Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Homocysteine Induced Cerebrovascular Dysfunction: A Link to Alzheimer’s Disease Etiology

A high serum level of homocysteine, known as hyperhomocystenemia (HHcy) is associated with vascular dysfunction such as altered angiogenesis and increased membrane permeability. Epidemiological studies have found associations between HHcy and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progression that eventually leads to vascular dementia (VaD). VaD is the second most common cause of dementia in people older than 65, the first being AD. VaD affects the quality of life for those suffering by drastically decreasing their cognitive function. VaD, a cerebrovascular disease, generally occurs due to cerebral ischemic events from either decreased perfusion or hemorrhagic lesions. HHcy is associated with the hallmarks of dementia such as tau phosphorylation, Aβ aggregation, neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) formation, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration. Previous reports also suggest HHcy may promote AD like pathology by more than one mechanism, including cerebral microangiopathy, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, neurotoxicity and apoptosis. Despite the corelations presented above, the question still exists – does homocysteine have a causal connection to AD? In this review, we highlight the role of HHcy in relation to AD by discussing its neurovascular effects and amelioration with dietary supplements. Moreover, we consider the studies using animal models to unravel the connection of Hcy to AD.
Analysis Of Light Distribution In Tissue

Quantitative dosimetry in clinical laser treatment requires information on propagation of light in tissue related to the optical properties of the tissue. This involves the solution of the integro-differential equation of radiative transfer, as well as experimental methods to determine the optical properties involved. These activities are summarized under the name tissue optics. This paper reviews the current status of tissue optics, distinguishing between the cases of: dominant absorption, dominant scattering, and scattering about equal to absorption. Most tissues or phantom tissues of which the optical properties are available show strongly forward scattering. The absorption and scattering data of skin layers show that in many cases scattering is more important than absorption. Under such circumstances, solutions to the transport equation under laser irradiation conditions are currently lacking.
Temperature dependency of the efficiency of Line Start Permanent Magnet Machines

Induction machines have nearly reached their maximum efficiency. In order to further increase the efficiency of electrical machines the use of permanent magnets in combination with the robust design of the induction machine is being extensively researched. Many experimental designs have been suggested in literature, but recently these Line Start Permanent Magnet Machines have also become commercially available in a power range to 10kW. It is commonly known that the induction from the magnets is function of the temperature of the permanent magnet. As a consequence, this temperature dependency of induction will affect almost every electrical quantity of the machine, including current, torque and efficiency. In this paper, the efficiency of an off-the-shelf 4kW three phase Line Start Permanent Magnet Machine is evaluated in function of the ambient temperature by practical measurement. A detailed loss evaluation is given to explain the results.
Bi-Fi: An Embedded Sensor/System Architecture for Remote Biological Monitoring

Wireless-enabled processor modules intended for communicating low-frequency phenomena (i.e., temperature, humidity, and ambient light) have been enabled to acquire and transmit multiple biological signals in real time, which has been achieved by using computationally efficient data acquisition, filtering, and compression algorithms, and interfacing the modules with biological interface hardware. The sensor modules can acquire and transmit raw biological signals at a rate of 32 kb/s, which is near the hardware limit of the modules. Furthermore, onboard signal processing enables one channel, sampled at a rate of 4000 samples/s at 12-bit resolution, to be compressed via adaptive differential-pulse-code modulation (ADPCM) and transmitted in real time. In addition, the sensors can be configured to filter and transmit individual time-referenced ldquospikerdquo waveforms, or to transmit the spike height and width for alleviating network traffic and increasing battery life. The system is capable of acquiring eight channels of analog signals as well as data via an asynchronous serial connection. A back-end server archives the biological data received via networked gateway sensors, and hosts them to a client application that enables users to browse recorded data. The system also acquires, filters, and transmits oxygen saturation and pulse rate via a commercial-off-the-shelf interface board. The system architecture can be configured for performing real-time nonobtrusive biological monitoring of humans or rodents. This paper demonstrates that low-power, computational, and bandwidth-constrained wireless-enabled platforms can indeed be leveraged for wireless biosignal monitoring.
New computer interface combining gaze tracking and brainwave measurements

We present a new computer interface that combines gaze tracking with brainwave measurements in an integrated head-mounted device. This interface is novel in the following four ways compared to previous works. First, because the system is designed as a single head-mounted device, both the brainwave data and eye images for gaze tracking can be acquired by wearing only one device that includes a sensing node and an eye image-capturing camera. Second, the noise in the brainwave data caused by blinking is removed by a blink detection system in the eye camera. Third, the sensitivity of a gaze-based navigation speed is appropriately controlled on the basis of the level of attention estimated by analyzing the brainwave. Fourth, performance and usability of the interface are validated by objective evaluating and subjective surveys. From experimental results, we confirmed that the proposed system shows promising performance and usability as a new computer interface1.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF DISCRETIZATION APPROACHES FOR STATE SPACE GENERALIZATION

There are two main branches of reinforcement learning: methods that search directly in the space of value functions that asses the utility of the behaviors (Temporal Difference Methods); and methods that search directly in the space of behaviors (Policy Search Methods). When applying Temporal Difference (TD) methods in domains with very large or continuous state spaces, the experience obtained by the learning agent in the interaction with the environment must be generalized. The generalization can be carried out in two different ways. On the one hand by discretizing the environment to use a tabular representation of the value functions (e.g. Vector Quantization Q-Learning algorithm). On the other hand, by using an approximation of the value functions based on a supervised learning method (e.g. CMAC Q-Learning algorithm). Other algorithms use both approaches to benefit from both mechanisms, allowing a higher performance. This is the case of the Two Step Reinforcement Learning algorithm. In the case of Policy Search Methods, the Evolutionary Reinforcement Learning algorithm has shown promising in RL tasks. All these algorithms present different ways to tackle the problem of large or continuous state spaces. In this chapter, we organize and discuss different generalization techniques to solve this problem. Finally, we demonstrate the usefulness of the different algorithms described to improve the learning process in the Keepaway domain. A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF DISCRETIZATION APPROACHES 3
Hepatocarcinogenesis: multistep changes of drainage vessels at CT during arterial portography and hepatic arteriography--radiologic-pathologic correlation.

PURPOSE To clarify the changes that occur in drainage vessels of dysplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) during hepatocarcinogenesis by using computed tomography (CT) during arterial portography (CTAP) and CT during hepatic arteriography (CTHA), with histologic findings as the reference standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS Institutional ethics committee approval and informed consent were obtained. According to the findings at CTAP and CTHA, 46 surgically resected hepatocellular nodules were classified into three types: type A (n = 18) (equivalent or decreased portal perfusion compared with background liver at CTAP, decreased arterial perfusion, and no corona enhancement [perinodular contrast material drainage] at CTHA), type B (n = 13) (no portal perfusion, increased arterial perfusion, and thin (< or = 2-mm) corona enhancement), or type C (n = 15) (no portal perfusion, increased arterial perfusion, and thick (> 2-mm) corona enhancement). We compared the histopathologic features and microangioarchitecture between the types. RESULTS Type A nodules histologically consisted of dysplastic nodules and well-differentiated HCC; type B and C nodules were moderately differentiated HCC. Replacing growth was commonly observed in type A nodules, whereas compressing growth was more frequently seen in types B and C. Sixty percent of type C nodules had a fibrous capsule. There were significantly fewer intranodular hepatic veins in types B and C. Serial pathologic slices demonstrated continuity from intranodular capillarized sinusoids to hepatic veins in type A nodules and to surrounding hepatic sinusoids in type B nodules. In type C nodules, intranodular capillarized sinusoids were connected to extranodular portal veins either directly or through portal venules within the fibrous capsule. CONCLUSION Drainage vessels of HCC change from hepatic veins to hepatic sinusoids and then to portal veins during multistep hepatocarcinogenesis.
Study on poly(ether ether ketone)/organically modified montmorillonite composites

Novel poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK)/organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) composites containing 0–10 wt-% fractions of OMMT were prepared by melting blending method and the microstructure, thermal and mechanical properties were investigated using different characterisation techniques. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy showed that the OMMT was well dispersed with microscale in the PEEK matrix. Differential scanning calorimetry indicated that the glass transition temperature T g and melt temperature T m of PEEK/OMMT composites (POMCs) were hardly affected by the addition of OMMT, while the crystal temperature T c decreased when the amount of OMMT excessed 1 wt-%. The data of thermogravimetric analysis exhibited that the thermal stability of POMCs in higher temperature region was better than that of pure PEEK. The results of mechanical properties test revealed that modulus and strength of POMCs increased with the content of OMMT, whereas the elongation at break and impact strength of POMCs decreased.
The Electrical Reactions of Certain Bacteria, and an Application in the Detection of Tubercle Bacilli in Urine by Means of an Electric Current

The aim of the following experiments was to ascertain whether bacteria suspended in an electrolyte through which a current passes are transmitted to either electrode, and if so, whether pathogenic organisms could be collected and extracted by such means from pathological liquids. Method of Experiment . The first observations as to a possible migration of bacteria under the action of an electric current were made in the following way :— A cover square was fitted with two platinum foil terminals, separated about 6 mm. From each other. A drop of weak bacterial emulsion made electrical connection between these two terminals, and was prevented from evaporating by another cover square resting on the top of the first one, the edges of which were greased; the “glass cell,” as it may be called, was then mounted on a stand (fig. 1), which rested on the stage of a microscope, and a current of about 1 milliampere sent through it.
Evaluation of the Stability of Concentrated Emulsions for Lemon Beverages Using Sequential Experimental Designs

The study of the stability of concentrated oil-in-water emulsions is imperative to provide a scientific approach for an important problem in the beverage industry, contributing to abolish the empiricism still present nowadays. The use of these emulsions would directly imply a reduction of transportation costs between production and the sales points, where dilution takes place. The goal of this research was to evaluate the influence of the main components of a lemon emulsion on its stability, aiming to maximize the concentration of oil in the beverage and to correlate its physicochemical characteristics to product stability, allowing an increase of shelf life of the final product. For this purpose, analyses of surface and interface tension, electrokinetic potential, particle size and rheological properties of the emulsions were conducted. A 24-1 fractional factorial design was performed with the following variables: lemon oil/water ratio (30% to 50%), starch and Arabic gum concentrations (0% to 30%) and dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (0 mg/L to 100 mg/L), including an evaluation of the responses at the central conditions of each variable. Sequentially, a full design was prepared to evaluate the two most influential variables obtained in the first plan, in which concentration of starch and gum ranged from 0% to 20%, while concentration of lemon oil/water ratio was fixed at 50%, without dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate. Concentrated emulsions with stability superior to 15 days were obtained with either starch or Arabic gum and 50% lemon oil. The most stable formulations presented viscosity over 100 cP and ratio between the surface tension of the emulsion and the mucilage of over 1. These two answers were selected, since they better represent the behavior of emulsions in terms of stability and could be used as tools for an initial selection of the most promising formulations.
Tumour location affects the incidence of cataract and retinopathy after ophthalmic plaque radiation therapy

AIM To examine how tumour location affects ocular morbidity after ophthalmic plaque radiotherapy for uveal melanoma. METHODS 69 eyes were irradiated and followed for a mean 42 months. There were 23 anterior uveal melanomas and 46 were posterior to the equator. Anterior and posterior tumours had similar basal dimensions. Their mean apical heights were 4.8 mm (anterior) and 3.5 mm (posterior) which received a mean 88 Gy and 83.4 Gy respectively. RESULTS Only one patient (4%) plaqued for an anterior uveal melanoma developed secondary retinopathy (cystoid macular oedema). In contrast, 24 (52%) of the posterior choroidal melanoma patients developed retinopathy (p value <0.0001). Cataract developed in 18 (86%) eyes with phakic anterior tumour compared with seven (17%) eyes with posterior tumours (p value <0.0000). No posterior nasal tumours lost more than two lines of vision though 45% developed retinopathy. CONCLUSION While plaque radiation of anterior melanomas is more likely to cause reversible vision loss secondary to cataract, treatment of posterior tumours is more likely to be associated with irreversible loss because of retinopathy. Nasal location is also protective against severe loss of vision.
Blood donors screening for malaria in non-endemic area in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Is it necessary to introduce immunological testing?

Introduction In Saudi Arabia, where malaria is not endemic, the incidence is very low. However, malaria transmission cases have been reported, mainly in Asir and Jazan provinces along the Southwestern border with Yemen. Imported cases also have been reported. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of malaria in blood donors in a tertiary care hospital in the central area of Saudi Arabia and to assess the effectiveness of malaria screening methods used by transfusion services in Prince Sultan Military Medical City. Methods This study was conducted on 180,000 people who donated blood during 2006–2015. All blood smears from blood donors were screened for malaria infection using Giemsa staining, low power and high power microscopic examinations, and using oil immersion lens. The data were analyzed and reported in descriptive statistics and prevalence. Results From the total of 180,000 blood donors who were screened for malaria, 156,000 (87%) and 23.400 (13%) were Saudi Arabia citizens and non-Saudi residents, respectively. The mean age of the blood donors was 32 (ranging from 18 to 65), 97% and 3% were male and female, respectively. Using our current method for malaria screening, the prevalence of malaria in the study population was zero. Conclusion The current methods of malaria screening in blood donors is not suitable for screening low-level parasiotemia. Adding the immunoassay and molecular screening methods is suggested.
Social behavior and decision making in bacterial conjugation

Bacteria frequently acquire novel genes by horizontal gene transfer (HGT). HGT through the process of bacterial conjugation is highly efficient and depends on the presence of conjugative plasmids (CPs) or integrated conjugative elements (ICEs) that provide the necessary genes for DNA transmission. This review focuses on recent advancements in our understanding of ssDNA transfer systems and regulatory networks ensuring timely and spatially controlled DNA transfer (tra) gene expression. As will become obvious by comparing different systems, by default, tra genes are shut off in cells in which conjugative elements are present. Only when conditions are optimal, donor cells—through epigenetic alleviation of negatively acting roadblocks and direct stimulation of DNA transfer genes—become transfer competent. These transfer competent cells have developmentally transformed into specialized cells capable of secreting ssDNA via a T4S (type IV secretion) complex directly into recipient cells. Intriguingly, even under optimal conditions, only a fraction of the population undergoes this transition, a finding that indicates specialization and cooperative, social behavior. Thereby, at the population level, the metabolic burden and other negative consequences of tra gene expression are greatly reduced without compromising the ability to horizontally transfer genes to novel bacterial hosts. This undoubtedly intelligent strategy may explain why conjugative elements—CPs and ICEs—have been successfully kept in and evolved with bacteria to constitute a major driving force of bacterial evolution.
Statistical Applications in Genetics and Molecular Biology Dimension Reduction for Classification with Gene Expression Microarray Data Dimension Reduction for Classification with Gene Expression Microarray Data *

An important application of gene expression microarray data is classification of biological samples or prediction of clinical and other outcomes. One necessary part of multivariate statistical analysis in such applications is dimension reduction. This paper provides a comparison study of three dimension reduction techniques, namely partial least squares (PLS), sliced inverse regression (SIR) and principal component analysis (PCA), and evaluates the relative performance of classification procedures incorporating those methods. A five-step assessment procedure is designed for the purpose. Predictive accuracy and computational efficiency of the methods are examined. Two gene expression data sets for tumor classification are used in the study. We thank the editor and two reviewers for helpful comments and suggestions .
Olanzapine in the long-term treatment of bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Olanzapine was licensed in the USA by the Food and Drug Administration in 2003 for the prevention of relapse in patients with bipolar disorder when the acute manic episode had responded to treatment with olanzapine. However, olanzapine is commonly used in clinical practice for preventing relapse in patients with bipolar disorder even when acute response has not been demonstrated. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine the effectiveness and acceptability of olanzapine in preventing recurrent mood episodes in bipolar disorder. MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Collaboration Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Controlled Trials Register and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled up to July 2008 were accessed. Only randomised controlled trials comparing olanzapine with placebo or other active drugs for long-term treatment were included. Two reviewers independently extracted data. Authors were contacted to provide additional data. Of the five trials included in this review, four were conducted by Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of olanzapine. Olanzapine was more effective than placebo at preventing manic relapse, but there was no difference between olanzapine (alone or in combination with lithium or valproate) and placebo (alone or in combination with lithium or valproate) in terms of relapse into any mood episode, as defined as primary outcome by authors in each of the primary studies. We conclude that olanzapine may prevent further manic episodes only in patients who have responded to olanzapine in an acute manic or mixed episode and who have not previously had a satisfactory response to lithium or valproate.
Genetically engineered mouse models of human B-cell precursor leukemias

B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemias (pB-ALLs) are the most frequent type of malignancies of the childhood, and also affect an important proportion of adult patients. In spite of their apparent homogeneity, pB-ALL comprises a group of diseases very different both clinically and pathologically, and with very diverse outcomes as a consequence of their biology, and underlying molecular alterations. Their understanding (as a prerequisite for their cure) will require a sustained multidisciplinary effort from professionals coming from many different fields. Among all the available tools for pB-ALL research, the use of animal models stands, as of today, as the most powerful approach, not only for the understanding of the origin and evolution of the disease, but also for the development of new therapies. In this review we go over the most relevant (historically, technically or biologically) genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) of human pB-ALLs that have been generated over the last 20 years. Our final aim is to outline the most relevant guidelines that should be followed to generate an “ideal” animal model that could become a standard for the study of human pB-ALL leukemia, and which could be shared among research groups and drug development companies in order to unify criteria for studies like drug testing, analysis of the influence of environmental risk factors, or studying the role of both low-penetrance mutations and cancer susceptibility alterations.