Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Etude Multimodale IRM et Electrophysiologique de la Sclérose en Plaques

1ere Etude (Fatigue et ATP dans la SEP): La fatigue dans la SEP est un symptome frequent et retentit sur la qualite de vie. L’evaluation clinique est realisee par le score FSS (fatigue scale score). Cependant, il est necessaire d’avoir des biomarqueurs fiables et objectifs, notamment si une perspective therapeutique est envisagee. L’ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate) est un marqueur du metabolisme energetique et peut etre mesure in vivo a l’etage cerebral par spectroscopie du phosphore (31P-MRS). L’objectif de cette etude est d’evaluer s’il existe une correlation du β-ATP (specifique de l’ATP) avec la fatigue evaluee par le FSS. 30 patients presentant une SEP progressives ont ete explores en IRM 3T avec une antenne specifique du phosphore par une sequence 31P-MRS multivoxel centree sur les centres semi-ovales. 2 regions ont ete segmentees: (a) les hemispheres fronto-parietaux et (b) substance blanche normale reperee a partir d’une sequence FLAIR. Les ratios des metabolites energetiques evalues etaient le PCr% et le β-ATP%. Les correlations statistiques entre les metabolites energetiques avec le FSS ont ete calculees par les tests de Spearman. Les resultats ont montre que le β-ATP% etait correle avec le FSS (r=0.46; p=0,01) dans les hemispheres fronto-parietaux.2eme Etude (Cortex moteur et faisceau cortico-spinal evalues par IRM et excitabilite corticale dans la SEP): Les lesions corticales, notamment de l’aire motrice, sont source de handicap. Les sequences de double (DIR) et phase sensitive inversion recuperation (PSIR) permettent d’evaluer les lesions corticales et la sequence en imagerie en tenseur de diffusion (DTI) permet quant a elle d’evaluer le faisceau cortico-spinal (CS). L’excitabilite corticale permet aussi d’evaluer ces regions anatomiques par SMT (stimulation magnetique transcrânienne). L’objectif de cette etude a ete de rechercher une correlation entre les donnees IRM et d’excitabilite corticale. 25 SEP progressives ont eu une SMT pour evaluer l’excitabilite corticale du cortex moteur pour obtenir les parametres de FICmoy, FICmax, IICmoy, IICmax (facilitation et inhibition intra-corticale). Ces patients ont aussi eu une IRM avec les sequences: 3D DIR (0,7x0,7x0,8mm), axiales PSIR (0,6x0,6x3mm) pour compter le nombre de lesion du cortex moteur du cote ipsilateral, et une sequence DTI 12 directions pour extraire les parametres de fraction d’anisotropie (FA), coefficient apparent de diffusion (ADC), diffusivite radiale et axiale du CS ipsilateral. Les correlations entre les donnees IRM avec les donnees d’excitabilite sont calculees par tests de Spearman. Les resultats ne montrent pas de correlation entre le nombre de lesions corticales avec les donnees d’excitabilite corticale. Il existe en revanche une correlation entre FICmoy et FICmax avec la diffusivite radiale (r=0.56 ; p=0.004 et r=-0.59 ; p=0.002, respectivement) et avec l’ADC (r=-0.44; p=0.03 et r=-0.45 ; p=0.02, respectivement) suggerant un epuisement de compensation de la FIC par les lesions de demyelinisation.
Allergic asthma: Environmental factors challenging the immune system

Background : Previous studies suggest that pre-/probiotics can be used in prevention and treatment of early allergic disease in newborns and young children. Objective : To determine effect of treatment with synbiotics (90% short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides, 10% long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides: Immunofortis® and Bifidobacterium breve M-16V) on allergic responses in adults with established allergic asthma. Primary outcome was allergen-induced bronchial inflammation as represented by eosinophil counts. Methods : Twenty-nine patients with asthma and house dust mite (HDM) allergy were randomized in a double-blind parallel design to receive placebo or synbiotics for 4 weeks. At study entry and after treatment a bronchial allergen challenge with HDM was performed, followed by lung function tests, collection of blood ( in/ex vivo IL-5) and induced sputum (inflammatory parameters). During treatment a diary was kept with peak expiratory flow (PEF) and asthma scores. Results : Treatment did not affect the allergen-induced increase in sputum eosinophils at 6 and 24 hrs after challenge. Likewise, other parameters for bronchial inflammation and early and late changes in lung function did not differ upon treatment. Both the morning and evening PEF, however, significantly increased during synbiotics treatment (morning p = 0.003, evening p = 0.011). Also, the increase in serum IL-5 after allergen challenge was significantly inhibited by synbiotics (p = 0.034), as was ex vivo allergen-induced Th2-cytokine (IL-5 and IL-4 + IL-13) production by PBMCs (p = 0.046). In vivo (24 hrs) and ex vivo IL-5 production were associated. Conclusion : Four-week treatment with synbiotics had no effect on bronchial inflammation and LAR, but did significantly reduce systemic production of Th2-cytokines after allergen challenge and improved PEF
An improved gray-scale transformation method for pseudo-color image enhancement

Image enhancement is a very important process of image preprocessing and it plays a critical role in the improvement of image quality and the follow-up image analysis, which makes the research of image enhancement algorithm a hot research field. Image enhancement not only needs to strengthen image determination and recognition, but also needs to avoid the consequential color distortion. Pseudo-color enhancement is the technique to map different gray scales of a black-and-white image into a color image. As humans have extremely strong ability in distinguishing different colors visually and relatively weak capacity in discriminating gray scales, so, color the gray-scale changes which cannot be differentiated by human eyes so that they can tell them apart. The mapping function in conventional gray-scale transform method is not working well in dark and low-contrast images. So, this paper comes up with an improved gray-scale transformation algo-rithm. This algorithm can achieve the enhancement, preserve the image colors, process dark and low-contrast images, reinforce the enhancement and improve the blocking effect. The experiment proves that the enhanced image obtained by the method of this paper can have improved average brightness, natural colors and more detail information and it has good application value.
[Prevalence and prognostic importance of riskfactors for long hospital stay within elderly patients admitted to a hospital; a clinical-empirical study].

BACKGROUND Of elderly patients (> 70 years) admitted to a general hospital 35% suffer from loss of self-care abilities compared to the level before admission. Risk of loss of self-care ability increases with age up to 65% after tthe age of 90. In addition, for many of these patients the duration of hospitalisation is relatively long. OBJECTIVE It is important to identify in an early stage frail-elderly patients who are at risk of a relatively long hospital stay. We conducted a study of the prevalence at intake (1st of 2nd admission day) of ten clinically relevant, patient-bound risk factors for a long hospital stay among 158 patients (> 60 years), acute and planned admitted to Vlietland Hospital. In addition, the prognostic value of the dichotomous risk factors for length of hospital stay was estimated as indicator of treatment complications. The ten clinically relevant risk factors were home care, history of falling, medication (> 4), weight loss, cognitive level and functioning, self-care, psychiatric symptoms, health status and quality of life. RESULTS There was a high prevalence of risk factors; 47.5% of the elderly patients had four or more risk factors at intake. Home care and global cognitive deterioration were significant predictors of longer length of hospital stay. Furthermore, acute admission, weight loss, psychiatric symptoms and health status seemed important. The explained variance of the prognostic model was relatively small. CONCLUSION The findings in this explorative-observational study showed a high prevalence of clinically relevant, patient-bound risk factors in elderly people in a general hospital. Some risk-factors were of prognostic interest for long hospital stay, although the explained variance was relatively small. This indicates that a more comprehensive study should be designed and conducted to include other patient-bound risk factors like co-morbidity, caregiver issues and social environment. Moreover, non-patient-bound factors should be addressed like intrinsic and logistic factors within the hospital, and the quality of recuperation programmes. Understanding of these factors contributes to timely identification of elderly patients, who are at high risk of a long hospital stay. Future policy is to perform specific treatment programmes for elderly patients identified as being patients at risk. Multidisciplinary person-oriented interventions and case management focussed on risk factors and functional recovery will be provided parallel and after hospital treatment period. Comprehensive scientific research on the cost-effectiveness of such a programme has started at the end of 200oo9 in Vlietland Hospital, Schiedam.
Conservation biology of lichenised fungi

5 Preface 9 A Global Perspective on the Status of Lichens and their Conservation. Patricia Anne Wolseley 11 Red Lists Aspects of their Compilation and Use in Liehen Conservation. Goran Thor 29 Transplantation of Symbiotic Propagules and Thallus Fragments: Methods for the Conservation of Threatened Epiphytic Liehen Populations. Christoph Scheidegger, Beat Frey, Stefan Zoller 41 Biodiversity and Conservation of Foliicolous Lichens in Costa Rica. Robert Lucking 63 Nephroma oecultum and the Maintenance of Liehen Biodiversity in British Columbia. Trevor Goward 93 Liehen Diversity in Managed Forests of the Pacific Northwest, USA. Roger Rosentreter 103 Epiphytic Liehen Diversity on Salix caprea and Populus tremula in Old-growth Forests of Finland. Mikko Kuusinen 125 Biomass Growth in Five Alectorioid Liehen Epiphytes. Karl-Erik Renhorn, Per-Anders Esseen 133 Endangered Lichens in Japan. Hiroyuki Kashiwadani, Syo Kurokawa 141 Rare and Vulnerable Species of Lichens in the Southern Part of the Russian Far East Primorye and Sakhalin Regions. Svetlana I. Tschabanenko 147 Lichens of Protected Areas in Ukraine. Sergey Y. Kondratyuk, Irina L. Navrotskaya 153 A Survey of Patterns of Diversity in Non-Lichenized Fungi. D. Jean Lodge etal 157 7
Therapeutic advances: Paroxetine for the treatment of social anxiety disorder

Data from early studies of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have shown that these agents are effective in the treatment of social anxiety disorder (social phobia). This review highlights the outcomes of three large clinical trials of paroxetine in patients with social anxiety disorder. In two of the studies, patients received a flexible dose of paroxetine (20–50�mg/day) or placebo; the third trial was a fixed‐dose study, in which patients received paroxetine 20, 40, or 60 mg/day, or placebo. A total of 861 subjects were randomized to treatment for 12 weeks, in centers across the U.S.A. , Canada, Europe, and South Africa. The primary outcome measures were the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) Global Improvement item and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) Total Score.
15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 inhibits the expression of microsomal prostaglandin E synthase type 2 in colon cancer cells Published, JLR Papers in Press, March 2, 2006.

Prostaglandin (PG) E2 (PGE2) plays a predominant role in promoting colorectal carcinogenesis. The biosynthesis of PGE2 is accomplished by conversion of the cyclooxygenase (COX) product PGH2 by several terminal prostaglandin E synthases (PGES). Among the known PGES isoforms, microsomal PGES type 1 (mPGES-1) and type 2 (mPGES-2) were found to be overexpressed in colorectal cancer (CRC); however, the role and regulation of these enzymes in this malignancy are not yet fully understood. Here, we report that the cyclopentenone prostaglandins (CyPGs) 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-PGJ2 and PGA2 downregulate mPGES-2 expression in the colorectal carcinoma cell lines Caco-2 and HCT 116 without affecting the expression of any other PGES or COX. Inhibition of mPGES-2 was subsequently followed by decreased microsomal PGES activity. These effects were mediated via modulation of the cellular thiol-disulfide redox status but did not involve activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ or PGD2 receptors. CyPGs had antiproliferative properties in vitro; however, this biological activity could not be directly attributed to decreased PGES activity because it could not be reversed by adding PGE2. Our data suggest that there is a feedback mechanism between PGE2 and CyPGs that implicates mPGES-2 as a new potential target for pharmacological intervention in CRC.
Pazar Buyuklugu ve Pazar Payi Bilesenleri Kullanilarak Turkiye’nin Ihracat Buyumesi ve Dis Ticaret Acigi Projeksiyonlari: 2013-2030

[TR] Bu notta, cari fiyatlarla Turkiye ihracatinin buyumesi basitce ihracat agirlikli kuresel pazar (hasila) buyumesi ve pazar payi buyumesi bilesenlerine ayrilmakta ve gerek toplam ihracat gerekse de her bir bilesen icin 2013-2030 donemine iliskin projeksiyonlar uretilmektedir. Yapilan hesaplamalara gore, projeksiyon doneminde Turkiye ihracatinin yillik ortalama yuzde 11,2 oraninda buyuyecegi ongorulmektedir. Bu orana, kuresel talep ve pazar payi buyumeleri sirasiyla 6,1 ve 4,9 puanlik katki yapmaktadir. Turkiye ihracatindaki paylarina gore, gorece daha yuksek buyume oranlarina sahip Ortadogu ve Kuzey Afrika ulkeleri bu donemin sonunda ilk siraya yukselirken, Bati Avrupa ulkeleri ikinci siraya gerilemektedir. [EN] In this note, the export growth rate of Turkey is simply partitioned into two components: export weighted growth rates of global market size and market share. The growth rates of exports and its main components are produced between 2013 and 2030. The calculations show that the exports of Turkey grow at the average rate of 11.2 percent per annum during the projection period. The global market size and the share of Turkey in this market contribute 6.1 and 4.9 percentage points to this average rate, respectively. At the end of this period, the Middle Eastern and North African countries, which enjoy relatively higher growth rates, rise to the first place while the West European countries fall down to the second place when ranked with respect to their shares in Turkish exports.
Group size, misinformation and unanimity influences on co-witness judgements

ABSTRACT Researchers have typically observed the effects of co-witness influence on eyewitness pairs. However, research suggests that individuals are more likely to witness crimes in larger groups. Additionally, there is an abundance of evidence suggesting that social influence is heavily moderated by group size. Therefore, the present study aimed to gain a more accurate understanding of the risks of co-witness influence in relation to unanimity and group size effects. Participants (N = 608) viewed and discussed a CCTV footage of a fight breaking out, with co-witnesses, before giving individual statements, where they were asked to identify which person had started the fight; confederates were used to suggest that the wrong man had started the fight. Results indicated that participants were vulnerable to co-witness influence, but only when exposed to misinformation from a majority of co-witnesses. Misinformation presented by an individual confederate did not have a significant influence over the participants’ responses. This study was the first to investigate the effects of group size on blame attribution. The findings suggest that the true risks of co-witness influence may not be as high as originally predicted from research on eyewitness pairs.
Change-of-Direction Speed Assessments and Testing Procedures in Tennis: A Systematic Review

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Abstract Schneider, C, Rothschild, J, and Uthoff, A. Change-of-direction speed assessments and testing procedures in tennis: a systematic review. J Strength Cond Res 37(9): 1888–1895, 2023—Change-of-direction speed (CODS) plays an essential role in tennis match play, and CODS performance is, therefore, commonly assessed and monitored in tennis players. Thus, the aim of this systematic review was to describe test characteristics, performance metrics, test-retest reliability, construct validity, and test outcomes of tests that are used to assess CODS in tennis players. A literature search conducted on PubMed and SPORTDiscus yielded 563 results. After applying the eligibility criteria, a total of 27 studies were included in the present review. Ten unique CODS tests were identified. 505 test variations were most frequently used across all studies, and total time required to complete the test was the predominant performance metric investigated. Intrasession test-retest reliability ranged from “moderate” to “excellent. ” Intersession test-retest reliability as well as the effects of tennis performance, sex, and age on CODS performance were unclear given the subject demographics and the limited number of studies that investigated these aspects. In conclusion, most studies included CODS tests that exhibit longer COD entry and total distances but similar COD angles to those seen during tennis match play. All CODS tests have at least “moderate” intrasession test-retest reliability. However, to improve CODS assessment methods and to increase our current understanding of CODS performance in tennis players, there is a need to conduct more research on the intersession test-retest reliability, construct validity, and the effects of sex, age, and tennis performance and to investigate other performance metrics that might provide additional insights into CODS (e.g., phase-specific performance variables).
The Role of Indirect Effects in Coevolution along the Mutualism-Antagonism Continuum

The web of interactions in a community drives the coevolution of species. Yet it is unclear how the outcome of species interactions influences the coevolutionary dynamics of communities. This is a pressing matter, as changes to the outcome of interactions may become more common with human-induced global change. Here, we combine network and evolutionary theory to explore coevolutionary outcomes in communities harboring mutualistic and antagonistic interactions. We show that as the ratio of mutualistic to antagonistic interactions decreases, selection imposed by direct partners outweighs that imposed by indirect partners. This weakening of indirect effects results in communities composed of species with dissimilar traits and fast rates of adaptation. These changes are more pronounced when specialist consumers are the first species to engage in antagonistic interactions. Hence, a shift in the outcome of species interactions may reverberate across communities and alter the direction and speed of coevolution.
Mechanical Characterization of Geopolymer Paste and Mortar Fabricated from Alum Sludge and Fly Ash

This study evaluated the effect of alum sludge as an alternative to fly ash in fabricating geopolymer paste and mortar. The blending of this industrial waste (alum sludge and fly ash) is not only for the benefit of sustainable construction and disposal of industrial waste but also for the reduction of CO2 emissions due to the increasing production of Portland cement from the cement production industry. A laboratory investigation was carried out on the workability and mechanical properties of geopolymer paste and mortar produced with alum sludge replacement in different proportions (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100). A combination of an alkaline solution of sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide of 14 molarity was employed as an activator for the manufacturing of both paste and mortar geopolymer specimens. It was observed from the findings that geopolymer paste and mortar was flowable and workable when alum sludge is replaced for fly ash at higher replacement content. The addition of alum sludge to the mix improved some properties such as density, strength, water absorption, and the elevated temperature behavior. It was observed that the addition of alum sludge was optimum at the 50% replacement level. The addition of alum sludge up to 50% significantly increased the compressive strength of mortar (up to 80% increase in 28 days strength). The compressive strength of the paste and mortar increased with an increase in curing age. Thus, alum sludge and fly ash can be employed together in the production of eco-friendly cementing material for environmental sustainability.
Modal Verbs in Sustainability Reports by the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford

This article presents and discusses a study on modal verbs in sustainability reports that are communicated online by the University of Cambridge (UC) and the University of Oxford (UO) in the United Kingdom. The study is based upon a contention proposed by Fløttum (2010), who posits that modal verbs are used in sustainability discourse as micro-linguistic means that are involved in a range of pragma-communicative strategies. Following Fløttum (2010), the present study seeks i) to establish the frequency of the occurrence of the so-called “central” modal verbs, i.e. can/could, may/might, must, shall/should, and will/would and ii) to identify their involvement in the programa-communicative strategies in the sustainability reports by UC and UO. The sustainability reports by UC and UO were analysed in the computer program AntConc version 4.0. 11 (Anthony, 2022) in order to compute the frequency of the central modal verbs. Thereafter, they were analysed qualitatively to establish their relationship with a range of pragma-communicative strategies that were employed in the sustainability reports by UC and UO, respectively. The quantitative computer-assisted analysis indicated that can and will were the most frequent modal verbs in the UC’s and UO’s sustainability reports. However, the qualitative investigation demonstrated that can and will were associated with different pragma-communicative strategies in the reports. The findings were further discussed in the article.
Virus-like Particle (VLP) Vaccines for Cancer Immunotherapy

Cancer vaccines are increasingly being studied as a possible strategy to prevent and treat cancers. While several prophylactic vaccines for virus-caused cancers are approved and efficiently used worldwide, the development of therapeutic cancer vaccines needs to be further implemented. Virus-like particles (VLPs) are self-assembled protein structures that mimic native viruses or bacteriophages but lack the replicative material. VLP platforms are designed to display single or multiple antigens with a high-density pattern, which can trigger both cellular and humoral responses. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of preventive VLP-based vaccines currently approved worldwide against HBV and HPV infections or under evaluation to prevent virus-caused cancers. Furthermore, preclinical and early clinical data on prophylactic and therapeutic VLP-based cancer vaccines were summarized with a focus on HER-2-positive breast cancer.