Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biochemical Parameters Alterations in Multiple Sclerosis: A Longitudinal Study and Review of the Literature

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) and is characterized by inflammation, demyelination and desctruction of oligodendrocytes and axons. The immunology of MS is complex, involving autoreactive Th1 and Th17 lymphocytes, cells of the innate immune system including dedritic, natural killer (NK) and microglia cells, as well as vascular endothelial cells. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is based by a series of biochemical changes affecting to different extent neuronal functions; great attention has been focused on: liver enzymes, thyroid function tests, autoantibodies, lipid profile and uric acid levels. Following the introduction of therapy with drugs that modify the course of disease, more attention has been paid to the change of biochemical parameters, in particular to evaluate possible adverse effects. Aim of this study was to perform a review of the literature on biochemical alterations in treated and untreated MS patients and to assess laboratory parameters alterations in a cohort of MS patients, before and during treatment. On a total of 624 patients followed at our center, we selected those who practiced for the first time a therapy with IFN beta 1a at various doses, IFN beta 1b and Glatiramer acetate, that were 595 (95%), with baseline biochemical evaluation available in 488 (82%) (307 females, mean age 36.6 years). We considered the evolution of various biochemical parameters during treatment. The following outcome variables were evaluated: laboratory changes, in particular liver function, thyroid function, lipids and blood cell count. Percentages were compared using the chisquare test. ANOVA was performed to evaluate changes of laboratory tests over time between therapy groups. Our finding confirm the presence of biochemical alterations at baseline, in particular regarding liver enzymes, thyroid hormones and lipids. Treatment effects were more evident on liver enzymes elevation, anti thyroid antibodies production and blood cholesterol decrease. These effects were mainly transient and self remitting without suspension of therapy. Biochemical alterations, mainly related to autoimmune pathology and lipid metabolism change were encountered. Treatments increased transient biochemical alterations particulary in patients with baseline changes, suggesting a stricter monitoring of blood exams in this category of patients.
Evolution of box jellyfish (Cnidaria: Cubozoa), a group of highly toxic invertebrates

Cubozoa (Cnidaria: Medusozoa) represents a small clade of approximately 50 described species, some of which cause serious human envenomations. Our understanding of the evolutionary history of Cubozoa has been limited by the lack of a sound phylogenetic hypothesis for the group. Here, we present a comprehensive cubozoan phylogeny based on ribosomal genes coding for near-complete nuclear 18S (small subunit) and 28S (large subunit) and partial mitochondrial 16S. We discuss the implications of this phylogeny for our understanding of cubozoan venom evolution, biogeography and life-history evolution. Our phylogenetic hypothesis suggests that: (i) the last common ancestor of Carybdeida probably possessed the mechanism(s) underlying Irukandji syndrome, (ii) deep divergences between Atlantic and Indo-Pacific clades may be explained by ancient vicariant events, and (iii) sexual dimorphism evolved a single time in concert with complex sexual behaviour. Furthermore, several cubozoan taxa are either para- or polyphyletic, and we address some of these taxonomic issues by designating a new family, Carukiidae, a new genus, Copula, and by redefining the families Tamoyidae and Tripedaliidae. Lastly, cubozoan species identities have long been misunderstood and the data presented here support many of the recent scientific descriptions of cubozoan species. However, the results of a phylogeographic analysis of Alatina moseri from Hawai'i and Alatina mordens from Australia indicate that these two nominal species represent a single species that has maintained metapopulation cohesion by natural or anthropogenic dispersal.
Testing functional performance in people with Parkinson disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Although the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) is the most common performance measure for people with Parkinson disease (PD), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Forward Functional Reach Test (FFR), Backward Functional Reach Test (BFR), Timed "Up & Go" Test (TUG), and gait speed may be used to quantify some aspects of functional performance not measured by the UPDRS. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship among a set of tests of balance, walking performance, and mobility in people with PD. SUBJECTS Twenty-five community-dwelling adults (11 female, 14 male) with a diagnosis of PD were recruited from PD support groups in southeastern Wisconsin and consented to participate in the study. The mean age of the participants was 76 years (SD=7). The average Hoehn and Yahr Stage Scale score was 2. METHODS Functional abilities of each subject were assessed with the UPDRS, BBS, FFR, BFR, TUG, and gait speed. Spearman and Pearson correlations were performed. RESULTS The UPDRS total score was correlated with the BBS (r=-.64, P<.001), FFR (r=-.52, P<.05), and TUG (r=.50, P<.05) measurements. The BBS is the only test of functional performance where scores correlate with all other functional tests and the UPDRS. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The UPDRS total score may not reflect a comprehensive measure of mobility in people with PD. Because the BBS scores correlate both with UPDRS scores and with scores of all other tests of functional performance, the BBS appears to be a good overall measure of function in this population.
Detection- and Trajectory-Level Exclusion in Multiple Object Tracking

When tracking multiple targets in crowded scenarios, modeling mutual exclusion between distinct targets becomes important at two levels: (1) in data association, each target observation should support at most one trajectory and each trajectory should be assigned at most one observation per frame, (2) in trajectory estimation, two trajectories should remain spatially separated at all times to avoid collisions. Yet, existing trackers often sidestep these important constraints. We address this using a mixed discrete-continuous conditional random field (CRF) that explicitly models both types of constraints: Exclusion between conflicting observations with super modular pairwise terms, and exclusion between trajectories by generalizing global label costs to suppress the co-occurrence of incompatible labels (trajectories). We develop an expansion move-based MAP estimation scheme that handles both non-sub modular constraints and pairwise global label costs. Furthermore, we perform a statistical analysis of ground-truth trajectories to derive appropriate CRF potentials for modeling data fidelity, target dynamics, and inter-target occlusion.
Modified Formalin-Ether Concentration Technique for Diagnosis of Human Strongyloidiasis

We compared the efficacy and applicability of a modified formalin-ether concentration technique (M-FECT) to the conventional FECT (C-FECT) and the agar plate culture (APC) method for the detection of Strongyloides stercoralis larvae. For this purpose, we used 600 human fecal specimens collected in an endemic area of southern Thailand. In the M-FECT, we used 2 layers of wire meshes, instead of gauze, to avoid the loss by absorption/adhesion of larvae to the gauze during filtration, and we reduced the exposure time of S. stercoralis larvae in stool samples to formalin. By such simple modifications, the efficacy of M-FECT has become comparable to APC and was much better than that of C-FECT for the diagnosis of strongyloidiasis.
Delayed Retraction of Filopodia in Gelsolin Null Mice

Growth cones extend dynamic protrusions called filopodia and lamellipodia as exploratory probes that signal the direction of neurite growth. Gelsolin, as an actin filament-severing protein, may serve an important role in the rapid shape changes associated with growth cone structures. In wild-type (wt) hippocampal neurons, antibodies against gelsolin labeled the neurite shaft and growth cone. The behavior of filopodia in cultured hippocampal neurons from embryonic day 17 wt and gelsolin null (Gsn−) mice (Witke, W., A.H. Sharpe, J.H. Hartwig, T. Azuma, T.P. Stossel, and D.J. Kwiatkowski. 1995. Cell. 81:41–51.) was recorded with time-lapse video microscopy. The number of filopodia along the neurites was significantly greater in Gsn− mice and gave the neurites a studded appearance. Dynamic studies suggested that most of these filopodia were formed from the region of the growth cone and remained as protrusions from the newly consolidated shaft after the growth cone advanced. Histories of individual filopodia in Gsn− mice revealed elongation rates that did not differ from controls but an impaired retraction phase that probably accounted for the increased number of filopodia long the neutrite shaft. Gelsolin appears to function in the initiation of filopodial retraction and in its smooth progression.
Anytime Motion Planning using the RRT*

The Rapidly-exploring Random Tree (RRT) algorithm, based on incremental sampling, efficiently computes motion plans. Although the RRT algorithm quickly produces candidate feasible solutions, it tends to converge to a solution that is far from optimal. Practical applications favor “anytime” algorithms that quickly identify an initial feasible plan, then, given more computation time available during plan execution, improve the plan toward an optimal solution. This paper describes an anytime algorithm based on the RRT* which (like the RRT) finds an initial feasible solution quickly, but (unlike the RRT) almost surely converges to an optimal solution. We present two key extensions to the RRT*, committed trajectories and branch-and-bound tree adaptation, that together enable the algorithm to make more efficient use of computation time online, resulting in an anytime algorithm for real-time implementation. We evaluate the method using a series of Monte Carlo runs in a high-fidelity simulation environment, and compare the operation of the RRT and RRT* methods. We also demonstrate experimental results for an outdoor wheeled
Familial Resemblance of Borderline Personality Disorder Features: Genetic or Cultural Transmission?

Borderline personality disorder is a severe personality disorder for which genetic research has been limited to family studies and classical twin studies. These studies indicate that genetic effects explain 35 to 45% of the variance in borderline personality disorder and borderline personality features. However, effects of non-additive (dominance) genetic factors, non-random mating and cultural transmission have generally not been explored. In the present study an extended twin-family design was applied to self-report data of twins (N = 5,017) and their siblings (N = 1,266), parents (N = 3,064) and spouses (N = 939) from 4,015 families, to estimate the effects of additive and non-additive genetic and environmental factors, cultural transmission and non-random mating on individual differences in borderline personality features. Results showed that resemblance among biological relatives could completely be attributed to genetic effects. Variation in borderline personality features was explained by additive genetic (21%; 95% CI 17–26%) and dominant genetic (24%; 95% CI 17–31%) factors. Environmental influences (55%; 95% CI 51–60%) explained the remaining variance. Significant resemblance between spouses was observed, which was best explained by phenotypic assortative mating, but it had only a small effect on the genetic variance (1% of the total variance). There was no effect of cultural transmission from parents to offspring.
Enhanced gene transfection using ultrasound and Vevo Micromarker® microbubbles: Microbubbles-assisted ultrasound and gene delivery

Contrast agents for ultrasound imaging, composed of tiny gas microbubbles, have become a reality in clinical routine. Recent experimental studies showed that the combination of ultrasound with contrast agent microbubbles increase membrane permeability in a process known as sonoporation. This effect is thought to allow foreign molecules such as therapeutic genes to enter into the cells. The transfection level and efficiency have been shown to depend on the type of microbubbles. In that context, we performed a comparative study using 3 types of microbubbles, i.e. BR14®, SonoVue® and Vevo Micromarker® microbubbles. The transfection level and the cell viability of U-87 MG glioblastoma cells were measured. The results showed that the transfection level achieved with Vevo Micromarker® microbubbles is higher than BR14® and SonoVue® microbubbles with a comparable cell viability. The transfection rate obtained with Vevo Micromarker microbubbles reached approximately 70%. These results were correlated with the fact that Vevo Micromarker® microbubbles exhibited the lowest attenuation coefficient than BR14® and SonoVue® microbubbles at the insonation frequency.
Comparing Video and Augmented Reality Assistance in Manual Assembly

Manual work is a cornerstone of manufacturing. This holds true today, as well as for future factories of the Industry 4.0 era. Use cases of manual work are small series or highly customized products. Assistance systems that support workers in dealing with such diverse assembly processes are developed and evaluated. This paper presents an evaluation of an Augmented Reality-based assistance system which is integrated in a manual workstation. This system is compared with video-based assistance regarding performance, user acceptance and mental workload. It shows a significantly reduced number of errors and scored better regarding time and mental workload.
Fish Diversity in Cibareno River, Gunung Halimun National Park: its unique assemblage, management, and conservation consideration (Keanekaragaman Ikan di S. Cibareno, TN. Gunung Halimun: keunikan, manajemen, dan konservasinya)

The study was conducted in Gunung Halimun National Park (GHNP) at water catchmen area of Cibareno River, starting from the national park to southward in May-June 2002. The objective of the study is to reveal fish diversity and it’s succession from the lower part until upstream area and reveal their characteristics as a base for their management and conservation. Beside the fish collection some water quality parameters were measured. Twenty nine fish species were collected consisting of primary marine, secondary, diadromous, and primary freshwater species. The uniqueness of the fish composition, some biological characteristics, and their conservation aspects are discussed in this paper. Abstrak Studi dilakukan di Taman Nasional Gunung Halimun (TNGH) pada daerah aliran Sungai Cibareno, mulai dari daerah taman nasional tersebut ke arah selatan pada bulan Mei-Juni 2002. Tujuan penelitian untuk mengetahui keanekaragaman ikan dan suksesinya dari bagian bawah sampai daerah hulu sungai, dan mengetahui ciri-ciri (sifat) ikan-ikan tersebut sebagai dasar pengelolaan dan pelestariannya. Selain koleksi ikan, dilakukan juga pengukuran beberapa parameter kualitas air. Selama penelitian telah tertangkap sebanyak 29 jenis ikan terdiri dari ikan laut utama, ikan diadromous, ikan air tawar sekunder dan ikan air tawar utama. Keunikan komposisi jenis yang ada, sifat-sifat biologi serta aspek-aspek konservasinya didiskusikan dalam paper ini.
Licochalcone A induces autophagy through PI3K/Akt/mTOR inactivation and autophagy suppression enhances Licochalcone A-induced apoptosis of human cervical cancer cells

The use of dietary bioactive compounds in chemoprevention can potentially reverse, suppress, or even prevent cancer progression. However, the effects of licochalcone A (LicA) on apoptosis and autophagy in cervical cancer cells have not yet been clearly elucidated. In this study, LicA treatment was found to significantly induce the apoptotic and autophagic capacities of cervical cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. MTT assay results showed dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity in four cervical cancer cell lines treated with LicA. We found that LicA induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in SiHa cells, with decreasing Bcl-2 expression. LicA also induced autophagy effects were examined by identifying accumulation of Atg5, Atg7, Atg12 and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)-II. Treatment with autophagy-specific inhibitors (3-methyladenine and bafilomycin A1) enhanced LicA-induced apoptosis. In addition, we suggested the inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of mTOR pathway by LicA. Furthermore, the inhibition of PI3K/Akt by LY294002/si-Akt or of mTOR by rapamycin augmented LicA-induced apoptosis and autophagy. Finally, the in vivo mice bearing a SiHa xenograft, LicA dosed at 10 or 20 mg/kg significantly inhibited tumor growth. Our findings demonstrate the chemotherapeutic potential of LicA for treatment of human cervical cancer.
Effect of Ca on crystallization of Mg-based master alloy containing spherical quasicrystal

球形的 icosahedral 伪水晶的阶段(我阶段) 被在常规扔下面介绍 Ca 进 Mg-Zn-Y 合金获得条件。 由于 Ca 的增加， Mg45Zn50Y4.5Ca0. 5 主要我阶段，是稳定、同类地分布式的热力学的联盟者，被产生而不是十面体的伪水晶的阶段在团结过程期间：在团结微观结构的主要我阶段的形态学从像花瓣的(60 80 μ m ) 改变了到球形的(≤ 15 μ m ) 。 当 Ca 的集体部分到达 0.05% 时，有最大的数量，最高的 spheroidization 率和最高圆形的度的球形的我阶段能被获得。 由于改变的形态学和主要我阶段的减少的尺寸，同时， Mg-Zn-Y-Ca 主人合金的坚硬被减少。 增强的微粒分阶段执行的球形的我阶段的申请为力量的改进和镁合金的坚韧提供大机会。
Targeted Nanogels: A Versatile Platform for Drug Delivery to Tumors

Although nanoparticle-based drug delivery formulations can improve the effectiveness and safety of certain anticancer drugs, many drugs, due to their chemical composition, are unsuitable for nanoparticle loading. Here, we describe a targeted nanogel drug delivery platform that can (i) encapsulate a wide range of drug chemotypes, including biological, small molecule, and cytotoxic agents; (ii) display targeting ligands and polymeric coatings on the surface; (iii) enhance drug retention within the nanogel core after photo-cross-linking; and (iv) retain therapeutic activity after lyophilization allowing for long-term storage. For therapeutic studies, we used integrin αvβ3–targeted lipid-coated nanogels with cross-linked human serum albumin in the core for carrying therapeutic cargoes. These particles exhibited potent activity in tumor cell viability assays with drugs of distinct chemotype, including paclitaxel, docetaxel, bortezomib, 17-AAG, sorafenib, sunitinib, bosutinib, and dasatinib. Treatment of orthotopic breast and pancreas tumors in mice with taxane-loaded nanogels produced a 15-fold improvement in antitumor activity relative to Abraxane by blocking both primary tumor growth and spontaneous metastasis. With a modifiable surface and core, the lipid-coated nanogel represents a platform technology that can be easily adapted for specific drug delivery applications to treat a wide range of malignant diseases. Mol Cancer Ther; 10(6); 972–82. ©2011 AACR.
Alcohol Consumption and Pancreatitis Mortality

Background: Pancreatitis is a major public health problem with high associated economic costs. Accumulated research and empirical evidence suggests that excessive alcohol consumption is a major risk factor for both acute and chronic pancreatitis. In line with this evidence we assume that devastating combination of higher level of alcohol consumption per capita and drinking of vodka results in a close association between binge drinking and pancreatitis mortality at the aggregate level in Russia.
Biochemical studies with the vinca alkaloids. I. Effect on nucleic acid formation by isolated cell suspensions.

Vinblastine (VLB) markedly inhibited the incorporation of formate-14C and glycine-2-14C into the DNA of rat thymus cell suspensions. In contrast, VLB either did not affect or only slightly stimulated the labeling of the hypoxanthine and thymine in the “hydrolyzed acid-soluble” fraction. The labeling of the adenine and guanine both in this fraction and in the RNA was slightly decreased by the alkaloid. Incorporation studies using formate-, glycine-, or hypoxanthine-14C indicated that VLB interfered with reactions more particularly related to DNA synthesis. Time studies showed that the labeling of the DNA purines was affected before and to a greater extent than the DNA thymine. The acid-soluble fraction of thymus cells incubated with formate-14C in the presence of VLB contained increased amounts of radioactive serine and glycine. This increase over the control values did not appear until the incubation had been in progress for about 2 hr, whereas the effects of the alkaloid on DNA synthesis were detectable within 0.5 hr.
Low TCF Lithium Tantalate contour mode resonators

This paper presents for the first time thin-film contour mode resonators (CMR) using Lithium Tantalate (LT). Exploiting the inherent low temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) of certain acoustic modes in LT, we demonstrate low TCF S0 lamb wave mode CMRs in rotated Y-cut LT thin films. With an electrode configuration using a top interdigitated transducer (IDT) and bottom ground electrode, we fabricated 1-port resonators at 501MHz and 870MHz, and 2-port resonator at 849MHz. These devices exhibit low motional impedance (10-20 Ω), with quality factors as high as 3200. More significantly, a TCF of -20ppm/K is demonstrated from the 1-port devices, while the 2-port device exhibits -16.7ppm/K. These are the lowest TCFs demonstrated to date from an uncompensated thin-film contour mode resonators, making LT thin-film technology a promising candidate for oscillator applications.
Preclinical Profile of Ciclesonide, a Novel Corticosteroid for the Treatment of Asthma

Ciclesonide is a novel, inhaled corticosteroid under development for the treatment of asthma. Ciclesonide is activated to desisobutyryl-ciclesonide (des-CIC) in the lungs to provide potent anti-inflammatory activity. The investigations herein compared the activity of ciclesonide with fluticasone in animal models to assess efficacy/potency as an airway anti-inflammatory and the comparative side effect potential to consider the therapeutic ratio of each compound. In radioligand binding assays, des-CIC and fluticasone exhibited comparable high-affinity binding to the glucocorticoid receptor, whereas ciclesonide exhibited 100-fold less binding affinity. In the Brown Norway rat model of antigen-induced airway eosinophilia and in a model of Sephadex-induced lung edema, ciclesonide and fluticasone exhibited comparable efficacy. Interestingly, following 7-day intratracheal administration, ciclesonide elicited adrenal involution with a potency that was 44-fold less than fluticasone. Furthermore, ciclesonide was 22-fold less active than fluticasone in eliciting hypoplasia of the femoral growth plate. These data support the concept that ciclesonide acts as a parent compound that, when delivered to the airways, can be transformed into the active metabolite des-CIC, resulting in local high anti-inflammatory activity. Furthermore, ciclesonide possesses equivalent anti-inflammatory efficacy through pulmonary activation with a significantly improved safety profile in preclinical animal models compared with fluticasone.