Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do unsuccessful dieters intentionally underreport food intake?

OBJECTIVE A bogus pipeline paradigm was utilized to assess whether food intake underreporting by unsuccessful dieters is intentional. METHOD Twenty-eight subjects completed 1-week food diaries. Then, 17 subjects in the experimental condition kept 2-week food diaries while being told the researcher was verifying their report. Eleven subjects in the control group were asked merely to self-monitor for two more weeks. RESULTS Results indicate that subjects in the experimental group reported significantly greater intake than control subjects, when controlling for reported intake during the screening phase and weight change. DISCUSSION Thus, the belief that the researcher could verify their report improved the accuracy of patients' self-report. However, all subjects continued to underreport their dietary intake. In summary, underreporting may be an intentional attempt to manage presentation to others in a society that is increasingly critical of overweight persons.
Disinhibition in the human motor cortex is enhanced by synchronous upper limb movements

The phasic modulation of wrist flexor corticomotor disinhibition has previously been demonstrated during the flexion phase of rhythmical passive flexion‐extension of the human wrist. Here we ask if rhythmical bimanual flexion‐extension movements of the wrists of neurologically intact subjects, modulate inhibitory activity in the motor cortex. In the first experiment intracortical inhibition was assessed when one wrist was passively flexed and extended on its own, with the addition of the opposite limb voluntarily moving synchronously in a mirror symmetric pattern, and also in a near‐symmetric asynchronous pattern. Two subsequent experiments investigated firstly the modulation of spinal reflex pathway activity during the same three movement conditions, and secondly the effect of contralateral wrist movement alone on the excitability of corticomotoneuronal pathways to a static test limb. When the wrist flexors of both upper limbs were shortening simultaneously (i.e. synchronously), intracortical inhibition associated with flexor representations was suppressed to a greater extent than when the two muscles were shortening asynchronously. The results of the three experiments indicate that modulation of inhibitory activity was taking place at the cortical level. These findings may have further application in the study of rehabilitation procedures where the effects of simultaneous activation of affected and unaffected upper limbs in hemiparetic patients are to be investigated.
Schlaf und Depression

Die Komorbidität von Depression und Schlafstörungen ist hoch. Dabei kann die Klärung, welche Störung der anderen vorausgegangen ist, bzw. der Ausschluss einer organischen Ursache, für die weitere Behandlung von großer Wichtigkeit sein. Als besonders häufige körperliche Ursache für Schlafstörungen, die wiederum eine depressive Symptomatik bedingen können, kommt dem Periodic-Limb-Movement-, dem Restless-Legs- sowie dem obstruktiven Schlafapnoesyndrom eine besondere Bedeutung zu. Eine ausführliche Medikamenten- und Alkoholanamnese kann Hinweise auf eine substanzinduzierte Insomnie geben. Schlafanstoßende Antidepressiva können neben verhaltenstherapeutischen Maßnahmen einen positiven Effekt auf die affektive Störung wie auch die Insomnie haben.
Evidence that RpoS (σS) in Borrelia burgdorferi Is Controlled Directly by RpoN (σ54/σN)

ABSTRACT The alternative sigma factor (RpoN-RpoS) pathway controls the expression of key virulence factors in Borrelia burgdorferi. However, evidence to support whether RpoN controls rpoS directly or, perhaps, indirectly via a transactivator has been lacking. Herein we provide biochemical and genetic evidence that RpoN directly controls rpoS in B. burgdorferi.
Pharmacokinetic and Other Considerations for Drug Therapy During Targeted Temperature Management

Objective:To synthesize an emerging body of literature describing pharmacokinetic alterations and related pharmacodynamic implications affecting drugs commonly used in patients receiving targeted temperature management following cardiac arrest. Data Sources:Peer-reviewed articles indexed in PubMed. Study Selection:A systematic search of the PubMed database for relevant preclinical studies and clinical and observational trials of physiologic changes and drug pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic alterations, especially during targeted temperature management/therapeutic hypothermia, but also from cardiac surgery and acute stroke hypothermia models. Data Extraction:Detailed review of information contained in published scientific work. Data Synthesis:Physiologic changes during targeted temperature management significantly alter both the pharmacokinetic and the pharmacodynamic parameters of medications. Current literature describes these alterations and provides practical considerations for management of medications. Medication selection should center on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of agents in an attempt to ameliorate potential adverse effects. Conclusions:This review provides an overview of physiologic changes associated with targeted temperature management and practical considerations for the management of medications. Clinicians should understand and anticipate potential drug-therapy interactions of targeted temperature management and mitigate adverse outcomes by appropriate medication selection, dosing, and monitoring. We discuss complications of hypothermia including shivering, electrolyte abnormalities, hemodynamic changes, arrhythmias, and seizures. We review management of these complications as well as considerations for sedation, analgesia, anticoagulation, and prognostication. Approach to interpretation of the clinical significance of drug interactions during targeted temperature management therapy is also addressed.
Role of Orthopedic Implants and Bone Morphology in the Identification of Human Remains

ABSTRACT: When conventional methods of identification, such as visual recognition and dental comparison, cannot be used to identify a deceased person, it becomes necessary to consider alternative methods. The presence of an orthopedic implant in a body may assist identification if ante‐mortem medical records are available for comparison. Another method of identification involves comparison of ante‐mortem and postmortem radiographs. Eight cases are reported from Forensic Science SA where the presence of orthopedic implants and/or ante‐mortem radiographs were used to try to establish identification. In six cases, positive identification was established, and in two cases with upper limb orthopedic implants, the bones remained unidentified. Manufacturers were unable to provide any information about the distribution and use of the implants that could be of use with identification, as there are no requirements in Australia for individual medical implants to be tracked. Such a system has the potential to aid postmortem identification if serial codes were etched onto implants that could then be traced to manufacturers, surgeons, and recipients of these devices.
Prevalence of Enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens Isolates in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) Area Soils and Home Kitchens

ABSTRACT In the United States and Europe, food poisoning due to Clostridium perfringens type A is predominantly caused by C. perfringens isolates carrying a chromosomal enterotoxin gene (cpe). Neither the reservoir for these isolates nor the point in the food chain where these bacteria contaminate foods is currently understood. Therefore, the current study investigated whether type A isolates carrying a chromosomal cpe gene are present in two potential reservoirs, i.e., soil and home kitchen surfaces. No C. perfringens isolates were recovered from home kitchen surfaces, but most surveyed soil samples contained C. perfringens. The recovered soil isolates were predominantly type A, but some type C, D, and E soil isolates were also identified. All cpe-positive isolates recovered from soil were genotyped as type A, with their cpe genes on cpe plasmids rather than the chromosome. However, two cpe-positive soil isolates did not carry a classical cpe plasmid. Both of those atypical cpe-positive soil isolates were sporulation capable yet failed to produce C. perfringens enterotoxin, possibly because of differences in their upstream promoter regions. Collectively these results suggest that neither soil nor home kitchen surfaces represent major reservoirs for type A isolates with chromosomal cpe that cause food poisoning, although soil does appear to be a reservoir for cpe-positive isolates causing non-food-borne gastrointestinal diseases.
Dense 3D reconstruction from two spherical images via optical flow-based equirectangular epipolar rectification

In this research, a technique for dense 3D reconstruction from two spherical images clicked at displaced positions near a large structure is formulated. The technique is based on the use of global variational information i.e. the dense optical flow field in a unique rectification based refinement of the epipolar geometry between the two images in a vertically displaced orientation. A non-linear minimization is used to globally align the 2D equirectangular optical flow field (i.e. pixel displacements). The magnitude component of the resultant optical flow field can directly be converted to a dense 3D reconstruction. Thus, the epipolar geometry as well as the 3D structure can be estimated in a single minimization. This method could be useful in measurement and reconstruction of large structures such as bridges, etc. using a robot equipped with a spherical camera, thus helping in their inspection and maintenance.
Connecting Societal Change to Value Differences Across Generations

This study tests the hypothesis that societal change from subsistence agriculture to a market economy with higher levels of formal schooling leads to an increase in individualistic values that guide human development. Values relating to adolescent development and the transition to adulthood were compared across three generations of women in 18 families in the Maya community of Zinacantán in southern Mexico. Grandmothers grew up in Zinacantán when it was a farming community; mothers grew up during the introduction of commerce in the late 1970s and 1980s; daughters are now experiencing adolescence with an opportunity to attend high school in their community. Comparisons were also conducted between 40 female and male adolescents in high school and a matched sample of 40 adolescents who discontinued school after elementary. Values were measured using eight ethnographically derived social dilemmas about adolescent relationships with parents and peers, work and family gender roles, and sexuality and partnering. One character in the dilemmas advocates for interdependent values; a second character advocates for independent values. High school adolescents were more likely to endorse characters articulating independent values than non–high school adolescents, mothers, and grandmothers. Involvement in a market economy was also associated with higher levels of independent value endorsement in the mother and grandmother generations. Results suggest that the introduction of commerce drove value changes between grandmother and mother generations, and now schooling drives change. Qualitative examples of participants’ responses also illustrate how families negotiate shifting values.
Fulminant Hepatitis in Children: Evidence for an Unidentified Hepatitis Virus

The broadest definition of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is the failure of the vital functions of the liver occurring within weeks or a few months of the onset of clinical liver disease (1,2). This definition implies that some agent or combination of agents has caused the sudden death of or severe injury to a large proportion of hepatocytes, leaving less parenchymal function than is needed to sustain life. The currently accepted narrow definition of FHF includes the onset of hepatic encephalopathy (which defines failure of vital function) less than 8 weeks after the beginning of liver disease (i.e., onset of symptoms referable to liver disease) and the absence of pre-existing liver disease of any form (3). Some patients with acute hepatitis have encephalopathy develop more than 8 weeks into the course. Terms such as subacute hepatic failure, subacute hepatic necrosis, and late-onset hepatic failure have been used to describe cases in which encephalopathy develops from 8 to 24 weeks after the onset of liver disease (4,5). In our experience, fulminant and late-onset hepatic failure occur in the pediatric population most frequently in the context of seronegative (non-A–G) hepatitis.
Vascular associations and dynamic process motility in perivascular myeloid cells of the mouse choroid: implications for function and senescent change.

PURPOSE Immune and vascular alterations in the choroid are implicated in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). As choroidal immune cells are incompletely understood with regard to their physiology and interactions with choroidal vessels, we examined the associations between myeloid and vascular components of the choroid in young and aged mice. METHODS Albino CX3CR1(GFP/+) transgenic mice, whose choroidal myeloid cells possess green fluorescence, were perfused intraluminally with the vital dye DiI to label choroidal vessels. The distribution, morphology, behavior, and vascular associations of resident myeloid cells were examined using time-lapse live confocal imaging and immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS Dendritiform myeloid cells, comprising most of the resident immune cell population in the choroid, were widely distributed across the choroid and demonstrated close associations with choroidal vessels that varied with their position in the vascular tree. Notably, myeloid cells associated with choroidal arteries and arterioles appeared as elongated cells flanking the long axes of vessels, whereas those associated with the choriocapillaris were distributed as a layer of stellate cells on the scleral but not vitreal choriocapillaris surface. While stationary in position, dendritiform myeloid cells demonstrated the rapid process dynamism well suited to comprehensive immunosurveillance of the perivascular space. Myeloid cells also increased in density as a function of aging, correlating locally with greater choroidal vascular attenuation. CONCLUSIONS Resident myeloid cells demonstrated close but dynamic physical interactions with choroidal vessels, indicative of constitutive immune-vascular interactions in the normal choroid. These interactions may alter progressively with aging, providing a basis for understanding age-related choroidal dysfunction underlying AMD.
Iterative Channel Estimation in LTE Uplink

An algorithm for iterative channel estimation using soft feedback for LTE uplink is proposed. The algorithm has low complexity compared to MMSE estimation and does not require knowledge of the channel statistics. A simple polynomial model is used for noise suppression across OFDM symbols and a DCT-based filter is used for noise suppression across subcarriers. The algorithm has been tested on several channel models and has been shown to provide a gain of about 0:5 dB with two estimation stages, compared to the no-feedback case. Further, the algorithm has been applied to a MIMO case. A comparison has been made between the proposed algorithm and turbo equalization.
Malay computer aided speech therapy using audio-fingerprint and visualization

Stuttering affects about one percent of the world's population. Speech therapy for stutterers involves extended interaction between the patient and a skilled speech therapist. Computer aided speech and language therapy (CASLT) help provide therapy for more patients. CASLT has two main phases assignments of therapy to the stutterer and evaluation of progress. Current research has yet to address the progress evaluation phase. Therefore this research aims to develop an enhanced CASLT which can help user visualize his/her therapy progress. In this paper, we describe a computer aided Malay speech enhancer: a system that visualizes the speech therapy progress of stuttering Malay users. This system includes three main components. The Mel frequency cepstral coefficients, Vector quantization, and Hidden Markov model techniques are used to process the system’s audio signal. The student’s progress is visualized for him via extraction of his/her audio fingerprint.
Suppression of acute rejective response following orthotopic liver transplantation in experimental rats infected with Echinococcus multilocularis

Background Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a parasitic disease in humans and caused by the Echinococcus multilocularis (Em). Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) may be the only effective treatment for end‐stage hepatic AE. However, in some AE patients, extrahepatic Em can not be completely eliminated after OLT. We aimed to study whether the immunological changes caused by Em evasion may influence the rejective response. Methods Rat modles of AE were established by injecting the Em suspension into abdomen of Brown Norway (BN) rats. Three months later, in the experimental group, the liver was transplanted from Lewis (LEW) rats to Em‐infected BN rats. In the control group, transplantation was from LEW rats to healthy BN rats. Liver tissue and peripheral blood (PB) samples were collected on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after OLT. Liver tissue was analyzed after hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining; numbers of CD4, CD8, and CD28 on peripheral blood cells were detected by flow cytometry; and expression of the chemokine fractalkine (Fkn) was detected by reverse transcription PCR (RT‐PCR). Interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) was measured in the serum by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In every group, eight BN rats were retained for observing survival time. Results The survival times of recipients in the experimental group were prolonged compared with those in the control group. The rejective response occurred later and was milder in the experimental group. percentage of CD4, CD8, CD28 T‐cells and Fkn mRNA expression were lower in the experimental group. While the serum IL‐10 levels were higher in the experimental group than those in the control group. Conclusions Acute rejective response after OLT was attenuated in the rats with Em infection, and the recipients` survival time was prolonged. Em may play a role in this process by elevating IL‐10 secretion, decreasing the effector T cells, inhibiting the expression of Fkn, which lead to reduce the inflammatory cells infiltration into the liver.
Using the WHO-ICF with Talking Mats to Enable Adults with Long-term Communication Difficulties to Participate in Goal Setting

The World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (WHO-ICF) provides a framework that helps rehabilitation staff to take a holistic view of the patient. However, it is used predominantly by professionals rather than by active participation on behalf of the person with the disability. In addition, the language used within the framework can be difficult for patients to understand. In order to address these issues the Activities and Participation section of the ICF has been adapted by using graphic symbols. It has been used in conjunction with Talking Mats™1, a low-tech communication framework, to help adults with long-term conditions participate in goal setting. This paper describes how this was done and provides examples from clinical practice. The paper discusses how this combined framework can empower people with communication difficulties and long-term conditions to become active participants in the rehabilitation process by identifying their own goals, indicating changing priorities and tracking their progress.
Localization of RecA in Escherichia coli K‐12 using RecA–GFP

RecA is important in recombination, DNA repair and repair of replication forks. It functions through the production of a protein–DNA filament. To study the localization of RecA in live Escherichia coli cells, the RecA protein was fused to the green fluorescence protein (GFP). Strains with this gene have recombination/DNA repair activities three‐ to tenfold below wild type (or about 1000‐fold above that of a recA null mutant). RecA–GFP cells have a background of green fluorescence punctuated with up to five foci per cell. Two types of foci have been defined: 4,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole (DAPI)‐sensitive foci that are bound to DNA and DAPI‐insensitive foci that are DNA‐less aggregates/storage structures. In log phase cells, foci were not localized to any particular region. After UV irradiation, the number of foci increased and they localized to the cell centre. This suggested colocalization with the DNA replication factory. recA, recB and recF strains showed phenotypes and distributions of foci consistent with the predicted effects of these mutations.
2 Integer Linear Programs , Consecutive Ones Matrices , and Semi-Simultaneous Flows

Linear and integer programs are considered whose coefficient matrices can be partitioned into K consecutive ones matrices. Mimicking the special case of K = 1 which is well-known to be equivalent to a network flow problem we show that these programs can be transformed to a generalized network flow problem which we call semi-simultaneous (se-sim) network flow problem. Feasibility conditions for se-sim flows are established and methods for finding initial feasible se-sim flows are derived. Optimal se-sim flows are characterized by a generalization of the negative cycle theorem for the minimum cost flow problem. The issue of improving a given flow is addressed both from a theoretical and practical point of view. The paper concludes with a summary and some suggestions for possible future work in this area.
Paired spiking is an ubiquitous response property in network activity

In paired spiking (PS), a neuron generates two action potentials within a time window of 2-5 milliseconds fol-lowed by a refractory period of several hundred milliseconds. Regardless of the neuroscientific context, whether in cultured neural networks or in intact brain architectures, in spontaneous activity or in response to stimuli, PS has been found in any type of spike trains. Recent evidence shows that PS forms spatiotemporal patterns and participates in establishing functional and effective connectivity in networks of cultured neurons of different types [1]. Another prominent example is PS participation in neural communication at the retinogeniculate synapse in vivo [2]. However, little is known on the richness and robustness of its function and its coding mechanisms at both single cell and network level. Here, we show that PS activity forms robust activity patterns with most frequently occurring inter-paired spike intervals (mfoIPSIs) of 1 ms. Its shape within the recorded spike trains of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is furthermore preserved between local sites and at network level under different stimuli conditions. Furthermore, PS carry information on the stimulus that was applied to the receptive field of the recorded RGCs. However, the information density differs for different cell types. This suggests that PS may change its contribution to information transmission relative to the type of the recorded cell according to its morphological, physiological and structure-function classification.