Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Insulin‐like growth factor‐I analogue protects muscles of dystrophic mdx mice from contraction‐mediated damage

Contraction‐mediated injury is a major contributing factor to the pathophysiology of muscular dystrophy and therefore therapies that can attenuate this type of injury have clinical relevance. Systemic administration of insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I) has been shown to improve muscle function in dystrophic mdx mice, an effect associated with a shift towards a more oxidative muscle phenotype and a reduced susceptibility to contraction‐mediated damage. The actions of IGF‐I in vivo are modulated by IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs), which generally act to inhibit IGF‐I signalling. We tested the hypothesis that an analogue of IGF‐I (LR IGF‐I), which has significantly reduced binding affinity for IGFBPs, would improve the dystrophic pathology by reducing the susceptibility to muscle injury. Dystrophic mdx and wild‐type (C57BL/10) mice were administered LR IGF‐I continuously (∼1.5 mg kg−1 day−1) via osmotic mini‐pump for 4 weeks. Administration of LR IGF‐I reduced the susceptibility of extensor digitorum longus, soleus and diaphragm muscles to contraction damage, as evident from lower force deficits after a protocol of lengthening contractions. In contrast to the mechanism of protection conferred by administration of IGF‐I, the protection conferred by LR IGF‐I was independent of changes in muscle fatigue and oxidative metabolism. This study further indicates that modulation of IGF‐I signalling has therapeutic potential for muscular diseases.
Online handwriting recognition using support vector machine

Discrete hidden Markov model (HMM) and hybrid of neural network (NN) and HMM are popular methods in handwritten word recognition system. The hybrid system gives better recognition result due to better discrimination capability of the NN [Y. Bengio et al., 1995]. Support vector machine (SVM) is an alternative to NN. In speech recognition (SR), SVM has been successfully used in the context of a hybrid SVM/HMM system. It gives a better recognition result compared to the system based on hybrid NN/HMM [A. Ganapathiraju, January 2002]. This paper describes the work in developing a hybrid SVM/HMM OHR system. Some preliminary experimental results of using SVM with RBF kernel on IRONOFF, UNIPEN and IRONOFF- UNIPEN character database are provided.
Violent video games and physical aggression: Evidence for a selection effect among adolescents.

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Investigating Construct Validity of the Cyber-Peer Experiences Questionnaire

Abstract. Cyberaggression and cybervictimization have gained momentum as a research focus given associated mental health sequelae. To date, however, there remains little consensus on the conceptualization and measurement of these constructs. The purpose of this study was to explore construct validity evidence for the Cyber-Peer Experiences Questionnaire (C-PEQ), a novel measure that assesses experiences of cyberaggression and cybervictimization. Undergraduate participants ( n = 735) completed an online survey including the C-PEQ and other theoretically related instruments. Confirmatory factor analysis did not provide support for the hypothesized two-factor model [MLM χ2(125) = 293.58, RMSEA = . 06, CFI = . 87, SRMR = . 06]. The C-PEQ displayed evidence for internal consistency reliability. Evidence for convergent validity with theoretically similar constructs was mixed. Specific areas of model misspecification included items 1 and 2 on both subscales (altering social media friend lists). Future research may explore additional construct validity evidence of the C-PEQ in novel samples with these items removed.
Effects of Attention on the Processing of Motion in Macaque Middle Temporal and Medial Superior Temporal Visual Cortical Areas

The visual system is continually inundated with information received by the eyes. Only a fraction of this information appears to reach visual awareness. This process of selection is one of the functions ascribed to visual attention. Although many studies have investigated the role of attention in shaping neuronal representations in cortical areas, few have focused on attentional modulation of neuronal signals related to visual motion. We recorded from 89 direction-selective neurons in middle temporal (MT) and medial superior temporal (MST) visual cortical areas of two macaque monkeys using identical sensory stimulation under various attentional conditions. Neural responses in both areas were greatly influenced by attention. When attention was directed to a stimulus inside the receptive field of a neuron, responses in MT and MST were enhanced an average of 20 and 40% compared with a condition in which attention was directed outside the receptive field. Even stronger average enhancements (70% in MT and 100% in MST) were observed when attention was switched from a stimulus moving in the nonpreferred direction inside the receptive field to another stimulus in the receptive field that was moving in the preferred direction. These findings show that attention modulates motion processing from stages early in the dorsal visual pathway by selectively enhancing the representation of attended stimuli and simultaneously reducing the influence of unattended stimuli.
Efficacy of targeted drugs in germ cell cancer cell lines with differential cisplatin sensitivity

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are the most common malignancies in men between the age of 15 and 35. Although cisplatin-based chemotherapy is highly effective in advanced disease, approximately 20% of patients have an unfavorable prognosis due to primary or acquired cisplatin resistance. For these patients, new therapeutic options are urgently needed. In numerous tumor entities, combinations of monoclonal antibodies or kinase inhibitors with chemotherapy exerted promising preclinical or clinical results, which have led to new treatment concepts. This prompted us to investigate the activity of different targeted agents alone or in combination with cisplatin in a panel of TGCT cell lines. Methods The in vitro activity of kinase inhibitors targeting mTOR (RAD001), EGFR, HER2/neu, VEGFR (AEE788) and IGF-1R (AEW541) alone or in combination with cisplatin was tested in the cisplatin sensitive TGCT cell lines H12.1 and GCT72 as well as in the resistant cell lines H12.1RA, H12.1D, 1411HP and 1777NRpmet using the sulforhodamin-B-(SRB)-cytotoxicity-assay. To evaluate the activity of the kinase inhibitors, western blot analysis of the targeted receptors and their phosphorylated state was performed before and after exposure to each substance. Results The different kinase inhibitors demonstrated significant cell growth inhibition in both cisplatin sensitive and resistant cell lines. The examined cell lines showed different protein expression levels of the targeted receptors. However there was no correlation between the targeted receptor expression and phosphorylation level and the antiproliferative effect of the respective agent. Furthermore, the combination of cisplatin and the kinase inhibitors exerted both additive and antagonistic effects in the studied cell lines. Conclusion Our data suggest potential activity of the investigated kinase inhibitors in both cisplatin sensitive and resistant TGCT cell lines as a single agent. However, when combined with cisplatin they did not demonstrate any promising ability to overcome cisplatin resistance in TGCTs.
Non-verbal expression perception and mental state attribution by third parties

Understanding the internal states of others is essential in social exchanges. The aim of the presented thesis is to provide a deeper understanding of the impact nonverbal cues have on the perception of internal states, namely of emotions and associated cognitive appraisals. First, we explored naturalistic behaviour from a hidden camera, described with technical coding systems, FACS for perceived facial muscle movements and a coding scheme defined by ourselves for the hand, arm and torso movements. Participants were asked to judge observed persons' internal states. These descriptions of behaviours and perceptive judgments allow us to make a link between internal state attributions and concrete physical expressions. Second, a novel method was used for expression exploration by transposing naturalistic behaviours to a virtual agent, Greta, which enables a fine tuning of expressions. In order to improve the synchronisation of behaviours the Multimodal Sequential Expression model was created for the Greta agent. Complex expressions were manipulated, one cue at a time, and expression were judged by participants, who were asked to attribute internal states to the agent. Results support the componential approaches to expression, in which particular cues are considered meaningful.
The relationship between affective and cognitive development in Down's Syndrome infants.

A close association between affective expression and cognitive development was demonstrated in a longitudinal study of 14 Down's syndrome infants. It was found that the Down's syndrome infants laughed to groups of stimulus items in the same order as did previous samples of normal infants. Although the process was delayed by several months, the retarded babies too laughed first at physically intrusive items and only later to items calling for greater cognitive sophistication. In addition, cognitive developmental status, assessed by the Bayley and Uzgiris-Hunt scales, paralleled and was predicted by the level of affective development. Predictive and concurrent correlations between Bayley mental scores and various indices of affectivity ranged from . 68 to . 92. There was striking individual consistency across affective, mental, and motor measures, suggesting the organized nature of retarded development. Finally, since Down's syndrome infants frequently smiled under conditions when normal babies would laugh, a role for tension production, in addition to cognitive factors, was suggested in accounting for the behavior of these infants.
Predictive value of circulating endothelial microparticles for cardiovascular mortality in end-stage renal failure: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND Endothelial dysfunction in cardiovascular (CV) diseases is closely associated with increases in plasma level of shed membrane microparticles (MPs) of endothelial origin. As arterial damage is a major contributor to CV mortality, we examined whether or not increases in endothelial microparticles (EMPs) circulating levels could predict outcome in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). METHODS This prospective pilot study conducted in a community hospital (median follow-up: 50.5 months), included 81 stable haemodialysed ESRD patients (59 ± 14 years; 63% male). Platelet-free plasma obtained 72 h after last dialysis was analysed by flow cytometry, and MPs cellular origin identified as endothelial (CD31+CD41-MPs; EMPs), platelets (CD31+CD41+MPs) or erythrocyte (CD235a+MPs). The main outcome measures were global and CV mortality (fatal myocardial infarction, stroke, acute pulmonary oedema and sudden cardiac death). RESULTS Non-survivors (n = 24) were older (P < 0.001) and characterized by higher levels of EMPs (P < 0.01) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P < 0.05) and lower diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated significantly higher probability of all-cause (P < 0.001) and CV mortality (P < 0.0001) between the lower and upper EMPs tertiles. Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that baseline EMP levels independently predicted all-cause [hazard ratio (HR) = 21.7, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.23-111.18 per log EMPs/μL; P = 0.0002] and CV mortality (HR = 20.0, 95% CI: 3.86-103.5) per log EMPs/μL; P < 0.0004) after adjustment for confounding factors. EMPs baseline level was a stronger predictor of poor outcome than classical risk factors. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that increased plasma levels of EMPs is a robust independent predictor of severe CV outcome in end-stage renal failure patients.
Dissociating brain regions controlling the temporal and ordinal structure of learned movement sequences

We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate if different brain regions are controlling the temporal and ordinal structure of movement sequences during performance. Human subjects performed overlearned spatiotemporal sequences of key‐presses using the right index finger. Under different conditions, the temporal and the ordinal structure of the sequences were varied systematically in relation to each other, using a factorial design: COMBINED had a rhythm of eight temporal intervals and a serial order of eight keys; TEMPORAL had an eight‐interval rhythm produced on one key; ORDINAL had an isochronous rhythm and an eight‐key serial order; two control conditions had an isochronous pulse performed on one or two keys, respectively. Brain regions involved in rhythmic and ordinal control of the sequences were revealed by analysing main effect contrasts for the corresponding factors. TEMPORAL and ORDINAL were also compared directly to test for significant differences. A dissociation was found between largely the presupplementary motor area, the right inferior frontal gyrus and precentral sulcus, and the bilateral superior temporal gyri, involved in temporal control, and lateral fronto‐parietal areas, the basal ganglia and the cerebellum, which were implicated in ordinal control. The vermis and the superior colliculus were the only regions with an activity increase specifically related to combining long temporal and ordinal sequences. We conclude that humans use different brain networks for temporal and ordinal sequence control, and that the performance of combined sequences activates both networks, the medial cerebellum, and the superior colliculus.
On geometry of curves of flags of constant type

We develop an algebraic version of Cartan’s method of equivalence or an analog of Tanaka prolongation for the (extrinsic) geometry of curves of flags of a vector space W with respect to the action of a subgroup G of GL(W). Under some natural assumptions on the subgroup G and on the flags, one can pass from the filtered objects to the corresponding graded objects and describe the construction of canonical bundles of moving frames for these curves in the language of pure linear algebra. The scope of applicability of the theory includes geometry of natural classes of curves of flags with respect to reductive linear groups or their parabolic subgroups. As simplest examples, this includes the projective and affine geometry of curves. The case of classical groups is considered in more detail.
Functional neuroimaging studies of long term memory in humans.

This thesis explores contributions of prefrontal cortex (PFC) to memory using positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). I begin by considering the cognitive neuroscience of memory processes and the impact that functional neuroimaging may have upon this. I then describe a series of PET and fMRI experiments concerned, primarily, with dissociating frontal contributions to encoding and retrieval processes. These initial studies show that left PFC activation predominates at encoding and right PFC activation at retrieval. Four further studies of left prefrontal activation at encoding are presented. Together, they show that left PFC is sensitive to tasks that require the organisation of encoded material according to its semantic attributes and that a more dorsal region of lateral PFC may specifically reflect the requirement to select from amongst semantic attributes in order to meet specific demands of the tasks. This region, and the behavioural performance associated with it, is shown to be sensitive to interference produced both by competing semantic attributes and by a simultaneously performed, distracting motor task. The two experiments on memory retrieval that are presented here provide evidence for distinctive roles of right dorsolateral and ventrolateral PFC during retrieval of verbal material. The ventrolateral region appears to reflect the changing specification of search parameters that occurs at the outset of a memory search and the dorsolateral PFC activation pattern is consistent with a role in monitoring and verification processes optimising the retrieval process. In conclusion, I review the broader literature on neuroimaging of memory-related frontal cortical function. While there are a number of inconsistencies, I suggest that the results presented here fit into an emerging pattern indicating the importance of PFC in memory encoding and retrieval and the distinctive roles of dorsolateral and ventrolateral regions within and between these memory stages.
Social connectedness as a source and consequence of meaning in life

Multiple studies have shown that the sense of belonging and connectedness contribute to meaning in life, but does meaning also influence social connectedness? The present research examines the reciprocal relationships between meaning and different types of connectedness: intimate, relational, and collective. Analyzing data from a nationally representative longitudinal study (Study 1) with cross-lagged panel models, we found that only collective connectedness was prospectively associated with meaning, whereas meaning was prospectively associated with all three types of connectedness, controlling for life satisfaction. The beneficial effect of meaning extended to behavioral indicators of collective and intimate connectedness (Study 2). Higher levels of meaning in life were prospectively associated with an increased likelihood of joining voluntary associations and getting married, and, for people high in marital satisfaction, with a decreased likelihood of marital separation. Together, these findings suggest that the relationship between social connectedness and meaning in life is bidirectional.
The prevalence of primary and secondary Helicobacter pylori resistance to clarithromycin and probable contributing cofactors: data from southeastern Anatolia.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori is the most important reason for failure in its eradication. We aimed to determine the prevalence of primary and secondary H. pylori resistance to clarithromycin in isolated H. pylori from dyspeptic patients in southeastern Anatolia and to evaluate the cofactors affecting this clinical problem. METHODOLOGY The study involved adult patients who had already been diagnosed with symptomatic H. pylori infection based on rapid urease test, gastric histopathological examination and culture. H. pylori strains were isolated from antral biopsies taken during upper endoscopy in 142 dyspeptic patients with no previous therapy against the microorganism. MICs of clarithromycin were determined by E-test. Patients were treated for 14 days with standard triple-agent protocol. H. pylori eradication rate was assessed after 8 weeks. Each patient was re-interviewed to determine secondary resistance. Primary clarithromycin resistance was defined as pre-treatment resistance, while secondary as after treatment resistance. Strains were considered resistant to clarithromycin if the MIC > 1 microg/mL. RESULTS In total 213-105 women and 108 men-patients was enrolled to the study. The mean age was 35.5+/-14.1 years. In 142 (66.7%) patients out of the total patients enrolled in the study, H. pylori was detected. H. pylori could be cultured from only 61 (43%) of them. In 16.4% of the cases, primary clarithromycin resistance was noted. After 8 weeks, seventy-seven (54.2%) of the 142 patients were reevaluated. Helicobacter pylori eradication could be achieved in 68.8% of them. The proportion of H. pylori eradication in clarithromycin-sensitive patients was 75.8% and the respective proportion was 10% for resistant cases. In the group where H. pylori was still positive the secondary resistance percentage was found to be 27.2%. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of primary clarithromycin resistance is relatively high in our geographical area. Secondary resistance rate was 27.2%. None of the criteria of age, gender, presence of endoscopic lesions, detected H. pylori concentration and gastritis activity showed any effect on the primary resistance.
Histone H1 Subtypes Differentially Modulate Chromatin Condensation without Preventing ATP-Dependent Remodeling by SWI/SNF or NURF

Although ubiquitously present in chromatin, the function of the linker histone subtypes is partly unknown and contradictory studies on their properties have been published. To explore whether the various H1 subtypes have a differential role in the organization and dynamics of chromatin we have incorporated all of the somatic human H1 subtypes into minichromosomes and compared their influence on nucleosome spacing, chromatin compaction and ATP-dependent remodeling. H1 subtypes exhibit different affinities for chromatin and different abilities to promote chromatin condensation, as studied with the Atomic Force Microscope. According to this criterion, H1 subtypes can be classified as weak condensers (H1.1 and H1.2), intermediate condensers (H1.3) and strong condensers (H1.0, H1.4, H1.5 and H1x). The variable C-terminal domain is required for nucleosome spacing by H1.4 and is likely responsible for the chromatin condensation properties of the various subtypes, as shown using chimeras between H1.4 and H1.2. In contrast to previous reports with isolated nucleosomes or linear nucleosomal arrays, linker histones at a ratio of one per nucleosome do not preclude remodeling of minichromosomes by yeast SWI/SNF or Drosophila NURF. We hypothesize that the linker histone subtypes are differential organizers of chromatin, rather than general repressors.