Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Open hardware low-cost system for behavioral experiments simultaneously with electrophysiological recordings

A major frontier in neuroscience is to find neural correlates of perception, learning, decision making, and a variety of other types of behavior. In the last decades, modern devices have provided to simultaneously record not only the different responses but also the electrical activity of large neuronal populations. However, the commercially available instruments for behavioral recordings are expensive, and the design of low-cost operate condition chamber has emerged as an appealing alternative to resource-limited laboratories engaged in animal behavior. In this article, we provide a full description of an experimental platform for simultaneously recording behavior and electrical activity of a neural population. The programming of this platform is open source and flexible so that any behavioral task can be implemented. We show examples of behavioral experiments with freely moving rats with simultaneous electrophysiological recordings.
The correlation between ferritin level and cardiac dysfunction in patients with thalassemia

Background Patients with b-thalassemia major, long-term transfusion, extravasal hemolytic, and increased intestinal absorption of iron result in systemic iron overload, which may accumulate in myocardium causing cardiac dysfunctions. Congestive heart failure usually develops in adolescence or early adult years, and patient usually dies within 1 year after the onset of symptoms. Therefore, it is important to detect early signs of cardiac dysfunction in patient with thalassemia. Objective This study aimed to assess the correlation between ferritin level and cardiac dysfunction in patients with thalassemia. Methods A cross sectional study was conducted on 62 b-thalassemic patients (34 males and 28 females) with age ranging from 3.5 to 23 years. They received 3,150 – 94,985 mL of blood; with the serum ferritin level of 812.2 – 12,175 ng/mL. Each patient underwent laboratory examinations and clinical cardiac evaluation with ECG and echocardiography. Results Cumulative blood transfusions correlated well with the serum ferritin values (p=0.001). The serum ferritin level did not show correlation with deferoxamine (DFO) treatment. ECG examination revealed 5 patients (8.1%) with dysrhythmia, LVH, and heart block grade II and I. Echocardiography examination showed 18 patients (29%) with systolic or diastolic dysfunction. There was no correlation between the serum ferritin level and cardiac dysfunctions (p=0.640). The serum ferritin prediction value against cardiac dysfunctions could not be established. Conclusion There was no correlation between serum ferritin levels with cardiac dysfunctions. In detecting cardiac dysfunctions in thalassemic patients, echocardiography was more sensitive than ECG [Paediatr Indones 2003;43:24-27].
IMPLANTACIÓN DEL PROYECTO DE INSERCIÓN DEL ACOMPAÑANTE EN EL PARTO: EXPERIENCIAS DE LOS PROFESIONALES IMPLANTING AN INSERTION PROJECT CONCERNING SIGNIFICANT FAMILY COMPANY DURING LABOR: PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES

The aim of this research was to describe the professionals experiences related to the insertion of companion in childbirth. Method: This study was carried out at the birth center of an institution connected to the Sao Paulo State Government. The research approach was qualitative and the data was collected through the observation of the scenery and interviews with 24 professionals, members of the professional staff including obstetric and neonatal physicians, nurse midwifes and nursing aids, as well. Results: The descriptive categories of the experience were: a) Professionals have overcome many negative beliefs and values related to the childbirth companion; b) Lack of experience has provoked anxiety during the beginning of the project of insertion of companion in childbirth. Conclusion: Professional staff need to be adequately prepared early to the implementation of a project of insertion of companion in childbirth. This previous preparation can avoid unnecessary professional stress and to promote the success of the project.
A Recurrent Neural Network Based Method for Genotype Imputation on Phased Genotype Data

Genotype imputation estimates genotypes of unobserved variants from genotype data of other observed variants, and such estimation is enabled using haplotype data of a large number of other individuals. Although existing imputation methods explicitly use haplotype data, the accessibility of haplotype data is often limited because the agreement is necessary from donors of genome data. We propose a new imputation method that uses bidirectional recurrent neural network, and haplotype data of a large number of individuals are encoded as its model parameters through the training step, which can be shared publicly due to the difficulty in restoring genotype data at the individual-level. In the performance evaluation using the phased genotype data in the 1000 Genomes Project, the imputation accuracy of the proposed method in R2 is comparative with existing methods for variants with MAF ≥ 0.05 and is slightly worse than those of the existing methods for variants with MAF < 0.05. In a scenario of limited availability of haplotype data to the existing methods, the accuracy of the proposed method is higher than those of the existing methods at least for variants with MAF ≥ 0.005. Python code of our implementation for imputation is available at https://github.com/kanamekojima/rnnimp/.
Pancreas Transplantation-Surgical Technique

Pancreas transplantation is performed to establish a normoglycemic state and to favorably influence the secondary complications of diabetes. Before pancreas retrieval the surgeons must inspect the organ to decide whether it is transplantable, to identify abnormalities in the hepatic arterial supply, to avoid traumatic injury to the pancreas during retrieval, and to procure an intact iliac bifurcation for back-table arterial reconstruction.Our aim is to describe the standard surgical technique for pancreas transplantation debating technique for exocrine drainage such as bladder versus enteric drainage.
Hygiene of fixed prosthodontic restorations

__________________________________________________________________________________________ Purpose: To assess of prosthetic restorations' hygiene concerning the patients with metal and metal and porcelain crowns compared to the natural dentition. Materials and methods: Eighteen persons with fixed prosthetic restorations were examined. The hygiene of their permanent restorations was sampled with Plaque Test. Results: The value of the fluorescent indicator was highest on the own teeth, lower value was on metal crowns and the lowest value was observed on porcelain and metal crowns. The hygiene instructions resulted in the gradual decrease of the indicator’s value, which was observed during the following control visits. Conclusions: The researches reveal that the dental plaque has the least adhesive properties in relation to fixed prosthetic restorations made of porcelain and the precise instructions considering the hygiene of an oral cavity has a crucial influence on the improvement of the hygiene of the crowns.
Effect of Faba Bean Weeds on The Population of Cowpea Aphid Aphis craccivora (koch.) And it’s Associated Predatory Insects

These trial was carried out to study the influence of weed cover on population abundance of Aphis craccivora (Koch.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and its associated predatory insects in faba bean fields during two successive growing seasons (2012/13 and 2013/14). The population abundance of cowpea aphid A. craccivora in weedy fields of faba bean reached the highest (99.25 and 93.75 individuals) populations during the two successive seasons, respectively. While, in free weedy fields, the highest populations of A. craccivora were 32.75 and 51.25 individuals during the two years, respectively. Results of statistical analysis showed that there was a significant difference in the average number of A. craccivora between weedy and free-weedy fields in the first and second seasons of plantation with the highest averages in weedy fields. The main predatory insects associated with A. craccivora in weedy faba bean fields or free weedy fields were Chrysoperla carnea (Steph.), Coccinella undecimpunctata L. , Paederus alferii Koch. , Scymnus syriacus Muslant and Orius laevigatus (Fiber). Weeds almost had significant effect of the number of observed predatory adults in faba bean fields. Further, the number of attracted predators to faba bean plants differed significantly in weedy fields during both seasons, but did not in free-weedy fields specifically in the first season.
Aktivierung der Gerinnung und diabetische Nephropathie

Zusammenfassung Patienten mit Diabetes mellitus besitzen eine erhöhte kardiovaskuläre Mortalität und Morbidität. In der Gruppe der Patienten mit diabetischer Nephropathie ist das Risiko, an einem kardiovaskulären Ereignis zu versterben, besonders hoch. Die Mikroalbuminurie stellt einen bedeutenden Vorhersagewert der Gesamtmortalität bei bestehendem Diabetes mellitus dar. In der Pathogenese vaskulärer Erkrankungen spielen neben kardiovaskulären Risikofaktoren auch Störungen der Hämostase eine wichtige Rolle. Verschiedene Untersuchungen des hämostatischen Systems lassen eine Aktivierung der Gerinnung bei diabetischen Patienten erkennen; man findet Störungen des Gleichgewichts hämostatischer Faktoren und der endothelialen Zelloberfläche. Bereits in der Frühphase einer diabetischen Nephropathie besteht eine enge Assoziation zwischen der Mikroalbuminurie und dem erhöhten Risiko atherothrombotischer Ereignisse. Eine Reihe von hämostatischen Parametern kann mit dem Ausmaß der bestehenden Albuminausscheidung im Urin korreliert werden.
In vitro antifungal effect of eugenol in combination with fluconazole against Candida sp.

Aims: A combination of the antimicrobial drug with the herbal derived antifungal agent was exploited as alternative therapeutic approaches for infectious diseases caused by drug resistant strains. In this study, we determine the antifungal effects of eugenol alone and in combination with fluconazole against Candida sp. Methodology and results: Candida strains including fluconazole resistant (C. parapsilosis ATCC 22019 and C. albicans U821/10) and susceptible strains (C. tropicalis U624/10 and C. glabrata U71/1) were used in this study. By broth microdilution technique, eugenol exhibited antifungal activity with MIC and MFC against Candida sp. tested ranging from 0.5-1 mg/mL. The interaction between eugenol and fluconazole against Candida sp. was determined by chequerboard microtiter technic. Eugenol decreased the MIC of fluconazole against Candida sp. tested. No antagonism was observed in strains test. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: From these results, eugenol displayed a promising antifungal effect alone as well as combination with fluconazole against Candida sp.
Understanding the Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Transcriptome in Response to Salinity Stress

Salinity is a grave threat to agriculture as it affects crop growth globally; it is known as one of the major stressors that hinders common bean production. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the main source of human dietary vegetarian protein that constitutes approximately half of the consumed grain legumes globally. Additionally, common bean is of great economic weight as it provides income for millions of small farmers; however, the crop is known to be sensitive to salinity. In this study, common bean plants were salt stressed in a hydroponic system at 0 mM, 50 mM and 150 mM of NaCl for ten days (early stress) and five weeks (prolonged-flowering stage) in an effort to identify salt responsive genes. Exposure of plants to salt for several hours to a few days induces osmotic stress genes; lengthier salt stress treatments from a few days up to several weeks will ultimately induce salt specific genes that are involved in the plant’s adaptation to, and development under stress. Therefore, we isolated root RNA from ten days and five weeks salt stressed bean tissues and sequenced their transcriptomes. RNA-Seq analysis identified more differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in roots at five weeks compared to ten days salt treatment of 0 mM, 50 mM and 150 mM of NaCl. Some early and delayed salt responsive genes were identified which includes: Salt Tolerance Homolog 2 (STH2), Sodium Hydrogen Exchanger (NHX1), Chloride Chanel A (CLC-A), Late Embryogenesis
Biophysical mechanisms to relate large-scale brain network dynamics to individual-specific variability of perception

Perception necessitates interaction amongst neuronal ensembles, the dynamics of which can be conceptualized as the emergent behavior of coupled dynamical systems. Likewise, the variability in perception can be explained to emerge from the modulation of interactions within the underlying neural dynamical system. Employing this framework, we explain the inter-individual variability in McGurk effect – wherein illusory sound is perceived when presented with certain semantically-incongruent audio-visual (AV) syllables. We computed global coherence to capture the cortical dynamics in the electroencephalogram (EEG) signals while the participants with varying McGurk susceptibility perceived congruent and incongruent McGurk-AV syllables. We observed that McGurk susceptibility was negatively correlated to participants’ alpha band global coherence. Our neurobiologically-realistic dynamical model attributed the decrease in alpha band coherence to extremely weak direct auditory(A)-visual(V) coupling that were then validated by source connectivity analysis among constituent cortical generators of neural activity. Overall, we provide a link between functional metrics and underlying neurophysiological mechanisms.
A genome-wide association study of reproduction traits in four pig populations with different genetic backgrounds

Objective Genome-wide association study and two meta-analysis based on GWAS performed to explore the genetic mechanism underlying variation in pig number born alive (NBA) and total number born (TNB). Methods Single trait GWAS and two meta-analysis (single-trait meta analysis and multi-trait meta analysis) were used in our study for NBA and TNB on 3,121 Yorkshires from 4 populations, including three different American Yorkshire populations (n = 2,247) and one British Yorkshire populations (n = 874). Results The result of single trait GWAS showed that no significant associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified. Using single-trait meta analysis and multi-trait meta analysis within populations, 11 significant loci were identified associated with target traits. Spindlin 1, vascular endothelial growth factor A, forkhead box Q1, msh homeobox 1, and LHFPL tetraspan submily member 3 are five functionally plausible candidate genes for NBA and TNB. Compared to the single population GWAS, single-trait Meta analysis can improve the detection power to identify SNPs by integrating information of multiple populations. The multiple-trait analysis reduced the power to detect trait-specific loci but enhanced the power to identify the common loci across traits. Conclusion In total, our findings identified novel genes to be validated as candidates for NBA and TNB in pigs. Also, it enabled us to enlarge population size by including multiple populations with different genetic backgrounds and increase the power of GWAS by using meta analysis.
The evolution of competitive ability for essential resources

Competition for limiting resources is among the most fundamental ecological interactions and has long been considered a key driver of species coexistence and biodiversity. Species’ minimum resource requirements, their R*, are key traits that link individual physiological demands to the outcome of competition. However, a major question remains unanswered -- to what extent are species’ competitive traits able to evolve in response to resource limitation? To address this knowledge gap, we performed an evolution experiment in which we exposed Chlamydomonas reinhardtii for approximately 285 generations to seven environments in chemostats which differed in resource supply ratios (including nitrogen, phosphorus and light limitation) and salt stress. We then grew the ancestors and descendants in common garden experiments and quantified their competitive abilities for essential resources. We investigated constraints on trait evolution by testing whether changes in resource requirements for different resources were correlated. Competitive abilities for phosphorus improved in all populations, while competitive abilities for nitrogen and light increased in some populations and decreased in others. In contrast to the common assumption that there are trade-offs between competitive abilities for different resources, we found that improvements in competitive ability for a resource came at no detectable cost. Instead, improvements in competitive ability for multiple resources were either positively correlated or not significantly correlated. Using resource competition theory, we then demonstrated that rapid adaptation in competitive traits altered the predicted outcomes of competition. These results highlight the need to incorporate contemporary evolutionary change into predictions of competitive community dynamics over environmental gradients.
État de stress post-traumatique et pathologies cardio-vasculaires aux Antilles : étude Epipsy

Introduction. Les patients souffrant d'ESPT presentent un risque de syndrome metabolique eleve, qui a ete identifie comme un facteur de risque cardiovasculaire independant. Objectif. Description du profil des patients hospitalises dans le service de psychiatrie du CHU de Martinique et recherche d'une association entre ESPT pathologies cardio-vasculaires et syndrome metabolique. Materiel et methodes. Etude observationnelle, non interventionnelle, monocentrique, transversale, et descriptive proposee a l'ensemble des patients hospitalises dans le service de psychiatrie du CHU de Martinique entre novembre 2013 et juillet 2014. Questionnaires utilises : MINI, THQ, IES-R et recherche des criteres de l'ATP III pour le syndrome metabolique. Resultats. 145 dossiers ont ete documentes, notre population comptait 62% de femmes et 38% d'hommes. La moyenne d'âge etait de 46 ans. 84% des hommes et 84% des femmes presentaient des pathologies somatiques. 30% des sujets presentaient des pathologies cardio-vasculaires et 15% un syndrome metabolique. Il n'etait pas retrouve d'association significative entre l’existence d’un ESPT et celle de pathologies cardio-vasculaires ou d’un syndrome metabolique (^>0,05). Discussion. Il n’existait pas d’association significative entre ESPT, pathologies cardio-vasculaires et syndrome metabolique dans notre population, ce qui etait en contradiction avec les donnees de la litterature. Il pourrait s’agir d’une specificite antillaise ; cela pourrait aussi etre du a une puissance statistique insuffisante dans notre etude liee au faible nombre de patients documentes ainsi qu’a un biais de recrutement (patients hospitalises en psychiatrie). Conclusion. Etude novatrice qui a permis d’avoir une description precise des caracteristiques des patients hospitalises en psychiatrie en Martinique. Necessite de depister de maniere systematique les pathologies somatiques et notamment les pathologies cardio-vasculaires et le syndrome metabolique chez les patients souffrant d’un ESPT, afin d’ameliorer leur sante globale. Interet de developper un reseau de prise en charge multidisciplinaire pour les patients presentant un ESPT.
Listen to Your Doctor, or Else!: Medication Under-Use and Overuse and Long-Term Health Outcomes of Danish Diabetes Patients

We use Danish diabetes registry and health insurance data to analyze the extent, consequences, and determinants of under-use and overuse of oral anti-diabetic drugs. Less than half of patients consume the appropriate amount of medication--between 90% and 110% of the amount prescribed by their doctors. The life expectancy of patients consuming the appropriate amount is 2.5 years greater than that of patients consuming less than 70% of the prescribed amount, and 3.2 years greater than that of patients consuming more than 130% of the prescribed amount, controlling for time since diagnosis, insulin dependence, comorbidities, age, gender and education. Patients consuming the appropriate amount are also less likely to be hospitalized than under- or over-users. Pharmaceutical innovation appears to have reduced medication under-use and overuse: patients using newer drugs are significantly more likely to consume the appropriate amount, controlling for socioeconomic factors, average number of pills and average daily out-of-pocket costs. Defined Daily Doses published by the World Health Organization substantially overstate the appropriate level of consumption of these medications. Patients who don’t adhere to recommended medication regimens may also disregard other physician instructions. Medication under-use and overuse could easily be monitored to identify patients at risk and enact interventions.
Mad dephosphorylation at the nuclear envelope is essential for asymmetric stem cell division

Stem cell niche signals act over a short range so that only stem cells but not the differentiating daughter cells receive the self-renewal signals. Drosophila female germline stem cells (GSCs) are maintained by short range BMP signaling; BMP ligands Dpp/Gbb activate receptor Tkv to phosphorylate Mad (phosphor-Mad or pMad) which accumulates in the GSC nucleus and activates the stem cell transcription program. pMad is highly concentrated in the nucleus of the GSC, but is immediately downregulated in the nucleus of the pre-cystoblast (preCB), a differentiating daughter cell, that is displaced away from the niche. Here we show that this asymmetry in the intensity of pMad is formed even before the completion of cytokinesis. A delay in establishing the pMad asymmetry leads to germline tumors through conversion of differentiating cells into a stem cell-like state. We show that a Mad phosphatase Dullard (Dd) interacts with Mad at the nuclear pore, where it may dephosphorylate Mad. A mathematical model explains how an asymmetry can be established in a common cytoplasm. It also demonstrates that the ratio of pMad concentrations in GSC/preCB is highly sensitive to Mad dephosphorylation rate. Our study reveals a previously unappreciated mechanism for breaking symmetry between daughter cells during asymmetric stem cell division.
INHIBITORY EFFECT OF GYMNEMA SYLVESTRE, STEVIA REBAUDIANA, PHYLLANTHUS EMBLICA AND SYZYGIUM CUMINI ON PORCINE PANCREATIC AMYLASE

Diabetes has become a common global health problem that affects >170 million people worldwide. It is one of the leading causes of death and disability. It is estimated that by 2030, the number will rise to 366 million (www.who.int). The majority of diabetes (~90%) is type 2 diabetes (T2D) caused by a combination of impaired insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells and insulin resistance of the peripheral target tissues, especially muscle and liver. The ‘top’ three countries in terms of the number of T2D individuals with diabetes are India (31.7 million in 2000; 79.4 million in 2030), China (20.8 million in 2000; 42.3 million in 2030); and the US (17.7 million in 2000; 30.3 million in 2030). Clearly, T2D has become an epidemic in the 21st century where India leads the world with the largest number of diabetic subjects. Traditional Medicines obtained from medicinal plants are used by about 40-60% of the world’s population. Though there are many approaches to control diabetes and its secondary complications, herbal formulations are preferred due to lesser side effects and low cost. In this study,the inhibitory effect of Syzygium cumini, Gymnema sylvestre, Stevia rebaudiana and Phyllanthus emblica extract on porcine pancreatic amylase.The most significant inhibitory activity was obtained with the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of G. sylvestre and S. cumini.