Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Comparison of the Quality of Sleep between Pre and Post-Surgery Cervical Herniated Nucleus Pulposus Patients Utilizing the Anterior Discectomy Method

BACKGROUND: Herniated Nucleus Pulposus (HNP) is the prolapse of the intervertebral disk through a tear in the annulus fibrosus. This causes nerve root compression with clinical pain manifestation and affects the quality of sleep. AIM: The aim of this study was find out the comparison in the quality of sleep between before (pre) and after (post) surgery cervical HNP patients. METHODS: This study was a retrospective cohort study. Ninety patients were asked to complete the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. All data which has been computed were analysed with the McNemar test. RESULT: The outcome reveals that from 90 patient`s cervical HNP, 81 (90%) were 40 years old age group and 66 (73.3%) of them were women. The result showed that 66 (73.3%) patients have a bad sleep quality before surgery. Surgery has increased the quality of sleep after surgery 66 (73.3%) patients had good sleep quality. There was a significant difference in the quality of sleep pre and post operation (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: There was a significant difference in the quality of sleep between pre and post operation cervical HNP patient utilising anterior discectomy methods.
Recombinant Expression, Purification, and Functional Characterisation of Connective Tissue Growth Factor and Nephroblastoma-Overexpressed Protein

The CCN family of proteins, especially its prominent member, the Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) has been identified as a possible biomarker for the diagnosis of fibrotic diseases. As a downstream mediator of TGF-β1 signalling, it is involved in tissue scarring, stimulates interstitial deposition of extracellular matrix proteins, and promotes proliferation of several cell types. Another member of this family, the Nephroblastoma-Overexpressed protein (NOV/CCN3), has growth-inhibiting properties. First reports further suggest that these two CCN family members act opposite to each other in regulating extracellular matrix protein expression and reciprocally influence their own expression when over-expressed. We have established stable HEK and Flp-In-293 clones as productive sources for recombinant human CCN2/CTGF. In addition, we generated an adenoviral vector for recombinant expression of rat NOV and established protocols to purify large quantities of these CCN proteins. The identity of purified human CCN2/CTGF and rat CCN3/NOV was proven by In-gel digest followed by ESI-TOF/MS mass spectrometry. The biological activity of purified proteins was demonstrated using a Smad3-sensitive reporter gene and BrdU proliferation assay in permanent cell line EA•hy 926 cells. We further demonstrate for the first time that both recombinant CCN proteins are N-glycosylated.
Retinoic acid alters the mechanism of attachment of malignant astrocytoma and neuroblastoma cells to thrombospondin-1.

Based on the hypothesis that the attachment of neuroectodermal cells to thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) may affect tumor spread and play a role in the anti-tumor effects of retinoic acid, we investigated the expression of TSP-1 in these cells in situ and the effect of retinoic acid on the morphology of TSP-1-adherent neuroblastoma (SK-N-SH) and malignant astrocytoma (U-251MG) cells in vitro. TSP-1-adherent SK-N-SH cells demonstrated process outgrowth, with further neuronal differentiation after retinoic acid treatment, consistent with the in situ studies showing that TSP-1 expression occurs in a differentiation-specific manner in neuroblastic tumors. TSP-1-adherent U-251MG cells failed to spread; however, after retinoic acid treatment the cells demonstrated broad lamellipodia containing radial actin fibers and organization of integrins alpha3beta1 and alpha5beta1 in clusters in lamellipodia and filopodia. The attachment of both SK-N-SH and U-251MG cells to TSP-1 was found to be mediated by heparan sulfate proteoglycans, integrins, and the CLESH-1 adhesion domain first identified in CD36. Heparin and heparitinase treatment inhibited TSP-1 attachment. Integrins alpha3beta1 and alpha5beta1 mediated TSP-1 attachment of SK-N-SH cells, and integrins alpha3beta1, alpha5beta1, and alphavbeta3 mediated TSP-1 attachment of U-251MG cells. Attachment was dependent on the RGD sequence which is located in the carboxy-terminus of TSP-1. Treatment with a pharmacologic dosage of retinoic acid altered the TSP-1 cell adhesion mechanism in both cell lines in that neither heparin nor micromolar concentrations of the RGD peptide inhibited attachment; after treatment, attachment was inhibited by the CSVTCG peptide located in the type I repeat domain of TSP-1 and a recombinant adhesion domain (CLESH-1) from CD36. Expression of CD36 was found in the retinoic acid-treated U-251MG cells. These data indicate that neuroectodermally derived cells utilize several mechanisms to attach to TSP-1, and these are differentially modulated by treatment with retinoic acid. These data also suggest that the CSVTCG sequence of TSP-1 modulates or directs cytoskeletal organization in neuroblastoma and astrocytoma cells.
Joint base-calling of two DNA sequences with factor graphs

To improve the utility of existing technologies based on Sanger sequencing, this paper examines the possibility of base-calling two superposed DNA sequences jointly. This approach allows a single electrophoresis experiment to process two sequences, using the same quantity of reagents and machine hours as for a single sequence. A practical heuristic is proposed to first estimate the peak parameters, then separate them into two sequences (major/minor) by passing messages on a factor graph. Base-calling on the major alone yields accuracy commensurate with single sequence approaches, and joint base-calling provides results for the minor which, while being of lesser quality, incurs no additional cost and can be ultimately used in the genome assembly process.
U.S. State Education Agencies’ Use of Twitter

This study examined how Twitter was used by all U.S. state education agencies (SEAs) for public engagement in education. Drawing on the ecological model of communication, this study analyzed the latest 71,913 tweets from 40 SEAs that had official Twitter accounts. The results of correlation analysis indicate no significant relationship between the SEAs’ presence on Twitter and the SEAs’ targeted Twitter users, denoting that the SEAs’ well-intentioned efforts in communicating with stakeholders and the public by using Twitter might fall short of the public’s preferable medium for receiving information. In addition, the results of content analysis suggest that the SEAs primarily used Twitter for one-way asymmetrical information broadcasting, leaving Twitter’s two-way symmetrical communication functionality largely untapped. Findings are discussed with respect to the implications for educational organizations’ effective use of Twitter through the public’s increased participation and collaboration.
Image quality assessment based on DCT subband similarity

Measuring image quality becomes increasingly important due to the many applications involving digital imaging and communication. Image quality assessment aims to develop a visual quality metric that correlates well with human visual perception. In this paper, we present a full-reference image quality assessment technique based on DCT Subbands Similarity (DSS). The proposed technique exploits important characteristics of human visual perception by measuring change in structural information in subbands in the discrete cosine transform (DCT) domain and weighting the quality estimates for these subbands. The proposed technique was tested with public image datasets and shows higher correlation with subjective results than state-of-the-art techniques. Another advantage of the proposed technique is its low computational cost.
High frequency of cardiac and behavioral complaints as presenting symptoms of hyperthyroidism in children

Abstract Objective: Descriptive data characterizing the frequency of various chief complaints and presenting symptomatology in children with hyperthyroidism are lacking. Furthermore, difficulties in recognizing atypical presentations may delay diagnosis and increase morbidity. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of the medical records of 76 children with hyperthyroidism to characterize their chief complaints at initial presentation to care and document other presenting symptomatology. Results: Cardiac symptoms were the most frequent chief complaint, accounting for 23% of presenting complaints. Major mood and behavior disturbances were also frequently present (21%), but were infrequently cited as the chief complaint (6%). Conclusions: This study is the first to describe chief complaints separately from the other signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism noted at the time of presentation to medical attention. Cardiac complaints were the most common; however, complaints associated with behavioral and mood disorders also occurred frequently. Clinicians should be aware of these presentations so that hyperthyroidism is diagnosed promptly to avoid morbidity associated with delayed diagnosis.
Caspase 3 activation is essential for efficient influenza virus propagation

Apoptosis is a hallmark event observed upon infection with many viral pathogens, including influenza A virus. The apoptotic process is executed by a proteolytic system consisting of a family of cysteinyl proteases, termed caspases. Since the consequences of apoptosis induction and caspase activation for the outcome of an influenza virus infection are not clear, we have addressed this issue by interfering with expression or function of a major virus‐induced apoptosis effector, caspase 3. Surprisingly, influenza virus propagation was strongly impaired in the presence of an inhibitor that blocks caspase 3 and in cells where caspase 3 was partially knocked down by small interfering RNAs. Consistent with these findings, poor replication efficiencies of influenza A viruses in cells deficient for caspase 3 could be boosted 30‐fold by ectopic expression of the protein. Mechanistically, the block in virus propagation appeared to be due to retention of the viral RNP complexes in the nucleus, preventing formation of progeny virus particles. Our findings indicate that caspase 3 activation during the onset of apoptosis is a crucial event for efficient influenza virus propagation.
In children with Hashimoto's thyroiditis the evolution over time of thyroid status may differ according to the different presentation patterns.

AIM to report the salient literature news concerning the relationships between thyroid function presenting patterns and subsequent biochemical evolution of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) in pediatric age. DESIGN the most recent reports from pediatric literature concerning biochemical thyroid function patterns at HT presentation and their spontaneous changes over time were analyzed and shortly commented. RESULTS from the analysis of pediatric literature on this theme, it emerges that HT in children may present with a very heterogeneous biochemical picture ranging from overt hypothyroidism to overt hyperthyroidism. The presenting biochemical pattern may also condition its subsequent evolution over time. CONCLUSIONS a) the most common biochemical pattern at HT diagnosis in children is euthyroidism, followed by overt hypothyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) and hyperthyroidism; b) the association with HT negatively affects the evolution over time of SH; c) in the cases with either Turner syndrome or Down syndrome the evolution over time of SH is more severe than in those without these chromosomopathies.
Fusiform Gyrus Face Selectivity Relates to Individual Differences in Facial Recognition Ability

Regions of the occipital and temporal lobes, including a region in the fusiform gyrus (FG), have been proposed to constitute a “core” visual representation system for faces, in part because they show face selectivity and face repetition suppression. But recent fMRI studies of developmental prosopagnosics (DPs) raise questions about whether these measures relate to face processing skills. Although DPs manifest deficient face processing, most studies to date have not shown unequivocal reductions of functional responses in the proposed core regions. We scanned 15 DPs and 15 non-DP control participants with fMRI while employing factor analysis to derive behavioral components related to face identification or other processes. Repetition suppression specific to facial identities in FG or to expression in FG and STS did not show compelling relationships with face identification ability. However, we identified robust relationships between face selectivity and face identification ability in FG across our sample for several convergent measures, including voxel-wise statistical parametric mapping, peak face selectivity in individually defined “fusiform face areas” (FFAs), and anatomical extents (cluster sizes) of those FFAs. None of these measures showed associations with behavioral expression or object recognition ability. As a group, DPs had reduced face-selective responses in bilateral FFA when compared with non-DPs. Individual DPs were also more likely than non-DPs to lack expected face-selective activity in core regions. These findings associate individual differences in face processing ability with selectivity in core face processing regions. This confirms that face selectivity can provide a valid marker for neural mechanisms that contribute to face identification ability.
Towards a definition of holism.

At the recent World Conference of Family Doctors (WONCA) meeting in Orlando, I attended a session of presented papers related to medical education. One examined the degree to which Swedish GPs felt that a holistic approach was important to their work. Curiously, this paper was labeled in the programme as not eligible for CME credit. During the questions period, one attendee suggested that CME was not allowed because the programme committee had considered holism in the title to mean it was about alternative medicine, and thus not scientific. This raises a number of questions because, as the authors noted, the motivation for the study was that ‘holistic modelling’ is one of the ‘six core competencies of the GP/family doctor’ identified by EURACT, the European Academy of Teachers of General Practice, in 2002. Why would a paper containing one of the core competencies in its title be presumed to be about alternative medicine, or otherwise not of value? (Not to mention why a paper that was on alternative medicine would be presumed to be non-scientific and unworthy of CME credit.) I suggest that at least part of the reason is that many different definitions of holism, and holistic, are being used in health and the healthcare literature, and no one is quite sure what anyone else means when they use these terms. Certainly, a brief review of the medical literature suggests that there are multiple understandings of holism — it is used for a variety of approaches that come under the heading of ‘complementary’ or ‘alternative’ medicine, spirituality …
Morphogenesis of the Marine Ciliate, Pseudoamphisiella alveolata (Kahl, 1932) Song & Warren, 2000 (Ciliophora, Stichotrichia, Urostylida) During Binary Fission

ABSTRACT. Morphogenesis during the binary fission of the stichotrich ciliate Pseudoamphisiella alveolata, isolated from Jiaozhou Bay near Qingdao, China, was investigated using protargol silver impregnation. The process is characterized as follows: (1) in the proter, only the posterior part of the parental adoral zone of membranelles is renewed, where the membranelles dedifferentiate and then rebuild the UM‐anlage and the missing membranelles, (2) the oral primordium in the opisthe and the FVT‐anlagen in both dividers are formed de novo on the cell surface, (3) an “extra” anlage, which is generated on the right of the right marginal anlage, develops into three or four “extra” marginal cirri that connect the caudal cirri with the marginal rows, (4) the right marginal anlage is formed within the old structure, (5) the FVT‐cirri develop in a primary mode, and (6) unlike most stichotrichs, the right marginal anlagen in both dividers generate closely together. As an additional contribution, the diversity of morphogenetic patterns within the genus Pseudoamphisiella is discussed. Based on both morphogenetic and SS rRNA gene sequencing data, the systematic position of the genus Pseudoamphisiella as well as the family Pseudoamphisiellidae Song et al. 1997 is briefly analyzed. The results indicate that they should very possibly represent a higher evolved group in the order Urostylida.
17β-Estradiol Protects Human Eyelid-Derived Adipose Stem Cells against Cytotoxicity and Increases Transplanted Cell Survival in Spinal Cord injury

Stem cell transplantation represents a promising strategy for the repair of spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the low survival rate of the grafted cells is a major obstacle hindering clinical success because of ongoing secondary injury processes, which includes excitotoxicity, inflammation and oxidative stress. Previous studies have shown that 17b‐estradiol (E2) protects several cell types against cytotoxicity. Thus, we examined the effects of E2 on the viability of human eyelid adipose‐derived stem cells (hEASCs) in vitro with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)‐induced cell model and in vivo within a rat SCI model. Our results showed that E2 protected hEASCs against H2O2‐induced cell death in vitro, and enhanced the survival of grafted hEASCs in vivo by reducing apoptosis. Additionally, E2 also enhanced the secretion of growth factors by hEASCs, thereby making the local microenvironment more conducive for tissue regeneration. Overall, E2 administration enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of hEASCs transplantation and facilitated motor function recovery after SCI. Hence, E2 administration may be an intervention of choice for enhancing survival of transplanted hEASCs after SCI.
Fiber push-out testing apparatus for elevated temperatures

A newly developed apparatus has been designed for performing fiber push-out testing on continuous fiber-reinforced composites at elevated temperatures. This test measures the force at which a fiber resists being pushed by a flat-bottomed indenter moving at a constant speed. The applied load versus time curve characterizes the fiber debonding and sliding behavior. Extending measurements to elevated temperatures required incorporating sample/indenter heating in a nonoxidizing environment. With this new apparatus, fiber push-out tests have been performed up to 1100 δC in a vacuum of 10^-6 Torr. A line-of-sight to the sample is maintained during the test which allows video monitoring of the push-out process. Results are shown for SCS-6 SiC fiber-reinforced Ti-24Al-llNb (at. %) and Ti-15V-3Cr-3Sn-3Al (at. %) matrix composites. The results are discussed in terms of residual stresses, interfacial wear, matrix ductility, and changing modes of interfacial failure. The effect of temperature-dependent interfacial wear on the interfacial roughness contribution to frictional shear stresses during fiber sliding is examined.
Increased prevalence of third-degree atrioventricular block in patients with type II diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk for cardiovascular disease and mortality. There is some evidence that third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block occurs more commonly in patients with DM. In this study, we evaluated any possible association between DM and third-degree AV block using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes in a very large inpatient database. METHOD We used patient treatment files containing discharge diagnoses using ICD-9 codes of inpatient treatment from all Veterans Health Administration hospitals. The cohort was stratified using the ICD-9-CM code for DM (n = 293,124), a control group with hypertension but no DM (n = 552,623), and the ICD-9 code for third-degree AV block (426.0) and smoking (305.1, V15.82). We performed multivariate analysis adjusting for coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, smoking, and hyperlipidemia. Continuous and binary variables were analyzed using chi2 and Fisher exact tests. RESULTS Third-degree AV block diagnosis was present in 3,240 of DM patients (1.1%) vs 3,367 patients (0.6%) in the control group. Using multivariate analysis, DM remained strongly associated with third-degree AV block (odds ratio, 3.1; 95% confidential interval, 3.0 to 3.3; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION Third-degree AV block occurs significantly more in patients with DM. This finding may, in part, explain the high cardiovascular mortality in DM patients.
Generalized reconfigurable memristive dynamical system (MDS) for neuromorphic applications

This study firstly presents (i) a novel general cellular mapping scheme for two dimensional neuromorphic dynamical systems such as bio-inspired neuron models, and (ii) an efficient mixed analog-digital circuit, which can be conveniently implemented on a hybrid memristor-crossbar/CMOS platform, for hardware implementation of the scheme. This approach employs 4n memristors and no switch for implementing an n-cell system in comparison with 2n2 memristors and 2n switches of a Cellular Memristive Dynamical System (CMDS). Moreover, this approach allows for dynamical variables with both analog and one-hot digital values opening a wide range of choices for interconnections and networking schemes. Dynamical response analyses show that this circuit exhibits various responses based on the underlying bifurcation scenarios which determine the main characteristics of the neuromorphic dynamical systems. Due to high programmability of the circuit, it can be applied to a variety of learning systems, real-time applications, and analytically indescribable dynamical systems. We simulate the FitzHugh-Nagumo (FHN), Adaptive Exponential (AdEx) integrate and fire, and Izhikevich neuron models on our platform, and investigate the dynamical behaviors of these circuits as case studies. Moreover, error analysis shows that our approach is suitably accurate. We also develop a simple hardware prototype for experimental demonstration of our approach.
Cannabinoid Modulation of Amygdala Subregion Functional Connectivity to Social Signals of Threat

Background: Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol has been shown to modulate anxiety and facilitate the extinction of fear by inhibiting amygdala reactivity. Since functional coupling between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex is implicated in affective processes, it is possible that Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol affects amygdala-prefrontal cortex functional connectivity in ways that differ across amygdala subregions: basolateral, centromedial, and superficial. Methods: The aim of the study was to examine the effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol on functional connectivity between amygdala subregions and the prefrontal cortex during socio-emotional threat in healthy adults using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subjects design. Sixteen subjects completed a functional magnetic resonance imaging task designed to probe amygdala responses to social threat. Amygdala subregion-prefrontal cortex functional connectivity was compared between Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and placebo using generalized psychophysiological interaction analyses. Results: Findings indicated that Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol enhanced basolateral and superficial amygdala connectivity to the rostral anterior cingulate/medial prefrontal cortex. Conclusion: These effects, including Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol’s potential ability to reduce threat perception or enhance socio-emotional regulation, may help understand the neurocircuitry of affect.