Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Localization of epidermal growth factor receptors and putative neuroblasts in human subependymal zone

Studies in rodents and monkeys suggest that neuronal precursor cells continue to exist and differentiate well into adulthood in these species. These results challenge the long held assumption that neurogenesis does not occur in the postnatal human brain. We examined the rostral subependymal zone (SEZ) of postnatal human brain for expression of cell phenotypic markers that have been associated with neuronal precursors and neuroblasts in rodent brain. We found epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF‐R) mRNA and protein to be expressed in infant, teen, young adult, and adult human SEZ. Some SEZ cells expressed the polysialic acid form of neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA‐NCAM), characteristic of migrating neuroblasts, as well as class III β‐tubulin and Hu protein, characteristic of neuroblasts and early neurons. These neuroblast‐like cells were negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), 2`,3`‐cyclic nucleotide 3`‐phosphohydrolase (CNPase), and vimentin, suggesting that they were not differentiating as glia. Our results show that neuroblast‐like cells exist in the human SEZ and support the theory that SEZ of postnatal human brain has neurogenic potential. J. Comp. Neurol. 423:359–372, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rehabilitation in severe head injury in children: outcome and provision of care

Functional outcome and provision of care to 82 children (males: females 2.7: 1; age range 0 to 16 years) with severe head injury were investigated. The children were admitted to the intensive care units of the Regional Neuroscience Units of the Greater Manchester and Lancashire districts of the North West Region of the UK between 1994 and 1996. A questionnaire was devised based on 12 areas of recovery and data were collected at discharge and 6 weeks, 6 months and 12 months from discharge. Data were collected during home visits and at joint assessment at 12 months with the district consultant community paediatrician (CCP). Early involvement of the CCP enhanced the provision of needs at discharge and 6 weeks after discharge, as did a period of stay in district‐level care before discharge home. CCPs received formal notification of the injured child in only 32% of cases by discharge, and 54% of cases by 6 months. Sixty‐five per cent of children required early educational support but structured help reached only 55% of these children by the end of the study. Integrated planning between health and education was achieved in about half of the study population. Good physical recovery was achieved by the majority of children but parents said they did not feel prepared for the degree of help which their child still required 12 months after discharge. Children who required anticonvulsants at 12 months’follow‐up scored significantly lower on cognitive potential. Psychosocial family functioning deteriorated in a substantial number of families according to parental perception. Prevalence of this perception did not diminish over the study period. Aspects of caregivers’understanding and the child's language deficits, self‐care skills, fine and gross motor performance, as well as family, social, and financial consequences were assessed. A dedicated and integrated approach to assessment and provision of care across the domains of hospital, education, and community is discussed.
Estimation of the apparent power by products of the DFT coefficients using maximum sidelobe decay Rife-Vincent windows

The paper describes algorithms of the nonparametric power estimation by summation of the products of the amplitude discrete Fourier transform (DFT) coefficients when simultaneously of sampling is assumed. As with energy-based approach for the amplitude square estimation of the one-channel signal, the apparent power in the two-channel case can be estimated with the multiplied amplitude DFT coefficients around the component peak and a suitable interpolation algorithm. The use of the Rife-Vincent windows class I, which are designed for maximization of the window spectrum side-lobes fall-off, performs minimal leakage influences in estimations with acceptable noise contributions. The main criterion, which order of window and how many points of interpolation should be used, is the systematic error behavior in dependence of the number of cycles in the measurement interval.
Antidiuretic Hormone and Osmolality in Patients with Ménière’s Disease

Plasma antidiuretic hormone (p-ADH) and plasma osmolality (p-Osm) levels were studied in patients with Ménière’s disease. In 147 cases, the p-ADH levels were measured during remission and in the acute phase of the disease. In 100 of 147 cases, the p-Osm levels were determined both in remission and in the acute phase. In remission, the p-ADH and p-Osm levels were higher than the normal limits. In the acute phase, the p-ADH level was higher than that in remission, consistent with previous reports. Moreover, the p-Osm level was unchanged. Although the p-ADH level is regulated by that of p-Osm, the kidney must show an escape phenomenon from antidiuresis. Besides, other factors must increase the amount of p-ADH. Further study is needed to reveal the cause of the rise in p-ADH and p-Osm levels.
The Rho-Associated Kinase Inhibitor Fasudil Hydrochloride Enhances Neural Regeneration after Axotomy in the Peripheral Nervous System

Background: The Rho family of small GTPases is responsible for various processes involving actin cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells, including neurite outgrowth. Several substances found at the peripheral nerve injury site were shown to activate one member of this family, Rho. The activation of Rho leads to neurite outgrowth inhibition and the development of posttraumatic neuropathic pain. The authors used the clinically tested Rho-associated kinase inhibitor fasudil hydrochloride to enhance the functional recovery of the peripheral nerve in the rat. Methods: In the peroneal nerve interpositional graft model, the authors administered fasudil (experimental groups) or saline (control groups) (1) intraperitoneally and (2) directly into the graft by microinjection (n = 6 animals per experimental condition). Neural recovery was assessed during postoperative follow-up lasting 80 days by peroneal functional index, electrophysiologic, and histomorphometric analyses. Results: The peroneal functional index returned to values not significantly different from preoperative values on days 55 (fasudil injected into the graft) and 60 (fasudil injected intraperitoneally) in the experimental groups. In the control groups, this took 70 (saline injected intraperitoneally) and 75 days (saline injected into the graft). These results are supported by electrophysiologic and histomorphologic assessments. Conclusions: The authors determined that fasudil hydrochloride was capable of accelerating the functional regeneration after peripheral nerve axotomy, which is consistent with the results of reports about Rho cascade disruption in the central nervous system. Because fasudil hydrochloride is a clinically tested drug, it could be used to enhance neural regeneration in human patients as well.
Interferon-Alpha Induces Transient Suppressors of Cytokine Signalling Expression in Human T Cells

The suppressors of cytokine signalling (SOCS) proteins comprise a newly identified family of negative feedback regulators of cytokine signalling. SOCS expression is differentially induced upon cytokine stimulation in different cell types. Here we show that interferon-α (IFNα) is a potent inducer of SOCS expression in human T cells, as high expression of CIS, SOCS-1, SOCS-2, and SOCS-3 was detectable after IFNα stimulation. After 4 h of stimulation, CIS, SOCS-1, and SOCS-3 expression had returned to baseline levels, whereas SOCS-2 expression had not declined. In contrast, after IL-2 induction neither CIS, SOCS-1, nor SOCS-2 expression levels declined after 6 h. In conclusion, we provide the first evidence that IFNα induces SOCS expression in human T cells. Moreover, we show that IFNα and IL-2 induce distinct patterns of expression kinetics, suggesting that dynamic changes in cytokine sensitivity might be mediated via induction of SOCS expression with different kinetics in T cells.
New Tensions Over Social Europe? The European Pillar of Social Rights and the Debate within the European Parliament

In September 2015, the European Commission launched a new political initiative &#8208;&#8208; the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) &#8208;&#8208; with the stated aim of strengthening the social acquis of the European Union and promoting upward social convergence across eurozone countries. In January 2017, the European Parliament voted in a resolution supporting the EPSR. This article examines the positioning of the parliamentary political groups to grasp the tensions that emerged during the debate. In so doing, it provides empirical evidence of the existence of a complex &#8216;clash syndrome&#8217; in European social policies which results from the combination of vertical and horizontal forms of euroscepticism. The main argument is that the coexistence of multiple political tensions may hamper the development of a stronger Social Europe, but may also lead to the emergence of new political coalitions through the &#8216;criss&#8208;crossing&#8217; of different lines of conflict.
Relationship between oxidative stress and embryotoxicity of hydrosalpingeal fluid.

BACKGROUND Oxidative stress mechanisms are involved in the pathophysiology of many reproductive disorders. The objective of this study was to characterize oxidative stress parameters in hydrosalpingeal fluid (HSF) and examine their possible role in early embryo development. METHODS AND RESULTS HSF was aspirated at laparoscopic salpingectomy in 11 infertile women. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), total (non-enzymatic) antioxidant capacity (TAC) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were assayed. Two-cell mouse embryos were incubated with 25, 50 or 75% HSF and the blastocyst development rate was observed. ROS was detected in five of 11 (45%) HSF samples with a mean of 4.2 x 10(4) c.p.m. LPO was detected in all samples at a mean (+/- SD) value of 5575.4 +/- 6091.9 micromol/l malonaldehyde. The mean blastocyst development rate at 25, 5+/- 0 and 75% HSF and in the control group was 88.9 +/- 9.4, 65.7 +/- 19.1, 45.7 +/- 5.7 and 96.7% respectively (P < 0.0001). The blastocyst development rate was positively correlated to ROS concentrations (P < 0.02) but was not significantly related to LPO. CONCLUSIONS The blastocyst development rate decreased with increasing concentrations of HSF. For the first time, the presence of ROS, LPO and TAC activity in human HSF was characterized. A possible role of oxidative stress in the embryotoxicity of HSF is suggested.
Resposta da cana-de-açúcar, primeira soca, a níveis de irrigação e adubação de cobertura

This research was accomplished in the Capim Farm of the Distillery Miriri located in the municipality of Capim city in Paraiba state, Brazil, with the objective of identifying the behavior of sugarcane crop, second leaf, for different irrigation water depths and levels of topdressing manuring with a mixture containing N and K2O in 1:0.94 proportion. With this purpose, an experiment was conducted using the variety SP79-1011, in completely randomized blocks in a factorial scheme of 4 x 2 (four irrigation depths and two levels of topdressing manuring), with three replications. The total water applied in the respective treatments was 807, 986, 1164 and 1343 mm and the levels of topdressing manuring were 85 and 305 kg ha-1. The growth, quality and yield parameters of sugarcane were analyzed. The irrigations prevailed in the initial growth phase of the second leaf and at the beginning of maximum development. The manuring dose influenced more the analyzed parameters than the water depth. The water depth influenced significantly, according to a positive linear behavior, the parameters of growth; while the sucrose (POL) of the cane showed a quadratic behavior.
Studies on carotenoids in watermelon flesh

Carotenoids are responsible for the different flesh colors in watermelon fruit, such as white, salmon yellow, orange, pale yellow, canary yellow, crimson red, and scarlet red. In red-fleshed watermelons lycopene constitutes the major pigment and b-carotene the secondary. The predominant carotenoid in yellow-fleshed watermelon is neoxanthin. Lycopene content in watermelon is related to genotype and ploidy level, harvest maturity, and growth and development conditions. Watermelon flesh colors are controlled by several gene loci. There are two or three alleles identified at each gene locus. Up to now several full-length cDNAs or gene fragments encoding enzymes in the carotenoid metabolic pathway have been isolated and characterized from mature watermelon fruits. Differential expression of carotenogenic genes was examined in flesh, ovary, leaf, and root tissues across different colored fleshes (white, canary yellow, salmon yellow, orange, and red). Carotenogenic gene expression was also analyzed at three fruit developmental stages (10, 20, and 30 days postanthesis) in five flesh colors of watermelon cultivars (red, pink, orange, yellow, and white).
Parallel Algorithm for Colour Texture Generation Using the Random Neural Network Model

We propose a parallel algorithm for the generation of colour textures based upon the non-linear equations of the "multiple class random neural network model". A neuron is used to obtain the texture value of each pixel in the bit-map plane. Each neuron interacts with its immediate planar neighbours in order to obtain the texture for the whole plane. A model which uses at most 4(C2 + C) parameters for the whole network, where C is the number of colours, is proposed. Numerical iterations of the non-linear field equations of the neural network model, starting with a randomly generated image, are shown to produce textures having different desirable features such as granularity, inclination and randomness. The experimental evaluation shows that the random network provides good results, at a computational cost which is considerably less than that of other approaches such as Markov random fields.
The Impact of Intellectual Capital Efficiency on Market Value: An Empirical Study from Iranian Pharmaceutical Companies

The increasing gap observed between market value and book value of many companies has taken into account towards investigating the impact of intellectual capital (IC) on business performance. IC has been widely considered as a critical tool to deliver the business successfully in an intensive competitive environment. Various models have been suggested to measure the numerous aspects of IC, i.e. the Skandia navigator, Tobin’s Q, and value added intellectual coefficient (VAIC). The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between intellectual capital and market value of pharmaceutical companies, using the VAIC developed by Ante Pulic (2000). Six-year data was obtained from audited financial reports in Iranian Exchange Stock, and used to calculate human capital, structural capital, and capital-employed efficiency of pharmaceutical companies. The results obtained using correlation and multiple regression analysis failed to support the impact of IC on market value. Practically, IC efficiency can be applied as a benchmark and strategic indicator to assess firm value. This study is a pioneering attempt in Iran to measure the impact of IC efficiency on market value using cross sectional time series data.
Critical Evaluation of Bcl-6 Protein Expression in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma of the Stomach and Small Intestine

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the gastrointestinal tract is heterogeneous, including mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) origin and non-MALT, and they are indistinguishable. MALT lymphoma is a tumor of a post-germinal center (GC) memory B-cell origin, which is negative for Bcl-6 protein expression in low-grade but may become positive in high-grade tumors. Because Bcl-6 expression patterns in lymphoma of GC and non-GC B-cell origins have recently been characterized and CD10 is generally regarded as a specific marker for GC B cells, we critically evaluated gastric and small intestinal DLBCLs to see whether it is possible to identify tumor of GC B-cell origin by immunostaining in archival specimens. High-grade MALT lymphoma (H-ML) of the stomach (n = 20) was defined by the presence of a concomitant lymphoepithelial lesion and/or follicular colonization; and DLBCLs de novo, both gastric (n = 31) and intestinal (n = 21), were defined by the absence of the above features. Immunostaining for Bcl-6 and CD10 was done using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections and was examined independently by three pathologists. Staining for Bcl-6 was positive (>10% of tumor cells) in 55 of 72 cases. However, two distinct patterns were recognized among those positive: diffusely dense (>75%) and sporadic (<75%). The former was further characterized by a consistency of Bcl-6+ tumor cell density at any given area, resembling the staining pattern of the GC or follicular lymphoma (FL) (GC/FL pattern), whereas the latter was, besides less dense population, by variable density from area to area. The GC/FL pattern was observed in 36% and 38% of gastric and intestinal DLBCLs de novo, respectively, but in none of the gastric H-ML. CD10 was positive in 12 of 71 cases (17%), all coexpressing Bcl-6. CD10+ tumors were more frequent in the intestinal (33%) than in gastric DLBCLs (∼15%). Significantly, CD10 expression was observed in three gastric H-MLs, including one that displayed a distinct lymphoepithelial lesion. In conclusion: 1) tumors showing a diffusely dense pattern of Bcl-6 expression should be distinguished from those showing a sporadic pattern; for the former most likely represents the tumor of GC B-cell derivation, and the latter non-GC, including MALT lymphoma; 2) tumor of GC B-cell origin thus defined accounted for about one third of gastric as well as intestinal DLBCLs de novo but none of the gastric H-ML; and 3) CD10 expression can be seen in MALT lymphomas and should not be used as the marker for GC B cells.
Localization of language cortices by functional MR imaging compared with intracarotid amobarbital hemispheric sedation.

OBJECTIVE We undertook this study to investigate functional MR imaging as a new clinical method for determining hemispheric language dominance. Seven patients undergoing surgical evaluation for chronic intractable epilepsy were studied. Intracarotid amobarbital injection was also performed and the findings compared with the functional MR imaging results. CONCLUSION Functional MR imaging studies enabled localization of the frontal and temporal lobe language cortices. The results of functional MR imaging and intracarotid amobarbital testing of hemispheric language dominance agreed in all seven patients, including two right-handed patients with right-hemisphere language dominance. These preliminary results show that functional MR imaging is an accurate noninvasive method of determining language dominance that may replace the amobarbital test for some purposes if confirmed by additional research.
Correlation of serum concentrations of cystatin C and creatinine to inulin clearance in liver cirrhosis.

The gold standard for the evaluation of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is inulin clearance (CIn), but its widespread use is prevented by several technical difficulties (1). The most commonly used marker for GFR is serum creatinine. However, serum creatinine concentrations should be interpreted with caution as a filtration marker in liver cirrhosis because they do not adequately reflect renal dysfunction. Increased tubular secretion and muscle wasting account for the disparity between creatinine concentrations and GFR in cirrhotic patients (2)(3)(4). Thus, GFR has been demonstrated repeatedly to be overestimated by serum creatinine (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). Cystatin C, a cationic 13-kDa protein that is produced by nucleated cells and catabolized by the renal tubular cells after passing the glomerular filter, has recently been reported as a reliable endogenous marker of GFR in healthy adults and children as well as in patients with nephrologic, urologic, and rheumatologic disorders (6)(7)(8)(9). For patients with liver cirrhosis, however, no data are available. Therefore, we studied cystatin C in comparison to creatinine for the assessment of GFR in these patients. We also determined the precision (10) of each analyte to predict GFR in cirrhotic patients. Forty-four patients with liver cirrhosis who were classified according to the Child–Pugh criteria [serum bilirubin, prothrombin time, serum albumin, ascites, and encephalopathy (11)] had their GFRs determined by steady-state CIn. All patients had evidence of portal hypertension indicated by esophageal varices, ascites, and characteristic features of liver cirrhosis by ultrasound (Table 1⇓ ). The causes of liver disease were alcoholism (n = 31), viral hepatitis (n = 10), and other liver diseases (n = 3). No patient had evidence of renal disease as assessed by examination of urinary sediment and proteinuria. Informed consent …
Course of Modic 1 Six Months After Lumbar Posterior Osteosynthesis

Study Design. A prospective study was conducted to investigate the outcome of the Modic Type 1 inflammatory signal in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 17 patients with chronic low back pain 6 months after instrumented posterior lumbar arthrodesis. Objective. To assess the course of the inflammatory signal after stabilization of a painful intervertebral segment by posterior instrumentation alone visualized on MRI systematically performed 6 months after the operation. Summary of Background Data. In 1988, Modic and colleagues described three degenerative stages of vertebral endplates and subchondral bone. The inflammatory stage, or Stage 1, is correlated with substantial functional disability. According to these authors, Stage 1 lesions naturally transform into Stage 2, the fatty stage. In the literature, patients with Modic 1 signal tend to have good results after arthrodesis, better than those with Modic 2 lesions. Methods. This study included 17 patients (average age, 46 years) who had experienced chronic low back pain more than 1 year and showed Modic 1 changes in MRI and disc narrowing on plain radiographs. Every patient underwent posterior screw–rod osteosynthesis and posterolateral arthrodesis. Disc disease had occurred subsequently to discectomy (n = 7), rapidly destructive disc disease (n = 5), or spondylolisthesis resulting from spondylolysis (n = 5). Clinical results were assessed according to a visual analog scale for pain, a functional disability score for the evaluation of patients with low back pain (Eiffel), and the validated French version of the self-administered Dallas quality-of-life test (DRAD). Results. Systematic MRI at 6 months showed transformation from Modic 1 to Modic 0 (normal endplate signal) in 4 patients and transformation from Modic 1 to Modic 2 in the remaining 13 patients. Clinical evaluation was performed at 6 months (at the same time as the MRI) and at 1 year. In every patient, there was improvement in the visual analog score and the functional score, which remained stable at 1 year. Conclusions. According to the literature, most Modic 1 lesions change to become Stage 2 lesions in 18 to 24 months. In this study, 17 patients with Modic Type 1 signal had changes after 6 months. It appears that posterior osteosynthesis combined with posterolateral arthrodesis accelerates the course of Modic 1 lesions, probably by correcting mechanical instability.