Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Innervation ratio is an important determinant of force in normal and reinnervated rat tibialis anterior muscles.

1. The technique of glycogen depletion and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining, which identifies glycogen-free muscle fibers, was used to directly count the number (N) and measure the cross-sectional area (CSA) of muscle fibers in single motor units (MUs) from normal and reinnervated tibialis anterior (TA) muscles. Indirect estimates, derived from the proportions of muscle fiber types to MU types, were also made, and force per unit area (or specific force, SF) was calculated. Previous results using direct and indirect approaches have been contradictory. To shed more light on this issue, the relative contributions of N, mean fiber area (A), and SF to muscle-unit force were determined by the use of both methods. 2. TA muscles were examined in experimental rats 3.5-10 mo after cutting and resuturing the common peroneal nerve in one hindlimb and in muscles in age-matched control rats. Ventral roots were dissected to isolate and characterize single MUs according to contraction speed, sag, and fatigability. One unit per muscle was selected for repetitive tetanic stimulation designed to deplete muscle fiber glycogen stores. Muscles were removed for identification of the unit with the PAS reaction and histochemical fiber typing by the use of modified standard techniques. 3. In the total population of MUs sampled, isometric tetanic force ranged from 5 to 441 mN in normal muscles and from 5 to 498 mN in reinnervated muscles, and the mean values were not significantly different. In the smaller sample of glycogen-depleted units from normal muscle, for a force range of 14-217 mN, N varied from 57 to 202, and A varied from 1,135 +/- 45 to 6,706 +/- 172 (SE) microns2. Within each unit the variation in fiber area is broad. After reinnervation, for a force range of 30-278 mN, N varied from 70 to 374, and A varied from 1,694 +/- 81 to 5,425 +/- 93 microns2. Mean fiber number was 153 +/- 18 in reinnervated muscle, which is significantly higher (P less than 0.01) than the normal value of 121 +/- 9. 4. The contribution of N and A to MU tetanic force was assessed by plotting each factor as a function of force on a log-log scale. N accounts for 39% and A for 49% of the variation in force in normal muscle. The contributions are changed after reinnervation where N, accounting for 65% of force, appears to compensate for the reduced range in A, which accounts for only 19% of the variation in force. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Uroflowmetry in women with urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.

OBJECTIVE To characterize uroflowmetry parameters in women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and urinary incontinence (UI) and to assess the effects of clinical and urodynamic variables on these parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study comprised 655 consecutive women who presented with UI or POP and who had interpretable uroflowmetry values. Normal uroflowmetry values were defined as a maximum flow (Q(max)) > or = 15 mL/s, a mean flow (Q(mean)) > or = 10 mL/s, a post-void residual volume (PVR) < or = 100 mL and a continuous, single-peak waveform. Parametric and non-parametric analysis of variance and chi-square analysis were used to compare differences between diagnostic groups. Multiple linear regression models were developed to evaluate factors considered to influence uroflowmetry. RESULTS Of the 655 patients, 471 (72%) had UI of whom 16% had pure detrusor instability (DI), 69% pure genuine stress incontinence (GSI) and 15% with both, and 184 (28%) had POP, 26% of whom also had DI. Of all patients, 72% had normal uroflowmetry patterns, 13% had multiple peaks and 15% had patterns with interrupted flow; 56% had completely normal uroflowmetry. There were significant differences in uroflowmetry values between the POP and UI groups, with the former having a lower Q(max) and Q(mean) (P < 0.001), larger PVRs (P < 0.001) and a lower percentage of totally normal uroflowmetry (33% and 64%, respectively, P < 0.001). Of patients with POP, 30% had a PVR > 100 mL. Because of the differences, the POP and UI groups were evaluated separately in the regression analysis. In both groups, the most important determinants of flow rate were the volume voided and pressure transmission ratio (PTR). However, when several factors (including age, voided volume, PTR and maximum detrusor pressure with flow and at Q(max)) were included in the model, they accounted for only 23-26% of the variability of flow in the patients with UI and 36-39% of the variability in patients with POP. The subsets of patients with pure DI in both the UI and POP groups had higher PVR volumes than the other subsets. CONCLUSIONS These results show that the positive correlation between flow rate and voided volume described in normal populations is also observed in women with UI and POP. However, most of the variability in urine flow was not attributable to factors such as age, voided volume and PTR, confirming the complexity of the micturition mechanism. Women with POP had more objective evidence of emptying-phase dysfunction than women with UI, although most emptied their bladders efficiently. Finally, the results suggest that women with DI exhibit dysfunction of both inhibitory and facilitory detrusor control.
Multi-Agent System for Demand Side Management in smart grid

This paper presents a Multi-Agent System (MAS) for Demand Side Management (DSM) in smart grid which uses an energy market for resource allocation. The multi-agent system contains Load Agents, Generator Agents and DSM Agent, which provides an electronic auction platform. The automation of the demand side management through the multi-agent system is equipped with an intelligent strategy which allows controllable devices to dynamically react to market changes and adapt their bidding behaviours accordingly. The agents are able to shift energy demand within certain boundaries from peak hours to off-peak hours to minimize the operational cost of the system. Simulation studies were carried out on the developed multi-agent system and the results show that the proposed approach provides a smoothed load curve for the whole system while operational cost and peak demand are reduced.
Do Hearing Loss and Cognitive Function Modulate Benefit From Different Binaural Noise-Reduction Settings?

Objectives: Although previous research indicates that cognitive skills influence benefit from different types of hearing aid algorithms, comparatively little is known about the role of, and potential interaction with, hearing loss. This holds true especially for noise reduction (NR) processing. The purpose of the present study was thus to explore whether degree of hearing loss and cognitive function modulate benefit from different binaural NR settings based on measures of speech intelligibility, listening effort, and overall preference. Design: Forty elderly listeners with symmetrical sensorineural hearing losses in the mild to severe range participated. They were stratified into four age-matched groups (with n = 10 per group) based on their pure-tone average hearing losses and their performance on a visual measure of working memory (WM) capacity. The algorithm under consideration was a binaural coherence-based NR scheme that suppressed reverberant signal components as well as diffuse background noise at mid to high frequencies. The strength of the applied processing was varied from inactive to strong, and testing was carried out across a range of fixed signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Potential benefit was assessed using a dual-task paradigm combining speech recognition with a visual reaction time (VRT) task indexing listening effort. Pairwise preference judgments were also collected. All measurements were made using headphone simulations of a frontal speech target in a busy cafeteria. Test–retest data were gathered for all outcome measures. Results: Analysis of the test–retest data showed all data sets to be reliable. Analysis of the speech scores showed that, for all groups, speech recognition was unaffected by moderate NR processing, whereas strong NR processing reduced intelligibility by about 5%. Analysis of the VRT scores revealed a similar data pattern. That is, while moderate NR did not affect VRT performance, strong NR impaired the performance of all groups slightly. Analysis of the preference scores collapsed across SNR showed that all groups preferred some over no NR processing. Furthermore, the two groups with smaller WM capacity preferred strong over moderate NR processing; for the two groups with larger WM capacity, preference did not differ significantly between the moderate and strong settings. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that, for the algorithm and the measures of speech recognition and listening effort used here, the effects of different NR settings interact with neither degree of hearing loss nor WM capacity. However, preferred NR strength was found to be associated with smaller WM capacity, suggesting that hearing aid users with poorer cognitive function may prefer greater noise attenuation even at the expense of poorer speech intelligibility. Further research is required to enable a more detailed (SNR-dependent) analysis of this effect and to test its wider applicability.
Children's callous-unemotional traits moderate links between their positive relationships with parents at preschool age and externalizing behavior problems at early school age.

BACKGROUND Growing research on children's traits as moderators of links between parenting and developmental outcomes has shown that variations in positivity, warmth, or responsiveness in parent-child relationships are particularly consequential for temperamentally difficult or biologically vulnerable children. But very few studies have addressed the moderating role of children's callous-unemotional (CU) traits, a known serious risk factor for antisocial cascades. We examined children's CU traits as moderators of links between parent-child Mutually Responsive Orientation (MRO) and shared positive affect and future externalizing behavior problems. METHODS Participants included 100 two-parent community families of normally developing children, followed longitudinally. MRO and shared positive affect in mother-child and father-child dyads were observed in lengthy, diverse naturalistic contexts when children were 38 and 52 months. Both parents rated children's CU traits at 67 months and their externalizing behavior problems (Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder) at 67, 80, and 100 months. RESULTS Children's CU traits moderated links between early positive parent-child relationships and children's future externalizing behavior problems, even after controlling for strong continuity of those problems. For children with elevated CU traits, higher mother-child MRO and father-child shared positive affect predicted a decrease in mother-reported future behavior problems. There were no significant associations for children with relatively lower CU scores. CONCLUSIONS Positive qualities for early relationships, potentially different for mother-child and father-child dyads, can serve as potent factors that decrease probability of antisocial developmental cascades for children who are at risk due to elevated CU traits.
PTEN loss defines a PI3K/AKT pathway-dependent germinal center subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) represents a heterogeneous diagnostic category with distinct molecular subtypes that can be defined by gene expression profiling. However, even within these defined subtypes, heterogeneity prevails. To further elucidate the pathogenesis of these entities, we determined the expression of the tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in 248 primary DLBCL patient samples. These analyses revealed that loss of PTEN was detectable in 55% of germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) DLBCLs, whereas this abnormality was found in only 14% of non-GCB DLBCL patient samples. In GCB DLBCL, the PTEN status was inversely correlated with activation of the oncogenic PI3K/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway in both DLBCL cell lines and primary patient samples. Reexpression of PTEN induced cytotoxicity in PTEN-deficient GCB DLBCL cell line models by inhibiting PI3K/AKT signaling, indicating an addiction to this pathway in this subset of GCB DLBCLs. PI3K/AKT inhibition induced down-regulation of the transcription factor MYC. Reexpression of MYC rescued GCB DLBCL cells from PTEN-induced toxicity, identifying a regulatory mechanism of MYC expression in DLBCL. Finally, pharmacologic PI3K inhibition resulted in toxicity selectively in PTEN-deficient GCB DLBCL lines. Collectively, our results indicate that PTEN loss defines a PI3K/AKT-dependent GCB DLBCL subtype that is addicted to PI3K and MYC signaling and suggest that pharmacologic inhibition of PI3K might represent a promising therapeutic approach in these lymphomas.
Multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) cells are a primary source of induced pluripotent stem cells in human fibroblasts

The stochastic and elite models have been proposed for the mechanism of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell generation. In this study we report a system that supports the elite model. We previously identified multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) cells in human dermal fibroblasts that are characterized by stress tolerance, expression of pluripotency markers, self-renewal, and the ability to differentiate into endodermal-, mesodermal-, and ectodermal-lineage cells from a single cell. They can be isolated as stage-specific embryonic antigen-3/CD105 double-positive cells. When human fibroblasts were separated into Muse and non-Muse cells and transduced with Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc, iPS cells were generated exclusively from Muse cells but not from non-Muse cells. Although some colonies were formed from non-Muse cells, they were unlike iPS cells. Furthermore, epigenetic alterations were not seen, and some of the major pluripotency markers were not expressed for the entire period during iPS cell generation. These findings were confirmed further using cells transduced with a single polycistronic virus vector encoding all four factors. The results demonstrate that in adult human fibroblasts a subset of preexisting adult stem cells whose properties are similar in some respects to those of iPS cells selectively become iPS cells, but the remaining cells make no contribution to the generation of iPS cells. Therefore this system seems to fit the elite model rather than the stochastic model.
Diagnosing latent tuberculosis infection in haemodialysis patients: T-cell based assay (T-SPOT.TB) or tuberculin skin test?

BACKGROUND The international guidelines recommend screening haemodialysis (HD) patients for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). The aim of this study is to compare the diagnostic utility of tuberculin skin test (TST) with an interferon-γ-based assay (T-SPOT.TB) for the diagnosis of LTBI in HD patients. METHODS A total of 411 patients [233 male (57%), mean age 56±16 years] in five HD centres were prospectively tested by TST and T-SPOT.TB assays. A total of 302 patients (75%) had Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccination scar. RESULTS LTBI was detected in 39 and 61% of patients by one-step TST and T-SPOT.TB, respectively. The booster phenomenon determined additional 60 (25%) LTBI among 243 patients. Overall, 218 (53%) patients showed a positive reaction to TST after performing the two-step TST. Among 250 one-step TST negative patients T-SPOT.TB assay was positive in 118 (47%). Of 158 patients with a positive one-step TST, T-SPOT.TB was negative in 34 (22%). On the other hand, T-SPOT.TB was negative in 16 (27%) of boosted patients. T-SPOT.TB was negative in 50 (23%) of overall TST-positive patients and positive in 71 (39%) of TST negative ones. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that male gender was independently associated with positive T-SPOT.TB, and positive T-SPOT.TB was inversely associated with the presence of BCG vaccine scar, serum albumin level and HD duration. Annual conversion rates were 12 and 32% for TST and T-SPOT.TB tests, respectively. CONCLUSION Usage of T-SPOT.TB in HD patients with negative TST may enhance diagnosis of LTBI.
Plant Body Weight-Induced Secondary Growth in Arabidopsis and Its Transcription Phenotype Revealed by Whole-Transcriptome Profiling1[w]

Wood is an important raw material and environmentally cost-effective renewable source of energy. However, the molecular biology of wood formation (i.e. secondary growth) is surprisingly understudied. A novel experimental system was employed to study the molecular regulation of secondary xylem formation in Arabidopsis. First, we demonstrate that the weight carried by the stem is a primary signal for the induction of cambium differentiation and the plant hormone, auxin, is a downstream carrier of the signal for this process. We used Arabidopsis whole-transcriptome (23 K) GeneChip analysis to examine gene expression profile changes in the inflorescent stems treated for wood formation by cultural manipulation or artificial weight application. Many of the genes up-regulated in wood-forming stems had auxin responsive cis-acting elements in their promoter region, indicating auxin-mediated regulation of secondary growth. We identified 700 genes that were differentially expressed during the transition from primary growth to secondary growth. More than 40% of the genes that were up-regulated (>5×) were associated with signal transduction and transcriptional regulation. Biological significance of these regulatory genes is discussed in light of the induction and development of secondary xylem.
Rare Facial Clefts.

UNLABELLED In 1976 Dr. Paul Tessier described numeric classification for rare craniofacial clefts. He first emphasized that a fissure of the soft tissue corresponds, as a general rule, to a cleft of the bony structure. The classification, easy to understand, became widely accepted because the recording of the malformations was simple and facilitated communication between observers. The aim of this study was to present our own experience with treatment of patients with rare facial clefts. MATERIAL AND METHODS Our Department has 11 patients with rare craniofacial clefts under its care. This group includes 8 boys and 3 girls. The patients aged from 2 months to 18 years at the time of the first consultation. RESULTS In two patients the cleft was median, in seven patients it was one-sided and in two--bilateral. The most common type of cleft was number 6, and the rarest were 2, 3, and 7. All patients underwent surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS Atypical facial clefts are rare congenital anomalies, however because of functional and aesthetic disturbances they constitute a serious medical and therapeutic problem. Facial clefts are characterized by variable clinical presentation and require individualized treatment plan.
Zeit und Qualität im Übersetzungsprozess

L'A. s'interesse aux processus conscients et inconscients de traducteurs, en ce qui concerne le parametre de gestion du temps. Pour examiner ce phenomene, il analyse de facon empirique des traductions entre danois et allemand (danois-allemand et allemand-danois), a l'aide du logiciel Translog, qui permet de delimiter les differentes phases du processus de traduction. Il delimite en particulier la duree de la phase d'orientation initiale et de la phase de revision, ainsi que le nombre et la duree des pauses prises par le traducteur. Le tout est mis en relation avec la qualite des traductions effectuees. Au vu des resultats, il conclut qu'il y a tres peu de correlations entre temps et qualite, et que la valeur des donnees quantitatives repose dans leur combinaison avec les divers types de donnees qualitatives.
Expression of Survivin and Enhanced Polypogenesis in Nasal Polyps

Background The pathogenesis of nasal polyps still is not clear. This disease is believed to be inflammation related. Previous research has indicated that apoptosis in inflammatory cells is an important factor in the resolution of inflammation. Survivin is regarded as a novel member of the group of inhibitors of apoptosis proteins. It is overexpressed in a number of tumor types. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of the survivin gene in human nasal polyps. Methods We investigated the expression of survivin in nasal polyps of adult patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Specimens of nasal polyps were harvested during endonasal sinus surgery (n = 22), and the normal mucosa surrounding the nasal polyp tissues or inferior turbinate tissues served as control (n = 7). Immunohistochemical staining, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and Western blotting were performed for detecting the expression of survivin in the nasal polyps. Results This study has clearly shown that immunoreactivity of survivin significantly increased in the nasal polyp compared with nasal mucosa specimens surrounding nasal polyps (p < 0.001). The higher expression of survivin Western blotting and RT-PCR also was observed in the nasal polyp but not in normal nasal mucosa. Conclusion With a markedly increased expression of survivin in nasal polyps at both the mRNA and the protein levels, we believe the elevated expression of survivin might play an important role of the development in nasal polyps.
Accurate three-dimensional eyetracker.

A combined optometer and eyetracking instrument has been developed to measure both the dynamic refractive power and the direction of gaze of the same eye. In effect, this instrument measures, as a function of time, the point in 3-D space on which the eye is fixated. Nothing is attached to the subject (patient), who is easily aligned in the device. The measuring wavelength is in the near ir and is invisible. The usable field of the instrument is greater than 20 degrees ; the horizontal and vertical directions of gaze are measured with a noise level and repeatability of about 1 min of arc. The range of the optometer is approximately -4 to +12 diopters; refractive power is measured to about 0.1 diopter. Two instruments may be aligned side by side for tracking both eyes simultaneously. Three-dimensional monocular and binocular eye movement records are shown.
Oleanane-Type Saponins from the Roots of Ligulariopsis shichuana and Their α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities

Five new oleanane-type saponins, named ligushicosides A-E, and three known oleanane-type saponins were isolated from the roots of Ligulariopsis shichuana. Their structures were established by a combination of spectroscopic techniques, including 1D and 2D NMR and high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (HR-ESI-MS). Furthermore, all isolates were evaluated for their yeast α-glucosidase inhibitory effects and exhibited potent inhibition against α-glucosidase, while compounds 1 and 2 showed excellent inhibitory activities. The 3-O-glycoside moiety in oleanane-type saponin is important for the α-glucosidase inhibitory effects.
School leadership effects revisited: a review of empirical studies guided by indirect-effect models

Fourteen leadership effect studies that used indirect-effect models were quantitatively analysed to explore the most promising mediating variables. The results indicate that total effect sizes based on indirect-effect studies appear to be low, quite comparable to the results of some meta-analyses of direct-effect studies. As the earlier indirect-effect studies tended to include a broad range of mainly school organisational conditions as intermediary variables, more recent studies focus more sharply on instructional conditions. The results of the conceptual analysis and the quantitative research synthesis would seem to support conceptualising educational leadership as a detached and ‘lean’ kind of meta-control, which would make maximum use of the available substitutes and self-organisation offered by the school staff and school organisational structural provisions. The coupling of conceptual analysis and systematic review of studies driven by indirect-effect models provides a new perspective on leadership effectiveness.