Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of Resting-State Network on Lateralization of Functional Connectivity in Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although most studies on epilepsy have focused on the epileptogenic zone, epilepsy is a system-level disease characterized by aberrant neuronal synchronization among groups of neurons. Increasingly, studies have indicated that mesial temporal lobe epilepsy may be a network-level disease; however, few investigations have examined resting-state functional connectivity of the entire brain, particularly in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and hippocampal sclerosis. This study primarily investigated whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity abnormality in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and right hippocampal sclerosis during the interictal period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated resting-state functional connectivity of 21 patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with right hippocampal sclerosis and 21 neurologically healthy controls. A multivariate pattern analysis was used to identify the functional connections that most clearly differentiated patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with right hippocampal sclerosis from controls. RESULTS: Discriminative analysis of functional connections indicated that the patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with right hippocampal sclerosis exhibited decreased resting-state functional connectivity within the right hemisphere and increased resting-state functional connectivity within the left hemisphere. Resting-state network analysis suggested that the internetwork connections typically obey the hemispheric lateralization trend and most of the functional connections that disturb the lateralization trend are the intranetwork ones. CONCLUSIONS: The current findings suggest that weakening of the resting-state functional connectivity associated with the right hemisphere appears to strengthen resting-state functional connectivity on the contralateral side, which may be related to the seizure-induced damage and underlying compensatory mechanisms. Resting-state network–based analysis indicated that the compensatory mechanism among different resting-state networks may disturb the hemispheric lateralization.
Invasive diagnostic procedures for pulmonary infiltrates in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients

Abstract: To evaluate the role of BAL, CTB, and OLB in the management of pulmonary infiltrates in pediatric HSCT recipients, we conducted a retrospective review of clinical records of pediatric HSCT recipients. Data were analyzed using Chi‐square for dichotomous and anova for continuous variables. Logistic regression was used to adjust confounding variables for diagnostic yield. Forty patients underwent 44 separate procedures. Infections were the prevailing cause of infiltrates with a positive diagnostic yield (96%). CTB and OLB were performed more often in patients with focal infiltrates compared with BAL (100%, 71% vs. 22%; p < 0.01). Adverse events were not significantly different across the three procedures. OLB more often yielded information that led to change in medical management (71% vs. 0%, 34%; p < 0.05) compared with CTB and BAL. Patients who had a positive diagnostic yield had no apparent survival advantage when compared with those in whom a procedure yielded no information. Logistic regression demonstrated that focal infiltrate was the only independently predictive variable for identifying a cause of pulmonary infiltrate. In conclusion, all three invasive diagnostic procedures were safe. Having a focal infiltrate was independently and significantly associated with having a positive diagnostic yield.
Proteolytic processing of connective tissue growth factor in normal ocular tissues and during corneal wound healing.

PURPOSE Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a fibrogenic cytokine that is up-regulated by TGF-β and mediates most key fibrotic actions of TGF-β, including stimulation of synthesis of extracellular matrix and differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. This study addresses the role of proteolytic processing of CTGF in human corneal fibroblasts (HCF) stimulated with TGF-β, normal ocular tissues and wounded corneas. METHODS Proteolytic processing of CTGF in HCF cultures, normal animal eyes, and excimer laser wounded rat corneas were examined by Western blot. The identity of a 21-kDa band was determined by tandem mass spectrometry, and possible alternative splice variants of CTGF were assessed by 5' Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE). RESULTS HCF stimulated by TGF-β contained full length 38-kDa CTGF and fragments of 25, 21, 18, and 13 kDa, while conditioned medium contained full length 38- and a 21-kDa fragment of CTGF that contained the middle "hinge" region of CTGF. Fragmentation of recombinant CTGF incubated in HCF extracts was blocked by the aspartate protease inhibitor, pepstatin. Normal mouse, rat, and rabbit whole eyes and rabbit ocular tissues contained abundant amounts of C-terminal 25- and 21-kDa fragments and trace amounts of 38-kDa CTGF, although no alternative transcripts were detected. All forms of CTGF (38, 25, and 21 kDa) were detected during healing of excimer ablated rat corneas, peaking on day 11. CONCLUSIONS Proteolytic processing of 38-kDa CTGF occurs during corneal wound healing, which may have important implications in regulation of corneal scar formation.
The complete mitochondrial genome of the Culter recurviceps (Teleostei, Cyprinidae)

Abstract We present the complete mitochondrial genome of the Culter recurviceps in this study. The mitochondrial genome is 16,622 bp long and consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and a control region. The gene order and composition of C. recurviceps mitochondrial genome was similar to that of most other vertebrates. The nucleotide compositions of the light strand are 31.36% of A, 24.77% of T, 27.77% of C and 16.09% of G. With the exception of ND6 and eight tRNA genes, all other mitochondrial genes are encoded on the heavy strand. Two copies of tandem repeat sequence (24 bp) was observed in the end of the 123 bp in control region.
Can Information Technology Bridge Knowledge Distance in Organizational Open Innovation? An Absorptive Capacity Perspective

Nowadays there is an increasing trend of leveraging on external knowledge for innovation, which is termed as open innovation. While open innovation can help organizations obtain complementary knowledge from collaborators, it is likely to have inherent challenges in knowledge absorption. The differences of interorganizational knowledge can seriously inhibit the ability of the focal organization to innovate via external knowledge. While the concept of open innovation has attracted significant attention, there remains a paucity of research on how information technology (IT) can address the knowledge absorption challenges. Drawing on absorptive capacity and organizational learning literature, this study examines the effects of interorganizational knowledge distance on organizational open innovation performance and different influential roles of four IT-enabled knowledge capabilities. Our study contributes to existing research by focusing on the interplay of knowledge distance and IT-enabled knowledge capabilities. Results of the study will also have important managerial implications for open innovation practitioners.
Predominant immature CD8α+ dendritic cells prevent graft‐vs.‐host disease but do not increase the risk of leukemia recurrence

Graft‐vs.‐host disease (GVHD) remains the major limitation of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and stem cell transplantation, and leukemia recurrence is another important complication in leukemia treatment. Immature CD8α+ dendritic cells (DC) have good potential in GVHD treatment and immunological tolerance studies. To find a new way to prevent GVHD, not increasing the risk of leukemia recurrence, in this study, predominant CD8α+ immature DC were induced from murine bone marrow (BM) cells by 5 ng/mL granulocyte‐macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) plus 20‐ng/mL interleukin (IL)‐4, 100‐ng/mL stem cell factor (SCF) and 25‐ng/mL Flt3L, and 97.09 of prepared DC were CD8α+ on day 3. These DC were identified as morphologically and phenotypically immature CD8α+ DC. The suppressive function was observed in vitro, and then in vivo on allo‐BMT leukemia model. The prepared predominant immature CD8α+ DC were weak syngeneic lymphocyte stimulators and could suppress mixed leukocyte reaction in vitro. In vivo, they prevented the pathological changes of GVHD and prolonged the surviving time of allo‐BMT leukemia mice. The effect showed a dose–effect relationship. 86.7% of allo‐BMT plus 1 million predominant CD8α+ DC leukemia mice reached long‐term survival. Although predominant immature CD8α+ DC had the function of GVHD suppression, they did not increase leukemia recurrence. The method and findings may have important potency for GVHD treatment in clinical application.
Vessel- and Vasoconstrictor-Dependent Role of Rho/Rho-Kinase in Renal Microvascular Tone

We examined the role of Rho/Rho-kinase in renal afferent and efferent arteriolar tone induced by angiotensin (Ang) II, KCl and elevated renal arterial pressure (from 80 to 180 mm Hg), using isolated perfused rat hydronephrotic kidney. In the condition with no vasoconstrictor stimuli, Y-27632, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, dilated only afferent (from 11.6 ± 0.4 to 14.1 ± 0.5 µm) but not efferent arterioles (from 11.6 ± 0.2 to 12.6 ± 0.7 µm) at 10–5 mol/l. During renal vasoconstriction by Ang II, Y-27632 restored the afferent arteriolar constriction (141 ± 10% reversal at 10–5 mol/l), whereas the ability of Y-27632 to inhibit the Ang II-induced efferent arteriolar constriction was diminished (73 ± 7% reversal). A similar action was observed with fasudil, another Rho-kinase inhibitor. Furthermore, Y-27632 impaired myogenic afferent arteriolar constriction, with 117 ± 17% inhibition at 10–5 mol/l. The inhibition by Y-27632 of the myogenic vasoconstriction was almost the same as that of the Ang II-induced tone of this vessel type. However, Y-27632 had a modest effect on KCl-induced vasoconstriction of afferent arterioles. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates a predominant role of Rho/Rho-kinase in mediating the basal and Ang II-induced tone of afferent, but not efferent, arterioles. Furthermore, the role of Rho/Rho-kinase in afferent arteriolar constriction differs, with a substantial contribution to Ang II-induced and myogenic constriction but a minimal role in depolarization-induced constriction. Since Ang II-induced, KCl-induced and myogenic constriction of afferent arterioles require calcium entry through voltage-dependent calcium channels, the interaction between Rho/Rho-kinase and the calcium entry pathway may determine the afferent arteriolar tone induced by these stimuli.
Social isolation of older people: the role of domestic technologies

This paper explores the role of domestic technologies for addressing social isolation of older people. Despite the increasing use of information and communication technologies, social isolation remains an issue amongst older people. Assistive technologies address important health needs, but there is a lack of social technologies that adequately deal with social isolation. This paper contributes to knowledge about the everyday life of older people for the purpose of designing appropriate social technology. We present an overview of the findings of a three-stage study---an expert survey, a field study and a design workshop---and describe a set of needs to inform the design of technology for ameliorating the social isolation of older people.
NADH/NADPH oxidase p22 phox C242T polymorphism and lipid peroxidation in coronary artery disease.

The nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase system is a major source of superoxide anion (.O2-) production in the human vasculature and may therefore influence lipid peroxidation and severity of atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate a hypothetical influence of the p22 phox C242T polymorphism on the generation of malondialdehyde (MDA), extent and clinical onset of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients. We studied 108 male Caucasians with angiographically documented CAD and 45 controls free of vascular disease under 60 years of age. p22 phox C242T genotypes and MDA levels were determined. Additional information was obtained from each subject on classic risk factors and clinical events of CAD. Genotype distribution in CAD-patients and controls was thymine-thymine (TT): 13.8% (13.3%), cytosine-thymine (CT): 46.3% (53.3%) and cytosine-cytosine (CC): 39.8% (33.3%), respectively. No significant influence was seen of the p22 phox C242T polymorphism on corresponding mean MDA levels in both groups. Furthermore, age at onset of first time angina pectoris (AP) and myocardial infarction (MCI) was not significantly different between genotype groups. It is concluded that the C242T polymorphism of the p22 phox gene is not associated with lipid peroxidation as measured by MDA, and is not a genetic risk marker for CAD Caucasians.
Measurements of high-frequency shallow-water acoustic phase fluctuations

A shallow-water high-frequency (HF) acoustic propagation experiment was conducted just off shore in Panama City, FL. Several broad-band high-resolution sources and receivers were mounted on stable platforms and deployed in water depths of 8-10 m. Signals covering the frequency range from 20 to 200 kHz were transmitted from the sources to two spatially separated receivers. The data were analyzed to provide estimates of the signal phase variances as a function of frequency and source-to-receiver range. These phase variabilities are correlated with small-scale water column thermal variabilities and ocean swell conditions.
Modeling and Explaining the Dynamics of European Union Allowance Prices at High-Frequency

In this paper we model the adjustment process of European Union Allowance (EUA) prices to the releases of announcements at high-frequency controlling for intraday periodicity, volatility clustering and volatility persistence. We find that the high-frequency EUA price dynamics are very well captured by a fractionally integrated asymmetric power GARCH process. The decisions of the European Commission on second National Allocation Plans have a strong and immediate impact on EUA prices. On the other hand, our results suggest that EUA prices are only weakly connected to indicators about the future economic development as well as the current economic activity.
Blind Feedforward Frequency Estimation for OFDM Signals Transmitted over Multipath Fading Channels

In this paper a novel feedforward frequency synchronizer for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals transmitted over multipath fading channels is described. Its derivation is based on maximum likelihood (ML) estimation techniques and assumes an approximate statistical knowledge of the communication channel. The performance of the proposed algorithm is assessed by computer simulations and is compared with that provided by other synchronizers and with Cramer-Rao bounds.
Human Nutrition and Metabolism Consumption of Watermelon Juice Increases Plasma Concentrations of Lycopene and-Carotene in Humans 1 , 2

Watermelon is a rich natural source of lycopene, a carotenoid of great interest because of its antioxidant capacity and potential health benefits. Assessment of bioavailability of lycopene from foods has been limited to tomato products, in which heat processing promotes lycopene bioavailability. We examined the bioavailability of lycopene from fresh-frozen watermelon juice in a 19-wk crossover study. Healthy, nonsmoking adults (36–69 y) completed three 3-wk treatment periods, each with a controlled, weight-maintenance diet. Treatment periods were preceded by “washout” periods of 2–4 wk during which lycopene-rich foods were restricted. All 23 subjects consumed the W-20 (20.1 mg/d lycopene, 2.5 mg/d -carotene from watermelon juice) and C-0 treatments (controlled diet, no juice). As a third treatment, subjects consumed either the W-40 (40.2 mg/d lycopene, 5.0 mg/d -carotene from watermelon juice, n 12) or T-20 treatment (18.4 mg/d lycopene, 0.6 mg/d -carotene from tomato juice, n 10). After 3 wk of treatment, plasma lycopene concentrations for the W-20, W-40, T-20 and C-0 treatments were (least squares means SEM) 1078 106, 1183 139, 960 117 and 272 27 nmol/L, respectively. Plasma concentrations of -carotene were significantly greater after W-20 (574 49 nmol/L) and W-40 (694 73 nmol/L) treatments than after the C-0 treatment (313 27 nmol/L). Plasma lycopene concentrations did not differ at wk 3 after W-20, W-40 and T-20 treatments, indicating that lycopene was bioavailable from both fresh-frozen watermelon juice and canned tomato juice, and that a dose–response effect was not apparent in plasma when the watermelon dose was doubled. J. Nutr. 133: 1043–1050, 2003.
Learning to Deal Constructively With Troubled Conscience Related to Care Providers’ Perceptions of Not Providing Sufficient Activities for Residents

The aim of this study was to illuminate an intervention process to assist care providers in municipal care of older people to constructively deal with their troubled conscience generated from their perceived shortcomings about not providing sufficient activities for residents. The study design was grounded in participatory action research. Twelve care providers and their manager participated in intervention sessions. Content analysis was used to analyze the transcriptions. By sharing their experiences with each other, care providers became aware of, and confirmed in one another, what types of activities were meaningful for residents and actions were taken to provide such activities. The importance of being attentive and relying on residents’ responses, that is, providing person-centered activities, was found to be satisfying to residents and eased the care providers’ troubled conscience. An enlightened conscience can be an important asset, which may prevent ill-health and improve quality of care.
Diseases and causes of death among camelids in Sweden

Camelids, especially alpacas, have increased in popularity during the last decade, with the result that they are more frequently encountered by field practicing veterinarians and pathologists. Knowledge regarding their health care and their diseases under Swedish conditions is, however, limited. This became clear in a postal survey among Swedish alpaca owners conducted in 2008. To improve knowledge about camelids in Sweden, this study has examined 107 necropsies, including 93 alpacas and 14 camels, conducted at the National Veterinary Institute (SVA) in Uppsala and at Eurofins in Kristianstad and Skara during the period 2001-2013. The study has shown that camelids in Sweden suffer from diseases similar to those previously reported in other countries in Europe and North America. The digestive tract was the most common organ system affected, with parasitic gastroenteritis and liver disease being especially prevalent. Perinatal deaths were also common, especially in alpacas where abortions and neonatal septicaemia were common causes. One interesting group of animals identified in the study was weaning alpacas of which the majority had died from emaciation during late winter or early spring. For adult alpacas and camels, causes of death were almost equally divided between medical and infectious causes. Many of the diseases were considered acute by the owners and veterinarians but were later shown to be chronic conditions that had become acute. This study has revealed similarities with camelid populations in other European countries as well as in North America regarding diseases but it has also identified some areas of concern regarding mainly diagnostic and pathological procedures for which specific applications have been listed.
Ultrastructural evidence for extravascular platelet recruitment in the lung upon intravenous injection of platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether) to guinea-pigs.

Bronchoconstriction and degenerative lesions of the bronchial epithelium were observed microscopically 1 min after the i.v. injection of 100 ng/kg of platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether) to the anaesthesized guinea-pig. Constricted arterioles containing marginated polymorphonuclear neutrophils and platelet aggregates were seen, as well as alveolar capillaries obstructed by thrombi formed by partially or totally degranulated platelets. Three minutes after the injection of PAF-acether, platelet diapedesis to the alveolar septa and lumen was clearly observed. Bronchoconstriction was still present at 3 min, but subsided after 60 min, whereas oedema of the submucosa persisted accompanied by an infiltration of eosinophils and neutrophils. The infusion of prostacyclin prevented the formation of platelet aggregates and platelet diapedesis due to PAF-acether, but the morphological evidence of bronchial constriction was not modified. Aspirin failed completely to modify the effects of PAF-acether. Our results show that PAF-acether causes early formation and deposition of platelet aggregates, accompanied by the margination of polymorphonuclear neutrophil leucocytes in pulmonary vessels of the guinea-pig. Since bronchoconstriction persisted when platelet aggregation was inhibited with prostacyclin, aggregation by itself would not account for this effect. Early platelet diapedesis in the vicinity of bronchial smooth muscle corroborates previous evidence that platelets contain and release bronchoconstrictor substances, which operate by cyclo-oxygenase-independent mechanisms and are possibly involved with the physiopathology of lung inflammation during immediate hypersensitivity.
Nurses Working Outside of Nursing

The phenomenon of career inactivity in professional nursing has been historically portrayed in the literature as a major cause of disequilibrium in the registered nurse labor market. However, there remains a general lack of understanding of the diverse forces that shape the inactive nurse pool and the likelihood that this population will return to nursing. The purpose of this study was to examine the population of registered nurses who are active in the labor market but work in nonnursing employment. Specifically, this study sought to determine the relative importance of nonworkplace- and workplace-related reasons for working outside of nursing. The results demonstrate that dissatisfaction with the nursing workplace is the key reason cited by actively licensed nurses for working outside of nursing employment. These findings suggest that policy and employer remedies are needed to improve the nursing workplace.
Modelling and control of a travelling wave in a finite beam, using multi-modal approach and vector control method

This paper presents a new method to produce and control the vibration amplitude and direction of a travelling wave in a finite beam, using multi-modal approach. A closed loop control of the transducer vibration is applied using vector control method. the modelling in rotating frame and the decoupling according to two-axis allows to obtain a double independent closed loop control. This allows to regulate the vibration amplitude of the travelling wave directly. An analytical modelling is presented, with experimental validation, showing good performances even in the presence of perturbations.