Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Motor Recovery and Cortical Plasticity After Functional Electrical Stimulation in a Rat Model of Focal Stroke

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the functional responses and plastic cortical changes in a sample of animals with sequelae of cerebral ischemia that were subjected to a model of functional electrical stimulation (FES). DesignRats received an ischemic cortical lesion (Rose Bengal method) and were randomized and submitted to an FES stimulation (1–2 mA, 30 Hz, 20–40 mins for 14 days) or sham stimulation. The Foot Fault Test was performed before inducing the cortical lesion and also before and after FES. Brain immunochemistry labeling with microtubule-associated protein–2 and neurofilament-200 markers was performed after FES. ResultsThe authors found a decreased percentage of errors in the Foot Fault Test (P < 0.001) in the stimulated group compared with the sham group after FES. FES has not altered the lesion size. Spontaneous motor parameters returned to basal values in both groups. The qualitative analysis showed an increased amount of radial microtubule-associated protein–2 immunoreactive fibers in the preserved cortex adjacent to stroke site in the stimulated animals. Regarding the measurements of neurofilament-200 immunostaining, there were no differences between the hemispheres or groups in area or intensity. ConclusionsAcute and short period of FES led to motor recovery of ankle joint neurodisability. The extent to which compensatory plasticity occurs after stroke or after FES and the extent to which it contributes to functional recovery are yet unclear. The changes induced by the stimulation may improve the ability of the nervous system to undergo spontaneous recovery, which is of substantial interest for neurorehabilitation strategies.
Side Effects of Second-Generation Antipsychotics: The Experiences, Views and Monitoring Practices of Australian Child Psychiatrists

Objective: The aim of this study was to ascertain the experiences, views and monitoring practices of Australian child psychiatrists regarding the metabolic and other side effects of second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs). Method: A 19-item questionnaire was posted to all members of the RANZCP Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry living in Australia. Results: Of the 290 eligible members of the Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 126 (43%) returned a useable survey. SGAs are commonly prescribed for a range of disorders. The majority of respondents expressed a high level of concern regarding weight gain and other metabolic side effects. Weight gain was the most frequently observed and monitored side effect in clinical practice. Other side effects were observed and monitored to a variable extent. Notably, monitoring practices did not parallel psychiatrists’ reported level of concern or knowledge regarding weight gain and metabolic side effects, nor coincide with published recommendations. Conclusions: Further research is required into the use, efficacy, side effects and monitoring of SGAs in children and adolescents, and there is a need to ensure that monitoring guidelines are implemented in clinical practice. This need is heightened by the likelihood that our data on clinicians’ practice, which is based on their perceptions, may overestimate what actually occurs.
GALDS: a complete framework for designing multiclock ASICs and SoCs

A Globally Asynchronous, Locally Synchronous (GALS) system with dynamic voltage and frequency scaling can use the slowest frequency possible to accomplish a task with minimal power consumption. With the mechanism for implementing dynamic voltage scaling at each synchronous domain left up to the designer, our Globally Asynchronous, Locally Dynamic System (GALDS) provides a top-down, system-level means to maximize power reduction in an integrated circuit and facilitate system-on-a-chip (SoC) design. Our solution includes three distinct components: a novel bidirectional asynchronous FIFO to communicate between independently clocked synchronous blocks , an all-digital dynamic clock generator to quickly and glitchlessly switch between frequencies and a digitally controlled oscillator to generate the global fixed frequency clocks required by the all-digital dynamic clock generator. In addition to being capable of reducing power consumption when combined with dynamic voltage scaling, a GALDS design benefits from numerous other advantages such as simplified clock distribution, high performance operation and faster time-to-market through the modular nature of the architecture.
Low-molecular-weight heparin prophylaxis using dalteparin in close proximity to surgery vs warfarin in hip arthroplasty patients: a double-blind, randomized comparison. The North American Fragmin Trial Investigators.

BACKGROUND Based on the current understanding that venous thrombosis starts perioperatively, administration of just-in-time low-molecular-weight heparin immediately before or in close proximity after hip arthroplasty may be more effective than usual clinical practice. METHODS We performed a randomized, double-blind trial comparing subcutaneous dalteparin sodium given once daily immediately before or early after surgery with the use of postoperative warfarin sodium in 1472 patients undergoing elective hip arthroplasties. The primary end point was deep vein thrombosis detected using contrast venography performed after surgery (mean, 5. 7 days) in each group. RESULTS The frequencies of deep vein thrombosis for patients with interpretable venograms receiving preoperative and postoperative dalteparin for all deep vein thrombosis were 36 (10.7%) of 337 (P<.001) and 44 (13.1%) of 336 (P<.001), respectively, vs 81 (24.0%) of 338 for warfarin; for proximal deep vein thrombosis, 3 (0.8%) of 354 (P =.04) and 3 (0.8%) of 358 (P =.03), respectively, vs 11 (3.0%) of 363. Relative risk reductions for the dalteparin groups ranged from 45% to 72%. Symptomatic thrombi were less frequent in the preoperative dalteparin group (5/337 patients [1.5%]) vs the warfarin group (15/338 patients [4.4%]) (P =.02). Serious bleeding was similar among groups. Increased major bleeding at the surgical site was observed for patients receiving preoperative dalteparin vs warfarin (P =.01). CONCLUSIONS A modified dalteparin regimen in close proximity to surgery resulted in substantive risk reductions for all and proximal deep vein thrombosis, compared with warfarin therapy. Such findings have not been observed with low-molecular-weight heparin therapy commenced 12 hours preoperatively or 12 to 24 hours postoperatively vs oral anticoagulants. Increased major but not serious bleeding occurred in patients receiving preoperative dalteparin. Dalteparin therapy initiated postoperatively provided superior efficacy vs warfarin without significantly increased overt bleeding.
Conciliation d'a prioris sans préjugé

Il existe deux grandes familles de methodes pour resoudre les problemes lineaires inverses. Tandis que les approches faisant appel a la regularisation construisent des estimateurs comme solutions de problemes de regularisation penalisee, les estimateurs Bayesiens reposent sur une distribution posterieure de l'inconnue, etant donnee une famille supposee d'a priori. Bien que ces approchent puissent paraitre radicalement differentes, des resultats recents ont montre, dans un contexte de debruitage additif Gaussien, que l'estimateur Bayesien d'esperance conditionnelle est toujours la solution d'un probleme de regression penalisee. Nous presentons deux contributions. D'une part, nous etendons le resultat valable pour le bruit additif gaussien aux problemes lineaires inverses, plus generalement, avec un bruit Gaussien colore. D'autre part, nous caracterisons les conditions sous lesquelles le terme de penalite associe a l'estimateur d'esperance conditionnelle satisfait certaines proprietes desirables comme la convexite, la separabilite ou la differentiabilite. Cela permet un eclairage nouveau sur certains compromis existant entre efficacite computationnelle et precision de l'estimation pour la regularisation parcimonieuse, et met a jour certaines connexions entre estimation Bayesienne et optimisation proximale.
Accuracy of Intraocular Lens Calculation by SRK/T Formula in Pediatric Cataracts.

OBJECTIVE To examine the accuracy of the intraocular lens calculation by SRK/T formula in pediatric cataract patients, by means of the prediction error after the cataract surgery. MATERIAL AND METHOD A retrospective review of pediatric patients requiring cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation, between January 2006 and December 2013 was performed. Post-operative spherical equivalent was compared with the predicted calculation value from pre-operative SRK/T measurement, defined as prediction error (PE). RESULTS 139 eyes from 106 patients were studied. The median age of patients at surgery was 4.56 years (IQR, 14). The two most common causes of cataract were idiopathic and traumatic; 85 eyes (61.2%) and 36 eyes (25.9%), respectively. Primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation was performed in 87 (62.6%) eyes. The mean PE was -1.32±1.89 D (-7.78, 2.24). At one to three months after surgery, the mean PE of IOL in bag and sulcus were -0.87 D and -2.02 D, respectively. In non-traumatic group, the mean PE of IOL in bag and sulcus were -1.1 D and 2.28 D, respectively, whilst the traumatic group was -0.33 D and -1.16 D, respectively. Post-operative PE within ±1 diopter was found in 30 eyes (37.97%) at one to three months of follow-ups. CONCLUSION The majority of post-operative refraction was more myopic than the taigeted refractive error, which was calculated by SRK/T formula. Aiming for a more hyperopic target and IOL implantation in the bag would decrease the post-operative prediction error in the use of the SRK/T formnula in pediatric cataract patients.
Nocturnal blood pressure dip in stroke survivors. A pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The influence of a nocturnal blood pressure dip on stroke recurrence has not yet been clarified. In this pilot study, we attempted to establish a correlation of the nocturnal blood pressure dip with stroke recurrence and development of new silent ischemic lesions in patients with chronic ischemic cerebrovascular disease. METHODS We monitored circadian blood pressure patterns by use of a portable blood pressure monitoring device in 81 patients with chronic ischemic cerebrovascular disease and divided them into two subgroups according to levels of diurnal and nocturnal blood pressure (nocturnal blood pressure dippers and nondippers). The subgroups were prospectively followed up and compared for stroke recurrence and new silent ischemic lesions on magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS The average follow-up period was 27.2 +/- 11.3 months (mean +/- SD). Seventy-six patients completed the study; 43 (36 men and 7 women, aged 63.0 +/- 6.3 years) were being treated with antihypertensive agents and 33 (25 men and 8 women, aged 64.7 +/- 9.2 years) were not receiving treatment. In the treated group, recurrence was more frequent among the nocturnal dippers (5 of 18 patients, 12.5% per patient-year) than among the nondippers (1 of 25 patients, 1.5% per patient-year) (P < .05). All subjects who developed a recurrent attack during sleep had had a nocturnal blood pressure dip pattern before the attack. Furthermore, the increase in symptomatic (recurrence) and/or asymptomatic (silent) brain lesions was more frequent in the nocturnal dippers than in the nondippers (9 of 14 versus 2 of 18, P < .01). In the nontreated group, no clear difference was found between the two subgroups. CONCLUSIONS This study indicated that the nocturnal blood pressure dip in patients treated with antihypertensive agents may accelerate the increase in ischemic brain lesions.
Comparative in vitro activities of ciprofloxacin and other 4-quinolones against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium intracellulare

The in vitro activity of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, amifloxacin, and norfloxacin against 22 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was evaluated by agar dilution. The MICs for 90% of the isolates of ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin were 0.5 and 1 microgram/ml, respectively. Amifloxacin and norfloxacin were less active. The MICs for 90% of the isolates of ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin against 20 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium intracellulare were determined by agar dilution to be 2 and 8 micrograms/ml, respectively.
A review on the relationship between gluten and schizophrenia: Is gluten the cause?

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a chronic disease that possesses various clinical manifestations. It presents rather heterogeneous characteristics with respect to onset type, symptoms, and the course of the disease. Although the lifetime prevalence is as low as 1%, it can cause serious disability. Thus, it is very important to develop efficient treatment methods. In some studies, it is hypothesized that removing gluten from the diet leads to a significant improvement in disease symptoms. Epidemiological studies revealed that the prevalence of celiac disease among schizophrenic patients is almost two times higher than that of the general population. Objective: In this review, we evaluate the effects of gluten and celiac disease on the onset of schizophrenia. Efficacy of gluten-free diet applications, antibody response against gluten, and the interaction of the brain–gut axis and the presence of common genetic points are also investigated. Methods: Without any publication date restriction, Pubmed database searches were made for ‘schizophrenia, gluten, gliadin, celiac disease, exorphin, brain-gut axis, psychiatric disorders. ' The keywords and the articles about the schizophrenia–celiac disease relationship are included in our review. Results: Several studies presented evidence to suggest that symptoms associated with schizophrenia were minimized when gluten was excluded from patients’ diets. Immunological searches revealed that most schizophrenic patients with increased anti-gliadin antibodies did not possess celiac disease; yet, the presence of increased antibodies against gliadin can be the share point of the immunological abnormalities found in both of the diseases. Discussion: There were no consistent results in the clinical, immunological, microbiological, and epidemiological studies that investigated the relationship between schizophrenia and celiac disease. This presents a need for a larger scale study to confirm the presence of this suggested correlation between schizophrenia and celiac disease. The underlying mechanisms between the two diseases should be explored.
[Importance of bFGF ("basic fibroblast growth factor") for diagnosis and treatment of hemangiomas].

OBJECTIVES Hemangiomas of infancy follow a characteristic three-phases course: proliferation, involution, regressed Proliferative endothelial cells predominate during the proliferative phase. Moreover it has been shown that patients with active angiogenesis have elevated levels of urinary bFGF (basic Fibroblast Growth Factor). PATIENTS AND METHODS Here we report our preliminary results of urinary bFGF assay (ELISA) for the diagnosis and follow up of severe hemangioma. We also assayed bFGF in normal infants, in patients with large vascular malformations and in infants with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome. RESULTS In the control group, urinary bFGF was elevated in new borns but nul or very low in infants. Urinary bFGF levels were normal, i.e. very low in 4 patients with a vascular malformation. In infants with a clinically proliferative hemangioma, urinary bFGF was elevated in 8 among the 10 studied. bFGF levels guided treatment in 9 patients. Urinary bFGF was elevated in 4 patients with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome. DISCUSSION Angiogenesis is regulated by angiogenic and inhibitory factors. The angiogenic factor bFGF is an autocrine growth factor for endothelial cells and hemangioma endothelial cells expressing bFGF in their cytosol during the proliferative phase. As suggested by J. Folkman and his group, assay of urinary bFGF appears useful in differentiating between hemangioma and vascular malformation and for follow up of treated patients.
Iraqi missile attacks on Israel. The association of mortality with a life-threatening stressor.

OBJECTIVE The imminent deadline for the 1991 Persian Gulf War and, subsequently, the 18 missile attacks by Iraq on Israel represented an unusual, short-term, life-threatening stressor for an entire nation. We studied mortality in Israel in January and February 1991 to determine whether excess deaths were precipitated on days of missile attacks. DESIGN A time-series mortality study. SETTING The state of Israel. PARTICIPANTS All Israelis aged 25 years and older. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Daily mortality by sex, age, region, underlying cause, and place of death. RESULTS On January 18, 1991, the day of the first strike on Israeli cities, a 58% increment in total mortality occurred in the Israeli population (95% confidence interval [CI], 34% to 86%; P < .0001), a 77% excess (95% CI, 40% to 120%) in women and a 41% excess (95% CI, 10% to 79%) in men. This excess mortality occurred largely in the targeted Tel Aviv-central coastal plain and Haifa regions from cardiovascular causes and mainly out of hospital, significantly more so (P < .01) in women than men. Subsequently, on 16 attack days no overall excess was noted, yet a 10% increase in out-of-hospital deaths occurred. CONCLUSIONS Likely explanations for the initial increase in mortality include acute emotional stress coupled with breathing difficulties induced by gas masks and extended stay in sealed rooms with resultant hypoxia in susceptible individuals. Women were more vulnerable than men. The absence of elevated total mortality in the subsequent attacks suggests a rapid adaptation to the circumstances surrounding the war. The policy of an unventilated sealed room may have been detrimental.
Spinal Adenosine Receptor Activation Reduces Hypersensitivity after Surgery by a Different Mechanism Than after Nerve Injury

Background: Intrathecal adenosine has antinociceptive effects under conditions of hypersensitivity. T62 (2-amino-3-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzothiophen) is an allosteric adenosine receptor modulator that enhances adenosine binding to the A1 receptor. Intrathecal T62 reduces hypersensitivity to mechanical stimuli in a rat model of neuropathic pain by a circuit that totally relies on activation of &agr;2 adrenoceptors. Here, the authors tested whether this same dependence was present in the acute setting of hypersensitivity after surgery. Methods: Intrathecal catheters were inserted in male Sprague-Dawley rats. An incision of the plantar aspect of the hind paw resulted 24 h later in hypersensitivity, as measured by applying von Frey filaments to the paw. At this time, rats received intrathecal T62, clonidine, or the combination in a blinded, isobolographic design. The effect of the &agr;2-adrenoceptor antagonist idazoxan on T62 was also tested. Results: Intrathecal T62 produced a dose-dependent antihypersensitivity effect, with no effect on ambulation or activity level. Clonidine also produced a dose-dependent antihypersensitivity effect. The ED40 (95% confidence interval) for T62 was 0.77 (0.63−0.91) μg, and that for clonidine was 1.23 (0.56−1.9) μg. Isobolographic analysis indicated synergism between T62 and clonidine. Intrathecal pretreatment with idazoxan only partially inhibited the antihypersensitivity effect of T62. Conclusions: Intrathecal T62 is effective for postoperative hypersensitivity. The synergy of T62 with clonidine and its only partial antagonism by idazoxan suggest that T62 does not rely entirely on activation of &agr;2adrenoceptors. These results indicate that, after surgery, T62 acts via a mechanism different from that of spinal nerve ligation, a model of chronic neuropathic pain.
KOF Working Papers

We analyze stock market reactions to announcements of political appointments from the private sector and corporate appointments of former government officials. Using unique data on corporate affiliations and announcements of all Senate-confirmed U.S. Defense Department appointees of six administrations, we find positive abnormal returns for political appointments. These estimates are not driven by important observations, volatile stocks or industry-wide developments. Placebo events yield no effects. Effects are larger for top government positions and less anticipated announcements. We also find positive abnormal returns for corporate appointments. Our results suggest that conflicts of interest matter also in a country with strong institutions. JEL: G14, D73, G30, H57.
A question of foot dominance.

It is suggested that the popular definition of foot dominance (i.e., the limb preferred to execute a manipulative or mobilizing action while the other [nondominant] foot provides stabilizing support, e.g., kicking a ball) be reconsidered in light of understanding the functional characteristics of footedness and selected theoretical explanations. Relevance to future research designs and assessment methodology is discussed.
Relationships between serum adipokines, insulin levels, and bone density in girls with anorexia nervosa.

BACKGROUND Adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) have low bone mineral density (BMD). Adipokines and insulin play an important role in bone metabolism in healthy individuals. However, their association with bone metabolism in AN is unknown. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to determine whether adipokines and insulin are independently associated with measures of BMD in adolescents with AN and controls. DESIGN/METHODS Levels of adiponectin and insulin, fasting and after oral glucose, were evaluated in 17 AN patients and 19 controls (age, 12-18 yr), in whom hormonal parameters [GH, IGF-I, cortisol, estradiol, leptin, ghrelin, and peptide YY (PYY)] had been previously determined. Body composition, bone mineral content, and BMD at the lumbar spine, hip, femoral neck, and total body were assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Two bone formation and bone resorption markers were examined. SETTING The study was conducted at a General Clinical Research Center. RESULTS Adiponectin differed between AN subjects and controls after controlling for fat mass and decreased in both after oral glucose (P = 0.02 and 0.07). On regression modeling, independent associations were observed of: 1) body mass index and adiponectin with lumbar spine bone mineral apparent density Z-scores (r(2) = 0.45); 2) lean mass, PYY, and ghrelin with hip Z-scores (r(2) = 0.55); 3) adiponectin and lean mass with femoral neck-bone mineral apparent density Z-scores (r(2) = 0.34); and 4) lean mass, PYY, GH, and ghrelin with total body-bone mineral content/height Z-scores (r(2) = 0.64), for the combined group. Adiponectin was also independently associated with BMD, and insulin was associated with bone turnover markers in the groups considered separately. CONCLUSIONS Adiponectin contributes significantly to the variability of bone density, and insulin contributes to bone turnover markers in adolescent girls.