Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Placental Extracts on the Immune Response to Histocompatibility Antigens: Class Deviation of Alloantibody Response and Allograft Enhancement

ABSTRACT: Placental extracts obtained from CBA (H‐2k) mice during syngeneic (CBA 9 × CBA cr) pregnancy were evaluated for their capacity to deviate the immune reaction of CBA mice toward A/J(H‐2a) immunizing spleen cells, as tested by alloantibody subclass formation and Sa 1 allograft accelerated rejection—or enhancement. The immunomodulatory activity appeared to be located in the soluble and in the insoluble extracts of placenta. The sodium deoxycholate (SI)O) solubilized proteinic material, fractionated on Concan‐avalin A [Con A] and injected to CBA mice simultaneously with A/J spleen cells caused a suppression of the hemagglutinating titer and C‐mediated cytotoxicity (IgG2). However, it also favoured antibody‐mediated mast cell degranulation (IgGl) and Sa 1 allograft enhancement. The presence and role of IgGl antibodies in both tumor enhancement and gestation has been described. It is concluded that placenta contains Con A‐binding glycoproteins which are located in the membranes and released in soluble form. They exert their immunomodulatory effect in a way which might help the successful outcome of pregnancy as it helps to enhance the development of allografted sarcoma.
Effects of sediment load on emergence of aquatic invertebrates and plants from wetland soil egg and seed banks

Intensive agricultural activities near prairie wetlands may result in excessive sediment loads, which may bury seed and invertebrate egg banks that are important for maintenance and cycling of biotic communities during wet/dry cycles. We evaluated effects of sediment burial on emergence of plants and invertebrates from seed and invertebrate egg banks. Sediment-load experiments, indicated that burial depths of 0.5 cm caused a 91.7% reduction in total seedling emergence and a 99.7% reduction in total invertebrate emergence. Results of our burial experiments corroborated prior research on seedling emergence. However, our study demonstrated that invertebrate emergence is also highly susceptible to the effects of burial. Our research suggests that sediment entering wetlands from agricultural erosion may also hamper successional changes throughout interannual climate cycles. Land-management strategies need to be implemented that will prevent erosion of cropland top soil from entering wetlands.
Framingham Risk Score and Alternatives for Prediction of Coronary Heart Disease in Older Adults

Background Guidelines for the prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) recommend use of Framingham-based risk scores that were developed in white middle-aged populations. It remains unclear whether and how CHD risk prediction might be improved among older adults. We aimed to compare the prognostic performance of the Framingham risk score (FRS), directly and after recalibration, with refit functions derived from the present cohort, as well as to assess the utility of adding other routinely available risk parameters to FRS. Methods Among 2193 black and white older adults (mean age, 73.5 years) without pre-existing cardiovascular disease from the Health ABC cohort, we examined adjudicated CHD events, defined as incident myocardial infarction, CHD death, and hospitalization for angina or coronary revascularization. Results During 8-year follow-up, 351 participants experienced CHD events. The FRS poorly discriminated between persons who experienced CHD events vs. not (C-index: 0.577 in women; 0.583 in men) and underestimated absolute risk prediction by 51% in women and 8% in men. Recalibration of the FRS improved absolute risk prediction, particulary for women. For both genders, refitting these functions substantially improved absolute risk prediction, with similar discrimination to the FRS. Results did not differ between whites and blacks. The addition of lifestyle variables, waist circumference and creatinine did not improve risk prediction beyond risk factors of the FRS. Conclusions The FRS underestimates CHD risk in older adults, particularly in women, although traditional risk factors remain the best predictors of CHD. Re-estimated risk functions using these factors improve accurate estimation of absolute risk.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Seeding on Biofunctionalized Calcium Phosphate Cements

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have great potential due to their proliferation and differentiation capability. The objectives of this study were to generate iPSC-derived mesenchymal stem cells (iPSC-MSCs), and investigate iPSC-MSC proliferation and osteogenic differentiation on calcium phosphate cement (CPC) containing biofunctional agents for the first time. Human iPSCs were derived from marrow CD34+ cells which were reprogrammed by a single episomal vector. iPSCs were cultured to form embryoid bodies (EBs), and MSCs migrated out of EBs. Five biofunctional agents were incorporated into CPC: RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) peptides, fibronectin (Fn), fibronectin-like engineered polymer protein (FEPP), extracellular matrix Geltrex, and platelet concentrate. iPSC-MSCs were seeded on five biofunctionalized CPCs: CPC-RGD, CPC-Fn, CPC-FEPP, CPC-Geltrex, and CPC-Platelets. iPSC-MSCs on biofunctional CPCs had enhanced proliferation, actin fiber expression, osteogenic differentiation and mineralization, compared to control. Cell proliferation was greatly increased on biofunctional CPCs. iPSC-MSCs underwent osteogenic differentiation with increased alkaline phosphatase, Runx2 and collagen-I expressions. Mineral synthesis by iPSC-MSCs on CPC-Platelets was 3-fold that of CPC control. In conclusion, iPSCs showed high potential for bone engineering. iPSC-MSCs on biofunctionalized CPCs had cell proliferation and bone mineralization that were much better than traditional CPC. iPSC-MSC-CPC constructs are promising to promote bone regeneration in craniofacial/orthopedic repairs.
Clinical Profile and Prognostic Significance of Atrial Fibrillation in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Objectives: The clinical outcomes of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are largely unpredictable. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between atrial fibrillation (AF) and its prognostic implications in Chinese patients with HCM. Methods: From 1999 to 2011, 654 unrelated HCM patients were consecutively recruited at Fuwai Hospital. Medical history, including electrocardiographic and echocardiographic data, was analyzed. Results: AF was documented in 158 patients (24%). During follow-up of 4.2 ± 2.8 years, Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the presence of AF was associated with an increased risk for all-cause death (p = 0.001), cardiovascular death (p < 0.001), severe heart failure (p < 0.001) and ischemic stroke (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified AF as an independent predictor of stroke-related death (HR 6.71, 95% CI 1.23-38.58, p = 0.03), advanced heart failure (HR 1.83, 95% CI 1.04-3.22, p = 0.04) and ischemic stroke (HR 9.98, 95% CI 4.06-24.53, p < 0.001). Furthermore, enlarged left atrial diameter was positively related to all-cause death (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.05-1.13, p < 0.001), cardiovascular death (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.04-1.20, p < 0.001) and development of advanced heart failure (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.10, p = 0.01). Conclusions: AF predicts poor outcomes for patients with HCM. Left atrial dilation is also related to an adverse prognosis and provides additional prognostic information.
Stochastic Quasi-Newton Methods for Nonconvex Stochastic Optimization

In this paper we study stochastic quasi-Newton methods for nonconvex stochastic optimization, where we assume that only stochastic information of the gradients of the objective function is available via a stochastic first-order oracle (SFO). Firstly, we propose a general framework of stochastic quasi-Newton methods for solving nonconvex stochastic optimization. The proposed framework extends the classic quasi-Newton methods working in deterministic settings to stochastic settings, and we prove its almost sure convergence to stationary points. Secondly, we propose a general framework for a class of randomized stochastic quasi-Newton methods, in which the number of iterations conducted by the algorithm is a random variable. The worst-case SFO-calls complexities of this class of methods are analyzed. Thirdly, we present two specific methods that fall into this framework, namely stochastic damped-BFGS method and stochastic cyclic Barzilai-Borwein method. Finally, we report numerical results to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed methods.
Nucleolin as Activator of Human Papillomavirus Type 18 Oncogene Transcription in Cervical Cancer

High risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are central to the development of cervical cancer and the deregulated expression of high risk HPV oncogenes is a critical event in this process. Here, we find that the cell protein nucleolin binds in a sequence-specific manner to the HPV18 enhancer. The DNA binding activity of nucleolin is primarily S phase specific, much like the transcription of the E6 and E7 oncoproteins of HPV18 in cervical cancer cells. Antisense inactivation of nucleolin blocks E6 and E7 oncogene transcription and selectively decreases HPV18+ cervical cancer cell growth. Furthermore, nucleolin controls the chromatin structure of the HPV18 enhancer. In contrast, HPV16 oncogene transcription and proliferation rates of HPV16+ SiHa cervical cancer cells are independent of nucleolin activity. Moreover, nucleolin expression is altered in HPV18+ precancerous and cancerous tissue from the cervix uteri. Whereas nucleolin was homogeneously distributed in the nuclei of normal epithelial cells, it showed a speckled nuclear phenotype in HPV18+ carcinomas. Thus, the host cell protein nucleolin is directly linked to HPV18-induced cervical carcinogenesis.
Slow IPSC kinetics, low levels of α1 subunit expression and paired‐pulse depression are distinct properties of neonatal inhibitory GABAergic synaptic connections in the mouse superior colliculus

Remodelling of visual maps in the superior colliculus (SC) depends on neuronal activity. Synaptic inhibition could contribute to this process because spontaneous spike discharge in the SC was modulated by GABAA receptor activation at postnatal days (P) 1–3. To investigate the functional capacity of GABAergic synaptic transmission at this early stage of development, whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings were made from wide field neurons (WFNs) in horizontal slices comprising the superficial grey layer of the SC. Focal stimulation in the vicinity of WFNs evoked tetrodotoxin‐sensitive stimulus‐locked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (eIPSCs). The failure rate of eIPSCs was low (≈ 0.2), and the maximal amplitude of evoked unitary eIPSCs exceeded the amplitude of average miniature IPSCs (mIPSCs) by a factor of 4–5, suggesting that action potential‐mediated GABA release was more effective than spontaneous release. Some of the properties of GABAergic synaptic transmission in the neonatal SC were age‐specific. In contrast with eIPSCs in the more mature SC at P20–22, neonatal eIPSCs decayed more slowly, preferentially fluctuated in duration, not amplitude, and mostly lacked temporal summation, due to depression at shorter intervals. The paired‐pulse ratio (eIPSC2 : eIPSC1) was inversely related to the duration of eIPSCs. PCR analysis showed, in addition, that the ratio of α1 : α3 subunit expression was lower in the neonatal SC. Together, these results suggest that, at a young age, efficacy of GABAergic synaptic transmission is primarily constrained by the slow kinetics and the saturation of postsynaptic GABAA receptors.
Robust recovery of low-rank matrices via non-convex optimization

In the area of low-rank recovery, existing researches find that non-convex penalties might lead to better performance than convex ones such as the nuclear norm, but until now the complete convergence guarantees of algorithms for optimization with non-convex low-rank-inducing penalties are still rare. This paper is mainly motivated by this research gap. A class of low-rank-inducing penalties is introduced with characterization of their non-convexity. By properly defining the gradients of the penalty, an algorithm is proposed to solve the non-convex optimization problem. Theoretical analysis reveals that if the non-convexity of the penalty is below a threshold (which is in inverse proportion to the distance between the initialization and the low-rank matrix), the recovery error is linear in both the step size and the noise term. Numerical simulations are implemented to test the performance of the proposed algorithm and to verify the theoretical results.
Identifying and Quantifying Sources of Variation in Microarray Data Using High-Density cDNA Membrane Arrays

Microarray experiments involve many steps, including spotting cDNA, extracting RNA, labeling targets, hybridizing, scanning, and analyzing images. Each step introduces variability, confounding our ability to obtain accurate estimates of the biological differences between samples. We ran repeated experiments using high-density cDNA microarray membranes (Research Genetics Human GeneFilters Microarrays Version I) and 33P-labeled targets. Total RNA was extracted from a Burkitt lymphoma cell line (GA-10). We estimated the components of variation coming from: (1) image analysis, (2) exposure time to PhosphorImager screens, (3) differences in membranes, (4) reuse of membranes, and (5) differences in targets prepared from two independent RNA extractions. Variation was assessed qualitatively using a clustering algorithm and quantitatively using a version of ANOVA adapted to multivariate microarray data. The largest contribution to variation came from reusing membranes, which contributed 38% of the total variation. Differences in membranes and in exposure time each contributed about 10%. Differences in target preparations contributed less than 5%. The effect of image quantification was negligible. Much of the effect from reusing membranes was attributable to increasing levels of background radiation and can be reduced by using membranes at most four times. The effects of exposure time, which were partly attributable to variation in the scanning process, can be minimized by using the same exposure time for all experiments.
An experimental study on four kinds of Chinese herbal medicines containing alkaloids using fluorescence microscope and microspectrometer

In order to find a useful method for uniting the identification and quality evaluation of Chinese herbal medicine, the techniques of fluorescence microscopy and microspectrometer were firstly applied to authenticate four kinds of herbal medicines, Caulis Sinomenii, Rhizoma Coptidis, Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis and Rhizoma Menispermi, as well as to measure the distribution of alkaloids in their cross‐sections. The results showed that the fluorescence microscopic characteristics and the fluorescence emission spectra of the same tissues from the four kinds of Chinese herbal medicine were different, for example, the cortex of Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis emitted blue fluorescence instead of the yellow of Rhizoma Coptidis observed with emission filter of long‐pass 397 nm, which could be effective to identify them. Furthermore, alkaloids, as active components of the above herbal medicines, were distributed in each part of herbal tissue but their fluorescence intensities in different parts of tissue were different. The results indicated that fluorescence microscope combined with microspectrometer could be a helpful method for identification and quality evaluation of Chinese herbal medicine.
The Adoption of Smoking and Its Effect on the Mortality Gender Gap in Netherlands: A Historical Perspective

We examine in depth the effect of differences in the smoking adoption patterns of men and women on the mortality gender gap in Netherlands, employing a historical perspective. Using an indirect estimation technique based on observed lung cancer mortality from 1931 to 2012, we estimated lifetime smoking prevalence and smoking-attributable mortality. We decomposed the sex difference in life expectancy at birth into smoking-related and nonsmoking-related overall and cause-specific mortality. The smoking epidemic in Netherlands, which started among men born around 1850 and among women from birth cohort 1900 onwards, contributed substantially to the increasing sex difference in life expectancy at birth from 1931 (1.3 years) to 1982 (6.7 years), the subsequent decline to 3.7 years in 2012, and the high excess mortality among Dutch men born between 1895 and 1910. Smoking-related cancer mortality contributed most to the increase in the sex difference, whereas smoking-related cardiovascular disease mortality was mainly responsible for the decline from 1983 onwards. Examining nonsmoking-related (cause-specific) mortality shed new light on the mortality gender gap and revealed the important role of smoking-related cancers, the continuation of excess mortality among women aged 40–50, and a smaller role of biological factors in the sex difference than was previously estimated.
An Electronic Circuit Model of the Interpostsynaptic Functional LINK Designed to Study the Formation of Internal Sensations in the Nervous System

The nervous system makes changes in response to the continuous arrival of associative learning stimuli from the environment and executes behavioral motor activities after making predictions based on past experience. The system exhibits dynamic plasticity changes that involve the formation of the first-person internal sensations of perception, memory, and consciousness to which only the owner of the nervous system has access. These properties of natural intelligence need to be verified for their mechanism of formation using engineered systems so that a third person can access them. In the presence of a synaptic junctional delay of up to two milliseconds, we anticipate that the systems property of formation of internal sensations is likely independent of the mode of conduction along the neuronal processes. This allows testing for the formation of internal sensations using electronic circuits. The present work describes the neurobiological context for the formation of the basic units of inner sensations that occur through the reactivation of interpostsynaptic functional LINKs and its connection to motor activity. These mechanisms are translated to an analogue circuit unit for the development of robotic systems.
Susceptibility of clinical Moraxella catarrhalis isolates in British Columbia to six empirically prescribed antibiotic agents

Moraxella catarrhalis has the ability to cause upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Typically, antibiotic susceptibility is not tested on isolation of the organism, but a reference document summarizing predicted susceptibilities is provided. The authors of this article aimed to determine the current susceptibilities of this organism in British Columbia, to update the predicted susceptibilites and ensure that appropriate antibiotic prescribing will occur.
Aacap Official ActionPractice Parameter for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Schizophrenia

a neurodevelopmental disorder that is associated with deficits in cognition, affect, and social functioning. Onset of the illness occurs rarely before the age of 13 years, but then increases steadily during adolescence. Accurate diagnosis and treatment require familiarity with the clinical presentation, phenomenology, and course of the disorder. Diagnostic assessment must also incorporate an understanding of the youth's developmental, social, educational, and psychological needs. Treatment strategies should focus on alleviating symptoms, reducing long-term morbidity, and preventing relapse. Associated comorbid disorders and/or biopsychosocial stressors may also need to be addressed. Intervention strategies also must be consistent with the developmental, social, and cultural aspects of the youth and his or her family. This summary provides an overview of the assessment and treatment recommendations contained in the Practice Parameter for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Schizophrenia. This summary includes many of the most important points and recommendations that are in these practice guidelines. However, the treatment and assessment of children and adolescents with schizophrenia requires the consideration of many important factors that cannot be conveyed fully in a summary, and the reader is encouraged to review the entire document. Each recommendation in the executive summary is identified as falling into one of the following categories of endorsement, indicated by an abbreviation in brackets following the statement. These categories indicate the degree of importance or certainty of each recommendation. " Minimal Standards " [MS] are recommendations that are based on substantial empirical evidence (such as well-controlled, double-blind trials) or overwhelming clinical consensus or legal and regulatory requirements. Minimal standards are expected to apply more than 95% of the time, i.e., in almost all cases. When the practitioner does not follow this standard in a particular case, the medical record should indicate the reason. " Clinical Guidelines " [CG] are recommendations that are based on empirical evidence (such as open trials, case studies) and/or strong clinical consensus. Clinical guidelines apply approximately 75% of the time. These practices should always be considered by the clinician, but there are exceptions to their application. " Options " [OP] are practices that are acceptable but not required. There may be insufficient empirical evidence to support recommending these practices as minimal standards or clinical guidelines. In some cases they may be indicated, but in other cases they should be avoided. If possible, the practice parameters will explain the pros and cons of these options. " Not …
Rank Order Coding: a Retinal Information Decoding Strategy Revealed by Large-Scale Multielectrode Array Retinal Recordings

Visual Abstract How a population of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) encodes the visual scene remains an open question. Going beyond individual RGC coding strategies, results in salamander suggest that the relative latencies of a RGC pair encode spatial information. Thus, a population code based on this concerted spiking could be a powerful mechanism to transmit visual information rapidly and efficiently. How a population of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) encodes the visual scene remains an open question. Going beyond individual RGC coding strategies, results in salamander suggest that the relative latencies of a RGC pair encode spatial information. Thus, a population code based on this concerted spiking could be a powerful mechanism to transmit visual information rapidly and efficiently. Here, we tested this hypothesis in mouse by recording simultaneous light-evoked responses from hundreds of RGCs, at pan-retinal level, using a new generation of large-scale, high-density multielectrode array consisting of 4096 electrodes. Interestingly, we did not find any RGCs exhibiting a clear latency tuning to the stimuli, suggesting that in mouse, individual RGC pairs may not provide sufficient information. We show that a significant amount of information is encoded synergistically in the concerted spiking of large RGC populations. Thus, the RGC population response described with relative activities, or ranks, provides more relevant information than classical independent spike count- or latency- based codes. In particular, we report for the first time that when considering the relative activities across the whole population, the wave of first stimulus-evoked spikes is an accurate indicator of stimulus content. We show that this coding strategy coexists with classical neural codes, and that it is more efficient and faster. Overall, these novel observations suggest that already at the level of the retina, concerted spiking provides a reliable and fast strategy to rapidly transmit new visual scenes.