Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity, specificity and level of agreement of meat inspector detection of abnormal lymph nodes of farmed deer (Cervus elaphus) in New Zealand

AIMS: To assess the sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp) and level of agreement in the detection of abnormal deer mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) by official assessors (meat inspectors) for the purpose of slaughter premise surveillance for Johne's disease in New Zealand farmed deer. METHODS: To determine Se and Sp, four meat inspectors in two commercial deer slaughter premises (DSP) each examined between 153 and 925 MLN under normal visual examination, palpation and/or incision inspection procedures. Abnormal MLN were independently defined as those with a circumference measurement of ≥ 55 mm and/or grossly visible pathological changes such as caseation, necrosis and/or mineralisation, while those with a circumference of <55 mm and without gross lesions were defined as normal. The inspectors' diagnosis of normal or abnormal was retrieved from the national DSP-based surveillance database for Johne's disease in deer. To determine between-inspector level of agreement, 54 meat inspectors visually examined two photographic images each of 19 normal and 10 abnormal MLN, and recorded their diagnosis. Between-inspector agreement was calculated based on a modification of Cohen's kappa statistic for multiple raters. The influence of covariates such as inspector age and experience on the between-inspector level of agreement were assessed using the Breslow-Day statistic and test for equal kappa coefficients. RESULTS: The weighted average Se and Sp of inspector detection of abnormal MLN was 13.3 (minimum 4.8, maximum 41.2)% and 99.9 (minimum 99.5, maximum 100.0)%, respectively. The level of between-inspector agreement in the diagnosis of abnormal and normal MLN was fair (κ = 0.32). Employment location, inspector age, experience inspecting deer or other species, and the number of shifts inspecting deer within the previous four weeks had no influence on between-inspector agreement (p > 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: Inspectors diagnosed abnormal deer MLN with a high specificity, but low sensitivity. These data supported that visual assessment of MLN characteristics was suitable for national surveillance for paratuberculosis, while highlighting the need for further emphasis on training of inspectors in abnormal lymph node detection.
Briquet's syndrome (hysteria) is both a somatoform and a “psychoform” illness: a Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory study.

&NA; We describe the results of a follow‐up study on patients with hysteria using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) to evaluate the multiple complaints of these patients. MMPIs were obtained from 29 women with primary affective disorder and 37 women with Briquet's syndrome as part of a follow‐up study of the St. Louis clinic 500. Patients with Briquet's syndrome were significantly less consistent and logical in answering MMPIs and were more likely to emphasize personal psychopathological conditions. They reported many more symptoms in many more problem areas than did women with primary affective disorder. Patients with Briquet's syndrome reported significantly more somatic symptoms and psychological/interpersonal problems than did the depressed group. It was suggested that such patients mimic multiple psychiatric and somatic disorders.
Studies of the aggregation of mutant proteins in vitro provide insights into the genetics of amyloid diseases

Protein aggregation and the formation of highly insoluble amyloid structures is associated with a range of debilitating human conditions, which include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and the Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease. Muscle acylphosphatase (AcP) has already provided significant insights into mutational changes that modulate amyloid formation. In the present paper, we have used this system to investigate the effects of mutations that modify the charge state of a protein without affecting significantly the hydrophobicity or secondary structural propensities of the polypeptide chain. A highly significant inverse correlation was found to exist between the rates of aggregation of the protein variants under denaturing conditions and their overall net charge. This result indicates that aggregation is generally favored by mutations that bring the net charge of the protein closer to neutrality. In light of this finding, we have analyzed natural mutations associated with familial forms of amyloid diseases that involve alteration of the net charge of the proteins or protein fragments associated with the diseases. Sixteen mutations have been identified for which the mechanism of action that causes the pathological condition is not yet known or fully understood. Remarkably, 14 of these 16 mutations cause the net charge of the corresponding peptide or protein that converts into amyloid deposits to be reduced. This result suggests that charge has been a key parameter in molecular evolution to ensure the avoidance of protein aggregation and identifies reduction of the net charge as an important determinant in at least some forms of protein deposition diseases.
Provide Distant Learners with the Personalized Learning Paths Based on 3d_SLN Map

Cognition disorientation problem is one of the major problems caused by the self-learning principle in the current web based intelligent learning systems. Providing learners with the personalized learning path can effectively smooth over the problem. In this paper, we provide learners with learning paths which is based on the 3 dimensioned SLN (3d_SLN) map according to their different learning styles. 3d_SLN map is a modified version of SLN whose inferring ability is as strong as ontology for learning path recommendation while more flexible in knowledge relation constructing.
Hemodynamic Studies of Intracranial Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas Using Arterial Spin-Labeling MR Imaging

Arterial spin-labeling (ASL) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enables non-invasive acquisition of the brain perfusion information in cerebrovascular disease. We investigated hemodynamic changes in intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) using ASL-MRI. ASL-MRI by a Q2TIPS sequence on a 3.0-Tesla MRI was performed for three patients with Cognard's IIa+b type of DAVFs before and after treatment. Perfusion images obtained by ASL-MRI (ASL images) before treatment were visually compared with those by single-photon emission computed tomography images (SPECT images). Increasing rates of temporal changes of regional perfusion values in ASL images (ASL values) before and after treatment were also calculated. In all three patients, ASL images before treatment demonstrated high perfusion in regions around the shunting areas, where normal or low perfusion were detected on SPECT images; thus, ASL images might have demonstrated the abundant arterial shunting flow via the fistulas. On days eight to 20 after treatment, ASL values around the shunt areas remained the same or decreased, and those in the regions other than the shunt areas increased in all three patients. This might have been due to a combination of the following: a decrease in shunt flow volume, an amelioration of venous congestion, and a sustained an upward shift in the autoregulation of the brain perfusion pressure. All regional ASL values decreased on days 112 and 120 after treatment in two patients, which possibly reflects a reduction in the upward shift in autoregulation. ASL-MRI might be useful for identifying the hemodynamic behavior of DAVFs before and after treatment.
Architecture of a protein central to iron homeostasis: crystal structure and spectroscopic analysis of the ferric uptake regulator

Iron is an essential element for almost all organisms, although an overload of this element results in toxicity because of the formation of hydroxyl radicals. Consequently, most living entities have developed sophisticated mechanisms to control their intracellular iron concentration. In many bacteria, including the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, this task is performed by the ferric uptake regulator (Fur). Fur controls a wide variety of basic physiological processes including iron uptake systems and the expression of exotoxin A. Here, we present the first crystal structure of Fur from P. aeruginosa in complex with Zn2+ determined at a resolution of 1.8 Å. Furthermore, X‐ray absorption spectroscopic measurements and microPIXE analysis were performed in order to characterize the distinct zinc and iron binding sites in solution. The combination of these complementary techniques enables us to present a model for the activation and DNA binding of the Fur protein.
Posterior Inferotemporal Cortex Cells Use Multiple Input Pathways for Shape Encoding

In the macaque monkey brain, posterior inferior temporal (PIT) cortex cells contribute to visual object recognition. They receive concurrent inputs from visual areas V4, V3, and V2. We asked how these different anatomical pathways shape PIT response properties by deactivating them while monitoring PIT activity in two male macaques. We found that cooling of V4 or V2|3 did not lead to consistent changes in population excitatory drive; however, population pattern analyses showed that V4-based pathways were more important than V2|3-based pathways. We did not find any image features that predicted decoding accuracy differences between both interventions. Using the HMAX hierarchical model of visual recognition, we found that different groups of simulated “PIT” units with different input histories (lacking “V2|3” or “V4” input) allowed for comparable levels of object-decoding performance and that removing a large fraction of “PIT” activity resulted in similar drops in performance as in the cooling experiments. We conclude that distinct input pathways to PIT relay similar types of shape information, with V1-dependent V4 cells providing more quantitatively useful information for overall encoding than cells in V2 projecting directly to PIT. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Convolutional neural networks are the best models of the visual system, but most emphasize input transformations across a serial hierarchy akin to the primary “ventral stream” (V1 → V2 → V4 → IT). However, the ventral stream also comprises parallel “bypass” pathways: V1 also connects to V4, and V2 to IT. To explore the advantages of mixing long and short pathways in the macaque brain, we used cortical cooling to silence inputs to posterior IT and compared the findings with an HMAX model with parallel pathways.
Targeting Filarial Abl-like Kinases: Orally Available, Food and Drug Administration-Approved Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Are Microfilaricidal and Macrofilaricidal.

BACKGROUND Elimination of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis is targeted for 2020. Given the coincident Loa loa infections in Central Africa and the potential for drug resistance development, the need for new microfilaricides and macrofilaricides has never been greater. With the genomes of L. loa, Onchocerca volvulus, Wuchereria bancrofti, and Brugia malayi available, new drug targets have been identified. METHODS The effects of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors imatinib, nilotinib, and dasatinib on B. malayi adult males, adult females, L3 larvae, and microfilariae were assessed using a wide dose range (0-100 µM) in vitro. RESULTS For microfilariae, median inhibitory concentrations (IC50 values) on day 6 were 6.06 µM for imatinib, 3.72 µM for dasatinib, and 81.35 µM for nilotinib; for L3 larvae, 11.27 µM, 13.64 µM, and 70.98 µM, respectively; for adult males, 41.6 µM, 3.87 µM, and 68.22 µM, respectively; and for adult females, 42.89 µM, 9.8 µM, and >100 µM, respectively. Three-dimensional modeling suggests how these tyrosine kinase inhibitors bind and inhibit filarial protein activity. CONCLUSIONS Given the safety of imatinib in humans, plans are underway for pilot clinical trials to assess its efficacy in patients with filarial infections.
BULK DENSITY AND RELATIONSHIP AIR/WATER OF HORTICULTURAL SUBSTRATE

Alteracoes na densidade do substrato durante o cultivo das plantas modificam suas propriedades fisicas. O trabalho teve como objetivos caracterizar fisicamente dois substratos horticolas e avaliar o efeito da densidade na relacao ar/agua dos mesmos, elaborando funcoes matematicas que permitam estimar tal relacao a partir da densidade do substrato. Para tanto, determinou-se a distribuicao do tamanho das particulas, a densidade e a curva de retencao de agua. Procedeu-se o acondicionamento dos substratos em tres valores de densidade: 10 (D1), 20 (D2) e 30% (D3) maior que a densidade (D) determinada na fase de caracterizacao. Partindo das amostras com diferentes densidades, determinou-se a curva de retencao de agua dos substratos. A influencia do aumento da densidade do substrato na porosidade total (PT), no espaco de aeracao (EA), na agua disponivel (AD), na agua facilmente disponivel (AFD), na agua tamponante (AT) e na agua remanescente (AR) foi avaliada pela analise de regressao linear simples e analise polinomial. A composicao granulometrica e a curva de retencao de agua foram significativamente diferentes para os dois substratos. O aumento da densidade diminuiu a PT e o EA e aumentou a AT e AR. Os maiores valores de AD e AFD foram observados para D1. Foram obtidas equacoes de regressao que podem auxiliar na escolha da relacao ar/agua mais adequada para cada condicao.
Physical demands during an elite female soccer game: importance of training status.

PURPOSE To examine the activity profile and physical loading of elite female soccer players during match play and to study the relationship between training status and physical match performance. METHODS Time-motion analysis and HR recordings were performed on 14 elite female soccer players during competitive matches. In addition, the players carried out a laboratory treadmill test and the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test. RESULTS The total distance covered during a game was 10.3 km (range: 9.7-11.3) with high-intensity running (HIR) accounting for 1.31 km (0.71-1.70). HIR was performed 125 times (72-159) for 2.3 s (2.0-2.4) on average. The average and peak HR in a game were 167 beats per minute (bpm) (152-186) and 186 (171-205), respectively, corresponding to 87% (81-93) and 97% (96-100) of HR(max). Maximal pulmonary oxygen uptake (VO2max) was 49.4 mL.min(-1). kg(-1) (43.4-56.8), and incremental treadmill test (ITT) performance was 4.49 min (3.38-5.17). The Yo-Yo test performance was 1379 m (600-1960). The total distance covered during match play did not correlate with VO2max or ITT performance but correlated with the Yo-Yo test result (r = 0.56, P < 0.05). Significant positive correlations were observed between HIR and VO2max (r = 0.81, P < 0.05), ITT (r = 0.82, P < 0.05), and Yo-Yo test performance (r = 0.76, P < 0.05). No relationship was observed between HR(max) during match play and any of the performance measures. CONCLUSION The present study demonstrated that 1) HIR during games varies markedly between elite female soccer players, 2) all players have high HR throughout a competitive game with periods of near-maximal values, 3) the distance covered by HIR during match play is closely related to the physical capacity, and 4) the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test can be used as an indicator of the physical match performance of elite female players.
Genetic diversity at the FMR1 locus in the Indonesian population

We report an analysis of allelic diversity at short tandem repeat polymorphisms within the fragile XA locus in 1069 male volunteers from twelve Indonesian sub‐populations. An odd numbered allele of DXS548 was found at high frequency in all Indonesian populations. Greater allelic diversity was identified at the loci under study than has been previously reported for an Asian population. These differences distinguish the Indonesian population from all previously reported Asian, European and African populations. A high frequency of small premutation alleles, 4/120 (3.3%, 95% CI 0.9–8.3%), was identified in the Moluccan population of Hiri Island.
A calcium-accumulating region, CAR, in the channel Orai1 enhances Ca2+ permeation and SOCE-induced gene transcription

A special region of the store-operated calcium channel maintains channel function under conditions of low extracellular calcium. Enhancing Ca2+ concentration at the pore Store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) produces local calcium signals that not only refill intracellular calcium stores but also regulate specific downstream signaling events, such as activation of the calcium-dependent transcription factor NFAT. The channel complexes that mediate the calcium influx include the calcium-sensing proteins of the STIM family and the pore-forming subunits of the Orai family. These channels must function in cells that are part of tissues, as well as cells that circulate in the blood stream, thus cells that are exposed to very different concentrations of extracellular calcium. Using molecular dynamics simulations and analysis of mutant proteins in cells, Frischauf et al. identified a region, the calcium-accumulating region (CAR), in Orai1 that enhanced the local concentration of calcium at the entrance to the pore. The importance of CAR was most evident under conditions of low extracellular calcium, as would occur in cells of the skin. NFAT activity was impaired in cells expressing STIM1 and Orai channel proteins with mutations in CAR or that disrupted CAR function. Thus, CAR enables Orai to mediate SOCE-induced calcium signaling even under diverse extracellular calcium concentrations. The Ca2+ release–activated Ca2+ channel mediates Ca2+ influx in a plethora of cell types, thereby controlling diverse cellular functions. The channel complex is composed of stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1), an endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-sensing protein, and Orai1, a plasma membrane Ca2+ channel. Channels composed of STIM1 and Orai1 mediate Ca2+ influx even at low extracellular Ca2+ concentrations. We investigated whether the activity of Orai1 adapted to different environmental Ca2+ concentrations. We used homology modeling and molecular dynamics simulations to predict the presence of an extracellular Ca2+-accumulating region (CAR) at the pore entrance of Orai1. Furthermore, simulations of Orai1 proteins with mutations in CAR, along with live-cell experiments, or simulations and electrophysiological recordings of the channel with transient, electrostatic loop3 interacting with loop1 (the site of CAR) determined that CAR enhanced Ca2+ permeation most efficiently at low external Ca2+ concentrations. Consistent with these results, cells expressing Orai1 CAR mutants exhibited impaired gene expression stimulated by the Ca2+-activated transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT). We propose that the Orai1 channel architecture with a close proximity of CAR to the selectivity filter, which enables Ca2+-selective ion permeation, enhances the local extracellular Ca2+ concentration to maintain Ca2+-dependent gene regulation even in environments with relatively low Ca2+concentrations.
AN ENHANCED DETERMINISTIC FUZZY TIME SERIES FORECASTING MODEL

The study of fuzzy time series has attracted great interest and is expected to expand rapidly. Various forecasting models including high-order models have been proposed to improve forecasting accuracy or reducing computational cost. However, there exist two important issues, namely, rule redundancy and high-order redundancy that have not yet been investigated. This article proposes a novel forecasting model to tackle such issues. It overcomes the major hurdle of determining the k-order in high-order models and is enhanced to allow the handling of multi-factor forecasting problems by removing the overhead of deriving all fuzzy logic relationships beforehand. Two novel performance evaluation metrics are also formally derived for comparing performances of related forecasting models. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed forecasting model outperforms the existing models in efficiency.
A de novo 1.1–1.6 Mb subtelomeric deletion of chromosome 20q13.33 in a patient with learning difficulties but without obvious dysmorphic features

We report on a de novo submicroscopic deletion of 20q13.33 identified by subtelomeric fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in a 4‐year‐old girl with learning difficulties, hyperlaxity and strabismus, but without obvious dysmorphic features. Further investigations by array‐based comparative genomic hybridization (array‐CGH) and FISH analysis allowed us to delineate the smallest reported subterminal deletion of chromosome 20q, spanning a 1.1–1.6 Mb with a breakpoint localized between BAC RP5‐887L7 and RP11‐261N11. The genes CHRNA4 and KCNQ2 implicated in autosomal dominant epilepsy are included in the deletion interval. Subterminal 20q deletions as found in the present patient have, to our knowledge, only been reported in three patients. We review the clinical and behavioral phenotype of such “pure” subterminal 20q deletions. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hypercholesterolemia Is Correlated With an Increased Risk of Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Historical Prospective Cohort Study

Objective: Despite the many studies on the associated risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients with hypercholesterolemia (HCh), an association between HCh and the development of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) has been examined in only a few case-control studies. We tested the hypothesis that HCh is a risk factor for developing ISSNHL. Design: Using the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database, we conducted a historical prospective cohort study to compare patients diagnosed with HCh from January 1, 2001, through to December 31, 2006 (N = 73,957) with age-matched controls (N = 73,957). We followed each patient until the end of 2009 and evaluated the incidence of ISSNHL for a minimum of 3 years after the initial HCh diagnosis. Results: The incidence of ISSNHL was 1.62 times higher in the HCh cohort than in the non-HCh cohort (10.67 versus 6.61 per 10,000 person-years). Using Cox proportional hazard regressions, the adjusted hazard ratio was 1.60 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.39–1.85). An increased risk of developing ISSNHL, with adjusted hazard ratios of 1.48 (95% CI = 1.08–2.04) and 1.69 (95% CI = 1.18–2.43), was observed in HCh patients with newly diagnosed comorbidities of stroke or stroke combined with coronary artery diseases, which are both expected to reflect the severity of HCh. Conclusions: A diagnosis of HCh may indicate an independent risk for ISSNHL. This finding suggests that an underlying vascular mechanism contributes to the development of ISSNHL. We suggest that physicians counsel patients with HCh to seek medical attention if they have hearing impairments, because they may also have an increased risk of developing ISSNHL.