Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reduced amounts and abnormal forms of phospholipase C zeta (PLCzeta) in spermatozoa from infertile men.

BACKGROUND In mammals, oocyte activation at fertilization is thought to be induced by the sperm-specific phospholipase C zeta (PLCzeta). However, it still remains to be conclusively shown that PLCzeta is the endogenous agent of oocyte activation. Some types of human infertility appear to be caused by failure of the sperm to activate and this may be due to specific defects in PLCzeta. METHODS AND RESULTS Immunofluorescence studies showed PLCzeta to be localized in the equatorial region of sperm from fertile men, but sperm deficient in oocyte activation exhibited no specific signal in this same region. Immunoblot analysis revealed reduced amounts of PLCzeta in sperm from infertile men, and in some cases, the presence of an abnormally low molecular weight form of PLCzeta. In one non-globozoospermic case, DNA analysis identified a point mutation in the PLCzeta gene that leads to a significant amino acid change in the catalytic region of the protein. Structural modelling suggested that this defect may have important effects upon the structure and function of the PLCzeta protein. cRNA corresponding to mutant PLCzeta failed to induce calcium oscillations when microinjected into mouse oocytes. Injection of infertile human sperm into mouse oocytes failed to activate the oocyte or trigger calcium oscillations. Injection of such infertile sperm followed by two calcium pulses, induced by assisted oocyte activation, activated the oocytes without inducing the typical pattern of calcium oscillations. CONCLUSIONS Our findings illustrate the importance of PLCzeta during fertilization and suggest that mutant forms of PLCzeta may underlie certain types of human male infertility.
Scapular positioning in overhead athletes with and without shoulder pain: a case–control study

Abnormalities of scapular positioning are considered important risk factors for developing shoulder disorders. This study analyses the scapular positioning pattern in a group of overhead athletes with and without shoulder pain. In a multi‐center blinded case–control study, 36 shoulder pain athletes (19 men, 17 women), were compared with 36 unimpaired athletes free of shoulder pain, matched for gender, age, hand dominance and body mass index. The blinded assessor performed visual observation, the measurement of the distance between the acromion and the table, inclinometry and the kinetic medial rotation test for dynamic scapular control in random order. Athletes with shoulder pain demonstrate scapular asymmetry in the sagittal plane, observed visually as anterior tilting on the painful side. Athletes with shoulder pain show a lack of scapular motor control on their painful side in contrast to their pain‐free side. No scapular positioning or motor control differences were found in athletes with or without shoulder pain.
Emerging antibodies for the treatment of pancreatic cancer

ABSTRACT Introduction: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cancer (PDAC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Recently, two chemotherapy regimens have proven to improve median overall survival in comparison with gemcitabine. Based on better understanding of tumor molecular biology and of the role of tumor microenvironment, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) could be an interesting and new type of targeted treatment of PDAC. Areas covered: Preclinical and clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy of several mAbs in pancreatic cancer treatment. This review will underline the most important targeted pathways by mAbs involved in this disease, including EGFR, HER-2, IGF-1 R, VEGF/VEGFR, NOTCH, WNT and immune checkpoints. Expert opinion: Despite the promising results of preclinical and phase I trials, the addition of mAbs to standard chemotherapy or in association with other target agents seems not to confirm these results in the following phase II and III trials in pancreatic cancer patients. However, an improved patient selection before treatment based on molecular characteristics in association with reliable predictive biomarkers can identified more efficacious treatment approaches, minimizing toxicity profile of these drugs.
Impact of IM pole count on material cost increase for achieving mandatory efficiency requirements

This paper presents a study about cost-optimal induction machines fulfilling particular efficiency requirements. As an increase of efficiency inevitably causes higher material costs, the tradeoff for these two conflicting objectives is analyzed in particular. Optimization scenarios comprising crucial design parameters are investigated and evolutionary algorithms are employed to reduce the overall computational cost. To obtain results in satisfactory time, the performance of machine designs is determined by means of an analytic approach. A case study for rated power of 11kW is presented. All number of poles and efficiency classes considered in corresponding regulations are investigated. This allows a comparison of the relative cost increase with regard to mandatory efficiency requirements, starting from IE1 up to the IE4 class. The results further provide interesting insights into optimal length to diameter ratios, air gap flux densities, and stator current densities.
Nutrient Cycles and Marine Microbes in a CO2-Enriched Ocean

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Ocean, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences at ODU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in OEAS Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of ODU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@odu.edu. Repository Citation Hutchins, David A. ; Mulholland, Margaret R. ; and Fu, Feixue, "Nutrient Cycles and Marine Microbes in a CO2-Enriched Ocean" (2009). OEAS Faculty Publications. Paper 20. http://digitalcommons.odu.edu/oeas_fac_pubs/20
Online Physician Reviews in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery: What Do Patients Really Want?

Objectives This study aimed to qualitatively analyze online reviews of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS) specialists to better understand patients' experiences and improve patient satisfaction. Methods Fifty urologists and urogynecologists were randomly sampled from the Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine, and Urogenital Reconstruction membership website. We evaluated patient ratings and reviews of physicians from 4 websites: Yelp, Healthgrades, Vitals, and UCompareHealthCare. Qualitative data analysis was performed using grounded theory methodology, as described by Charmaz (Constructing Grounded Theory, 2014). Results Across the four websites, the mean number of stars per physician ranged from 3.6 to 4.1 and the mean number of reviews per physician ranged from 1.3 to 7.6. Qualitative analysis revealed several preliminary themes: patient–physician experience, medical and surgical treatment, office staff, and analysis of worth. Physicians who developed strong connections with patients through empathetic communication were likely to receive a positive review, regardless of wait times. Bedside manner was found to be multidimensional and included physician competence and understanding patients' concerns. Failure to meet several expectations led to dissatisfaction of care and negative patient reviews. Conclusions Patients' perspectives of quality of care in FPMRS are weighted heavily toward establishing personal connections with physicians. Accurate diagnosis and effective management of urological conditions, especially after negative experiences with previous providers, were associated with satisfaction of care. It seems that the concept of good bedside manner is multifactorial and requires the provider to demonstrate not one but several different sets of communication skills.
Influenza in children

Purpose of review We review the current information and evidence available on the global burden of disease in the pediatric population, clinical presentation and complications, testing, treatment, and immunization. Recent findings In addition to multiple other risk factors for influenza complications, children with neurologic and neuromuscular disorders are significantly higher risk for serious complications. In practice, there is no lower age limit for children with influenza who can be treated with oseltamivir. The quadrivalent live attenuated influenza vaccine was not recommended for use during the 2016–2017 season due to poor effectiveness. Summary Influenza infection causes a significant burden of disease each year in the pediatric population worldwide. Both healthy and chronically ill children can fall prey to complications either due to the virus itself or secondary bacterial infection. Children within high-risk groups should be tested and treated with neuraminidase inhibitors. Immunization against influenza is well tolerated and effective.
The role of vitamin D in adipogenesis

Vitamin D, a secosteroid predominately obtained by endogenous production, has in recent years been linked to obesity and its comorbidities. The purpose of this review is to draw conclusions from animal and human studies on the effects of vitamin D on adipogenesis to identify the molecular links between vitamin D and obesity. The information presented herein was obtained from 4 databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Scopus) using predefined search terms, as well as research literature and other reviews. The effects of vitamin D on adipogenesis have been researched in several animal models, and the majority of these studies suggest vitamin D plays an inhibitory role in adipogenesis. Studies into vitamin D status and obesity in humans are limited, with the majority being observational epidemiological studies that provide no conclusions on cause and effect or clear links on the molecular mechanisms. The few cell culture and supplementation studies that have investigated adipogenesis in human cells indicate that, in contrast to findings from rodent studies, vitamin D is proadipogenic. There is insufficient evidence to determine whether 1) vitamin D deficiency is associated with a lean or obese phenotype, 2) vitamin D deficiency is a consequence of obesity, or (3) the effects of vitamin D on fat tissue are due to interactions with calcium.
Measurement of proton-proton elastic scattering and total cross-section at

At the LHC energy of , under various beam and background conditions, luminosities, and Roman Pot positions, TOTEM has measured the differential cross-section for proton-proton elastic scattering as a function of the four-momentum transfer squared t. The results of the different analyses are in excellent agreement demonstrating no sizeable dependence on the beam conditions. Due to the very close approach of the Roman Pot detectors to the beam center (≈5σbeam) in a dedicated run with β* = 90 m, |t|-values down to 5·10−3 GeV2 were reached. The exponential slope of the differential elastic cross-section in this newly explored |t|-region remained unchanged and thus an exponential fit with only one constant B = (19.9 ± 0.3) GeV−2 over the large |t|-range from 0.005 to 0.2 GeV2 describes the differential distribution well. The high precision of the measurement and the large fit range lead to an error on the slope parameter B which is remarkably small compared to previous experiments. It allows a precise extrapolation over the non-visible cross-section (only 9%) to t = 0. With the luminosity from CMS, the elastic cross-section was determined to be (25.4 ± 1.1) mb, and using in addition the optical theorem, the total pp cross-section was derived to be (98.6 ± 2.2) mb. For model comparisons the t-distributions are tabulated including the large |t|-range of the previous measurement (TOTEM Collaboration (Antchev G. et al), EPL, 95 (2011) 41001).
Experimental characterization and modeling of a three-variant magnetic shape memory alloy

Researchers have attempted to characterize and predict the magneto-mechanical behavior of magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMAs) for over a decade. However, all prior experimental investigations on MSMA have been performed on samples accommodating two martensite variants and generally the MSMA is only exposed to two-dimensional magneto-mechanical loading. As efforts have been underway to develop models able to predict the most general (i.e. 3D) loading conditions for MSMAs with three-varints, there is also a need for experimental data to support the calibration and validation of these models. This paper presents magneto-mechanical data from experiments where MSMA specimens, whose microstructure accommodates three martensite variants, is subjected to three-dimensional magneto-mechanical loading, along with model predictions of these experimental results. The 3D magneto-mechanical model deployed here is a modified version of the model developed by our group (LaMaster et al 2015 J. Intell. Mater. Syst. Struct. 26 663–79), and assumes that three martensite variants coexist in the material. The LaMaster et al model captures some of the general trends seen in the experimental data, but does not predict the data with a high degree of accuracy. Possible reasons for the mismatch between experimental data and model predictions are discussed.
Neuromodulated Synaptic Plasticity on the SpiNNaker Neuromorphic System

SpiNNaker is a digital neuromorphic architecture, designed specifically for the low power simulation of large-scale spiking neural networks at speeds close to biological real-time. Unlike other neuromorphic systems, SpiNNaker allows users to develop their own neuron and synapse models as well as specify arbitrary connectivity. As a result SpiNNaker has proved to be a powerful tool for studying different neuron models as well as synaptic plasticity—believed to be one of the main mechanisms behind learning and memory in the brain. A number of Spike-Timing-Dependent-Plasticity(STDP) rules have already been implemented on SpiNNaker and have been shown to be capable of solving various learning tasks in real-time. However, while STDP is an important biological theory of learning, it is a form of Hebbian or unsupervised learning and therefore does not explain behaviors that depend on feedback from the environment. Instead, learning rules based on neuromodulated STDP (three-factor learning rules) have been shown to be capable of solving reinforcement learning tasks in a biologically plausible manner. In this paper we demonstrate for the first time how a model of three-factor STDP, with the third-factor representing spikes from dopaminergic neurons, can be implemented on the SpiNNaker neuromorphic system. Using this learning rule we first show how reward and punishment signals can be delivered to a single synapse before going on to demonstrate it in a larger network which solves the credit assignment problem in a Pavlovian conditioning experiment. Because of its extra complexity, we find that our three-factor learning rule requires approximately 2× as much processing time as the existing SpiNNaker STDP learning rules. However, we show that it is still possible to run our Pavlovian conditioning model with up to 1 × 104 neurons in real-time, opening up new research opportunities for modeling behavioral learning on SpiNNaker.
Between-Subject Variability in Healthy Eyes as a Primary Source of Structural–Functional Discordance in Patients With Glaucoma

Purpose To test with an independent data set the finding that between-subject variability in healthy eyes is the primary source of structural–functional discordance in patients with glaucoma. Methods Neuroretinal rim area, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and perimetric data were analyzed for one eye in each of 55 control subjects and for 245 right eyes of patients in the United Kingdom Glaucoma Treatment Study. Data were gathered with the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT), Stratus Optical Coherence Tomograph (OCT), and Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA). Discordance was quantified as width of the limits of agreement from a Bland-Altman analysis of depth of defect. The ratio of variances (F test) for the patient and control groups was computed for comparisons of HFA-OCT, HFA-HRT, and OCT-HRT. Bonferroni adjustment required P less than 0.017 for statistical significance. The discordance in the patients was also quantified as the 95% prediction interval computed from the discordance in controls using the Hood-Kardon model for the HFA-OCT comparison. Results The F ratio comparing discordance in patients and controls was 0.77, 1.43, and 1.32 for the HFA-OCT, HFA-HRT, and OCT-HRT comparisons with P values 0.88, 0.06, and 0.11, respectively. For the Hood-Kardon model, 4.7% of the patients had discordance outside the 95% prediction interval computed from the discordance in controls. Similar results were obtained when all comparisons were repeated for left eyes of patients. Conclusions These results confirm previous findings that between-subject variability in healthy eyes is the primary source of structural–functional discordance in patients with glaucoma, and extends this finding to a structural–structural comparison.
Planting density, hydrodynamic exposure and mussel beds affect survival of transplanted intertidal eelgrass

Transplantation of eelgrass Zostera marina has become a promising restoration tool since natural recolonisation during the last century failed after massive mortality, due to a combina- tion of a wasting disease outbreak and a sequence of human impacts. We studied the interactive effects of planting density and hydrodynamic exposure on the survival of transplants of an annual population of intertidal eelgrass. Accordingly, eelgrass seedlings were planted in high density (HD: 14 plants m -2 ) and low density (LD: 5 plants m -2 ) units at 3 locations with varied wave and current exposures. We also tested the potential of blue mussel beds (Mytilus edulis) to facilitate eelgrass sur- vival. Transplant survival decreased as hydrodynamic exposure increased. Survival was high (75% after 7 wk) at the low exposure location. The intermediate exposure location had slightly lower over- all survival (60% after 7 wk), and lowest overall survival rate was at the most exposed location (20% after 7 wk). Facilitation existed among eelgrass plants. Survival was significantly higher in the HD units than in the LD units at both high and intermediate exposure locations. Planting density had no effect on survival at the low exposure location. Hence, there was an interactive effect of planting den- sity, hydrodynamic exposure and shelter. Eelgrass planted in open spaces within a mussel bed sur- vived significantly better than transplants situated 60 m seaward of the mussel bed. Thus, mussel beds facilitate eelgrass survival. The insights into the processes affecting transplantation success will be of use in eelgrass restoration around the world.
Acoustic Sensors Based on Amino-Functionalized Nanoparticles to Detect Volatile Organic Solvents

Love-wave gas sensors based on surface functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles has been developed in this research. Amino-terminated iron oxide nanoparticles were deposited, by a spin coating technique, onto the surface of Love-wave sensors, as a very reproducible gas-sensing layer. The gases tested were organic solvents, such as butanol, isopropanol, toluene and xylene, for a wide and low concentration range, obtaining great responses, fast response times of a few minutes (the time at which the device produced a signal change equal to 90%), good reproducibilities, and different responses for each detected solvent. The estimated limits of detection obtained have been very low for each detected compound, about 1 ppm for butanol, 12 ppm for isopropanol, 3 ppm for toluene and 0.5 ppm for xylene. Therefore, it is demonstrated that this type of acoustic wave sensor, with surface amino-functionalized nanoparticles, is a good alternative to those ones functionalized with metal nanoparticles, which result very expensive sensors to achieve worse results.
Neutron Diffraction Study on the Structure of the Metallic Glass Cu 57 Zr

The structure of amorphous Cu57Zr43 has been investigated by neutron diffraction using the isotopic substitution method with the isotopes Cu and Cu besides natural Cu. From the scattering contribution of concentration fluctuations to the measured structure factors and from the atomic distances chemical ordering is concluded to exist in amorphous Cu57Zr43. The structural results are compared with previous experimental and theoretical investigations of CuZrand other binary metallic glasses formed by transition metals. Evidence is given that the topological as well as the chemical short range order is asymmetric in respect to both components in this type of metallic glasses.
Neurologic complications in kidney transplant recipients.

Transplantology experiences continuous growth and kidney transplantation is the most frequently transplanted solid organ. Metabolic, cardiovascular, infectious or kidney function-related aspects are widely recognised and are of key interest for transplant doctors. Neurological complications seen in these patients, although known, are less covered in the literature. According to some reports, neurologic symptoms are experienced by almost 9 per 10 transplant recipients. The intensity, severity and type of abnormalities may vary, and most frequently the complications seem to be associated with a direct or indirect effect of immunosuppressive medications, including their direct effect on cells, on blood vessels, and susceptibility to infections. Increasing age of transplant recipients and relaxation of transplantation eligibility criteria enriches the population with patients already compromised, with a higher present risk of stroke, neuropathy, malignancy etc. Research on and introduction to clinical practice of new agents like belatacept, proteasome inhibitors, or modified release formulations of tacrolimus, changes the picture and type of abnormalities within the nervous or neuromuscular system but does not eliminate them. Thus, it seems justified to remind the society of the whole array of neurologic complications they can see in their practice despite advances in the field.
Ageing effects on humoral immune responses in chronic periodontitis

Periodontal disease is a dominant global bacterial infection that increases with ageing. AIM This report focuses on host adaptive immune responses in periodontitis. While experimental models and humans diagnosed with periodontitis demonstrate an antigenic specificity for particular oral bacteria, we have a limited understanding of (i) how ageing affects the adaptive immune responses to these bacteria that chronically colonize the oral cavity for decades prior to disease expression and (ii) how the magnitude and specificity of the response interface with pathogens that emerge within the bacterial ecology during exacerbations of disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS Serum antibody levels to a group of pathogenic and commensal oral bacteria were measured in a population of individuals from 21 to 74 years of age, stratified based on clinical status of the periodontium, smoking and sex. RESULTS Clinical parameters were not significantly different within health, gingivitis or periodontitis groups related to age. Antibody to oral pathogens and commensals was similar in different age groups in each of the clinical categories, with no age correlation noted in the periodontitis patients. CONCLUSIONS The adaptive immune responses to oral bacteria that chronically colonize the oral cavity appear generally unaffected by age, but clearly are linked to the extent of disease.