Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Linomide, a novel immunomodulator that prevents death in four models of septic shock

Intravenous injections of 50 μ. g Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B (SEB) or bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are lethal, provided that mice are simultaneously sensitized with either N‐galactosamine (GalN) or the anti‐glucocorticoid RU‐38486. Similar to the synthetic glucocorticoid (GC) receptor agonist dexamethasone, pharmacological doses of the immunomodulator linomide (quinoline‐3‐carboxamide) prevent death in all four models of lethal septic shock (LPS + GalN, LPS + RU‐38486, SEB + GalN, and SEB + RU‐38486) and inhibit the secretion of tumor necrosis factor, one of the major intermediate effector molecules of SEB and LPS toxicity. In this system, cyclosporine A (CsA), although effective in suppressing SEB toxicity, fails to counteract the lethal effect of LPS. This observation, together with the fact that linomide acts in the presence of excess amounts of GC receptor antagonist, indicates that linomide functions in a different way to that of known immunosuppressive agents like CsA and GC.
A Comparison Between (3H)-thymidine Incorporation and Isothermal Microcalorimetry for the Assessment of Antigen-induced Lymphocyte Proliferation

Lymphocyte transformation tests (LTT) are time-consuming radioactive assays used in the clinic for the determination of allergic drug reactions and extensively in basic immunological research. In the present study we propose an alternative method in the monitoring of T-cell responses by isothermal microcalorimetric (IMC) measurements of overall cellular heat production as a function of time. For mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation, we analyzed a concentration dependent effect of phytohemaglutinin (PHA) and both tests showed a good correlation. This was also the case for specific antigenic stimulation with Varidase® or tetanus toxoid. On the other hand, antigen-induced lymphocyte proliferation analyzed by pre and post influenza vaccine (Inflexal® V) samples, showed no such correlation. Our study suggests that IMC measurements, despite the advantages of simplicity, on-line recording of metabolic activity and no use of radioactivity, may be limited to monitoring mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation.
Laser interferometers as dark matter detectors

While the global cosmological and local galactic abundance of dark matter is well established, its identity, physical size, and composition remain a mystery. In this paper, we analyze an important question of dark matter detectability through its gravitational interaction, using current and next generation gravitational-wave observatories to look for macroscopic (kilogram-scale or larger) objects. Keeping the size of the dark matter objects to be smaller than the physical dimensions of the detectors, and keeping their mass as a free parameter, we derive the expected event rates. For favorable choice of mass, we find that dark matter interactions could be detected in space-based detectors such as LISA at a rate of one per ten years. We then assume the existence of an additional Yukawa force between dark matter and regular matter. By choosing the range of the force to be comparable to the size of the detectors, we derive the levels of sensitivity to such a new force, which exceeds the sensitivity of other probes in a wide range of parameters. For sufficiently large Yukawa coupling strength, the rate of dark matter events can then exceed 10 per year for both ground- and space-based detectors. Thus, gravitational-wave observatories can make an important contribution to a global effort of searching for nongravitational interactions of dark matter.
Change in choroidal thickness and axial length with change in intraocular pressure after trabeculectomy

Background/aims We studied the change in choroidal thickness (CT) and axial length (AL) after intraocular (IOP) changes produced by trabeculectomy. Methods Twenty-one eyes of 20 patients were studied preoperatively, and then postoperatively at 1 week, 1, 3, and 6 months. Variables measured included IOP, AL, keratometry, refractive error, central corneal thickness, and average CT in the posterior 6 mm centred on the fovea using enhanced depth imaging spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Results OCT images in 17 eyes (58 images, preoperatively and postoperatively) were of sufficient quality to determine CT. In every patient, CT increased with IOP lowering postoperatively. For each 1 mm Hg decrease in IOP, there was a mean increase of 3.4 µm in CT (p<0.0001; univariate regression, 95% CI 2.5 to 4.3). This represented a CT increase of 1.7% per mm Hg decrease (p<0.0001; 95% CI 1.3 to 2.0%). AL decreased by 6.8 µm per mm Hg decrease in IOP (p<0.0001, univariate regression, 95% CI 4.9 to 8.6). Conclusions The dynamic relationship between change in IOP and the state of sclera and choroid was confirmed by sequential measurements in postoperative trabeculectomy patients, providing estimates of the magnitude of choroidal swelling and scleral volume decrease with IOP lowering.
Sex‐differences in Apgar scores for full‐term neonates

can be easily resolved by insertion of a venous cannula into the abdomen [2-3]. One should avoid the right upper quadrant in performing this procedure as the large neonatal liver can be injured. Cannula decompression of a tension pneumoperitoneum is a technique which can be performed as a life-saving measure by neonatologists, paediatricians and nursing staff involved in the care and transfer of neonates. Further reading
PCR-Based Method for Isolation and Detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in Cerebrospinal Fluids

ABSTRACT Since current studies indicate the possible involvement ofChlamydia pneumoniae in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), demonstration of C. pneumoniae in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with MS is highly desirable. However, there is controversy concerning the detection of C. pneumoniae in CSFs from MS patients due to the lack of a standard protocol for extraction and detection of C. pneumoniae DNA. In this regard, we attempted to establish a highly effective extraction protocol for C. pneumoniae DNA from CSFs utilizing a commercial kit and a PCR detection method. The extraction and PCR detection protocol established in this study succeeded in detecting as few as 20 C. pneumoniae organisms in 200 μl of mock CSF. The use of this protocol to detect C. pneumoniae DNA in CSFs revealed that 68% of CSF samples obtained from patients with MS were positive (11 out of 16 samples) for chlamydia DNA. Thus, the protocol established here is sensitive enough to detect chlamydia DNA from CSFs and can be used by other laboratories for evaluation of the presence of chlamydiae in CSFs because the protocol is based on the use of a commercial kit.
TBX22 and Tongue-Tie

Objective To resolve if TBX22 mutations cause isolated tongue-tie in the Finnish population. Design Mutation analysis of the coding region of the TBX22 gene in 50 Finnish isolated tongue-tie patients and 61 control samples. Results One putative sequence variation was identified from two male patients, but whether this represents a polymorphism or causative mutation remains unknown. Conclusions Mutations in the coding region of the TBX22 gene are not a major cause of aankyloglossia in the Finnish population and do not explain the sex difference or inheritance of tongue-tie.
Continuous infusion of DL-alpha-difluoromethylornithine and improved efficacy against a rat model of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia

The rapid depletion of Pneumocystis carinii polyamines caused by in vitro exposure to DL-alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO; also called eflornithine or Ornidyl) and the rapid repletion following removal of this drug suggested that the in vivo efficacy of DFMO against P. carinii pneumonia (PCP) may be limited by troughs in drug concentration resulting from the schedule of administration. This led to the prediction that, compared with the response to the standard animal protocol of administering DFMO in drinking water, the response of a rat model of PCP to DFMO would be lessened by bolus administration and improved by continuous infusion. These predictions were confirmed. Intraperitoneal bolus administration of up to 3 g of DFMO kg of body weight-1 was completely ineffective, although this dose has been shown to be effective when given in the drinking water. Conversely, continuous infusion improved the response against PCP seven- to ninefold over the response to drinking water administration. These findings suggest that, compared with the standard clinical investigational protocol for treatment of PCP with DFMO given in four divided daily doses, continuous infusion combined with monitoring of drug concentrations in plasma may improve efficacy and/or reduce the already low rate of adverse effects.
Statistical Treatment of Looking-Time Data Gergely Csibra

Looking times (LTs) are frequently measured in empirical research on infant cognition. We analyzed the statistical distribution of LTs across participants to develop recommendations for their treatment in infancy research. Our analyses focused on a common within-subject experimental design, in which longer looking to novel or unexpected stimuli is predicted. We analyzed data from 2 sources: an in-house set of LTs that included data from individual participants (47 experiments, 1,584 observations), and a representative set of published articles reporting group-level LT statistics (149 experiments from 33 articles). We established that LTs are log-normally distributed across participants, and therefore, should always be log-transformed before parametric statistical analyses. We estimated the typical size of significant effects in LT studies, which allowed us to make recommendations about setting sample sizes. We show how our estimate of the distribution of effect sizes of LT studies can be used to design experiments to be analyzed by Bayesian statistics, where the experimenter is required to determine in advance the predicted effect size rather than the sample size. We demonstrate the robustness of this method in both sets of LT experiments.
The Strategic Planning-Environment-Performance Relationship Re-visited in HTSFs

Recent research has shown that the degree of strategic planning within a company has a significant impact on performance of HTSFs. However, external operating environmental threats are often ignored or at best marginalized by firms, often leading to a negative impact on corporate performance. This paper develops and tests a methodology using a number of characteristic footprints to represent the emphasis on strategic planning, financial performance and the observance of external threats from the operating environment. The footprints are used to assess the link between the variables and overall corporate performance. The paper uses a new approach to multi-variate analysis based on the conditional formatting of spreadsheets and the use of nested logical operators for complex comprehension as well as established statistical techniques. The findings indicate that the degree of awareness of external environmental threats is associated with the degree of emphasis on the strategic planning process. The findings also show that strategic planning is positively linked to overall corporate performance.
The S2 subsites of cathepsins K and L and their contribution to collagen degradation

The exchange of residues 67 and 205 of the S2 pocket of human cysteine cathepsins K and L induces a permutation of their substrate specificity toward fluorogenic peptide substrates. While the cathepsin L‐like cathepsin K (Tyr67Leu/Leu205Ala) mutant has a marked preference for Phe, the Leu67Tyr/Ala205Leu cathepsin L variant shows an effective cathepsin K‐like preference for Leu and Pro. A similar turnaround of inhibition was observed by using specific inhibitors of cathepsin K [1‐(N‐Benzyloxycarbonyl‐leucyl)‐5‐(N‐Boc‐phenylalanyl‐leucyl)carbohydrazide] and cathepsin L [N‐(4‐biphenylacetyl)‐S‐methylcysteine‐(D)‐Arg‐Phe‐β‐phenethylamide]. Molecular modeling studies indicated that mutations alter the character of both S2 and S3 subsites, while docking calculations were consistent with kinetics data. The cathepsin K‐like cathepsin L was unable to mimic the collagen‐degrading activity of cathepsin K against collagens I and II, DQ‐collagens I and IV, and elastin‐Congo Red. In summary, double mutations of the S2 pocket of cathepsins K (Y67L/L205A) and L (L67Y/A205L) induce a switch of their enzymatic specificity toward small selective inhibitors and peptidyl substrates, confirming the key role of residues 67 and 205. However, mutations in the S2 subsite pocket of cathepsin L alone without engineering of binding sites to chondroitin sulfate are not sufficient to generate a cathepsin K‐like collagenase, emphasizing the pivotal role of the complex formation between glycosaminoglycans and cathepsin K for its unique collagenolytic activity.
Thigh magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of disease activity in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies followed in a single center

Introduction: In patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been proposed as a useful tool for diagnosis and follow‐up. It may identify muscle inflammation (edema) and fatty infiltration for evaluation of disease activity and damage. Little information is available on the role of MRI in assessment of large cohorts of adult patients with IIM. Methods: Fifty‐one patients underwent MRI of the thigh muscles, laboratory tests, and clinical evaluation, including Physician Global Assessment (PGA) of myositis activity and the Manual Muscle Test 8 (MMT8). Results: Muscle edema correlated significantly with creatine kinase values (P = 0.017) and PGA (P < 0.001). A significant correlation between edema and MMT8 values (P = 0.025) was observed when patients with muscle fatty infiltration were excluded. With respect to clinical diagnosis, the sensitivity of MRI was 92.3%, and specificity was 83.3%. Conclusions: MRI appears to provide additional information that complements clinical and biochemical examinations. Muscle Nerve 54: 666–672, 2016
Carbon tetrachloride poisoning in man; the mechanisms of renal failure and recovery.

Carbon tetrachloride poisoning in man, whether by inhalation or ingestion, is frequently associated with anatomical and clinical evidence of renal damage. Smetana (1) has shown that the distal tubule appears to bear the brunt of the renal pathological processes resulting in oliguria or anuria, and Woods (2) has demonstrated the identity of the renal pathology in this disease with that of the crush syndrome. This type of acute renal failure has therefore been included among the subclassifications of lower nephron nephrosis by Lucke (3). This author believes that the scant urine flow in this syndrome is adequately explained by the backdiffusion of the glomerular filtrate through the damaged tubular walls. This concept was first promulgated by Dunn, Haworth and Jones (4) working with experimental oxalate nephritis. Bywaters and Dible (5) concluded this to be the mechanism of anuria in the crush syndrome on the basis of morphology alone. A. N. Richards (6) was able to observe this phenomenon directly in the frog kidney poisoned with mercuric chloride. He noted the absence of urine formation in spite of normal or augmented glomerular filtration. Additional evidence cited for the occurrence of abnormal tubular permeability is the finding of negative TmD's 3 by Bobey et al. (7) and of decreased creatinine/inulin clearance ratios by Richards, Westfall, and Bott (8) in experimental uranium poisoning in dogs; the demonstration of negative TmPAH values by Redish, West, White-
The Rey 15-Item Recognition Trial: A Technique to Enhance Sensitivity of the Rey 15-Item Memorization Test

Numerous publications on the Rey 15-item Memorization Test have cited limitations primarily in test sensitivity, as well as to some extent in specificity. In the current study, 49 patients with suspect effort, 36 neuropsychology clinic patients not in litigation or attempting to secure disability, 33 learning disabled college students, and 60 normal controls were administered the Rey Test in standard format followed by a recognition trial. A free recall score <9 was found to have excellent specificity (97–100%), although sensitivity was modest (47%). However, use of a combined recall and recognition score (i.e., free recall+[recognition–false positives] <20) substantially increased sensitivity (71%) while maintaining high specificity (=92%).
Studies on the nonlinearity effects in dynamic compact model generation of packages

In this paper, we present a series of measurement and simulation experiments that were accomplished to check the order of magnitude of the error caused by neglecting the temperature dependence of the dynamic compact models of packages. We present a methodology to create nonlinear, temperature dependent compact models. With this methodology we created temperature dependent compact models of packages based both on measured and simulated results and compared the behavior of the temperature dependent model to the temperature independent (linear) model. We have found that neglecting the nonlinearity is acceptable in a moderate temperature range. If the temperature excursion remains below 60-80/spl deg/C the error is expected to be less than 2-3%. For higher temperature rise the use of nonlinear compact models is recommended.
Distributed consensus-based formation control for multiple nonholonomic mobile robots with a specified reference trajectory

In this paper, the distributed formation control problem for multiple nonholonomic mobile robots using consensus-based approach is considered. A transformation is given to convert the formation control problem for multiple nonholonomic mobile robots into a state consensus problem. Distributed control laws are developed for achieving the formation control objectives: a group of nonholonomic mobile robots at least exponentially converge to a desired geometric pattern with its centroid moving along the specified reference trajectory. Rigorous proofs are provided by using graph, matrix , and Lyapunov theories. Simulations are also given to verify the effectiveness of the theoretical results.
Release of brain-specific creatine kinase and neuron-specific enolase into cerebrospinal fluid after hypothermic and normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in coronary artery surgery.

BACKGROUND Coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery is successfully managed with normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) using warm blood cardioplegia. The lack of the protective effect of hypothermia, however, might make the central nervous system vulnerable. METHODS Thirty-six patients were randomized into normothermic CPB (36-37 degrees C) (NTCPB group, n=18) and hypothermic CPB (28 degrees C) (HTCPB group, n=18) in order to examine whether normothermic or hypothermic CPB induces the release of the intracellular brain enzymes, creatine kinase (CK), its brain-specific isoenzyme (CK-BB), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In addition, clinical neurologic examination and neuropsychologic assessment were done preoperatively, 5 d and 11-23 mo postoperatively. RESULTS One patient in each group suffered a stroke after surgery. Two patients in the normothermic group had minor neurologic complications. The cognitive decline after operation was similar in the NTCPB and HTCPB groups. CSF enzymes from normothermic and hypothermic CABG patients without gross neurologic complications were not significantly higher than CSF enzymes from orthopaedic reference patients. CABG patients with neurologic complications had higher enzyme concentrations. Cognitive decline after the operation correlated statistically significantly with CSF enzyme concentrations in the NTCPB group, but not in the HTCPB group. CONCLUSION CABG operation without major neurologic complication does not induce the release of CK, CK-BB or NSE enzymes into CSF, irrespective of whether the CPB is normothermic or hypothermic.
Non‐gynecologic cytology on liquid‐based preparations: A morphologic review of facts and artifacts

Liquid‐based preparations (LBP) are increasingly being used both for gynecologic (gyn) and non‐gynecologic (non‐gyn) cytology including fine needle aspirations (FNA). The two FDA‐approved LBP currently in use include ThinPrep (TP), (Cytyc Corp, Marlborough, MA) and SurePath (SP), (TriPath Imaging Inc., Burlington, NC). TP was approved for cervico‐vaginal (Pap test) cytology in 1996 and SP in 1999 and both have since also been used for non‐gyn cytology. In the LBP, instead of being smeared, cells are rinsed into a liquid preservative collection medium and processed on automated devices. Even after a decade of use, the morphological interpretation of LBP remains a diagnostic challenge because of somewhat altered morphology and artifacts or facts resulting from the fixation and processing techniques. These changes include cleaner background with altered or reduced background and extracellular elements; architectural changes such as smaller cell clusters and sheets, breakage of papillae; altered cell distribution with more dyscohesion and changes in cellular morphology with enhanced nuclear features, smaller cell size and slightly more three‐dimensional (3‐D) clusters. Herein, we review the published literature on morphological aspects of LBP for non‐gyn cytology. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2007;35:621–634. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A diagnostic carbon flux model to monitor the effects of disturbance and interannual variation in climate on regional NEP

Net ecosystem production (NEP) was estimated over a 10.9 × 104 km2 forested region in western Oregon USA for 2 yr (2002–2003) using a combination of remote sensing, distributed meteorological data, and a carbon cycle model (CFLUX). High spatial resolution satellite data (Landsat, 30 m) provided information on land cover and the disturbance regime. Coarser resolution satellite imagery (MODIS, 1 km) provided estimates of vegetation absorption of photosynthetically active radiation. A spatially distributed (1 km) daily time step meteorology was generated for model input by interpolation of meteorological station data. The model employed a light use efficiency approach for photosynthesis. It was run over a 1 km grid. This approach captured spatial patterns in NEP associated with climatic gradients, ecoregional differences in NEP generated by different management histories, temporal variation in NEP associated with interannual variation in climate and changes in NEP associated with recovery from disturbances such as the large forest fire in southern Oregon in 2002. Regional NEP averaged 174 gC m-2 yr-1 in 2002 and 142 gC m-2 yr-1 in 2003. A diagnostic modelling approach of this type can provide independent estimates of regional NEP for comparison with results of inversion or boundary layer budget approaches.
A Pilot Study: Coordination of Precision Grip in Children and Adolescents with High Functioning Autism

Purpose: This pilot study compared temporal coordination during a precision grip task between 13 children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who were high functioning and 13 peers with typical development. Methods: Temporal coordination between grip and load forces was measured using latency between onset of grip and load forces, grip force at onset of load force, peak grip force (PGF), and time to PGF. Results: Compared with peers with typical development, participants with ASD demonstrated prolonged latency between grip and load forces, elevated grip force at onset of load force, and increased movement variability. PGF and time to PGF were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Conclusions: These findings indicate temporal dyscoordination in participants with ASD. The findings also enhance our understanding of motor coordination deficits in persons with ASD and have theoretical as well as clinical implications.