Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Delayed Electrophysiological Recovery After Carpal Tunnel Release for Advanced Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Two-Year Follow-Up Study

Summary: Advanced carpal tunnel syndrome presents severe thenar atrophy with the absence of electrophysiological motor and sensory responses. Because of severity of these conditions, a substantial period of recovery after surgery is required before improvement becomes evident. In this electrophysiological-based study, the reappearance of distal motor latency (DML) at the abductor pollicis brevis and/or sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) after wrist stimulation were evaluated 1 year and 2 years after carpal tunnel release . To categorize outcomes, the following grading scale was used: stage I, normal DML and SCV; stage II, DML ≥ 4.5 ms and normal SCV; stage III, DML ≥ 4.5 ms and SCV < 40.0 ms; stage IV, DML ≥ 4.5 ms and nonmeasurable SCV; stage V: nonmeasurable DML and SCV. The authors found measurable DML and/or SCV and significant improvement both 1 year and 2 years postoperatively. Furthermore, the percentage of patients who recovered to the extent that they presented as mild carpal tunnel syndrome (stage I or II) increased significantly. They conclude that electrophysiological assessment of DML and SCV of advanced carpal tunnel syndrome using the above grading scale was effective as an objective evaluation tool of recovery after carpal tunnel release.
Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication is enhanced by a combination of transdominant Tat and Rev proteins

Mutation of either of two critical human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) regulatory proteins, Tat and Rev, results in marked defects in viral replication. Thus, inhibition of the function of one or both of these proteins can significantly inhibit viral growth. In the present study, we constructed a novel transdominant Tat mutant protein and compared its efficiency in inhibiting HIV-1 replication with that of transdominant mutant Rev M10 when these proteins were stably expressed either alone or in combination in T-lymphocyte cell lines. The transdominant Tat mutant protein alone resulted in a modest inhibition of HIV replication, but it was able to enhance the ability of the M10 Rev mutant protein to inhibit HIV-1 replication. These results suggest a possible synergistic effect of these transdominant mutant proteins in inhibiting HIV-1 replication.
Interferon (IFN) beta acts downstream of IFN-gamma-induced class II transactivator messenger RNA accumulation to block major histocompatibility complex class II gene expression and requires the 48- kD DNA-binding protein, ISGF3-gamma

Interferon (IFN) gamma, a cardinal proinflammatory cytokine, induces expression of the gene products of the class II locus of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), whereas IFN-alpha or -beta suppresses MHC class II expression. The mechanism of IFN-beta-mediated MHC class II inhibition has been unclear. Recently, a novel factor termed class II transactivator (CIITA) has been identified as essential for IFN- gamma-induced MHC class II transcription. We studied the status of IFN- gamma-induced CIITA messenger RNA (mRNA) accumulation and CIITA-driven transactivation in IFN-beta-treated cells and used cell lines that had defined defects in the type I IFN response pathway to address the roles of IFN signaling components in the inhibition of MHC class II induction. IFN-beta treatment did not suppress IFN-gamma-induced accumulation of CIITA mRNA. After cells were stably transfected with CIITA, endogenous MHC class II genes were constitutively expressed, and MHC class II promoters, delivered by transfection, were actively transcribed in CIITA-expressing cells. Expression of these promoters was significantly impaired by pretreatment with IFN-beta. These results suggest that IFN-beta acts downstream of CIITA mRNA accumulation, and acts in part by reducing the functional competence of CIITA for transactivating MHC class II promoters. IFN stimulated gene factor 3 (ISGF3) gamma was essential for IFN-beta to mediate inhibition of MHC class II induction, regardless of whether MHC class II transcription was stimulated by IFN-gamma or directly by CIITA expression. Results of these experiments suggest that inhibition of MHC class II in IFN-beta- treated cells requires expression of gene(s) directed by the ISGF3-IFN- stimulated response element pathway, and that these gene product(s) may act by blocking CIITA-driven transcription of MHC class II promoters.
Epsilon-constraint with an efficient cultured differential evolution

In this paper we present the use of a previously developed single-objective optimization approach, together with the ε-constraint method, to provide an approximation of the Pareto front in a multiobjective optimization problem. This approximation is usually very near of the true Pareto front, but its cost grows with the desired number of points in the output set. As an alternative, it is possible to generate only a few points, and execute a second phase which will generate intermediate points, to increase the size of the output set. We use a rough sets-based approach for this second phase, which is a very robust approach. The results of this two-phase approach are very competitive in hard multiobjective problems, and is less expensive than the ε-constraint method alone. This approach is very effective on hard multiobjective problems, where is able to find good approximations of the Pareto front with less funtion evaluations than other approaches, as the NSGA-II (against which is compared).
Estimating exercise stroke volume from asymptotic oxygen pulse in humans.

Noninvasive techniques have been devised to estimate cardiac output (Q) during exercise to obviate vascular cannulation. However, although these techniques are noninvasive, they are commonly not nonintrusive to subjects' spontaneous ventilation and gas-exchange responses. We hypothesized that the exercise stroke volume (SV) and, hence, Q might be accurately estimated simply from the response pattern of two standardly determined variables: O2 uptake (VO2) and heart rate (HR). Central to the theory is the demonstration that the product of Q and mixed venous O2 content is virtually constant (k) during steady-state exercise. Thus from the Fick equation, VO2 = Q.CaCO2-k, where CaCO2 is the arterial CO2 content, the O2 pulse (O2-P) equals SV.CaCO2-(k/HR). Because the arterial O2 content (CaO2) is usually relatively constant in normal subjects during exercise, O2-P should change hyperbolically with HR, asymptoting at SV.CaO2. In addition, because the asymptotic O2-P equals the slope (S) of the linear O2-HR relationship, exercise SV may be predicted as S/CaO2. We tested this prediction in 23 normal subjects who underwent a 3-min incremental cycle-ergometer test with direct determination of CaO2 and mixed venous O2 content from indwelling catheters. The predicted SV closely reflected the measured value (r = 0.80). We therefore conclude that, in normal subjects, exercise SV may be estimated simply as five times S of the linear VO2-HR relationship (where 5 is approximately 1/CaO2).
An additional bolus of rapid-acting insulin to normalise postprandial cardiovascular risk factors following a high-carbohydrate high-fat meal in patients with type 1 diabetes: A randomised controlled trial

Aim: To evaluate an additional rapid-acting insulin bolus on postprandial lipaemia, inflammation and pro-coagulation following high-carbohydrate high-fat feeding in people with type 1 diabetes. Methods: A total of 10 males with type 1 diabetes [HbA1c 52.5 ± 5.9 mmol/mol (7.0% ± 0.5%)] underwent three conditions: (1) a low-fat (LF) meal with normal bolus insulin, (2), a high-fat (HF) meal with normal bolus insulin and (3) a high-fat meal with normal bolus insulin with an additional 30% insulin bolus administered 3-h post-meal (HFA). Meals had identical carbohydrate and protein content and bolus insulin dose determined by carbohydrate-counting. Blood was sampled periodically for 6-h post-meal and analysed for triglyceride, non-esterified-fatty acids, apolipoprotein B48, glucagon, tumour necrosis factor alpha, fibrinogen, human tissue factor activity and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. Continuous glucose monitoring captured interstitial glucose responses. Results: Triglyceride concentrations following LF remained similar to baseline, whereas triglyceride levels following HF were significantly greater throughout the 6-h observation period. The additional insulin bolus (HFA) normalised triglyceride similarly to low fat 3–6 h following the meal. HF was associated with late postprandial elevations in tumour necrosis factor alpha, whereas LF and HFA was not. Fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and tissue factor pathway levels were similar between conditions. Conclusion: Additional bolus insulin 3 h following a high-carbohydrate high-fat meal prevents late rises in postprandial triglycerides and tumour necrosis factor alpha, thus improving cardiovascular risk profile.
Poincaré-Melnikov-Arnold method for analytic planar maps

The Poincare-Melnikov-Arnold method for planar maps gives rise to a Melnikov function defined by an infinite and (a priori) analytically uncomputable sum. Under an assumption of meromorphicity, residues theory can be applied to provide an equivalent finite sum. Moreover, the Melnikov function turns out to be an elliptic function and a general criterion about non-integrability is provided. Several examples are presented with explicit estimates of the splitting angle. In particular, the non-integrability of non-trivial symmetric entire perturbations of elliptic billiards is proved, as well as the non-integrability of standard-like maps.
The antiplaque efficacy of propolis-based herbal toothpaste: A crossover clinical study

Background: In recent years, herbal products have been suggested as an economic, safe and probably effective alternative for prevention and control of various oral diseases. But still there are some products which need to be evaluated. Of lately, Propolis is one such product. To assess and compare the efficacy of herbal dentifrice containing Propolis with Miswak and Colgate total toothpastes in controlling plaque formation. Materials and Methods: A double blind, randomized, crossover study design was conducted among thirty healthy dental students. After oral prophylaxis all subjects were given a washout product for one week period. Subjects were then made to brush with (washout product) for 1 minute followed by 1 minute brushing with assigned test product. The baseline MGMPI plaque scores were recorded. Subjects were then refrained from oral hygiene for 24 hours, and were recalled to be re-disclosed and re-measured for plaque formation. This procedure was repeated according to crossover design after a washout period of (2 week). Statistical tests used were Krukalwallis and Wilcoxon sign rank test. Results: There was a significant difference in 24 hour score between the test products evaluated. When the change from baseline to 24 hours was analyzed, the test product Propolis resulted in a consistently and significantly (p < 0.05) lower MGMPI mean scores than the Colgate Total and Miswak toothpastes. Conclusion: Propolis was found to be safe and effective in reducing plaque accumulation when compared to Miswak and Colgate total toothpaste.
Multi-dimensional mechanism design with limited information

We analyze a nonlinear pricing model with limited information. Each buyer can purchase a large variety, d, of goods. His preference for each good is represented by a scalar and his preference over d goods is represented by a d-dimensional vector. The type space of each buyer is given by a compact subset of Rd+ with a continuum of possible types. By contrast, the seller is limited to offer a finite number M of d-dimensional choices. We provide necessary conditions that the optimal finite menu of the social welfare maximizing problem has to satisfy. We establish an underlying connection to the theory of quantization and provide an estimate of the welfare loss resulting from the usage of the d-dimensional M-class menu. We show that the welfare loss converges to zero at a rate proportional to d/M2/d. We show that in higher dimensions, a significant reduction in the welfare loss arises from an optimal partition of the d-dimensional type space that takes advantage of the correlation among the d parameters.
Laminin, fibronectin, and collagen in synaptic and extrasynaptic portions of muscle fiber basement membrane

Light and electron microscope immunohistochemical methods were used to study the distribution of several proteins in rat skeletal muscle. The aims were to identify components of muscle fiber basement membrane and to compare the small fraction (0.1%) of the basement membrane that extends through the synaptic cleft at the neuromuscular junction with the remaining, extrasynaptic portion. Synaptic basement membrane is functionally specialized and plays important roles in neuromuscular function and regeneration. Laminin, fibronectin, collagen IV, collagen V, and a collagenous protein (high-salt-soluble protein [HSP]) are all present in muscle fiber basement membrane. Laminin and collagen IV are concentrated in basal lamina (the feltlike, inner layer of the basement membrane) and are shared by synaptic and extrasynaptic regions. Fibronectin, also present synaptically and extrasynaptically, is present in basal lamina and in the overlying reticular lamina. Collagen V and HSP are present throughout extrasynaptic basement membrane but are absent from synaptic sites; HSP is concentrated in the reticular lamina and on the outer surface of the basal lamina. These results, together with experiments reported previously (Sanes and Hall, 1979. J. Cell Biol: 83:357--370), provide examples of three classes of components in muscle fiber basement membrane--synaptic, extrasynaptic, and shared.
Treatment of onychomycosis using the 1 064 nm Nd:YAG laser: a clinical pilot study

Nd:YAG lasers could be a safe and effective treatment modality for onychomycosis, without the side effects of drugs. Long and short‐pulsed Nd:YAG lasers were used in this clinical study in a side‐comparison manner without removal of onychomycotic nail material before treatment.
Effectiveness of interventions in preventing injuries in agriculture--a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES This study reviewed the effectiveness of interventions in preventing occupational injuries among workers in agriculture. METHODS Randomized controlled trials, controlled before-after studies, and interrupted time-series studies assessing interventions aimed at preventing injuries among workers in agriculture were considered. MEDLINE and five other databases were searched up to June 2006. Two authors independently assessed the eligibility of studies and the methodological quality of the ones included. Randomized controlled trials were combined in a meta-analysis. Interrupted time-series studies were reanalyzed to assess the immediate and progressive effect on injuries. RESULTS Five randomized controlled trials and three interrupted time-series studies met the inclusion criteria. Six studies evaluated educational interventions and financial incentives, and two studies evaluated the effect of legislation. Three randomized controlled trials on educational interventions with 4670 adult participants did not indicate any injury-reducing effect, with a rate ratio of 1.02 (95% confidence interval 0.87-1.20), nor did two randomized controlled trials among children (6895 participants). Financial incentives decreased the injury level immediately after the intervention in one interrupted time-series study. Banning endosulfan pesticide in Sri Lanka led to a significant decrease in the trend of poisonings over time. Legislation requiring rollover protective structures on all tractors in Sweden did not produce a reduction in injuries, but the same requirement for new tractors was associated with a decrease in fatal injuries. CONCLUSIONS The reviewed studies provided no evidence that educational interventions are effective in decreasing injury rates among agricultural workers. Financial incentives may be a better means of reducing injury rates. Banning highly toxic pesticides may be effective. Legislation on safety devices on tractors yielded contradictory results.
Cosmic Histories of Stars, Gas, Heavy Elements, and Dust in Galaxies

We investigate a set of coupled equations that relates the stellar, gaseous, chemical, and radiation contents of the universe averaged over the whole population of galaxies. Using as input the available data from quasar absorption-line surveys, optical imaging and redshift surveys, and the COBE DIRBE and FIRAS extragalactic infrared background measurements, we obtain solutions for the cosmic histories of stars, interstellar gas, heavy elements, dust, and radiation from stars and dust in galaxies. Our solutions reproduce remarkably well a wide variety of observations that were not used as input. These include the integrated background light from galaxy counts from near-ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelengths, the rest-frame optical and near-infrared emissivities at various redshifts from surveys of galaxies, the mid-infrared and far-infrared emissivities of the local universe from the IRAS survey, the mean abundance of heavy elements at various epochs from surveys of damped Lyα systems, and the global star formation rates at several redshifts from Hα, mid-infrared, and submillimeter observations. The chemical enrichment history of the intergalactic medium implied by our models is also consistent with the observed mean metal content of the Lyα forest at high redshifts. We infer that the dust associated with star-forming regions is highly inhomogeneous and absorbs a significant fraction of the starlight, with only 41%-46% of the total in the extragalactic optical background and the remaining 59%-54% reprocessed by dust into the infrared background. The solutions presented here provide an intriguing picture of the cosmic mean history of galaxies over much of the Hubble time. In particular, the process of galaxy formation appears to have undergone an early period of substantial inflow to assemble interstellar gas at z ≳ 3, a subsequent period of intense star formation and chemical enrichment at 1 ≲ z ≲ 3, and a recent period of decline in the gas content, star formation rate, optical stellar emissivity, and infrared dust emissivity at z ≲ 1.
Consequences of loss of progesterone receptor expression in development of invasive endometrial cancer.

PURPOSE In endometrial cancer, loss of progesterone receptors (PR) is associated with more advanced disease. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of progesterone and the loss of its receptors (PRA and PRB) in development of endometrial cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN A 9600-cDNA microarray analysis was performed to study regulation of gene expression in the human endometrial cancer subcell line Ishikawa PRAB-36 by the progestagen medroxy progesterone acetate (MPA). Five MPA-regulated genes were selected for additional investigation. Expression of these genes was studied by Northern blot and by immunohistochemistry in Ishikawa subcell lines expressing different PR isoforms. Additionally, endometrial cancer tissue samples were immunohistochemically stained to study the in vivo protein expression of the selected genes. RESULTS In the PRAB-36 cell line, MPA was found to regulate the expression of a number of invasion- and metastasis-related genes. On additional investigation of five of these genes (CD44, CSPG/Versican, Tenascin-C, Fibronectin-1, and Integrin-beta 1), it was observed that expression and progesterone regulation of expression of these genes varied in subcell lines expressing different PR isoforms. Furthermore, in advanced endometrial cancer, it was shown that loss of expression of both PR and E-cadherin was associated with increased expression CD44 and CSPG/Versican. CONCLUSION The present study shows that progestagens exert a modulatory effect on the expression of genes involved in tumor cell invasion. As a consequence, loss of PR expression in human endometrial cancer may lead to development of a more invasive phenotype of the respective tumor.
Self-Awareness and Other-Awareness: Mirror Self-Recognition and Synchronic Imitation among Unfamiliar Peers.

A theoretical analysis of the cognitive capacities underlying self-awareness and other-awareness suggested that (a) self- and other-awareness are closely linked because both require a cognitive capacity for secondary representation, and (b) other-awareness facilitates the synchronic imitation of object use with an unfamiliar peer. The relation between mirror self-recognition and synchronic imitation was investigated in 56 dyads of unfamiliar 19-month-old children who were systematically paired according to their mirror self-recognition status and who were observed during free play with sets of duplicate toys. Long phases of synchronic imitation occurred in nearly all dyads consisting of recognizers but in only one dyad composed of nonrecognizers; in mixed dyads these phases were shorter than in recognizer dyads. Discussion focuses on the synchrony of the development of self- and other-awareness. During the second year of life, children's social-cognitive competence shows a dramatic increase. Kagan (1981) has described many of these changes, for example, becoming concerned with parental standards for behavior, developing a sense of one's effectiveness in solving a task, and beginning to appreciate the difference between pretense and reality. According to Kagan (1981), these changes indicate the onset of self-awareness: Children become able to evaluate their appearance and actions in terms of their own and others' standards. From another perspective, the social-cognitive changes during the second year also reflect the onset of other-awareness: Children become aware of others' intentions, motivations, and emotions, and they become increasingly able to use this information in social interaction. Self-awareness is a cognitive capacity that marks a specific step in self-development. In recent years, different sequences have been proposed for the development of the self during the first 2 years of life (e.g., Emde, 1983; Lewis, 1986,1990; Stern, 1985). Despite some differences in their definitions of the developmental levels, these authors agree that a critical step is reached when children become able to represent themselves as an object of knowledge and imagination (the representational self, Emde, 1983; the categorical self, Lewis, 1986; and the ver
D-Aspartate Modulates Nociceptive-Specific Neuron Activity and Pain Threshold in Inflammatory and Neuropathic Pain Condition in Mice

D-Aspartate (D-Asp) is a free D-amino acid found in the mammalian brain with a temporal-dependent concentration based on the postnatal expression of its metabolizing enzyme D-aspartate oxidase (DDO). D-Asp acts as an agonist on NMDA receptors (NMDARs). Accordingly, high levels of D-Asp in knockout mice for Ddo gene (Ddo −/−) or in mice treated with D-Asp increase NMDAR-dependent processes. We have here evaluated in Ddo −/− mice the effect of high levels of free D-Asp on the long-term plastic changes along the nociceptive pathway occurring in chronic and acute pain condition. We found that Ddo −/− mice show an increased evoked activity of the nociceptive specific (NS) neurons of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord (L4–L6) and a significant decrease of mechanical and thermal thresholds, as compared to control mice. Moreover, Ddo gene deletion exacerbated the nocifensive responses in the formalin test and slightly reduced pain thresholds in neuropathic mice up to 7 days after chronic constriction injury. These findings suggest that the NMDAR agonist, D-Asp, may play a role in the regulation of NS neuron electrophysiological activity and behavioral responses in physiological and pathological pain conditions.