Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential genetic susceptibility in diphasic and peak‐dose dyskinesias in Parkinson's disease

To examine whether there is a differential genetic susceptibility in the diphasic and peak‐dose forms of levodopa‐induced dyskinesias (LID) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The study cohort comprised 503 unrelated Korean PD patients who were treated with levodopa and had a disease duration of at least 5 years. The presence of LID was identified during a routine follow‐up and special care was taken to separate the two distinct forms of LID into diphasic and peak‐dose dyskinesias (PDSK). Genotyping was performed in the 503 patients and in 559 healthy controls to search for polymorphisms of DRD3 p.S9G, DRD2 Taq1A, GRIN2B c.2664C>T, c.366C>G, c. ‐200T>G, and the promoter region of SLC6A4. A total of 229 patients expressed LID (peak‐dose in 205, diphasic in 57, and both in 33). The presence of diphasic dyskinesia (DDSK) was exclusively associated with the DRD3 p.S9G variant after adjusting for gender, age at PD onset, Hoehn & Yahr stage, and duration of levodopa treatment. Carrying the AA genotype was likely to shorten the onset of DDSK according to the duration of levodopa therapy (P = 0.02). The presence of PDSK was not significantly associated with any of the six genetic variants studied. There may be a genetic susceptibility in the development of DDSK in PD patients on chronic levodopa therapy, and its underlying pathophysiological mechanism might be distinct from that of PDSK. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society
The interrelationship between and the regulation of hepatic growth hormone receptors and circulating GH binding protein in the pig.

We evaluated the interrelationship between, and regulation of, the hepatic growth hormone receptor and serum GH binding protein (GH BP) in pigs treated with recombinant porcine growth hormone (rpGH). Infant and pubertal male pigs (N = 5 per group) received either rpGH 0.15 mg/kg daily or diluent intramuscularly for 12 days. Somatic growth, serum IGF-I and GH BP and [125I]bovine GH (bGH) binding to MgCl2-treated hepatic membrane homogenates were examined. Marked age-related increases were seen in serum GH BP (p less than 0.001) and [125I]bGH binding to hepatic membranes (p less than 0.001). GH BP was increased in rpGH treated animals (p = 0.03), from 13.8 +/- 1.2 (mean +/- 1 x SEM) (controls) to 17.8 +/- 2.0% in infants, and from 35.2 +/- 2.6 (controls) to 41.8 +/- 3.4% in pubertal animals. [125I]bGH binding to hepatic membranes was also increased by rpGH treatment (p less than 0.05), from 7.0 +/- 1.6 (controls) to 15.4 +/- 3.6% in infants and from 53.7 +/- 7.1 (controls) to 65.1 +/- 11.8% in pubertal animals. No significant interaction between age and treatment was seen. Overall, serum GH BP correlated significantly with [125I]bGH membrane capacity (r = 0.82, p less than 0.001), with a correlation of r = 0.83 in the infant animals but no significant correlation in the pubertal animals considered alone (r = 0.13). Serum IGF-I correlated significantly with serum GH BP (r = 0.93, p less than 0.001) and [125I]bGH membrane binding capacity (r = 0.91, p less than 0.001). These observations suggest that serum GH BP levels reflect major changes of hepatic GH receptor status. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effect of working hours and precarious employment on depressive symptoms in South Korean employees: a longitudinal study

Objectives Long working hours and precarious employment are relatively common in South Korea. Since both can impact on mental health, this study examined their independent and combined effects on depressive symptoms of employees. Methods Data were from the Korean Welfare Panel Study (KOWEPS), 2010–2013. A total of 2733 full-time employees without depressive symptoms were analysed. Hierarchical logistic regression models were used to investigate the effect of the number of working hours per week (eg, 35–40 hours, 41–52 hours, 53–68 hours, and >68 hours) and employment status (permanent vs precarious employment) on depressive symptoms, measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) 11 scale. Results Compared with individuals working 35–40 hours/week, employees working above 68 hours (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.34) had higher odds of depressive symptoms after full adjustment. Similarly, precarious employees (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.75) showed worse mental health than permanent employees. In the combined effect model, employees in precarious employment who worked above 68 hours/week (OR, 2.03 95% CI 1.08 to 3.83) exhibited the highest odds of depressive symptoms compared with permanent employees working 35 to 40 hours/week. Conclusions Long work hours and precarious employment status were associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms. The findings highlight the importance of monitoring and addressing the vulnerable groups of employees to reduce the mental health burden of economically active individuals.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Chronic Pain: Current Status

Objective: To examine evidence suggesting a potential role for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in the treatment of chronic pain. Conclusion: Chronic pain is characterized by brain changes that can reasonably be presumed to be associated with hyperalgesia, as occurs with neuropathic changes in the periphery. TMS has the ability to induce plastic changes in the cortex at the site of stimulation and at connected sites, including the spinal cord. It also has the ability to influence the experience of experimental/acute pain. In studies of TMS in chronic pain, there is some evidence that temporary relief can be achieved in a proportion of sufferers. Chronic pain is common. Current treatments are often ineffective and complicated by side-effects. Work to this point is encouraging, but systematic assessment of stimulation parameters is necessary if TMS is to achieve a role in the treatment of chronic pain. Maintenance TMS is currently provided in relapsing major depression and may be a useful model in chronic pain management.
Diurnal Fluctuations in Plasma Hydrogen Sulfide of the Mice

Circadian rhythms are essential in a myriad of physiological processes to maintain homeostasis, especially the redox homeostasis. However, little is known about whether plasma H2S exhibits the physiological diurnal variation. The present study was performed to investigate the diurnal fluctuations of plasma H2S and explore the potential mechanisms. We found that the plasma H2S of the C57BL/6J mice was significantly higher at 19 o’clock than those at 7 o’clock which was not affected by the blood-collecting sequence and the concentrations of plasma cysteine (a precursor of H2S). No significant differences in mRNA or protein expression of the CSE, CBS, or MPST were observed between 7: 00 and 19: 00. There were also no significant differences in the CSE and CBS activities, while the activities of MPST in tissues were significantly higher at 19 o’clock. After treatment with AOAA (a CBS inhibitor) or PPG (a CSE inhibitor) for 14 days, plasma H2S concentrations at 19 o’clock were still significantly higher than those at 7 o’clock, although they were both significantly decreased as compared with controls. Identical findings were also observed in CSE KO mice. We also found the plasma H2O2 concentrations were significantly higher at 19 o’clock than those at 7 o’clock. However, H2O2 concentrations were significantly decreased at 19 o’clock than those at 7 o’clock when mice were exposed to continuous light for 24 h. Meanwhile, the diurnal fluctuations of plasma H2S levels and MPST activities in tissues were disappeared. After treatment with DTT for 14 days, there was no significant difference in plasma H2O2 concentrations between 7 o’clock and 19 o’clock. Meanwhile, the diurnal fluctuations of plasma H2S levels and MPST activities in tissues were disappeared. Identical findings were also observed in SOD2+/- mice. When heart tissues were incubated with increasing concentrations of H2O2 in vitro, H2O2 could dose-dependently increase the activity of MPST within a certain concentration range. In conclusion, our studies revealed that plasma H2S concentration and tissue MPST activity exhibited diurnal fluctuations. Modulated by plasma H2O2 concentration, changes of MPST activity probably led to the diurnal fluctuations of plasma H2S.
Methods for Detection and Classification of Normal Swallowing from Muscle Activation and Sound

Swallowing is an important part of the dietary process. This paper presents an investigation to detect and classify normal swallowing during eating and drinking from electromyography and microphone sensors. The non-invasive sensors are selected in order to integrate them into a collar-like fabric for continuous monitoring of swallowing activity over a day. We compare methods for the detection of individual swallowing events from continuous sensor data. Furthermore we present a classifier comparison for the swallowing event properties volume and viscosity. The methods are evaluated on experimental data and a performance analysis is shown. Moreover we present a class skew analysis based on the metrics precision and recall
The presence of messenger RNA for HLA class I in human platelets and its capability for protein biosynthesis

Summary. In order to determine whether platelets contain specific messenger RNA encoding for HLA class I molecules, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed with RNA from different platelet donors. Two amplified 300 bp and 279 bp cDNA fragments were obtained which encompassed sequences from 321 to 620 and from 795 to 1073. The 300 bp fragment encodes exon 2 and exon 3, the 279 bp encodes a portion of exon 4, exon 5, exon 6 and a portion of exon 7. A 300 bp nested PCR product from one donor, that encoded for the highly polymorphic region α2, was cloned and sequenced. The resulting nucleotide sequences fitted to the expected sequence for HLA B*3801 of this donor. Sequence analysis of the 279 bp PCR product demonstrated the presence of exon 5 encoding for the 117 bp transmembrane domain.
Direct connection and testing of TSV and microbump devices using NanoPierce™ contactor for 3D-IC integration

Testing of Through Silicon Via (TSV) and Micro-Bump (MB) devices by physical connection through the TSVs presents unique challenges due to the very high density of the connections, and the potential impact of contact testing on subsequent assembly steps. In addition, the very high signal counts that are the main benefit of TSV connection schemes make conventional wafer probing, particularly for memory devices which demand very high parallelism at production wafer sort, largely impractical. We present a socket solution using FormFactor Nanopierce™ contactor for direct testing of TSV's and micro-bumps arrays which enables creation of known good TSV dies for high yield stacking and known good TSV stacks for shipment to system assemblers to achieve high yield assembly. Combining this socket solution with existing full wafer contact probe solutions enables a complete TSV test flow. In addition, standard TSV interface designs and patterns can enable standard sockets. The FormFactor NanoPierce™ contactor is highly scalable and easy to fabricate at very dense pitches down to 20μm. The contactor relies on many small contact points within one contact pad and good electrical connection can be achieved at low contact forces with minimal surface damage. We present test result on both Au pads and SnAg bumps performed at 40μm × 50μm pitch array wide I/O JEDEC pattern. The resistance per contact is ~3 Ohms with 25μm overtravel, and an estimated inductance of 0.1nH per contact. Test results show no detectable damage on the contactor, and small damage on 20μm SnAg bumps.
Lives Less Ordinary? Crime, Communities and Policing in Northern Ireland

This article is drawn from data collected in the Community Crime Survey conducted in Northern Ireland in 1996.1 That survey was premised on the notion that the experience of crime, victimisation, policing and related matters varied considerably across different communities in Northern Ireland. These communities were distinguished on the grounds of religious segregation/integration, socio-economic deprivation and Greater Belfast/rural divides. The authors argue that the survey findings with regard to these variances offer a critique of the homogenised and ‘averaged up’ findings of previous surveys, underline the RUC's lack of credibility in working class Catholic communities and the development of alternative strategies of policing and social control in both working class Protestant and Catholic communities. Finally they suggest that this type of survey methodology offers the potential for a more nuanced account of the significance of community in criminological discourse on Northern Ireland.
Absorption and Metabolism of Phenolics from Digests of Polyphenol-Rich Potato Extracts Using the Caco-2/HepG2 Co-Culture System

The bioactivity of dietary polyphenols depends upon gastrointestinal and hepatic metabolism of secondary microbial phenolic metabolites generated via colonic microbiota-mediated biotransformation. A polyphenol-rich potato extract (PRPE) containing chlorogenic, caffeic, and ferulic acids and rutin was digested in a dynamic multi-reactor gastrointestinal simulator of the human intestinal microbial ecosystem (GI model). Simulated digestion showed extensive degradation of the parent compounds and the generation of microbial phenolic metabolites. To characterize the transport and metabolism of microbial phenolic metabolites following digestion, a co-culture of intestinal Caco-2 and hepatic HepG2 cells was exposed to the PRPE-derived digests obtained from the colonic vessels. Following a 2 h incubation of the digesta with the Caco-2/HepG2 co-cultures, approximately 10–15% of ferulic, dihydrocaffeic, and dihydroferulic acids and 3–5% of 3-hydroxybenzoic, 3-hydroxyphenylpropionic, and coumaric acids were observed in the basolateral side, whereas 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, phenylpropanoic acid, and cinnamic acid were not detected. Subsequent HepG2 cellular metabolism led to major increases in ferulic, dihydrocaffeic, 3-hydroxyphenylpropionic, and coumaric acids ranging from 160–370%. These findings highlight the importance of hepatic metabolism towards the generation of secondary metabolites of polyphenols despite low selective Caco-2 cellular uptake of microbial phenolic metabolites.
Assessing manganese efflux using SEA0400 and cardiac T1‐mapping manganese‐enhanced MRI in a murine model

The sodium–calcium exchanger (NCX) is one of the transporters contributing to the control of intracellular calcium (Ca2+) concentration by normally mediating net Ca2+ efflux. However, the reverse mode of the NCX can cause intracellular Ca2+ concentration overload, which exacerbates the myocardial tissue injury resulting from ischemia. Although the NCX inhibitor SEA0400 has been shown to therapeutically reduce myocardial injury, no in vivo technique exists to monitor intracellular Ca2+ fluctuations produced by this drug. Cardiac manganese‐enhanced MRI (MEMRI) may indirectly assess Ca2+ efflux by estimating changes in manganese (Mn2+) content in vivo, since Mn2+ has been suggested as a surrogate marker for Ca2+. This study used the MEMRI technique to examine the temporal features of cardiac Mn2+ efflux by implementing a T1‐mapping method and inhibiting the NCX with SEA0400. The change in 1H2O longitudinal relaxation rate, ΔR1, in the left ventricular free wall, was calculated at different time points following infusion of 190 nmol/g manganese chloride (MnCl2) in healthy adult male mice. The results showed 50% MEMRI signal attenuation at 3.4 ± 0.6 h post‐MnCl2 infusion without drug intervention. Furthermore, treatment with 50 ± 0.2 mg/kg of SEA0400 significantly reduced the rate of decrease in ΔR1. At 4.9–5.9 h post‐MnCl2 infusion, the average ΔR1 values for the two groups treated with SEA0400 were 2.46 ± 0.29 and 1.72 ± 0.24 s−1 for 50 and 20 mg/kg doses, respectively, as compared to the value of 1.27 ± 0.28 s−1 for the control group. When this in vivo data were compared to ex vivo absolute manganese content data, the MEMRI T1‐mapping technique was shown to effectively quantify Mn2+ efflux rates in the myocardium. Therefore, combining an NCX inhibitor with MEMRI may be a useful technique for assessing Mn2+ transport mechanisms and rates in vivo, which may reflect changes in Ca2+ transport. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Impact of Hematocrit on Fibrin Clot Formation Assessed by Rotational Thromboelastometry

BACKGROUND: Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®)–based FIBTEM is used perioperatively to assess the extent of fibrin polymerization in whole blood. In FIBTEM, cytochalasin D eliminates the contribution of platelets to whole blood clotting, but changing levels in fibrin(ogen) and erythrocytes may differently affect clot formation. Because dynamic changes of hematocrit are not reflected in plasma fibrinogen measurements, we hypothesized that the lack of erythrocytes in isolated plasma measurements would affect the relationship between the Clauss method and whole blood–based FIBTEM during cardiac surgery. Therefore, in the current study we investigated the influence of perioperative hematocrit changes on FIBTEM and fibrinogen measurements. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 6 consenting healthy volunteers. FIBTEM tests were run before and after serial in vitro dilutions of whole blood with saline or autologous plasma (5:1, 2:1, and 1:1 v/v). We then evaluated the relationship between FIBTEM–maximal clot firmness (MCF) and the Clauss fibrinogen method in relation to hematocrit values before and after cardiac surgery. Pearson correlation coefficients were determined between laboratory test results and ROTEM variables. RESULTS: Upon in vitro hematocrit reduction, FIBTEM-MCF was progressively decreased depending on the extent of saline dilution, but it was increased by 31% after 1:1 volume replacement with autologous plasma (P < 0.05). In samples from cardiac patients (150 measurements in 50 patients), the overall correlation coefficient between FIBTEM-MCF and plasma fibrinogen was 0.80 (P < 0.001). In hemodiluted blood samples (during surgery or at intensive care unit), FIBTEM-MCF 10 mm corresponded to plasma fibrinogen levels of 200 mg/dL. In the subgroup analysis (n = 50 each), according to hematocrit levels (<25%, ≥25% to 30%, ≥30%), plasma fibrinogen levels of 200 mg/dL corresponded to 11 mm, 10 mm, and 8 mm of FIBTEM-MCF, respectively. The correlation between FIBTEM-MCF and plasma fibrinogen was higher at lower hematocrit (<25%) than at higher hematocrit (>30%) (r = 0.88 and 0.67, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative changes in hematocrit affect the correlation between plasma fibrinogen levels and FIBTEM-MCF values. The higher correlation between FIBTEM-MCF and plasma fibrinogen with lower hematocrit (<25%) indicates that FIBTEM is a practical method to determine the need for fibrinogen replacement in bleeding patients who typically develop perioperative anemia.
Studies on Intrapulmonary Gas Distribution in the Normal Subject Influence of Anaesthesia and Artificial Ventilation

Intrapulmonary gas distribution, assessed by a multiple breath, nitrogen washout technique and expressed by the Fowler index NWOD, was studied in subjects with healthy lungs during spontaneous breathing while awake, and during mechanical ventilation under halothane anaesthesia. The distribution index rose from a mean of 32% awake to 56% during anaesthesia. An attempt was also made to differentiate between the contribution of gravitational (airway closure) and non‐gravitational (diffuse airway obstruction) inhomogeneity of ventilation. This was accomplished by measurement of the slope of the alveolar plateau during a single breath nitrogen washout. The slope was similar awake and anaesthetized, and it increased equally under both conditions, when preinspiratory lung volume was stepped up from RV to CC, CC being the lung volume at which airways begin to close during expiration. NWOD was significantly correlated to the degree of airway closure, expressed as FRC‐CC, and, less so, to inspiratory resistance. It is suggested that a less efficient ventilation distribution in anaesthetized normal subjects, as measured by NWOD, is caused rather by airway closure (gravitational inhomogeneity) than by diffuse airway obstruction (non‐gravitational inhomogeneity of ventilation).
Mental Imagery of High- and Low-Resolution Gratings Activates Area 17

Some, but not all, previous neuroimaging studies of visual mental imagery have found that Area 17 (primary visual cortex) is activated when people visualize objects. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that the necessary degree of resolution of the mental image is a determining factor in whether Area 17 is activated during imagery. Eight male subjects visualized and compared sets of stripes that required high or low resolution to resolve, while their brains were scanned using 15O(CO2) positron emission tomography (PET). When imagery in general (visualization of high- and low-resolution gratings stimuli combined) was compared to an auditory baseline condition where subjects did not visualize, Area 17 was activated. However, region of interest (ROI) and statistical parametric mapping (SPM) analyses revealed no difference between imagery conditions using high- and low-resolution stimuli. These results indicate that the resolution of the stimuli alone does not necessarily determine whether Area 17 will be activated during visual mental imagery.
Dependence of apparent diffusion coefficients on axonal spacing, membrane permeability, and diffusion time in spinal cord white matter

We used a numerical simulation of water self‐diffusion among permeable cylinders to predict the dependence of MR‐based apparent diffusion coefficients in white matter on axonal separation, barrier permeability, and diffusion time (T). The transverse apparent diffusion coefficient (tADC), calculated with simulated diffusion‐sensitizing gradients perpendicular to the axon fibers, remains a function of T down to diffusion times as short as . 1 μsec for a range of diffusion barrier permeability. As the diffusion time lengthens, the response of tADC depends on axon diameter, with decreases in tADC occurring earliest, and most dramatically, for the smallest fiber diameter simulated (2 μm). For a given axonal separation, asymptotic values of ADC are determined by permeability alone and are the same for 2‐μm and 11‐μm fibers of equal membrane permeability. The effect of increased relative intracellular volume is manifested primarily in a decrease in tADC at short T. Increases in interaxonal spacing increase the tADC at asymptotically long diffusion times and reduce the dependence on permeability. However, at the widest plausible axonal separations, permeability remains an important determinant of tADC. These simulations may enhance interpretation of measured tADC in the context of the underlying physiologic and structural changes at the cellular level that accompany white‐matter disease.
China's Economic Development: Does the Exchange Rate and FDI Nexus Matter?

This study aims to investigate the relationship between China’s exchange rate, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and economic development. We applied the bound testing approach on aggregate level data from 1981 to 2013. The results showed that the Chinese economy benefitted from a lower exchange rate over this period, and that there was a direct link between FDI inflows and economic development on an aggregate level both in the long and short run. The results of the Granger causality test identified a long and short run association among these variables. The GMM estimations with dummies for financial crises and RMB exchange rate policy fluctuations also confirmed the growth enhancing impact of the exchange rate and FDI inflows. To promote sustainable economic development in the future, China should focus on improving the levels of domestic investment and human capital, as well as supervising the level of openness and capital controls.