Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Three‐dimensional dynamic time‐resolved contrast‐enhanced MRA using parallel imaging and a variable rate k‐space sampling strategy in intracranial arteriovenous malformations

To evaluate the effectiveness of three‐dimensional (3D) dynamic time‐resolved contrast‐enhanced MRA (TR‐CE‐MRA) using a combination of a parallel imaging technique (ASSET: array spatial sensitivity encoding technique) and a time‐resolved method (TRICKS: time‐resolved imaging of contrast kinetics) and to compare it with 3D dynamic TR‐CE‐MRA using ASSET alone in the assessment of intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).
Measuring short distance dispersal of Alliaria petiolata and determining potential long distance dispersal mechanisms

Introduction Alliaria petiolata, an herbaceous plant, has invaded woodlands in North America. Its ecology has been thoroughly studied, but an overlooked aspect of its biology is seed dispersal distances and mechanisms. We measured seed dispersal distances in the field and tested if epizoochory is a potential mechanism for long-distance seed dispersal. Methods Dispersal distances were measured by placing seed traps in a sector design around three seed point sources, which consisted of 15 second-year plants transplanted within a 0.25 m radius circle. Traps were placed at intervals ranging from 0.25–3.25 m from the point source. Traps remained in the field until a majority of seeds were dispersed. Eight probability density functions were fitted to seed trap counts via maximum likelihood. Epizoochory was tested as a potential seed dispersal mechanism for A. petiolata through a combination of field and laboratory experiments. To test if small mammals transport A. petiolata seeds in their fur, experimental blocks were placed around dense A. petiolata patches. Each block contained a mammal inclusion treatment (MIT) and control. The MIT consisted of a wood-frame (31 × 61× 31 cm) covered in wire mesh, except for the two 31 × 31 cm ends, placed over a germination tray filled with potting soil. A pan filled with bait was placed in the center of the tray. The control frame (11 × 31 × 61 cm) was placed over a germination tray and completely covered in wire mesh to exclude animal activity. Treatments were in the field for peak seed dispersal. In March, trays were moved to a greenhouse and A. petiolata seedlings were counted and then compared between treatments. To determine if A. petiolata seeds attach to raccoon (Procyon lotor) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fur, wet and dry seeds were dropped onto wet and dry fur. Furs were rotated 180 degrees and the seeds that remained attached were counted. To measure seed retention, seeds were dropped on furs and rotated as before, then the furs were agitated for one hour. The seeds retained in the fur were counted. Results For the seed dispersal experiment, the 2Dt function provided the best fit and was the most biologically meaningful. It predicted that seed density rapidly declined with distance from the point source. Mean dispersal distance was 0.52 m and 95% of seeds dispersed within 1.14 m. The epizoochory field experiment showed increased mammal activity and A. petiolata seedlings in germination trays of the MIT compared to control. Laboratory studies showed 3–26% of seeds were attached and retained by raccoon and deer fur. Retention significantly increased if either seed or fur were wet (57–98%). Discussion Without animal seed vectors, most seeds fall within a short distance of the seed source; however, long distance dispersal may be accomplished by epizoochory. Our data are consistent with A. petiolata’s widespread distribution and development of dense clusters of the species in invaded areas.
Persistent social interactions beget more pronounced personalities in a desert-dwelling social spider

The social niche specialization hypothesis predicts that repeated social interactions will generate social niches within groups, thereby promoting consistent individual differences in behaviour. Current support for this hypothesis is mixed, probably because the importance of social niches is dependent upon the ecology of the species. We test whether repeated interactions among group mates generate consistent individual differences in boldness in the social spider, Stegodyphus dumicola. In support of the social niche specialization hypothesis, we found that consistent individual differences in boldness increased with longer group tenure. Interestingly, these differences took longer to appear than in previous work suggesting this species needs more persistent social interactions to shape its behaviour. Recently disturbed colonies were shyer than older colonies, possibly reflecting differences in predation risk. Our study emphasizes the importance of the social environment in generating animal personalities, but also suggests that the pattern of personality development can depend on subtle differences in species' ecologies.
Improved Sawdust Briquette: An Alternative Source of Fuel

The production of an improved sawdust briquette, as an alternate source of fuel has been achieved. In addition to sawdust other constituents of the briquette were silica (sharp sand), starch and kerosene. The density, ash content, calorific values and moisture content of briquette were determined. The composition of starch and kerosene was constant throughout the experiment. It was observed that as silica percentage was increased, there was an increase in the briquette calorific value until maximum value of 20%. The sample which gave the best calorific value was with percentage compositions of 60% sawdust, 20% silica (sharp sand), 5% kerosene and 15% starch with a calorific value of 12.68mJ/kg . The produced briquette had a higher calorific value than wood and other agro waste it was compared with.
Can Children Catch Curiosity from a Social Robot?

Curiosity is key to learning, yet school children show wide variability in their eagerness to acquire information. Recent research suggests that other people have a strong influence on children’s exploratory behavior. Would a curious robot elicit children’s exploration and the desire to find out new things? In order to answer this question we designed a novel experimental paradigm in which a child plays an education tablet app with an autonomous social robot, which is portrayed as a younger peer. We manipulated the robot’s behavior to be either curiosity-driven or not and measured the child’s curiosity after the interaction. We show that some of the child’s curiosity measures are significantly higher after interacting with a curious robot, compared to a non-curious one, while others do not. These results suggest that interacting with an autonomous social curious robot can selectively guide and promote children’s curiosity. Categories and Subject Descriptors K.3. 1 [Computers and Education]: Computer Uses in Education; I.2. 9 [Artificial Intelligence]: Robotics
Event-Related Potentials in the Continuum of Alzheimers Disease: Would they Suit recent Guidelines for Preclinical Assessment?

There are theoretical and practical constraints associated with using molecular biomarkers in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) during preclinical stages when patients are asymptomatic. Event-related potentials (ERPs) provide an affordable measure of neurological functioning and have been used extensively to measure the onset and progression of cognitive decline in AD. However, the traditional paradigms used to elicit ERPs in the context of AD are influenced by unwanted factors such as ageing, cultural background and education, as well as other neuropsychiatric conditions and comorbidities. We propose that a revision of the task domain is necessary to increase the sensitivity and specificity of ERP measurements. Performance on the short-term memory binding task (STMBT) is highly specific to AD and mirrors the trajectory of neurological pathology in preclinical samples. Theorydriven cognitive assessments, electrophysiology and the emergence of mobile neuroimaging systems may serve as a fundamental combination to overcome the challenges of diagnosing preclinical AD.
EDN1 Lys198Asn is associated with diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes

Purpose We tested the hypothesis that genetic variants in vasoactive and angiogenic factors regulating the retina vasculature contribute to the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods A case-control study was performed to study the genetic association between DR and polymorphic variants of EDN1 (Lys198Asn), LTA (IVS1–80C>A, IVS1–206G>C, IVS1–252A>G), eNOS (Glu298Asp), and ITGA2 (BgI II) in a Chinese population with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A well defined population with type 2 diabetes, consisting of 127 controls and 216 DR patients, was recruited. Results A higher frequency of the Asn/Asn genotype of EDN1 was found in individuals with at least 10 years of diabetes and no retinopathy (controls) compared with DR patients with any duration of diabetes (DR: 2.3%; control: 11.0%; p=0.0002). The Asn allele was also more frequent in controls than DR patients (DR: 16.4%; control: 29.5%; p=0.007). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the Asn/Asn genotype was the factor most significantly associated with reduced risk of DR (odds ratio=0.19; 95% CI: 0.07-0.53; p=0.002) and with late onset of diabetes (Asn/Asn: 59 years; Lys/Lys + Lys/Asn: 53 years; p=0.02). Moreover, the Lys/Lys genotype was more common among patients with nonproliferative (75.7%) than proliferative DR (56.9%; p=0.008). The distributions of Lys198Asn alleles in hypertension did not differ from normotensive subjects. No associations between DR and polymorphisms of LTA, eNOS, or ITGA2 were detected, and there were no detectable gene-gene or gene-environmental interactions among the polymorphisms. Conclusions The Asn/Asn genotype of EDN1 was associated with a reduced risk of DR and with delayed onset of type 2 diabetes.
Paediatric origins of adult lung disease

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common form of chronic lung disease in infancy. The clinical, radiological, and pathological features of BPD were first described a little more than three decades ago. The disease was then seen in large preterm infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome who had been treated with high inspired oxygen concentrations and prolonged mechanical ventilation with high positive airway pressures resulting in inflammation, fibrosis, and smooth muscle hypertrophy in the airways. Despite advances in the prevention and management of respiratory distress syndrome (including the widespread use of antenatal steroids and surfactant treatment), neonatal chronic lung disease is still one of the major complications in mechanically ventilated premature infants. Acceptance of modest hypercapnia with less aggressive application of positive pressure ventilation and reduction of the use of high oxygen concentrations led to a decrease in the incidence of BPD in newborn infants with a birth weight above 1500 g. However, with increased survival of extremely premature infants (24–26 weeks gestation, birth weight <1000 g), who are most likely to develop BPD, the overall incidence has remained high or has even increased, albeit with wide variations between institutions. Clearly, the risk of developing BPD increases with decreasing birth weight and gestational age, ranging from 50% in neonates with birth weights of 700–900 g to 5% in those with birth weights >1250 g. Apart from diVerences in patient populations and management, the reported variation in the incidence of BPD might also be due to the use of diVerent criteria to define it. 11 12 “Classic” BPD, as described by Northway and colleagues, is a severe form of chronic lung disease that has become less common and has been replaced by less severe forms which are observed in very small premature infants who survive after prolonged mechanical ventilation. 13 As a result of these changes in epidemiology, the terms “neonatal chronic lung disease” or “chronic lung disease of prematurity” have been coined to describe either the less severe forms or the complete spectrum of BPD. 15 Thus, the term “chronic lung disease” remains vague and implies a wide spectrum of disorders and severity ranging from marginally significant to fatal. The milder forms of chronic lung disease are frequently seen in very low birth weight infants with mild or no initial respiratory distress syndrome; in this population a patent ductus arteriosus and nosocomial infection have been found to play an important role in the development of chronic lung disease. Thus, the two major forms of BPD—“classic” or severe and “new” or mild—appear to have diVerent pathogenic mechanisms within the widely varying clinical presentation of chronic lung disease.
Does on-site adequacy assessment by cytotechnologists improve results of EUS guided FNA of solid pancreaticobiliary lesions?

CONTEXT Rapid onsite adequacy assessment is stated to improve the diagnostic performance of EUS-FNA. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to establish if the introduction of adequacy assessment performed by a biomedical scientist (cytotechnologist) to an established EUS service improved the diagnostic accuracy of EUS guided FNA of solid pancreaticobiliary lesions. DESIGN AND PATIENTS This retrospective study includes all patients with solid pancreaticobiliary lesions who underwent EUS-FNA from April 2009 to September 2010. An in room cytotechnologist was present for 2 out of the 4 weekly EUS lists and therefore there were two groups identified: Group 1, cytotechnologist absent; and Group 2, cytotechnologist present. RESULTS There were 82 patients in Group 1 and 97 patients in Group 2. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of passes (4.1 vs. 4.3), the inadequate aspirate rate (7.3% vs. 5.1%) or the mean size of the lesions (34.7 vs. 32.6 mm) between the groups. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in Group 1 were 89%, 88%, 100%, 100% and 50% respectively. The results in Group 2 were 91%, 90%, 100%, 100% and 69% respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS In this study the adequacy assessment performed by a cytotechnologist did not improve the diagnostic accuracy of EUS-FNA. In an established EUS-FNA service with low inadequate aspirate rates, onsite adequacy assessment may not improve results of the test.
Comparison of two self-rating scales to detect depression: HADS and PHQ-9.

BACKGROUND More than half of patients with depression go undetected. Self-rating scales can be useful in screening for depression, and measuring severity and treatment outcome. AIM This study compares the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) with regard to their psychometric properties, and investigates their agreement at different cut-off scores. METHOD Swedish primary care patients and psychiatric outpatients (n = 737) who reported symptoms of depression completed the self-rating scales. Data were collected from 2006 to 2007. Analyses with respect to internal consistency, factor analysis, and agreement (Cohen's kappa) at recommended cut-offs were performed. RESULTS Both scales had high internal consistency (alpha = 0.9) and stable factor structures. Using severity cut-offs, the PHQ-9 (> or =5) diagnosed about 30% more patients than the HADS depression subscale (HADS-D; > or =8). They recognised the same prevalence of mild and moderate depression, but differed in relation to severe depression. When comparing recommended screening cut-offs, HADS-D > or =11 (33.5% of participants) and PHQ-9 > or =10 (65.9%) agreement was low (kappa = 0.35). Using the lower recommended cut-off in the HADS-D (> or =8), agreement with PHQ-9 > or =10 was moderate (kappa = 0.52). The highest agreement (kappa = 0.56) was found comparing HADS-D > or =8 with PHQ-9 > or =12. This also equalised the prevalence of depression found by the scales. CONCLUSION The HADS and PHQ-9 are both quick and reliable. The HADS has the advantage of evaluating both depression and anxiety, and the PHQ-9 of being strictly based upon the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The agreement between the scales at the best suitable cut-off is moderate, although the identified prevalence was similar. This indicates that the scales do not fully identify the same cases. This difference needs to be further explored.
Glioblastoma Cancer-Initiating Cells Inhibit T-Cell Proliferation and Effector Responses by the Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription 3 Pathway

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a lethal cancer that responds poorly to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Glioma cancer-initiating cells have been shown to recapitulate the characteristic features of GBM and mediate chemotherapy and radiation resistance. However, it is unknown whether the cancer-initiating cells contribute to the profound immune suppression in GBM patients. Recent studies have found that the activated form of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a key mediator in GBM immunosuppression. We isolated and generated CD133+ cancer-initiating single colonies from GBM patients and investigated their immune-suppressive properties. We found that the cancer-initiating cells inhibited T-cell proliferation and activation, induced regulatory T cells, and triggered T-cell apoptosis. The STAT3 pathway is constitutively active in these clones and the immunosuppressive properties were markedly diminished when the STAT3 pathway was blocked in the cancer-initiating cells. These findings indicate that cancer-initiating cells contribute to the immune evasion of GBM and that blockade of the STAT3 pathway has therapeutic potential. Mol Cancer Ther; 9(1); 67–78
Possible Role of Hydrogen Sulfide in Insulin Secretion and in Development of Insulin Resistance

H(2)S has been proposed as physiological important molecule. It is considered as first endogenous gaseous K(+) channel opener. K(+) ATP channel activity is mainly responsible for insulin secretion. K(+)ATP channel opening of β cells leads to inhibition of insulin secretion and channels closing leads to secretion. H2S is the gaseous K(+) ATP channel opener but it does not have channel specificity. So, H(2)S may have some effect on insulin secretion. H(2)S is high in Zuker diabetic fatty rats. That means H(2)S is high in insulin resistance condition. We tried to find out the role of H(2)S in insulin secretion and in development of insulin resistance. From the result of our study, H(2)S have K(+) ATP channel opening activity on β cells. H(2)S does not have any role in the development of insulin resistance. Decrease in insulin level in Zuker diabetic rat and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat is due to high H(2)S level.
The Mass-to-Light Ratio of Early-Type Galaxies: Constraints from Gravitational Lensing in the Rich Cluster AC 114

We present a new wide-field image of the distant cluster AC 114 (z = 0.31) obtained with the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 on board the Hubble Space Telescope. This image considerably extends our knowledge of the lensing properties of the cluster beyond that derived earlier from a single WFPC1 pointing. In conjunction with published ground-based spectroscopy, we utilize several newly discovered multiple images to construct an improved mass model for the central regions of the cluster. Using this model, we apply the methodology introduced by Natarajan & Kneib to interpret local perturbations to the cluster shear field on small scales resulting from mass associated with individual cluster galaxies. We use the lensing signal to place new constraints on the average mass-to-light ratio and spatial extents of the dark matter halos associated with morphologically classified early-type cluster members. We find that the total mass of a fiducial L* cluster spheroidal galaxy is largely contained within ~15 kpc radius halo (~8-10Re), with a mass-to-light ratio M/LV~15−4+10 (90% confidence level) in solar units within this radius. Comparisons with similar estimates for field galaxies suggest that the cluster galaxies in AC 114 may possess less extensive and less massive halos. Additionally, we find some indication that, at a fixed luminosity, S0 galaxies are less extended than ellipticals, suggesting a difference in the efficiency of tidal stripping of different galaxy types. We discuss the consequences of our results in the context of models for the dynamical evolution of cluster galaxies and the observational prospects for extending such analyses.
The pathophysiology and treatment of sepsis.

Sepsis is the leading cause of death in critically ill patients in the United States. Yet the individual host response to septicemia is variable, depending on the patient's immune response, age, nutritional status, and coexisting conditions, as well as on the virulence of the organism and the size of the inoculum. This review examines evolving concepts of sepsis and discusses new and potential therapies. Recent clinical advances include therapy with activated protein C, stringent control of blood glucose, and early goal-directed therapy to treat cellular oxygen deficit. Future therapies may be focused on modulating the immune response in the light of the characteristics of the specific pathogen, the genetic profile of the patient, and the duration of the disease.
Robust reduced-order H∞ filter design for uncertain 2-D continuous systems with time-varying delays

This paper is concerned with the problem of designing H∞ filters of reduced order for two dimensional (2-D) continuous systems with delay dependent described by the Roesser models, with uncertain state space matrices. These reduced-order filters are characterized in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMI), to minimize a bound on the H∞ noise attenuation. The methodology is also particularized for full order and zero order (static) filters, where more simple LMI conditions are derived. the numerical example are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.
Na+/Ca2+ Exchange as a Drug Target—Insights from Molecular Pharmacology and Genetic Engineering

Abstract: The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) is an ion transporter that exchanges Na+ and Ca2+ in either Ca2+‐efflux or Ca2+‐influx mode, depending on membrane potential and transmembrane ion gradients. In myocytes, neurons, and renal tubular cells, NCX is thought to play an important role in the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration. So far the benzyloxyphenyl derivatives (KB‐R7943, SEA0400, SN‐6, and YM‐244769) have been developed as selective NCX inhibitors. These inhibitors possess different isoform selectivities, although they have similar properties, such as Ca2+‐influx mode selectivity and I1 inactivation‐dependence. Site‐directed mutageneses have revealed that these inhibitors possess some molecular determinants (Phe‐213, Val‐227, Tyr‐228, Gly‐833, and Asn‐839) for interaction with NCX1. These benzyloxyphenyl derivatives are expected to be useful tools to study the physiological roles of NCX. Interestingly, benzyloxyphenyl NCX inhibitors effectively prevent several ischemia–reperfusion injuries and salt‐dependent hypertension in animal models. Furthermore, several experiments with genetically engineered mice provide compelling evidence that these diseases are triggered by pathological Ca2+ entry through NCX1. Thus, NCX inhibitors may have therapeutic potential as novel drugs for reperfusion injury and salt‐dependent hypertension.