Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tetrazolium Microplate Assay as a Rapid and Inexpensive Colorimetric Method for Determination of Antibiotic Susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

ABSTRACT The emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis underscores the need for low-cost, rapid methods to determine the susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to antibiotics. A new, rapid, easily read, and inexpensive colorimetric method with a tetrazolium indicator performs this determination as quickly and accurately as the more expensive Alamar Blue technique.
Resilience in Competitive Athletes With Spinal Cord Injury

Individuals who experience loss of their physical abilities often face the challenges of adapting to a new way of life. Past research has shown that sport participation can assist the physical and psychological adaptation to acquired physical disabilities. The purposes of our study were to examine the following: (a) the resilience process of sport participants with acquired spinal cord injury, and (b) the role of sport participation in the resilience process. We conducted semistructured phenomenological interviews with 12 male quadriplegic wheelchair rugby players. Results show that the development of resilience is a multifactorial process involving pre-existing factors and pre-adversity experiences, disturbance/disturbing emotions, various types and sources of social support, special opportunities and experiences, various behavioral and cognitive coping strategies, motivation to adapt to changes, and learned attributes or gains from the resilience process. We discuss implications for future research and practice.
Depleted Dopamine in Gastric Cancer Tissues

Purpose: It has been recently shown that the catecholamine neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) strongly and selectively inhibits vascular permeability factor/vascular endothelial growth factor (VPF/VEGF)-induced angiogenesis. Gastric cancer is highly angiogenic and is dependent on VEGF for its growth and progression. Because substantial amounts of DA present in normal stomach tissues has been implicated in several gastric functions, we therefore investigated the role, if any, of this neurotransmitter in the growth and progression of gastric cancer. Experimental Design: Initially, the status of DA and tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme required for DA synthesis, were determined in human gastric cancer tissues and in N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced gastric cancer tissues of rats. On the basis of our observation of inverse correlation between stomach DA and gastric cancer growth, we determined the effect of pharmacological dose of DA on the angiogenesis and growth of MNNG induced gastric cancer in rats and Hs746T human gastric cancer in nude mice. Results: DA and tyrosine hydroxylase were absent in both human and rat gastric cancer tissues. On the contrary, a low nontoxic pharmacological dose of DA significantly retarded tumor angiogenesis by inhibiting VEGFR-2 phosphorylation in tumor endothelial cells, which expressed DA D2 receptors. This action of DA was associated with the growth inhibition of both MNNG-induced rat malignant gastric tumors and xenotransplanted human gastric cancer in nude mice. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that there is an inverse correlation between endogenous stomach DA and gastric cancer and indicates that DA already in clinical use for other purposes might have a role as an antiangiogenic agent in the treatment of gastric cancer.
Generalized Adaptive Notch Smoothing Revisited

The problem of identification of quasi-periodically varying dynamic systems is considered. This problem can be solved using generalized adaptive notch filtering (GANF) algorithms. It is shown that the accuracy of parameter estimates can be significantly increased if the results obtained from GANF are further processed using a cascade of appropriately designed filters. The resulting generalized adaptive notch smoothing (GANS) algorithm can be employed in many off-line or nearly real-time on-line applications, such as elimination of sinusoidal interference from a prerecorded signal or identification of a rapidly varying telecommunication channel.
Activity‐dependent calcium, oxygen, and vascular responses in a mouse model of familial hemiplegic migraine type 1

Familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 (FHM1) is a subtype of migraine with aura caused by a gain‐of‐function mutation in the pore‐forming α1 subunit of CaV2.1 (P/Q‐type) calcium channels. However, the mechanisms underlying how the disease is brought about and the prolonged aura remain incompletely understood.
Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience Integrative Neuroscience

C57BL6/J mice (Jackson Laboratories, Maine), aged 8 weeks at the start of the experiments, were used. One week after surgery, the mice were food deprived to reduce their weight to 80–85% of their normal weight. Their target weight was maintained by feeding them 1.5–2 g of home chow each day after testing and training. Water was available at all times in the home cages. Surgery and hiStology Mice were anesthetized with isoflurane (1–2%) during surgery. A stereotaxic frame was used for all surgeries (Kopf, CA, USA). After fixing the head, the scalp was cut to expose the skull surface, and small burr holes were drilled into the skull just above the target sites using a electric drill (Fine Science Instruments, CA, USA). Bilateral lesions were made by manually infusing N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA, 0.1 M in phosphate buffered saline) into either the M1 or M2 at a rate of 0.1 μl/min using a 0.5 μl Hamilton syringe. For M1 lesions, NMDA was infused into four sites, two on each side of the brain. The coordinates (mm, relative to bregma) are: anteroposterior (AP) + 2, mediolateral (ML) ± 2, dorsoventral (DV, relative to dura) to allow the drug to diffuse. Sham lesions were made using the same procedures except that the needle was not lowered and no drug was infused. After behavioral testing, the mice were anesthetized with isoflu-rane and perfused transcardially with 0.9% saline followed by 10% buffered formalin solution. The brains were sliced into 50 μm coro-nal sections with a Vibratome 1000 Plus (Vibratome, MO, USA). Mounted on glass slides and stained with thionin, the sections were examined under a light microscope to verify the placement and extent of the lesions.
On the Physical Interpretation of the Saleh–Valenzuela Model and the Definition of Its Power Delay Profiles

The physical motivation and interpretation of the stochastic propagation channel model of Saleh and Valenzuela are discussed in detail. This motivation mainly relies on assumptions on the stochastic properties of the positions of transmitter, receiver and scatterers in the propagation environment, and on the frequency range that is covered by the model. Some of these assumptions break down when the application of the model is extended from wideband to ultra-wideband propagation channels. Another important difference between these application contexts is the spatial scale over which the stochastic properties of the channel fluctuate when the transmitter or receiver is moved. This is further illustrated by analyzing the average power delay profile and some other channel properties for different levels of ensemble averaging, and discussing the relation between the ensemble averaging levels and the spatial variation scales. The notion of the averaging levels is essential for correct interpretation of the model, and hence for appropriate channel characterization and system design.
One Stage Side‐to‐Side Replacement of Infected Pulse Generators and Leads

Infected and contaminated cardiac pulse generators and leads must be removed entirely in order to effect a cure. We have shown through our experience with 68 consecutive cases that explantation of the offending system and replacement of a new device on the opposite side can be safely accomplished in one sitting—a side‐to‐side replacement—as long as there is appropriate case selection. There were no early or late infections of the new operative site.
Electrocardiographic Features of Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia

Background— The purpose of this study was to reevaluate the ECG features of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD). The second objective was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the standard and newly proposed diagnostic ECG markers in the presence of a right bundle-branch block (RBBB). Methods and Results— One hundred patients with ARVD (57 men; aged 39±15 years) and 57 controls (21 men; aged 40±17 years) were included. Among the 100 patients with ARVD, a complete RBBB was present in 17 patients, and 15 patients had an incomplete RBBB. T-wave inversion through V3 demonstrated optimal sensitivity and specificity in both ARVD patients without a complete RBBB or incomplete RBBB (71% [95% confidence interval, 58% to 81%] and 96% [95% confidence interval, 81% to 100%], respectively) and in ARVD patients with incomplete RBBB (73% [95% confidence interval, 45% to 92%] and 95% [95% confidence interval, 77% to 100%], respectively). Between ARVD patients and controls with a complete RBBB, the only 2 parameters that differed were the prevalence of T-wave inversion through V4 (59% versus 12%, respectively; P<0.05) and an r′/s ratio in V1 <1 (88% versus 14%, respectively; P<0.005). In ARVD patients with complete RBBB, the most sensitive and specific parameter was an r′/s ratio <1. Conclusions— We evaluated comprehensively the diagnostic value of ECG markers for ARVD. On the basis of the findings, we propose an algorithm, with examination of QRS morphology being the first step, for ECG evaluation of ARVD patients. Definite criteria are then applied on the basis of the presence of no RBBB, incomplete RBBB, and complete RBBB to obtain the best diagnostic utility of the ECG.
Changes in temporal distribution of precipitation in a Mediterranean area (Tuscany, Italy) 1955–2013

This study investigates changes in precipitation regimes in Tuscany (central Italy) over the 1955–2013 period, by using the precipitation concentration index (PCI) and rainfall amount. The PCI is a dimensionless indicator of the temporal concentration of the precipitation. Different statistical methods were applied over the whole period and two independent sub‐periods (1955–1984 and 1985–2013). A p‐value <0.05 was chosen as level of significance for all the statistical tests.
2‐Chlorodeoxyadenosine in the treatment of hairy cell leukaemia: differences in response in patients with and without abdominal lymphadenopathy

We treated 26 patients with hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) with 2‐chlorodeoxyadenosine, including nine with abdominal lymphadenopathy and of whom two had HCL‐variant; 18 were previously treated. The overall response in 23 evaluable HCL patients was 100% with 87% complete remission (CR). The CR rate was 57% in patients with abdominal lymphadenopathy. Neither of the patients with HCL‐variant achieved CR. Of four patients who had become refractory to 2′‐deoxycoformycin, two achieved CR and one partial remission (PR). The lower response in HCL with abdominal lymphadenopathy supports the view that this represents a more resistant form of the disease.
A study of Nesterov's scheme for Lagrangian decomposition and MAP labeling

We study the MAP-labeling problem for graphical models by optimizing a dual problem obtained by Lagrangian decomposition. In this paper, we focus specifically on Nes-terov's optimal first-order optimization scheme for non-smooth convex programs, that has been studied for a range of other problems in computer vision and machine learning in recent years. We show that in order to obtain an efficiently convergent iteration, this approach should be augmented with a dynamic estimation of a corresponding Lip-schitz constant, leading to a runtime complexity of O(1/∊) in terms of the desired precision ∊. Additionally, we devise a stopping criterion based on a duality gap as a sound basis for competitive comparison and show how to compute it efficiently. We evaluate our results using the publicly available Middlebury database and a set of computer generated graphical models that highlight specific aspects, along with other state-of-the-art methods for MAP-inference.
Benchmarking Spike-Based Visual Recognition: A Dataset and Evaluation

Today, increasing attention is being paid to research into spike-based neural computation both to gain a better understanding of the brain and to explore biologically-inspired computation. Within this field, the primate visual pathway and its hierarchical organization have been extensively studied. Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs), inspired by the understanding of observed biological structure and function, have been successfully applied to visual recognition and classification tasks. In addition, implementations on neuromorphic hardware have enabled large-scale networks to run in (or even faster than) real time, making spike-based neural vision processing accessible on mobile robots. Neuromorphic sensors such as silicon retinas are able to feed such mobile systems with real-time visual stimuli. A new set of vision benchmarks for spike-based neural processing are now needed to measure progress quantitatively within this rapidly advancing field. We propose that a large dataset of spike-based visual stimuli is needed to provide meaningful comparisons between different systems, and a corresponding evaluation methodology is also required to measure the performance of SNN models and their hardware implementations. In this paper we first propose an initial NE (Neuromorphic Engineering) dataset based on standard computer vision benchmarksand that uses digits from the MNIST database. This dataset is compatible with the state of current research on spike-based image recognition. The corresponding spike trains are produced using a range of techniques: rate-based Poisson spike generation, rank order encoding, and recorded output from a silicon retina with both flashing and oscillating input stimuli. In addition, a complementary evaluation methodology is presented to assess both model-level and hardware-level performance. Finally, we demonstrate the use of the dataset and the evaluation methodology using two SNN models to validate the performance of the models and their hardware implementations. With this dataset we hope to (1) promote meaningful comparison between algorithms in the field of neural computation, (2) allow comparison with conventional image recognition methods, (3) provide an assessment of the state of the art in spike-based visual recognition, and (4) help researchers identify future directions and advance the field.
Dissociable Neural Substrates for Agentic versus Conceptual Representations of Self

Although humans generally experience a coherent sense of selfhood, we can nevertheless articulate different aspects of self. Recent research has demonstrated that one such aspect of self—conceptual knowledge of one's own personality traits—is subserved by ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vMPFC). Here, we examined whether an alternative aspect of “self”—being an agent who acts to achieve one's own goals—relies on cognitive processes that overlap with or diverge from conceptual operationalizations of selfhood. While undergoing fMRI, participants completed tasks of both conceptual self-reference, in which they judged their own or another person's personality traits, and agentic self-reference, in which they freely chose an object or watched passively as one was chosen. The agentic task failed to modulate vMPFC, despite producing the same memory enhancement frequently observed during conceptual self-referential processing (the “self-reference” effect). Instead, agentic self-reference was associated with activation of the intraparietal sulcus (IPS), a region previously implicated in planning and executing actions. Experiment 2 further demonstrated that IPS activity correlated with later memory performance for the agentic, but not conceptual, task. These results support views of the “self” as a collection of distinct mental operations distributed throughout the brain, rather than a unitary cognitive system.
Glial potassium channels activated by neuronal firing or intracellular cyclic AMP in Helix.

1. Cell‐attached and whole cell patch clamp experiments were performed on satellite glial cells adhering to the cell body of neurones in situ within the nervous system of the snail Helix pomatia. The underlying neurone was under current or voltage‐clamp control. 2. Neuronal firing induced a delayed (20‐30 s) persistent (3‐4 min) increase in the opening probability of glial K+ channels. The channels were also activated by perfusing the ganglion with a depolarizing high‐K+ saline, except when the underlying neurone was prevented from depolarizing under voltage‐clamp conditions. 3. Two K(+)‐selective channels were detected in the glial membrane. The channel responding to neuronal firing was present in 95% of the patches (n = 393). It had a unitary conductance of 56 pS, a Na+ :K+ permeability ratio < 0.02 and displayed slight inward rectification in symmetrical [K+] conditions. It was sensitive to TEA, Ba2+ and Cs+. The following results refer to this channel as studied in the cell‐attached configuration. 4. The glial K+ channel was activated by bath application of the membrane‐permeant cyclic AMP derivatives 8‐bromo‐cAMP and dibutyryl‐cAMP, the adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin and the diesterase inhibitors IBMX, theophylline and caffeine. It was insensitive to cyclic GMP activators and to conditions that might alter the intracellular [Ca2+] (ionomycin, low‐Ca2+ saline and Ca2+ channel blockers). 5. The forskolin‐induced changes in channel behaviour (open and closed time distributions, burst duration, short and long gaps within bursts) could be accounted for by a four‐state model (3 closed states, 1 open state) by simply changing one of the six rate parameters. 6. The present results suggest that the signal sent by an active neurone to satellite glial cells is confined to the glial cells round that neurone. The effect of this signal on the class of glial K+ channels studied can be mimicked by an increase in glial cAMP concentration. The subsequent delayed opening of the glial K+ channels does not appear to play a role in siphoning the excess K+ released by active neurones. It is hypothesized that the cAMP‐gated glial K+ channels may be involved in the control of glial cell proliferation.
Ca2+ STORES REGULATE RYANODINE RECEPTOR Ca2+ RELEASE CHANNELS VIA LUMINAL AND CYTOSOLIC Ca2+ SITES

1 In muscle, intracellular calcium concentration, hence skeletal muscle force and cardiac output, is regulated by uptake and release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The ryanodine receptor (RyR) forms the calcium release channel in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. 2 The free [Ca2+] in the sarcoplasmic reticulum regulates the excitability of this store by stimulating the Ca2+ release channels in its membrane. This process involves Ca2+‐sensing mechanisms on both the luminal and cytoplasmic sides of the RyR. In the cardiac RyR, these have been shown to be a luminal Ca2+ activation site (L‐site; 60 µmol/L affinity), a cytoplasmic activation site (A‐site; 0.9 µmol/L affinity) and a cytoplasmic Ca2+ inactivation site (I2‐site; 1.2 µmol/L affinity). 3 Cardiac RyR activation by luminal Ca2+ occurs by a multistep process dubbed ‘luminal‐triggered Ca2+ feed‐through’. Binding of Ca2+ to the L‐site initiates brief (1 msec) openings at a rate of up to 10 /s. Once the pore is open, luminal Ca2+ has access to the A‐site (producing up to 30‐fold prolongation of openings) and to the I2‐site (causing inactivation at high levels of Ca2+ feed‐through). 4 The present paper reviews the evidence for the principal aspects of the ‘luminal‐triggered Ca2+ feed‐through’ model, the properties of the various Ca2+‐dependent gating mechanisms and their likely role in controlling sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release in cardiac muscle. 5 The model makes the following important predictions: (i) there will be a close link between luminal and cytoplasmic regulation of RyRs and any cofactor that prolongs channel openings triggered by cytoplasmic Ca2+ will also promote RyR activation by luminal Ca2+; (ii) luminal Mg2+ (1 mmol/L) is essential for the control of SR excitability in cardiac muscle by luminal Ca2+; and (iii) the different RyR isoforms in skeletal and cardiac muscle will be controlled quite differently by the luminal milieu. For example, Mg2+ in the SR lumen (approximately 1 mmol/L) can strongly inhibit RyR2 by competing with Ca2+ for the L‐site, whereas RyR1 is not affected by luminal Mg2+.
mTOR as Regulator of Lifespan, Aging, and Cellular Senescence: A Mini-Review

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) network is an evolutionary conserved signaling hub that senses and integrates environmental and intracellular nutrient and growth factor signals to coordinate basic cellular and organismal responses such as cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammation depending on the individual cell and tissue. A growing list of evidence suggests that mTOR signaling influences longevity and aging. Inhibition of the mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) with rapamycin is currently the only known pharmacological treatment that increases lifespan in all model organisms studied. This review discusses the potential mechanisms how mTOR signaling controls lifespan and influences aging-related processes such as cellular senescence, metabolism, and stem cell function. Understanding these processes might provide novel therapeutic approaches to influence longevity and aging-related diseases.
Cell Density Plays a Critical Role in Ex Vivo Expansion of T Cells for Adoptive Immunotherapy

The successful ex vivo expansion of a large numbers of T cells is a prerequisite for adoptive immunotherapy. In this study, we found that cell density had important effects on the process of expansion of T cells in vitro. Resting T cells were activated to expand at high cell density but failed to be activated at low cell density. Activated T cells (ATCs) expanded rapidly at high cell density but underwent apoptosis at low cell density. Our studies indicated that low-cell-density related ATC death is mediated by oxidative stress. Antioxidants N-acetylcysteine, catalase, and albumin suppressed elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in low-density cultures and protected ATCs from apoptosis. The viability of ATCs at low density was preserved by conditioned medium from high-density cultures of ATCs in which the autocrine survival factor was identified as catalase. We also found that costimulatory signal CD28 increases T cell activation at lower cell density, paralleled by an increase in catalase secretion. Our findings highlight the importance of cell density in T cell activation, proliferation, survival and apoptosis and support the importance of maintaining T cells at high density for their successful expansion in vitro.