Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contribution of Microscopy to a Better Knowledge of the Biology of Giardia lamblia

Giardia lamblia is a flagellated protozoan of great medical and biological importance. It is the causative agent of giardiasis, one of the most prevalent diarrheal disease both in developed and third-world countries. Morphological studies have shown that G. lamblia does not present structures such as peroxisomes, mitochondria, and a well-elaborated Golgi complex. In this review, special emphasis is given to the contribution made by various microscopic techniques to a better knowledge of the biology of the protozoan. The application of video microscopy, immunofluorescence confocal laser scanning microscopy, and several techniques associated with transmission electron microscopy (thin section, enzyme cytochemistry, freeze-fracture, deep-etching, fracture-flip) to the study of the cell surface, peripheral vesicles, endoplasmic reticulum–Golgi complex system, and of the encystation vesicles found in trophozoites and during the process of trophozoite-cyst transformation are discussed.
Chronic Apoptosis of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Accelerates Atherosclerosis and Promotes Calcification and Medial Degeneration

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) accumulation is implicated in plaque development. In contrast, VSMC apoptosis is implicated in plaque rupture, coagulation, vessel remodeling, medial atrophy, aneurysm formation, and calcification. Although VSMC apoptosis accompanies multiple pathologies, there is little proof of direct causality, particularly with the low levels of VSMC apoptosis seen in vivo. Using a mouse model of inducible VSMC–specific apoptosis, we demonstrate that low-level VSMC apoptosis during either atherogenesis or within established plaques of apolipoprotein (Apo)E−/− mice accelerates plaque growth by two-fold, associated with features of plaque vulnerability including a thin fibrous cap and expanded necrotic core. Chronic VSMC apoptosis induced development of calcified plaques in younger animals and promoted calcification within established plaques. In addition, VSMC apoptosis induced medial expansion, associated with increased elastic lamina breaks, and abnormal matrix deposition reminiscent of cystic medial necrosis in humans. VSMC apoptosis prevented outward remodeling associated with atherosclerosis resulting in marked vessel stenosis. We conclude that VSMC apoptosis is sufficient to accelerate atherosclerosis, promote plaque calcification and medial degeneration, prevent expansive remodeling, and promote stenosis in atherosclerosis.
An evolutionary computational theory of prefrontal executive function in decision-making

The prefrontal cortex subserves executive control and decision-making, that is, the coordination and selection of thoughts and actions in the service of adaptive behaviour. We present here a computational theory describing the evolution of the prefrontal cortex from rodents to humans as gradually adding new inferential Bayesian capabilities for dealing with a computationally intractable decision problem: exploring and learning new behavioural strategies versus exploiting and adjusting previously learned ones through reinforcement learning (RL). We provide a principled account identifying three inferential steps optimizing this arbitration through the emergence of (i) factual reactive inferences in paralimbic prefrontal regions in rodents; (ii) factual proactive inferences in lateral prefrontal regions in primates and (iii) counterfactual reactive and proactive inferences in human frontopolar regions. The theory clarifies the integration of model-free and model-based RL through the notion of strategy creation. The theory also shows that counterfactual inferences in humans yield to the notion of hypothesis testing, a critical reasoning ability for approximating optimal adaptive processes and presumably endowing humans with a qualitative evolutionary advantage in adaptive behaviour.
Clinical, Radiographic, and Histological Outcomes After Cartilage Repair With Particulated Juvenile Articular Cartilage

Background: Biological repair of cartilage lesions remains a significant clinical challenge because of the lack of natural regeneration and limited treatment options. Hypothesis: Treatment of articular cartilage lesions in the knee with particulated juvenile articular cartilage (PJAC) will result in an improvement in patient symptoms of pain and function and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings at 2 years compared with baseline. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Patients with symptomatic articular cartilage lesions on the femoral condyles or trochlear groove of the knee were identified for treatment with PJAC. There were 25 patients with a mean age of 37.0 ± 11.1 years and a mean lesion size of 2.7 ± 0.8 cm2. All patients were assessed preoperatively (baseline) with a knee examination and surveys including the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective knee form, 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Patients were followed at predetermined time points postoperatively through 2 years. Also, MRI was performed at baseline and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. At 2 years, patients were given the option of undergoing voluntary diagnostic arthroscopic surgery with cartilage biopsy to assess the histological appearance of the cartilage repair including safranin O staining for proteoglycans and immunostaining for type I and II collagen. Results: Clinical outcomes demonstrated statistically significant increases at 2 years after surgery compared with baseline, with improvements seen as early as 3 months. Over the 24-month follow-up period, the IKDC score increased from a mean of 45.7 to 73.6, KOOS-pain score from 64.1 to 83.7, KOOS-symptoms score from 64.6 to 81.4, KOOS–activities of daily living score from 73.8 to 91.5, KOOS–sports and recreation score from 44.6 to 68.3, and KOOS–quality of life score from 31.8 to 59.9. The MRI results suggested that T2-weighted scores were returning to a level approximating that of normal articular cartilage by 2 years. Histologically, the repair tissue in biopsy samples from 8 patients was composed of a mixture of hyaline and fibrocartilage; immunopositivity for type II collagen was generally higher than for type I collagen, and there appeared to be excellent integration of the transplanted tissue with the surrounding native articular cartilage. Other than elective biopsies, there were no reoperations, although 1 graft delamination was reported at 24 months. Conclusion: This study demonstrates a rapid, safe, and effective treatment for cartilage defects. For the patient population investigated, the clinical outcomes of the PJAC technique showed a significant improvement over baseline, with histologically favorable repair tissue 2 years postoperatively.
Iatrogenic Creutzfeldt – Jakob disease : investigating human prion transmission across genotypic barriers using human tissue ‐ based and molecular approaches

Prion diseases are a group of fatal transmissible neurodegenerative disorders that occur naturally in man and a range of other species [12]. All are associated with the conversion of a normal host cellular protein, the prion protein (PrP), into a misfolded disease-associated form, PrP, which accumulates in the central nervous system (CNS) [29]. The prion hypothesis states that PrP is the principal (if not the sole) component of the transmissible agents responsible for this group of diseases [30]; this hypothesis is supported by an increasing body of experimental evidence [9]. However, the precise relationship between the conformation of PrP in different forms of prion disease and the biological properties of the transmissible agents (strain characteristics) in different prion diseases is still unresolved. Unlike the more common forms of human neurodegenerative diseases, human prion diseases occur in sporadic, genetic and acquired forms [12]. The acquired human prion diseases that have resulted from human-to-human transmission include kuru (now considered to be extinct) and iatrogenic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (iCJD), with variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD) resulting from bovine to human transmission of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent. Iatrogenic transmission of Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) has occurred in many countries across the world as a consequence of transmission Abstract Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) is the prototypic human prion disease that occurs most commonly in sporadic and genetic forms, but it is also transmissible and can be acquired through medical procedures, resulting in iatrogenic CJD (iCJD). The largest numbers of iCJD cases that have occurred worldwide have resulted from contaminated cadaveric pituitary-derived human growth hormone (hGH) and its use to treat primary and secondary growth hormone deficiency. We report a comprehensive, tissuebased and molecular genetic analysis of the largest series of UK hGH-iCJD cases reported to date, including in vitro kinetic molecular modelling of genotypic factors influencing prion transmission. The results show the interplay of prion strain and host genotype in governing the molecular, pathological and temporal characteristics of the UK hGH-iCJD epidemic and provide insights into the adaptive mechanisms involved when prions cross genotypic barriers. We conclude that all of the available evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that the UK hGH-iCJD epidemic
Cognitive Phase-Only Sequence Design With Desired Correlation and Stopband Properties

This paper considers the phase-only sequence design problem for a cognitive radar in order to achieve both the desired autocorrelation and the stopband properties, which is useful to obtain good range compression as well as the spectral compatibility. We develop a new objective function accounting for the weighted integrated sidelobe level and the spectral power within specific stopbands. An iteration algorithm based on pattern search (PS) is proposed to minimize the nonconvex multidimensional objective function with the continuous phase case, which is split into multiple one-dimensional problems that are simplified and solved with closed-form solutions. In particular, the PS algorithm can be applied to the discrete phase case. Finally, we evaluate the effectiveness of the PS algorithm compared with the weighted-stopband cyclic algorithm new algorithm via numerical simulations in terms of the autocorrelation function, the spectral power function, and the convergence speed.
Solidification/stabilization of dredged marine sediments for road construction

Cement/lime-based solidification is an environmentally sound solution for the management of dredged marine sediments, instead of traditional solutions such as immersion. Based on the mineralogical composition and physical characteristics of Dunkirk sediments, the effects of cement and lime are assessed through Atterberg limits, modified Proctor compaction, unconfined compressive strength and indirect tensile strength tests. The variation of Atterberg limits and the improvement in strength are discussed at different binder contents. The potential of sediments solidified with cement or lime for road construction is evaluated through a proposed methodology from two aspects: I-CBR value and material classification. The test results show the feasibility of solidified dredged sediments for beneficial use as a material in road construction. Cement is superior to lime in terms of strength improvement, and adding 6% cement is an economic and reasonable method to stabilize fine sediments.
Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Removal by Nephrologists: Technical Aspect from a Single Center

Despite improvements in peritoneal dialysis (PD) techniques during past years, PD-related problems may still warrant removal of the catheter. Mechanical catheter problems, persistent or relapsing peritonitis, and exitsite infections are the most common causes of removal. PD catheters may also be removed after successful renal transplantation. Recent data reported by Asif emphasized that the most common PD access procedures performed by nephrologists include PD catheter insertion, removal, and repositioning (1). Traditionally, PD catheter removal and repositioning are performed by surgeons. Due to surgeons’ long waiting lists, there is usually a delay in the procedure, with adverse effects on outcome. Therefore, we set out to introduce a technique for removal of Tenckhoff PD catheters described by Ash (2). We retrospectively evaluated the PD catheter removal procedures that were performed by nephrologists in our clinic.
A modified electronic key feature examination for undergraduate medical students: validation threats and opportunities

The purpose of our study was the development and validation of a modified electronic key feature exam of clinical decision-making skills for undergraduate medical students. Therefore, the reliability of the test (15 items), the item difficulty level, the item-total correlations and correlations to other measures of knowledge (40 item MC-test and 580 items of German MC-National Licensing Exam, Part II) were calculated. Based on the guidelines provided by the Medical Council of Canada, a modified electronic key feature exam for internal medicine consisting of 15 key features (KFs) was developed for fifth year German medical students. Long menu (LM) and short menu (SM) question formats were used. Acceptance was assessed through a questionnaire. Thirty-seven students from four medical schools voluntarily participated in the study. The reliability of the key feature exam was 0.65 (Cronbach's alpha). The items’ difficulty level scores were between 0.3 and 0.8 and the item-total correlations between 0.0 and 0.4. Correlations between the results of the KF exam and the other measures of knowledge were intermediate (r between 0.44 and 0.47) as well as the learners’ level of acceptance. The modified electronic KF examination is a feasible and reliable evaluation tool that may be implemented for the assessment of clinical undergraduate training.
Alarmingly High Segregation Frequencies of Quinolone Resistance Alleles within Human and Animal Microbiomes Are Not Explained by Direct Clinical Antibiotic Exposure

Antibiotic resistance poses a major threat to human health. It is therefore important to characterize the frequency of resistance within natural bacterial environments. Many studies have focused on characterizing the frequencies with which horizontally acquired resistance genes segregate within natural bacterial populations. Yet, very little is currently understood regarding the frequency of segregation of resistance alleles occurring within the housekeeping targets of antibiotics. We surveyed a large number of metagenomic datasets extracted from a large variety of host-associated and non host-associated environments for such alleles conferring resistance to three groups of broad spectrum antibiotics: streptomycin, rifamycins, and quinolones. We find notable segregation frequencies of resistance alleles occurring within the target genes of each of the three antibiotics, with quinolone resistance alleles being the most frequent and rifamycin resistance alleles being the least frequent. Resistance allele frequencies varied greatly between different phyla and as a function of environment. The frequency of quinolone resistance alleles was especially high within host-associated environments, where it averaged an alarming ∼40%. Within host-associated environments, resistance to quinolones was most often conferred by a specific resistance allele. High frequencies of quinolone resistance alleles were also found within hosts that were not directly treated with antibiotics. Therefore, the high segregation frequency of quinolone resistance alleles occurring within the housekeeping targets of antibiotics in host-associated environments does not seem to be the sole result of clinical antibiotic usage.
Diversity in the use of electronic mail: a preliminary inquiry

This paper describes a series of interviews that examine the ways that professional office workers use electronic mail to manage their daily work. The purpose is to generate hypotheses for future research. A number of implications for the design of flexible mail systems are discussed. Two principal claims are made. First, the use of electronic mail is strikingly diverse, although not infinitely so. Individuals vary both in objective measures of mail use and in preferred strategies for managing work electronically. Feelings of control are similarly diverse and are related to the size of the user's inbox, numbers of folders, and subscriptions to distribution lists. This diversity implies that one's own experiences with electronic mail are unlikely to provide sufficient understanding of other's uses of mail. Mail designers should thus seek flexible primitives that capture the important dimensions of use and provide flexibility for a wide range of users. The second claim is that electronic mail is more than just a communication system. Users archive messages for subject retrieval, prioritize messages to sequence work activities, and delegate tasks via mail. A taxonomy of work management is proposed in which mail is used for information management, time management, and task management activities. Directions for future research are suggested.
Developmental regulation of mammary-derived growth inhibitor expression in bovine mammary tissue

The cDNA for a previously described growth inhibitor, designated as mammary-derived growth inhibitor (MDGI) (Grosse, R., and P. Langen. 1989. In Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology. In press) has been cloned from a plasmid library which was derived from terminally differentiated bovine mammary gland. Sequencing of the cDNA showed an open reading frame coding for a protein of 133 amino acids. In six positions differences were found between the sequence determined from the cDNA and that determined previously by amino acid sequence analysis. Northern blot analysis revealed abundant MDGI mRNA in the terminally differentiated mammary gland, whereas in virgin gland, liver or pancreas transcripts were not expressed. By use of in situ hybridization technique transcription of MDGI in the developing bovine mammary gland was analyzed. Increasing amounts of MDGI mRNA were detected in the epithelial cells of embryonic mammary rudiment, in the epithelium of developing lobules and in terminal parts of ducts and lobuloalveolar epithelial cells of differentiated glands. There was a geographical gradient of MDGI mRNA concentration in bovine mammary gland reaching a maximum in the proximal parts of the tissue. An immunohistochemical analysis with different polyclonal and peptide directed antibodies against MDGI confirmed the in situ hybridization data with respect to the tissue-specific and differentiation-dependent MDGI expression in bovine mammary gland. The results suggest a close relationship between MDGI transcription and developmental processes in the normal bovine mammary gland.
Qualitative Reflections: CASA's Trauma and Attachment Group (TAG) Program for Youth who have Experienced Early Developmental Trauma.

OBJECTIVE We demonstrated previously that the Trauma and Attachment Group (TAG) program for youth in middle childhood significantly improved caregiver/child attachment relationships, reduced children's symptoms of attachment trauma, and increased the caregiver's ability for self-reflection. Here we examine the perspectives of both those administering and those taking part in this intensive dyad-based group intervention. METHODS Utilizing an ethnographic design we collected and analyzed qualitative data obtained through a focus group and interviews with program facilitators, as well as interviews with participating caregivers. Data were collected from six TAG facilitators through a formal focus group interview (n=4), and informal interviews with TAG facilitators unable to attend the focus group (n=2). Four interviews were also carried out with caregivers (three females and one male). Thematic analysis of the focus group and interview transcripts was conducted. RESULTS Three key themes were identified in the focus group and interview data: Relationship as locus of change, Group process, and Psychoeducation-based content. That the TAG program provides psychoeducation about the effects of trauma to caregiver/child dyads in a group setting appears important in supporting the effectiveness of the program. Structured parent-child play and sensory activities together ("kit-time") were also highly valued. CONCLUSIONS This qualitative study suggests that establishment of a healthy and focused caregiver/child relationship may be the key mechanism to promoting change in relationships that have been challenged by adverse effects of early developmental trauma. Further evaluation may help to identify other components that contribute to the success of the program.
Zoledronic acid and interleukin-2 treatment improves immunocompetence in HIV-infected persons by activating Vγ9Vδ2 T cells

Objective:γδ T cells bearing the Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell receptor exert many antiviral effector functions in humans, including release of anti-HIV factors and direct cytotoxicity against virus-infected cells. Moreover, they are known to activate dendritic cells, improving antigen presentation function. After HIV infection, Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell number and reactivity are rapidly affected and they decrease upon disease progression. Bisphosphonate drugs such as zoledronic acid (Zol), used to treat bone diseases, have been shown to induce in vivo, in combination with interleukin-2, Vγ9Vδ2 T-cells’ activation. The aim of this work was to verify whether the administration of Zol in combination with interleukin-2 in HIV-infected patients might improve Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell function, including immune adjuvancy mediated by γδ-dendritic cell cross-talk. Design and methods:In HIV patients naive to antiretroviral therapy, we analyzed the effect of combined Zol and interleukin-2 treatment, in comparison to Zol alone, on Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell number, maturation and function, on dendritic cell activation and on HIV-specific CD8 T-cell response. Results:Zol and interleukin-2-combined treatment induced in-vivo Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell expansion and maturation. Paralleling Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell activation, increased dendritic cell maturation and HIV-specific CD8 T-cell responses were found. Conclusion:The specific modulation of Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell number and responsiveness after HIV infection may be at least transiently restored in vivo by Zol and interleukin-2 treatment. In this way, the immune effector mechanisms, secondary to Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell activation, were improved, suggesting a possible adjuvancy role of Zol and interleukin-2 treatment in restoring innate and specific competence in HIV-infected persons.
Measurement of body segment mass, center of gravity, and determination of moments of inertia by double pendulum in Lemur fulvus

The collection of data on physical parameters of body segments is a preliminary critical step in studying the biomechanics of locomotion. Little data on nonhuman body segment parameters has been published. The lack of standardization of techniques for data collection and presentation has made the comparative use of these data difficult and at times impossible. This study offers an approach for collecting data on center of gravity and moments of inertia for standardized body segments. The double swing pendulum approach is proposed as a solution for difficulties previously encountered in calculating moments of inertia for body segments. A format for prompting a computer to perform these calculations is offered, and the resulting segment mass data for Lemur fulvus is presented.