Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Colonic motility after surgery for Hirschsprung's disease

OBJECTIVE:Years after surgery for Hirschsprung's disease, many children continue to suffer from fecal incontinence or constipation. The purpose of the present investigation was to define the physiology underlying the persistent symptoms in children after surgery for Hirschsprung's disease, and to determine the outcome of interventions based on the results of the motility testing.METHODS:We studied 46 symptomatic patients (5.5 ± 3.3 yr old, 35 male) >10 months after surgery for Hirschsprung's disease. We performed a colonic manometry with a catheter placed with the tip in the proximal colon. We used a structured questionnaire and phone interview to follow up the patients an average of 34 months after the manometry.RESULTS:We identified four motility patterns: 1) high-amplitude propagating contractions (HAPCs) migrating through the neorectum to the anal sphincter, associated with fecal soiling (n = 18); 2) normal colonic manometry associated with fear of defecation and retentive posturing (n = 9); 3) absence of HAPCs or persistent simultaneous contractions over two or more recording sites (n = 15), associated with constipation (n = 13); and 4) normal colonic motility and a hypertensive internal anal sphincter (>80 mm Hg) (n = 4). We based treatment on results of the motility studies. There was improvement in global health (mean score, 3.9 ± 1.1 vs 2.8 ± 1.3 at the time of initial evaluation, p < 0.001) and emotional health (3.8 ± 1.1 vs 2.6 ± 1.1, p < 0.0001). Improvement in the number of bowel movements occurred in 72% of children. Resolution or decreased abdominal pain was reported in 80%. CONCLUSIONS:Colonic manometry clarifies the pathophysiology and directs treatment in symptomatic children after surgery for Hirschsprung's disease.
Facile synthesis of monodisperse, size-tunable SnS nanoparticles potentially for solar cell energy conversion

A simple strategy to synthesize monodisperse, single-crystalline and size-tunable SnS nanoparticles was reported. An active sulfur precursor bis(trimethylsilyl)sulfide was applied to enable fast nucleation of tin species in oleylamine. As-synthesized nanoparticles were easily dispersed in a non-polar organic solvent and formed a uniform solution which showed complete absorption of visible light. The smooth, dense-packed and crack-free SnS film was achieved by spin-coating that showed an enhanced photoresponse via methanol treatment. Owing to their noble merits, as-synthesized SnS nanoparticles could be a potential nanomaterial for solar cell application.
Neurotransmission by neurons that use serotonin, noradrenaline, glutamate, glycine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid in the normal and injured spinal cord.

OBJECTIVE The science of neurotransmission in the normal and injured spinal cord has grown. This is a review of neurotransmission using serotonin, noradrenaline, glutamate, glycine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid. METHODS The literature on spinal cord neurotransmission and changes that occur with trauma are reviewed. CONCLUSION Serotonergic and noradrenergic bulbospinal tracts influence interneurons and motor neurons via postsynaptic inhibition. Colocalization of serotonin and thyrotropin-releasing hormone occur in bulbospinal tracts, and reduction in uptake and thyrotropin-releasing hormone immunoreactivity quantitates the degree of injury in chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). Glutamate functions as an excitatory transmitter of some dorsal root afferent neurons and interneurons modulating nociceptive and motor neurons via at least five different receptors. Reactive synaptogenesis occurs after SCI, leading to an increase in the number of excitatory glutamatergic synapses below the level of SCI. gamma-Aminobutyric acid is an inhibitory transmitter of spinal interneurons that functions both pre- and postsynaptically. After SCI, a reduction occurs in the number of inhibitory synapses related to gamma-aminobutyric acid. Glycine is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that functions postsynaptically and also modulates the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor. After SCI, a reduction in glycine adds to the loss of local inhibition below the SCI.
PSF: Introduction to R Package for Pattern Sequence Based Forecasting Algorithm

This paper discusses about an R package that implements the Pattern Sequence based Forecasting (PSF) algorithm, which was developed for univariate time series forecasting. This algorithm has been successfully applied to many different fields. The PSF algorithm consists of two major parts: clustering and prediction. The clustering part includes selection of the optimum number of clusters. It labels time series data with reference to such clusters. The prediction part includes functions like optimum window size selection for specific patterns and prediction of future values with reference to past pattern sequences. The PSF package consists of various functions to implement the PSF algorithm. It also contains a function which automates all other functions to obtain optimized prediction results. The aim of this package is to promote the PSF algorithm and to ease its implementation with minimum efforts. This paper describes all the functions in the PSF package with their syntax. It also provides a simple example of usage. Finally, the usefulness of this package is discussed by comparing it to auto.arima and ets, well-known time series forecasting functions available on CRAN repository.
Conduction velocity is related to morphological cell type in rat dorsal root ganglion neurones.

Combining intracellular recording and dye‐injection techniques permitted direct correlation of neuronal soma size with peripheral nerve conduction velocity in individual neurones of the L4 dorsal root ganglion (d.r.g.) of the anaesthetized 5‐8‐week‐old rat. The conduction velocities fell into two main groups; those greater than 14 m/s (A alpha and beta fibres) and those less than 8 m/s (A delta and C fibres). Fibres with conduction velocities in the A delta range (2.2‐8 m/s) in the sciatic nerve between the sciatic notch and the neuronal soma in the d.r. g. often conducted more slowly, that is in the C‐fibre range (less than 1.4 m/s), in the periphery from the tibial nerve to the sciatic notch. For the fast‐conducting myelinated afferents, there was a loose positive correlation between cell size and the conduction velocity of the peripheral axon, whereas a clearer positive correlation existed between neuronal cell size and axonal conduction velocity both for A delta‐ and for C‐fibre afferents. The relationship of the cell cross‐sectional area (measured at the nucleolar level), to the cell volume for each neuronal soma was similar for the different conduction velocity groups. The somata of the fast‐conducting myelinated A alpha and A beta fibres had a similar mean and range of cross‐sectional areas to those of the large light cell population. The somata with A delta and C fibres were of a more uniform size and were restricted to the smaller cells within the ganglia. The mean and range of cross‐sectional areas of the C cells was similar to those of the small dark cell population. A delta somata had a larger mean and range of cell sizes than those of the small dark cell population. The relationships of peripheral axon type to the morphological cell types are discussed.
Effect of aerosolized recombinant human DNase on exacerbations of respiratory symptoms and on pulmonary function in patients with cystic fibrosis. The Pulmozyme Study Group.

BACKGROUND Respiratory disease in patients with cystic fibrosis is characterized by airway obstruction caused by the accumulation of thick, purulent secretions, which results in recurrent, symptomatic exacerbations. The viscoelasticity of the secretions can be reduced in vitro by recombinant human deoxyribonuclease I (rhDNase), a bioengineered copy of the human enzyme. METHODS We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to determine the effects of once-daily and twice-daily administration of rhDNase on exacerbations of respiratory symptoms requiring parenteral antibiotics and on pulmonary function. A total of 968 adults and children with cystic fibrosis were treated for 24 weeks as outpatients. RESULTS One or more exacerbations occurred in 27 percent of the patients given placebo, 22 percent of those treated with rhDNase once daily, and 19 percent of those treated with rhDNase twice daily. As compared with placebo, the administration of rhDNase once daily and twice daily reduced the age-adjusted risk of respiratory exacerbations by 28 percent (P = 0.04) and 37 percent (P < 0.01), respectively. The administration of rhDNase once daily and twice daily improved forced expiratory volume in one second during the study by a mean (+/- SD) of 5.8 +/- 0.7 and 5.6 +/- 0.7 percent, respectively. None of the patients had anaphylaxis. Voice alteration and laryngitis were more frequent in the rhDNase-treated patients than in those receiving placebo but were rarely severe and resolved within 21 days of onset. CONCLUSIONS In patients with cystic fibrosis, the administration of rhDNase reduced but did not eliminate exacerbations of respiratory symptoms, resulted in slight improvement in pulmonary function, and was well tolerated.
Knowledge Creation

Knowledge management (KM) is a newly emerging approach aimed at addressing today’s business challenges to increase efficiency and efficacy of core business processes, while simultaneously incorporating continuous innovation. The need for knowledge management is based on a paradigm shift in the business environment where knowledge is now considered to be central to organizational performance and integral to the attainment of a sustainable competitive advantage (Davenport & Grover, 2001; Drucker, 1993). Knowledge creation is not only a key first step in most knowledge management initiatives, but also has far reaching implications on consequent steps in the KM process, thus making knowledge creation an important focus area within knowledge management. Currently, different theories exist for explaining knowledge creation. These tend to approach the area of knowledge creation from either a people perspective—including Nonaka’s Knowledge Spiral, as well as Spender’s and Blackler’s respective frameworks—or from a technology perspective—namely, the KDD process and data mining. The following discusses each of these major theories on knowledge creation and suggests the benefits of taking a holistic approach to knowledge creation—namely, incorporating both the people and technology perspectives in all knowledge creation endeavors, and thereby facilitating the realization of a broader knowledge base, better knowledge inputs to impact on the consequent KM steps, and hence an increased likelihood in more successful knowledge management initiatives.
Betahistine Exacerbates Amikacin Ototoxicity

Objective: Betahistine augments cochlear blood flow and is currently used as an efficient therapeutic agent. Amikacin is used in a wide range of areas, but its ototoxic effect continues to be problematic. This study investigates the effect of betahistine on amikacin-induced ototoxicity. Methods: Thirty-two healthy rats were randomized to 4 groups of 8 rats in each group (amikacin, amikacin + betahistine, betahistine, and no treatment). Amikacin was administered intramuscularly to groups 1 and 2 for 14 days. Betahistine was delivered by oral gavage to groups 2 and 3 for 21 days. Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) tests were conducted on all rats. Results: There were significant decreases in the DPOAE levels and significant increases in the ABR thresholds of the amikacin and amikacin + betahistine groups on the 7th, 14th, and 21st days, as compared to their basal values. The DPOAE levels of the amikacin + betahistine group significantly decreased on days 7, 14, and 21, and the ABR thresholds significantly increased on the same days, as compared to the amikacin group. Conclusion: Our study implies that amikacin’s ototoxic effects are augmented by the concurrent use of betahistine. Experimental and clinical research, supported by histopathological studies, is needed to affirm our findings.
Enhancing TRAIL-induced apoptosis by Bcl-XL siRNA

We previously found that a change in the balance between mitochondrial pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins caused by ectopic expression of the Bax gene led to increased induction of apoptosis by tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). To investigate whether a similar effect can be elicited by down-regulating Bcl-XL, an anti-apoptotic protein, we tested the effects of a small interfering RNA (siRNA) specific for Bcl-XL in TRAIL-resistant cells. The down-regulation of Bcl-XL by siRNA inhibited cell proliferation and sensitized TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human cancer cells with both acquired and intrinsic TRAIL resistance. Combining the Bcl-XL siRNA with TRAIL protein treatment resulted in an increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells and increased cleavage of caspase-8, caspase-9, caspase-3, and PARP. Furthermore, the release of cytochrome c but not Smac from mitochondria was induced by Bcl-XL siRNA alone, and this release was dramatically amplified by combining the Bcl-XL siRNA and TRAIL protein treatment. Together, our data suggest that simultaneous triggering of the death receptor and mitochondrial apoptotic pathways leads to enhanced induction of apoptosis, which makes it potentially useful for the treatment of resistant cancers.
Glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase qingzhen: Identification of a novel splice mutation (IVS5‐1 G>A)

To the Editor: Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a common X-linked inherited enzymopathy disorder worldwide. To date, over 180 mutations of G6PD gene have been identified in the world, most of these mutations are missense mutations, herein we identified a novel splice mutation (IVS5-1 G>A) of G6PD, named as ‘‘G6PD Qingzhen,’’ the mutation was found in a Chinese child who had severe phenotypes of acute hemolysis with G6PD deficiency. The patient was a 2.5-year-old male in the Yi ethnic group in the Qingzhen city, Guizhou province, China. The patient presented with acute jaundice, anemia, wine urine, emesis, low-grade fever, occasional headache, and bellyache after eating broad beans at 2.5 years of age. Laboratory findings included: G6PD/6PGD activity ratio 0.66:1 (1.0–1.67:1), WBC 13.2 G/L (3.9–10.7 G/L), neutrophil 9.34 G/L (2.0–6.9 G/L), lymphocyte 3.5 G/L (0.9–5.2 G/L), RBC 1.38 T/L (4.1–5.7 T/L), HGB 44 g/L (119–163 g/L), PLT 324 G/L (136–400 G/L), C-reactive protein 17 mg/dl (0–8 mg/dl), alanine transaminase 15 U/L (10–40 U/L), aspartate aminotransferase 107 U/L (10–42 U/L), blood urea nitrogen 9.45 mmol/L (2.5–7.1 mmol/L), total bilirubin 139.03 mmol/L (3.4–21 mmol/L), direct bilirubin 7.35 mmol/L (0–6 mmol/L), indirect bilirubin 131.68 mmol/L (3–17 mmol/L), creatine kinase 131 U/L (26–140 U/L), MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase 24.12 U/L (0–25 U/L), lactate dehydrogenase 1, 052 U/L (109–245 U/L), hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase 956.58 U/L (100–223 U/L). Urine analysis RBC 32/ml (0–8/ml), granular cast 2/HP (0/HP). He had only one event of the severe acute intravascular hemolytic anemia triggered by eating broad beans; this required a blood transfusion. G6PD DNA sequencing was performed as previously described [1]. Mutation analysis of G6PD revealed that the patient had a novel subtle splice-site mutation (IVS5-1 G>A), named as ‘‘G6PD Qingzhen. ’’ The mutation was not found in 50 normal control chromosomes. (Figs. 1–3). This mutation has not been previously reported. The splice-site mutation changed the strict splice-acceptor sequence at the 30 end of intron 5 from AG to AA. We were unable to obtain mRNA from the patient to confirm the alternative splicing or lack of the transcript. However, the mutation occurred at a highly conserved splice-acceptor sequence, AG, it is possible that this would cause aberrant splicing. There are only two splice mutations in the G6PD gene previously reported [2,3], which are G6PD Varnsdorf that the invariant 30-AG dinucleotide deleted and G6PD Zurich that altered IVS10( 2) from the consensus A to G in the same obligate 30 splice site of intron 10, the two mutations all resulted in an in-frame deletion of three amino acids leading to enzyme deficiency. We speculate that the novel IVS5-1 G>A mutation by
Pseudo‐allelic relationship between non‐homologous genes concerned with biosynthesis of polyglycerol phosphate and polyglycerol phosphate teichoic acids in Bacillus subtilis strains 168 and W23

A 60 kbp region of the Bacillus subtilis chromosome encompassing the genes concerned with teichoic acid biosynthesis has been subjected to physical analysis. No homo logy was detected by Southern hybridization between DNA segments encoding the tag genes of strain 168, concerned with polyglycerol phosphate (poly(groP)) biosynthesis, and the tar genes of strain W23, concerned with polyribitol phosphate (poly‐(rboP)) biosynthesis. Analysis of 168/W23 interstrain hybrids that incorporate poly(rboP) instead of poly‐(groP) into their cell walls revealed that, in every case, Integral substitution of the W23 tar genes for the 168 tag genes had occurred. Interstrain hybrids of the‘W23‐like’type have inherited larger segments of W23 DNA than interstrain hybrids of the‘mixed’type. The tag and tar genes are located at equivalent positions on the chromosomes of strains 168 and W23, behaving, in genetic crosses, like an allelic pair. They provide the first example of a pseudo‐allelic relationship between non‐homologous genes in B. subtilis.
Improving outcomes in patients with carotid stenosis: call for better research opportunities and standards.

See related article, p 91. Knowing how to best prevent stroke in patients with carotid artery stenosis is of major public health importance because carotid stenosis is common in older people and causes ≈10% of all strokes.1 For decades it has been thought that patients with carotid plaques showing a predominance of echolucent tissue by ultrasound imaging have higher stroke risk and are more likely to benefit from carotid procedures.2 The accompanying meta-analysis by Gupta et al3 is important because it demonstrates that predominantly echolucent asymptomatic carotid plaques carry ≈2.5× the risk of ipsilateral stroke over the next 2 years or so compared with predominantly echogenic plaques. The meta-analysis also shows that predominantly echolucent plaques are common, making up 23% of stenosing or nonstenosing plaques and 31% of plaques causing ≥50% stenosis. Understanding the clinical significance of these novel results, particularly with respect to the potential value of carotid procedures, requires knowledge of absolute stroke risks. Patients with 50% to 99% asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS) have been the focus because carotid endarterectomy (CEA) was shown to provide a small, overall stroke prevention advantage in patients randomized 20 to 30 years ago to CEA and medical treatment (encouragement of healthy lifestyle habits and appropriate medication) versus medical treatment alone.4,5 However, the most recent quality measurements of the average annual rate of ipsilateral stroke in patients with 50% to 99% ACS given medical treatment alone approximate 0.5% to 1.0%. 6 Using a 2.5× higher relative risk of ipsilateral stroke for predominantly echolucent plaques gives an expected average annual rate of ipsilateral stroke of ≈1.5% to 2.5%. This is too low to expect an overall stroke …
Resolution of Referential Ambiguity Using Dempster-Shafer Theoretic Pragmatics

A major challenge for robots interacting with humans in realistic environments is handling robots’ uncertainty with respect to the identities and properties of the people, places, and things found in their environments: a problem compounded when humans refer to these entities using underspeciﬁed language. In this paper, we present a framework for generating clariﬁcation requests in the face of both pragmatic and referential ambiguity, and show how we are able to handle several stages of this framework by integrating a Dempster-Shafer (DS)-theoretic pragmatic reasoning component with a probabilistic reference resolution component.
Relative torque contribution of vastus medialis muscle at different knee angles

Aim: We investigated the relative contribution of the vastus medialis (VM) muscle to total isometric knee extension torque at 10°, 30°, 60° and 90° knee flexion. In the past a more prominent role of the VM muscle at more extended knee angles has been put forward. However, different components of the quadriceps muscle converge via a common distal tendon. We therefore hypothesized that the relative contribution of the VM to total knee extension torque would be similar across angles.
Energy efficiency optimization for cell-free massive MIMO

This paper considers a time-division duplex cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output downlink with imperfect channel station information and conjugate beamforming scheme. The total energy efficiency is investigated taking into account the hardware power consumption and the backhaul power consumption. We propose an optimal power allocation algorithm which aims to maximize the total energy efficiency, under a per-access point power constraint and a per-user spectral efficiency constraint. This optimization problem can be approximately solved via a sequence of second-order cone programs. Compared with the case of without power control, our proposed power allocation scheme can double the total energy efficiency. Furthermore, we show that, when the number of access points is large, the backhaul power consumption affects significantly the total energy efficiency.
Bumble Bee Abundance in New York City Community Gardens: Implications for Urban Agriculture

A variety of crops are grown in New York City community gardens. Although the production of many crops benefits from pollination by bees, little is known about bee abundance in urban community gardens or which crops are specifically dependent on bee pollination. In 2005, we compiled a list of crop plants grown within 19 community gardens in New York City and classified these plants according to their dependence on bee pollination. In addition, using mark-recapture methods, we estimated the abundance of a potentially important pollinator within New York City urban gardens, the common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens). This species is currently recognized as a valuable commercial pollinator of greenhouse crops. However, wild populations of B. impatiens are abundant throughout its range, including in New York City community gardens, where it is the most abundant native bee species present and where it has been observed visiting a variety of crop flowers. We conservatively counted 25 species of crop plants in 19 surveyed gardens. The literature suggests that 92% of these crops are dependent, to some degree, on bee pollination in order to set fruit or seed. Bombus impatiens workers were observed visiting flowers of 78% of these pollination-dependent crops. Estimates of the number of B. impatiens workers visiting individual gardens during the study period ranged from 3 to 15 bees per 100 m of total garden area and 6 to 29 bees per 100 m of garden floral area. Of 229 B. impatiens workers marked, all recaptured individuals (45%) were found in gardens where they were initially marked. These results indicate an abundance of B. impatiens workers within New York City community gardens and suggest that, at least for certain time periods, many individual workers forage within single gardens. Both findings suggest that B. impatiens may be an especially important pollinator of several common crops grown within community gardens and other urban green spaces that are used for agricultural production. Studies of other pollinating insect species in urban habitats as well as the relationship between pollen movement and seed or fruit set will complement the findings of this study.