Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optical Imaging of Human Cone Photoreceptors Directly Following the Capture of Light

Capture of light in the photoreceptor outer segment initiates a cascade of chemical events that inhibit neurotransmitter release, ultimately resulting in vision. The massed response of the photoreceptor population can be measured non-invasively by electrical recordings, but responses from individual cells cannot be measured without dissecting the retina. Here we used optical imaging to observe individual human cones in the living eye as they underwent bleaching of photopigment and associated phototransduction. The retina was simultaneously stimulated and observed with high intensity visible light at 1 kHz, using adaptive optics. There was marked variability between individual cones in both photosensitivity and pigment optical density, challenging the conventional assumption that photoreceptors act as identical subunits (coefficient of variation in rate of photoisomerization = 23%). There was also a pronounced inverse correlation between these two parameters (p<10−7); the temporal evolution of image statistics revealed this to be a dynamic relationship, with cone waveguiding efficiency beginning a dramatic increase within 3 ms of light onset. Beginning as early as 2 ms after light onset and including half of cells by ∼7 ms, cone intensity showed reversals characteristic of interference phenomena, with greater delays in reversal corresponding to cones with more photopigment (p<10−3). The timing of these changes is argued to best correspond with either the cessation of dark current, or to related events such as changes in intracellular cGMP. Cone intensity also showed fluctuations of high frequency (332±25 Hz) and low amplitude (3.0±0.85%). Other groups have shown similar fluctuations that were directly evoked by light; if this corresponds to the same phenomenon, we propose that the amplitude of fluctuation may be increased by the use of a bright flash followed by a brief pause, to allow recovery of cone circulating current.
Insect–computer hybrid legged robot with user-adjustable speed, step length and walking gait

We have constructed an insect–computer hybrid legged robot using a living beetle (Mecynorrhina torquata; Coleoptera). The protraction/retraction and levation/depression motions in both forelegs of the beetle were elicited by electrically stimulating eight corresponding leg muscles via eight pairs of implanted electrodes. To perform a defined walking gait (e.g. gallop), different muscles were individually stimulated in a predefined sequence using a microcontroller. Different walking gaits were performed by reordering the applied stimulation signals (i.e. applying different sequences). By varying the duration of the stimulation sequences, we successfully controlled the step frequency and hence the beetle's walking speed. To the best of our knowledge, this paper presents the first demonstration of living insect locomotion control with a user-adjustable walking gait, step length and walking speed.
Comparison of effects of treatment of primary nocturnal enuresis with oxybutynin plus desmopressin, desmopressin alone or imipramine alone: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

PURPOSE We prospectively evaluated the efficacy of a combination of desmopressin and oxybutynin for treating children with nocturnal enuresis, compared to the single drugs imipramine and desmopressin. MATERIALS AND METHODS We enrolled 158 patients from 2003 to 2004. Children were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups and treated with desmopressin, imipramine or a combination of desmopressin plus oxybutynin. Of these patients 145 (100 boys and 45 girls, mean age 7.8 +/- 2.5 years, range 5 to 15) were followed for more than 6 months. Efficacy was measured at 1, 3 and 6 months in terms of average enuretic frequency, 5-scale response based on change in nocturnal enuretic frequency after treatment and posttreatment enuretic frequency as a percentage of pretreatment baseline frequency. The latter efficacy was classified according to daytime voiding symptoms. Statistical evaluation was performed using chi-square tests and ANOVA. RESULTS Of the 145 children followed 48 received combination therapy, 49 received desmopressin and 48 received imipramine. A total of 68 patients (47%) had monosymptomatic enuresis and 77 (53%) had polysymptomatic enuresis. Combination therapy produced the best and most rapid results regardless of whether the children had monosymptomatic or polysymptomatic enuresis. CONCLUSIONS Combination therapy with desmopressin plus oxybutynin for the treatment of pediatric nocturnal enuresis was well tolerated, and gave significantly faster and more cost-effective results than single drug therapy using either desmopressin or imipramine.
Hearing impairment and renal failure associated with RMND1 mutations

Recently, two research groups reported that mutations in RMND1 were associated with encephalopathy, elevated lactate, hypotonia, and in some patients seizures or myoclonia in individuals from two consanguineous families. A combined respiratory chain deficiency and a defect in mitochondrial protein translation was found. In this study, we report two siblings who are compound heterozygous for the mutations, c.713A>G and c.1003delG, in RMND1. Respiratory chain enzymatic analysis and BN‐PAGE showed a combined OXPHOS deficiency. Western blot analysis indicated normal levels of RMND1, but the assembly of the RMND1 homopolymeric complex was highly impaired. The two siblings had a markedly milder phenotype and longer survival compared to previously reported patients. In addition, they had renal failure and hearing impairment. These two newly described patients contribute to delineation of the clinical spectrum associated with RMND1 aberrations. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Damage Characterization of Bio and Green Polyethylene–Birch Composites under Creep and Cyclic Testing with Multivariable Acoustic Emissions

Despite the knowledge gained in recent years regarding the use of acoustic emissions (AEs) in ecologically friendly, natural fiber-reinforced composites (including certain composites with bio-sourced matrices), there is still a knowledge gap in the understanding of the difference in damage behavior between green and biocomposites. Thus, this article investigates the behavior of two comparable green and biocomposites with tests that better reflect real-life applications, i.e., load-unloading and creep testing, to determine the evolution of the damage process. Comparing the mechanical results with the AE, it can be concluded that the addition of a coupling agent (CA) markedly reduced the ratio of AE damage to mechanical damage. CA had an extremely beneficial effect on green composites because the Kaiser effect was dominant during cyclic testing. During the creep tests, the use of a CA also avoided the transition to new damaging phases in both composites. The long-term applications of PE green material must be chosen carefully because bio and green composites with similar properties exhibited different damage processes in tests such as cycling and creep that could not be previously understood using only monotonic testing.
Neurofilament light protein in blood predicts regional atrophy in Huntington disease

Objective Neurofilament light (NfL) protein in blood plasma has been proposed as a prognostic biomarker of neurodegeneration in a number of conditions, including Huntington disease (HD). This study investigates the regional distribution of NfL-associated neural pathology in HD gene expansion carriers. Methods We examined associations between NfL measured in plasma and regionally specific atrophy in cross-sectional (n = 198) and longitudinal (n = 177) data in HD gene expansion carriers from the international multisite TRACK-HD study. Using voxel-based morphometry, we measured associations between baseline NfL levels and both baseline gray matter and white matter volume; and longitudinal change in gray matter and white matter over the subsequent 3 years in HD gene expansion carriers. Results After controlling for demographics, associations between increased NfL levels and reduced brain volume were seen in cortical and subcortical gray matter and within the white matter. After also controlling for known predictors of disease progression (age and CAG repeat length), associations were limited to the caudate and putamen. Longitudinally, NfL predicted subsequent occipital gray matter atrophy and widespread white matter reduction, both before and after correction for other predictors of disease progression. Conclusions These findings highlight the value of NfL as a dynamic marker of brain atrophy and, more generally, provide further evidence of the strong association between plasma NfL level, a candidate blood biomarker, and pathologic neuronal change.
The clinical utility of serum free light chain and heavy/light chain assays in monitoring disease activity in patients with IgG myeloma after achieving a deep response

Heavy/light chain (HLC) assay will enable us to evaluate the changes in the concentrations of iHLC and uHLC separately and to better identify whether the change observed is clonal or reactive. It would therefore aid in decision making for earlier implementation or discontinuation of treatment for patients with intact immunoglobulin multiple myeloma (MM).
Use of oral antidiabetic drugs (metformin and pioglitazone) in diabetic patients with breast cancer: how does it effect serum Hif-1 alpha and 8Ohdg levels?

OBJECTIVE The aim was to investigate indicators related to DNA damage and cancer pathogenesis in Type II diabetes cases with breast cancer. It was planned to evaluate the relationship between these markers with oral antidiabetic drugs. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Fourty patients and 10 healthy individuals were included in the study. HIF-1α and 8-OHdG are examined in blood samples taken from these individuals with an ELISA Kit. Statistical analysis of data was performed with 95% confidence using Windows package program SPSS 15.0. RESULTS HIF-1α parameters were found to be meaningfully higher in the patient group than the controls in both pretreatment and posttreatment periods (p<0.05). No significant differences in terms of 8-OHdG between patients and controls. However, posttreatment serum HIF-1α ve 8-OHdG levels was found lower than pretreatment levels in patients receiving metformin, but not with pioglitazone. Conversely, serum 8-OHdG levels decreased significantly in these patients. When patients were evaluated according to the treatment groups (pioglitazone vs. metformin) no significant differences in terms of serum HIF-1? and 8-OHdG levels between treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS HIF-1α levels decreased significantly in the patient group receiving metformin. However, there was no significant difference in terms of HIF-1α levels in the patients receiving pioglitazone.
A Simple Approximation for the Bit-Interleaved Coded Modulation Capacity

The generalized mutual information (GMI) is an achievable rate for bit-interleaved coded modulation (BICM) and is highly dependent on the binary labeling of the constellation. The BICM-GMI, sometimes called the BICM capacity, can be evaluated numerically. This approach, however, becomes impractical when the number of constellation points and/or the constellation dimensionality grows, or when many different labelings are considered. A simple approximation for the BICM-GMI based on the area theorem of the demapper's extrinsic information transfer (EXIT) function is proposed. Numerical results show the proposed approximation gives good estimates of the BICM-GMI for labelings with close to linear EXIT functions, which includes labelings of common interest, such as the natural binary code, binary reflected Gray code, etc. This approximation is used to optimize the binary labeling of the 32-APSK constellation defined in the DVB-S2 standard. Gains of approximately 0.15 dB are obtained.
An investigation of late-combustion soot burnout in a DI diesel engine using simultaneous planar imaging of soot and OH radical

Diesel engine design continues to be driven by the need to improve performance while at the same time achieving further reductions in emissions. The development of new designs to accomplish these goals requires an understanding of how the emissions are produced in the engine. Laser-imaging diagnostics are uniquely capable of providing this information, and the understanding of diesel combustion and emissions formation has been advanced considerably in recent years by their application. However, previous studies have generally focused on the early and middle stages of diesel combustion. These previous laser-imaging studies do provide important insight into the soot formation and oxidation processes during the main combustion event. They indicate that prior to the end of injection, soot formation is initiated by fuel-rich premixed combustion (equivalence ratio > 4) near the upstream limit of the luminous portion of the reacting fuel jet. The soot is then oxidized at the diffusion flame around the periphery of the luminous plume. Under typical diesel engine conditions, the diffusion flame does not burn the remaining fuel and soot as rapidly as it is supplied, resulting in an expanding region of rich combustion products and soot. This is evident in natural emission images by the increasing size of the luminous soot cloud prior to the end of injection. Hence, the amount of soot in the combustion chamber typically increases until shortly after the end of fuel injection, at which time the main soot formation period ends and the burnout phase begins. Sampling valve and two-color pyrometry data indicate that the vast majority (more than 90%) of the soot formed is oxidized before combustion ends; however, it is generally thought that a small fraction of this soot from the main combustion zones is not consumed and is the source of tail pipe soot emissions.
Prognostic nutritional index before adjuvant chemotherapy predicts chemotherapy compliance and survival among patients with non-small-cell lung cancer

Background Adjuvant chemotherapy after the complete resection of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is now the standard of care. To improve survival, it is important to identify risk factors for the continuation of adjuvant chemotherapy. In this study, we analyzed chemotherapy compliance and magnitude of the prognostic impact of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) before adjuvant chemotherapy. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of data from 106 patients who had received adjuvant chemotherapy. The adjuvant chemotherapy consisted of an oral tegafur agent (OT) or platinum-based chemotherapy (PB). The correlations between the PNI values and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were then evaluated. Results In the PB group, the percentage of patients who completed the four planned cycles of chemotherapy was not correlated with the PNI. In the OT group, however, a significant difference was observed in the percentage of patients who completed the planned chemotherapy according to the PNI before adjuvant chemotherapy. The RFS of patients with a PNI <50 before adjuvant chemotherapy was significantly poorer than that of the patients with a PNI ≥50. A multivariate analysis showed that nodal metastasis and PNI before chemotherapy were independent predictors of the RFS. However, PNI before surgery was not a predictor of the RFS. In the subgroup analysis, PNI before chemotherapy was independent predictor of the RFS in the OT group (P=0.019), but not in the PB group (P=0.095). Conclusion The PNI before adjuvant chemotherapy influenced the treatment compliance with the planned chemotherapy in the OT group, but not the PB group. In addition, a low PNI before adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with a poor RFS in a multivariate analysis, especially in the OT group.
Coronal advanced flap in combination with a connective tissue graft. Is the thickness of the flap a predictor for root coverage? A prospective clinical study

AIM Evaluate if there is any relationship between the flap thickness (FT) and the presence of complete root coverage (CRC) when performing coronally advanced flaps in combination with a connective tissue graft (CTG). MATERIALS AND METHODS Prospective clinical study, in which multiple Miller class I and II recessions were treated with a coronally advanced flap and a CTG standardized at 1 mm of thickness. Individual stents permitted repeated measurements of conventional periodontal parameters at the same point. The primary outcome variable was CRC. Secondary outcomes were recession reduction, gingival thickness and width of keratinized tissue (KT) achieved at 6 months post-surgery. RESULTS Forty-five recessions (2.4 ± 0.75 mm) were treated in 20 patients. Mean root coverage was 93.4 ± 10.98%; 65% achieved CRC. The mean FT was 1.01 mm ± 0.64 mm and 1.01 ± 0.61 mm at 2 and 5 mm from the gingival margin, respectively. No relationship could be found between FT and CRC (p > .05). Statistical significant changes (p < .05) were observed for recession depth, clinical attachment level, KT and soft tissue thickness at the end of the study. CONCLUSIONS Flap thickness seems not to be a predictor for CRC when performing a coronally advanced flap plus a CTG. This technique may be of choice when treating thin biotypes.
Effects of Drought Stress on Pollen Sterility, Grain Yield, Abscisic Acid and Protective Enzymes in Two Winter Wheat Cultivars

Drought stress induced pollen sterility is a detrimental factor reducing grain number in wheat. Exploring the mechanisms underlying pollen fertility under drought conditions could assist breeding high-yielding wheat cultivars with stress tolerance. Here, by using two Chinese wheat cultivars subjected to different levels of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced drought stress, possible links between pollen fertility and stress tolerance were analyzed under different levels of drought stress at the young microspore stage. In both cultivars, higher grain number reduction was observed under condition of lower water availability. Overall, the drought tolerant cultivar (Jinmai47) exhibited less grain number reduction than the drought sensitive cultivar (Shiluan02-1) under all stress conditions. Compared with Shiluan02-1, Jinmai47 exhibited superior physiological performance in terms of leaf photosynthetic rate, ear carbohydrate accumulation, pollen sink strength, pollen development and fertility under stress. Moreover, Jinmai47 showed a lower increase in endogenous abscisic acid in ears than Shiluan02-1. Furthermore, higher levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities were also found in the drought tolerant cultivar Jinmai47 under PEG stress, compared with the drought sensitive cultivar Shiluan02-1. Changes in these physiological traits could contribute to better pollen development and male fertility, ultimately leading to the maintenance of grain number under drought stress.
Neutralizing antibodies for orthobunyaviruses in Pantanal, Brazil

The Pantanal is a hotspot for arbovirus studies in South America. Various medically important flaviviruses and alphaviruses have been reported in domestic and wild animals in the region. To expand the knowledge of local arbovirus circulation, a serosurvey for 14 Brazilian orthobunyaviruses was conducted with equines, sheep and free-ranging caimans. Sera were tested for specific viral antibodies using plaque-reduction neutralization test (PRNT). Monotypic reactions were detected for Maguari, Xingu, Apeu, Guaroa, Murutucu, Oriboca, Oropouche and Nepuyo viruses. Despite the low titers for most of the orthobunyaviruses tested, the detection of monotypic reactions for eight orthobunyaviruses suggests the Pantanal as a region of great orthobunyavirus diversity. The present data, in conjunction with previous studies that detected a high diversity of other arboviruses, ratify the Pantanal as an important natural reservoir for sylvatic and medically important arboviruses in Brazil.
Psychological intervention and antidepressant treatment in smoking cessation.

BACKGROUND Sustained-release bupropion hydrochloride and nortriptyline hydrochloride have been shown to be efficacious in the treatment of cigarette smoking. It is not known whether psychological intervention increases the efficacy of these antidepressants. This study compared both drugs with placebo. It also examined the efficacy of these 2 drugs and placebo with and without psychological intervention. METHODS This was a 2 (medical management vs psychological intervention) x 3 (bupropion vs nortriptyline vs placebo) randomized trial. Participants were 220 cigarette smokers. Outcome measures were biologically verified abstinence from cigarettes at weeks 12, 24, 36, and 52. RESULTS Psychological intervention produced higher 7-day point-prevalence rates of biochemically verified abstinence than did medical management alone. With the use of point-prevalence abstinence, both nortriptyline and bupropion were more efficacious than placebo. On rates of 1-year continuous abstinence, the 2 drugs did not differ from each other or from placebo. Psychological intervention did not differ from medical management alone on rates of 1-year continuous abstinence. CONCLUSIONS Both nortriptyline and bupropion are efficacious in producing abstinence in cigarette smokers. Similarly, psychological intervention produces better abstinence rates than simple medical management. Both drugs, and psychological intervention, have limited efficacy in producing sustained abstinence. The data also suggest that combined psychological intervention and antidepressant drug treatment may not be more effective than antidepressant drug treatment alone.
The Difficulty of Eliminating Donor Leukocyte Microchimerism in Rat Recipients Bearing Established Organ Allografts

Background. Unequivocal eradication of donor leukocyte microchimerism from recipients of long-surviving organ transplants has never been reported. Here we describe a drastic attempt to accomplish this objective. Methods. In control experiments, a rank order of microchimerism and of associated donor specific nonreactivity was produced in Brown-Norway (BN) rats by transplantation of Lewis (LEW) liver, bone marrow cell (BMC) and heart allografts under a brief course of tacrolimus. The degree of microchimerism at 60 and 110 days was estimated with semiquanitative immunocytochemical and PCR techniques. Tolerance at 110 days was assessed in the different control groups by challenge transplantation of naïve LEW hearts. In parallel experimental groups, an attempt was made to eliminate microchimerism from the BN recipients. The animals were submitted at 60 days to 9.5-Gy total body irradiation (TBI), reconstituted immediately with naïve BN BMC, and tested for donor specific nonreactivity by LEW heart transplantation at 110 days. Results. After the TBI-reconstitution at 60 days, microchimerism was undetectable in BMC recipients at 110 days, significantly reduced in heart recipients, and least affected in liver recipients. Except in liver recipients, abrogation of LEW-specific nonreactivity was demonstrated by rejection of the priming grafts, or by rejection of the challenge heart grafts, and by in vitro immune assay. Conclusions. It is difficult to eliminate microchimerism in organ recipients once the donor cells have settled into tissue niches.