global economy. Hence prevention and appropriate management are the two important factors in reducing the associated mortality and morbidity and one such key factor is self-management through treatment adherence. ABSTRACT
Mixed sensitivity control: a non-iterative approach

Recent analytical solutions to Mixed Sensitivity Control (MSC) are developed and compared with standard MSC based on γ-iteration. The proposed MSC solution gives conditions for strong stability and overcomes the pole-zero cancellations between the plant and the controller of non-iterative solutions, keeping the low-computational effort advantage of non-iterative solutions. The proposed MSC is based on the minimization of the most common closed-loop sensitivity functions in low-frequencies and the free-parameters of the stabilizing-controllers solve an algebraic equation of restriction that assigns the same value to the infinity-norms of the sensitivity functions at low and high-frequencies, guaranteeing robust stability and robust performance. It is assumed that the plant state dimension is double the plant input dimension and that the linear time-invariant nominal plant has a stabilizable and detectable realization and is strongly stabilizable. This MSC problem is solved in a one-parameter observer-controller configuration and reference tracking-control of positions is realized on a two-degrees of freedom feedback-configuration. An approximated optimal value of the location of the closed-loop poles is proposed based on Glover and McFarlane's optimal stability margin [(1989)] which in turn is based on Nehari's Theorem. Simulations of a mechanical system illustrate the results.
Supply-and-demand projections for the health workforce at a provincial level from 2015 to 2025 in Ilam, Iran

Background: Human resources are the key component of health systems. It is critical to have the right number of human resources at anytime and anywhere in the health system. This article aims to help local health decision makers to identify potential gaps between the future supply and demand of human resources and to make necessary changes in medical training processes to fill the gap. Methods: An eight-stage process was applied to project the supply and demand of health workers in Ilam province in 2025 for the following fields: public health, environmental health, general medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and midwifery. To estimate the demand for human resources, a mainly population-based model (manpower-to-population ratio) was applied. A modified version of the Australian dynamic stock and flow model was used to predict the supply of new recruits in 2025. The potential surplus or shortfall in the health workforce was calculated by comparing the supply and demand in 2025. Results: The demand and supply projections for the chosen fields were estimated respectively as: general medicine 457, 709; pharmacy 131, 86; dentistry 86, 251; nursing 949, 1657; midwifery 24, 247; public health 182, 211; and environmental health 92, 225. Conclusions: The current trend of medical graduates will meet the need for human resources in 2025, and there is no need to increase medical student admission. The Education Deputy of Ilam Medical University should take into account the health needs of its catchment area in medical educational processes and training new health-care staff.
The Role of IL-6 in Osteogenic and Neurogenic Differentiation Potentials of Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs)

Introduction: Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic soluble mediator which is involved with many different parts of inflammatory processes. Studies have shown that there is a significantly higher concentration of IL-6 in inflamed pulp tissues when compared to healthy pulp tissues. However, there are no comprehensive studies on how IL-6 can interact with dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) from healthy (HDPSCs) and inflamed pulp tissues (I-DPSCs) and how it can affect the differentiation potential of DPSCs. Therefore, I hypothesized that IL-6 can promote osteogenesis while inhibiting neurogenesis from DPSCs. The aims of this study were to investigate the baseline differences between the H-DPSCs and I-DPSCs, and determine how IL-6 can affect the osteogenic and neurogenic differentiation potentials of DPSCs. Materials and Methods: H-DPSCs and I-DPSCs were isolated and cultured from 28 teeth consisting healthy impacted third molars (n=14) from patients with 17-27 years of age, and severely decayed molars (n=14) with spontaneous, sharp pain from patients with 24 – 56 years of age, respectively. The levels of IL-6 from H-DPSCs and I-DPSCs were measured by ELISA, and IL-6 and neutralizing IL-6 were added to HDPSCs and I-DPSCs, respectively. Immunofluorescence and Alizarin Red staining, and western blot were performed to assess the differentiation potentials of DPSCs. The independent unpaired two-tailed Student’s t-test were performed following quantification analysis. Results: H-DPSCs and I-DPSCs showed similar expression of stem cell markers including CD44, CD73, CD90, and CD105, while H-DPSCs showed lower level of IL-6 (p Conclusion: This study showed IL-6 has the capacities to enhance osteogenesis while hindering neurogenesis of DPSCs.
Heterogeneity in Entrepreneurship in Developing Countries: Risk, Credit, and Migration and the Entrepreneurial Propensity of Youth and Women

Promoting youth and female entrepreneurship is crucial to inclusive growth and the future economic and social prospects of developing countries. Evidence tends to suggest that young and female entrepreneurs are in a minority, and the extent and generating mechanisms of this outcome tend to be country‐specific. This collection of papers brings together recent empirical contributions exploring key drivers of this heterogeneity entrepreneurial propensity of youth and female in the context of a group of countries in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East, paying special attention to the role of and issues relating to access to credit, attitudes to risk, and migratory status. A common thread in all the papers is the effective role of risk, uncertainty, and asymmetric information in the determination of entrepreneurship and in the demand for and allocation of credit when potential entrepreneurs are from specific groups, that is, women, indigenous women, women and youth in conflict and post‐conflict situations, and migrant youth. Based on these results, the papers explore various challenges in the implementation of public policies designed to promote entrepreneurship within these specific segments of the population.
Common Medical and Statistical Problems: The Dilemma of the Sample Size Calculation for Sensitivity and Specificity Estimation

Sample size calculation in biomedical practice is typically based on the problematic Wald method for a binomial proportion, with potentially dangerous consequences. This work highlights the need of incorporating the concept of conditional probability in sample size determination to avoid reduced sample sizes that lead to inadequate confidence intervals. Therefore, new definitions are proposed for coverage probability and expected length of confidence intervals for conditional probabilities, like sensitivity and specificity. The new definitions were used to assess seven confidence interval estimation methods. In order to determine the sample size, two procedures—an optimal one, based on the new definitions, and an approximation—were developed for each estimation method. Our findings confirm the similarity of the approximated sample sizes to the optimal ones. R code is provided to disseminate these methodological advances and translate them into biomedical practice.
Cardiac Biomarkers: A Beneficial Tool in the Diagnosis and Prognostification in Heart Failure- A Focus on Rheumatic Heart Disease

Sujhithra A1, M Chokkalingam2, S Jayanthi3*, Sanjay Andrew Rajaratnam4, D Danis vijay3, SH Shifa Meharaj3, R Vidhya3 1Department of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam,Tamilnadu, India 2Department of Cardiology, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Tamilnadu, India 3Department of Microbiology, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Tamilnadu, India 4Department of Physiology, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institue(CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Tamilnadu, India *Corresponding Author: S Jayanthi, Professor, Department of Microbiology, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Tamilnadu, India. Received: May 20, 2020; Published: July 31, 2020
Characterization of the Aerobic Oxidation of cis-Dichloroethene and Vinyl Chloride in Support of Bioremediation of Chloroethene-Contaminated Sites

Abstract : The lesser chlorinated ethenes, cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE) and vinyl chloride (VC), are produced by anaerobic reductive dechlorination at subsurface sites contaminated by tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE). Accumulation of VC and cDCE under anaerobic conditions limits the application of natural attenuation and enhanced reductive anaerobic biological in-situ treatment technologies (RABITT). Aerobic degradation of lesser chlorinated ethenes has been demonstrated, suggesting that sequential anaerobic/aerobic conditions may result in complete mineralization of PCE/TCE. However, our present understanding of the aerobic transformation potentials of cDCE and VC is limited, thus limiting the reliability of and confidence in natural and enhanced biological alternatives for site remediation. The objective of our project was to determine the prevalence and metabolic capabilities of microorganisms able to derive energy from aerobic oxidation of cDCE and/or VC in subsurface environments. The results help delineate the role of growth-coupled (vs. cometabolic) aerobic oxidation in the natural attenuation of lesser-chlorinated ethenes. Results provide the basis for improved site assessment, improved remedial-action decision-making, and more reliable bioremediation technologies. Our findings indicate that aerobic bacteria (Mycobacterium and Nocardioides strains) capable of growth-linked VC oxidation are widespread in the environment, and commonly found at chlorinated-ethene-contaminated sites. Aerobic assimilation of VC as a carbon source is therefore an ecologically significant phenomenon of equal or greater importance than cometabolic VC degradation. Based on their distribution, growth rates and kinetic parameters, we believe that Mycobacterium strains are most likely to be responsible for the aerobic natural attenuation of VC that has been observed at many sites.
The comparison of effects of Roux-n-y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy on excess weight loss in morbidly obese patients

Background: Obesity an important health problem which has become a worldwide epidemic that effects both developed countries and developing countries. Bariatric surgery is the most efficient cure for morbid obesity. Authors retrospectively reviewed the results of different techniques in bariatric surgery to assess the efficiency of initial operations.Methods: The medical files and operation notes and the one-year follow-up of patients were reviewed. The outcomes of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and gastric roux-n-y bypass (RYGBP) operations were reviewed and their effects on excess weight loss were investigated.Results: Overall, there were 97 patients included in the study, the majority of which were female (87/97, or 90%). The mean age of the SG group was 42.01±8.48 years versus 36±8.32 years in the RYGBP group, with p=0.007. Excess weight loss percentages were 51.7% and 57% for sleeve gastrectomy and RYGBP, respectively, p=0.491. Both operations are effective in reducing comorbidities.Conclusions: In the RYGBP procedure there is more excess weight loss than the results of SG procedure but the difference is not statistically significant. In both procedures, the initial results on weight loss and reduction of comorbidities are comparable. Because SG is less traumatic and relatively easier to perform, it can be the preferred operation for morbid obesity.
A preliminary checklist of the alien flora of Algeria (North Africa): taxonomy, traits and invasiveness potential

ABSTRACT Biological invasions are permanent threat to biodiversity hotspots such as the Mediterranean Basin. However, research effort on alien species has been uneven so far and most countries of North Africa such as Algeria has not yet been the subject of a comprehensive inventory of introduced, naturalized and invasive species. Thus, the present study was undertaken in order to improve our knowledge and to propose a first checklist of alien plants present in Algeria, including invasive and potentially invasive plants. This work aims to make an inventory of all available data on the alien flora present in Algeria, and to carry out preliminary quantitative and qualitative analyses (number of taxa, taxonomic composition, life forms, geographical origins, types of habitats colonized, degree of naturalization). The present review provides a global list of 211 vascular species of alien plants, belonging to 151 genera and 51 families. Most of them originated from North America (31.3%) and the Mediterranean Basin (19.4%). Nearly half (43%) of alien species are therophytes and most of them occur in highly disturbed biotopes (62%), such as arable fields (44.5%) or ruderal habitats, including rubble (17.5%). Introduced plants for ornamental purposes account for almost half (43.6%) of the alien flora. A large proportion (51.2%) of alien species is naturalized in Algeria, with about 16% considered as invasive or potentially invasive. However, the actual impact of these alien species on plant communities and ecosystems deserves urgent assessment with specific studies on impact at the community and the ecosystem levels.