Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cortico‐basal ganglia pathways are essential for the recall of well–established visuomotor associations

Recent human neuroimaging studies, supported by lesion studies with nonhuman primates, have suggested that learning arbitrary associations between sensory cues and behavioural responses requires interactions between the infero‐temporal, prefrontal and premotor cortices. We directly tested the hypothesis suggested from our neuroimaging experiments that functional links between the basal ganglia and premotor cortex are involved in the process via which task performance becomes automatic. We made unilateral excitotoxic lesions, centred on the internal pallidum, in four macaques previously given extensive experience on the associations between nonspatial visual cues and movements of a joystick. The basal ganglia lesion was later combined with a premotor cortical lesion in the opposite hemisphere so as to interrupt the connections between them. Three of the animals were subsequently found to be impaired in relearning pre‐operatively acquired associations; they eventually succeeded but made three‐times as many errors. A fourth animal was unimpaired but its premotor cortex lesion was later found to be incomplete. Response times were only marginally increased and the learning of novel associations appeared relatively unaffected by these lesions. As a control, the effects of a unilateral premotor cortex lesion were assessed with two additional animals but this lesion did not result in a relearning impairment. We therefore suggest that when visuomotor associations have become well established through over‐training, performance depends on connections between the basal ganglia and premotor cortex.
Multi-objective optimisation using sharing in swarm optimisation algorithms

Many problems in the real world are multi-objective by nature, this means that many times there is the need to satisfy a problem with more than one goal in mind. These type of problems have been studied by economists, mathematicians, between many more, and recently computer scientists. Computer scientists have been developing novel methods to solve this type of problems with the help of evolutionary computation. Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) is a relatively new heuristic that shares some similarities with evolutionary computation techniques, and that recently has been successfully modified to solve multi-objective optimisation problems. In this thesis we first review some of the most relevant work done in the area of PSO and multi-objective optimisation, and then we proceed to develop an heuristic capable to solve this type of problems. An heuristic, which probes to be very competitive when tested over synthetic benchmark functions taken from the specialised literature, and compared against state-of-the-art techniques developed up to this day; we then further extended this heuristic to make it more competitive. Almost at the end of this work we incursion into the area of dynamic multi-objective optimisation, by testing the capabilities and analysing the behaviour of our technique in dynamic environments.
Combinatoric Models of Information Retrieval Ranking Methods and Performance Measures for Weakly-Ordered Document Collections

LEWIS CHURCH: Combinatoric Models of Information Retrieval Ranking Methods and Performance Measures for Weakly-Ordered Document Collections (Under the direction of Robert M. Losee) This dissertation answers three research questions: (1) What are the characteristics of a combinatoric measure, based on the Average Search Length (ASL), that performs the same as a probabilistic version of the ASL? ; (2) Does the combinatoric ASL measure produce the same performance result as the one that is obtained by ranking a collection of documents and calculating the ASL by empirical means? ; and (3) When does the ASL and either the Expected Search Length, MZ-based E, or Mean Reciprocal Rank measure both imply that one document ranking is better than another document ranking? Concepts and techniques from enumerative combinatorics and other branches of mathematics were used in this research to develop combinatoric models and equations for several information retrieval ranking methods and performance measures. Empirical, statistical, and simulation means were used to validate these models and equations. The document cut-off performance measure equation variants that were developed in this dissertation can be used for performance prediction and to help study any vector V of ranked documents, at arbitrary document cut-off points, provided that (1) relevance is binary and (2) the following information can be determined from the ranked output: the document equivalence classes and their relative sequence, the number of documents in each equivalence class, and the number of relevant documents that each class contains. The performance measure equations yielded correct values for both stronglyand weaklyordered document collections.
The platelet activating factor receptor is not required for exacerbation of bacterial pneumonia following influenza

Pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality during influenza virus epidemics. We had previously advanced the hypothesis that interactions of pneumococcus with the receptor for platelet activating factor (PAFR) in the lung were facilitated by antecedent influenza virus infection and play a major role in the pathogenesis of bacterial superinfections. Although influenza enhanced the adherence of pneumococci to respiratory epithelial cells in vitro, chemical or antibody-mediated blockade of the PAFR did not affect adherence. In agreement with these data, mice lacking PAFR had similar bacterial loads within the lung compartment when compared to heterozygous littermates and were not protected from secondary pneumococcal pneumonia after influenza. Lack of support for this hypothesis and the observation of enhanced inflammation during secondary pneumococcal pneumonia in mice lacking PAFR may moderate enthusiasm for treatment strategies targeting the interaction of bacteria with PAFR.
A mixed-integer branching approach for very small formulations of disjunctive constraints

An important problem in optimization is the construction of mixed-integer programming (MIP) formulations of disjunctive constraints that are both strong and small. Motivated by lower bounds on the number of integer variables that are required by traditional MIP formulations, we present a more general mixed-integer branching formulation framework. Our approach maintains favorable algorithmic properties of traditional MIP formulations: in particular, amenability to branch-and-bound and branch-and-cut algorithms. Our main technical result gives an explicit linear inequality description for both traditional MIP and mixed-integer branching formulations for a wide range of disjunctive constraints. The formulations obtained from this description have linear programming relaxations that are as strong as possible and generalize some of the most computationally effective formulations for piecewise linear functions and other disjunctive constraints. We use this result to produce a strong mixed-integer branching formulation for any disjunctive constraint that uses only two integer variables and a linear number of extra constraints. We sharpen this result for univariate piecewise linear functions and annulus constraints arising in power systems and robotics, producing strong mixed-integer branching formulations that use only two integer variables and a constant ($\leq 6$) number of general inequality constraints. Along the way, we produce two strong logarithmic-sized traditional MIP formulations for the annulus constraint using our main technical result, illustrating its broader utility in the traditional MIP setting.
Ultrasound Methods for Lower Rectal Cancer Staging

Accurate staging for low rectal cancer is essential for selecting patients who can undergo sphincter-preserving surgery and identifying those who could benefit from neoadjuvant therapy. In this article we review the literature and report our experience in preoperative locoregional staging of low rectal cancer with ultrasonographic methods. Nearly 30 years after its introduction into clinical practice Endorectal Ultrasound (ERUS) is established as a main diagnostic modality for locoregional staging of colorectal cancer. The accuracy of the method for assessing the tumor invasion (T-stage) varies between 80% to 95%. Endorectal ultrasound is the preferred method for rectal cancer staging in early T1 and T2 lesions. This method is less precise in evaluating lymph nodes (N-stage). A median accuracy of 75% is reported. With endoultrasound – guided fine needle aspiration biopsy the specificity and sensitivity of ERUS for confirming the malignant character of lymph nodes and local recurrence are improved. Three dimensional ERUS has some benefits in comparison to its 2D counterpart. The method allows better estimation of the volume of the tumor and the relation to nearby anatomical structures. In low rectal and anal carcinoma, ERUS and transperineal ultrasound can be used to evaluate the intactness of anal sphincter apparatus. Transvaginal ultrasound can be done as an addition to every ERUS examination in women with rectal cancer. This approach is very useful in cases of rectal stenotic tumors.
Videocapillaroscopic Findings in the Microcirculation of the Psoriatic Plaque

Background: Videocapillaroscopy (VCP) is a method to study the morphology and dynamics of microcirculation, but information about capillaroscopic features of the psoriatic plaque is limited. Objective: To investigate the distribution, morphology and density of capillaries in lesional and perilesional skin of the psoriatic plaque. Methods: VCP of a well-delimited plaque of the trunk, arms or legs in 15 consecutive patients with untreated, chronic plaque psoriasis was performed. Results: In the lesional skin, capillaries were tortuous and dilated, homogeneously appearing as ‘bushy’. In the perilesional skin, capillary loops seemed to be on a parallel course with respect to the skin surface, with their apex directed towards the marginal zone. The number of capillary loops per area unit was statistically increased in perilesional compared to lesional skin. Conclusion: According to the morphology, distribution and density of capillary loops, two different angiogenetic patterns were found in lesional and perilesional skin.
Anticancer Activity of Novel Thiophenes Containing a Biological Active Diphenylsulfone, Diazepin, Piperidine, Oxazepine, Acryladehyde and Sulfonamide Moieties

Abstract A variety of thiophene derivatives bearing diphenylsulfone 3,4, diazepines 5b, 6b, phenylamino 7, piperidine 8, benzylpiperidine 9, oxazepines 10b, 11b, acrylaldehydes 12–14 and benzeonesulfanamide 15 were synthesized. some newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against human tumor breast cancer cell lines. The tested compounds showed moderate to good cytotoxic activity and indeed, some of them were more potent than doxorubicin as a reference drug.
Spectrum and Mechanisms of Inflammasome Activation by Chitosan

Chitosan, the deacetylated derivative of chitin, can be found in the cell wall of some fungi and is used in translational applications. We have shown that highly purified preparations of chitosan, but not chitin, activate the NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in primed mouse bone marrow–derived macrophages (BMMΦ), inducing a robust IL-1β response. In this article, we further define specific cell types that are activated and delineate mechanisms of activation. BMMΦ differentiated to promote a classically activated (M1) phenotype released more IL-1β in response to chitosan than intermediate or alternatively activated macrophages (M2). Chitosan, but not chitin, induced a robust IL-1β response in mouse dendritic cells, peritoneal macrophages, and human PBMCs. Three mechanisms for NLRP3 inflammasome activation may contribute: K+ efflux, reactive oxygen species, and lysosomal destabilization. The contributions of these mechanisms were tested using a K+ efflux inhibitor, high extracellular potassium, a mitochondrial reactive oxygen species inhibitor, lysosomal acidification inhibitors, and a cathepsin B inhibitor. These studies revealed that each of these pathways participated in optimal NLRP3 inflammasome activation by chitosan. Finally, neither chitosan nor chitin stimulated significant release from unprimed BMMΦ of any of 22 cytokines and chemokines assayed. This study has the following conclusions: 1) chitosan, but not chitin, stimulates IL-1β release from multiple murine and human cell types; 2) multiple nonredundant mechanisms appear to participate in inflammasome activation by chitosan; and 3) chitin and chitosan are relatively weak stimulators of inflammatory mediators from unprimed BMMΦ. These data have implications for understanding the nature of the immune response to microbes and biomaterials that contain chitin and chitosan.
HIV-1 subtypes in Luxembourg, 1983–2000

Objectives: To study the prevalence of HIV-1 subtypes in Luxembourg between 1983 and 2000. To compare the drug susceptibility of non-B and B clade viruses and the prevalence of resistance-associated mutations and polymorphisms before antiretroviral treatment. Design: A retrospective study on plasma samples of HIV-infected patients registered at the National Service of Infectious Diseases, Luxembourg, between 1983 and 2000. Methods: Genotyping was performed by sequencing of the reverse transcriptase (RT) and protease coding region of the pol gene. Drug susceptibility was assessed in a recombinant virus assay. Results: A total of 20.1% of the HIV-positive patients were infected with non-B subtypes, and since 1990 the proportion of non-B viruses has increased ninefold. Eleven out of 14 F1 subtypes occurred in patients native to Luxembourg. Major resistance mutations related to protease inhibitors (PI), nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) occurred in less than 3% of treatment-naive viruses; however, 87% of the viruses had at least one PI-associated mutation. Natural polymorphism of the protease and RT coding region was observed more frequently among non-B than B viruses. Significantly more B viruses displayed resistance to the tested PI, NRTI and NNRTI (P = 0.044). Conclusion: The proportion of non-B viruses has increased dramatically since 1990. Non-B subtypes showed no decreased susceptibility to antiretroviral drugs, but displayed minor mutations and polymorphisms at higher frequency in their protease and RT coding region. In contrast, a significantly higher proportion of B viruses showed resistance to a range of antiretroviral drugs.
An Appraisal of Sexual Behaviors, STI/HIV Prevalence, and HIV Prevention Programs among Truckers in India: A Critical Literature Review

Background: A systematic review portraying the changing pattern of sexual behaviors, STI and HIV prevalence and key strategies curb HIV and STI among truckers in India is lacking. This paper therefore aims to present a chronological review of literature regarding sexual behaviors, STI/HIV prevalence, and various HIV prevention programs implemented among truckers in India. Methodology: Published and unpublished studies (1990-2011) were identified through electronic databases, and hand searching. Results: Most studies on sexual behaviors and STI/HIV prevalence among truckers focused only on drivers and ignored their helpers. Evidences suggest that consistent condom use by truckers with both paid and non-paid female partners has increased during the past decade. Many recent studies suggest that the HIV prevalence among truckers is about 2% and it has been declining slowly during the past decade. The HIV prevention programs among truckers which started with the aim of raising awareness about HIV during early 1990s, have grown multi-folds to encompass not only the standard strategies like mid-media events, interpersonal counselling and STI care for HIV prevention, but also innovations such as the use of business franchisee models, and integrated research and evidence based planning in the program. The possibilities of using new approaches such as male circumcision and the use of pre-exposure prophylaxes are underway. Conclusion: More studies are needed to explore helpers’ vulnerabilities to HIV. Very few studies have attempted to examine the impact of large-scale prevention programs among truckers. Efforts are required to examine the impact of different components of such programs to guide the HIV prevention efforts among truckers in India.
Arteries and Veins Desensitize Differently to Endothelin

Hypertension is accompanied by increased arterial endothelin-1 (ET-1) and decreased arterial contraction to ET-1. By contrast, veins remain responsive to ET-1 in hypertension. Isometric contraction was used to test the hypothesis that veins do not desensitize to ET-1 to the extent of arteries, possibly because of the presence of functional ETA and ETB receptors on veins and only functional ETA receptors on arteries. Contraction to ET-1 after exposure to ET-1 (100 nmol/L) was abolished in aortae, while in veins 36.3 ± 0.2% of maximal contraction to ET-1 remained. Aortae were unresponsive to the ETA receptor agonist ET-1(1-31) (100 nmol/L) after ET-1 exposure, while 21.9 ± 0.6% of maximum venous contraction to ET-1 (1-31) remained. In a similar manner, the venous ETB receptor did not lose responsiveness to the ETB receptor agonist sarafotoxin 6c (S6c, 100 nmol/L); aortae did not contract to S6c. In ET-1-desensitized veins, the ETB receptor antagonist BQ-788 (100 nmol/L) decreased maximum contraction to ET-1, but did not alter potency (-log EC50 control = 8.14 ± 0.01 mol/L; BQ-788 = 8.13 ± 0.04 mol/L). The ETA receptor antagonist atrasentan (100 nmol/L) blocked remaining venous contraction to ET-1 (control = 8.05 ± 0.05 mol/L; atrasentan = unmeasurable). Maintained responsiveness to ET-1 in veins occurs primarily via the ETA receptor, while in arteries the ETA receptor is responsible for desensitization to ET-1.
Spatio-temporal attributes of water temperature and macroinvertebrate assemblages in the headwaters of the Bushmans River, southern Drakensberg

Currently, there is little understanding of the controls that instream thermal limits and hydraulic biotype diversity have on macroinvertebrate assemblages, particularly in association with changing altitude within given southern African mountain drainage systems. Thus, the aim of this research was to examine aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblage changes in response to spatial and temporal geo-hydrological contexts (temperature and hydraulic biotype) along the upper Bushmans River, southern Drakensberg. Instream temperature was continuously logged at 3 altitudes (1 760, 2 030, 2 280 m amsl) along the Bushmans River to the east of the Great Escarpment, and in the headwaters of the Sani River (2 860 m amsl) to the west of the escarpment, for the period January–May 2007. Aquatic macroinvertebrates were sampled during early December 2006, late March 2007, and late May 2007. The study demonstrates that decreasing water temperatures, both spatially (with increasing altitude) and seasonally (from summer to winter), and/or decreasing diversity of hydraulic biotypes associated with stream-channel narrowing in Drakensberg rivers/streams, are associated with a general decrease in the absolute number of macroinvertebrate families, a lower dissimilarity coefficient along the Bushmans River altitudinal transect, and a decreasing variance in the numbers of macroinvertebrate families across various hydraulic biotypes. Keywords : Aquatic macroinvertebrates, water temperature, hydraulic biotypes, Drakensberg
Fluorescent Antibody Studies in Tissue Culture of Parainfluenza 3 Infection.∗

Summary Growth characteristics of parainfluenza 3 virus in LLC-MK2 line of tissue culture cells have been described using 2 staining technics. The appearance of specific fluorescence was correlated with the appearance of newly formed virus. The site of synthesis of virus was shown to be restricted to the cytoplasm of infected cells. Maximum infectivity titer intracellularly is reached around the 16th hour, while viral release is maximal around the 20th hour post-infection.
A single-center retrospective review of postoperative infectious complications in the surgical management of mandibular fractures: Postoperative antibiotics add no benefit

BACKGROUND Mandibular fractures are common facial injuries and treatment may be complicated by post-operative infection. Risk of infection from contamination with oral flora is well established but no consensus exists regarding antibiotic prophylaxis. The purpose of this study is to assess risk factors and perioperative antibiotics on surgical site infection (SSI) rates following mandibular fracture surgery. METHODS Retrospective medical record review was completed for trauma patients of any age surgically treated for mandibular fractures at a Level I Trauma Center from September 2006 to June 2012. Outcomes analysis was performed to determine SSI rates related to perioperative antibiotic use and other risk factors that may contribute to SSI. RESULTS 359 patients met inclusion criteria for analysis. 76% were male. Mean age was 30.5 years. Thirty-eight patients developed SSI (10.6%). SSI rate was lower in closed versus open surgery (3.2% vs. 16.3%, p=0.0001), and in closed versus open fractures (1% vs. 14%, p=0.0005). SSI rate increased in patients with tobacco, alcohol, and drug use (14.6%, 13.2%, 53.6%, p<0.0001), traumatic dental injuries (19.6%, p=0.0110), and patients in motor vehicle crashes (12.2%, p=0.0062). SSI rates stratified by Injury Severity Score (ISS) less than or equal to 16 (23/255 [9%]) versus ISS greater than 16 (15/104 [14%]) trended toward more severely injured patients developing SSI, p=0.1347. SSI rate was similar in patients who did and did not receive post-operative antibiotics (14.7% vs. 9.6%, p=0.2556). Type of antibiotic, duration of post-operative antibiotic administration, and duration between injury and surgery did not effect SSI rate. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that following surgical treatment of mandible fractures, open surgery, open fractures, and risk factors including substance abuse, traumatic dental injury, and mechanism of injury significantly increase SSI rates, while post-operative antibiotics do not appear to provide additional benefit compared to pre-operative antibiotics alone. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic study, level IV.
Targeting SGK1 in diabetes

Compelling evidence is accumulating indicating a pathophysiological role of the serum-and-glucocorticoid-inducible-kinase-1 (SGK1) in the development and complications of diabetes. SGK1 is ubiquitously expressed with exquisitely high transcriptional volatility. Stimulators of SGK1 expression include hyperglycemia, cell shrinkage, ischemia, glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. SGK1 is activated by insulin and growth factors via PI3K, 3-phosphoinositide dependent kinase PDK1 and mTOR. SGK1 activates ion channels (including ENaC, TRPV5, ROMK, KCNE1/KCNQ1 and CLCKa/Barttin), carriers (including NCC, NKCC, NHE3, SGLT1 and EAAT3), and the Na+/K+-ATPase. It regulates the activity of several enzymes (e.g., glycogen-synthase-kinase-3, ubiquitin-ligase Nedd4-2, phosphomannose-mutase-2), and transcription factors (e.g., forkhead-transcription-factor FOXO3a, β-catenin and NF-κB). A common SGK1 gene variant (∼ 3 – 5% prevalence in Caucasians, ∼ 10% in Africans) is associated with increased blood pressure, obesity and type 2 diabetes. In patients suffering from type 2 diabetes, SGK1 presumably contributes to fluid retention and hypertension, enhanced coagulation and increased deposition of matrix proteins leading to tissue fibrosis such as diabetic nephropathy. Accordingly, targeting SGK1 may favourably influence occurrence and course of type 2 diabetes.