Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A critical review of functional assessment tools for upper limbs in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

The recent development of therapeutic approaches for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) has highlighted the need to identify clinical outcome measures for planned efficacy studies. Although several studies have reported the value of functional scales, timed tests, and measures of endurance aimed at ambulant individuals, less has been done to identify reliable measures of function in individuals who have lost ambulation. The aim of this paper is to provide a critical review of the existing literature on functional measures assessing upper extremity function in DMD. Four observer‐rated, performance‐based measures and four self‐reported scales have been previously used in DMD. Each scale provides useful information but none reflects all the different levels of functional ability in activities of daily living observed in individuals with DMD at different ages.
Margrave: An Improved Analyzer for Access-Control and Configuration Policies

As our society grows more dependent on digital systems, policies that regulate access to electronic resources are becoming more common. However, such policies are notoriously difficult to configure properly, even for trained professionals. An incorrectly written access-control policy can result in inconvenience, financial damage, or even physical danger. The difficulty is more pronounced when multiple types of policy interact with each other, such as in routers on a network. This thesis presents a policy-analysis tool called Margrave. Given a query about a set of policies, Margrave returns a complete collection of scenarios that satisfy the query. Since the query language allows multiple policies to be compared, Margrave can be used to obtain an exhaustive list of the consequences of a seemingly innocent policy change. This feature gives policy authors the benefits of formal analysis without requiring that they state any formal properties about their policies. Our query language is equivalent to order-sorted first-order logic (OSL). Therefore our scenario-finding approach is, in general, only complete up to a user-provided bound on scenario size. To mitigate this limitation, we identify a class of OSL that we call Order-Sorted Effectively Propositional Logic (OS-EPL). We give a lineartime algorithm for testing membership in OS-EPL. Sentences in this class have the Finite Model Property, and thus Margrave’s results on such queries are complete without user intervention.
Cold weather and ischaemic heart disease.

It is well known that the incidence of ischaemic heart disease tends to be higher in winter than in summer. In England and Wales, for example, mortality from "arteriosclerotic heart disease" (ASHD :ISC 420) averages 50 per cent, more in mid winter than in mid-summer (Annual Reports of the Registrar General of England and Wales); and a similar swing has been reported for hospital ad mission rates (Wolff and White, 1926). It may how ever be objected that results of this kind could have been biased by diagnostic uncertainties, by competing causes of morbidity and mortality, and by the possi bility that respiratory infections may cause increased illness or death in persons already suffering from heart disease.
Antituberculosis IgG Antibodies as a Marker of Active Mycobacterium tuberculosis Disease

ABSTRACT Anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis IgG antibodies may aid in the diagnosis of active M. tuberculosis disease. We studied whether anti-M. tuberculosis IgG antibodies are elevated in active M. tuberculosis disease and assessed factors contributing to false-positive and -negative results. A retrospective study of 2,150 individuals tested by the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assay was conducted at the University of Utah, ARUP Laboratories, November 2008 to December 2010. All samples were tested with the InBios Active TbDetect antituberculosis (anti-TB) IgG antibody assay. Of 1,044 patients with a positive QFT-GIT, 59 (5.7%) were positive for M. tuberculosis antibodies. Fourteen of 1,106 (1.3%) with a negative or indeterminate QFT-GIT were positive for M. tuberculosis antibodies. M. tuberculosis antibody tests were positive in 61.5% with confirmed active M. tuberculosis disease and other mycobacterial infections. Over half of the false-negative M. tuberculosis antibody tests occurred in patients ≥90 years of age. False positives were seen in 12.9% of autoimmune patients. The odds ratio of being positive by the QFT-GIT and the InBios TB IgG assay increased with confirmed M. tuberculosis disease or highly suspected M. tuberculosis disease and was 86.7 (95% confidence interval [CI], 34.4 to 218.5) in these two groups compared to patients negative by both tests. Although anti-M. tuberculosis antibodies can be detected in patients with active M. tuberculosis disease, caution should be used with patients where immunoglobulin levels may be decreased or patients with autoantibodies.
Correspondence - Apodization and windowing eigenfunctions

Across a range of spectral estimation problems and beam focusing problems, it is necessary to constrain the properties of a function and its Fourier transform. In many cases, compact functions in both domains are desired, within the theoretical bounds of the uncertainty principle. Recently, a hyperbolic sine function of modified argument and power was found to be an approximate eigenfunction of the Fourier transform operation, and demonstrated useful properties of compactness with low side lobes. The empirical finding of the eigenfunction relationship is explained by comparison with the prolate spheroidal wave functions, which have exact eigenfunction properties, and their usefulness is demonstrated by examples.
Low biological cost of carbapenemase-encoding plasmids following transfer from Klebsiella pneumoniae to Escherichia coli

Objectives The objective of this study was to determine the biological cost, stability and sequence of two carbapenemase-encoding plasmids containing blaKPC-2 (pG12-KPC-2) and blaVIM-1 (pG06-VIM-1) isolated from Klebsiella pneumoniae when newly acquired by uropathogenic Escherichia coli clinical isolates of different genetic backgrounds. Methods The two plasmids were transferred into plasmid-free E. coli clinical isolates by transformation. The fitness effect of newly acquired plasmids on the host cell was assessed in head-to-head competitions with the corresponding isogenic strain. Plasmid stability was estimated by propagating monocultures for ∼312 generations. Plasmid nucleotide sequences were determined using next-generation sequencing technology. Assembly, gap closure, annotation and comparative analyses were performed. Results Both plasmids were stably maintained in three of four E. coli backgrounds and resulted in low to moderate reductions in host fitness ranging from 1.1% to 3.6%. A difference in fitness cost was observed for pG12-KPC-2 between two different genetic backgrounds, while no difference was detected for pG06-VIM-1 between three different genetic backgrounds. In addition, a difference was observed between pG12-KPC-2 and pG06-VIM-1 in the same genetic background. In general, the magnitude of biological cost of plasmid carriage was both host and plasmid dependent. The sequences of the two plasmids showed high backbone similarity to previously circulating plasmids in K. pneumoniae. Conclusions The low to modest fitness cost of newly acquired and stably maintained carbapenemase-encoding plasmids in E. coli indicates a potential for establishment and further dissemination into other Enterobacteriaceae species. We also show that the fitness cost is both plasmid and host specific.
The effect of low dietary manganese intake on rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

1. Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) of mean initial weight 15 g were given either a low-manganese or control diet containing 1·3 and 33 mg Mn/kg dry diet respectively. 2. Weight gains over a 24-week feeding period were the same for both groups of trout. 3. Hepatosomalic index, blood packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration, plasma protein and the activities of aspartic aminotransferase(EC 2.6.1.1)and alanine aminotransferase(EC 2.6.1.2) were unaffected by dietary Mn intake. 4. Plasma potassium and iron levels were increased in the trout given the low-Mn diet. 5. The hepatic levels of magnesium, sodium, K, zinc, copper, Mn and phosphorus were significantly reduced in the fish given the low-Mn diet. 6. In those trout given the low-Mn diet the levels of Mn and calcium in the vertebral ash were significantly reduced. 7. The hepatic activity of Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1; Cu–ZnSOD) and of Mn superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1; MnSOD) in cardiac muscle and liver was reduced in the group of trout given the low-Mn diet. The fall in Cu–ZnSOD and MnSOD activities coincided with reduced tissue levels of their respective metal components.
Opportunistic Routing with Available Bandwidth Assurance for High Dynamic UAV Swarms

The reconstruction of routing schemes constitutes an important quality of service (QoS) support for UAV swarms to keep their applications and services stable and active. In this paper, we develop a forwarding distance and available bandwidth (AB) estimation based opportunistic routing (FD-ABOR) protocol for high dynamic UAV swarms. We first improve the AB estimation algorithm for multi-hop UAV ad hoc networks by taking full account of the disparity between the sending and receiving ability and reconsidering the bandwidth consumption induced by hidden nodes. Secondly, we propose the scheme that the sender broadcast the RTS frame piggybacked with available bandwidth information for route request. Based on available bandwidth and forwarding distance, neighbour node decides it to be the candidate forwarder and computes the forwarding priority, then competes with each other to forward data packets. The simulation results show that our method outperforms AODV and DSR in terms of throughput and packet delivery ratio.
[Immunization coverage in the Monkey Bay Head zone Malawi].

OBJECTIVE To assess the immunization coverage of children in the Monkey Bay head zone, Malawi where the Icelandic International Development Agency (ICEIDA) has been working to improve health care services in the recent years. MATERIALS AND METHODS A 30 by 7 cluster sample survey, as defined by WHO's Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) was conducted to estimate immunization coverage of children aged 12-23 months for tuberculosis (BCG), diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP), polio (OPV) and measles immunizations. The Head Zone consists of 97 villages with a population of around 105,000 inhabitants. Five health centres provide immunization services in the area. In total were 217 children in 30 clusters randomly selected and their immunization status by card or history registered. RESULTS Immunization coverage by card or history was 97% for BCG, and 99%, 95% and 85% for DTP1, DTP2 and DTP3 respectively. Coverage of OPV1, OPV2 and OPV3 by card or history was 99%, 93% and 85% respectively. Coverage for measles by card or history was 78%. Fully immunized children by card or history were 152 or 70%. Two children had not received any immunizations. Drop-out rate from DTP1 to DTP3 vaccination by immunization card or history was 14.5%, and drop-out from DTP1 to Measles by card or history was 21%. CONCLUSION These results indicate that access to childhood immunization in the Monkey Bay head zone is good while drop-out rate is high. This indicates that access to health services is adequate. However, the coverage of measles appears to be insufficient to prevent outbreaks, and must be improved. The efficacy in delivering immunization can be improved and enhanced utilization of the services offered should be sought.
Postoperative Lung Volume Change Depending on the Resected Lobe

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the lung volume changes depending on the resected lobes. The changes were quantitatively evaluated using stereological methods on computed tomography images and by pulmonary function tests (PFTs). Methods The study subjects included 30 patients who underwent lung resection. Of these, 26 patients underwent lung resection due to non–small cell lung cancer and 4 patients for benign reasons. Patients were classified into the following six groups according to the resected lobes and lungs: right lower lobectomy, right upper lobectomy, left lower lobectomy, left upper lobectomy, right pneumonectomy, and left pneumonectomy cases. All patients were evaluated with the PFT and computed thorax tomography (CTT), preoperatively and in the postoperative 3rd month. Volume changes due to resection were estimated on CTT scans using the Cavalieri principle of the stereological methods, and their relationships to the PFTs were evaluated. Results Stereologically estimated data showed that the volume loss was 19.01% in upper lobectomy and 5.57% in lower lobectomy (p < 0.05). The highest volumetric increase of the contralateral lung and minor volume loss of the ipsilateral lung was observed in lower lobectomy. After right lower lobectomy, the highest postoperative volume increase was observed at the contralateral lung and the least volume loss in the remaining ipsilateral lung. In PFT, forced vital capacity (FVC) decreased to 3.07% after lower lobectomy whereas it decreased to 11.94% after upper lobectomy. FVC revealed that no significant change occurred after right lower lobectomy (p < 0.05). Conclusions Although the parenchyma resected in lower lobectomy is larger, the postoperative total lung volume reduction is less than that of upper lobectomy. After lower lobectomy, postoperative compensation is achieved specifically by the expansion of contralateral lung, together with the remaining ipsilateral lung.
Advances in Hepatic Tissue Bioengineering with Decellularized Liver Bioscaffold

The burden of liver diseases continues to grow worldwide, and liver transplantation is the only option for patients with end-stage liver disease. This procedure is limited by critical issues, including the low availability of donor organs; thus, novel therapeutic strategies are greatly needed. Recently, bioengineering approaches using decellularized liver scaffolds have been proposed as a novel strategy to overcome these challenges. The aim of this systematic literature review was to identify the major advances in the field of bioengineering using decellularized liver scaffolds and to identify obstacles and challenges for clinical application. The main findings of the articles and each contribution for technique optimization were highlighted, including the protocols of perfusion and decellularization, duration, demonstration of quality control—scaffold acellularity, matrix composition, and preservation of growth factors—and tissue functionality after recellularization. In previous years, many advances have been made as this technique has evolved from studies in animal models to human livers. As the field develops and this promising technique has become much more feasible, many challenges remain, including the selection of appropriate cell types for recellularization, route of cell administration, cell-seeding protocol, and scalability that must be standardized prior to clinical application.
Predictive torque control of a permanent magnet synchronous motor fed by a matrix converter without weighting factor

Finite control set model predictive control is a flexible control scheme with fast dynamic. The standard form of this controller is based on the minimization of a cost function. The cost function needs weighting factors that is dependent to the system parameters and operating point. The tuning of the weighting factors requires nontrivial process. This paper presents a predictive direct torque and stator flux control of a permanent magnet synchronous motor fed by a matrix converter without weighting factor. The proposed method uses a multiobjective optimization based on a ranking approach instead of a cost function. Therefore, the tuning of weighting factors is unnecessary. Simulation results are presented to confirm the good performance of the proposed method.
Incidence and prognostic significance of vascular and neural invasion in squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus

The prognostic influence of blood‐vessel invasion (BVI), lymphatic‐vessel invasion (LVI) and neural invasion (NI) was evaluated retrospectively in a series of 161 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the esophagus who underwent esophageal resection. Evidence of BVI, LVI and NI was found in 32.9%, 48.5% and 26.1%, respectively. Incidence of BVI, LVI and NI was significantly higher in high pT categories (pT3 and pT4) than in low pT categories (pTI and pT2) and in patients with distant metastases than in patients without distant metastases. Incidence of LVI and NI in lymph‐node‐positive patients was significantly higher than in lymph‐node‐negative patients. The 5‐year survival rate was significantly lower in patients with BVI or LVI than in patients without BVI or LVI. Patients with evidence of NI showed no significant differences in 5‐year survival from patients without evidence of NI. By stepwise multivariate Cox regression analysis, BVI and LVI were shown to be independent prognostic factors. A search for vascular invasion may therefore provide additional prognostic precision in SCC of the esophagus. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Combined effect of noise and neomycin on the cochlea.

The study was designed to examine the combined harmful effect of intensive noise and neo-mycin on the cochlea in three groups of guinea pigs; one receiving neomycin alone, one exposed to noise alone, and one exposed to both factors. Electrophysi-ologically and microscopically, the harmful effects were shown, when the two factors were combined, to increase more than predicted by simple addition of the two effects. The correlation between the percentage of destroyed outer hair cells and the micro-phonic potential amplitude loss was calculated.
A Condition of Equivalence Between Bus Injection and Branch Flow Models in Radial Networks

This brief presents an exact bijection between the branch flow model (BFM) and bus injection model (BIM) in radial systems. Moreover, the equivalence and the corresponding condition are investigated and rigorously proved. The exploration reveals that the bijection exists if and only if the network is connected and there is no zero-impedance branch.
Cross-layer security framework for smart grid: Physical security layer

Security is a major challenge preventing wide deployment of the smart grid technology. Typically, the classical power grid is protected with a set of isolated security tools applied to individual grid components and layers ignoring their cross-layer interaction. Such an approach does not address the smart grid security requirements because usually intricate attacks are cross-layer exploiting multiple vulnerabilities at various grid layers and domains. We advance a conceptual layering model of the smart grid and a high-level overview of a security framework, termed CyNetPhy, towards enabling cross-layer security of the smart grid. CyNetPhy tightly integrates and coordinates between three interrelated, and highly cooperative real-time security systems crossing section various layers of the grid cyber and physical domains to simultaneously address the grid's operational and security requirements. In this article, we present in detail the physical security layer (PSL) in CyNetPhy. We describe an attack scenario raising the emerging hardware Trojan threat in process control systems (PCSes) and its novel PSL resolution leveraging the model predictive control principles. Initial simulation results illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the PSL.
Regulation of the hemA gene during 5-aminolevulinic acid formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The general tetrapyrrole precursor 5-aminolevulinic acid is formed in bacteria via two different biosynthetic pathways. Members of the alpha group of the proteobacteria use 5-aminolevulinic acid synthase for the condensation of succinyl-coenzyme A and glycine, while other bacteria utilize a two-step pathway from aminoacylated tRNA(Glu). The tRNA-dependent pathway, involving the enzymes glutamyl-tRNA reductase (encoded by hemA) and glutamate-1-semialdehyde-2,1-aminomutase (encoded by hemL), was demonstrated to be used by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas stutzeri, Comamonas testosteroni, Azotobacter vinelandii, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. To study the regulation of the pathway, the glutamyl-tRNA reductase gene (hemA) from P. aeruginosa was cloned by complementation of an Escherichia coli hemA mutant. The hemA gene was mapped to the SpeI A fragment and the DpnIL fragment of the P. aeruginosa chromosome corresponding to min 24.1 to 26.8. The cloned hemA gene, coding for a protein of 423 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 46,234 Da, forms an operon with the gene for protein release factor 1 (prf1). This translational factor mediates the termination of the protein chain at the ribosome at amber and ochre codons. Since the cloned hemA gene did not possess one of the appropriate stop codons, an autoregulatory mechanism such as that postulated for the enterobacterial system was ruled out. Three open reading frames of unknown function transcribed in the opposite direction to the hemA gene were found. hemM/orf1 and orf2 were found to be homologous to open reading frames located in the 5' region of enterobacterial hemA genes. Utilization of both transcription start sites was changed in a P. aeruginosa mutant missing the oxygen regulator Anr (Fnr analog), indicating the involvement of the transcription factor in hemA expression. DNA sequences homologous to one half of an Anr binding site were detected at one of the determined transcription start sites.
Determining the Primary Endpoint for a Stimulant Abuse Trial: Lessons Learned from STRIDE (CTN 0037)

Background: No consensus is available for identifying the best primary outcome for substance use disorder trials, making interpretation across trials difficult. Abstinence is the most desirable treatment outcome although a wide variety of other endpoints have been used. Objectives: This report provides a framework for determining an optimal primary endpoint and the relevant measurement approach for substance use disorder treatment trials. The framework was developed based on a trial for stimulant abuse using exercise as an augmentation treatment, delivered within the NIDA Clinical Trials Network. The use of a common endpoint across trials will facilitate comparisons of treatment efficacy. Methods: Primary endpoint options in existing substance abuse studies were evaluated. This evaluation included surveys of the literature for endpoints and measurement approaches, followed by assessment of endpoint choices against study design issues, population characteristics, tests of sensitivity, and tests of clinical meaningfulness. Conclusion: We concluded that the best current choice for a primary endpoint is percent days abstinent, as measured by the Time Line Follow Back interview conducted three times a week with recall aided by a take-home Substance Use Diary. To improve the accuracy of the self-reported drug use, the results of qualitative urine drug screens will be used in conjunction with the Time Line Follow Back results. Scientific Significance: There is a need for a standardized endpoint in this field to allow for comparison across treatment studies, and we suggest that the recommended candidate endpoint be considered. However, the study design and goals ultimately must guide the final decision.