Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Haemolytic-uremic syndrome due to infection with adenovirus

Rationale: Haemolytic-uremic syndrome is a rare but serious complication of bacterial and viral infections, which is characterized by the triad of: acute renal failure, microangiopathic haemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, sometimes severe, requiring peritoneal dialysis. In Europe, hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) in paediatric pathology is primarily caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157, followed by O26. Beside these etiologies, there are other bacterial and viral infections, and also noninfectious ones that have been associated to lead to HUS as well: in the progression of neoplasia, medication-related, post-transplantation, during pregnancy or associated with the antiphospholipid syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus or family causes with autosomal dominant or recessive inheritance. In terms of pathogenesis, HUS is the result of endothelial injury, most commonly being a result of the action of Shiga toxin. The unfavorable prognosis factors being represented by the age of more than 5 years old, different etiologies from STEC, persistent oligoanuria, central nervous system and glomerular impairment, the association of fever with leukocytosis. HUS is responsible for 7% of cases of hypertension in infants, and an important cause of significant kidney damage in adults. Patient concerns: We present one case of HUS caused by adenovirus in a boy of 1 year and 7 months old with severe evolution, which required peritoneal dialysis. Diagnose: Stool sample repeated examination for adenovirus antigen was positive in 2 samples. Intervention: During hospitalization, the patient required 8 peritoneal dialysis sessions. Outcome: The renal function was corrected on discharge, the patient required cardiovascular monitoring 1 month after discharge. Lesson: Although the most common cause that leads to HUS remains STEC, other etiologies like viral ones that may be responsible for severe enteric infection with progression into HUS should not be neglected.
Animal Detection Precedes Access to Scene Category

The processes underlying object recognition are fundamental for the understanding of visual perception. Humans can recognize many objects rapidly even in complex scenes, a task that still presents major challenges for computer vision systems. A common experimental demonstration of this ability is the rapid animal detection protocol, where human participants earliest responses to report the presence/absence of animals in natural scenes are observed at 250–270 ms latencies. One of the hypotheses to account for such speed is that people would not actually recognize an animal per se, but rather base their decision on global scene statistics. These global statistics (also referred to as spatial envelope or gist) have been shown to be computationally easy to process and could thus be used as a proxy for coarse object recognition. Here, using a saccadic choice task, which allows us to investigate a previously inaccessible temporal window of visual processing, we showed that animal – but not vehicle – detection clearly precedes scene categorization. This asynchrony is in addition validated by a late contextual modulation of animal detection, starting simultaneously with the availability of scene category. Interestingly, the advantage for animal over scene categorization is in opposition to the results of simulations using standard computational models. Taken together, these results challenge the idea that rapid animal detection might be based on early access of global scene statistics, and rather suggests a process based on the extraction of specific local complex features that might be hardwired in the visual system.
Global Longitudinal Strain in master athletes and in hypertensive patients with the same degree of septal thickness

Athletes may have electrocardiogram (ECG) repolarization abnormalities during stress test suggestive for ischemia in the absence of ischemic coronary artery disease, often in a setting of myocardial septum hypertrophy. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) might be altered in these athletes compared to hypertensive patients with the same degree of septal thickness. About 735 consecutive athletes were screened for mandatory assessment of fitness to participate in competitive sports. At the stress test, 23 (19 M, 4 F) were found to have ECG repolarization abnormalities suggestive for ischemia in the presence of normal coronary vessels. They were matched to a control group of 23 hypertensive patients with no ECG abnormalities during stress test and the same degree of septal thickness. A transthoracic echocardiography for evaluation of global longitudinal strain (GLS) was performed. Interventricular septum thickness (IST) and relative wall thickness (RWT) were also calculated. A preserved ventricular function was seen in both groups (64 ± 8% in cases vs 60 ± 6% in controls, P = 0.42). IST and RWT were not significantly different. GLS was significantly lower in athletes vs hypertensive patients (−18.7 ± 2.5 vs −21.67 ± 0.27, P = 0.001). In athletes with septal hypertrophy and a positive stress test not associated to coronary disease, GLS is lower with respect to a population of hypertensive patient with the same degree of septal hypertrophy. Further investigations in a larger population are required to better define the potentiality of GLS in differentiating pathological vs physiological septum hypertrophy.
Biosynthesized gold and silver nanoparticles by aqueous fruit extract of Chaenomeles sinensis and screening of their biomedical activities

Abstract The design of mild and non-toxic synthesis of metallic nanoparticles is a topical subject in the nanotechnology field. The objective of this present study is to screen the bioactivity of biosynthesized nanoparticles by aqueous fruit extract of Chaenomeles sinensis. The reducing and stabilizing ability of C. sinensis to fabricate gold (Cs-AuNps) and silver (Cs-AgNps) nanoparticles was confirmed by UV–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy at 562 nm and 477 nm, respectively. The field-emission transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) verify the nano-scale morphology and crystallinity of Cs-AuNps (20–40 nm) and Cs-AgNps (5–20 nm). Furthermore, we evaluated the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging capacity, antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells. The results showed that Cs-AuNps (IC50: 725.93 μg/mL) displayed superior inhibitory activities on DPPH than Cs-AuNps. The biosynthesized Cs-AuNps successfully inhibited the growth of pathogenic bacteria S. aureus (ATCC 6538) and E. coli (BL21). The cytotoxic effect of Cs-AuNps and Cs-AgNps was evaluated in murine macrophage (RAW264.7) and human breast cancer cell lines (MCF7) by MTT assay. Thus, the present study explores the biomedical applications of gold and silver nanoparticles synthesized by C. sinensis.
Emerging treatment options for uterine fibroids

ABSTRACT Introduction: Uterine fibroids (also known as leiomyomas or myomas) are the most common form of benign uterine tumors. Current management strategies involve mainly surgical interventions, but the choice of treatment is guided by patient age and desire to preserve fertility or avoid ‘radical’ surgery such as hysterectomy. Areas covered: There is growing evidence of the crucial role of progesterone pathways in the pathophysiology of uterine fibroids, leading to increasing use of selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRMs) such as ulipristal acetate. We searched all published studies on medical management of fibroids with SPRMs. Expert opinion: The need for alternatives to surgical intervention is very real, especially for women seeking to preserve their fertility. These options now exist, with SPRMs proven to treat fibroid symptoms effectively. Gynecologists now have new tools in their armamentarium, opening up novel strategies for the management of uterine fibroids.
Does Schwann cell dedifferentiation originate dermal neurofibromas?

Dermal neurofibromas are characteristic of neurofibromatosis type one (NF1), and their developmental origin still unsolved. Although NF1 loss is required for neurofibroma initiation, some features of these benign tumors resemble a skin injury state and cutaneous trauma or other insults might support tumor development. Since adult terminal Schwann cells ensheathing nerve endings are able to dedifferentiate into a progenitor‐like state in response to nerve crushing, we hypothesized that dedifferentiation of NF1−/− Schwann cells could be at the origin of human dermal neurofibromas. In support of this, here we show that CDH19 (a marker specific of Schwann cell precursors) and Schwann cell dedifferentiation marker SOX2 are significantly upregulated in NF1 tumors. We posit that onset of nerve regeneration might have a role in dermal neurofibroma initiation via dedifferentiation of NF1−/− Schwann cells.
Estimating Glomerular Filtration Rate in Kidney Transplant Recipients: Comparing a Novel Equation With Commonly Used Equations in this Population

Background Assessment of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is important in kidney transplantation. The aim was to develop a kidney transplant specific equation for estimating GFR and evaluate against published equations commonly used for GFR estimation in these patients. Methods Adult kidney recipients (n = 594) were included, and blood samples were collected 10 weeks posttransplant. GFR was measured by 51Cr-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid clearance. Patients were randomized into a reference group (n = 297) to generate a new equation and a test group (n = 297) for comparing it with 7 alternative equations. Results Two thirds of the test group were males. The median (2.5-97.5 percentile) age was 52 (23-75) years, cystatin C, 1.63 (1.00-3.04) mg/L; creatinine, 117 (63-220) &mgr;mol/L; and measured GFR, 51 (29-78) mL/min per 1.73 m2. We also performed external evaluation in 133 recipients without the use of trimethoprim, using iohexol clearance for measured GFR. The Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation was the most accurate of the creatinine-equations. The new equation, estimated GFR (eGFR) = 991.15 × (1.120sex/([age0.097] × [cystatin C0.306] × [creatinine0.527]); where sex is denoted: 0, female; 1, male, demonstrating a better accuracy with a low bias as well as good precision compared with reference equations. Trimethoprim did not influence the performance of the new equation. Conclusions The new equation demonstrated superior accuracy, precision, and low bias. The Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation was the most accurate of the creatinine-based equations.
Cannabidiol as an Intervention for Addictive Behaviors: A Systematic Review of the Evidence

Drug addiction is a chronically relapsing disorder characterized by the compulsive desire to use drugs and a loss of control over consumption. Cannabidiol (CBD), the second most abundant component of cannabis, is thought to modulate various neuronal circuits involved in drug addiction. The goal of this systematic review is to summarize the available preclinical and clinical data on the impact of CBD on addictive behaviors. MEDLINE and PubMed were searched for English and French language articles published before 2015. In all, 14 studies were found, 9 of which were conducted on animals and the remaining 5 on humans. A limited number of preclinical studies suggest that CBD may have therapeutic properties on opioid, cocaine, and psychostimulant addiction, and some preliminary data suggest that it may be beneficial in cannabis and tobacco addiction in humans. Further studies are clearly necessary to fully evaluate the potential of CBD as an intervention for addictive disorders.
Review of Blockchain Technology and its Expectations: Case of the Energy Sector

This article suggests that the worldwide relevance of blockchain technology is motivated by the changes that it is expected to cause in: (i) the way that business is organised and (ii) regulated, as well as (iii) by the way that it changes the role of individuals within a society. The article presents an overview of the features of blockchain technology. It then takes a closer look into the developments within the energy sector across the world to gain a preliminary indication of whether the stated expectations are coming to reality. As a result of this review, we remain cautiously optimistic that blockchain technology could deliver the expected impact.
Top-down modulation of sensory cortex gates perceptual learning

Significance With training, stimulus detection or discrimination abilities can improve dramatically. This process, called perceptual learning, supports language acquisition, musical expertise, and professional judgments, such as the identification of abnormalities in X-rays. To explore neural mechanisms that support perceptual learning, we measured and manipulated auditory cortex activity as animals trained on an auditory task. We found improvements in neural sensitivity that correlated tightly with perceptual learning, both in absolute magnitude and time course, and depended strongly on task engagement. Disrupting auditory cortical function impaired learning while leaving perception largely intact. Our findings indicate that improvements in cortical sensitivity could plausibly explain perceptual learning, and suggest that plasticity within top-down networks may be a general mechanism for perceptual improvement. Practice sharpens our perceptual judgments, a process known as perceptual learning. Although several brain regions and neural mechanisms have been proposed to support perceptual learning, formal tests of causality are lacking. Furthermore, the temporal relationship between neural and behavioral plasticity remains uncertain. To address these issues, we recorded the activity of auditory cortical neurons as gerbils trained on a sound detection task. Training led to improvements in cortical and behavioral sensitivity that were closely matched in terms of magnitude and time course. Surprisingly, the degree of neural improvement was behaviorally gated. During task performance, cortical improvements were large and predicted behavioral outcomes. In contrast, during nontask listening sessions, cortical improvements were weak and uncorrelated with perceptual performance. Targeted reduction of auditory cortical activity during training diminished perceptual learning while leaving psychometric performance largely unaffected. Collectively, our findings suggest that training facilitates perceptual learning by strengthening both bottom-up sensory encoding and top-down modulation of auditory cortex.
Efficient generalized labeled multi-bernoulli filter for jump Markov system

This paper proposes efficient implementations for a Generalized Labeled Multi-Bernoulli filter for a Jump Markov System. The proposed filter operates via combining both prediction and update steps into a single step, therefore requiring merely a single truncation procedure. The efficiency of the filter is evaluated using simulation examples with comparison to the existing filter with separate prediction and update steps.
Assessing subjective response to haptic feedback in automotive touchscreens

The increasing use of touchscreen interfaces in vehicles poses challenges to designers in terms of optimizing safety, usability and affective response. It is thought that the application of haptic feedback to the touchscreen interface will help to improve the user experience in all of these areas. This paper describes the initial outcomes of a study to investigate user responses to haptic touchscreens using a simulated driving scenario based on the Lane Change Test, along with representative use case tasks. Results indicate preference for multi-modal feedback and user acceptance of the haptic feedback technology. Effects relating to multi-modal interaction and attentional demand are also observed.
Effects of intranasal insulin on endogenous glucose production in insulin‐resistant men

The effects of intranasal insulin on the regulation of endogenous glucose production (EGP) in individuals with insulin resistance were assessed in a single‐blind, crossover study. Overweight or obese insulin‐resistant men (n = 7; body mass index 35.4 ± 4.4 kg/m2, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance 5.6 ± 1.6) received intranasal spray of either 40 IU insulin lispro or placebo in 2 randomized visits. Acute systemic spillover of intranasal insulin into the circulation was matched with a 30‐minute intravenous infusion of insulin lispro in the nasal placebo arm. EGP was assessed under conditions of a pancreatic clamp with a primed, constant infusion of glucose tracer. Under these experimental conditions, compared with placebo, intranasal administration of insulin did not significantly affect plasma glucose concentrations, EGP or glucose disposal in overweight/obese, insulin‐resistant men, in contrast to our previous study, in which an equivalent dose of intranasal insulin significantly suppressed EGP in lean, insulin‐sensitive men. Insulin resistance is probably associated with impairment in centrally mediated insulin suppression of EGP.
Trehalose May Decrease the Transmission of Zika Virus to the Fetus by Activating Degradative Autophagy

A widespread epidemic of Zika virus (a mosquito-borne flavivirus) infection was reported from 2015 in South and Central America. A major concern associated with the infection is the significantly increased incidence of microcephaly in fetuses born to the mothers infected with Zika virus (Mlakar et al., 2016). Researchers studying monkeys have shown that one infection with Zika virus protects the animal against future infections. Neutralizing antibodies are detected at 21 days post-infection. Re-challenge at 10 weeks after the initial inoculation resulted in no detectable viral replication, indicating successfully protective immunity against the virus (Dudley et al., 2016). They also found that non-pregnant animals could clear the virus within 10 days post-infection, however the virus persisted in the blood of pregnant monkeys for 35–70 days (Dudley et al., 2016). One possible explanation for the persistence of the virus in pregnancy is that the immune system of the mother was compromised, and she simply was not able to clear the virus as fast as the non-pregnant one. However, the pregnant animal (woman) still has a certain level of immunity. Both type I interferons and type III interferons are apparently induced by Zika virus infections, and the interferons have an ability to restrict Zika virus replication in human trophoblast cells (Bayer et al., 2016; Quicke et al., 2016). The other explanation, more provocative hypothesis is that the persistence of the virus is indicative of the fetal infection, and what they observed in the maternal serum was the shedding of virus by the fetus back into the mother’s blood (Driggers et al., 2016). We cannot conclusively claim that the persistence of the virus does not reflect the fetal infection or there is no persistence found in non-pregnant animals (people), as it is possible that Zika virus may persist in immune-privilege cells (Hazlett and Hendricks, 2010). However, an analysis of the clinical data implies that the virus may take ∼5 weeks to reach the fetus for most cases (Noronha et al., 2016; Soares de Souza et al., 2016; Yuan et al., 2017a). Therefore, the virus detected in the pregnant monkey within 35 days of infection is unlikely the backflow from the fetus back into the mother’s bloodstream.
High-fidelity sensor modeling and self-calibration in vision-aided inertial navigation

In this paper, we propose a high-precision pose estimation algorithm for systems equipped with low-cost inertial sensors and rolling-shutter cameras. The key characteristic of the proposed method is that it performs online self-calibration of the camera and the IMU, using detailed models for both sensors and for their relative configuration. Specifically, the estimated parameters include the camera intrinsics (focal length, principal point, and lens distortion), the readout time of the rolling-shutter sensor, the IMU's biases, scale factors, axis misalignment, and g-sensitivity, the spatial configuration between the camera and IMU, as well as the time offset between the timestamps of the camera and IMU. An additional contribution of this work is a novel method for processing the measurements of the rolling-shutter camera, which employs an approximate representation of the estimation errors, instead of the state itself. We demonstrate, in both simulation tests and real-world experiments, that the proposed approach is able to accurately calibrate all the considered parameters in real time, and leads to significantly improved estimation precision compared to existing approaches.
Sex hormone‐binding globulin is associated with androgen deficiency features independently of total testosterone

It is recognized that total testosterone (TT) does not sufficiently describe androgen status when sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG) is altered. However, in humans, evidence supporting the existence of a hypogonadism due to low T bioactivity is scanty. The aim of the study was to assess whether changes in SHBG levels, independently of TT, are associated with subjective and objective androgen‐dependent parameters.
Procedural Generation of Angry Birds Levels using Building Constructive Grammar with Chinese-Style and/or Japanese-Style Models

This paper presents a procedural generation method that creates visually attractive levels for the Angry Birds game. Besides being an immensely popular mobile game, Angry Birds has recently become a test bed for various artificial intelligence technologies. We propose a new approach for procedurally generating Angry Birds levels using Chinese style and Japanese style building structures. A conducted experiment confirms the effectiveness of our approach with statistical significance.
Minutiae points Extraction from Iris for Biometric Cryptosystem

Iris recognition is a proven, accurate means to identify people.An efficient method for personal identification based on the pattern of human iris is proposed in this paper. Crypto-biometrics is an emerging architecture where cryptography and biometrics are merged to achieve high level security systems. Iris recognition is a method for biometric authentication that uses pattern-recognition techniques based on high-resolution images of the irides of an individual. Here we discuss about ‘recognizing the iris and comparing the pattern of the iris for reliable authentication. KeywordsBiometrics, Cryptography, pattern recognition, Canny edge detection, Hough transform, Hamming Distance