Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Healing impairment of open wounds by skin irradiation.

BACKGROUND Ionizing radiation is frequently used for the treatment of malignancy. Sequelae of therapeutic radiation frequently present clinical problems in the form of poor wound healing and easy injury of treated tissue in response to mild trauma. OBJECTIVE We describe a radiation-impaired wound healing model in guinea pigs, developed to determine the effect of cutaneous irradiation on wound contraction. METHODS Guinea pigs were anesthetized and a flap of skin was isolated and treated with x-rays to 18 Gy. Circular wounds of identical size were made in irradiated and control skin, and average wound size was recorded. RESULTS Our results demonstrate that a statistically significant wound healing deficit is produced in open wounds by surface irradiation of skin. CONCLUSION Radiation of skin results in slower healing of open wounds, and provides an in vivo system for evaluation of topical dressings and growth factors in radiation-impaired wounds.
TLR Agonists for Cancer Immunotherapy: Tipping the Balance between the Immune Stimulatory and Inhibitory Effects

The agonists of toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been actively pursued for their anti-tumor potentials, either as monotherapy or as adjuvants to vaccination or other therapeutic modalities (1). A search on ClinicalTrials.gov using the key words “TLR” and “cancer” returned 34 listings. The idea of using TLR agonist to provide a “danger signal” and break tolerance to tumor antigens has been well embraced by tumor immunologists. However, the promise of TLR agonists-based immunotherapy remains to be realized in the clinic, and only very few TLR agonists have been approved by the FDA. For example, bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG) and imiquimod have been approved as standalone therapies, whereas monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) was approved as a vaccine component. A review of recently published literature on the use of TLR agonists in cancer setting revealed a common mechanism that might have explained the underperformance of TLR agonists as cancer therapeutics: induction of immune suppressive factors that put a break on the TLR agonists-induced inflammation. As shown in Figure ​Figure1,1, TLR agonists have immune stimulatory effects through the induction of costimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86, and CD40) on dendritic cells (DCs) and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-12) that polarize Th1 immune response. On the other hand, TLR agonists have immune inhibitory effects as evidenced by the induction of several immune suppressive factors, including IL-10, T regulatory cells (Treg), and PD-L1, all of which could dampen anti-tumor immunity. The following is a brief summary on TLR agonists-induced self-regulatory feedback and the indication for cancer immunotherapy. Figure 1 Schematic diagram showing that PD-1/PD-L1 blockade may enhance TLR-based immunotherapy by tipping the balance between the immune stimulatory and inhibitory effects of TLR agonists. Treatment with TLR agonists in tumor-bearing host not only induces pro-inflammatory .
Effects of elevated levels of nerve growth factor on the septohippocampal system in transgenic mice

Elevating target‐derived levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) in peripheral organs of postnatal mammals is known to enhance the survival of postganglionic sympathetic neurons and to promote the terminal arborization of sympathetic axons within such NGF‐rich target tissues. Although increasing levels of NGF in the central nervous system can ameliorate cholinergic function of damaged and aged neurons of the medial septum, it remains undetermined whether the postnatal development of this neuronal population and their projections that innervate the hippocampus are likewise affected by elevated levels of target‐derived NGF. To address this question, the cholinergic septohippocampal pathway was examined in adult transgenic mice which display elevated levels of NGF protein production in the dorsal hippocampus during postnatal development. Adult transgenic mice possessed a cholinergic population of septal neurons ≈ 15% larger than that seen in age‐matched control animals. Despite increased numbers of cholinergic septal neurons, as well as elevated levels of hippocampal NGF, the density of cholinergic septal axons in the outer molecular layer of the hippocampal dentate gyrus of adult transgenic animals was comparable with that found in wild‐type controls. These results reveal that elevating levels of target‐derived NGF during postnatal development can increase the population size of the cholinergic septal neurons but does not alter their pattern of afferent innervation in the hippocampus of adult mice.
Acute stress enhances glutamatergic transmission in prefrontal cortex and facilitates working memory

The prefrontal cortex (PFC), a key brain region controlling cognition and emotion, is strongly influenced by stress. While chronic stress often produces detrimental effects on these measures, acute stress has been shown to enhance learning and memory, predominantly through the action of corticosteroid stress hormones. We used a combination of electrophysiological, biochemical, and behavioral approaches in an effort to identify the cellular targets of acute stress. We found that behavioral stressors in vivo cause a long-lasting potentiation of NMDAR- and AMPAR-mediated synaptic currents via glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) selectively in PFC pyramidal neurons. This effect is accompanied by increased surface expression of NMDAR and AMPAR subunits in acutely stressed animals. Furthermore, behavioral tests indicate that working memory, a key function relying on recurrent excitation within networks of PFC neurons, is enhanced by acute stress via a GR-dependent mechanism. These results have identified a form of long-term potentiation of synaptic transmission induced by natural stimuli in vivo, providing a potential molecular and cellular mechanism for the beneficial effects of acute stress on cognitive processes subserved by PFC.
Does Stress Lead to a Loss of Team Perspective

One of the more well-established findings in the research literature is that stress leads to a restriction or narrowing of attentional focus. In the present study, we extend this research to the group context. We propose that, in a team environment, the narrowing of attention induced by stress may result in a shift in perspective from a broad team perspective to a more narrow or individualist ic self-focus, and this loss of team perspective may result in degraded team performance. The results of an empirical study found that stress resulted in a narrowing of team perspective and that team perspective was a significant predictor of team performance. Moreover, when the effects of team perspective were controlled, the effects of stress on team performance were substantially weakened. These results suggest that one way in which stress impacts team performance is by narrowing or weakening the team-level perspective required for effective team behavior. Research indicates that individuals respond to stress by a restriction or narrowing of attentional focus (Cohen, 1980; Combs & Taylor, 1952; Easterbrook, 1959). For example, Salovey (1992) showed that unexpected events may result in a shift of individual attention from external cues to a more internal self-focus. If we assume that this restriction of attention extends to social cues as well, then we may expect a narrowing of social perspective to occur at the group level. More specifically, we propose that a narrowing of attention at the group level is accompanied by a shift from a broader, team perspective to a more narrow, individualistic focus. Furthermore, in a team task environment, we expect this narrowing of perspective to lead to a degradation of performance. However, although considerable research has examined
Are dietary recommendations for the use of fish oils sustainable?

People in developed countries have been encouraged in recent years to increase their intakes of fatty fish by at least 2–3-fold. The goal is to consume adequate amounts of the long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for optimal
Behavioural and social correlates of sedentary time in young people

Objective In this study, behavioural and social correlates of objectively measured sedentary time in young people were identified. Design Cross-sectional analysis of data from the European Youth Heart Study (EYHS). Setting Schools in Denmark, Estonia, Portugal and Norway. Participants Respondents were invited using a twostage cluster sampling procedure. Analyses include 2107 children (9–10 years old) and adolescents (14–15 years old). Assessment of independent variables Seven behavioural and 15 social variables assessed by parental and computerised child questionnaires. Main outcome measure Sedentary activity as assessed by accelerometry (10 min blocks at <200 counts/min). Analyses were stratified by country, and interactions with grade and sex were investigated. Results Adolescents were more sedentary than children (335.4 (90.4 min/day) vs 217.2 (75.6 min/day), p<0.001). Patterns of associations differed across countries. High computer use and no television viewing before school in Norway, and being sedentary during school breaks in Estonia were positively associated with sedentary time. No behavioural variables were associated with sedentary time in the Danish and Portuguese models. Socioeconomic position was positively associated with sedentary time in Portugal and Estonia, father's body mass index negatively in the Estonian model. Norwegian participants with a game console at home and Portuguese participants with a television in their bedroom were more sedentary. Conclusions A single strategy aimed at reducing sedentary behaviour is unlikely to be effective across Europe as the target populations and behaviours of focus differ between countries. Targeting high socioeconomic groups in Portugal and Estonia or focusing on reducing computer use in Norway might be effective intervention strategies to reduce overall sedentary time.
Combination therapy in hypertension

Abstract Hypertension is one of the most important risk factors for death, heart failure, ischaemic heart disease, stroke and chronic kidney disease. Treatment of hypertension to particularly to goal blood pressure (BP) prevents these complications. In South Africa the reported control rates for treated hypertensives using a goal BP <140/90 mm Hg is about 40%. Control of hypertension remains an elusive goal. The reasons for this are complex, but doctor inertia is emerging as an important barrier to better control rates.
Drivers of change in global agriculture

As a result of agricultural intensification, more food is produced today than needed to feed the entire world population and at prices that have never been so low. Yet despite this success and the impact of globalization and increasing world trade in agriculture, there remain large, persistent and, in some cases, worsening spatial differences in the ability of societies to both feed themselves and protect the long-term productive capacity of their natural resources. This paper explores these differences and develops a country×farming systems typology for exploring the linkages between human needs, agriculture and the environment, and for assessing options for addressing future food security, land use and ecosystem service challenges facing different societies around the world.
Hemodynamic Response Latency Analysis Using Wavelet Transform in Event-related Functional MRI

Many studies showed that the hemodynamic response (HR) to brief neural activity caused by the blood oxygen level-dependent effect is delayed some seconds, and that the HR latency (= time to peak from neural activation) varies among activation sites. This paper proposes a novel method for estimating HR latency by analyzing event-related functional magnetic resonance images based on a continuous wavelet transform. The proposed method can simultaneously detect activation areas and estimate the HR latency. We also studied variability of the HR latency across subjects within the same activation sites, across acquisition days within a subject, and among activation sites within a subject. The experiments were done on 10 healthy subjects with hand-gripping tasks. We found no significant difference of HR latencies at a given activation site within a subject across acquisition days. And, we found significant differences of HR latency between the supplementary motor area (SMA) and the primary motor cortex (M1) in individual subjects, and among subjects.
Industrial applications and future prospects of microbial xylanases: A review

Microbial enzymes such as xylanases enable new technologies for industrial processes. Xylanases (xylanolytic enzyme) hydrolyze complex polysaccharides like xylan. Research during the past few decades has been dedicated to enhanced production, purification, and characterization of microbial xylanase. But for commercial applications detailed knowledge of regulatory mechanisms governing enzyme production and functioning should be required. Since application of xylanase in the commercial sector is widening, an understanding of its nature and properties for efficient and effective usage becomes crucial. Study of synergistic action of multiple forms and mechanism of action of xylanase makes it possible to use it for bio-bleaching of kraft pulp and for desizing and bio-scouring of fabrics. Results revealed that enzymatic treatment leads to the enhancement in various physical properties of the fabric and paper. This review will be helpful in determining the factors affecting xylanase production and its potential industrial applications in textile, paper, pulp, and other industries.
Changes in neural resting state activity in primary and higher-order motor areas induced by a short sensorimotor intervention based on the Feldenkrais method

We use functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate short-term neural effects of a brief sensorimotor intervention adapted from the Feldenkrais method, a movement-based learning method. Twenty-one participants (10 men, 19–30 years) took part in the study. Participants were in a supine position in the scanner with extended legs while an experienced Feldenkrais practitioner used a planar board to touch and apply minimal force to different parts of the sole and toes of their left foot under two experimental conditions. In the local condition, the practitioner explored movement within foot and ankle. In the global condition, the practitioner focused on the connection and support from the foot to the rest of the body. Before (baseline) and after each intervention (post-local, post-global), we measured brain activity during intermittent pushing/releasing with the left leg and during resting state. Independent localizer tasks were used to identify regions of interest (ROI). Brain activity during left-foot pushing did not significantly differ between conditions in sensorimotor areas. Resting state activity (regional homogeneity, ReHo) increased from baseline to post-local in medial right motor cortex, and from baseline to post-global in the left supplementary/cingulate motor area. Contrasting post-global to post-local showed higher ReHo in right lateral motor cortex. ROI analyses showed significant increases in ReHo in pushing-related areas from baseline to both post-local and post-global, and this increase tended to be more pronounced post-local. The results of this exploratory study show that a short, non-intrusive sensorimotor intervention can have short-term effects on spontaneous cortical activity in functionally related brain regions. Increased resting state activity in higher-order motor areas supports the hypothesis that the global intervention engages action-related neural processes.
Spotlight on mavrilimumab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: evidence to date

The introduction of biological therapies into clinical practice has dramatically modified the natural history of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is a systemic autoimmune disease that causes articular damage and has a great negative impact on patients’ quality of life. Despite the wide spectrum of available biological treatments, ~30% of RA patients are still unresponsive, resulting in high disability and increased morbidity and mortality. In the last few decades, the scientific knowledge on RA pathogenesis vastly improved, leading to the identification of new proinflammatory molecules as potential therapeutic targets. Several in vitro and in vivo studies showed that granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), known to be a hematopoietic factor, is also one of the proinflammatory cytokines involved in macrophage activation, crucial for the pathogenic network of RA. Mavrilimumab, a human monoclonal antibody targeting the subunit α of GM-CSF receptor, was recently developed as a competitive antagonist of GM-CSF pathway and successfully adopted in human trials for mild to moderate RA. Mavrilimumab phase I and phase II studies reported an overall good efficacy and safety profile of the drug, and these encouraging results promoted the initiation of worldwide phase III studies. In particular, 158-week results of phase II trials did not show long-term lung toxicity, addressing the major concern about this target of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis development. However, further clinical studies conducted in larger RA populations are needed to confirm these promising results. This review summarizes the biological role of GM-CSF in RA and the preclinical and clinical data on mavrilimumab and other monoclonal antibodies targeted on this pathway as an alternative therapeutic option in RA patients who are unresponsive to conventional biological drugs.
Effects of Arachidonic Acid Supplementation on Acute Anabolic Signaling and Chronic Functional Performance and Body Composition Adaptations

Background The primary purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of arachidonic acid (ARA) supplementation on functional performance and body composition in trained males. In addition, we performed a secondary study looking at molecular responses of ARA supplementation following an acute exercise bout in rodents. Methods Thirty strength-trained males (age: 20.4 ± 2.1 yrs) were randomly divided into two groups: ARA or placebo (i.e. CTL). Then, both groups underwent an 8-week, 3-day per week, non-periodized training protocol. Quadriceps muscle thickness, whole-body composition scan (DEXA), muscle strength, and power were assessed at baseline and post-test. In the rodent model, male Wistar rats (~250 g, ~8 weeks old) were pre-fed with either ARA or water (CTL) for 8 days and were fed the final dose of ARA prior to being acutely strength trained via electrical stimulation on unilateral plantar flexions. A mixed muscle sample was removed from the exercised and non-exercised leg 3 hours post-exercise. Results Lean body mass (2.9%, p<0.0005), upper-body strength (8.7%, p<0.0001), and peak power (12.7%, p<0.0001) increased only in the ARA group. For the animal trial, GSK-β (Ser9) phosphorylation (p<0.001) independent of exercise and AMPK phosphorylation after exercise (p-AMPK less in ARA, p = 0.041) were different in ARA-fed versus CTL rats. Conclusions Our findings suggest that ARA supplementation can positively augment strength-training induced adaptations in resistance-trained males. However, chronic studies at the molecular level are required to further elucidate how ARA combined with strength training affect muscle adaptation.
Distributed Defense Against DDoS Attacks

Distributed denial-of-service attacks represent a major security problem. The main task of defense systems is to accurately detect these attacks and quickly respond to stop the oncoming flood. It is equally important to recognize the legitimate traffic that shares the attack signature and deliver it reliably to the victim. Unfortunately, there is no single deployment point on the attack tree that successfully meets all three requirements. Detection of the attack is most accurate close to the victim, while the response and separation of legitimate traffic from the attack traffic is most successful close to the sources. Additionally, in partial deployment cases when many potential sources do not deploy a source-end defense, adequate victim protection can only be achieved by enlisting the help of backbone routers to constrain attack traffic. These factors clearly indicate that the DDoS problem requires a distributed cooperative solution. We propose a distributed system for DDoS defense, called DefCOM. DefCOM nodes span source, victim and core networks and cooperate via an overlay to detect and stop attacks. Attack response is twofold: defense nodes constrain the attack traffic, relieving victim’s resources; they also cooperate to detect legitimate traffic within the suspicious stream and ensure its correct delivery to the victim. DefCOM design has a solid economic model where networks deploying defense nodes directly benefit from their operation. DefCOM further offers a framework for existing security systems to join the overlay and cooperate in the defense. These features create excellent motivation for wide deployment, and the possibility of large impact on DDoS threat.
Formal Analysis of Protocols Based on TPM State Registers

We present a Horn-clause-based framework for analysing security protocols that use \emph{platform configuration registers} (PCRs), which are registers for maintaining state inside the Trusted Platform Module (TPM). In our model, the PCR state space is unbounded, and our experience shows that a na\"\i ve analysis using ProVerif or SPASS does not terminate. To address this, we extract a set of instances of the Horn clauses of our model, for which ProVerif does terminate on our examples. We prove the soundness of this extraction process: no attacks are lost, that is, any query derivable in the more general set of clauses is also derivable from the extracted instances. The effectiveness of our framework is demonstrated in two case studies: a simplified version of Microsoft Bit locker, and a digital envelope protocol that allows a user to choose whether to perform a decryption, or to verifiably renounce the ability to perform the decryption.
An extension of Jessor and Jessor's problem behavior theory from marijuana to cigarette use.

Results of a survey of nearly 5,000 high school seniors were analyzed to apply Jessor and Jessor's Problem Behavior Theory and Kandel's legal-illegal distinction in drug use to cigarette and marijuana smoking. The findings support the utility of conceptualizing cigarette use as a problem behavior within Problem Behavior Theory in that the patterning of cigarette correlates was functionally similar to that of marijuana. However, the degree of peer support for use was considerably greater for marijuana than for cigarettes, supporting Kandel's legal-illegal drug distinction. The additional explained variance in marijuana use in the current study attests to the importance of utilizing respondents' standards and perceived standards of reference sources in research on social influences on mood-altering substances among youth.