Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE EVOLUTION OF MATE PREFERENCES FOR MULTIPLE SEXUAL ORNAMENTS

Males of many species use multiple sexual ornaments in their courtship display. We investigate the evolution of female sexual preferences for more than a single male trait by the handicap process. The handicap process assumes that ornaments are indicators of male quality, and a female benefits from mate choice by her offspring inheriting “good genes” that increase survival chances. A new handicap model is developed that allows equilibria to be given in terms of selection pressures, independent of genetic parameters. Multiple sexual preferences evolve if the overall cost of choice is not greatly increased by a female using additional male traits in her assessment of potential mates. However, only a single preference is evolutionarily stable if assessment of additional male traits greatly increases the overall cost of choice (more than expected by combining the cost of each preference independently). Any single preference can evolve, the outcome being determined by initial conditions. The evolution of one preference effectively blocks the evolution of others, even for traits that are better indicators of male quality. Comparison is made with sexual selection caused by Fisher's runaway process in which male traits are purely attractive characters. This shows that sexual preferences for multiple Fisher traits are likely to evolve alongside preference for a single handicap trait that indicates male quality. This is a general difference in the evolutionary outcome of these two causes of sexual selection.
Identifying circulating tumor stem cells that matter: the key to prognostication and therapeutic targeting.

TO THEEDITOR: We read with interest the article by Iinuma et al 1 that describes their study examining the clinical significance of cancer stem cells in the peripheral blood of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The defining characteristics of a circulating cancer stem cell (CTSC) are its capacity for self-renewal and for initiation of distant metastases; some of these cells are also resistant to traditional chemo- therapy. 2,3 The concept that circulating tumor stem cells can be iden- tified and targeted is attractive and has major diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications for patients with metastatic cancer. However, the identification of authentic CTSCs continues to be a challenge because of the lack of a clear understanding of the biologic heterogeneity of tumor stem-cell populations and also because of the lack of characterization of surface markers that predict clinically im- portant subsets of CTSCs, such as those with aggressive malignant potential or drug resistance.
9-cis Retinal Increased in Retina of RPE65 Knockout Mice with Decrease in Coat Pigmentation†

Abstract The protein RPE65 is essential for the generation of the native chromophore, 11-cis retinal, of visual pigments. However, the Rpe65 knockout (Rpe65−/−) mouse shows a minimal visual response due to the presence of a pigment, isorhodopsin, formed with 9-cis retinal. Isorhodopsin accumulates linearly with prolonged dark-rearing of the animals. The majority of Rpe65−/− mice have an agouti coat color. A tan coat color subset of Rpe65−/− mice was found to have an enhanced visual response as measured by electroretinograms. The enhanced response was found to be due to increased levels of 9-cis retinal and isorhodopsin pigment levels. Animals of both coat colors reared in cyclic light have minimal levels of regenerated pigment and show photoreceptor degeneration. On dark-rearing, pigment accumulates and photoreceptor degeneration is decreased. In the tan Rpe65−/− mice, the level of photoreceptor degeneration is less than in the agouti animals, which have an increased pigment and decreased free opsin level. Therefore, photoreceptor damage correlates with the amount of the apoprotein present, supporting findings that the activity from unregenerated opsin can lead to photoreceptor degeneration.
Fluconazole use during breastfeeding.

QUESTION I have a patient with persistent breast and nipple thrush. Other therapies have failed, so I have decided to treat her with a loading dose of 400 mg of oral fluconazole followed by 100 mg twice daily for at least 2 weeks. Is there any need for her to interrupt breastfeeding during this treatment? ANSWER Available data regarding fluconazole use during breastfeeding are reassuring. Fluconazole is also used in the treatment of fungal diseases in infants and has a good safety profile. Therefore, there is no need to interrupt breastfeeding when a mother is treated with fluconazole.
Differential Role of Toll-Interleukin 1 Receptor Domain-Containing Adaptor Protein in Toll-Like Receptor 2-Mediated Regulation of Gene Expression of Hepatic Cytokines and Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes

Pharmacological activities of drugs are impaired during inflammation because of reduced expression of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme genes (DMEs) and their regulatory nuclear receptors (NRs): pregnane X receptor (PXR), constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), and retinoid X receptor (RXRα). We have shown that a component of Gram-positive bacteria, lipoteichoic acid (LTA) induces proinflammatory cytokines and reduces gene expression of hepatic DMEs and NRs. LTA is a Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) ligand, which initiates signaling by recruitment of Toll-interleukin 1 receptor domain-containing adaptor protein (TIRAP) to the cytoplasmic TIR domain of TLR2. To determine the role of TIRAP in TLR2-mediated regulation of DME genes, TLR2(+/+), TLR2(−/−), TIRAP(+/+), and TIRAP(−/−) mice were given LTA injections. RNA levels of the DMEs (Cyp3a11, Cyp2b10, and sulfoaminotransferase), xenobiotic NRs (PXR and CAR), and nuclear protein levels of the central NR RXRα were reduced ∼50 to 60% in LTA-treated TLR2(+/+) but not in TLR2(−/−) mice. Induction of hepatic cytokines (interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, and nuclear factor-κΒ was blocked in TLR2(−/−) mice. As expected, expression of hepatic DMEs and NRs was reduced by LTA in TIRAP(+/+) but not in TIRAP(−/−) mice. Of interest, cytokine RNA levels were induced in the livers of both the TIRAP(+/+) and TIRAP(−/−) mice, whereas LTA-mediated induction of serum cytokines was attenuated in TIRAP(−/−) mice. LTA-mediated down-regulation of DME genes was attenuated in hepatocytes from TLR2(−/−) or TIRAP(−/−) mice and in small interfering RNA-treated hepatocytes. Thus, the effect of TLR2 on DME genes in hepatocytes was mediated by TIRAP, whereas TIRAP was not involved in mediating the effects of TLR2 on cytokine expression in the liver.
[Expression of markers on dendritic cells from chronic chagasic patients stimulated with the KMP-11 protein and the K1 peptide from Trypanosoma cruzi].

INTRODUCTION The kinetoplastid membrane protein 11, KMP-11, from Trypanosoma cruzi elicits humoral and cellular immunity in mice that protects them from infection against further parasite challenge. OBJECTIVE To characterize the expression of surface markers on dendritic cells from chronic chagasic patients and healthy individuals, in response to the KMP-11 protein from Trypanosoma cruzi and its N-terminal peptide K1. MATERIALS AND METHODS Monocyte-derived dendritic cells from seven chronic chagasic patients and seven healthy individuals were stimulated with the KMP-11 protein and the K1 peptide. Seven days after culturing, the CD83, CD86, and HLA-DR membrane expression as well as the production of cytokines were evaluated by flow cytometry. RESULTS Neither KMP-11 protein nor K1 peptide elicited the expression of the maturation marker CD83 on dendritic cells of patients or healthy control individuals. Dendritic cells from chronic chagasic patients exposed to K1 and LPS at the same time presented a significant reduction in CD86 and CD83 membrane expression in contrast to the cells exposed to LPS alone, whereas dendritic cells from healthy individuals did not show this behavior. The secretion of interleukin-12 was decreased in the cultures of dendritic cells from chronic chagasic patients but not from healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS KMP-1 1 protein does not affect the maturation of dendritic cells, but in the presence of LPS the K1 peptide leads to a decreased expression of CD86 and CD83 as well as interleukin-12 production, This phenomenon may be associated with an impaired T cell stimulation.
Map-based approach to fault detection for piecewise-affine systems

This paper addresses the problem of parameter estimation for fault detection using piecewise-affine models. Given a nominal model consisting of a partitioning into affine sections and assigned parameters for each section, the problem of fault detection is related to the problem of parameter estimation for the affine sections. In general, when a technical process is operated, only measurement data covering some sections are available. Furthermore, these data may not be suitable for estimating all parameters well if they do not cover the whole domain of the corresponding affine section. In this paper, a new approach is presented which uses a data buffer to overcome these limitations.
Enhanced production of 2,3‐butanediol in pyruvate decarboxylase‐deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae through optimizing ratio of glucose/galactose

Galactose and glucose are two of the most abundant monomeric sugars in hydrolysates of marine biomasses. While Saccharomyces cerevisiae can ferment galactose, its uptake is tightly controlled in the presence of glucose by catabolite repression. It is desirable to construct engineered strains capable of simultaneous utilization of glucose and galactose for producing biofuels and chemicals from marine biomass. The MTH1 gene coding for transcription factor in glucose signaling was mutated in a pyruvate decarboxylase (Pdc)‐deficient S. cerevisiae expressing heterologous 2,3‐butanediol (2,3‐BD) biosynthetic genes. The engineered S. cerevisiae strain consumed glucose and galactose simultaneously and produced 2,3‐BD as a major product. Total sugar consumption rates increased with a low ratio of glucose/galactose, though, occurrence of the glucose depletion in a fed‐batch fermentation decreased 2,3‐BD production substantially. Through optimizing the profiles of sugar concentrations in a fed‐batch cultivation with the engineered strain, 99.1 ± 1.7 g/L 2,3‐BD was produced in 143 hours with a yield of 0.353 ± 0.022 g 2,3‐BD/g sugars. This result suggests that simultaneous and efficient utilization of glucose and galactose by the engineered yeast might be applicable to the economical production of not only 2,3‐BD, but also other biofuels and chemicals from marine biomass.
Benefits of music therapy as an adjunct to chest physiotherapy in infants and toddlers with cystic fibrosis

Routine chest physiotherapy (CPT) is an important component of prophylactic therapy in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and requires a significant commitment of time and energy. It is important, therefore, to establish CPT as a positive experience. In this study, we evaluated the effect of recorded music as an adjunct to CPT. Specifically, we compared the use of newly composed music, familiar music, and the family's usual routine on children's and parents' enjoyment of CPT and the parents' perception of time taken to complete CPT. Enjoyment and perception of time were evaluated via questionnaires designed specifically for this study. Participants were caregivers of one or more children with CF who were aged between 4½ months and 24 months at the commencement of the clinical trial and required CPT on a daily basis. Participants were randomly allocated into control and treatment groups. Control group participants experienced two conditions consecutively: no audiotape (NT; control) and familiar music tape (FT; placebo control). Treatment group participants were given the treatment music tape (TT), which was composed and compiled by a music therapist. After baseline assessment, evaluation occurred at two 6‐weekly intervals.
Detection and Exclusion RAIM Algorithm against Spoofing/Replaying Attacks

Malicious attacks, notably spoofing and replaying, in addition to jamming, have been shown increasingly practical even for attackers without high levels of sophistication. This makes malicious interference and manipulation a significant threat for Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)-based applications. Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM) has been widely used in safety-critical navigation applications to ensure the integrity and reliability of the navigation function, without being designed with malicious faults in mind. Along the lines of the RAIM approach, here we investigate an alternative method to exclude faulty pseudo-range measurements and obtain an as accurate as possible position estimate. We propose the use of an approach that allows the receiver to classify position estimates into, roughly speaking, those that are faulty (affected by an attacker) and those that are not. Identifying an intuitive match to GNSSbased positioning, we propose the use of a clustering algorithm for this classification. We find that our so-called ClusteringRAIM (CRAIM) is simple to configure and efficient in terms of computation, and our evaluation, simulating adversarial effect, shows it can be effective without any prior assumption on the number of faulty measurements; as long as they are the minority of the available ones. Keyword Clustering, Multiple outliers, RAIM, Spoofing, Replaying
Correlations in health status between estimates of families of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and estimates of staff

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to compare self-estimates of the physical, psychological, and general well-being of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and their next of kin with the assessment of the nurses and physician of these participants. Method: The well-being of 35 pairs of patients and their next of kin was rated by themselves, and by a physician and nurses. The well-being was examined over time, using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Patients' physical function was estimated at the same time with the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised and the Norris scale. Results: The correlations between the staff's estimates of the well-being of patients and next of kin were similar to their own estimates, even though staff to a higher degree estimated a decrease in well-being over time among the patients. The estimates by the nurses correlated better to that of the patients and next of kin in psychological and general well-being than the physicians' estimates did. Significance of results: Even though the staff's estimates of participants were roughly equivalent to their self-estimates, there were some differences. This result calls attention to the importance of working in teams in which different professional roles are combined and integrated, making it possible to form a holistic view of the situation of each family. A concern overlooked by one member of staff might be covered by another, and different focuses on the family may give a better composite picture of their life situation, which could lead to better support to the family.
Institutional Repository Can di erent primary care databases produce comparable estimates of burden of disease : results of a study exploring venous leg ulceration

• This paper is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Family Practice following peer review. The version of record, PETHERICK, E.S. , PICKETT, K.E. and CULLUM, N.A. , 2015. Can di erent primary care databases produce comparable estimates of burden of disease: results of a study exploring venous leg ulceration. Family Practice, 32 (4), pp. 374-380, is available online at: http://dx.doi. org/10.1093/fampra/cmv013
Delaunay triangulation and mesh grid combining algorithm for multiple targets localization using compressive sensing

Introducing compressive sensing theory to solve multiple targets localization problem is a promising method by only considering received signal's power. In previous researches, the targets are assumed to be positioned into an regular mesh grid and restoration model according to compressive underdetermined equation is built to recover the positions of unknown targets. However, it is inconvenient to arrange sensors on grids in practice and the recovered locations were bound to grid points that may deviate the target positions comparing to the real ones. In this paper, we propose a Delaunay triangulation grid generation algorithm through randomly deployed sensors' positions. Moreover, a sparse position vector diversity combining algorithm, based on OMP, is also been proposed. It lowers the possibility of the emergence of the false locations and greatly improves the accuracy of targets' positions.
A Coupled Method of Laplace Transform and Legendre Wavelets for Lane-Emden-Type Differential Equations

A coupled method of Laplace transform and Legendre wavelets is presented to obtain exact solutions of Lane-Emden-type equations. By employing properties of Laplace transform, a new operator is first introduced and then its Legendre wavelets operational matrix is derived to convert the Lane-Emden equations into a system of algebraic equations. Block pulse functions are used to calculate the Legendre wavelets coefficient matrices of the nonlinear terms. The results show that the proposed method is very effective and easy to implement.
Rapprochement between discrete and continuous nonlinear filtering

In this paper we explore the connection between discrete and continuous nonlinear filtering. In particular, we develop a novel incremental form of the discrete nonlinear filtering equations that holds for arbitrary sampling period. We also show that this form of the discrete nonlinear filter has the same spirit as the continuous filter and embeds the continuous filter as a special case when only certain terms are retained in the equations. Finally, we use these results to gain insights into the choice of sample period in nonlinear filtering. The paper is part review and part novel.
Analysis of GDx-VCC polarimetry data by Wavelet-Fourier analysis across glaucoma stages.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to apply shape-based analysis techniques of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness to GDx-VCC (variable corneal and lens compensator; Laser Diagnostic Technologies, Inc., San Diego, CA) polarimetry data and to evaluate the techniques' ability to detect glaucoma in its earliest stages. Wavelet-based (wavelet-Fourier analysis [WFA]), Fourier-based (fast Fourier analysis [FFA]), and several previous variations of shape-based analysis were considered, as well as the standard metric nerve fiber indicator (NFI), and all were compared as a function of disease stage. METHODS GDx-VCC scans of one eye of each of 67 patients with glaucoma and each of 67 healthy age-matched subjects provided RNFL thickness estimates at a fixed distance from the optic disc. Severity of disease was graded according to the Glaucoma Staging System and also by mean deviation (MD) from standard automated perimetry. WFA, FFA, and NFI procedures were performed including the following variations: use of signed or unsigned phase, inclusion of interocular or intraocular asymmetry of analysis parameters, and combination of features by principle components analysis or Wilks lambda. Independent samples (k-fold variation) were used for training and testing. Sensitivity, specificity, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area were obtained. RESULTS Classification performance of WFA (ROC = 0.978) was significantly better than FFA (ROC = 0.938) and NFI (ROC = 0.900). This difference was largest for the earliest stages of glaucoma. Shape-based analysis methods performed better than NFI overall. Adding between-eye asymmetry measures helped FFA but not WFA. CONCLUSIONS Shape-based analysis, and WFA in particular, makes an important improvement in detecting earliest glaucoma with polarimetry.
Economic analysis of a comprehensive pain rehabilitation program: a collaboration between Florida Blue and Mayo Clinic Florida.

OBJECTIVE The cost of caring for patients with chronic pain conditions poses a significant burden to both the healthcare system and patients. We were interested in analyzing the financial costs and benefits of treating these patients in a comprehensive outpatient pain rehabilitation program. DESIGN All participants completed the 3-week outpatient Mayo Clinic Florida Pain Rehabilitation Program (PRC) between October 2011 and September 2013. Healthcare costs were compared during the 3-, 6-, 12-, and 18-month periods pre- and post-treatment. PATIENTS The sample included 53 patients. RESULTS Medical costs decreased by 86, 68, 64, and 90% in the 3-, 6-, 12-, and 18-month post-treatment periods, respectively, when compared with the same pretreatment periods. CONCLUSIONS The appropriate use of a comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation program for chronic pain patients can result in a significant reduction in medical costs.
Conjugative Plasmid Conferring Resistance to Olaquindox

ABSTRACT A conjugative plasmid, pOLA52, conferring resistance to the antibiotic growth promoter olaquindox has been isolated from Escherichia coli from swine manure. It also confers resistance to ampicillin and chloramphenicol and has a high frequency of transfer between strains of E. coli. Plasmid-borne olaquindox resistance has not been demonstrated before.
Thrombolysis in acute stroke

Treating acute stroke is one of medicine's most difficult challenges as this millennium ends. It remains handicapped by deep rooted ignorance, fatalism, nihilism, and scepticism. This contrasts with the well accepted management of acute myocardial infarction, although the treatment of “heart attacks,” as for “brain attacks,” relies more on general and intensive care, including thrombolysis, than on drugs that specifically protect myocardial cells. The most encouraging prospects for treating acute stroke include protecting ischaemic brain tissue (neuroprotection) and recanalising the occluded artery (thrombolysis). 2 Interest in thrombolysis in acute stroke has been emphasised recently by several randomised trials.3 Nearly 3000 patients with acute stroke were studied in more than 10 trials. Meta-analysis of these data shows that intravenous thrombolysis was associated with a 20% reduction in the odds ratio for poor outcome (death or severe disability) but also with a 44% increase in the odds ratio of death—mainly due to a more than threefold increase in brain haemorrhage.4 The only positive trial of thrombolysis is that organised by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke,5 which included 624 patients randomised to receive either intravenous placebo or alteplase (0.9 mg/kg to a maximum of 90 mg) given as a 10% bolus followed by an infusion lasting 60 minutes within three hours of onset of ischaemic stroke. There was no significant difference in neurological …
The electrodiagnostic distinctions between chronic familial and acquired demyelinative neuropathies

We compared the electrodiagnostic studies of 40 patients with chronic acquired demyelinative neuropathy and 18 patients with familial demyelinative neuropathy. Patients with acquired neuropathy had differential slowing of conduction velocity when distal latencies were compared with more proximal conduction velocities in the same nerve, when equivalent segments of different nerves were compared, and when dispersion of compound motor action potentials was examined. Conduction block was noted in some patients. Patients with familial disease had uniform conduction slowing of all nerve segments, and conduction block was not seen.