Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lipid Rafts Are Physiologic Membrane Microdomains Necessary for the Morphogenic and Developmental Functions of Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor In Vivo

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) promotes PNS development and kidney morphogenesis via a receptor complex consisting of the glycerophosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored, ligand binding receptor GDNF family receptor α1 (GFRα1) and the receptor tyrosine kinase Ret. Although Ret signal transduction in vitro is augmented by translocation into lipid rafts via GFRα1, the existence and importance of lipid rafts in GDNF–Ret signaling under physiologic conditions is unresolved. A knock-in mouse was produced that replaced GFRα1 with GFRα1–TM, which contains a transmembrane (TM) domain instead of the GPI anchor. GFRα1–TM still binds GDNF and promotes Ret activation but does not translocate into rafts. In Gfrα1TM/TM mice, GFRα1–TM is expressed, trafficked, and processed at levels identical to GFRα1. Although Gfrα1+/TM mice are viable, Gfrα1TM/TM mice display bilateral renal agenesis, lack enteric neurons in the intestines, and have motor axon guidance deficits, similar to Gfrα1−/− mice. Therefore, the recruitment of Ret into lipid rafts by GFRα1 is required for the physiologic functions of GDNF in vertebrates. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Membrane microdomains known as lipid rafts have been proposed to be unique subdomains in the plasma membrane that are critical for the signaling functions of multiple receptor complexes. Their existence and physiologic relevance has been debated. Based on in vitro studies, lipid rafts have been reported to be necessary for the function of the Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family of neurotrophic factors. The receptor for GDNF comprises the lipid raft-resident, glycerophosphatidylinositol-anchored receptor GDNF family receptor α1 (GFRα1) and the receptor tyrosine kinase Ret. Here we demonstrate, using a knock-in mouse model in which GFRα1 is no longer located in lipid rafts, that the developmental functions of GDNF in the periphery require the translocation of the GDNF receptor complex into lipid rafts.
Laparoscopic versus open total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND Because definitive long-term results are not yet available, the oncological safety of laparoscopic surgery for treatment of rectal cancer remains controversial. However, laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (LTME) for rectal cancer has been proposed to have several short-term advantages in comparison with open total mesorectal excision (OTME). OBJECTIVES To evaluate whether there are any relevant differences in safety and efficacy after elective LTME, for the resection of rectal cancer, compared with OTME. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Current Contents from 1990 to December 2005. Searches were conducted using MESH terms: "laparoscopy", "minimally invasive","colorectal neoplasms". Furthermore we used the following text words: laparoscopy, surgical procedures, minimally invasive, rectal cancer, rectal carcinoma, rectal adenocarcinoma, rectal neoplasms, anterior resection, abdominoperineal resection, total mesorectal excision. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials and case series comparing LTME versus OTME. Furthermore case reports which describe LTME were also included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two reviewers independently assessed study quality. All relevant studies have been categorized according to the evidence they provide according to the guidelines for "Levels of Evidence and Grades of Recommendation" supplied by the "Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine". Disagreements were solved by discussion. MAIN RESULTS 80 studies were identified of which 48 studies, representing 4224 patients, met the inclusion criteria. Methodological quality of most of the included studies was poor; three studies were grade 1b (individual randomised trial), 12 grade 2b (individual cohort study), 5 grade 3b (individual case-control study) and 28 grade 4 (case-series). As only one RCT described primary outcome, 3-year and 5-year disease-free survival rates, no meta-analyses could be performed. No significant differences in terms of disease-free survival rate, local recurrence rate, mortality, morbidity, anastomotic leakage, resection margins, or recovered lymph nodes were found. There is evidence that LTME results in less blood loss, quicker return to normal diet, less pain, less narcotic use and less immune response. It seems likely that LTME is associated with longer operative time and higher costs. No results of quality of life were reported. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Based on evidence mainly from non-randomized studies, LTME appears to have clinically measurable short-term advantages in patients with primary resectable rectal cancer. The long-term impact on oncological endpoints awaits the findings from large on-going randomized trials.
Lymphangiosarcoma in postmastectomy lymphedema: A report of six cases in elephantiasis chirurgica

Surgeon and internist alike are concerned with the complication of the swollen arm when it occurs following radical mastec tomy for breast cancer. Unfortunate as it is when it is produced by recurrent disease, it is tragic when it supervenes without clin ical evidence of the return of the cancer. When the swelling is induced by recur rence, palliative measures can be em ployed until the locus of cancer in a vital organ terminates the problem. When it en sues without the return of the disease, the swollen arm becomes one of the most dif ficult conditions to treat: witness the num ber of surgical proceduresâ€”some with meritâ€”that have been developed to com bat this complication. The present study is not, however, concerned with the therapeutic phase of this situation. Rather, it deals with a here tofore unrecognized and unreported sequel that ensues in an edematous upper extrem
Medication administration through enteral feeding tubes.

PURPOSE An overview of enteral feeding tubes, drug administration techniques, considerations for dosage form selection, common drug interactions with enteral formulas, and methods to minimize tube occlusion is given. SUMMARY Enteral nutrition through a feeding tube is the preferred method of nutrition support in patients who have a functioning gastrointestinal tract but who are unable to be fed orally. This method of delivering nutrition is also commonly used for administering medications when patients cannot swallow safely. However, several issues must be considered with concurrent administration of oral medications and enteral formulas. Incorrect administration methods may result in clogged feeding tubes, decreased drug efficacy, increased adverse effects, or drug-formula incompatibilities. Various enteral feeding tubes are available and are typically classified by site of insertion and location of the distal tip of the feeding tube. Liquid medications, particularly elixirs and suspensions, are preferred for enteral administration; however, these formulations may be hypertonic or contain large amounts of sorbitol, and these properties increase the potential for adverse effects. Before solid dosage forms are administered through the feeding tube, it should be determined if the medications are suitable for manipulation, such as crushing a tablet or opening a capsule. Medications should not be added directly to the enteral formula, and feeding tubes should be properly flushed with water before and after each medication is administered. To minimize drug-nutrient interactions, special considerations should be taken when administering phenytoin, carbamazepine, warfarin, fluoroquinolones, and proton pump inhibitors via feeding tubes. Precautions should be implemented to prevent tube occlusions, and immediate intervention is required when blockages occur. CONCLUSION Successful drug delivery through enteral feeding tubes requires consideration of the tube size and placement as well as careful selection and appropriate administration of drug dosage forms.
Measurement of neutrino and antineutrino oscillations by the T2K experiment including a new additional sample of nu(e) interactions at the far detector

The T2K experiment reports an updated analysis of neutrino and antineutrino oscillations in appearance and disappearance channels. A sample of electron neutrino candidates at Super-Kamiokande in which a pion decay has been tagged is added to the four single-ring samples used in previous T2K oscillation analyses. Through combined analyses of these five samples, simultaneous measurements of four oscillation parameters, |Δm322|, sin2θ23, sin2θ13, and δCP and of the mass ordering are made. A set of studies of simulated data indicates that the sensitivity to the oscillation parameters is not limited by neutrino interaction model uncertainty. Multiple oscillation analyses are performed, and frequentist and Bayesian intervals are presented for combinations of the oscillation parameters with and without the inclusion of reactor constraints on sin2θ13. When combined with reactor measurements, the hypothesis of CP conservation (δCP=0 or π) is excluded at 90% confidence level. The 90% confidence region for δCP is [-2.95,-0.44] ([-1.47,-1.27]) for normal (inverted) ordering. The central values and 68% confidence intervals for the other oscillation parameters for normal (inverted) ordering are Δm322=2.54±0.08(2.51±0.08)×10−3 eV2/c4 and sin2θ23=0.55-0.09+0.05 (0.55-0.08+0.05), compatible with maximal mixing. In the Bayesian analysis, the data weakly prefer normal ordering (Bayes factor 3.7) and the upper octant for sin2θ23 (Bayes factor 2.4).
Classic and Novel Risk Factor Parameters in Women With a History of Preeclampsia

Abstract—Epidemiological studies demonstrate a relation between preeclampsia (PE) and an increased risk of maternal coronary heart disease (CHD) in later life. However, there are few data available to explain any underlying mechanism. We recruited 40 primigravid women with a history of proteinuric PE delivering between 1975 and 1985 and 40 controls, matched as a group for time of index pregnancy, smoking, and current body mass index to assess classic (lipids, blood pressure) and novel (adhesion molecules, insulin, leptin) risk factor pathways. Women with a history of PE had higher diastolic blood pressure compared with controls (83 vs 76 mm Hg, P <0.05), but there were no significant differences in fasting lipoprotein concentrations (P >0.20). However, concentrations of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in particular were higher in the PE group by 14% (P =0.038) and 44% (P =0.002), respectively. The cases also demonstrated a tendency toward higher fasting insulin (P =0.08) concentrations and had higher glycosylated hemoglobin levels (P =0.004). Leptin concentrations were not significantly elevated. Interestingly, significantly more of the women with history of PE were classified as menopausal (37.55% vs 17.5%, P =0.045). The differences in ICAM-1 concentration persisted (P =0.010) after adjustment for potential confounders, including hormonal use/menopausal status, antihypertensive or lipid-lowering therapy, and social class. We conclude that classic risk factors alone cannot fully explain the elevated CHD risk in women with a history of PE. Rather markedly elevated ICAM-1 concentrations and specific but subtle features of the metabolic syndrome (glucose, blood pressure) are likely to be involved.
Error-Induced Blindness: Error Detection Leads to Impaired Sensory Processing and Lower Accuracy at Short Response–Stimulus Intervals

Empirical evidence indicates that detecting one's own mistakes can serve as a signal to improve task performance. However, little work has focused on how task constraints, such as the response–stimulus interval (RSI), influence post-error adjustments. In the present study, event-related potential (ERP) and behavioral measures were used to investigate the time course of error-related processing while humans performed a difficult visual discrimination task. We found that error commission resulted in a marked reduction in both task performance and sensory processing on the following trial when RSIs were short, but that such impairments were not detectable at longer RSIs. Critically, diminished sensory processing at short RSIs, indexed by the stimulus-evoked P1 component, was predicted by an ERP measure of error processing, the Pe component. A control analysis ruled out a general lapse in attention or mind wandering as being predictive of subsequent reductions in sensory processing; instead, the data suggest that error detection causes an attentional bottleneck, which can diminish sensory processing on subsequent trials that occur in short succession. The findings demonstrate that the neural system dedicated to monitoring and improving behavior can, paradoxically, at times be the source of performance failures. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The performance-monitoring system is a network of brain regions dedicated to monitoring behavior to adjust task performance when necessary. Previous research has demonstrated that activation of the performance monitoring system following incorrect decisions serves to improve future task performance. However, the present study provides evidence that, when perceptual decisions must be made rapidly (within approximately half a second of each other), activation of the performance-monitoring system is predictive of impaired task-related attention on the subsequent trial. The data illustrate that the cognitive demands imposed by error processing can interfere with, rather than enhance, task-related attention when subsequent decisions need to be made quickly.
Remote Sensing Techniques for Change Detection Analysis in Arid and Semi-arid areas

Desertification constitutes a natural hazard for human livelihood, wildlife and vegetation worldwide. Arid and semi-arid areas are the most likely to undergo processes of desertification, and it is a concern of the international community to control, monitor and prevent such a phenomenon. As a mainly arid region, the Middle East is particularly vulnerable to climate-induced impacts on water resources, challenged by high growth population rates and a water-stressed situation. Aim of the reasearch is to investigate Remote Sensing (RS) techniques for desertication studies, with a special focus on the Middle East region. RS is an efficient tool for environmental studies on wide areas of the Earth surface, allowing fast and reproducible analysis on regional and continental scales . For this research two RS methods of change detection analysis have been investigated and further implemented: Change Vector Analysis (CVA), applied to the Tasselled Cap Transform (TCT) outputs, and the Maximum Autocorrelation Factor (MAF) transformation of the Multivariate Alteration Detector (MAD) components (MAD/MAF). The research introduces improvements in the use of both techniques adapting them to desertification studies and proposes a new RS methodology, which has been proven effective in detecting the surface change in arid and semi-arid areas. An added value of the research is the availability of the source code, implemented for this study, to other users, through GFOSS software.
Impact of chromosome 4p- syndrome on communication and expressive language skills: a preliminary investigation.

PURPOSE The purpose of this investigation was to examine the impact of Chromosome 4p- syndrome on the communication and expressive language phenotype of a large cross-cultural population of children, adolescents, and adults. METHOD A large-scale survey study was conducted and a descriptive research design was used to analyze quantitative and qualitative data regarding the communication and expressive language manifestations of 200 children, youth, and adults from 16 countries and Puerto Rico who had been diagnosed with 4p conditions, including Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS), Pitt-Rogers-Danks syndrome (PRDS), Proximal 4p Deletion syndrome, and complex chromosomal rearrangements associated with 4p-. RESULTS Individuals with Chromosome 4p- syndrome represent a heterogeneous population with complex phenotypic profiles. The majority of the participants exhibited communication and expressive language skills below the 36-month developmental functioning level. A relatively small cohort of the study population exhibited advanced expressive language skills, a finding not reported in the professional literature. CONCLUSION Results broaden the spectrum of expressive language skills associated with Chromosome 4p- syndrome and highlight the communication potential of a subset of individuals with 4p abnormalities for development of advanced language structures. It is hypothesized that the largest 4p deletion, which includes the 4p16.3 band and contiguous gene regions, results in the most severely affected expressive language phenotype.
On the quest for new KPIs in mobile networks: The impact of throughput fluctuations on QoE

Downlink throughput is the most widely used and accepted Quality of Service (QoS) related feature within the networking community, specially in the operational field. Current quality monitoring and reporting systems as well as quality benchmarking campaigns use the Average Downlink Throughput (ADT) as metric to assess the performance of the network. For example, flow-based monitoring systems normally report the per flow ADT as a throughput-based Key Performance Indicator (KPI), which is then aggregated at different temporal (e.g., 15 minutes), geographical (e.g., per radio cell) and/or logical (e.g., per service) scales to reflect the health of the network. A similar direction is currently followed within the Quality of Experience (QoE) research domain, where ADT is translated into a measure of user satisfaction for bandwidth-sensitive services (e.g., video streaming, file sharing, etc.). We claim that the ADT is not always an accurate KPI in terms of QoE for bandwidth-sensitive services, and present results showing that the variation of downlink throughput can actually have a major impact on the perceived quality of the end user. In this paper we present a complete study of the QoE undergone by 52 mobile users in controlled subjective lab tests, using different mobile applications such as YouTube, Facebook and Gmaps. By shaping the traffic of the users through multiple bandwidth fluctuation patterns, we conclude that novel downlink-throughput related KPIs must be defined for QoE-based traffic analysis in mobile networks. Based on this observation, we propose some very first simple throughput fluctuation models to define such KPIs.
Factors that influence disclosure of hearing loss in the workplace

Abstract Objective: The objective of the study was to identify factors that lead individuals to conceal or disclose their hearing loss in the workplace. Design: A qualitative research paradigm called qualitative description was selected to address this issue. Study sample: Twelve people who had an adult onset hearing loss, and were gainfully employed, participated in audio-recorded semi-structured interviews designed to probe issues related to disclosure of hearing loss. A photo elicitation interview technique was employed during the interviews. Content analyses were used to extract pertinent information from verbatim transcripts. Results: Five recurring themes emerged as important considerations in relation to this topic: (1) perceived importance of the situation; (2) perceived sense of control; (3) community affiliation; (4) burden of communication; and (5) coexisting issues related to hearing loss. Conclusions: The findings are discussed in relation to other concealable stigmatizing traits, stigma-theory, and social-cognitive theory. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed, with particular emphasis placed on worker self-efficacy. Sumario Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar los factores que llevan a los individuos a ocultar o revelar su pérdida auditiva en el lugar de trabajo. Diseño: Se escogió un paradigma cualitativo de investigación llamado descripción cualitativa para enfrentar el asunto. Muestra del Estudio: Doce sujetos con una hipoacusia adquirida en la edad adulta con empleos bien remunerados participaron en una entrevista semi-estructurada grabado en audio, diseñada para evaluar asuntos relacionados con la revelación de su problema auditivo. Se empleó una técnica de entrevista por provocación fotográfica durante la misma entrevista. Se usó un análisis de contenidos para extraer la información pertinente de las transcripciones literales. Resultados: Cinco temas recurrentes emergieron como consideraciones importantes en relación con este tópico: 1. Percepción de la importancia de la situación; 2. Percepción del sentido de control; 3. Afiliación a la comunidad; 4. Carga en la comunicación; y 5. Asuntos coexistentes relacionados con la hipoacusia. Conclusiones: Los hallazgos se discuten en relación con otros rasgos estigmatizantes ocultables, con la teoría del estigma y con la teoría social-cognitiva. Las implicaciones clínicas de estos hallazgos se discuten, con un énfasis particular puesto en la auto-eficacia del trabajador.
Role of miRNAs in CD4 T cell plasticity during inflammation and tolerance

Gene expression is tightly regulated in a tuneable, cell-specific and time-dependent manner. Recent advancement in epigenetics and non-coding RNA (ncRNA) revolutionized the concept of gene regulation. In order to regulate the transcription, ncRNA can promptly response to the extracellular signals as compared to transcription factors present in the cells. microRNAs (miRNAs) are ncRNA (~22 bp) encoded in the genome, and present as intergenic or oriented antisense to neighboring genes. The strategic location of miRNA in coding genes helps in the coupled regulation of its expression with host genes. miRNA together with complex machinery called RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) interacts with target mRNA and degrade the mRNA or inhibits the translation. CD4 T cells play an important role in the generation and maintenance of inflammation and tolerance. Cytokines and chemokines present in the inflamed microenvironment controls the differentiation and function of various subsets of CD4 T cells [Th1, Th2, Th17, and regulatory CD4 T cells (Tregs)]. Recent studies suggest that miRNAs play an important role in the development and function of all subsets of CD4 T cells. In current review, we focused on how various miRNAs are regulated by cell's extrinsic and intrinsic signaling, and how miRNAs affect the transdifferentiation of subsets of CD4 T cell and controls their plasticity during inflammation and tolerance.