Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Obstructive sleep apnea in young infants with Down Syndrome evaluated in a Down Syndrome specialty clinic

Children with Down syndrome (DS) experience congenital and functional medical issues that predispose them to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Research utilizing stringent age criteria among samples of infants with DS and OSA is limited. This study examines clinical correlates of OSA among infants with DS. A retrospective chart review was conducted of infants ≤6 months of age referred to a DS clinic at a tertiary children's hospital over five‐years (n = 177). Chi‐square tests and binary logistic regression models were utilized to analyze the data. Fifty‐nine infants underwent polysomnography, based on clinical concerns. Of these, 95% (56/59) had studies consistent with OSA. Among infants with OSA, 71% were identified as having severe OSA (40/56). The minimum overall prevalence of OSA among the larger group of infants was 31% (56/177). Significant relationships were found between OSA and dysphagia, congenital heart disease (CHD), prematurity, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and other functional and anatomic gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. Results indicate that odds of OSA in this group are higher among infants with GI conditions in comparison to those without. Co‐occurring dysphagia and CHD predicted the occurrence of OSA in 36% of cases with an overall predictive accuracy rate of 71%. Obstructive sleep apnea is relatively common in young infants with DS and often severe. Medical factors including GI conditions, dysphagia and CHD may help to identify infants who are at greater risk and may warrant evaluation. Further studies are needed to assess the impact of OSA in infants with DS. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Functional genomics in hypertension

Purpose of reviewEssential hypertension is a complex polygenetic disease with a major impact on health worldwide. Despite earlier detection of promising candidate genes, only recent advances in genotyping technology and new approaches to examining gene and protein function have provided the tools to unravel the genetic basis of hypertension. Recent findingsIn humans, genome-wide scans resulted in the identification of several chromosomal loci that are linked to hypertension. These regions still contain a large number of potential candidate genes, but high-throughput genotyping methods will facilitate the detection and analysis of single-nucleotide polymorphisms within these genes. The focus will be on animal models of hypertension, specifically rats. Congenic strains facilitate the identification of genetic determinants of hypertension, and new technologies such as RNA interference (which silences the expression of target genes) and transgenic rescue models will help us to analyse the relationship between genes and function. Analysis of conserved synteny (preserved order of genes) between species allows translation of findings from rodent models to essential hypertension in humans. Recent discoveries and approaches beyond genomics will also be discussed, including the regulatory role of microRNA and the concept of proteomics. SummaryThe genetic basis of hypertension is complex, and the examination of the functional consequences of genetic variants in particular is still challenging. A number of tools are now available with which to examine gene–function relationships, and these will provide an improved understanding of cardiovascular genomics. This will eventually lead to targeted prevention and treatment strategies in patients with hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.
Wireless connection timeout fault diagnosis of Chinese train control system using adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system

Train-Ground wireless connection timeout is one of the common faults in Chinese Train Control System Level-3, and it will trigger a full-service brake application on high speed train. The paper presents a fault diagnosis method base on adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system. First, a partition of universe and granularity for input and output are given. Moreover, a model is built and then trained by the diagnosis data in the knowledge base. The results of numerical simulation and experiments indicate that the model can provide high diagnosis precision of different fault types.
Adhesion of Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrheic weaned rabbits to intestinal villi and HeLa cells

Thirty-eight strains, representative of 575 Escherichia coli isolates from weaned diarrheic rabbits, were tested for their ability to adhere in vitro to rabbit intestinal villi and to HeLa 229 cells. The O103 rhamnose-negative, highly pathogenic strains, which are epidemiologically predominant in France, attached to intestinal villi prepared from 8-day-old as well as 6-week-old rabbits and gave a diffuse adhesion pattern with HeLa cells. These adhesion properties were associated with the presence of a protein with a molecular weight of 32,000 in surface extracts of the strains. The expression of the adhesion was dependent on culture medium and temperature, and the adhesion was D-mannose resistant. Antisera raised against the 32,000-molecular-weight protein inhibited adhesion. This adhesion was not expressed in two nonpathogenic O103 strains, indicating its implication in virulence. However, the same adhesin was expressed by two O128 non- or moderately pathogenic strains. Therefore, adhesion to enterocytes is not the only factor involved in the pathogenicity of O103 strains.
Assessing misdiagnosis of relapse in patients with gastric cancer in Iran cancer institute based on a hidden Markov multi-state model.

BACKGROUND Accurate assessment of disease progression requires proper understanding of natural disease process which is often hidden and unobservable. For this purpose, disease status should be clearly detected. But in most diseases it is not possible to detect such status. This study, therefore, aims to present a model which both investigates the unobservable disease process and considers the error probability in diagnosis of disease states. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data from 330 patients with gastric cancer undergoing surgery at the Iran Cancer Institute from 1995 to 1999 were analyzed. Moreover, to estimate and assess the effect of demographic, diagnostic and clinical factors as well as medical and post-surgical variables on transition rates and the probability of misdiagnosis of relapse, a hidden Markov multi-state model was employed. RESULTS Classification errors of patients in alive state without a relapse (e21) and with a relapse (e12) were 0.22 (95% CI: 0.04-0.63) and 0.02 (95% CI: 0.00-0.09), respectively. Only variables of age and number of renewed treatments affected misdiagnosis of relapse. In addition, patient age and distant metastasis were among factors affecting the occurrence of relapse (state1→state2) while the number of renewed treatments and the type and extent of surgery had a significant effect on death hazard without relapse (state2→state3) and death hazard with relapse (state2→state3). CONCLUSIONS A hidden Markov multi-state model provides the possibility of estimating classification error between different states of disease. Moreover, based on this model, factors affecting the probability of this error can be identified and researchers can be helped with understanding the mechanisms of classification error.
ORMDL3 Transgenic Mice Have Increased Airway Remodeling and Airway Responsiveness Characteristic of Asthma

Orosomucoid-like (ORMDL)3 has been strongly linked with asthma in genetic association studies. Because allergen challenge induces lung ORMDL3 expression in wild-type mice, we have generated human ORMDL3 zona pellucida 3 Cre (hORMDL3zp3-Cre) mice that overexpress human ORMDL3 universally to investigate the role of ORMDL3 in regulating airway inflammation and remodeling. These hORMDL3zp3-Cre mice have significantly increased levels of airway remodeling, including increased airway smooth muscle, subepithelial fibrosis, and mucus. hORMDL3zp3-Cre mice had spontaneously increased airway responsiveness to methacholine compared to wild-type mice. This increased airway remodeling was associated with selective activation of the unfolded protein response pathway transcription factor ATF6 (but not Ire1 or PERK). The ATF6 target gene SERCA2b, implicated in airway remodeling in asthma, was strongly induced in the lungs of hORMDL3zp3-Cre mice. Additionally, increased levels of expression of genes associated with airway remodeling (TGF-β1, ADAM8) were detected in airway epithelium of these mice. Increased levels of airway remodeling preceded increased levels of airway inflammation in hORMDL3zp3-Cre mice. hORMDL3zp3-Cre mice had increased levels of IgE, with no change in levels of IgG, IgM, and IgA. These studies provide evidence that ORMDL3 plays an important role in vivo in airway remodeling potentially through ATF6 target genes such as SERCA2b and/or through ATF6-independent genes (TGF-β1, ADAM8).
Joint Transceiver, Data Streams, and User Ordering Optimization for Nonlinear Multiuser MIMO Systems

We consider nonlinear signal processing algorithms for downlink multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems with multiple-antenna users. The design goal is to improve bit error rate (BER) performance by jointly optimizing the transceiver, data streams, and user ordering, under given total transmit power. We consider a general global objective function, whose elements are Schur-convex functions of the mean square error (MSE) of each user. With nonlinear Tomlinson-Harashima precoding combined with block successive zero-forcing precoding at the transmitter, we show that the optimal nonlinear transceiver leads to favorable diagonal and parallel structures for all users with the general global performance metric. The number of data streams of each user is allowed to be an arbitrary number no more than the rank of the effective channel. We then provide closed-form expressions of the transceiver matrices and optimal power allocation of each user, and analytically characterize the optimal number of data streams of each user for the minimax and average BER metrics. The user ordering is also optimized to further improve the system performance. We also analytically investigate the impact of channel spatial correlation on the performance of our scheme and illustrate why our proposed adaptive strategy can mitigate the performance degradation caused by channel spatial correlation. The superiority of our proposed framework is demonstrated through numerical results.
KorSA from the Streptomyces Integrative Element pSAM2 Is a Central Transcriptional Repressor: Target Genes and Binding Sites

ABSTRACT pSAM2, a 10.9-kb mobile integrative genetic element fromStreptomyces ambofaciens, possesses, as do a majority ofStreptomyces conjugative plasmids, a kil-korsystem associated with its transfer. The kor function of pSAM2 was attributed to the korSA gene, but its direct role remained unclear. The present study was focused on the determination of the KorSA targets. It was shown that KorSA acts as a transcriptional repressor by binding to a conserved 17-nucleotide sequence found upstream of only two genes: its own gene, korSA, andpra, a gene positively controlling pSAM2 replication, integration, and excision. A unique feature of KorSA, compared to Kor proteins from other Streptomyces conjugative plasmids, is that it does not directly regulate pSAM2 transfer. KorSA does not bind to the pSAM2 genes coding for transfer and intramycelial spreading. Through the repression of pra, KorSA is able to negatively regulate pSAM2 functions activated by Pra and, consequently, to maintain pSAM2 integrated in the chromosome.
Topology variations and design improvements of a single-stage flyback PV microinverter

This paper proposes two novel topological variants of a single-stage flyback PV microinverter, already reported in literature, which is capable of achieving power decoupling without using electrolytic capacitors. Practical design problems related to the original topology are discussed and the advantages of device stress and improved waveform quality offered by the modified forms are highlighted, considering a specific example. Finally some experimental results on a 100 W prototype are presented.
Did prehistoric landscape management retard the post-glacial spread of woodland in Southwest Asia?

Pre-Bronze Age human impacts on the East Mediterranean environment have been hard to detect in pollen diagrams and other off-site contexts. New evidence shows that despite a relatively rapid post-glacial wetting-up of the climate, the re-advance of oak woodland across Southwest Asia was slow. Among the factors likely to have contributed to the apparent disjunction between climate and vegetation is Neolithic landscape management, particularly through regular use of late-season ground fires to encourage grasses at the expense of trees and shrubs.
Domain mapping of tube, a protein essential for dorsoventral patterning of the Drosophila embryo.

The tube protein plays an essential role in the signal transduction pathway that establishes dorsoventral polarity in the Drosophila melanogaster embryo. Characterization of each of four tube mutants revealed a substitution or insertion in the amino‐terminal half of the protein. This portion of the tube protein is also evolutionarily conserved, as demonstrated by isolation and sequencing of the Drosophila virilis tube gene. Moreover, RNA microinjection assays and germline transformation experiments demonstrated that the amino‐terminal domain alone provides substantial levels of gene function: constructs encoding only the amino‐terminal domain restore dorsoventral polarity to embryos lacking any maternal tube function. In the carboxyterminal domain, sequence conservation is concentrated in the five octapeptide repeats. Although the repeat‐containing domain by itself provides no rescue of the tube maternal effect phenotype, it is necessary for wild‐type levels of tube activity. This domain is thus likely to play an ancillary role in axis formation.
Prediction of board-level reliability of chip-scale packages under consecutive drops

Transient structural responses of a board-level chip-scale package subjected to consecutive drops are investigated in this paper using a numerical methodology based on the support excitation scheme and incorporated with the implicit time integration scheme. Evolutions of stresses, plastic strains, and plastic strain energies in the solder joints under repetitive drop impacts are examined and correlated with actual experimental observations. Effects of isotropic hardening and kinematic hardening presumed for the solder alloy are examined and compared
A Mutation in Transmembrane Domain II of the 5-Hydroxytryptamine3A Receptor Stabilizes Channel Opening and Alters Alcohol Modulatory Actions

Mutant 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)3A receptors, in which changes were made at Ile294, position 16′, of the second transmembrane domain, were assessed for alterations in macroscopic response kinetics and modulation by alcohols. Function of heterologously expressed receptors was measured in Xenopus oocytes in the two-electrode voltage clamp configuration and in human embryonic kidney 293 cells using whole cell patch-clamp electrophysiological recordings with rapid drug application. Compared with the wild-type receptor, a decrease in the 5-HT EC50 value in the Ile294Thr mutant was observed, whereas an increase in the 5-HT EC50 value in the Ile294Leu mutant was measured. Ile294Thr receptors showed a marked reduction in the extent of desensitization. Ethanol and 2,2,2-trichloroethanol (TCEt) enhanced 5-HT-mediated currents in wild-type and Ile294Leu receptors, but inhibited or had little stimulatory effect in the Ile294Thr mutant. Kinetic analysis revealed that in the presence of TCEt, the slope of activation was unchanged in the Ile294Thr mutant and increased in the wild-type receptor. Alcohol cutoff was altered with wild-type = heptanol and Ile294Leu = hexanol. Kinetic changes in the Ile294Thr mutant that favor the open channel state, as well as reduction in the rate of channel activation in the presence of TCEt, likely underlie this mutant's altered response to n-chain alcohols.
Intrinsic muscle strength and voluntary activation of both lower limbs and functional performance after stroke

The objective of this study was to assess the nature of muscle weakness in both legs after stroke compared with able‐bodied control individuals and to examine whether there is a relationship between the degree of muscle weakness and coactivation of knee extensors and flexors as well as voluntary activation capacity of knee extensors of both paretic and non‐paretic legs and indices of functional performance. Maximal voluntary isometric torques of knee extensors (MVCe) and flexors (MVCf) were determined in 14 patients (bilaterally) and 12 able‐bodied controls. Simultaneous measurements were made of torque and surface EMG from agonist and antagonist muscles. Coactivation was calculated. Supramaximal triplets were evoked with electrical stimulation to estimate maximal torque capacity and degree of voluntary activation of knee extensors. MVCs, activation and coactivation parameters were correlated to scores of seven functional performance tests. MVCe, MVCf and voluntary activation were lower in paretic lower limb (PL) compared with both non‐paretic lower limb (NL) and control. Besides, all these parameters of NL were also lower than control. Electrically evoked torque capacity of knee extensors of PL was about 60% of both NL and control, which were not significantly different from each other. Strong significant correlations between strength, as well as voluntary activation, and functional performance were found. Coactivation did not correlate well with functional performance. Thus, whereas for NL activation failure can explain weakness, for PL both activation failure and reduced intrinsic torque capacity are responsible for the severe weakness. Activation capacity and muscle strength correlated strongly to functional performance, while coactivation did not.
An Examination of the Impact of Stimuli Type and GSS Structure on Creativity: Brainstorming Versus Non-Brainstorming Techniques in a GSS Environment

Of the techniques available for idea generation with group support systems (GSS), little research attention has been given to techniques that challenge problem assumptions or that use unrelated stimuli to promote creativity. When implementing such techniques with GSS, choices must be made regarding how to configure the GSS to deploy the initial creative stimuli and to present the pool of emerging ideas that act as additional stimuli. This paper reports the results of an experiment that compares Electronic Brainstorming (few unnamed rotating dialogues) with Assumption Reversals (many related stimuli, many named dialogues, free movement among dialogues) and Analogies (many unrelated stimuli, many named dialogues, free movement among dialogues). Analogies produced creative, but fewer, ideas, due to the use of unrelated stimuli. Assumption Reversals produced the most, but less creative, ideas, possibly due to fragmentation of the group memory and cognitive inertia caused by lack of forced movement among dialogues.
RE: Percutaneous Retroperitoneal Access

Dear Sir, We read the article titled ‘Modified Retroperitoneal Access for Percutaneous Intervention after Pancreaticoduodenectomy’ by Uei Pua et al. (1) published in Korean J Radiol (2013;14:446-450) with a great interest. Therein, authors reported two cases which needed retroperitoneal access. They approached the retroperitoneal space by using anterior pararenal trajectory. This technique is useful for pancreaticoduodenectomy patients whose anterior approach is challenged by surrounding vital organs
Devenir neuro-développemental des enfants porteurs d’une agénésie isolée du corps calleux de découverte anténatale

L’agenesie du corps calleux (ACC) est une malformation neurologique frequente decouverte en antenatal. Le devenir des enfants porteurs d’une ACC est essentiellement correle a l’association ou non d’anomalies intra ou extra-cerebrales avec un pronostic beaucoup plus pejoratif en cas de formes associees. Malgre la realisation de nombreuses etudes, le pronostic reste incertain pouvant conduire au recours a l’interruption medicale de grossesse. L’objectif de notre etude etait d’etudier le devenir neuro-developpemental des enfants pour lesquels avaient ete diagnostiquee une ACC isolee en antenatal et de comparer les differentes formes d’atteintes. Il s’agit d’une etude prospective et descriptive realisee en Haute Normandie incluant une cohorte de 30 enfants nes entre janvier 1991 et fevrier 2013, avec un diagnostic prenatal d’ACC isolee et un suivi d'au-moins deux ans. La moyenne de suivi etait de 7+/-5 ans. Le pronostic etait favorable : 83% [Intervalle de Confiance (IC) a 95% (69.6-96.4)] des enfants presentaient un developpement psycho-moteur normal ou des anomalies neurologiques moderees. Les troubles severes representaient 17% [IC 95% (3.4-30)] de notre cohorte. Lors des tests neuro-psychologiques, les QIT etaient dans les limites de la normale mais nous avons observe une comprehension verbale diminuee pour toutes les atteintes avec des difficultes notamment dans le jugement social ainsi que des difficultes dans les epreuves a tâches multiples et complexes pour les enfants porteurs d’une ACCC. 47% des enfants de notre cohorte presentaient des troubles du langage oral avec un retentissement sur les trois composantes du langage en particulier sur le lexique et la morphosyntaxe ou 25% des enfants ayant beneficie d’un bilan orthophonique avaient un profil pathologique. Ainsi, le pronostic etait pour la majorite des enfants favorable mais beaucoup presentaient des troubles des apprentissages. Le suivi prolonge apres l’âge scolaire de ces enfants est indispensable afin d’apporter une prise en charge precoce et des aides appropriees des l’apparition de troubles. Le recours a l’IMG dans les ACC isolees reste discutable et discute.
A racial difference in apolipoprotein E allele frequencies between the Japanese and Caucasian populations

We have examined the apo E phenotype frequencies in the Japanese population (n = 576, 16–78 years of age). Apo E phenotypes were determined by the rapid flat gel isoelectric focusing method that we previously reported. The apo E phenotype frequencies in the Japanese were 0.3% for E2/2, 6.1% for E3/2, 71.9% for E3/3, 0.7% for E4/2, 19.3% for E4/3 and 1.7% for E4/4. The apo E allele frequencies were 0.037, 0.846 and 0.117 for the e2, e3 and e4 alleles, respectively. These frequencies were compared with those in the Caucasian populations (n = 3033) reported by Sing & Davignon (1985). There was a significant difference in the apo E phenotype frequencies between the Japanese and Caucasian populations. In addition, a significantly lower frequency of the e2 and e4 alleles and a significantly higher frequency of the e3 allele were found in the Japanese than those reported for the Caucasian populations. It is concluded that there is a racial difference in the apo E allele frequencies between the Japanese and Caucasian populations.