Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Activity or connectivity? A randomized controlled feasibility study evaluating neurofeedback training in Huntington’s disease

Abstract Non-invasive methods, such as neurofeedback training, could support cognitive symptom management in Huntington’s disease by targeting brain regions whose function is impaired. The aim of our single-blind, sham-controlled study was to collect rigorous evidence regarding the feasibility of neurofeedback training in Huntington’s disease by examining two different methods, activity and connectivity real-time functional MRI neurofeedback training. Thirty-two Huntington’s disease gene-carriers completed 16 runs of neurofeedback training, using an optimized real-time functional MRI protocol. Participants were randomized into four groups, two treatment groups, one receiving neurofeedback derived from the activity of the supplementary motor area, and another receiving neurofeedback based on the correlation of supplementary motor area and left striatum activity (connectivity neurofeedback training), and two sham control groups, matched to each of the treatment groups. We examined differences between the groups during neurofeedback training sessions and after training at follow-up sessions. Transfer of training was measured by measuring the participants’ ability to upregulate neurofeedback training target levels without feedback (near transfer), as well as by examining change in objective, a priori defined, behavioural measures of cognitive and psychomotor function (far transfer) before and at 2 months after training. We found that the treatment group had significantly higher neurofeedback training target levels during the training sessions compared to the control group. However, we did not find robust evidence of better transfer in the treatment group compared to controls, or a difference between the two neurofeedback training methods. We also did not find evidence in support of a relationship between change in cognitive and psychomotor function and learning success. We conclude that although there is evidence that neurofeedback training can be used to guide participants to regulate the activity and connectivity of specific regions in the brain, evidence regarding transfer of learning and clinical benefit was not robust.
The Effects of Biotic and Abiotic Elicitors on the Capsidiol Accumulation in Cell Suspension Cultures of Capsicum Annuum L.

ABSTRACT The effects of Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler, yeast extract, cellulase, jasmonic acid (JA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and salicylic acid (SA) on the capsidiol accumulation were investigated in the cell suspension cultures of three genotypes (resistant, PM 217 and PM 702; susceptible 11 B 14) of Capsicum annuum L. which have different resistant to Phytophthora capsici Leon. Cell suspension cultures were obtained from hypocotyle expiants of pepper seedlings emerged under in vitro conditions. The two-week old green pepper suspension cultures were elicited using auto-claved hyphae suspension of A. alternata, yeast extract, cellulase, JA, H2O2 and SA elicitors. The capsidiol concentration was determined by gas chromatograhy analysis, 24 and 48 h after elicitation. The amounts of capsidiol accumulated in the cultures with elicited cellulase and A. alternata were higher than the other elicitors. Besides a negligible amount of capsidiol accumulation was observed with H2O2 and nothing with SA in the concentration range studied. Maximum capsidiol concentration was obtained as 91.42± 3.9 mg/mL in the cultures of 11 B 14 susceptible genotype elicited with 1500 mg/mL cellulase at 24 h later. The capsidiol concentrations were high for resistant genotypes (PM 217 and PM 702) in the cultures with elicited A. alternata and yeast extract. But the capsidiol concentrations were high for susceptible genotype(11 B 14) in the cultures with elicited cellulase, JA, H2O2 and SA.
Effect of tuber size & weight on yield and quality of greater yam (Dioscorea alata L.) under southern Rajasthan conditions

The present investigation entitled "Effect of Tuber size & weight on Yield and quality of greater yam (Dioscorea alata L.) Under Southern Rajasthan Conditions" was conducted during June 2017 to March 2018 at Horticulture Farm, Department of Horticulture, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur. The experiment were comprising with different weight of tubers (25g, 50g, 75g, 100g, 125g, 150g, 175g, 200g, 225g and 250g) and three replications. The vegetative growth parameters were significantly influenced by different weight of tubers. Minimum days to sprouting (14.40 days), maximum speed of emergence (81.50%), no. of leaves per vine after four months (96.00), vine length after four months (183.76cm), girth of vines after four months (6.06 cm), leaf area (8181.76 cm) were recorded in highest weight of tuber (250g). Maximum sprouting percentage (100%) was found in treatment T1 (25g) and T4 (100g). The maximum survival percentage (90.00%) was found in treatment T9 (225g). The minimum days to harvesting from sowing (215 days) was observed in treatment T10 (250g). The maximum number of tubers per vine (3.33), tuber length (18.18 cm), tuber diameter (9.99 cm), tuber yield per vine (1.97 kg) and yield (24.36 t/ha) were recorded highest in treatment T8 (200g). The maximum gross return (₹ 730800ha), net return (₹545141 ha) with BC Ratio (2.90) were observed under treatment T8 (200g).
Calyptrate diptera (Muscidae and Anthomyidae) of the state of Rio de Janeiro: I. Synanthropy

The synanthropy of Muscidae and Anthomyidae was studied in three ecologically distinct areas of the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. Using baits such row fish, decomposing bovine liver, fresh human faeces and mashed banana it was found that Synthesiomyia nudiseta, Atherigona orientalis, and Musca domestica are highly synanthropic in contrast with Neomuscina pictipenis, Phaonantho devia and Morellia maculipenis found exclusively in the forest.
Prediction of dental caries experience with salivary variables

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of some risk factors that could be modified or eliminated (that might be easily detected and corresponded to the aetiology) in the conduct program of health promotion; this prospective longitudinal study enrolled children attending the first years of a primary school in L’Aquila for a follow-up period of 37 months (from April 1996 to May 1999). Methods Dental examinations, using WHO examination criteria and indices [WHO, 1987], and saliva test to quantify the presence of cariogenic bacteria (Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp) were carried in schools. Statistical analysis was conducted on some qualitative/quantitative characteristics, such as its buffering capacity and flow after stimulation, recorded on a computer, and subsequently analysed using the Epi Info (version 6), Statgraphic and Stata statistical packages. Results Salivary variables were linked to the dfs/DMFS in the case of S. mutans (particularly in the first three saliva tests), whereas the results relating to Lactobacillus spp. were less constant over time.The data of the IV saliva test were excluded from the analysis because the entire population fell into the class of the exposed. Conclusion The saliva test was felt to be useful as a means of supporting oral hygiene education and establishing the need for treatment in patients with at least one carious lesion. In those children without caries, the positive predicted value capacity of the concentration of Streptococcus mutans seems to be satisfactory (71.43%) and capable of identifying those subjects at greater risk who should undergo more frequent dental examinations.
Saccocoelioides godoyi n.sp. (Haploporidae) and other trematodes parasites of fishes from the Guaiba estuary, RS, Brazil

One hundred and fourteen specimens of eleven different species of freshwater fishes from the Guaiba estuary, were examined for digenetic flukes. Saccocoelioides godoyi n.sp. proposed herein, is closest to S. magniovatus and to S. szidati; S. magniovatus is much smaller with comparably larger eggs and S. szidati has larger hermaphroditic sac and considerably larger testis. Creptotrema creptotrema is referred to a new host; Acanthostomum gnerii, Crepidostomum platense, Eocreadium intermedium (immature form), Parspina argentinensis and Zonocotyle bicaecata are reported. This paper confirms the similatary between the parasites of freshwater fishes from Argentina and Brazil. Measurements and original figures of all species are given.
Synthesis of ZnO Nano Rods through Mechano-Chemical Route: A Solvent Free Approach

An efficient and inexpensive route for the synthesis of zinc oxide nano rods via a two step process is reported. In this study, zinc acetate dihydrate and sodium hydroxide were used as precursors and cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was employed as a capping agent. Mechano-chemically synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic light scattering measurements (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The highly crystalline nature of synthesized ZnO was confirmed from XRD analysis. The average particle size of ZnO nano rods obtained through the present solid-state method was 35 nm in size.
Karyotype Analysis in Octoploid and Decaploid Wild Strawberries in Fragaria (Rosaceae)

Karyotype analyses have been useful for clarifying phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships among related species and sub-specific taxa. Within the 22 wild species in the genus Fragaria (Rosaceae), karyotype analyses had been restricted to diploid species. The objectives of this research were to determine the chromosomal morphology and analyze the karyotypes of wild octoploid and decaploid species within this genus. Somatic chromosome images of 16 wild genotypes of F. chiloensis, F. virginiana and F. iturupensis were taken at the metaphase stage of mitosis under a light microscope. To evaluate phylogenetic relationships among 12 accessions, karyotypic similarity was examined by cluster analysis. Chromosome numbers of F. chiloensis and F. virginiana genotypes were octoploid (2n=8x=56), except for PI 551462 (2n=8x−2=54), an aneuploid F. chiloensis subsp. pacifica, and PI 551527, a decaploid genotype of F. virginiana subsp. platypetala. Chromosome morphology in F. virginiana subspecies varied more than that in F. chiloensis subspecies. Results of the cluster analyses separated the F. chiloensis and F. virginiana subspecies, except for F. virginiana subsp. grayana PI 616699. The decaploid, F. iturupensis, clustered within the octoploid F. virginiana clade, and was particularly close to F. virginiana subsp. glauca.
Artificial intelligence radiogenomics for advancing precision and effectiveness in oncologic care (Review)

The new era of artificial intelligence (AI) has introduced revolutionary data-driven analysis paradigms that have led to significant advancements in information processing techniques in the context of clinical decision-support systems. These advances have created unprecedented momentum in computational medical imaging applications and have given rise to new precision medicine research areas. Radiogenomics is a novel research field focusing on establishing associations between radiological features and genomic or molecular expression in order to shed light on the underlying disease mechanisms and enhance diagnostic procedures towards personalized medicine. The aim of the current review was to elucidate recent advances in radiogenomics research, focusing on deep learning with emphasis on radiology and oncology applications. The main deep learning radiogenomics architectures, together with the clinical questions addressed, and the achieved genetic or molecular correlations are presented, while a performance comparison of the proposed methodologies is conducted. Finally, current limitations, potentially understudied topics and future research directions are discussed.
Patch use, apprehension, and vigilance behavior of Nubian Ibex under perceived risk of predation

Foraging theory predicts that animals will sacrifice feeding effort in order to reduce predation risk. Once a forager chooses a habitat, it must decide how to allocate its foraging effort. Nubian Ibex are diurnal, social, cliff-dwelling herbivores. Many of their characteristics seem to have evolved as responses to predation risk. In order to assess the effects that perceived risk of predation might have on foraging behavior of free-ranging Nubian Ibex in the Negev Desert, Israel, we measured giving-up densities (GUDs) in artificial food patches and used them to gauge apprehension level. (Apprehension can be defined as a reduction in attention devoted to performing an activity as a consequence of reallocating attention to detecting or responding to predation risk. A forager can also be vigilant. Vigilance is often defined as time spent scanning the surroundings with the head up.) We also quantified time budgeting using focal observation of individual Nubian Ibex. Habitat preferences and patch selectivity as a measure of apprehension were considered. In particular, we tested the effect of distance from refuge on GUDs, the effect of micropatch structure on selectivity, and the effect of distance from the refuge and group size on Nubian Ibex vigilance level and apprehension. Nubian Ibex allocate their foraging effort more toward patches closer to the escape terrain. At the same time, Nubian Ibex are more apprehensive at intermediate distances from the cliff edge than nearer the cliff, and their use of vigilance increases with distance from the cliff edge. These results suggest that Nubian Ibex may switch from apprehension to a more extreme behavior of vigilance at greater distances from the refuge. This study demonstrated the use of antipredatory behaviors, apprehension, and vigilance by a forager. Estimating apprehension and vigilance levels of a forager simultaneously gives a more complete and accurate picture of how the habitat is perceived by them and combined with measurements of GUD allow a more accurate assessment of habitat quality. Copyright 2007, Oxford University Press.
The Decapod Crustacean fauna of the Turkish Seas

Abstract Since 1965, a total of 193 decapod species has been identified from Turkish seas, bringing the number of species to 220 (75 Natantia, 15 M. Reptantia, 36 Anomura, 94 Brachyura). Pandalina profunda and Richardina fredericii are recorded for the first time from the Eastern Mediterranean, and another 8 species (Acantephyra pelagica, Plesionika gigliolii, Stenopus spinosus, Gourretia denticulata, Bathynectes maravigna, Dorhynchus thomsoni, Latreillia elegans, Macropipus tuberculatus) are recorded for the first time from Turkish seas.
Incidence and etiology of clinically-attended, antibiotic-treated diarrhea among children under five years of age in low- and middle-income countries: Evidence from the Global Enteric Multicenter Study

Background: Diarrhea is a leading cause of antibiotic consumption among children in low- and middle-income countries. While vaccines may prevent diarrhea infections for which children often receive antibiotics, the contribution of individual enteropathogens to antibiotic use is minimally understood. We used data from the Global Enteric Multicenter Study (GEMS) to estimate pathogen-specific incidence of antibiotic-treated diarrhea among children under five years old residing in six countries of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia before rotavirus vaccine implementation. Methods and findings: GEMS was an age-stratified, individually-matched case-control study. Stool specimens were obtained from children presenting to sentinel health clinics with newly-onset, acute diarrhea (including moderate-to-severe and less-severe diarrhea) as well as matched community controls without diarrhea. We used data from conventional and quantitative molecular diagnostic assays applied to stool specimens to estimate the proportion of antibiotic-treated diarrhea cases attributable to each pathogen. Antibiotics were administered or prescribed to 9,606 of 12,109 moderate-to-severe cases and 1,844 of 3,174 less-severe cases. Across all sites, incidence rates of clinically-attended, antibiotic-treated diarrhea were 12.2 (95% confidence interval: 9.0-17.8), 10.2 (7.4-13.9) and 1.9 (1.3-3.0) episodes per 100 child-years at risk at ages 6 weeks to 11 months, 12-23 months, and 24-59 months, respectively. Based on the recommendation for antibiotic treatment to be reserved for cases with dysentery, we estimated a ratio of 12.6 (8.6-20.8) inappropriately-treated diarrhea cases for each appropriately-treated case. Rotavirus, adenovirus serotypes 40/41, Shigella, sapovirus, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, and Cryptosporidium were the leading antibiotic-treated diarrhea etiologies. Rotavirus caused 29.2% (24.5-35.2%) of antibiotic-treated cases, including the largest share in both the first and second years of life. Shigella caused 14.9% (11.4-18.9%) of antibiotic-treated cases, and was the leading etiology at ages 24-59 months. Conclusions: Our findings should inform the prioritization of vaccines with the greatest potential to reduce antibiotic exposure among children.
No SARS‐CoV‐2 carriage observed in children attending daycare centers during the intial weeks of the epidemic in Belgium

To gain knowledge about the role of young children attending daycare in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) epidemic, a random sample of children (n = 84) aged between 6 and 30 months attending daycare in Belgium was studied shortly after the start of the epidemic (February 29th) and before the lockdown (March 18th) by performing in‐house SARS‐CoV‐2 real‐time polymerase chain reaction. No asymptomatic carriage of SARS‐CoV‐2 was detected, whereas common cold symptoms were common (51.2%). Our study shows that in Belgium, there was no sign of early introduction into daycare centers at the moment children being not yet isolated at home, although the virus was clearly circulating. It is clear that more evidence is needed to understand the actual role of young children in the transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 and their infection risk when attending daycare.
Is sleep apnoea a risk factor for Covid-19? Findings from a retrospective cohort study

Background: In the early phase of the coronavirus disease-19 (Covid-19) pandemic, Southwest Finland remained relatively spared. By the 3rd of May 2020, a total of 28 patients have been admitted to the Turku University Hospital. In this paper, we explore baseline characteristics in order to identify risk for severe Covid-19 disease and critical care admission. Methods For this retrospective cohort study, data were derived from hospital records. Basic descriptive statistics were used to characterise patients, including medians, percentiles and frequencies. Differences were tested with Mann Whitney U-test and Pearson's chi-square test. Results Pre-existent obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) was present in 29% of patients admitted in the hospital for Covid-19, none of them having severe OSA. Overall, other findings on admission were comparable with those reported elsewhere. C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) were higher in patients who were eventually transferred to critical care in comparison to in those who were not (median CRP 187 mg/L versus 52 mg/L, p<0.005 and median PCT 0.46 versus 0.12, p=0.047). Moreover, there was a trend towards lower oxygen saturation on admission in ICU-patients (87% versus 93%, p=0.09). Discussion OSA was pre-existent in a disproportional large group of patients, which suggests that it is an important risk factor for severe Covid-19. Furthermore, we identified high CRP, PCT and possibly oxygen saturation as useful clinical measures to identify patients at risk for critical care.
Forecasting Covid-19 Dynamics in Brazil: A Data Driven Approach

This paper has a twofold contribution. The first is a data driven approach for predicting the Covid-19 pandemic dynamics, based on data from more advanced countries. The second is to report and discuss the results obtained with this approach for Brazilian states, as of May 4th, 2020. We start by presenting preliminary results obtained by training an LSTM-SAE network, which are somewhat disappointing. Then, our main approach consists in an initial clustering of the world regions for which data is available and where the pandemic is at an advanced stage, based on a set of manually engineered features representing a country's response to the early spread of the pandemic. A Modified Auto-Encoder network is then trained from these clusters and learns to predict future data for Brazilian states. These predictions are used to estimate important statistics about the disease, such as peaks. Finally, curve fitting is carried out on the predictions in order to find the distribution that best fits the outputs of the MAE, and to refine the estimates of the peaks of the pandemic. Results indicate that the pandemic is still growing in Brazil, with most states peaks of infection estimated between the 25th of April and the 19th of May 2020. Predicted numbers reach a total of 240 thousand infected Brazilians, distributed among the different states, with Sao Paulo leading with almost 65 thousand estimated, confirmed cases. The estimated end of the pandemics (with 97 % of cases reaching an outcome) starts as of May 28th for some states and rests through August 14th, 2020.
Adjusting Coronavirus Prevalence Estimates for Laboratory Test Kit Error

Testing representative populations to determine the prevalence or percent of the population with active SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19) infection and/or antibodies to infection is being recommended as essential for making public policy decisions to open-up or to continue enforcing national, state and local government rules to shelter-in-place. However, all laboratory tests are imperfect and have estimates of sensitivity and specificity less than 100% - in some cases considerably less than 100%. That error will lead to biased prevalence estimates. If the true prevalence of COVID-19 is low, possibly in the range of 1-5%, then testing error will lead to a constant background of bias that will most likely be larger and possibly much larger than the true prevalence itself. As a result, what is needed is a method for adjusting prevalence estimates for testing error. In this paper we outline methods for adjusting prevalence estimates for testing error both prospectively in studies being planned and retrospectively in studies that have been conducted. The methods if employed would also help to harmonize study results within countries and around the world. Adjustment can lead to more accurate prevalence estimates and to better policy decisions.
Estimating the Global Infection Fatality Rate of COVID-19

COVID-19 has become a global pandemic, resulting in nearly three hundred thousand deaths distributed heterogeneously across countries. Estimating the infection fatality rate (IFR) has been elusive due to the presence of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic infections and lack of testing capacity. We analyze global data to derive the IFR of COVID-19. Estimates of COVID-19 IFR in each country or locality differ due to variable sampling regimes, demographics, and healthcare resources. We present a novel statistical approach based on sampling effort and the reported case fatality rate of each country. The asymptote of this function gives the global IFR. Applying this asymptotic estimator to cumulative COVID-19 data from 139 countries reveals a global IFR of 1.04% (CI: 0.77%,1.38%). Deviation of countries' reported CFR from the estimator does not correlate with demography or per capita GDP, suggesting variation is due to differing testing regimes or reporting guidelines by country. Estimates of IFR through seroprevalence studies and point estimates from case studies or sub-sampled populations are limited by sample coverage and cannot inform a global IFR, as mortality is known to vary dramatically by age and treatment availability. Our estimated IFR aligns with many previous estimates and is the first attempt at a global estimate of COVID-19 IFR.