Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adult motor phenotype differentiates Dravet syndrome from Lennox‐Gastaut syndrome and links SCN1A to early onset parkinsonian features

Distinguishing adult patients with Lennox‐Gastaut syndrome from those with Dravet syndrome is challenging. We have previously reported that patients with Dravet syndrome present a very peculiar motor phenotype. Here we sought to confirm that this association was not linked to the chronic use of antiepileptic drugs or the many lifetime seizures. To this aim, we studied 14 adult patients with Lennox‐Gastaut syndrome and 14 adults with Dravet syndrome because both conditions share similar seizure severity. We found that antecollis and parkinsonian gait were significantly more common in the Dravet group, thus suggesting that these features are part of the Dravet syndrome adult phenotype.
Postmastectomy radiotherapy: clinical practice guidelines of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

OBJECTIVE To determine indications for the use of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) for patients with invasive breast cancer with involved axillary lymph nodes or locally advanced disease who receive systemic therapy. These guidelines are intended for use in the care of patients outside of clinical trials. POTENTIAL INTERVENTION The benefits and risks of PMRT in such patients, as well as subgroups of these patients, were considered. The details of the PMRT technique were also evaluated. OUTCOMES The outcomes considered included freedom from local-regional recurrence, survival (disease-free and overall), and long-term toxicity. EVIDENCE An expert multidisciplinary panel reviewed pertinent information from the published literature through July 2000; certain investigators were contacted for more recent and, in some cases, unpublished information. A computerized search was performed of MEDLINE data; directed searches based on the bibliographies of primary articles were also performed. VALUES Levels of evidence and guideline grades were assigned by the Panel using standard criteria. A "recommendation" was made when level I or II evidence was available and there was consensus as to its meaning. A "suggestion" was made based on level III, IV, or V evidence and there was consensus as to its meaning. Areas of clinical importance were pointed out where guidelines could not be formulated due to insufficient evidence or lack of consensus. RECOMMENDATIONS The recommendations, suggestions, and expert opinions of the Panel are described in this article. VALIDATION Seven outside reviewers, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Health Services Research Committee members, and the ASCO Board of Directors reviewed this document.
Origins of the short channel effects increase in III-V nMOSFET technologies

This paper investigates the different mechanisms responsible for the increase of short channel effects in III-V MOSFETs. As expected, the first origin of this increase is due to the higher dielectric constant of III-V semiconductors. The second is due to their small density of states, which induces larger DIBL, but only in the strong inversion regime, due to larger dark space. Finally, barrier layers, used in the Quantum Well FET architecture, are shown to cause additional DIBL increase.
A new index of flat breaststroke propulsion: A comparison of elite men and women

This study examined arm and leg coordination and propulsion during the flat breaststroke in nine elite male and eight elite female swimmers over three race paces (200 m, 100 m and 50 m). Coordination was expressed using four temporal gaps (T1, T2, T3, T4), which described the continuity between the propulsive phases of the limbs, as recorded on a video device (50 Hz). Glide duration was denoted T1, the time between the beginning of arm and leg recovery was denoted T2, the time between the end of arm and the leg recovery was denoted T3, and the time between 90° of flexion during arm recovery and 90° during leg recovery was denoted T4. Using these temporal gaps, four stroke phases (propulsion, glide, recovery and leg insweep) could be followed over a complete arm and leg stroke. The total duration of arm and leg propulsion was assessed by a new index of flat breaststroke propulsion (IFBP). Velocity, stroke rate and stroke length were also calculated for each pace. The elite swimmers showed short T2, T3 and T4; moreover, T1 decreased when the pace increased. Expertise in the flat breaststroke was thus characterized by synchronized arm and leg recoveries and increased continuity in the arm and leg propulsions with increasing velocity. Differences between the sexes in the spatio-temporal parameters were possibly due to anthropometric differences (the men were heavier, older and taller than the women) and different motor organization linked to arm and leg coordination (shorter T3, body glide and body recovery, and greater body propulsion and higher IFBP in the men). The men's propulsive actions showed greater continuity, particularly in the sprint. The best men adopted a superposition coordination and thus had the ability to overcome very great active drag. Temporal gap measurement and the IFBP are practical indicators of arm and leg coordination and propulsion that can be exploited by coaches and swimmers to increase the continuity between propulsive actions during the flat breaststroke.
Effects of Green House® Nursing Homes on Residents' Families

A longitudinal quasi-experimental study with two comparison groups was conducted to test the effects of a Green House (GH®) nursing home program on residents' family members. The GH®s are individual residences, each serving 10 elders, where certified nursing assistant (CNA)-level resident assistants form primary relationships with residents and family, family is encouraged to visits, and professionals adapted their roles to support the model. GH® family were somewhat less involved in providing assistance to their residents although family contact did not differ among the settings at any time period. GH® family were more satisfied with their resident's care and with their own experience as family members, and had no greater family burden. Issues in studying family outcomes are discussed as well as implications for roles of various personnel, including social service and activities staff in a GH® model.
Compaction of Duplex Nucleic Acids upon Native Electrospray Mass Spectrometry

Native mass spectrometry coupled to ion mobility spectrometry is a promising tool for structural biology. Intact complexes can be transferred to the mass spectrometer and, if native conformations survive, collision cross sections give precious information on the structure of each species in solution. Based on several successful reports for proteins and their complexes, the conformation survival becomes more and more taken for granted. Here we report on the fate of nucleic acids conformation in the gas phase. Disturbingly, we found that DNA and RNA duplexes, at the electrospray charge states naturally obtained from native solution conditions (≥ 100 mM aqueous NH4OAc), are significantly more compact in the gas phase compared to the canonical solution structures. The compaction is observed for short (12-bp) and long (36-bp) duplexes, and for DNA and RNA alike. Molecular modeling (density functional calculations on small helices, semi-empirical calculations on up to 12-bp, and molecular dynamics on up to 36-bp duplexes) demonstrates that the compaction is due to phosphate group self-solvation prevailing over Coulomb-driven expansion. Molecular dynamics simulations starting from solution structures do not reproduce the experimental compaction. To be experimentally relevant, molecular dynamics sampling should reflect the progressive structural rearrangements occurring during desolvation. For nucleic acid duplexes, the compaction observed for low charge states results from novel phosphate-phosphate hydrogen bonds formed across both grooves at the very late stages of electrospray.
Effects of an Elastic Hamstring Assistance Device During Downhill Running

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the appropriateness of using an elastic hamstring assistance device to reduce perceived levels of soreness, increase isometric strength, increase passive range of motion, and decrease biomarkers of muscle damage after eccentric exercise, specifically, downhill running This study was conducted in a university exercise physiology laboratory placing sixteen apparently healthy males (X = 21.6 ± 2.5 years) into two groups using a pre-test/post-test design. Pre-intervention measures taken included participants’ body height, body mass, body fat, capillary blood samples, VO2max, isometric hamstring strength at 45 and 90 degrees of flexion and passive hamstring range of motion. Post-intervention measures included blood biomarkers, passive range of motion, the perceived level of soreness and isometric strength. An analysis of normality of data was initially conducted followed by multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) of hamstring strength at 45 and 90 degrees of flexion, blood myoglobin and passive range of motion of the hamstrings. Statistically significant changes were noted in subject-perceived muscle soreness and isometric strength at 90 degrees at the 24-hour post-exercise trial measure between the two groups. Results would suggest the findings could be explained by the decrease in muscle soreness from utilizing the device during the exercise trial. Further research should be conducted to address sample size issues and to determine if the results are comparable on different surfaces.
Evaluation of a dual-T-type converter supplying an open-end winding induction machine

The multilevel inverter is a promising technology compared to two-level inverters in the applications of ac-drives and smart-grid applications. In this paper, a dual-T-type three-level inverters is used to drive an open-end winding induction machine. The Space-Vector Pulse-Width Modulation is selected as a good-performing control strategy to control the dual-inverter. Furthermore, an optimized method is used to select the proper switching state for the new configuration to decrease the converter losses. A comparison between the proposed configuration and the conventional diode clamped converter is made. The proposed drive system is designed and modelled by using Matlab/Simulink. It is shown that the converter can give the same hexagon, wave forms and harmonic spectrum of the five level converter. An optimized switching state selection is used to reduce the converter losses. The advantages and drawbacks of the dual-T-type configuration are discussed. In addition, the harmonic analysis and the loss calculations of the dual-T-type converter are provided and compared to the T-type three-level converter and the conventional five-level diode-clamped-converter.
Loss of the Par-1b/MARK2 polarity kinase leads to increased metabolic rate, decreased adiposity, and insulin hypersensitivity in vivo

Obesity is a major factor central to the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The identification and characterization of genes involved in regulation of adiposity, insulin sensitivity, and glucose uptake are key to the design and development of new drug therapies for this disease. In this study, we show that the polarity kinase Par-1b/MARK2 is required for regulating glucose metabolism in vivo. Mice null for Par-1b were lean, insulin hypersensitive, resistant to high-fat diet-induced weight gain, and hypermetabolic. 18F-FDG microPET and hyperinsulinemic–euglycemic clamp analyses demonstrated increased glucose uptake into white and brown adipose tissue, but not into skeletal muscle of Par-1b null mice relative to wild-type controls. Taken together, these data indicate that Par-1b is a regulator of glucose metabolism and adiposity in the whole animal and may be a valuable drug target for the treatment of both type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Effect of vacation on health: moderating factors of vacation outcome.

BACKGROUND Vacation has recently become a topic of interest in health research as both beneficial and adverse health effects have been documented. The present study was aimed at identifying vacation characteristics predicting health-related vacation outcome. METHODS One hundred ninety-one predominantly white-collar employees (109 female, 82 males; mean age 37.8 yr, range 16-62 yr) received a questionnaire in the week after vacation assessing subject characteristics, physical vacation characteristics, the individual structuring of the day, health and social behavior, and stress during vacation as well as the perceived change of recuperation and exhaustion from before to after a vacation. Regression analysis was used to identify variables predicting vacation outcome. RESULTS Twenty-seven percent of the variance of the change of recuperation and 15% of the change of exhaustion could be explained. Recuperation was facilitated by free time for one's self, warmer (and sunnier) vacation locations, exercise during vacation, good sleep, and making new acquaintances, especially among vacationers reporting higher levels of prevacation work strain. Exhaustion was increased by vacation-related health problems and a greater time-zone difference to home, and was reduced by warmer vacation locations. CONCLUSION Health-related vacation outcome is significantly affected by the way an individual organizes his or her vacation.
Factors associated with mortality due to neonatal pneumonia in India: a protocol for systematic review and planned meta-analysis

Introduction India contributes to the highest number of neonatal deaths globally. It also has the greatest number of pneumonia-related neonatal deaths in the developing world. We aim to systematically review the evidence for the factors associated with mortality due to neonatal pneumonia in the Indian context, to address the lack of consolidated evidence on this important issue. Methods and analysis This protocol is part of a series of three reviews on neonatal pneumonia in India. Observational studies reporting on outcome of neonatal pneumonia in the Indian context, and published in English in peer-reviewed and indexed journals will be eligible for inclusion. Outcomes of this review will be the factors determining mortality due to neonatal pneumonia. A total of nine databases will be searched. Electronic and hand searching of published and grey literature will be performed. Selection of studies will be done in title, abstract and full text screening stages. Risk of bias, independently assessed by two authors, will be evaluated. Meta-analysis will be performed and heterogeneity assessed. Pooled effect estimates will be stated with 95% confidence intervals. Narrative synthesis will be done where meta-analysis cannot be performed. Publication bias will be evaluated and sensitivity analysis performed according to study quality. Quality of this review will be evaluated using AMSTAR (Assessing the Methodological quality of Systematic Reviews) and GRADE (Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development & Evaluation). A summary of findings table will be reported using GRADEPro. Ethics and dissemination Since this is a review involving analysis of secondary data which is available in the public domain, and does not involve human participants, ethical approval was not required. The findings of the study will be shared with all stakeholders of this research. Knowledge dissemination workshops will be conducted with relevant stakeholders to transfer the evidence, tailored to the stakeholder (eg, policy briefs, publications, information booklets, etc).
Optimal therapy and prospects for new medicines in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss syndrome)

ABSTRACT Introduction: The prevalence of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA; previously known as Churg-Strauss syndrome) is lower than that of other antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV’s), and only a few randomized controlled trials have been conducted for this rare disease. However, recent international efforts have helped delineate the best treatment approach. Areas covered: At present, EGPA conventional therapy is by default similar to that of other AAVs. Limited, non-severe EGPA can initially be treated with glucocorticoids (GCs) alone. Patients with life-threatening manifestations and/or major organ involvement must receive a combination of GCs and an immunosuppressant, mainly cyclophosphamide. Remission can be achieved in >85% of patients with these first-line treatments, but vasculitis relapses occur in more than one-third of patients, and about 85% cannot stop GC treatment because of GC-dependent asthma and/or ENT manifestations. A few biologic agents, including rituximab or mepolizumab, are now under investigation after interesting preliminary results. Expert commentary: Treatment for EGPA still has several unmet needs. Several biologic agents are now under investigation in randomized controlled trials, but a few others should be considered soon. Their benefit should be demonstrated for devising more EGPA-tailored therapeutic strategies (ideally GC-free).
Geometric methods to accelerate k-means algorithms

The k-means algorithm is popular for data clustering applications. Most implementations use Lloyd’s algorithm, which does many unnecessary distance calculations. Several accelerated algorithms (Elkan’s, Hamerly’s, heap, etc.) have recently been developed which produce exactly the same answer as Lloyd’s, only faster. They avoid redundant work using the triangle inequality paired with a set of lower and upper bounds on point-centroid distances. In this paper we propose several novel methods that allow those accelerated algorithms to perform even better, giving up to eight times further speedup. Our methods give tighter lower bound updates, efficiently skip centroids that cannot possibly be close to a set of points, keep extra information about upper bounds to help the heap algorithm avoid more distance computations, and decrease the number of distance calculations that are done in the first iteration.
Acta Futura Modular Design for Planetary Rover Autonomous Navigation Software using ROS

is paper presents a modular design concept of autonomous navigation software for planetary rovers. e software covers major navigation functions such as autonomous localisation and mapping, visual rock detection, and path planning. e proposed design includes a generic data pipeline which produces a sequence of data products based on sensory raw data. To effectively and efficiently integrate the various design elements, Robot Operating System (known as ROS) is used as the middleware framework to implement the generic data pipeline and synthesize various navigation functions in terms of ROS nodes. e paper also presents test results of the proposed software implemented within the Surrey Rover Autonomous Software and Hardware Testbed (SMART) based on real and artificial data.
The Context of Work

The question of how to conceive and represent the context of work is explored from the theoretical perspective of distributed cognition. It is argued that to understand the office work context we need to go beyond tracking superficial physical attributes such as who or what is where and when and consider the state of digital resources, people's concepts, task state, social relations, and the local work culture, to name a few. In analyzing an office more deeply, three concepts are especially helpful: entry points, action landscapes, and coordinating mechanisms. An entry point is a structure or cue that represents an invitation to enter an information space or office task. An activity landscape is part mental construct and part physical; it is the space users interactively construct out of the resources they find when trying to accomplish a task. A coordinating mechanism is an artifact, such as a schedule or clock, or an environmental structure such as the layout of papers to be signed, which helps a user manage the complexity of his task. Using these three concepts we can abstract away from many of the surface attributes of work context and define the deep structure of a setting-the invariant structure that many office settings share. A long-term challenge for context-aware computing is to operationalize these analytic concepts.
HIN-1, a putative cytokine highly expressed in normal but not cancerous mammary epithelial cells

To identify molecular alterations implicated in the initiating steps of breast tumorogenesis, we compared the gene expression profiles of normal and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) mammary epithelial cells by using serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE). Through the pair-wise comparison of normal and DCIS SAGE libraries, we identified several differentially expressed genes. Here, we report the characterization of one of these genes, HIN-1 (high in normal-1). HIN-1 expression is significantly down regulated in 94% of human breast carcinomas and in 95% of preinvasive lesions, such as ductal and lobular carcinoma in situ. This decrease in HIN-1 expression is accompanied by hypermethylation of its promoter in the majority of breast cancer cell lines (>90%) and primary tumors (74%). HIN-1 is a putative cytokine with no significant homology to known proteins. Reintroduction of HIN-1 into breast cancer cells inhibits cell growth. These results indicate that HIN-1 is a candidate tumor suppressor gene that is inactivated at high frequency in the earliest stages of breast tumorogenesis.
Modified prostate volume algorithm improves transrectal US volume estimation in men presenting for prostate brachytherapy.

PURPOSE To evaluate the accuracy of the conventional transrectal ultrasonographic (US) prostate volume formula and determine whether a more accurate volume formula, calculated on the basis of prostate shape as observed at planimetry, can be described for the majority of prostate glands. MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective study was institutional review board approved, with waiver of informed consent. A total of 138 consecutive patients who underwent prostate brachytherapy were included for analysis. Prostate volume was estimated by using the conventional prolate ellipsoid formula (length x height x width x [pi/6]). A reference standard for prostate volume was calculated by using planimetry. The mean prostate shape was assessed by using three-dimensional volume-rendering of the planimetric images. The prostate shapes were evaluated to determine the best-fit mathematic formula for accurate volume estimation. Statistical analyses were performed by using Pearson correlation, paired Student t test, Bland-Altman plots, and concordance correlation coefficient. RESULTS Planimetric data showed the majority of prostate glands to be more bullet-shaped than ellipsoid. Only 13.3% of volumes determined by using the conventional prolate ellipsoid formula were within 10% of the planimetric volume. The prolate ellipsoid formula underestimated volume by 17% on average (95% confidence interval: 14%, 19%). A mathematic formula representing a bullet shape (length x height x width x [pi/4.8]) was determined to best represent the majority of prostate glands presented for brachytherapy; 75% of volumes were within 10% of planimetric volume by using this formula. Concordance correlation coefficient increased from 0.87 to 0.95. Formula accuracy was particularly improved in prostate glands smaller than 55 cm(3) (P = .14). CONCLUSION A modified prostate volume formula that closely represents the shape of the prostate smaller than 55 cm(3) demonstrated improved volume measurement accuracy compared with the prolate ellipsoid formula used in men presenting for brachytherapy.