Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Vibration on Spasticity in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury: A Scoping Systematic Review

ABSTRACTThe objective of this systematic review was to evaluate how whole-body vibration (WBV) or focal vibration (FV) would change spasticity in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). A search was conducted of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO electronic databases. A hand search was conducted of the bibliographies of articles and journals relevant to the research question. The inclusion criteria were three or more individuals, 17 yrs or older, with SCI who experience spasticity, and WBV or FV application. The evidence level of all ten identified studies (195 SCI subjects) was low on the basis of Centre for Evidence Based Medicine level of evidence. WBV (n = 1) and FV (n = 9) were applied to assess the effects of vibration on different measures of spasticity in individuals with SCI. FV application resulted in a short-term spasticity reduction lasting for a maximum of 24 hrs. Neurophysiologic measures showed H-reflex inhibition in individuals with SCI after FV application. WBV resulted in a decrease in spasticity lasting for 6–8 days after the last vibration session. WBV and FV might decrease spasticity for a short period, but no evidence-based recommendation can be drawn from the literature to guide rehabilitation medicine clinicians to manage spasticity with vibration application.
Factors influencing breastfeeding exclusivity during the first 6 months of life in developing countries: a quantitative and qualitative systematic review.

Breastfeeding is the most advantageous feeding option for infants, and epidemiological studies provide evidence for its promotion. The objective of this review was to comprehensively delineate the barriers and facilitators of exclusive breastfeeding of infants aged 0-6 months old by mothers in developing countries. A search of CINAHL, MEDLINE and PsycINFO was carried out to retrieve studies from January 2001 to January 2014. Using our inclusion criteria, we selected studies that described barriers and facilitators of exclusive breastfeeding. Qualitative and quantitative studies were considered. Twenty-five studies involving 11 025 participants from 19 countries were included. Barriers and facilitators of exclusive/full breastfeeding were identified, analysed tabulated and summarised in this review. Maternal employment was the most frequently cited barrier to exclusive breastfeeding. Maternal perceptions of insufficient breast milk supply was pervasive among studies while medical barriers related to illness of mothers and/or infants as well as breast problems, rather than health care providers. Socio-cultural factors such as maternal and significant other's beliefs about infant nutrition also often constitute strong barriers to exclusive breastfeeding. Despite these barriers, mothers in developing countries often possess certain personal characteristics and develop strategic plans to enhance their success at breastfeeding. Health care providers should be informed about the determinants of exclusive breastfeeding and provide practical anticipatory guidance targeted at overcoming these barriers. In so doing, health care providers in developing countries can contribute to improving maternal and child health outcomes.
The value of the injury severity score in pediatric trauma: Time for a new definition of severe injury?

BACKGROUND The Injury Severity Score (ISS) is the most commonly used injury scoring system in trauma research and benchmarking. An ISS greater than 15 conventionally defines severe injury; however, no studies evaluate whether ISS performs similarly between adults and children. Our objective was to evaluate ISS and Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) to predict mortality and define optimal thresholds of severe injury in pediatric trauma. METHODS Patients from the Pennsylvania trauma registry 2000–2013 were included. Children were defined as younger than 16 years. Logistic regression predicted mortality from ISS for children and adults. The optimal ISS cutoff for mortality that maximized diagnostic characteristics was determined in children. Regression also evaluated the association between mortality and maximum AIS in each body region, controlling for age, mechanism, and nonaccidental trauma. Analysis was performed in single and multisystem injuries. Sensitivity analyses with alternative outcomes were performed. RESULTS Included were 352,127 adults and 50,579 children. Children had similar predicted mortality at ISS of 25 as adults at ISS of 15 (5%). The optimal ISS cutoff in children was ISS greater than 25 and had a positive predictive value of 19% and negative predictive value of 99% compared to a positive predictive value of 7% and negative predictive value of 99% for ISS greater than 15 to predict mortality. In single-system–injured children, mortality was associated with head (odds ratio, 4.80; 95% confidence interval, 2.61–8.84; p < 0.01) and chest AIS (odds ratio, 3.55; 95% confidence interval, 1.81–6.97; p < 0.01), but not abdomen, face, neck, spine, or extremity AIS (p > 0.05). For multisystem injury, all body region AIS scores were associated with mortality except extremities. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated ISS greater than 23 to predict need for full trauma activation, and ISS greater than 26 to predict impaired functional independence were optimal thresholds. CONCLUSION An ISS greater than 25 may be a more appropriate definition of severe injury in children. Pattern of injury is important, as only head and chest injury drive mortality in single-system–injured children. These findings should be considered in benchmarking and performance improvement efforts. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic study, level III.
Variation of spectral, structural, and vibrational properties within the intrinsically fluorescent proteins family: A density functional study

We report an extensive (time‐dependent) density functional study of the whole series of the chromophores within the Intrinsically Fluorescent Protein family, in the relevant conformations and protonation states. Over 30 structures are considered, including three newly discovered chromophores (zFP, Kaede, and the Orange variant of DsRed). Ab initio calculations on selected structures are also performed in order to assess the performances of TDDFT along the family. The use of a uniform scheme for all structures allows to establish relationships between the absorption energy and electrostatic, structural or vibrational properties of the chromophores. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2007
The gdhB Gene of Pseudomonas aeruginosaEncodes an Arginine-Inducible NAD+-Dependent Glutamate Dehydrogenase Which Is Subject to Allosteric Regulation

ABSTRACT The NAD+-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (NAD-GDH) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 was purified, and its amino-terminal amino acid sequence was determined. This sequence information was used in identifying and cloning the encodinggdhB gene and its flanking regions. The molecular mass predicted from the derived sequence for the encoded NAD-GDH was 182.6 kDa, in close agreement with that determined from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme (180 kDa). Cross-linking studies established that the native NAD-GDH is a tetramer of equal subunits. Comparison of the derived amino acid sequence of NAD-GDH from P. aeruginosa with the GenBank database showed the highest homology with hypothetical polypeptides from Pseudomonas putida, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Rickettsia prowazakii, Legionella pneumophila, Vibrio cholerae, Shewanella putrefaciens, Sinorhizobium meliloti, andCaulobacter crescentus. A moderate degree of homology, primarily in the central domain, was observed with the smaller tetrameric NAD-GDH (protomeric mass of 110 kDa) fromSaccharomyces cerevisiae or Neurospora crassa. Comparison with the yet smaller hexameric GDH (protomeric mass of 48 to 55 kDa) of other prokaryotes yielded a low degree of homology that was limited to residues important for binding of substrates and for catalytic function. NAD-GDH was induced 27-fold by exogenous arginine and only 3-fold by exogenous glutamate. Primer extension experiments established that transcription of gdhB is initiated from an arginine-inducible promoter and that this induction is dependent on the arginine regulatory protein, ArgR, a member of the AraC/XyIS family of regulatory proteins. NAD-GDH was purified to homogeneity from a recombinant strain of P. aeruginosa and characterized. The glutamate saturation curve was sigmoid, indicating positive cooperativity in the binding of glutamate. NAD-GDH activity was subject to allosteric control by arginine and citrate, which function as positive and negative effectors, respectively. Both effectors act by influencing the affinity of the enzyme for glutamate. NAD-GDH from this organism differs from previously characterized enzymes with respect to structure, protomer mass, and allosteric properties indicate that this enzyme represents a novel class of microbial glutamate dehydrogenases.
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Distilling the Neural Correlates of Consciousness

Solving the problem of consciousness remains one of the biggest challenges in modern science. One key step towards understanding consciousness is to empirically narrow down neural processes associated with the subjective experience of a particular content. To unravel these neural correlates of consciousness (NCC) a common scientific strategy is to compare perceptual conditions in which consciousness of a particular content is present with those in which it is absent, and to determine differences in measures of brain activity (the so called " contrastive analysis "). However, this comparison appears not to reveal exclusively the NCC, as the NCC proper can be confounded with prerequisites for and consequences of conscious processing of the particular content. This implies that previous results cannot be unequivocally interpreted as reflecting the neural correlates of conscious experience. Here we review evidence supporting this conjecture and suggest experimental strategies to untangle the NCC from the prerequisites and consequences of conscious experience in order to further develop the otherwise valid and valuable contrastive methodology. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
Regulation of Neuronal Differentiation by Proteins Associated with Nuclear Bodies

Nuclear bodies are large sub-nuclear structures composed of RNA and protein molecules. The Survival of Motor Neuron (SMN) protein localizes to Cajal bodies (CBs) and nuclear gems. Diminished cellular concentration of SMN is associated with the neurodegenerative disease Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). How nuclear body architecture and its structural components influence neuronal differentiation remains elusive. In this study, we analyzed the effects of SMN and two of its interaction partners in cellular models of neuronal differentiation. The nuclear 23 kDa isoform of Fibroblast Growth Factor – 2 (FGF-223) is one of these interacting proteins – and was previously observed to influence nuclear bodies by destabilizing nuclear gems and mobilizing SMN from Cajal bodies (CBs). Here we demonstrate that FGF-223 blocks SMN-promoted neurite outgrowth, and also show that SMN disrupts FGF-223-dependent transcription. Our results indicate that FGF-223 and SMN form an inactive complex that interferes with neuronal differentiation by mutually antagonizing nuclear functions. Coilin is another nuclear SMN binding partner and a marker protein for Cajal bodies (CBs). In addition, coilin is essential for CB function in maturation of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs). The role of coilin outside of Cajal bodies and its putative impacts in tissue differentiation are poorly defined. The present study shows that protein levels of nucleoplasmic coilin outside of CBs decrease during neuronal differentiation. Overexpression of coilin has an inhibitory effect on neurite outgrowth. Furthermore, we find that nucleoplasmic coilin inhibits neurite outgrowth independent of SMN binding revealing a new function for coilin in neuronal differentiation.
Dynamic Financial Constraints: Distinguishing Mechanism Design from Exogenously Incomplete Regimes

We formulate and solve a range of dynamic models of constrained credit/insurance that allow for moral hazard and limited commitment. We compare them to full insurance and exogenously incomplete financial regimes (autarky, saving only, borrowing and lending in a single asset). We develop computational methods based on mechanism design, linear programming, and maximum likelihood to estimate, compare, and statistically test these alternative dynamic models with financial/information constraints. Our methods can use both cross-sectional and panel data and allow for measurement error and unobserved heterogeneity. We estimate the models using data on Thai households running small businesses from two separate samples. We find that in the rural sample, the exogenously incomplete saving only and borrowing regimes provide the best fit using data on consumption, business assets, investment, and income. Family and other networks help consumption smoothing there, as in a moral hazard constrained regime. In contrast, in urban areas, we find mechanism design financial/information regimes that are decidedly less constrained, with the moral hazard model fitting best combined business and consumption data. We perform numerous robustness checks in both the Thai data and in Monte Carlo simulations and compare our maximum likelihood criterion with results from other metrics and data not used in the estimation. A prototypical counterfactual policy evaluation exercise using the estimation results is also featured.
1D thickness scaling study of phase change material (Ge2Sb2Te5) using a pseudo 3-terminal device

1D thickness scaling study on a-GST has been successfully demonstrated without the help of ultra-fine lithography. Vth linearly scales down to ∼0.65 V at 6 nm scale, showing that stable read operation is possible at elevated temperature (70 °C). Reset R drift shows no dependency on the a-GST thickness up to 6 nm regime. Thin a-GST shows enhanced thermal stability compared to thick a-GST.
Pharmacological modulation of subliminal learning in Parkinson's and Tourette's syndromes

Theories of instrumental learning aim to elucidate the mechanisms that integrate success and failure to improve future decisions. One computational solution consists of updating the value of choices in proportion to reward prediction errors, which are potentially encoded in dopamine signals. Accordingly, drugs that modulate dopamine transmission were shown to impact instrumental learning performance. However, whether these drugs act on conscious or subconscious learning processes remains unclear. To address this issue, we examined the effects of dopamine-related medications in a subliminal instrumental learning paradigm. To assess generality of dopamine implication, we tested both dopamine enhancers in Parkinson's disease (PD) and dopamine blockers in Tourette's syndrome (TS). During the task, patients had to learn from monetary outcomes the expected value of a risky choice. The different outcomes (rewards and punishments) were announced by visual cues, which were masked such that patients could not consciously perceive them. Boosting dopamine transmission in PD patients improved reward learning but worsened punishment avoidance. Conversely, blocking dopamine transmission in TS patients favored punishment avoidance but impaired reward seeking. These results thus extend previous findings in PD to subliminal situations and to another pathological condition, TS. More generally, they suggest that pharmacological manipulation of dopamine transmission can subconsciously drive us to either get more rewards or avoid more punishments.
Pride: The Essential Elements of a Forensic Interview with an Aboriginal Person

This paper summarises the barriers faced by Aboriginal people when participating in an interview in the English language, conducted as part of an investigation or assessment for the courts. The paper also outlines the critical elements of interviews with Aboriginal children and adults, where the primary goal is to obtain relevant and accurate information about a person or event. These elements which form the acronym PRIDE include Prior knowledge about the interviewee and the wider context, Rapport with the interviewee, Interpretative assistance (it required), a Diverse array of hypotheses about the event, and Effective questioning techniques for eliciting a free narrative.
Contractarian Compliance and the 'Sense of Justice': A Behavioral Conformity Model and Its Experimental Support

Abstract The social contract approach to the study if institutions aims at providing a solution to the problem of compliance with rational agreements in situations characterized by a conflict between individual rationality and social optimality. After a short discussion of some attempts to deal with this problem from a rational choice perspective, we focus on John Rawls's idea of 'sense of justice' and its application to the explanation of the stability of a well-ordered society. We show how the relevant features of Rawls's theory can be captured by a behavioral game theory model of beliefs dependent dispositions to comply, and we present the results of two experimental studies that provide support to the theory.
Fludarabine-Induced Apoptosis in CD19+?/CD5+ B-CLL Cells is a Direct and Nurse-Like-Cell Independent Effect

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is a hematological malignancy characterized by the accumulation of mature CD5 + B lymphocytes with a defective apoptosis. A subset of blood monocyte-derived adherent cells generated in vitro protects B-CLL cells from apoptosis playing a role as nurse-like cells (NLCs). Fludarabine (9-β-D-arabinofuranosyl-2-fluoroadenine; F-ara-A) is an adenine nucleoside analog used to treat B-CLL. To gain insight into the mechanisms implicated in the antitumoral effect of fludarabine in B-CLL cells, we performed cross-cultures with B-CLL cells and NLCs treated and untreated with fludarabine. Our results showed that fludarabine blocked the development of NLCs and induced apoptosis in these cells when they were present in culture. Moreover, CD19 + /CD5 + B-CLL cells treated with fludarabine underwent apoptosis and this event was not related with the presence of NLCs whether treated or not with fludarabine. In conclusion, apoptosis induced by fludarabine in CD19 + /CD5 + B-CLL cells was due to a direct effect on these cells and not due to its effect in the NLCs.
Effects of Blood Pressure Lowering on Intracranial and Extracranial Bleeding in Patients on Antithrombotic Therapy: The PROGRESS Trial

Background and Purpose— Observational studies demonstrate strong associations between blood pressure and bleeding complications of antithrombotic therapy. The objective was to determine whether blood pressure lowering reduces risks of bleeding in patients on antithrombotic therapy. Methods— This is a subsidiary analysis of the Perindopril Protection Against Recurrent Stroke Study (PROGRESS) trial, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. A total of 6105 patients with cerebrovascular disease were randomly assigned to either active treatment (perindopril±indapamide) or placebo(s). The outcomes were intracranial and extracranial bleeding. Results— There were 4876 (80%) patients on antithrombotic therapy at baseline. Over a mean follow-up of 3.9 years, 119 intracranial and 123 extracranial bleeding events were observed. Among patients with and without antithrombotic therapy, active treatment lowered blood pressure by 8.9/4.0 and 9.3/3.8 mm Hg and reduced the risks of intracranial bleeding by 46% (95% CI, 7%–69%) and 70% (39%–85%), respectively. However, active treatment did not reduce the risks of extracranial bleeding significantly in either group. Among patients on antithrombotic therapy, the lowest risk of intracranial bleeding was observed in participants with the lowest follow-up systolic blood pressure levels (median, 113 mm Hg). Conclusions— Blood pressure lowering provides protection against intracranial bleeding among patients with cerebrovascular disease including those receiving antithrombotic therapy. Clinical Trial Registration Information— This trial was not registered because patients were enrolled before July 1, 2005.
Efficient distributed OPF for decentralized power system operations and electricity markets

This paper explores the feasibility of fully-distributed architectures for the electric power industry. In such architectures, the various electric power ecosystems interact with each other to achieve their own operational and economic objectives without the need for real-time centralized coordination or optimization. This paper uses an efficient distributed optimal power flow algorithm which is applicable to generic power ecosystem optimization, and it describes the ecosystem interaction protocols for operation and trading. The proposed algorithm is illustrated in detail for a small case, and performance results are provided for a large, realistic-size case. The results provided demonstrate the feasibility of such a distributed architecture that can ultimately scale from interconnections to homes.
Comparative histological study of levels 1–3 supportive tissues using pelvic floor semiserial sections from elderly nulliparous and multiparous women

Aim: The connective tissue located between the uterine cervix and sacrospinous ligament (the uterospinous connective tissue; USCT) has recently been noted as the level 1 supportive tissue instead of the classical uterosacral ligament. We examined whether or not the USCT changes its histological architecture by vaginal delivery in correlation with the levels 2 and 3 supportive tissues.
Comparison of Clinical Success of Applying a Kind of Fissure Sealant on the Lower Permanent Molar Teeth in Dry and Wet Conditions

Statement of the Problem Fissure sealant therapy is among the most effective methods of preventing dental caries. However, it is lengthy and isolation of the teeth is difficult in this procedure especially in young children. Using new hydrophilic fissure sealant may reduce such problems. Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the clinical success of a hydrophilic fissure sealant on the lower permanent molar teeth in dry and wet conditions. Materials and Method This clinical trial assessed 31 patients (mean age 8.13±1.77 years) who needed fissure sealant therapy on their first or second mandibular permanent molar. Having performed dental prophylaxis, the teeth were etched and rinsed. Then one of the two was randomly selected and sealed with smartseal & loc in isolated and dry conditions; while, the other was wetted on the etched enamel by using a saliva-contaminated micro brush, and was then sealed with the same fissure as the first tooth. Six and 12 months later, two independent observers examined the clinical success of sealant through checking the marginal integrity, marginal discoloration, and anatomical form. Data were analyzed by using SPSS software, version 16. The bivariate Chi-square and Exact Fisher tests were used to compare the clinical success of the two treatment methods. Results There was a high interpersonal reliability between the two examiners (K= 0.713). After 12 months, 90.3% clinical success was observed in dry conditions and 83.9% in wet conditions for smartseal & loc; however, the difference was not statistically significant (p= 0.0707). Conclusion According to the results of this study, it seems that using new hydrophilic fissure sealant can reduce technical sensitivities and consequently decreases the apprehensions on saliva contamination of etched enamel during treatment procedures.