Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Paradoxes of functional neurosurgery: Clues from basal ganglia recordings

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) can be remarkably effective in treating movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, dystonia, and essential tremor. Yet these effects remain essentially unexplained, even paradoxical. Equally challenging is the fact that DBS of motor targets in the basal ganglia appears to reverse abnormalities of movement without any obvious deleterious effects on remaining aspects of movement. Here, we explore the extent to which the noisy signal hypothesis might help solve some of these apparent paradoxes. Essentially the hypothesis, first tentatively advanced by Marsden and Obeso (1994), suggests that disease leads to a pattern of basal ganglia activity that disrupts local and distant function and that surgery acts to suppress or override this noisy signal. Critical to the success this theory is that different disease phenotypes are associated with different patterns of noisy signal, and we survey the evidence to support this contention, with specific emphasis on different types of pathological synchronization. However, just as DBS may suppress or override noisy signals in the basal ganglia, it must equally antagonize any remaining physiological functioning in these key motor structures. We argue that the latter effect of DBS becomes manifest when baseline motor performance is relatively preserved, i.e., when pathological activity is limited. Under these circumstances, the deleterious effects of DBS are no longer obscured by its therapeutic actions in suppressing noisy signals. Whether true, oversimplified or simply incorrect, the noisy signal hypothesis has served to focus attention on the detailed character of basal ganglia discharge and its variation with disease and therapy. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Pharmacokinetics of l-propranolol during repetitive dosing in normal and uranyl nitrate-induced renal failure rats.

The effect of experimental renal failure on the intravenous and oral pharmacokinetics of l-propranolol was studied in rats. Renal failure was induced by a single intravenous injection of uranyl nitrate (5 mg/kg). Pharmacokinetic studies were carried out on the fifth day after injection of the renal toxin (renal failure group) or saline (control group). Serum concentration time course of l-propranolol was characterized after a single intravenous or oral dose as well as after five consecutive doses of the drug given at 3-hr intervals. During repetitive intravenous drug administration, steady state was reached by the second dose, i.e., within 6 hr after initiation of repetitive dosing. No significant difference in the serum concentration time course of l-propranolol was observed between control and renal failure animals. In both groups the AUC over the steady-state dosing interval was on the average 21-27% higher than the AUC after a single dose, indicating a slight decrease in the systemic clearance of l-propranolol during repetitive intravenous drug administration. An approximately two- to three-fold higher serum l-propranolol concentration was observed in renal failure animals as compared to the normal controls after both single or repetitive oral dosing. The apparent reduction in oral clearance probably reflected an inhibition of the hepatic first-pass metabolism of l-propranolol in the renal failure rat. An unexpectedly high and protracted accumulation of serum l-propranolol concentration was observed during repetitive oral drug administration. Continuing accumulation was still evident after the fifth oral dose, i.e., a period of 15 hr or approximately 10 half-lives. The mean AUC over the last dosing interval was 32.0 and 17.8 times higher than the predicted steady-state estimate based on single oral dose data for control and renal failure rats, respectively. The substantial reduction in the oral clearance during repetitive drug administration may be due to an auto-inhibition of l-propranolol metabolism.
Antihyperglycaemic effect of Mangifera indica in rat

The leaves of Mangifera indica are used as an antidiabetic agent in Nigerian folk medicine. To determine whether or not there is a scientific basis for this use, the effect of the aqueous extract of the leaves on blood glucose level was assessed in normoglycaemic, glucose ‐ induced hyperglycaemic and streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetic rats. The aqueous extract given orally (1 g/kg) did not alter the blood glucose levels in either normoglycaemic or STZ‐induced diabetic rats. In glucose ‐ induced hyperglycaemia, however, antidiabetic activity was seen when the extract and glucose were administered simultaneously and also when the extract was given to the rats 60 min before the glucose. The hypoglycaemic effect of the aqueous extract was compared with that of an oral dose of chlorpropamide (200 mg/kg) under the same conditions. The results of this study indicate that the aqueous extract of the leaves of Mangifera indica possess hypoglycaemic activity. This action may be due to an intestinal reduction of the absorption of glucose. However, other different mechanisms of action cannot be excluded. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of two low-dose oral contraceptives on circulating components of the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems.

We studied the effects on plasma levels of coagulation and fibrinolysis factors of two currently used "sub-50" oral contraceptive preparations (OCs), one containing 750 micrograms lynestrenol and 37.5 micrograms ethinyl estradiol (LYN-EE) and the other containing 150 micrograms levonorgestrel and 30 micrograms ethinyl estradiol (LNG-EE), in groups of about 25 women aged 21 +/- 2 years. After 3 months, plasminogen levels increased in the two experimental groups (LYN-EE and LNG-EE), by 40% and 32%, respectively. This change was positively correlated with changes in ceruloplasmin levels, indicating that an estrogenic effect might be involved. Histidine-rich glycoprotein concentration decreased by 26% and 16%, respectively. Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity increased by 260% and 167%; t-PA antigen decreased by 12% and 18%, and t-PA inhibitor activity decreased by 31% and 32%, respectively. In the coagulation system, in both groups factor XII increased by 47% and 34%, respectively. The main inhibitor of factor XII, C1-inactivator, decreased slightly, but this was significant only in the LNG-EE group. The von Willebrand factor antigen fell by 8% and 9%, whereas factor VIII activity did not change. Antithrombin III antigen decreased by 14% in both groups. Factor IX activity increased by 15% and 21%. The difference in hormonal effects of both preparations was reflected by the increases in sex hormone binding globulin (by 130% and 21%) and ceruloplasmin (by 98% and 51%), indicating that LYN-EE had a more estrogenic potency than LNG-EE. In a control group of 25 matched subjects, who were observed simultaneously, we found no significant changes. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A Tunable Silk Hydrogel Device for Studying Limb Regeneration in Adult Xenopus Laevis

In certain amphibian models limb regeneration can be promoted or inhibited by the local wound bed environment. This research introduces a device that can be utilized as an experimental tool to characterize the conditions that promotes limb regeneration in the adult frog (Xenopus laevis) model. In particular, this device was designed to manipulate the local wound environment via a hydrogel insert. Initial characterization of the hydrogel insert revealed that this interaction had a significant influence on mechanical forces to the animal, due to the contraction of the hydrogel. The material and mechanical properties of the hydrogel insert were a factor in the device design in relation to the comfort of the animal and the ability to effectively manipulate the amputation site. The tunable features of the hydrogel were important in determining the pro-regenerative effects in limb regeneration, which was measured by cartilage spike formation and quantified by micro-computed tomography. The hydrogel insert was a factor in the observed morphological outcomes following amputation. Future work will focus on characterizing and optimizing the device’s observed capability to manipulate biological pathways that are essential for limb regeneration. However, the present work provides a framework for the role of a hydrogel in the device and a path forward for more systematic studies.
Diagnosis of portal vein thrombosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: efficacy of color Doppler sonography compared with angiography.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of color Doppler sonography in the diagnosis of portal vein thrombosis in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma. The findings on angiography were used as the gold standard for diagnosis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We compared the findings on color Doppler sonograms and hepatic angiograms in 18 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein thrombosis and in 22 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma without portal vein thrombosis. In most patients, tumor-related thrombus of the portal vein was confirmed by autopsy or surgery. The sonographic criteria for diagnosing portal vein thrombosis included nonvisualization of portal vein flow, pulsatile flow in the thrombus, arterioportal shunts, and cavernous transformation of the portal vein. RESULTS Nonvisualization of portal vein flow was the predominant color Doppler finding in all patients with portal vein thrombosis. Other flow abnormalities overlapped the finding of nonvisualization of portal vein flow in 10 of 18 patients with portal vein thrombosis. The sensitivity of color Doppler sonography was 100% for nonvisualization of portal vein flow, 89% for detection of pulsatile flow in the thrombus, 60% for detection of arterioportal shunts, and 100% for detection of cavernous transformation. Among these findings, pulsatile flow in the thrombus was diagnostic for pathologically proved neoplastic thrombi in the main portal vein; sensitivity and specificity were 89% and 100%, respectively, and accuracy was 96%. No portal vein that appeared normal on color Doppler sonograms was thrombosed on arteriograms. CONCLUSION We conclude that color Doppler sonography is a useful means of imaging the vascular extension of a tumor-based thrombus and an accurate means of screening for portal vein thrombosis.
THE SYNTACTICAL CHANGE FROM INFLECTIONAL TO WORD ORDER SYSTEM AND SOME EFFECTS OF THIS CHANGE ON THE RELATION ‘VERB/OBJECT’ IN ENGLISH. A DIACHRONIC-SYNCHRONIC INTERPRETATION

From most inflected languages we know that only those verbs which take an Accusative object can form a personal Passive. This seems to be a general rule though in Old Greek also non-Accusative objects can be made the subject of a Passive sentence). In the Low German (and the High German spoken by people who, ae a rule, speak Low German) of my hörne town (Krefeld), there is no distinction between Dative and Accusative, or rather, there is only one objective case. So verbs which in High German govern the Dative (e.g. helfen, kündigen = 'help', 'give notice') come to be constructed with the objective case in Low German. In the Passive, accordingly, we have personal constructions: ich werde geholfen, er ist gekündigt worden. This is exactly the Situation of Early Middle
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Is a Key Mediator in the Development of T Cell Priming and Its Polarization to Type 1 and Type 17 T Helper Cells in the Airways1

Chronic inflammatory airway diseases including asthma are characterized by immune dysfunction to inhaled allergens. Our previous studies demonstrated that T cell priming to inhaled allergens requires LPS, which is ubiquitously present in household dust allergens. In this study, we evaluated the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the development of T cell priming and its polarization to Th1 or Th17 cells when exposed to LPS-contaminated allergens. An asthma mouse model was induced by airway sensitization with LPS-contaminated allergens and then challenged with allergens alone. Therapeutic intervention was performed during allergen sensitization. The present study showed that lung inflammation induced by sensitization with LPS-contaminated allergens was decreased in mice with homozygous disruption of the IL-17 gene; in addition, allergen-specific Th17 immune response was abolished in IL-6 knockout mice. Meanwhile, in vivo production of VEGF was up-regulated by airway exposure of LPS. In addition, airway sensitization of allergen plus recombinant VEGF induced both type 1 and type 17 Th cell (Th1 and Th17) responses. Th1 and Th17 responses induced by airway sensitization with LPS-contaminated allergens were blocked by treatment with a pan-VEGF receptor (VEGFR; VEGFR-1 plus VEGFR-2) inhibitor during sensitization. These effects were accompanied by inhibition of the production of Th1 and Th17 polarizing cytokines, IL-12p70 and IL-6, respectively. These findings indicate that VEGF produced by LPS plays a key role in activation of naive T cells and subsequent polarization to Th1 and Th17 cells.
Compressive Statistical Learning with Random Feature Moments

We describe a general framework --compressive statistical learning-- for resource-efficient large-scale learning: the training collection is compressed in one pass into a low-dimensional sketch (a vector of random empirical generalized moments) that captures the information relevant to the considered learning task. A near-minimizer of the risk is computed from the sketch through the solution of a nonlinear least squares problem. We investigate sufficient sketch sizes to control the generalization error of this procedure. The framework is illustrated on compressive PCA, compressive clustering, and compressive Gaussian mixture Modeling with fixed known variance. The latter two are further developed in a companion paper.
Measurements of the capillary trapping of super‐critical carbon dioxide in Berea sandstone

We measure primary drainage capillary pressure and the relationship between initial and residual non‐wetting phase saturation for a supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2)‐brine system in Berea sandstone. We use the semi‐permeable disk (porous‐plate) coreflood method. Brine and CO2 were equilibrated prior to injection to ensure immiscible displacement. A maximum CO2 saturation of 85% was measured for an applied capillary pressure of 296 kPa. After injection of brine the CO2 saturation dropped to 35%; this is less than the maximum trapped saturation of 48% measured in an equivalent n‐decane (oil)‐brine experiment. The dimensionless capillary pressure is the same to within experimental error for supercritical CO2‐brine, n‐decane‐brine and a mercury‐air system. CO2 is the non‐wetting phase and significant quantities can be trapped by capillary forces. We discuss the implications for CO2 storage.
Bookisheet: bendable device for browsing content using the metaphor of leafing through the pages

We have developed an interface for browsing content that uses the metaphor of turning the pages of a book. Using our "Bookisheet" interface, which consists of two thin plastic sheets and bend sensors, a user can easily scroll digital content such as photos by bending one side of the sheet or the other. This action provides the tangible and pleasant sense of turning pages in a book. Bookisheet can be used not only as an interface for conventional information terminals but also as one for flexible displays.
Neurotransmifter Properties of the Newborn Humon Retina

Human retinal tissue from a newborn was examined autoradiographically for the presence of highaffinity uptake and localization of the following putative neurotransmitters: dopamine, glycine, GAB A, aspartate, and glutamate. In addition, the dopamine content of this newborn retina was measured by high pressure liquid chromatography. Our study reveals that specific uptake mechanisms for Hglycine, H-dopamine, and H-GABA are present at birth. However, the number and distribution of cells labeled with each of these H-transmitters are not identical to those observed in adult human retinas. Furthermore, the amount of endogenous dopamine in the newborn retina is approximately V20 the adult level. Photoreceptor-specific uptake of H-glutamate and H-aspartate are not observed. These findings indicate that, while some neurotransmitter-specific properties are present at birth, significant maturation of neurotransmitter systems occurs postnatally. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 24:893-897, 1983
Metastatic Gestational Trophoblastic Disease: Prognostic Factors in Previously Untreated Patients

From 1966-1982, 138 previously untreated patients with metastatic malignant gestational trophoblastic disease received primary chemotherapy at the Southeastern Regional Trophoblastic Disease Center. Fifty-six (41%) had poorprognosis metastatic gestational trophoblastic disease, and 51 (91%) of these patients were initially treated with multiagent chemotherapy. Sustained remissions were achieved in 128 patients (93%). Patients who had metastatic involvement of more than one anatomic site, disease duration of greater than four months, antecedent nonmolar pregnancy, or dinicopathologic diagnosis of choriocarcinoma were at significantly increased risk for failure to achieve sustained remission compared with patients who lacked these clinical features. Initial human chorionic gonadotropin level and site of metastasis had no significant effect on survival in these previously untreated patients. Patients with disease duration of greater than four months who. had an antecedent nonmolar pregnancy were at significantly increased risk, with only 12 of 20 (60%) surviving, versus all of 85 patients with short duration of disease and antecedent molar pregnancy, and 32 (94%) of 34 patients with other combinations of these factors (P<.001). Initial therapy for patients with metastatic gestational trophoblastic disease should be selected on the basis of prognostic factors that predict a high probability of failure with single-agent chemotherapy alone. Patients with prolonged duration of disease and nonmolar antecedent gestation are at high risk for failure using traditional forms of methotrexate and actinomycin D-based combination chemotherapy.
Comparing health promotion behaviors of male and female high school students in Southeast of Iran

Abstract Background Adolescence is one of the most challenging periods of human life. Many healthy or risky behaviors may be formed during this period and continue to the end of life. The aim of this study was to examine and compare the health promotion behaviors of male and female students in high schools. Methods In this descriptive-comparative study, 609 high school students were selected using multi-stage random sampling method. Data were collected using demographic and health-promoting lifestyle profile (HPLPII) questionnaires. Results The mean of health promotion behaviors was moderate in female (2.43 ± 0.46) and male (2.61 ± 0.45) students. The highest and lowest means in the male students were respectively the dimensions of spiritual growth and health responsibility. Also, the highest and lowest means in the female students were dimensions of interpersonal relationships as well as physical activity and exercise. The status of male health promotion behaviors was significantly more favorable than that of the female (p = 0.001, t = −4.71). The male students had a better situation than female in terms of all the six dimensions of HPLPII, so there was a significant difference between them in the four dimensions of spiritual growth, stress management, physical activity and health responsibility. There was also a significant relationship between the history of physical and mental illness in the past year and the students’ health promotion behaviors (p < 0.05). Conclusion The results indicated the importance of promoting self-care and educational interventions in the aspects such as physical activity and health responsibility of young people in order to improve the health of the community.
Modulation of Dopamine Transporter Activity by Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors and Membrane Depolarization in Rat Pheochromocytoma PC12 Cells

Abstract: To elucidate the regulation of the rat dopamine transporter (rDAT), we established several PC12 variants overexpressing the rDAT. Treating these cells with a nicotinic agonist (1,1‐dimethyl‐4‐phenylpiperazinium iodide, 30 μM) depolarized the plasma membrane potential from ‐31 ± 2 to 43 ± 5 mV and inhibited rDAT activity significantly in a calcium‐ and protein kinase C‐independent manner. Membrane depolarization by a high external K+ concentration or two K+ channel blockers (tetraethylammonium hydroxide and BaCl2) also resulted in a marked inhibition of rDAT activity. Such inhibition of dopamine uptake is due to a reduction in Vmax, with no marked effect on the Km for dopamine. The potency of cocaine in inhibiting dopamine uptake was not significantly altered, whereas that of amphetamine was slightly enhanced by membrane depolarization. Removing extracellular Ca2+ or blocking the voltage‐sensitive L‐type calcium channels using nifedipine did not exert any significant effect on the inhibition of rDAT activity by depolarization. These data confirm that calcium influx on depolarization is not required for inhibition of the rDAT. Collectively, our data suggest that rDAT activity can be altered by a neurotransmitter that modulates the membrane potential, thus suggesting an exquisite mechanism for the fine‐tuning of dopamine levels in the synapse.
Capacity building and stroke risk assessment in Nigerian children with sickle cell anaemia

Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) measures blood flow velocities in the large cerebral vessels and thus, detects the risk of stroke. This report describes a capacity building program which enabled the use of TCD for detecting stroke risk and also describes the pattern of non‐imaging TCD examinations seen in Nigerian children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA).
Elasticities of Business Investment in the U.S. and Their Policy Implications: A Disaggregate Approach to Modeling and Estimation

Using data from the U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis for the period 1947-2015, we estimate investment equations for three types of fixed assets and three policy instruments. In particular, we disaggregate investment into structures, equipment and intangibles, and the policy instruments into the rates of replacement, interest and taxes. Additionally, we estimate an equation for total investment. At the aggregate level the long run elasticities of investment with respect to output and the user cost are found to vary narrowly around 0.83; the direct elasticities of investment with respect to the rates of replacement, interest and taxation are 0.91, -0.04 and -0.23, whereas the indirect and inversely additive ones through the user cost are -0.11, -0.05 and -0.27, respectively. To highlight the significance of these findings, we investigate their implications for economic growth by focusing on four policy channels, i.e. aggregate demand, relative prices, and monetary and fiscal policies. We conclude that mone-tary policy may be weak to stimulate investment, and even fall into the trap of the law of un-intended consequences by slowing replacement investment down, since the average age of capital is related negatively to the discount rate. On the contrary fiscal policy is relatively more potent as a 10% reduction in the expected effective tax rate is found to boost investment directly and indirectly by as much as. In general, first best policies would aim at increasing the replacement rate, particularly of intangibles and equipment in the same order.