Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Erythropoietin Ameliorates Rat Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis by Inducing Transforming Growth Factor-Beta in Macrophages

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a pleiotropic cytokine originally identified for its role in erythropoiesis. In addition, in various preclinical models EPO exhibited protective activity against tissue injury. There is an urgent need for potent treatments of autoimmune driven disorders of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), such as the Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a disabling autoimmune disease associated with relevant morbidity and mortality. To test the therapeutic potential of EPO in experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) - an animal model of human GBS – immunological and clinical effects were investigated in a preventive and a therapeutic paradigm. Treatment with EPO reduced clinical disease severity and if given therapeutically also shortened the recovery phase of EAN. Clinical findings were mirrored by decreased inflammation within the peripheral nerve, and myelin was well maintained in treated animals. In contrast, EPO increased the number of macrophages especially in later stages of the experimental disease phase. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory cytokine transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta was upregulated in the treated cohorts. In vitro experiments revealed less proliferation of T cells in the presence of EPO and TGF-beta was moderately induced, while the secretion of other cytokines was almost not altered by EPO. Our data suggest that EPO revealed its beneficial properties by the induction of beneficial macrophages and the modulation of the immune system towards anti-inflammatory responses in the PNS. Further studies are warranted to elaborate the clinical usefulness of EPO for treating immune-mediated neuropathies in affected patients.
5-Hydroxytryptamine 5HT2C Receptors Form a Protein Complex with N-Methyl-d-aspartate GluN2A Subunits and Activate Phosphorylation of Src Protein to Modulate Motoneuronal Depolarization*

Background: 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5HT) modulates N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) depolarization. Results: 5HT2C co-immunoprecipitates with GluN2A and enhances NMDA motoneuronal depolarization through phosphorylation of SrcTyr-416. Conclusion: 5HT modulates NMDA through Src phosphorylation in a molecular complex that is localized in the processes of spinal neurons. Significance: 5HT2C modulation of NMDA excitation is coordinated by a molecular complex. N-Methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-gated ion channels are known to play a critical role in motoneuron depolarization, but the molecular mechanisms modulating NMDA activation in the spinal cord are not well understood. This study demonstrates that activated 5HT2C receptors enhance NMDA depolarizations recorded electrophysiologically from motoneurons. Pharmacological studies indicate involvement of Src tyrosine kinase mediates 5HT2C facilitation of NMDA. RT-PCR analysis revealed edited forms of 5HT2C were present in mammalian spinal cord, indicating the availability of G-protein-independent isoforms. Spinal cord neurons treated with the 5HT2C agonist MK 212 showed increased SrcTyr-416 phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner thus verifying that Src is activated after treatment. In addition, 5HT2C antagonists and tyrosine kinase inhibitors blocked 5HT2C-mediated SrcTyr-416 phosphorylation and also enhanced NMDA-induced motoneuron depolarization. Co-immunoprecipitation of synaptosomal fractions showed that GluN2A, 5HT2C receptors, and Src tyrosine kinase form protein associations in synaptosomes. Moreover, immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated GluN2A and 5HT2C receptors co-localize on the processes of spinal neurons. These findings reveal that a distinct multiprotein complex links 5-hydroxytryptamine-activated intracellular signaling events with NMDA-mediated functional activity.
Life evaluation of a combustion chamber by thermomechanical fatigue panel tests based on a creep fatigue and ductile damage model

The inner liner of a combustion chamber of a cryogenic liquid rocket engine is exposed to a high load induced by the high temperature of the hot gas and the low temperature of the coolant. The high load causes some inelastic strain that accumulates with each operational cycle until the fracture or rupture of the inner liner. A model that can reproduce the propagation of damage under a thermally cycled load is essential for precisely predicting the chamber life. However, the damage propagation phenomenon or the quantitative value of the damage was so far not fully discussed using the damage data obtained from basic testing of a rocket chamber material. The purpose of the present study was to investigate a precise prediction model based on damage mechanics for simulating the damage propagation of a rocket chamber material. In this study, low cycle fatigue test data at a high temperature (900 K) were analyzed, and damage models that could reproduce the damage propagation under cyclic load conditions were investigated. Then the parameters were identified to reproduce uniaxial test data. These damage models were also subject to a finite element method analysis of a thermomechanical fatigue panel test in order to quantitatively evaluate the deformation, damage propagation, and life of a chamber wall. The analysis of low cycle fatigue test data at 900 K suggested a specific model that could precisely reproduce the damage propagation phenomenon and the basic material test data. From the results, it was confirmed that the model could predict the location of crack initiation.
Large-scale model of mammalian thalamocortical systems

The understanding of the structural and dynamic complexity of mammalian brains is greatly facilitated by computer simulations. We present here a detailed large-scale thalamocortical model based on experimental measures in several mammalian species. The model spans three anatomical scales. (i) It is based on global (white-matter) thalamocortical anatomy obtained by means of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of a human brain. (ii) It includes multiple thalamic nuclei and six-layered cortical microcircuitry based on in vitro labeling and three-dimensional reconstruction of single neurons of cat visual cortex. (iii) It has 22 basic types of neurons with appropriate laminar distribution of their branching dendritic trees. The model simulates one million multicompartmental spiking neurons calibrated to reproduce known types of responses recorded in vitro in rats. It has almost half a billion synapses with appropriate receptor kinetics, short-term plasticity, and long-term dendritic spike-timing-dependent synaptic plasticity (dendritic STDP). The model exhibits behavioral regimes of normal brain activity that were not explicitly built-in but emerged spontaneously as the result of interactions among anatomical and dynamic processes. We describe spontaneous activity, sensitivity to changes in individual neurons, emergence of waves and rhythms, and functional connectivity on different scales.
Serotyping of 800 Strains of Erysipelothrix Isolated from Pigs Affected with Erysipelas and Discrimination of Attenuated Live Vaccine Strain by Genotyping

ABSTRACT Eight hundred Erysipelothrix strains isolated between 1992 and 2002 from swine with erysipelas in Japan were serotyped. Thirty-seven, 47, 73, and 643 strains were isolated from animals with acute septicemia, urticaria, chronic endocarditis, and chronic arthritis, respectively, of which 381, 146, 254, and 19 isolates belonged to serotypes 1a, 1b, and 2b and other serotypes, respectively. All serotype 1a isolates were further examined for acriflavine resistance and their genotypes to discriminate them from the attenuated live vaccine strain, defined as serotype 1a, which is resistant to 0.02% acriflavine and which shows low levels of pathogenicity in mice. Of the serotype 1a isolates, 64.6% were acriflavine resistant, with 98.4% of these acriflavine-resistant strains having been isolated from animals with chronic arthritis. By randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis, almost all the acriflavine-resistant serotype 1a strains showed the 253-bp band characteristic of vaccine strains and were easily discriminated from all 113 strains of acriflavine-sensitive serotype 1a strains from animals with acute and subacute swine erysipelas. The incidence of acriflavine-resistant strains of the distinctive RAPD type 1-2 was markedly higher than that of the other RAPD types and serotypes. RAPD type 1-2 strains also included a specific group identifiable by restriction fragment length polymorphism DNA analysis. Furthermore, the pathogenicities of 29 isolates of RAPD type 1-2 for mice were lower than those of the 21 isolates of other RAPD types. Our results indicate that RAPD type 1-2 strains are live vaccine strains and that 37% of the cases of chronic swine erysipelas detected in the past 11 years in Japan have occurred as a side effect of live vaccine use.
Arthroscopically Assisted Evacuation of Brodie’s Abscess of Distal Femur

Brodie’s abscess is a type of subacute osteomyelitis. Opinions differ as to whether treatment should be surgical or medical for these classic lesions. Failure of symptoms to resolve after six weeks of antibiotics or worsening of the condition during treatment should be followed by surgical treatment. Clinical signs of subperiosteal pus or synovitis indicate that the subacute infection has transformed into an acute component, and it must be drained surgically. Surgical treatment is comprised of evacuation and curettage for small lesions and evacuation, packing with cancellous bone chips, for large cavities. When clinical signs of synovitis are present, with a possibility of pus within a joint, arthrotomy is performed. Arthroscopically assisted evacuation of Brodie’s abscess from the distal femur has never been reported in the literature. We report a case of a 23-year-old female who presented with pain and swelling over the left knee for four months. There was diffuse swelling in the knee; tenderness was present over medial femoral condyle and range of motion (ROM) of the knee was five to 45 degrees at the time of presentation. X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed Brodie’s abscess on the lateral aspect of the medial femoral condyle. The patient was treated with the evacuation of pus and curettage of the cavity using an arthroscope. After two weeks, the patient had mild pain with knee ROM from zero to 45 degrees, and at the one-month follow-up, the knee ROM improved to zero to 90 degrees. At the two-year follow-up, the patient had no pain, with knee ROM from zero to 120 degrees.
Structural and Functional Characterization of a Phosphatase Domain within Yeast General Transcription Factor IIIC

Background: Subunit τ55 of TFIIIC contains a phosphatase domain of unknown function. Results: Crystal structures of the τ55 phosphatase domain and its paralogue Huf, in silico docking, in vitro candidate approaches, and in vivo phosphoproteomics identified phosphopeptides as substrates. Conclusion: τ55-HPD and Huf hydrolyze phosphopeptides in proteins of different cellular functions. Significance: Protein phosphatase activities of τ55 and Huf contribute to regulating metabolic networks. Saccharomyces cerevisiae τ55, a subunit of the RNA polymerase III-specific general transcription factor TFIIIC, comprises an N-terminal histidine phosphatase domain (τ55-HPD) whose catalytic activity and cellular function is poorly understood. We solved the crystal structures of τ55-HPD and its closely related paralogue Huf and used in silico docking methods to identify phosphoserine- and phosphotyrosine-containing peptides as possible substrates that were subsequently validated using in vitro phosphatase assays. A comparative phosphoproteomic study identified additional phosphopeptides as possible targets that show the involvement of these two phosphatases in the regulation of a variety of cellular functions. Our results identify τ55-HPD and Huf as bona fide protein phosphatases, characterize their substrate specificities, and provide a small set of regulated phosphosite targets in vivo.
Survival study of vascular dementia in Rochester, Minnesota.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between features and definitions of vascular dementia (VaD) and survival. DESIGN We used the medical records linkage system of the Rochester Epidemiology Project to identify incident cases of dementia in Rochester from January 1, 1985, through December 31, 1989. Dementia and Alzheimer disease were defined using the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. Vascular dementia was defined by ad hoc criteria, including imaging. Each patient with dementia was matched by age and sex to a referent subject free of dementia. Patients with dementia and referent subjects were followed from the onset of dementia (or index year) through death, censoring, or the end of the study. RESULTS We included 479 patients with incident dementia and 479 referent subjects. Overall, patients with VaD had worse mortality than referent subjects (relative risk [RR], 2.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9-3.9). Among patients with VaD, those with dementia temporally related to a stroke had a worse relative mortality (RR, 4.5; 95% CI, 2.7-7.4) than those with only imaging evidence of bilateral infarctions in gray matter structures (RR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.5-3.8). Relative mortality estimates varied by using 3 sets of published diagnostic criteria for VaD. Patients with VaD had a higher RR of death (RR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.9-3.9) than patients with dementia overall (RR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.6-2.1) or patients with Alzheimer disease (RR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.2-1.7). CONCLUSIONS The relative mortality of patients with VaD varied depending on the set of diagnostic criteria used. A temporal relationship to a stroke was the strongest predictive feature for poor survival in patients with dementia.
Development of the Motivational Interviewing Supervision and Training Scale.

The movement to use empirically supported treatments has increased the need for researchers and supervisors to evaluate therapists' adherence to and the quality with which they implement those interventions. Few empirically supported approaches exist for providing these types of evaluations. This is also true for motivational interviewing, an empirically supported intervention important in the addictions field. This study describes the development and psychometric evaluation of the Motivational Interviewing Supervision and Training Scale (MISTS), a measure intended for use in training and supervising therapists implementing motivational interviewing. Satisfactory interrater reliability was found (generalizability coefficient p(2) = . 79), and evidence was found supporting the convergent and discriminant validity of the MISTS. Recommendations for refinement of the measure and future research are discussed.
Dermatomal somatosensory evoked potential demonstration of nerve root decompression after VAX-D therapy

Abstract Reductions in low back pain and referred leg pain associated with a diagnosis of herniated disc, degenerative disc disease or facet syndrome have previously been reported after treatment with a VAX-D table, which intermittently distracts the spine. The object of this study was to use dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials (DSSEPs) to demonstrate lumbar root decompression following VAX-D therapy. Seven consecutive patients with a diagnosis of low back pain and unilateral or bilateral L5 or S1 radiculopathy were studied at our center. Disc herniation at the L5-S1 level was documented by MRI or CT in all patients. All patients were studied bilaterally by DSSEPs at L5 and S1 before and after VAX-D therapy. All patients had at least 50% improvement in radicular symptoms and low back pain and three of them experienced complete resolution of all symptoms. The average pain reduction was 77%. The number of treatment sessions varied from 12 to 35. DSSEPs were considered to show improvement if triphasic characteristics returned or a 50% or greater increase in the P1-P2 amplitude was seen. All patients showed improvement in DSSEPs after VAX-D therapy either ipsilateral or contralateral to the symptomatic leg. Two patients showed deterioration in DSSEPs in the symptomatic leg despite clinically significant improvement in pain and radicular symptoms. Overall, 28 nerve roots were studied before and after VAX-D therapy. Seventeen nerve root responses were improved, eight remained unchanged and three deteriorated. The significance of DSSEP improvement contralateral to the symptomatic leg is emphasized. Direct compression of a nerve root by a disc herniation is probably not the sole explanation for referred leg pain. [Neurol Res 2001; 23: 706-714]
Effects of sleep deprivation: The phosphorus metabolism in the human brain measured by 31P‐magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Sleep deprivation (SD) has an antidepressant effect in some, but not all, patients with depression, although its biological mechanisms have not yet been characterized. We previously reported altered brain phosphorus metabolism measured by phosphorus‐31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P‐MRS) in patients with bipolar depression. We preliminarily examined effects of SD on phosphorus metabolism in the frontal lobes of 15 normal subjects using 31P‐MRS. No significant differences of membrane phospholipid metabolism, high‐energy phosphate metabolism and intracellular pH were found between before and after SD in these subjects. Further studies will be necessary to elucidate the physiological mechanism of SD for depressive patients.
Initial comparison of proteomic profiles of whole unstimulated saliva obtained from generalized aggressive periodontitis patients and healthy control subjects.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Salivary proteomics technology can be used to evaluate the disease progression of periodontitis and the systemic screening of proteomes of saliva from subjects with aggressive periodontitis has not been available. The objective of this preliminary study was to compare the proteomic profile of whole unstimulated saliva of subjects with generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP) with that of healthy volunteers to identify proteins, the levels of which were significantly altered between the two groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS Whole unstimulated saliva was obtained from five subjects with GAgP and five healthy subjects, and proteins were separated using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Proteins, the levels of which were significantly different between the two groups, were identified by computer image analyses and subsequent electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS Eleven proteins that exhibited a different level in the GAgP group vs. the control group were identified. Compared with whole saliva of healthy control subjects, the levels of serum albumin, immunoglobulin (Ig) gamma2 chain C region, Ig alpha2 chain C region, vitamin D-binding protein, salivary alpha-amylase and zinc-alpha2 glycoprotein were increased in whole unstimulated saliva of GAgP subjects, while those of lactotransferrin, elongation factor 2, 14-3-3 sigma, short palate, lung and nasal epithelium carcinoma-associated protein 2 precursor and carbonic anhydrase 6 were decreased. CONCLUSION Comparison of the proteomic profile of whole unstimulated saliva of GAgP subjects with that of healthy control subjects revealed at least 11 differential proteins. The approach applied herein might be helpful to aid understanding of the etiology of GAgP.
Computational Statistics and Data Analysis Specification Tests for the Error Distribution in Garch Models

Keywords: GARCH model Goodness-of-fit test Symmetry test Empirical characteristic function Bootstrap test a b s t r a c t Goodness-of-fit and symmetry tests are proposed for the innovation distribution in generalized autoregressive conditionally heteroscedastic models. The tests utilize an integrated distance involving the empirical characteristic function (or the empirical Laplace transform) computed from properly standardized observations. A bootstrap version of the tests serves the purpose of studying the small sample behaviour of the proclaimed procedures in comparison with more classical approaches. Finally, all tests are applied to some financial data sets.
Assisted Common Information With an Application to Secure Two-Party Sampling

An important subclass of secure multiparty computation is secure sampling: two parties output samples of a pair of jointly distributed random variables such that neither party learns more about the other party's output than what its own output reveals. The parties make use of a setup - correlated random variables with a different distribution - as well as unlimited noiseless communication. An upperbound on the rate of producing samples of a desired distribution from a given setup is presented. The region of tension developed in this paper measures how well the dependence between a pair of random variables can be resolved by a piece of common information. The bounds on rate are a consequence of a monotonicity property; a protocol between two parties can only lower the tension between their views. Connections are drawn between the region of tension and the notion of common information. A generalization of the Gács-Körner common information, called the assisted common information, which takes into account almost common information ignored by Gács-Körner common information is defined. The region of tension is shown to be related to the rate regions of both the assisted common information and the Gray-Wyner systems (and, a fortiori, Wyner's common information).
Associations between continuity of care and patient outcomes in mental health care: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE Research investigating the association between continuity of care (CoC) and patient outcomes in mental health care is limited. A previous review (1970-2002) concluded that evidence for an association between CoC and outcomes was inconsistent and limited. This systematic review, conducted a decade later, provides an update. METHODS Searches (1950-2014) were conducted on MEDLINE and PsycINFO. Included studies used a clearly identified measure of CoC and examined its relation to an outcome among adults (ages 18-65). Only English-language publications were included. RESULTS A total of 984 studies were identified that measured CoC. Eighteen met inclusion criteria, and 13 found an association between CoC and an outcome. As found in the previous review, studies reported conflicting results for the most frequently examined outcomes (hospitalization, symptom severity, social functioning, and service satisfaction). Little consistency was found between studies in choice of CoC measures and outcomes. Studies varied markedly in quality. Two of the three studies rated as good quality reported significant associations between CoC and social functioning. Compared with older studies, studies published since the previous systematic review (2002-2014) found a larger proportion of significant associations. CONCLUSIONS Little consistency was found in the way CoC was measured, which made it difficult to compare studies. Therefore, clear evidence about the association between CoC and outcomes remains limited. Results in regard to social functioning are encouraging. However, in order for conclusions to be made, researchers need to be more consistent with the measures they choose to allow comparison of studies.