Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic Symptom Generation Aggregating Model Validity and Residual Evaluation

FDI commonly relies on an analytical model of the process to be diagnosed. This model is supposed to represent the process behavior in a particular mode for a given operating set point. Residuals are computed with this model and some measures acquired online from the process. They are compared to thresholds in order to provide the diagnostic decision. However, the model that has been used to compute a residual can be not suitable. For instance, this may be due to the identification procedure itself that has been performed with data not fully relevant. Another reason may be that the operating set point has changed, leading to a model that is not valid at this new set point. Thus, the diagnostic decision may produce a false alarm. Therefore, it is highly desirable to be able to measure the validity of the model used to provide the residuals. The aim of this paper is to propose an evaluation of this model validity indicator based upon fuzzy aggregation of several partial criteria. The model validity is then aggregated with the diagnostic decision in order to provide a symptom sensitive both to the model validity and to the residual threshold exceeding. Examples will illustrate the proposed method.
Hyperactivity and Brain Catecholamines in Lead-Exposed Developing Rats

Newborn rats that suckled mothers eating a diet containing 4 percent lead carbonate display hyperactivity, aggressiveness, and excessive stereotyped behavior starting at 4 weeks of age. There is an eightfold increase in the concentration of lead in brain, no change in norepinephrine, but a 20 percent decrease in dopamine relative to coetaneous controls. This suggests a relationship between central nervous system dysfunction due to lead and dopamine metabolism in brain.
Atopic Dermatitis: Global Epidemiology and Risk Factors

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease posing a significant burden on health-care resources and patients' quality of life. It is a complex disease with a wide spectrum of clinical presentations and combinations of symptoms. AD affects up to 20% of children and up to 3% of adults; recent data show that its prevalence is still increasing, especially in low-income countries. First manifestations of AD usually appear early in life and often precede other allergic diseases such as asthma or allergic rhinitis. Individuals affected by AD usually have genetically determined risk factors affecting the skin barrier function or the immune system. However, genetic mutations alone might not be enough to cause clinical manifestations of AD, and it is merely the interaction of a dysfunctional epidermal barrier in genetically predisposed individuals with harmful effects of environmental agents which leads to the development of the disease. AD has been described as an allergic skin disease, but today, the contribution of allergic reactions to the initiation of AD is challenged, and it is proposed that allergy is rather a consequence of AD in subjects with a concomitant underlying atopic constitution. Treatment at best achieves symptom control rather than cure; there is thus a strong need to identify alternatives for disease prevention.
Alemtuzumab in CLL and Other Lymphoid Neoplasms

The recent success of monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of various hematological and nonhematological cancers is the result of several decades of research in immune therapy of cancer. The identification of cancer-specific surface markers has led to the development of numerous monoclonal antibodies directed at these antigens, which have been associated with variable success in treating patients with different malignancies. Alemtuzumab, one such monoclonal antibody, is a humanized antibody directed against CD52. The target antigen is a small glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored glycoprotein that is highly expressed on normal T- and B-lymphocytes and on a large proportion of malignant lymphoid cells, but not on hematopoietic progenitor cells. A number of clinical trials have demonstrated the clinical activity of alemtuzumab in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), T-cell malignancies such as T-prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), and have examined its role as an immunosuppressive agent in transplantation and for the treatment of autoimmune disorders. Effective antibiotic prophylaxis can limit the incidence of infections, which are the major side effect associated with the profound lymphopenia occurring as a result of treatment with this agent.
Compartmentalization and Transmission of Multiple Epstein-Barr Virus Strains in Asymptomatic Carriers

ABSTRACT Infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is often subclinical in the presence of a healthy immune response; thus, asymptomatic infection is largely uncharacterized. This study analyzed the nature of EBV infection in 20 asymptomatic immunocompetent hosts over time through the identification of EBV strain variants in the peripheral blood and oral cavity. A heteroduplex tracking assay specific for the EBV gene LMP1 precisely identified the presence of multiple EBV strains in each subject. The strains present in the peripheral blood and oral cavity were often completely discordant, indicating the existence of distinct infections, and the strains present and their relative abundance changed considerably between time points. The possible transmission of strains between the oral cavity and peripheral blood compartments could be tracked within subjects, suggesting that reactivation in the oral cavity and subsequent reinfection of B lymphocytes that reenter the periphery contribute to the maintenance of persistence. In addition, distinct virus strains persisted in the oral cavity over many time points, suggesting an important role for epithelial cells in the maintenance of persistence. Asymptomatic individuals without tonsillar tissue, which is believed to be an important source of virus for the oral cavity, also exhibited multiple strains and a cyclic pattern of transmission between compartments. This study revealed that the majority of patients with infectious mononucleosis were infected with multiple strains of EBV that were also compartmentalized, suggesting that primary infection involves the transmission of multiple strains. Both the primary and carrier states of infection with EBV are more complex than previously thought.
The Expanding Role of Predictive Toxicology: An Update on the (Q)SAR Models for Mutagens and Carcinogens

Different regulatory schemes worldwide, and in particular, the preparation for the new REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of CHemicals) legislation in Europe, increase the reliance on estimation methods for predicting potential chemical hazard. To meet the increased expectations, the availability of valid (Q)SARs becomes a critical issue, especially for endpoints that have complex mechanisms of action, are time-and cost-consuming, and require a large number of animals to test. Here, findings from the survey on (Q)SARs for mutagenicity and carcinogenicity, initiated by the European Chemicals Bureau (ECB) and carried out by the Istituto Superiore di Sanita' are summarized, key aspects are discussed, and a broader view towards future needs and perspectives is given.
Patient-Reported Gastrointestinal Symptom Burden and Health-Related Quality of Life following Conversion from Mycophenolate Mofetil to Enteric-Coated Mycophenolate Sodium

Background. The benefit of converting renal transplant recipients with gastrointestinal (GI) complaints from mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) to enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) has not been evaluated using patient-reported outcomes. Methods. A multicenter, open-label, prospective study was undertaken in MMF-treated renal transplant patients. Patients experiencing GI complaints were converted to equimolar EC-MPS (Cohort A). Patients without GI complaints remained on MMF (Cohort B). At baseline and Visit 2 (4–6 weeks postbaseline), patients completed the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) and Psychological General Well-being Index (PGWBI). At Visit 2, patients and physicians completed the Overall Treatment Effect (OTE) scale for GI symptoms. Additionally, patients completed the OTE for health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Minimal important difference (MID) was calculated for GSRS and GIQLI based on patients’ and physicians’ OTE evaluation. Results. Of 328 patients enrolled (i.e. the intent-to-treat and safety populations), 278 formed the per-protocol population (Cohort A, n=177; Cohort B, n=101). At baseline, Cohort A had significantly worse scores on all GSRS, GIQLI and PGWBI subscales compared to Cohort B (all P<0.0001). All GSRS, GIQLI and PGWBI subscale scores improved significantly in Cohort A between baseline and Visit 2 (all P<0.0001). Mean improvements in all GSRS subscales and most GIQLI subscores exceeded the calculated MID. GSRS, GIQLI and PGWBI subscales remained stable in Cohort B. Conclusion. This first exploratory study indicates that converting patients with mild, moderate or severe GI complaints from MMF to EC-MPS significantly reduces GI-related symptom burden and improves patient functioning and well-being.
A synchronization scheme based on the time-frequency block structure for uplink in OFDM cellular radio systems

Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) cellular radio systems are expected to provide ubiquitous, high-quality, and high-rate mobile transmission. However they are more sensitive to synchronization errors than the single-carrier systems. In such systems, the uplink transmission must deal with the multiuser synchronization which is more important and challenging than synchronization in a broadcast or downlink scenario. In this paper, based on the analysis of the SNR requirement of the uplink in cellular radio systems, we propose a multiuser synchronization scheme based on time-frequency block structure for tracking the mobile's uplink time and frequency offsets. It uses the redundant information contained within the cyclic prefix and the pilots for channel estimation. We show through simulations that by using this synchronization scheme, the error probabilities of the timing and frequency estimation can be no more than 20 percent for SNR values of -4dB both in AWGN and multipath fading channels. This scheme is suitable for wireless communication.
Evidence for a possible anatomical subsite-mediated effect of tobacco in oral potentially malignant disorders and carcinoma.

PURPOSE To test the hypothesis that cigarette smokers develop oral potentially malignant disorders or carcinomas in preferential anatomical subsites. METHODS The association of smoking habit with the presence of oral lesions in specific anatomical subsites was assessed in 123 patients using the odds ratio analysis. RESULTS When compared to all the other subsites, the relative frequency of smokers with lesions was higher in the buccal mucosa and in the floor of the mouth (FOM) (P=0.002 and P=0.005), while it was lower in the tongue (P<0.0005). Smokers were about 7 years younger than non-smokers (P=0.008). CONCLUSIONS The association of smoking and age suggests that smoking may contribute to generate a field of injury that leads to lesions in shorter periods than other causes. The stronger relationship of smoking with lesions in the buccal mucosa and FOM than in the tongue suggests that tissue characteristics mediate the effects of tobacco.
EVOLUTION OF PORTAL-SYSTEMIC COLLATERAL VASOPRESSIN RESPONSE IN ENDOTOXEMIC PORTAL HYPERTENSIVE RATS

Cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension and variceal hemorrhage are vulnerable to endotoxemia. However, the direct influence of endotoxemia on portal-systemic collateral vasculature remains unexplored. In this study, portal hypertension was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by partial portal vein ligation. On the 7th day after portal vein ligation, at 0.5, 1.5, and 5 h post endotoxin (LPS; Escherichia coli serotype O111:B4, 3 mg/kg, i.p., E0.5, E1.5 and E5, respectively) or saline (control, C0.5, C1.5, and C5, respectively) injection, hemodynamic measurements and concentration-response relationships to arginine vasopressin (AVP; 10−10-10−7 mol/L) in collateral vascular bed were obtained. In another six parallel groups, reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction of iNOS, eNOS, and endothelin 1 (ET-1) mRNA expressions for splenorenal shunt, the most prominent intra-abdominal collateral vessel, was performed. The results showed that E0.5 had lower perfusion pressure changes to AVP and higher splenorenal shunt eNOS expression than C0.5 group (P < 0.05). Compared with C1.5, tachycardia, higher perfusion pressure changes and enhanced splenorenal shunt iNOS and ET-1 expression were observed in E1.5 group (P < 0.05). In E5, systemic and portal hypotension with markedly enhanced collateral AVP responsiveness and splenorenal shunt iNOS and ET-1 expressions were noted (P < 0.05). In conclusion, vasoactive substances counterregulation participates, at least in part, the time-dependent changes of collateral AVP responsiveness in endotoxemic portal hypertensive rats.
A Scan Blindness Model for Single-Polarized Tapered-Slot Arrays in Triangular Grids

A simple model is presented that predicts scan blindness in the E-plane for single polarized tapered-slot arrays where the elements are positioned in a triangular grid. The blindness occurs when the phase progression along the dielectric substrates is equal to the phase progression of a leaky mode in the structure. A simple equation is presented that estimates the frequency at which the scan blindness occurs for a given angle in the E-plane. This equation is derived from a simple representation of the phased array antenna, but includes the dominant effect of this particular class of scan blindness. The method is shown to agree well with computed results obtained with two different numerical codes.
Are Trade Liberalization and Democracy Driving Development in Central Africa Region? Empirical Lessons

This paper documents that trade liberalization and democracy contribute positively to economic development. A panel of 11 Central Africa countries with 176 observations from 1995 to 2010 was used to econometrically verify this assertion. Estimation using the general least square (GLS) with the overall R-square (R2 = 0.0325) shows that there is a relationship between the economic development captured here with Human development indicators (HDI), democracy, importations, exportations, inflation and regional integration. Inflation and exports negatively affect the well-being of the population. An increase in inflation rate causes a reduction in purchasing power. An increased in exports commodities tends to decrease the quantity of goods available for the country of origin. Imports have a positive effect on HDI probably because this variable tends to increase the quantity of goods available. Imports and democracy have a positive effect on the level of development among Central African countries. The paper’s findings are important to Central Africa policy makers towards creation and increasing trade within, between and with other democratic countries.
Detecting protein–protein interaction in live yeast by flow cytometry

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the most commonly used organism for studying protein– protein interactions. In this report we demonstrate the use of flow cytometry in observing fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between cyan and yellow fluorescent fusion proteins (CFP and YFP, respectively) as a marker for protein interaction in live yeast cells. Probability binning is also employed to provide a statistical confirmation of our observations.
Paradoxical intrathymic positive selection in mice with only a covalently presented agonist peptide

The Y-Ae mAb and the 1H3.1 αβ T cell antigen receptor (TCR) are both specific for the I-Eα52–68 peptide bound to the I-Ab major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecule. Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) from I-Ab+ mice with a natural or transgenic (Tg) I-Eα chain activate mature 1H3.1 T cells and cause the deletion of 1H3.1 TCR Tg thymocytes. However, 1H3.1 T cells were neither activated nor inactivated by confrontation with APCs from I-Ab-Ep mice in which I-Ab molecules are occupied only by the covalently associated Eα52–68 peptide. Instead, immature 1H3.1 TCR Tg thymocytes were efficiently positively selected into the CD4 lineage in the I-Ab-Ep thymus. This selection relied on specific recognition of the Eα52–68/I-Ab complex because it was blocked by Y-Ae. 1H3.1 TCR Tg T cells maturing in the I-Ab-Ep thymus efficiently populated the periphery, displayed a naive phenotype, and were specifically reactive to the Eα52–68 peptide or to I-Ab+I-Eα+ APCs, indicating that 1H3.1 T cells were not antagonized in I-Ab-Ep mice. The data identify major histocompatibility complex class II molecules with only a covalently attached self-peptide as a ligand for in vivo positive selection of T cells specific for the same peptide.
Dynamical behavior of a chaotic neural and its application to optimization problems

A model of an analog neuron with chaotic dynamics has been considered, and a chaotic neural network composed of this neuron has also been studied. The chaos neuron model has an internal variable which is evolved by a piecewise sine map, and it shows chaotic behavior. The chaotic neural network is applied to a well-defined optimization problem in order to investigate computational abilities of the present model.
Control of schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa: progress made, new opportunities and remaining challenges

SUMMARY Several other journal supplements have documented progress made in the control of schistosomiasis in Egypt, China and Brazil, however, with more than 97% of the schistosome infections now estimated to occur in Africa, the relevance of this special issue in Parasitology cannot be overemphasized. In total, 18 articles are presented, inclusive of a lead-editorial from the WHO highlighting a seminal resolution at the 54th World Health Assembly in 2001 that advocated de-worming. Facilitated by a US$ 30 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2002, the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative subsequently fostered implementation of large-scale schistosomiasis (and soil-transmitted helminthiasis) control programmes in six selected African countries. From 2005, CONTRAST, a European union-funded consortium, was formed to conduct multi-disciplinary research pertaining to optimisation of schistosomiasis control. Progress made in schistosomiasis control across sub-Saharan Africa since the turn of the new millennium is reviewed, shedding light on the latest findings stemming from clinical, epidemiological, molecular and social sciences research, inclusive of public health interventions with monitoring and evaluation activities. New opportunities for integrating the control of schistosomiasis and other so-called neglected tropical diseases are highlighted, but more importantly, several opportune questions that arise from it frame the remaining challenges ahead for an enduring solution.
Anti-Müllerian hormone levels in serum 1 year after unilateral orchiopexy

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH levels) in a group of boys with cryptorchidism before and 1 year after surgery. Additionally, the effect of orchiopexy, based on the testicular position and morphology, was evaluated. Fifty boys who were 1–4 years old (median, 2.4 years) with unilateral cryptorchidism were evaluated before and 1 year after they underwent orchiopexy. Prior to the procedure, all of the patients had undergone karyotyping to exclude chromosomal abnormalities. Blood samples were collected while obtaining blood for standard laboratory tests routinely performed just before and 12 months after surgery. Twelve months after the orchiopexy, in most cases surgically treated testes were in the middle or lower pole of the scrotum. The descended glands were of comparable size and density in comparison with the testes on the opposite side. In the treated children, serum AMH levels measured at 12 months after orchiopexy were similar to preoperative basal levels. The authors found that AMH levels in children with unilateral undescended testes do not change significantly 1 year after surgical procedure. We still do not have trustworthy factors to predict fertility in children affected with cryptorchidism. We observed an upward trend in AMH concentration 1 year after orchiopexy, but it was statistically insignificant. Therefore, we plan further measurements of AMH in boys after orchiopexy to assess the influence of this procedure on gonadal function.
What is the Relationship Between Teacher Practices Centering on the Provision of Involvement, Structure, and Autonomy Support and Student Engagement?

This study investigated the hypothesis that there is a relationship between teacher practices that focus on the provision of involvement, structure, and autonomy support and student engagement (Connell & Wellborn, 1991). The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) (Pianta, R., Hamre, B., Haynes, N., Mintz, S., & La Paro, K., 2006) was used to assess practices of sixth, seventh, and eighth grade core teachers (N =17) in mathematics, English, science, and social studies in an economically-depressed, rural middle school setting. Student perceptions (N = 299) of relatedness, competence, and autonomy, and mathematics teachers’ (N = 5) perceptions of student engagement were assessed using the Research Assessment Package for Schools (RAPS) (IRRE, 1998). While the findings revealed that there were significant relationships between teacher practices that center on involvement, structure, and autonomy support and student engagement, the effect sizes were found to be low.