Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A pilot survey of physical activity in men with an intellectual disability

People with intellectual disability (ID) are reported as a sedentary population with increased risks of poor health due to an inactive and sedentary lifestyle. As the benefits of physical activity are acknowledged, measuring physical activity accurately is important to help identify reasons for low and high physical activity in order to assist and maintain recommended levels for optimal health. This article reports a pilot study undertaken to validate the use of a physical activity monitor (Sensewear Armband) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) as instruments for measuring and exploring physical activity of men with ID. The design was a one-group descriptive study and the data were collected over a 7-day period from 17 men. The Sensewear Armband enabled continuous and long-term measurement of 14 objective physical activity metrics. The IPAQ examined details of physical activity reported over 7 days. Equivalent results were obtained from both the instruments, indicating a positive correlation between the Sensewear Armband and the IPAQ. The results show 50% have low activity levels, and the national recommended physical activity levels have been achieved at a very low active intensity. No sustainable high physical activity intensity levels were recorded. The results confirmed the Sensewear Armband and the IPAQ as a practical means of measuring and understanding physical activity levels in men with ID.
Towards an AIDS vaccine: The transmembrane envelope protein as target for broadly neutralizing antibodies

Although the development of an effective vaccine is the main goal in the fight against AIDS, all attempts by numerous laboratories to develop a vaccine have failed so far. In addition, it is still unclear whether cytotoxic T cells or neutralizing antibodies or both should be induced. The major advantage of neutralizing antibodies is their ability to prevent infection and subsequent integration of the provirus into the cellular genome where it may persist in a form invisible to the immune system. Broadly neutralizing antibodies have been found in HIV infected individuals, including antibodies directed against a highly conserved region in the membrane proximal external region (MPER) of the transmembrane envelope (TM) protein gp41 of HIV-1. We successfully induced neutralizing antibodies against different gammaretroviruses by immunization with their respective TM proteins. These antibodies recognized epitopes not only in the MPER but also in the fusion peptide proximal region of the TM protein. In the case of feline leukaemia virus (FeLV), these antibodies protected cats from antigenemia following challenge. To understand the mechanism of neutralization, the interactions between neutralizing antibodies and their corresponding epitopes in the TM protein of gammaretroviruses and HIV-1 were analysed. These data may help to design antigens able to induce specific broadly neutralizing antibodies.
DETECTION OF ANTI-PARELAPHOSTRONGYLUS TENUIS ANTIBODIES IN EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED AND FREE-RANGING MOOSE (ALCES ALCES)

Confirming Parelaphostrongylus tenuis infection in moose (Alces alces) and other susceptible hosts is difficult. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed using the excretory-secretory (ES) products of third-stage P. tenuis larvae (ES-ELISA) and the test applied to serum samples obtained from seven moose calves (5–9.5 mo old) given infective larvae (L3) in doses approximating those likely to be received in nature (3–30 L3). Anti-P. tenuis immunoglobulin G antibodies were detected in all seven inoculated moose during the course of infection until the termination of experiment 61–243 days post-inoculation (DPI). Five animals tested between 16–25 DPI had significant antibody levels, while a sixth animal did not test positive until 46 DPI. The seventh animal was not tested until 199 DPI. Antibody levels remained elevated in all five animals that harbored adult worms at the termination of the experiment. Whereas, antibody levels showed a gradual decline in the two remaining animals, presumably because of death of worms, and antibodies were undetected in one animal at the time of necropsy. The other animal displayed an anamnestic increase in antibody level following a challenge inoculation of infective larvae. Terminal and peak optical density (OD) values detected by ES-ELISA strongly correlated with inoculation dose (r=0.98, P=0.02 and r=0.95, P=0.04, respectively) among animals harboring adult worms (n=4) but not significantly with the number of worms recovered postmortem (peak OD, r=0.82, P=0.18; terminal OD, r=0.93, P=0.07). Unlike the ES products, use of somatic antigens of the adult worm in ELISA did not provide satisfactory results. Antibodies to P. tenuis were detectable by ES-ELISA in two of 21 free-ranging moose from an enzootic area but not from any of 23 animals from a non-enzootic area. The ES-ELISA appears to be a useful test for assessing exposure of moose to P. tenuis.
Transient Lupus Anticoagulant and Prolonged Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time Secondary to Epstein-Barr Virus Infection

We describe the case of a previously well 19-month-old boy who presented with an acute Epstein-Barr virus infection and a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) associated with the presence of a transient lupus anticoagulant (LA). The boy had an excellent outcome, with gradual normalization of the APTT and disappearance of the LA.
BACE Is Degraded via the Lysosomal Pathway*

Amyloid plaques are formed by aggregates of amyloid-β-peptide, a 37–43-amino acid fragment (primarily Aβ40 and Aβ42) generated by proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β- and γ-secretases. A type I transmembrane aspartyl protease, BACE (β-site APP cleaving enzyme), has been identified to be the β-secretase. BACE is targeted through the secretory pathway to the plasma membrane where it can be internalized to endosomes. The carboxyl terminus of BACE contains a di-leucine-based signal for sorting of transmembrane proteins to endosomes and lysosomes. In this study, we set out to determine whether BACE is degraded by the lysosomal pathway and whether the di-leucine motif is necessary for targeting BACE to the lysosomes. Here we show that lysosomal inhibitors, chloroquine and NH4Cl, lead to accumulation of endogenous and ectopically expressed BACE in a variety of cell types, including primary neurons. Furthermore, the inhibition of lysosomal hydrolases results in the redistribution and accumulation of BACE in the late endosomal/lysosomal compartments (lysosome-associated membrane protein 2 (LAMP2)-positive). In contrast, the BACE-LL/AA mutant, in which Leu499 and Leu500 in the COOH-terminal sequence (DDISLLK) were replaced by alanines, only partially co-localized with LAMP2-positive compartments following inhibition of lysosomal hydrolases. Collectively, our data indicate that BACE is transported to the late endosomal/lysosomal compartments where it is degraded via the lysosomal pathway and that the di-leucine motif plays a role in sorting BACE to lysosomes.
Unsupervised learning for surveillance planning with team of aerial vehicles

In this paper, we extent an existing self-organizing map (SOM)-based approach for the Dubins traveling salesman problem (DTSP) to solve its multi-vehicle variant generalized for visiting target regions called k-DTSP with Neighborhoods (k-DTSPN). The Dubins TSP is a variant of the combinatorial TSP for curvature-constrained vehicles. The problem is to determine a cost efficient path to visit a given set of continuous regions while the path allows to satisfy kinematic constraints of non-holonomic vehicles. The k-DTSPN is a generalization to determine k such paths, one for each vehicle. Although the k-DTSPN has been addressed by evolutionary methods, the proposed approach is able to provide solutions very quickly in units of seconds on conventional computationally resources which makes the proposed SOM-based approach suitable for on-line planning. The studied problem is motivated by surveillance task in which it is required to quickly provide information about the given set of target locations. Therefore, real computational requirements are crucial properties of the desired k-DTSPN solver. The proposed method meets this requirement and feasibility of the found solutions are demonstrated not only in computer simulations but also with a practical deployment on real aerial vehicles.
Making sure the residents get their tablets: medication administration in care homes for older people.

AIM This paper reports an exploratory study of issues concerning the nursing practice of altering medication dose forms prior to administration of medicines to residents in homes for older people. BACKGROUND Medication use and administration is a major issue in residential homes for older people. Research suggests that the alteration of medication dose forms in these homes is a widespread practice. Despite its prevalence, there is limited nursing or pharmaceutical literature exploring the decision-making processes surrounding this practice, the methods by which medicines are altered, or the types of medicines which are modified. METHOD Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 11 Registered Nurses working in a purposive sample of 10 residential homes for older people drawn from each of the six regions of South Australia. The data were collected in 2000. FINDINGS Nurses felt constrained to ensure that prescribed medication was administered to residents, despite their concern that this was not without risk. Nurses were concerned that they were working in an information vacuum, due to limited information resources and informal communication with other healthcare professionals such as speech pathologists, pharmacists and general practitioners. There was also concern about the difficulty of coordinating information and policies about altering medications and of implementing appropriate procedures in individual facilities. CONCLUSION Clinical guidelines for the processes surrounding the alteration of medication dose forms and relevant pharmaceutical information are needed in all residential homes for older people. Ongoing education for nurses in this area is also required.
The children's DEBQ for assessment of restrained, emotional, and external eating in 7- to 12-year-old children.

OBJECTIVE Construct an age adapted version of the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ) for measurement of restrained, emotional and external eating in 7- to 12-year-old children: the DEBQ-C. METHOD The DEBQ-C was constructed and tested for its reliability, factorial validity, factorial invariance for sex, overweight (BMI-status), and age, and correlations with measures for unhealthy life style in one sample (382 boys and 387 girls). In a second sample (252 boys and 263 girls) correlations were obtained with measures for body dissatisfaction and parental feeding styles. Single and multigroup confirmatory factor analyses were used. RESULTS The fit measures for the three factor model and the factorial invariance models with respect to sex, BMI-status, and age were satisfactory. In the (sub) samples of the 7- to 12-year-olds Cronbach's alpha's ranged from . 73 to . 82 and there were satisfactory correlations (p < .01) with other measures. CONCLUSION The DEBQ-C should provide a useful measure for young children's emerging dietary restraint and overeating tendencies. The low prevalence of emotional eating indicates that most young children show the natural reaction to emotional stressors (loss of appetite when feeling lonely, depressed or afraid) and that emotional (over) eating at this age is quite abnormal.
Gamma Interferon-Dependent Protection of the Mouse Upper Respiratory Tract following Parenteral Immunization with a Respiratory Syncytial Virus G Protein Fragment

ABSTRACT The protective mechanisms induced in the mouse upper respiratory tract (URT) after intraperitoneal immunization with G2Na, a recombinant respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) G protein fragment (amino acid residues 130 to 230), were investigated. This protection was recently shown to be mediated by CD4+ T cells and to be critically dependent on the cysteines and amino acids 193 and 194 (H. Plotnicky-Gilquin, A. Robert, L. Chevalet, J.-F. Haeuw, A. Beck, J.-Y. Bonnefoy, C. Brandt, C.-A. Siegrist, T. N. Nguyen, and U. F. Power, J. Virol. 74:3455-3463, 2000). On G2Na, we identified a domain (amino acid residues 182 to 198) responsible for the T-helper-cell activity. This region coincided with a peptide designed AICK (residues 184 to 198) which includes the previously identified murine and human T-helper-cell epitope on the native G protein (P. W. Tebbey, M. Hagen, and G. E. Hancock, J. Exp. Med. 188:1967-1972, 1998). Immunization with AICK, in alum or complete Freund's adjuvant, significantly reduced nasal RSV titers in normal BALB/c mice. However, although lung protection was induced, in contrast to the case with live RSV, neither AICK nor G2Na was able to prevent nasal infection in gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-knockout mice. Anti-IFN-γ neutralizing antibodies partially inhibited URT protection after administration to G2Na-immunized BALB/c mice. Furthermore, while purified CD4+ T cells from BALB/c mice immunized with G2Na or AICK significantly reduced lung and nasal infection of naive recipient mice after adoptive transfer, the cells from IFN-γ-knockout mice had no effect. Together, these results demonstrated for the first time that the T-helper-cell epitope of RSV G protein induces URT protection in mice after parenteral immunization through a Th1-type, IFN-γ-dependent mechanism.
Dasatinib inhibits both osteoclast activation and prostate cancer PC-3 cell-induced osteoclast formation

Purpose: Therapies to target prostate cancer bone metastases have only limited effects. New treatments are focused on the interaction between cancer cells, bone marrow cells and the bone matrix. Osteoclasts play an important role in the development of bone tumors caused by prostate cancer. Since Src kinase has been shown to be necessary for osteoclast function, we hypothesized that dasatinib, a Src family kinase inhibitor, would reduce osteoclast activity and prostate cancer (PC-3) cell-induced osteoclast formation. Experimental Design: We performed in vitro experiments utilizing the Src family kinase inhibitor dasatinib to target osteoclast activation as a means of inhibiting prostate cancer bone metastases. Results: Dasatinib inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation of bone marrow-derived monocytes with an EC50 of 7.5 nM. PC-3 cells, a human prostate cancer cell line, were able to differentiate RAW 264.7 cells, a murine monocytic cell line, into osteoclasts, and dasatinib inhibited this differentiation. In addition, conditioned medium from PC-3 cell cultures was able to differentiate RAW 264.7 cells into osteoclasts and this too, was inhibited by dasatinib. Even the lowest concentration of dasatinib, 1.25 nmol, inhibited osteoclast differentiation by 29%. Moreover, dasatinib inhibited osteoclast activity by 58% as measured by collagen 1 release. Conclusion: Dasatinib inhibits osteoclast differentiation of mouse primary bone marrow-derived monocytes and PC-3 cell-induced osteoclast differentiation. Dasatinib also inhibits osteoclast degradation activity. Inhibiting osteoclast differentiation and activity may be an effective targeted therapy in patients with prostate cancer bone metastases.
Interactive Processing of Sensory Input and Motor Output in the Human Hippocampus

Recent studies of visuomotor integration suggest that the motor system may be intimately involved in the detection of salient features of the sensory scene. The final stages of sensory processing occur in hippocampal structures. We measured human neuromagnetic responses during motor reaction to an auditory cue embedded in high-speed multimodal stimulation. Our results demonstrate that large-scale cognitive networks may recruit additional resources from the hippocampus during sensorimotor integration. Hippocampal activity from 300 msec before to 200 msec after cued movements was enhanced significantly over that observed during self-paced movements. The dominant hippocampal activity appeared equally synchronized to both sensory input and motor output, consistent with timing by an intrinsic mechanism, possibly provided by ongoing theta oscillations.
Fecal Incontinence in Men: Coexistent Constipation and Impact of Rectal Hyposensitivity

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology of fecal incontinence in men is poorly established. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the coexistence of constipation and determine the impact of rectal sensorimotor dysfunction in males with fecal incontinence. SETTING: This study was conducted at a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Included were adult male patients referred for the investigation of fecal incontinence over a 5-year period who underwent full anorectal physiology testing and completed a standardized symptom questionnaire. INTERVENTION: Standardized symptom questionnaires were fully completed, and anorectal physiologic test results (including evacuation proctography) were evaluated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes measured were the frequency of symptoms of associated constipation, the association of blunted rectal sensation (rectal hyposensitivity) with symptoms, and other physiologic measures. RESULTS: One hundred sixty patients met the inclusion criteria, and 47% of these patients described concurrent constipation. Fifty-four patients (34%) had sphincter dysfunction on manometry, only 19 of whom had structural abnormalities on ultrasound. Overall, 28 patients (18%) had rectal sensory dysfunction, 26 (93%) of whom had rectal hyposensitivity. Patients with rectal hyposensitivity were more likely to subjectively report constipation (77%) in comparison with patients with normal rectal sensation (44%; p = 0.001), allied with decreased bowel frequency (19% vs 2%; p = 0.003) and a sense of difficulty evacuating stool (27% vs 8%; p = 0.008). Cleveland Clinic constipation scores were higher in patients with rectal hyposensitivity (median score, 13 (interquartile range: 8–17) vs normosensate, 9 (5–13); p = 0.004). On proctography, a higher proportion of patients with rectal hyposensitivity had protracted defecation (>180 s; 35% vs 10%; p = 0.024) and incomplete rectal evacuation (<55% of barium neostool expelled, 50% vs 20%; p = 0.02). LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by the retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. CONCLUSIONS: Only one-third of incontinent men had sphincteric dysfunction. Other pathophysiologies must therefore be considered. Nearly half of patients reported concurrent constipation, and one-sixth had rectal hyposensitivity, which was associated with higher frequencies of both symptomatic and objective measures of rectal evacuatory dysfunction. In the majority of adult males, fecal incontinence may represent a secondary phenomenon.
Multi-criteria decision approach for a sustainable reverse logistics network under fuzzy environment

Adoption of reverse logistics practices in existing supply chains has emerged as an important incentive for manufacturers to gain financial and competitive advantage. Growing environmental and social concerns are driving firms to incorporate sustainable strategies into designing of their reverse supply chain (RSC) network. A sustainable RSC can be attained by following the triple bottom line (TBL) philosophy i.e. economical, social and environmental development. In this paper, we develop a sustainable reverse logistics model for laptop manufacturers for handling of end-of-life (EOL) and end-of-use (EOU) product returns. In the first stage of the model, a hybrid method using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solutions (TOPSIS) based on the criteria of TBL is applied to calculate weights for the three dimensions of sustainability. In the second stage, a three objective mixed integer linear programming model is developed in fuzzy environment which minimises the total cost, the environmental impact (in terms of CO2e emissions) and maximises the social impact of the network utilising the weights of the objectives from the first stage. The social sustainability is tacked in the model by the management of social resources including training for the workers, fixed jobs as well as inclusion of variable jobs based on the quantity of returns. The model is validated through a case study and its societal, economical and environmental impact is discussed.
Accreditation of a NEMP test procedure: Approach, measurement technique, uncertainty

The Bundeswehr Research Institute for Protective Technologies and NBC Protection (WIS) is responsible for the evaluation of the hardness of the German armed forces' systems and devices against the threats from a nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NEMP). For this reason a NEMP test procedure has been established at the WIS, which is meanwhile accredited for performing NEMP qualification tests. The test procedure is designed to deliver reliable results with a well-defined confidence level for the tests in accordance with the relevant test standards. This paper provides an overview about the test procedure and facilities. Specific aspects of the measurement technique for fast transients including the mathematical implementation will be presented. The uncertainty contributions are identified and used to calculate an uncertainty budget.
Characterization of Insulin-Secreting Porcine Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Ex Vivo and Autologous Cell Therapy in Vivo

Cell therapy could potentially meet the need for pancreas and islet transplantations in diabetes mellitus that far exceeds the number of available donors. Bone marrow stromal cells are widely used in clinical trials mainly for their immunomodulatory effects with a record of safety. However, less focus has been paid to developing these cells for insulin secretion by transfection. Although murine models of diabetes have been extensively used in gene and cell therapy research, few studies have shown efficacy in large preclinical animal models. Here we report optimized conditions for ex vivo expansion and characterization of porcine bone marrow stromal cells and their permissive expression of a transfected insulin gene. Our data show that these cells resemble human bone marrow stromal cells in surface antigen expression, are homogeneous, and can be reproducibly isolated from outbred Yorkshire–Landrace pigs. Porcine bone marrow stromal cells were efficiently expanded in vitro to >1010 cells from 20 ml of bone marrow and remained karyotypically normal during expansion. These cells were electroporated with an insulin expression plasmid vector with high efficiency and viability, and secreted human insulin and C-peptide indicating appropriate processing of proinsulin. We showed that autologous insulin-secreting bone marrow stromal cells implanted and engrafted in the liver of a streptozotocin-diabetic pig that modeled type 1 diabetes resulted in partial, but significant, improvement in hyperglycemia that could not be ascribed to regeneration of endogenous β-cells. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vivo from implanted cells in the treated pig was documented by a rise in serum human C-peptide levels during intravenous glucose tolerance tests. Compared to a sham-treated control pig, this resulted in significantly reduced fasting hyperglycemia, a slower rise in serum fructosamine, and prevented weight loss. Taken together, this study suggests that bone marrow stromal cells merit further development as autologous cell therapy for diabetes.