Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
iRSpot-EL: identify recombination spots with an ensemble learning approach

Motivation: Coexisting in a DNA system, meiosis and recombination are two indispensible aspects for cell reproduction and growth. With the avalanche of genome sequences emerging in the post-genomic age, it is an urgent challenge to acquire the information of DNA recombination spots because it can timely provide very useful insights into the mechanism of meiotic recombination and the process of genome evolution. Results: To address such a challenge, we have developed a predictor, called iRSpot-EL, by fusing different modes of pseudo K-tuple nucleotide composition and mode of dinucleotide-based auto-cross covariance into an ensemble classifier of clustering approach. Five-fold cross tests on a widely used benchmark dataset have indicated that the new predictor remarkably outperforms its existing counterparts. Particularly, far beyond their reach, the new predictor can be easily used to conduct the genome-wide analysis and the results obtained are quite consistent with the experimental map. Availability and Implementation: For the convenience of most experimental scientists, a user-friendly web-server for iRSpot-EL has been established at http://bioinformatics.hitsz. edu.cn/iRSpot-EL/, by which users can easily obtain their desired results without the need to go through the complicated mathematical equations involved. Contact: bliu@gordonlifescience.org or bliu@insun.hit. edu.cn Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Analgesia for pelvic limb surgery. A review of peripheral nerve blocks and the extradural technique.

OBJECTIVES To describe the anatomy and approaches reported for peripheral nerve blockade (PNB) of the pelvic limb in dogs and cats and to consider the role of PNB in relation to the extradural technique. DATABASES USED This review was conducted using the terms 'nerve block', 'extradural' 'dog' and 'cat' entered into Pubmed and Google. Results were filtered manually to narrow the field to pelvic limb nerve blocks. The reference lists of retrieved papers were scrutinized to identify further studies for inclusion. CONCLUSIONS Successful PNB techniques require thorough anatomical knowledge for the establishment of reliable landmarks, puncture sites, the direction and depth of needle insertion, and relevant structures to be avoided. To date, clinical evaluations have been made in subjects undergoing stifle surgery where the sciatic nerve has been blocked in combination with various approaches to the femoral nerve. Currently the bulk of literature examines new approaches to these nerves and each of these is described. To date there are no veterinary studies directly comparing one approach versus another, and therefore one is unable to draw conclusions of superiority. The role of PNB's versus the extradural technique is discussed.
Is the General Self-Efficacy Scale a Reliable Measure to be used in Cross-Cultural Studies? Results from Brazil, Germany and Colombia

Abstract This study evaluated cross-cultural measurement invariance for the General Self-efficacy Scale (GSES) in a large Brazilian (N = 2.394) and representative German (N = 2.046) and Colombian (N = 1.500) samples. Initially, multiple-indicators multiple-causes (MIMIC) analyses showed that sex and age were biasing items responses on the total sample (2 and 10 items, respectively). After controlling for these two covariates, a multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) was employed. Configural invariance was attested. However, metric invariance was not supported for five items, in a total of 10, and scalar invariance was not supported for all items. We also evaluated the differences between the latent scores estimated by two models: MIMIC and MGCFA unconstraining the non-equivalent parameters across countries. The average difference was equal to |. 07| on the estimation of the latent scores, and 22.8% of the scores were biased in at least . 10 standardized points. Bias effects were above the mean for the German group, which the average difference was equal to |. 09|, and 33.7% of the scores were biased in at least . 10. In synthesis, the GSES did not provide evidence of measurement invariance to be employed in this cross-cultural study. More than that, our results showed that even when controlling for sex and age effects, the absence of control on items parameters in the MGCFA analyses across countries would implicate in bias of the latent scores estimation, with a higher effect for the German population.
Child feeding practices in Guatemala

Feeding practices for children under five years of age were identified in three villages in eastern Guatemala. Mothers’ beliefs and attitudes related to feeding children were studied. Sixty‐five children from impoverished socioeconomic circumstances were examined and 48% were found to be malnourished. Feeding practices differed between normal‐weight and malnourished children. Normal‐weight children received thicker food, 3–5 times a day, and mothers visualized feeding a specific amount. Malnourished children received thinner food, 2–3 times a day, and mothers did not visualize an amount needed. These factors varied with the mother's beliefs and attitudes rather than with household availability of foods. Breastfeeding, using thicker food during weaning, providing children with enough food and feeding them more often should be promoted in nutrition education programs in developing countries.
Omphalitis in ducklings with Staphylococcus aureus infection

Outbreak of Omphalitis was reported in the week old ducklings at a research duck farm of Regional centre. The clinical signs were swollen abdomen contains cheesy caseous content into yalk sac, oedema, redness, few cases of inflammation at abdomen, septicaemia, showed little interest in food and water resulting gradual severely dehydrated. The isolation of Staphylococcus aureus from Omphalitis of 20 ducklings. Of the 20 Omphalitis cases 13 were khakis and 7 were of white pekins. The isolation and identification of the isolates were accomplished by cultural, microscopic and biochemical characterization. The antibogram showed that the isolates were highly sensitive to Agithromycin, Ciprofloxacin, Cloxacillin, Enrofloxacin, Gentamicin and Floxidin. They were moderately sensitive to Chloramphenicol, Ofloxacin, Furazolidon and Doxicillin but were resistant to Neomycin, Kanamycin and Sulphamethizole, Cefixime/clavulinic acid.
Group B Streptococcal Disease in the Era of Intrapartum Antibiotic Prophylaxis

Clinical trials in the mid-1980s demonstrated that antibiotic prophylaxis to mothers colonized with Streptococcus agalactiae was highly effective in preventing early onset group B streptococcal (GBS) neonatal disease. Early onset disease was defined as occurring in neonates 0-7 days of age. The American Academy of Pediatrics issued consensus guideline recommendations on the prevention of GBS disease in 1992. A revision published in 1996 included both neonate risk-based and maternal GBS screening-based criteria to identify candidates for intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. The authors of the present study analyzed data from an active surveillance program for invasive GBS disease in selected areas of the United States in order to determine how the incidence of the disease changed with the implementation of prophylactic intervention from 1993 to 1998. The authors found that the incidence of early onset neonatal disease remained unchanged from 1990 to 1993 and declined from 1993 to 1998. A steep decline was found following the consensus guidelines released in 1996.
Fetal Behavior and Heart Rate in Twin Pregnancy: A Review

Fetal movements and fetal heart rate (FHR) are well-established markers of fetal well-being and maturation of the fetal central nervous system. The purpose of this paper is to review and discuss the available knowledge on fetal movements and heart rate patterns in twin pregnancies. There is some evidence for an association or similarity in fetal movement incidences or FHR patterns between both members of twin pairs. However, the temporal occurrence of these patterns seems to be for the most part asynchronous, especially when stricter criteria are used to define synchrony. The available data suggest that fetal behavior is largely independent of sex combination, fetal position, and presentation. Conversely, chorionicity appears to have some influence on fetal behavior, mainly before 30 weeks of gestation. There is preliminary evidence for the continuity of inter-individual differences in fetal activity and FHR patterns over pregnancy. Comparisons between studies are limited by large methodological differences and absence of uniform concepts and definitions. Future studies with high methodological quality are needed to provide a more comprehensive knowledge of normal fetal behavior in twin pregnancy.
Ultrasonographic Assessment of Tendon Thickness, Doppler Activity and Bony Spurs of the Elbow in Patients with Lateral Epicondylitis and Healthy Subjects: A Reliability and Agreement Study

Abstract Purpose: Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis (LE), is a common disorder often assessed by ultrasound. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ultrasonographic outcomes and methods used in LE research and clinical practice. Materials and Methods: This study was designed as an intra- and interobserver reliability and agreement study. Ultrasonographic examination of the common extensor tendon of the elbow was performed. The intraobserver study examined tendon thickness twice in 20 right elbows from 20 healthy individuals at an interval of 7 to 12 days. The interobserver study examined tendon thickness, color Doppler activity, and bony spurs in 18 right elbows in 9 healthy individuals and 9 patients with LE. Two trained rheumatologists performed the interobserver examinations with the same scanner on the same day. The main outcomes were intra- and interclass correlation (ICC) and agreement. Results: In the intraobserver study, the ICC with regard to tendon thickness ranged from 0.76 to 0.81, depending on the measurement techniques used. The agreement ranged from 0.06 to 0.13 mm. In the interobserver study, the tendon thickness ICC ranged from 0.45 to 0.65 and the agreement ranged from –0.17 to 0.13 mm. The ICC for color Doppler activity was 0.93, with agreement in 14/18 (78 %) of the cases. A perfect reliability was demonstrated for bony spurs, with an ICC of 1 and exact agreement in 18/18 (100 %) of the cases. Conclusion: Good to excellent reliability was obtained for all measurements. The ultrasonographic techniques evaluated in this trial can be recommended for use in both research and clinical practice.
Hydrogen-bonded three-dimensional network of a lanthanum(III) exocyclic complex with 5,10,15,20-tetra-4-pyridylporphyrin.

In the complex diaquatetranitrato[5-(pyridinium-4-yl)-10,15,20-tri-4-pyridylporphyrin]lanthanum(III) 1,2-dichlorobenzene trisolvate, [La(NO3)4(C40H27N8)(H2O)2]. 3C6H4Cl2, the lanthanum ion is coordinated to one of the peripheral pyridyl substituents of the porphyrin entity. Units of the complex are interlinked to one another in three dimensions by a network of O-H.N, O-H.O and N-H.O hydrogen bonds between the water ligands, nitrate ions, and pyridyl and pyridinium groups of adjacent species. This is the first structural report of an exocyclic complex of the tetrapyridylporphyrin ligand with any lanthanide ion and its self-assembly into a three-dimensional architecture sustained by hydrogen bonds.
Why Accurate Knowledge of Zygosity is Important to Twins

All same-sex dizygotic (DZ) twins and approximately one-third of monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs have separate placentas, making it impossible to use the number of placentas to determine zygosity. Zygosity determination is further complicated because incorrect assumptions are often made, such as that only DZ pairs have two placentas and that all MZ pairs are phenotypically identical. These assumptions, by twins, their families and health professionals, along with the lack of universal zygosity testing for same-sex twins, has led to confusion within the twin community, yet little research has been conducted with twins about their understanding and assumptions about zygosity. We aimed to explore and quantify understanding and assumptions about zygosity using twins attending an Australian twin festival. We recruited 91 twin pairs younger than 18 years of age and their parents, and 30 adult twin pairs who were all uncertain of their zygosity, to complete one pen and paper questionnaire and one online questionnaire about their assumed zygosity, reasons for their assumptions and the importance of accurate zygosity knowledge. Responses were compared with their true zygosity measured using a genetic test. We found a substantial proportion of parents and twins had been misinformed by their own parents or medical professionals, and that knowledge of their true zygosity status provided peace of mind and positive emotional responses. For these reasons we propose universal zygosity testing of same-sex twins as early in life as possible and an increase in education of medical professionals, twins and families of twins about zygosity issues.
Pathology of Sleep, Hormones and Depression

Abstract In patients with depression, characteristic changes of sleep electroencephalogram and nocturnal hormone secretion occur including rapid eye movement (REM) sleep disinhibition, reduced non-REM sleep and impaired sleep continuity. Neuropeptides are common regulators of the sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) and nocturnal hormone secretion and changes in their activity appear to contribute to the aberrances of sleep in affective disorders. A reciprocal interaction of the sleep-promoting growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), which promotes wakefulness and REM sleep, plays a key role in sleep regulation, at least in male subjects. Also galanin and ghrelin promote sleep in men. Neuropeptide Y is involved in the timing of sleep onset. The effects of peptides of sleep are influenced by the time of administration, age, gender and depression. In healthy subjects and in remitted depressed patients motoric memory learning is consolidated during sleep. This effect is absent in depressed patients who are at least 30 years old, and is probably related to elevated glucocorticoid levels.
From Detached Concern to Empathy: Humanizing Medical Practice

Jodi Halpern Oxford University Press, £29.50, pp 165 ISBN 0 19 511119 2 Rating: ! [Graphic][1] ! [Graphic][2] ! [Graphic][3] ! [][4] Like all good inventions, Jodi Halpern's new and “controversial” model of empathy appears to be the result of common sense imaginatively applied. Empathy should, she asserts, result from a willingness on the part of the doctor to take cues from his own emotional responses to a patient's suffering. It requires more than the “detached concern” that she believes, a little harshly I think, is the norm. Nor is an insufficiently intellectual “sympathetic immersion” in a patient's woes enough. … [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [2]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif [3]: /embed/inline-graphic-3.gif [4]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Testing Genetic and Environmental Associations Between Personality Disorders and Cocaine Use: A Population-Based Twin Study

Until now, data have not been available to elucidate the genetic and environmental sources of comorbidity between all 10 DSM-IV personality disorders (PDs) and cocaine use. Our aim was to determine which PD traits are linked phenotypically and genetically to cocaine use. Cross-sectional data were obtained in a face-to-face interview between 1999 and 2004. Subjects were 1,419 twins (µage = 28.2 years, range = 19–36) from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health Twin Panel, with complete lifetime cocaine use and criteria for all 10 DSM-IV PDs. Stepwise multiple and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regressions were used to identify PDs related to cocaine use. Twin models were fitted to estimate genetic and environmental associations between the PD traits and cocaine use. In the multiple regression, antisocial (OR = 4.24, 95% CI [2.66, 6.86]) and borderline (OR = 2.19, 95% CI [1.35, 3.57]) PD traits were significant predictors of cocaine use. In the LASSO regression, antisocial, borderline, and histrionic were significant predictors of cocaine use. Antisocial and borderline PD traits each explained 72% and 25% of the total genetic risks in cocaine use, respectively. Genetic risks in histrionic PD were not significantly related to cocaine use. Importantly, after removing criteria referencing substance use, antisocial PD explained 65% of the total genetic variance in cocaine use, whereas borderline explained only 4%. Among PD traits, antisocial is the strongest correlate of cocaine use, for which the association is driven largely by common genetic risks.
Frecuencia de microsporidiosis intestinal en pacientes positivos para VIH mediante las técnicas de Gram cromotropo rápido y PCR

Los microsporidios son protozoos intracelulares obligados, implicados en procesos de diarreapersistente en pacientes con sida, aunque no son exclusivos de este grupo de pacientes. Laprevalencia de microsporidios en diferentes paises varia entre 8% y 52%. En nuestro medio nose conoce su frecuencia, por lo que este trabajo se propuso determinar la frecuencia demicrosporidiosis intestinal en pacientes positivos para VIH, mediante la prueba del Gramcromotropo rapido (quick hot Gram) y la PCR; para esto se realizo un estudio prospectivo,descriptivo, con una poblacion intencional de todos los pacientes positivos para VIH remitidosal Laboratorio del Grupo Interdisciplinario para el Estudio de las Parasitosis Intestinales porlas diferentes instituciones de atencion de pacientes positivos para VIH de Medellin en elperiodo comprendido entre agosto de 2001 y septiembre de 2002. Se hizo una encuestaclinico-epidemiologica y se practicaron analisis coprologicos seriados que incluian examendirecto, por concentracion y tinciones especiales para coccidias y microsporidios intestinales;ademas, se solicito recuento de linfocitos TCD4+ y carga viral.Se estudiaron 103 pacientes en edades comprendidas entre 2 y 74 anos; el 70% (72/103)presentaba diarrea al ingreso al estudio; la mayoria (83,5%) fueron hombres. La frecuenciaglobal de microsporidiosis intestinal fue de 3,9% (4/103); se encontraron tres pacientes positivospara Enterocytozoon bieneusi y uno con Encephalitozoon intestinalis; otras parasitosisintestinales representaron el 39,8%. La frecuencia de microsporidiosis en este estudio fuerelativamente baja; ademas, como era de esperarse, la mayoria de los casos de microsporidiosestuvieron asociados con diarrea prolongada y recuentos de LTCD4+ menores de 100 cel/µl ycargas virales superiores a 100.000 copias (3/4).
Comparative Results of Standard Open and Mini Open, KnifeLight Instrument-Assisted Carpal Tunnel Release

Abstract Purpose The purpose of our study was to compare the results of standard open and mini open (approximately 1.5-cm incision), KnifeLight instrument (Stryker Instruments, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA) assisted carpal tunnel release (CTR) concerning symptomatic, functional, and electrophysiological aspects, as well as complications during early and late postoperative follow-up. Patients and Method Seventy-five patients who did not improve with nonsurgical methods and were planned to undergo surgery were separated into two groups. Patients in the first group (n = 37) underwent surgery with standard open CTR (Group A); patients in the second group (n = 38) underwent surgery with mini open KnifeLight instrument assisted CTR (Group B). Preoperative and 6-month postoperative electrophysiological values and functional utilization of the operated hand of both groups were compared. Nerve conduction studies were used for electrophysiological evaluation, visual analog scale (VAS) was used for pain evaluation, symptom severity scale (SSS) was used for symptomatic evaluation, and functional status scale (FSS) was used to evaluate hand functions that are the part of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire. All evaluations were done preoperatively and repeated at postoperative month 6. Also, to determine early effects of surgical procedures, SSS and FSS scales were repeated at postoperative week 2 and month 3. Groups were also compared for complications and need for reoperation. Results No significant difference was detected between the two groups at postoperative month 6 on VAS and electrophysiological values. Postoperative week 2 FSS and SSS scores of Group B were significantly lower than Group A. Although scores were lower in Group B at month 3, there was no statistically significant difference. Six months after surgery, no significant difference was detected between the two groups in mean SSS and FSS scores. Postoperative complications and reoperation rates were lower in Group B but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion After 6 months the results of both techniques for CTR are comparable. Mini open KnifeLight instrument assisted CTR is easy to perform and is superior to standard open CTR in the early post-operative period.
Conversion of Local Anesthesia–Guided Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subthalamic Nucleus to General Anesthesia

Abstract Background Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is a widely applied procedure in the treatment of patients with advanced Parkinson disease and is generally performed under local anesthesia. Here we report our experience with the conversion to general anesthesia in two patients with advanced Parkinson disease because of fear reactions intraoperatively. Case Description Patients received general anesthesia with propofol and were implanted with electrodes at the level of STN guided by multiple-microelectrode electrophysiological recordings after obtaining informed consent. During the recordings the propofol levels were reduced. Postoperative clinical assessments showed marked improvements of motor disability with significant reductions of dopaminergic medication. Conclusion Our case observations document the possibility of fear reactions intraoperatively and show the possibility of conversion to general anesthesia with a successful outcome.
The Commemorative Issue "Unraveling Animal Welfare" on the Tenth Anniversary of the Annual Review of Biomedical Sciences

Editor-in-Chief, ARBS - Research Center on Animal Welfare, Department of Physiology, Instituteof Bioscience, UNESP, BRAZILAnimal welfare has been a topic of discussion for a long time and the debate has intensified inthe last 50 years, particularly since the beginning of the twenty-first century. Interaction with non-human species is a universal human experience and, therefore, scientists and non-scientists alike areentitled to participate in the discussion on the animal welfare issue. This debate is influenced byphilosophic as well as scientific and/or religious backgrounds and beliefs, so controversy is to beexpected. This Theme Topic was conceived in the interest of contributing to the dialogue on animalwelfare by providing state-of-the-art information and current opinion on this important issue. Theauthors constitute a distinguished panel of international scientists, and they have focused their effortson behalf of the