Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In utero and lactational exposure to fipronil in female rats: Pregnancy outcomes and sexual development

ABSTRACT Fipronil, a phenylpyrazole insecticide, is used in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and public health. Because this insecticide is considered a potential endocrine disruptor, the aim of this study was to examine the influence of perinatal exposure to fipronil on neonatal female reproductive system development. Pregnant rats were exposed (via gavage) daily to fipronil (0.03, 0.3, or 3 mg/kg) from gestational day 15 to day 7 after birth, and effects on the reproductive functions assessed on postnatal day (PND) 22. No signs of maternal toxicity were observed during daily treatment with fipronil. Perinatal exposure to the highest dose of fipronil (3 mg/kg) delayed the age of vaginal opening (VO) and first estrus without markedly affecting the anogenital distance (AGD). Further, exposure to 0.3 mg/kg fipronil produced a significantly shorter estrus cycle and reduced number of cycles during the period of evaluation. However, the other reproductive parameters analyzed, including fertility, hormone levels, sexual behavior, and histology of ovaries and uterus, displayed no marked alterations. In this experimental model, fipronil interfered with development of neonatal female reproductive system as evidenced by delay in VO and estrus cycle alterations without apparent significant effects on fertility. Further studies are needed to identify the mechanisms of action associated with the observed female reproductive system changes.
The genotoxic potentials of some atypical antipsychotic drugs on human lymphocytes

Olanzapine (OLZ), risperidone (RPD) and quetiapine (QTP) are atypical antipsychotic drugs and are commonly used for the treatments of schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. However, recent reports indicated that these drugs could exhibit toxic effects on nervous and cardiovascular systems. To our best knowledge, there are scarce data considering the genotoxic damage potentials of OLZ, RPD and QTP on human lymphocyte culture system. Therefore, in this study, the genotoxic potentials of OLZ, RPD and QTP (0–400 mg/L) have been evaluated in human whole blood cultures (WBCs; n = 4). The single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) and micronucleus (MN) assays were applied to estimate the DNA damage. The results of the present study indicated that the tested antipsychotic drug did not induce genotoxicity. In fact, the mean values of the total scores of cells showing DNA damage (for SCGE assay) and MN/1000 cell were not found significantly different from the control values (p > 0.05). However, the application of the highest drug concentrations (250 mg/L and above) caused the sterility in lymphocyte cultures. It is concluded that the tested three different atypical antipsychotic drugs can be used safely, but it is necessary to consider the cytotoxic effects that are likely to appear depending on the doses exposed.
Design and implementation of channel coding for underwater acoustic system

Underwater acoustic channel is a typical high bit error rate (BER) wireless channel. It is characterized by poor communication quality and high propagation delay. Based on comparing and analyzing the performances of RS code, convolutional code, Turbo code, and RA code, a RA coding based underwater acoustic channel coding scheme is proposed in this paper. The results of Matlab-based simulations show that the coding scheme can get a 100 times, or even more, performance improvement. In order to accelerate RA coding, aiming at the random mapping process of RA coding, based on the minimum sum algorithm, a look-up table based circuit design for fast iteration is introduced. Then, the experiments to test the RA coding are carried out in different channel environments, including underwater acoustic test platform and harbor. The results show that the coding scheme reduces the BER 38 times in the underwater acoustic test platform, increases the correct packet rate from 18.92% to 72.45% in the harbor1.
An 8-channel scalable EEG acquisition SoC with fully integrated patient-specific seizure classification and recording processor

Tracking seizure activity to determine proper medication requires a small form factor, ultra-low power sensor with continuous EEG classification. Technical challenges arise from: 1) patient-to-patient variation of seizure pattern on EEG, 2) fully integrating an ultra-low power variable dynamic range instrumentation circuits with seizure detection processor, and 3) reducing communication overhead. Reference [1] extracted EEG features locally on-chip to reduce the data being transmitted, and saved power by 1/14 when compared to raw EEG data transmission. However, it still needs data transmission and off-chip classification to detect and to store seizure activity. This paper presents an ultra-low power scalable EEG acquisition SoC for continuous seizure detection and recording with fully integrated patient-specific Support Vector Machine (SVM)-based classification processor.
Psychoeducation for Adults With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder vs. Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Abstract The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of psychoeducation as compared with cognitive behavioral group therapy in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who still had significant symptoms and were in pharmacological treatment. This is the first study on psychoeducation in adults with ADHD. Thirty-two individuals were randomized to two treatment conditions: 15 were in the psychoeducation group and 11 were in the cognitive behavioral group therapy. A total of 30 completed treatment, and 26 completed the follow-up assessments. The results indicated that both treatments were associated with statistically significant improvements on inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and self-esteem. The patients in both groups showed a decrease in anxiety symptoms and obtained significantly lower scores in depression. Measures on functional impairment showed statistically significant differences on improved quality of life and on lower global severity as perceived in self-report and assessed by clinician report. Psychoeducation demonstrated to be an effective treatment in reducing ADHD core symptoms.
“I Know It When I See It”: Recent Victimization and Perceptions of Rape

This study examined various individual differences that influence perceptions of sexual assault (SA), specifically focusing on participants’ self-reported recent experiences of rape or sexual coercion. Female college students (N = 214) read 16 short SA encounter vignettes, indicated whether what they read constituted rape, and completed individual difference measures. Results indicated that participants who confirmed a recent history of SA endorsed rape myths to a greater degree, held more adversarial sexual beliefs, reported higher levels of sociosexuality, and were less likely to construct the SA encounters as rape when compared with women who do not report recent SA or coercion. Further analyses showed that these variables interacted to predict rape perception in ambiguous SA vignettes, as identified by the participants. These findings illuminate some of the impacts of SA and coercion on women and provide suggestions for future research to further examine the relationship between recent assault history and perceptions of rape.
Comparison of fluctuating maskers for speech recognition tests

Abstract Objective: To investigate the extent to which temporal gaps, temporal fine structure, and comprehensibility of the masker affect masking strength in speech recognition experiments. Design: Seven different masker types with Dutch speech materials were evaluated. Amongst these maskers were the ICRA-5 fluctuating noise, the international speech test signal (ISTS), and competing talkers in Dutch and Swedish. Study Sample: Normal-hearing and hearing-impaired subjects. Results: The normal-hearing subjects benefited from both temporal gaps and temporal fine structure in the fluctuating maskers. When the competing talker was comprehensible, performance decreased. The ISTS masker appeared to cause a large informational masking component. The stationary maskers yielded the steepest slopes of the psychometric function, followed by the modulated noises, followed by the competing talkers. Although the hearing-impaired group was heterogeneous, their data showed similar tendencies, but sometimes to a lesser extent, depending on individuals’ hearing impairment. Conclusions: If measurement time is of primary concern non-modulated maskers are advised. If it is useful to assess release of masking by the use of temporal gaps, a fluctuating noise is advised. If perception of temporal fine structure is being investigated, a foreign-language competing talker is advised. Sumario Objetivo: Investigar hasta dónde las brechas temporales y las finas estructuras temporales afectan la potencia del enmascaramiento en los experimentos de reconocimiento del lenguaje. Diseño: Se evaluaron siete tipos diferentes de enmascaradores con materiales de lenguaje en Holandés. Entre estos enmascaradores estuvieron el ICRA-5 de ruido fluctuante, la señal internacional de prueba de lenguaje (ISTS) y los materiales competitivos en Holandés y Sueco. Muestra De Estudio: Sujetos normoyentes y con pérdidas auditivas. Resultados: Los normoyentes se beneficiaron tanto de las brechas temporales como de las finas estructuras temporales, con los enmascaradores fluctuantes. Cuando fue comprensible el mensaje hablado competitivo, el rendimiento disminuyó. El enmascarador ISTS apareció como causante de un más amplio componente de enmascaramiento informacional. Los enmascaradores estacionarios produjeron los más bruscos gradientes de la función psicométrica, seguidos por los ruidos modulados y después por los mensajes hablados competitivos. A pesar de que el grupo de hipoacúsicos fue heterogéneo, sus datos mostraron tendencias similares pero algunas veces en un menor grado, dependiendo de los impedimentos auditivos individuales. Conclusiones: Si la medición del tiempo es la preocupación primordial, se aconseja el uso de enmascaradores modulados. Si lo útil es evaluar la liberación del enmascaramiento por el uso de brechas temporales, se aconseja el uso de ruido fluctuante. Si lo que se investiga es la percepción de estructuras temporales finas, se aconseja el uso de mensajes hablados competitivos en lengua extranjera.
Activation of MAP kinases, Akt and PDGF receptors in injured peripheral nerves

A number of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and the downstream phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase (PI3K)/Akt and mitogen‐activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathways have been critically involved in peripheral nerve regeneration. Here, we examined the activation of PI3K/Akt and MAP kinase pathways, and platelet‐derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs) in the distal segments of crushed rat sciatic nerve from 3 to 28 days after injury. In Western blot analyses, the phosphorylated forms of extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinase (ERK) and c‐Jun NH2‐terminal kinases (JNKs) were highly augmented on days 3 and 7 and on days 7 and 14 after injury, respectively. Phosphorylated Akt and p38 consistently increased from 3 to 28 days after injury. Phosphorylated PDGFR‐α and ‐β were also increased from 3 to 14 days. In the immunohistological analyses, phosphorylated ERK and PDGFR‐α were co‐localized in many activated Schwann cells and regrowing axons 3 days after injury, while PDGFR‐β was localized in a few spindle‐shaped cells. The detected temporal profile of RTK signaling appears to be crucial for the regulation of Schwann cell proliferation and following redifferentiation. Furthermore, the immunohistological studies suggested a role of ERK and PDGFR‐α in axon regeneration as well.
El gasto de defensa en España

El ambito de la defensa, que incluye al ministerio y a la industria, ha sufrido una reestructuracion para adaptarse al nuevo contexto espanol y europeo. El estudio del presupuesto desde 1946 a 2015 ofrece los indicadores para analizar los cambios en el sector de la defensa. El sector de defensa en Espana es un tanto complejo, debido a que en el estan incluidos el ministerio de Defensa, organo politico de direccion; los cuarteles generales de los ejercitos, que reclutan, instruyen y equipan a las unidades que integran el Ejercito de Tierra, la Armada y el Ejercito del Aire y que, al mismo tiempo, se sienten depositarios de sus tradiciones; y el Estado Mayor de la Defensa, que prepara los planes operativos y tiene la responsabilidad de dirigir el empleo de la fuerza. Este sector comprende igualmente la industria de defensa, imprescindible para equipar y apoyar a las fuerzas armadas y asegurar la soberania nacional. Esta estructura tiene ademas que coordinarse con la de los paises aliados, OTAN y Union Europea, y, en el caso de la industria, participar en los programas internacionales actualmente en curso. Todo el ambito de la defensa, ministerio e industria, esta sujeto a unos condicionantes politicos, economicos, sociales, diplomaticos e inclusive psicologicos que frecuentemente resultan mas importantes y determinantes que los puramente militares. Circunstancia importante a tener presente es el exponencial encarecimiento del moderno equipo militar, que ha obligado a disminuir el numero de unidades a adquirir y fabricar. Esto produce el fenomeno que se denomina "desarme estructural", debido a que los presupuestos de defensa no pueden costear todos los nuevos equipos necesarios para sustituir los obsoletos, lo que obliga a disminuir las unidades a adquirir. La estructura militar tiene que adaptarse y ya no se habla de cuerpos de ejercito o divisiones; hoy la referencia es la brigada o el batallon. La industria de defensa ha tenido igualmente que reestructurarse y adaptarse a las nuevas circunstancias, reducir instalaciones y promover la concentracion de empresas. En Europa, este proceso de concentracion ha contado con el impulso politico a la industria aeroespacial, que no se extendio a la industria naval y terrestre. El encarecimiento y complejidad de los nuevos programas obligan a abordarlos en cooperacion, ya que desbordan las posibilidades tecnologicas y economicas de un solo pais.
Induction of Protective Immunity against Schistosoma mansoni via DNA Priming and Boosting with the Large Subunit of Calpain (Sm-p80): Adjuvant Effects of Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor and Interleukin-4

ABSTRACT Considerable morbidity and mortality result from schistosomiasis, an affliction affecting an estimated 200 million people. Although schistosomicidal drugs and other control measures (including public hygiene and snail control) exist, the advent of an efficacious vaccine remains the most potentially powerful means for controlling this disease. We have targeted a vaccine candidate (large subunit of calpain, Sm-p80) because of its consistent immunogenicity, protective potential, and integral role in surface membrane biogenesis of schistosomes. Since surface membrane renewal appears to be one of the major phenomena employed by schistosomes to evade the host's immune system; an immune response directed against Sm-p80 should render the parasite susceptible to immune clearance from the host by both providing a focus of attack and by potentially impairing the membrane repair process. In the present study, we have employed DNA immunization protocols using Sm-p80 with plasmids encoding granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4). Sm-p80 by itself provided 39% protection (P = ≤0.0001) against challenge infection in C57BL/6 mice. This protection was increased to 44% (P = ≤0.0001) when the plasmid encoding GM-CSF was coadministered with Sm-p80 DNA. Coinjection of plasmid DNA encoding IL-4 with Sm-p80 DNA yielded a protection level of 42% (P = ≤0.0001). Statistically, the protection conferred by including GM-CSF, but not IL-4, was significantly greater than that when only Sm-p80 was used. Sm-p80 DNA by itself elicited strong responses that include IgG2A and IgG2B antibody isotypes. The introduction of GM-CSF DNA with Sm-p80 DNA led to distinct increases in total IgG and IgG1 titers, whereas the coadministration of IL-4 DNA with Sm-p80 DNA resulted in a slight elevation of IgG1 and IgG3 titers and in some reduction of IgG2A and IgG2B titers. Our data again indicate that Sm-p80 can be an excellent candidate for a schistosomiasis vaccine.
A fast and reliable technique for muscle activity detection from surface EMG signals

The estimation of on-off timing of human skeletal muscles during movement is an important issue in surface electromyography (EMG) signal processing with relevant clinical applications. In this paper, a novel approach to address this issue is proposed. The method is based on the identification of single motor unit action potentials from the surface EMG signal with the use of the continuous wavelet transform. A manifestation variable is computed as the maximum of the outputs of a bank of matched filters at different scales. A threshold is applied to the manifestation variable to detect EMG activity. A model, based on the physical structure of the muscle, is used to test the proposed technique on synthetic signals with known features. The resultant bias of the onset estimate is lower than 40 ms and the standard deviation lower than 30 ms in case of additive colored Gaussian noise with signal-to-noise ratio as low as 2 dB. Comparison with previously developed methods was performed, and representative applications to experimental signals are presented. The method is designed for a complete real-time implementation and, thus, may be applied in clinical routine activity.
The proximal half of the Drosophila E‐cadherin extracellular region is dispensable for many cadherin‐dependent events but required for ventral furrow formation

The formation of the ventral furrow during Drosophila gastrulation is driven by coordinated apical constriction. Cell–cell adhesion is thought to regulate apical constriction, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. DE‐cadherin, an epithelial classic cadherin, has in its membrane‐proximal extracellular region a suite of domains absent from vertebrate/urochordate classic cadherins. We constructed DEΔP, a DE‐cadherin derivative that lacks the membrane‐proximal half of the extracellular region but retains the entire cytoplasmic domain and still exhibits strong cell–cell binding ability. The extracellular region of DEΔP consists of only cadherin repeats, mimicking vertebrate/urochordate classic cadherins. In animals lacking DE‐cadherin, DEΔP organized adherens junction assembly and functioned fully in many cadherin‐dependent processes, including oogenesis. Embryos in which DE‐cadherin was entirely replaced by DEΔP established the blastoderm epithelium but failed to form a ventral furrow. Apical constrictions were initiated relatively normally but subsequently decelerated. These were then followed by catastrophic disruption of the junctional network. Our results suggest that although the membrane‐proximal half of the DE‐cadherin extracellular region is dispensable for many developmental events, it is essential for efficient and robust apical constriction during ventral furrow formation.
What is the risk of bacterial meningitis in infants who present to the emergency department with fever and pyuria?

OBJECTIVE To determine the rate of bacterial meningitis among febrile infants in the emergency department (ED) who have pyuria detected in an initial catheterized urine specimen. METHODS This retrospective chart review, conducted at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont. , involved all children aged 0 to 3 months who presented to the ED with fever and pyuria (>/=10 white blood cells/mm(3)) over a 3-year period. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was evaluated using standard methods, and the rate of meningitis in children with pyuria was determined. RESULTS The study sample included 211 infants with fever and pyuria -- 79 of these under 1 month of age. Eighty-one percent (171/211) had positive urine cultures, and 143 underwent lumbar puncture to rule out meningitis. Of these, 140 CSF samples were culture negative and 3 grew coagulase negative Staphylococcus -- 2 because of contamination and 1 because of a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt infection. Both children with CSF contamination grew Escherichia coli in the urine. The rate of bacterial meningitis in the study sample was 0% (95% confidence interval, 0%-2.6%). CONCLUSIONS In this study of febrile children under 90 days of age with fever and pyuria, the incidence of concurrent meningitis was 0%. This suggests that recommendations for mandatory lumbar puncture in such children should be reconsidered. However, until larger prospective studies define a patient subset that does not require CSF analysis, it is prudent to rule out meningitis, administer parenteral antibiotics for urinary tract infection, and admit for close observation.
Incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and associated risk factors in hepatitis C-related advanced liver disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Although the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing in the United States, data from large prospective studies are limited. We evaluated the Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-Term Treatment Against Cirrhosis (HALT-C) cohort for the incidence of HCC and associated risk factors. METHODS Hepatitis C virus-positive patients with bridging fibrosis or cirrhosis who did not respond to peginterferon and ribavirin were randomized to groups that were given maintenance peginterferon for 3.5 years or no treatment. HCC incidence was determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis, and baseline factors associated with HCC were analyzed by Cox regression. RESULTS 1,005 patients (mean age, 50.2 years; 71% male; 72% white race) were studied; 59% had bridging fibrosis, and 41% had cirrhosis. During a median follow-up of 4.6 years (maximum, 6.7 years), HCC developed in 48 patients (4.8%). The cumulative 5-year HCC incidence was similar for peginterferon-treated patients and controls, 5.4% vs 5.0%, respectively (P= .78), and was higher among patients with cirrhosis than those with bridging fibrosis, 7.0% vs 4.1%, respectively (P= .08). HCC developed in 8 (17%) patients whose serial biopsy specimens showed only fibrosis. A multivariate analysis model comprising older age, black race, lower platelet count, higher alkaline phosphatase, esophageal varices, and smoking was developed to predict the risk of HCC. CONCLUSIONS We found that maintenance peginterferon did not reduce the incidence of HCC in the HALT-C cohort. Baseline clinical and laboratory features predicted risk for HCC. Additional studies are required to confirm our finding of HCC in patients with chronic hepatitis C and bridging fibrosis.
Observation of terahertz magnon of Kaplan-Kittel exchange resonance in yttrium-iron garnet by Raman spectroscopy

Backscattering Raman spectroscopic investigations were performed on an yttrium-iron garnet single crystal using linearly and circularly polarized light. A THz magnon of the Kaplan-Kittel (KK) exchange resonance was discovered, which had been regarded as unobservable by optical methods. The KK exchange resonance had 7.8 THz frequency at 80 K, and the polarization selection rule led to an antisymmetric Raman tensor of $A_{2}$ mode. Besides, assignment of all the Raman-active phonon modes, 3$A_{\rm 1g}$, 8$E_{\rm g}$, and 14$T_{\rm 2g}$, was completed. This study will stimulate further investigation on the coupling of THz magnons and phonons and pave the way toward THz opto-magnonics.