Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigating the Clinical Utility of the Anti-Mullerian Hormone Testing for the Prediction of Age at Menopause and Assessment of Functional Ovarian Reserve: A Practical Approach and Recent Updates

Low ovarian reserve is a serious condition, leading to sterility in up to 10% of women in their mid-thirties. According to current knowledge, serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels for age are the best available marker for the screening the quantity of a woman’s functional ovarian reserve, better than age alone or other reproductive markers. This review summarizes recent findings, clinical utility and limitations in the application of serum AMH testing as an accurate marker for the screening of functional ovarian reserves and predicting age at menopause. AMH assessment hold promise in helping women make informed decisions about their future fertility and desired family size. However, screening of the functional ovarian reserve could be offered to all women at 26 years of age or older who seek to assess future fertility or in case of personal request, ovarian reserve screening may be considered beyond 30 years; however, it has never been advocated beyond 35 years, since it is not advisable to delay childbearing beyond this age. In this respect, an age-specific serum AMH levels lower than the 10th percentile may be used as a threshold for the identification of a low functional ovarian reserve in an individual woman. Its level should be interpreted with caution in the adolescent and young women aged below 25 years (since AMH levels peak at this age); recent users of hormonal contraceptives (since AMH levels transiently decrease until two months after discontinuation); and women with PCOS (which dramatically increases AMH levels). However, the ability of AMH levels to predict the time to menopause is promising but requires further investigation and routine AMH testing for the purposes of predicting the time to menopause is not recommended.
Functional Movement Screen (FMS™) score does not predict injury in English Premier League youth academy football players

ABSTRACT Purpose: despite being commonly used, the interaction between Functional Movement Screen (FMS™) score and injury in any elite football population has not been studied. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between FMS™ score and non-contact injury among elite youth players from a Premier League football academy. Materials and methods: eighty-four players were screened during the pre-season period and non-contact injuries recorded prospectively for the entirety of the 2013/14 football season. Logistic regression analysis was utilized to explore the relationships between the individual sub-tests of the FMS™ and injury. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the predictive value of the FMS™ composite score. Results: logistic regression revealed no relationships between score achieved on the individual sub-tests and injury. ROC curves indicated poor predictive ability of the composite score. Players scoring below the identified cut-off values (≤14 or ≤15 depending on injury type considered) were 0.66 (95%CI: 0.40-1.10), 0.70 (95%CI: 0.32-1.57) and 1.52 (95%CI: 0.50-4.61) times as likely to suffer ‘any’, ‘overuse’ and ‘severe’ injuries respectively than those who scored above the identified cut-off values. Conclusions: there was no relationship between FMS™ score and injury. It was unable to predict any non-contact injury among English Premier League youth academy players. Practical implications: The present findings suggest that the FMS™ should not be used for risk stratification among young elite soccer players since the composite score was unrelated to injury likelihood. However, the FMS™ may be useful in other ways. For example, it may provide useful information to applied practitioners when designing strength-training programs for groups of players they are unfamiliar with, as is often the case at the start of a new season.
Importance, limits and caveats of the use of “disorders of consciousness” to theorize consciousness

Abstract The clinical and fundamental exploration of patients suffering from disorders of consciousness (DoC) is commonly used by researchers both to test some of their key theoretical predictions and to serve as a unique source of empirical knowledge about possible dissociations between consciousness and cognitive and/or neural processes. For instance, the existence of states of vigilance free of any self-reportable subjective experience [e.g. “vegetative state (VS)” and “complex partial epileptic seizure”] originated from DoC and acted as a cornerstone for all theories by dissociating two concepts that were commonly equated and confused: vigilance and conscious state. In the present article, we first expose briefly the major achievements in the exploration and understanding of DoC. We then propose a synthetic taxonomy of DoC, and we finally highlight some current limits, caveats and questions that have to be addressed when using DoC to theorize consciousness. In particular, we show (i) that a purely behavioral approach of DoC is insufficient to characterize the conscious state of patients; (ii) that the comparison between patients in a minimally conscious state (MCS) and patients in a VS [also coined as unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS)] does not correspond to a pure and minimal contrast between unconscious and conscious states and (iii) we emphasize, in the light of original resting-state positron emission tomography data, that behavioral MCS captures an important but misnamed clinical condition that rather corresponds to a cortically mediated state and that MCS does not necessarily imply the preservation of a conscious state.
In Times of Adversity: A Neuroscience Perspective on Stress, Health, and Implications for Society Post-pandemic

The relationship between chronic stress and chronic disease (including mental illness) is well established: HPA-axis hyperactivity leads to hormonal dysregulation of primary mediators (eg, glucocorticoids, cytokines, etc.), allostatic overload, and neurological degradation, followed by clinical manifestations of disease. Amid the largest public health crisis of the century lay a myriad of challenges pushing people beyond their limit. From experiencing loss of connection or dealing with loss of life to financial shocks of COVID-19 lockdowns or infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, stress is at an all-time high, threatening both brain and mental health at scale. Fortunately, there is a way forward: the neuroscience of resilience teaches us that it is possible to resist, recover, and redirect the brain from trauma to re-establish balance in the body and improve well-being. At the same time, health follows a social gradient: adverse and protective psychosocial factors are shaped by wider social and economic determinants of health. This paper argues the neurobiology of stress is not separate from health disparities linked to adverse factors (ie, stress) created by complex social and economic contexts. Therefore, the field of neuroscience is challenged to inform multi-context and multi-level approaches and engage with decision-makers to enact policies and interventions aimed at promoting the resilient element in a wider population health context. Undoubtedly, achieving such a goal for current and future generations to benefit and lead healthier lives requires a heroic effort from all key stakeholders. The cost of willful neglect to resolve these issues is too expensive.
Development of an exoglycosidase plate-based assay for detecting α1-3,4 fucosylation biomarker in individuals with HNF1A-MODY

Abstract Maturity-onset diabetes of the young due to hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 alpha variants (HNF1A-MODY) causes monogenic diabetes. Individuals carrying damaging variants in HNF1A show decreased levels of α1-3,4 fucosylation, as demonstrated on antennary fucosylation of blood plasma N-glycans. The excellent diagnostic performance of this glycan biomarker in blood plasma N-glycans of individuals with HNF1A-MODY has been demonstrated using liquid chromatography methods. Here, we have developed a high-throughput exoglycosidase plate-based assay to measure α1-3,4 fucosylation levels in blood plasma samples. The assay has been optimized and its validity tested using 1000 clinical samples from a cohort of individuals with young-adult onset diabetes including cases with HNF1A-MODY. The α1-3,4 fucosylation levels in blood plasma showed a good differentiating power in identifying cases with damaging HNF1A variants, as demonstrated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis with the AUC values of 0.87 and 0.95. This study supports future development of a simple diagnostic test to measure this glycan biomarker for application in a clinical setting.
Personal Computer (PC)-Based Flood Monitoring System using Cloud Computing

Urban cities in the Philippines are prone to floods. Every year, lives and properties are taken away by flood without warning. The aim of this research is to design a system that can monitor the water level using sensors and sends an alert level text message to barangay officials of the affected area. The computer program keeps track of the measurement of the water level from time to time and creates a record into a database. Clickatellâ€™s global short message service (SMS) gateway has been effectively used for sending the mobile communication data through Peripheral Interface Controller (PIC), a form of small computer commonly used to process data coming from sensing devices and then display the result for processing. The warning system is a quick method of alerting people of the coming danger brought about by these natural phenomena fast enough compare to manual monitoring used in the past. The prototype can be easily integrated into a computer program that will help the system in monitoring timelines and water level using PIC integrated circuits (ICs). Furthermore, the system as communication environment, broadcast information in the form of recorded data in the database. In this manner, many individuals are informed and are given warnings on the dangers brought by floods.
Zur Modellierung und Simulation biomechanischer Mehrkörpersysteme

Die vorliegende Arbeit ist durch Problemstellungen motiviert, die im Rahmen des Sonderforschungsbereichs 588 entstanden sind. Sie behandelt verschiedene Aspekte der rechnergestutzten Mehrkorperdynamik im Hinblick auf die biomechanische Modellierung. Ein wichtiges Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, die wesentlichen kinematischen und dynamischen Eigenschaften desMenschen modelltechnisch zu erfassen, wobei die Entwicklung von biomechanischen Simulationsmodellen des Menschen im Vordergrund steht.
Developing a Residence Candidate File for Use With Employer-Employee Matched Data

This paper describes the Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) program’s ongoing efforts to use administrative records in a predictive model that describes residence locations for workers. This project was motivated by the discontinuation of a residence file produced elsewhere at the U.S. Census Bureau. The goal of the Residence Candidate File (RCF) process is to provide the LEHD Infrastructure Files with residence information that maintains currency with the changing state of administrative sources and represents uncertainty in location as a probability distribution. The discontinued file provided only a single residence per person/year, even when contributing administrative data may have contained multiple residences. This paper describes the motivation for the project, our methodology, the administrative data sources, the model estimation and validation results, and the file specifications. We find that the best prediction of the person-place model provides similar, but superior, accuracy compared with previous methods and performs well for workers in the LEHD jobs frame. We outline possibilities for further improvement in sources and modeling as well as recommendations on how to use the preference weights in downstream processing.
Data Warehousing

From the Publisher: Though companies have amassed an enormous amount of data, they haven't always been able to use it because it is unstructured, unintegrated, or polluted. This book shows how to transform this vast pool of data into information of strategic significance. Taking up where database marketing leaves off, it offers practical ideas for businesses to realize staggering response rates from mailings, focused marketing campaigns, and more.
Pre-existing helminth infection impairs the efficacy of adjuvanted influenza vaccination in mice

The world health organization estimates that more than a quarter of the human population is infected with parasitic worms that are called helminths. Many helminths suppress the immune system of their hosts to prolong their survival. This helminth-induced immunosuppression “spills over” to unrelated antigens and can suppress the immune response to vaccination against other pathogens. Indeed, several human studies have reported a negative correlation between helminth infections and responses to vaccinations. Using mice that are infected with the parasitic nematode Litomosoides sigmodontis as a model for chronic human filarial infections, we reported previously that concurrent helminth infection impaired the vaccination-induced protection against the human pathogenic 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus (2009 pH1N1). Vaccinated, helminth-infected mice produced less neutralizing, influenza-specific antibodies than vaccinated naïve control mice. Consequently helminth-infected and vaccinated mice were not protected against a challenge infection with influenza virus but displayed high virus burden in the lung and a transient weight loss. In the current study we tried to improve the vaccination efficacy using vaccines that are licensed for humans. We either introduced a prime-boost vaccination regimen using the non-adjuvanted anti-influenza vaccine Begripal or employed the adjuvanted influenza vaccine Fluad. Although both strategies elevated the production of influenza-specific antibodies and protected mice from the transient weight loss that is caused by an influenza challenge infection, sterile immunity was not achieved. Helminth-infected vaccinated mice still had high virus burden in the lung while non-helminth-infected vaccinated mice rapidly cleared the virus. In summary we demonstrate that basic improvements of influenza vaccination regimen are not sufficient to confer sterile immunity on the background of helminth-induced immunosuppression, despite amelioration of pathology i.e. weight loss. Our findings highlight the risk of failed vaccinations in helminth-endemic areas, especially in light of the ongoing vaccination campaign to control the COVID-19 pandemic.
Patterns of antibiotic cross-resistance by bacterial sample source: a retrospective cohort study

Background Antimicrobial resistance is a major healthcare burden, exasperated when it extends to multiple drugs. While cross-resistance across multiple drugs is well-studied experimentally, it is not the case in clinical settings, and especially not while considering confounding. In addition, bacteria from different sample sources may have undergone different evolutionary trajectories, therefore examining cross-resistance across sources is desirable. Methods We employed additive Bayesian network (ABN) modelling to examine antibiotic cross- resistance in five major bacterial species, obtained from different sources (urine, wound, blood, and sputum) in a clinical setting, collected in a large hospital in Israel over a 4-year period. ABN modelling allowed for examination of the relationship between resistance to different drugs while controlling for major confounding variables. Findings Patterns of cross-resistance differ across sample sources. Importantly, even when positive cross-resistance exists between two antibiotics in different sample sources, its magnitude may vary substantially. Interpretation Our results highlight the importance of considering sample sources when assessing likelihood of antibiotic cross-resistance and determining antibiotic treatment regimens and policies.
Regulation of open populations of a stream insect through larval density dependence

Abstract In organisms with complex life cycles, the various stages occupy different habitats creating demographically open populations. The dynamics of these populations will depend on the occurrence and timing of stochastic influences relative to demographic density dependence, but understanding of these fundamentals, especially in the face of climate warming, has been hampered by the difficulty of empirical studies. Using a logically feasible organism, we conducted a replicated density‐perturbation experiment to manipulate late‐instar larvae of nine populations of a stream caddisfly, Zelandopsyche ingens, and measured the resulting abundance over 2 years covering the complete life cycle of one cohort to evaluate influences on dynamics. Negative density feedback occurred in the larval stage, and was sufficiently strong to counteract variation in abundance due to manipulation of larval density, adult caddis dispersal in the terrestrial environment as well as downstream drift of newly hatched and older larvae in the current. This supports theory indicating regulation of open populations must involve density dependence in local populations sufficient to offset variability associated with dispersal, especially during recruitment, and pinpoints the occurrence to late in the larval life cycle and driven by food resource abundance. There were large variations in adult, egg mass and early instar abundance that were not related to abundance in the previous stage, or the manipulation, pointing to large stochastic influences. Thus, the results also highlight the complementary nature of stochastic and deterministic influences on open populations. Such density dependence will enhance population persistence in situations where variable dispersal and transitioning between life stages frequently creates mismatches between abundance and the local availability of resources, such as might become more common with climate warming.
Preliminary construct validity of a memory concerns scale derived from a PROMIS® item bank in a spanish-speaking sample

ABSTRACT This study examined preliminary evidence of construct validity in a stand-alone memory concerns scale constructed from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) Cognitive Function item bank. A sample of 396 individuals, ages 18–75 (M = 33.7, SD = 12.7), from Spain and Latin America completed an online survey regarding lifetime exposure to factors associated with neurological compromise. The sample was 69.4% female. Respondents completed 8 items from the PROMIS® Cognitive Function item bank v1.0 dealing with memory concerns (MCS-8) along with the PROMIS® 8-item short form reflecting general cognitive concerns (CCS-8). The MCS-8 had high internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.90), and represented a factor distinct from general cognitive concerns items on the CCS-8 in confirmatory factor analysis. Analysis of covariance controlling for sex, age, and education, showed that individuals endorsing history of exposure to sources of neurological compromise scored significantly lower T-scores on the MCS-8 than those who did not report any such history, F(1,390) = 6.4, p = 0.012. Older age was significantly associated with greater memory concerns, a relationship with age not observed with the CCS-8. As a stand-alone self-report measure, the MCS-8 appears to measure a construct distinct from general cognitive concerns that may be of interest for further research in clinical populations.
Rapid assessment of the temporal function and phenotypic reversibility of neurodevelopmental disorder risk genes in Caenorhabditis elegans

Hundreds of genes have been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. Previous studies have indicated that some phenotypes caused by decreased developmental function of select risk genes can be reversed by restoring gene function in adulthood. However, very few risk genes have been assessed for adult reversibility. We developed a strategy to rapidly assess the temporal requirements and phenotypic reversibility of neurodevelopmental disorder risk gene orthologs using a conditional protein degradation system and machine vision phenotypic profiling in Caenorhabditis elegans. Using this approach, we measured the effects of degrading and re- expressing orthologs of 3 neurodevelopmental risk genes EBF3, BRN3A, and DYNC1H1 across 30 morphological, locomotor, sensory, and learning phenotypes at multiple timepoints throughout development. We found some degree of phenotypic reversibility was possible for each gene studied. However, the temporal requirements of gene function and degree of phenotypic reversibility varied by gene and phenotype. The data reflects the dynamic nature of gene function and the importance of using multiple time windows of degradation and re-expression to understand the many roles a gene can play over developmental time. This work also demonstrates a strategy of using a high-throughput model system to investigate temporal requirements of gene function across a large number of phenotypes to rapidly prioritize neurodevelopmental disorder genes for re-expression studies in other organisms. SUMMARY STATEMENT We developed a strategy that combines a conditional and reversible protein degradation system with our high-throughput machine vision tracking system to assess the temporal windows of gene function and reversibility of phenotypic disruptions associated with neurodevelopmental disorder risk gene orthologs using C. elegans. Using this approach, we assessed 3 genes (unc- 3, unc-86, and dhc-1) and found that post-embryonic rescue was possible for each gene and each phenotypic feature class assessed. Re-activation of certain genes was able to reverse multiple phenotypic disruptions late into development without inducing novel phenotypes, prioritizing them for further study.
Interpersonal bonds with fellow nationals, blind patriotism and preference for Immigrants' acculturation

Strong interpersonal bonds between group members have been found to either increase intergroup antipathy or improve intergroup attitudes, depending on the intergroup situation. However, the question of whether close ties with fellow group members can contribute positively and negatively to intergroup attitudes at the same time remains unexplored. We explore this question in the context of a national group taking the example of Finns' acculturation attitudes toward immigrants. One adolescent sample (N = 401) and one adult student sample (N = 285) completed surveys assessing these factors. Across both studies, strong interpersonal bonds with fellow nationals showed a negative effect on acculturation attitudes toward immigrants via an increase in blind patriotism. At the same time, interpersonal bonds also had a direct and positive effect on attitudes toward contact with Finns and (among younger respondents only) attitudes toward cultural maintenance. Our results indicate that the strength of interpersonal bonds with fellow nationals has simultaneous and opposing associations with acculturation attitudes via a combination of direct and indirect pathways. Based on these results we argue that groups can be simultaneously both caring and moral communities.