Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Localization and responses of neurones in the parieto‐insular vestibular cortex of awake monkeys (Macaca fascicularis).

1. In four Java monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) 152 vestibular neurones were recorded in the parietal cortex located in the upper bank of the lateral sulcus near the posterior end of the insula. We called this region parieto‐insular vestibular cortex (PIVC). PIVC extends about 6‐8 mm in the anterior‐posterior direction from the posterior part of the insula into the retroinsular region (stereotaxic co‐ordinates: anterior 4‐12 mm, lateral 16‐19 mm and vertical 3‐6 mm). 2. About two‐thirds of the neurones recorded from this region responded to vestibular stimuli; the non‐vestibular neurones responded predominantly to somatosensory stimulation of the neck and shoulder region. The PIVC area is a polysensory field, since almost all vestibular neurones were also activated by somatosensory and visual stimuli. Large‐field optokinetic stimulation was the most effective visual stimulus. 3. With vestibular stimuli, responses to angular acceleration were dominant; steady tilt in darkness rarely led to any change in neuronal spontaneous activity. Of sixty‐four neurones tested by rotation in more than one plane, fifty‐four responded to excitation of semicircular canal receptors aroused by rotation in more than one of the three experimental planes (roll, yaw, pitch). Compared with vestibular brain stem units PIVC neurones discharged with a higher variability. 4. In the responses to horizontal rotation of the animal 38% type I, 53% type II and 9% type III units were recorded (classification according to Duensing & Schaefer, 1958). The gain measured with horizontal sinewave rotation was lower by a factor of about 4 in PIVC neurones as compared with the responses of vestibular neurones in the brain stem or thalamus (VPL). The phase response characteristics and the gain increase with increasing sinewave stimulus frequency, however, were in the same range as observed in neurones of the afferent vestibular system. 5. When the vestibular responses to sinusoidal rotation were tested in all three experimental planes (yaw, roll, pitch), the response strength as expressed by the amplitude of the peristimulus time histograms (PSTHs) differed for the three rotational planes. For different units the relative sensitivity to rotation in each of the three planes also differed. We concluded from this observation that different PIVC units had different optimum sensitivity planes for rotation with respect to the head co‐ordinates, whereby all possible planes are represented.
Novel aspinolide production by Trichoderma arundinaceum with a potential role in Botrytis cinerea antagonistic activity and plant defence priming.

Harzianum A (HA), a trichothecene produced by Trichoderma arundinaceum, has recently been described to have antagonistic activity against fungal plant pathogens and to induce plant defence genes. In the present work, we have shown that a tri5 gene-disrupted mutant that lacks HA production overproduces two polyketides, aspinolides B and C, which were not detected in the wild-type strain. Furthermore, four new aspinolides (D-G) were characterized. These compounds confirm that a terpene-polyketide cross-pathway exists in T. arundinaceum, and they may be responsible for the antifungal activity and the plant sensitization effect observed with the tri5-disrupted mutant. In addition, the molecular changes involving virulence factors in the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea 98 (Bc98) during interaction with T. arundinaceum were investigated. The expression of genes involved in the production of botrydial by Bc98 was relatively repressed by HA, whereas other virulence genes of this pathogen were induced by the presence of T. arundinaceum, for example atrB and pg1 which encode for an ABC transporter and endopolygalacturonase 1 respectively. In addition, the interaction with Bc98 significantly repressed the production of HA by T. arundinaceum, indicating that a bidirectional transcriptional regulation is established between these two antagonistic fungi.
Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Using Platinum-Based Regimens for Stage Ib2-II Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Non-Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix

The methods used for treating stage Ib2-IIb cervical cancers, with a bulky mass, differ between Japan and Western countries. In Western countries, concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) has been recommended as a standard therapy for such tumors based on the results of multiple large-scale randomized trials and meta-analyses (Morris et al., 1999; Rose et al., 1999; Whitney et al., 1999; Pearcey et al., 2002; Eifel et al. 2004; Green et al. 2001; Lukka et al., 2002). In Japan, Korea, Italy and some other countries, the neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) approach has been extensively introduced to clinical practice (Sugiyama et al., 1999). NAC is considered to be clinically significant in 2 respects: it is expected to improve the radicality and safety of surgery by reducing tumor size; and it is expected to exert systemic effects, i.e., effects on lymph node occult micrometastases, etc. A disadvantage of NAC is delayed initiation of the primary treatment, suggesting the necessity of completing NAC as an auxiliary therapy within a short period of time. Therefore, we may find that NAC is valuable if it can exert efficacy rapidly with high platinum dose intensity (DI), assuring that subsequent primary surgical therapy can be performed as soon as possible. At our facility, a platinum-based regimen has been used for NAC in patients with cervical cancer. Herein, we review the efficacy and safety data on NAC for squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. We previously reported our interim data and now present the results of an ongoing pilot study on the efficacy and safety of NAC for non-squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix.
Parents’ Experiences Following Children’s Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Little is understood about parents’ experiences following children’s moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Using descriptive phenomenology, we explored common experiences of parents whose children were diagnosed with moderate to severe TBI. Parents from across the United States (N = 42, from 37 families) participated in two semistructured interviews (~ 90 minutes in length and 12 to 15 months apart) in the first 5 years following children’s TBI. First interviews were in person. Second interviews, done in person or by phone, facilitated updating parents’ experiences and garnering their critique of the descriptive model. Parent themes were (a) grateful to still have my child, (b) grieving for the child I knew, (c) running on nerves, and (d) grappling to get what my child and family need. Parents reported cultural barriers because of others’ misunderstandings. More qualitative inquiry is needed to understand how the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and culture-based expectations of others influence parents’ interactions and the family’s adjustment and well-being.
The alpha subunit of inhibin in adrenal cortical neoplasia.

We analyzed 23 adrenal adenomas and 15 adrenal cortical carcinomas by immunolabeling for the alpha subunit of inhibin, and we then compared the results with the functional status of the neoplasms. We also studied 19 pheochromocytomas, 30 renal cell carcinomas, and 5 extra-adrenal paragangliomas, tumors posing differential diagnostic problems with adrenal cortical neoplasms. Immunolabeling was performed using automated immunohistochemical methods and an antibody directed against the alpha subunit. Tumors were semiquantitatively assessed for the number of positive cells. Immunopositivity was obtained in 18 (78%) of 23 adrenal cortical adenomas, 12 (80%) of 15 adrenal cortical carcinomas, 2 (11%) of 19 pheochromocytomas, 0 of 5 extra-adrenal paragangliomas, and 0 of 30 renal cell carcinomas. Immunoreactivity was strong in 7 (78%) of 9 adrenal cortical tumors from patients with Cushing's-related or virilizing symptoms. In contrast, only 4 (14%) of 29 tumors that were clinically nonfunctioning or associated with hyperaldosteronism demonstrated strong staining (P < .001). In clinically nonfunctioning tumors, there was a tendency for increased immunopositivity in tumors from patients with elevated levels of cortisol, androgen, or their precursors, with four of six tumors having at least moderate immunopositivity. Similar reactivity was present in only one of eight tumors from patients with normal laboratory values (P=.091). Moderate or strong immunopositivity was present in 9 (60%) of 15 adrenal cortical carcinomas, whereas of the pheochromocytomas, extra-adrenal paragangliomas, and renal cell carcinomas, only 1 (1.9%) of 54 showed moderate-to-strong reactivity. We conclude that moderate or strong immunoreactivity for the alpha subunit of inhibin occurs in adrenal cortical tumors from patients with Cushing's-related or virilizing symptoms. Immunolabeling for the inhibin alpha subunit is potentially useful in the differential diagnosis of neoplasms that include adrenal cortical carcinomas.
Upregulation of Stat 1-HDAC 4 confers resistance to etoposide through enhanced multidrug resistance 1 expression in human A 549 lung cancer cells

Despite efforts to develop efficient chemotherapeutic drug strategies to treat cancer, acquired drug resistance is a commonly encountered problem. In the present study, to investigate this phenomenon, human A549 lung cancer cells resistant to the topoisomerase inhibitor etoposide (A549RT‐eto) were used and compared with A549 parental cells. A549RT‐eto cells demonstrated increased resistance to etoposide‐induced apoptosis when compared with A549 parental cells. Notably, A549RT‐eto cells were observed to exhibit greater levels of histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4), phospho‐Stat1 and P‐glycoprotein [P‐gp; encoded by the multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene], compared with A549 cells. To address whether HDAC4 protein is involved in etoposide resistance in A549 cells, A549RT‐eto cells were treated with trichostatin A (TSA; an HDAC inhibitor) during etoposide treatment. The combined treatment was demonstrated to enhance etoposide‐induced apoptosis and reduce expression levels of HDAC4, P‐gp and phospho‐Stat1. In addition, the suppression of Stat1 with siRNA enhanced etoposide‐induced apoptosis and reduced the expression levels of HDAC4 and P‐gp, suggesting that Stat1 is essential in the regulation of resistance to etoposide, and in the upregulation of P‐gp. Notably, TSA treatment reduced P‐gp transcript levels but Stat1 siRNA treatment did not, suggesting that P‐gp is regulated by HDAC at the transcriptional level and by Stat1 at the post‐transcriptional level. These results suggest that the upregulation of Stat1 and HDAC4 determines etoposide resistance through P‐gp expression in human A549 lung cancer cells.
MRL: a real-time rule-based production system

The response time analysis of rule-based expert systems is discussed. The rule-based production system MRL (macro-rule-based language) is introduced. MRL has been designed to facilitate more accurate analysis of the response times of programs while maintaining the flexibility and expressiveness of traditional production systems such as OPS5. Research on modular analysis of rule-based systems is described. Several timing analysis algorithms based on this approach have been developed. One of them, a fixed-point detection algorithm is discussed to show that efficient and effective analysis of MRL programs can be achieved. In particular, a general technique called the transfer principle is introduced for exploiting analysis algorithms which are simpler to analyze. The design of the match algorithm Rhyme, an algorithm uniquely suited for more accurate analysis of the performance of real-time expert systems, is presented. <<ETX>>
Physical Activity Benefits and Risks on the Gastrointestinal System

Abstract This review evaluates the current understanding of the benefits and risks of physical activity and exercise on the gastrointestinal system. A significant portion of endurance athletes are affected by gastrointestinal symptoms, but most symptoms are transient and do not have long-term consequences. Conversely, physical activity may have a protective effect on the gastrointestinal system. There is convincing evidence that physical activity reduces the risk of colon cancer. The evidence is less convincing for gastric and pancreatic cancers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, peptic ulcer disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, cholelithiasis, diverticular disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and constipation. Physical activity may reduce the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and inflammatory bowel disease, although this has not been proven unequivocally. This article provides a critical review of the evidence-based literature concerning exercise and physical activity effects on the gastrointestinal system and provides physicians with a better understanding of the evidence behind exercise prescriptions for patients with gastrointestinal disorders. Well-designed prospective randomized trials evaluating the risks and benefits of exercise and physical activity on gastrointestinal disorders are recommended for future research.
A method of dosimetry for synchrotron microbeam radiation therapy using radiochromic films of different sensitivity

This paper describes a method of film dosimetry used to measure the peak-to-valley dose ratios for synchrotron microbeam radiation therapy (MRT). Two types of radiochromic film (manufactured by International Specialty Products, NJ, USA) were irradiated in a phantom and also flush against a microbeam collimator (beam width 25 µm, centre-to-centre spacing 200 µm) on beamline BL28 B2 at the SPring-8 synchrotron. Four experiments are reported: (1) the HD-810 and EBT varieties of radiochromic film were used to record ‘peak’ dose and ‘valley’ (regions in between peaks) dose, respectively; (2) a stack of HD-810 film sheets was microbeam-irradiated and analysed to investigate a possible dose build-up effect; (3) a very high MRT dose was delivered to HD-810 film to elicit a measurable valley dose to compare with the result obtained using broad beam radiation; (4) the half value layer of the beam with and without the microbeam collimator was measured to investigate the effect of the collimator on the beam quality. The valley dose obtained for films placed flush against the collimator was approximately 0.2% of the peak dose. Within the water phantom, the valley dose had increased to between 0.7 and 1.8% of the peak dose, depending on the depth in the phantom. We also demonstrated, experimentally and by Monte Carlo simulation, that the dose is not maximal on the surface and that there is a dose build-up effect. The microbeam collimator did not make an appreciable difference to the beam quality. The values of the peak-to-valley ratio reported in this paper are higher than those predicted by previously published Monte Carlo simulation papers.
Improved Sensitivity for Methotrexate Analysis Using Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay Technique on the Siemens Viva-E Instrument

Background The available assay kit for methotrexate (MTX) using the Syva enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) reagents on the Siemens Viva-E instrument allows for the detection of MTX in serum or plasma to concentrations as low as 0.3 &mgr;mole/L. Current clinical decision points for MTX therapeutic drug monitoring and leucorvorin rescue exist at concentrations below that limit. Objective The goal of this study was to lower the limit of MTX quantitation to 0.05 &mgr;mole/L using the EMIT assay technology. Methods EMIT MTX assay parameters were modified on the Viva-E instrument to increase the sample volume, alter the calibration method, and employ an alternate calibrator set created to achieve lower detection. Intraassay and interassay precision was assessed for MTX controls. Results We observed a CV of 9.4% for intraassay precision with a bias of <0.01% and a CV of 15.7% for interassay precision with a bias of 22.5% for the 0.05 &mgr;mole/L control. Precision data for all other controls were <4%. The modified EMIT MTX assay and the unmodified approved assay were compared with a high sensitivity fluorescence polarization immunoassay method. Linear regression of correlation data revealed that both the modified and the commercial EMIT assays produced positive bias compared with the high sensitivity fluorescence polarization immunoassay method (y-int = 0.03 and 0.08, respectively). However, the modified EMIT assay had the best correlation in the low range (0.03–2 &mgr;mole/L). Additionally, endogenous and chemical interference testing demonstrated that the modified assay was not affected to a clinically significant extent. Conclusions The described modifications have enhanced the sensitivity of the Syva EMIT assay for MTX measurements down to 0.05 &mgr;mole/L with acceptable precision that can be used in clinical practice for monitoring MTX therapy.
Tissue-specificity of heparan sulfate biosynthetic machinery in cancer

Heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans are key components of cell microenvironment and fine structure of their polysaccharide HS chains plays an important role in cell-cell interactions, adhesion, migration and signaling. It is formed on non-template basis, so, structure and functional activity of HS biosynthetic machinery is crucial for correct HS biosynthesis and post-synthetic modification. To reveal cancer-related changes in transcriptional pattern of HS biosynthetic system, the expression of HS metabolism-involved genes (EXT1/2, NDST1/2, GLCE, 3OST1/HS3ST1, SULF1/2, HPSE) in human normal (fibroblasts, PNT2) and cancer (MCF7, LNCaP, PC3, DU145, H157, H647, A549, U2020, U87, HT116, KRC/Y) cell lines and breast, prostate, colon tumors was studied. Real-time RT-PCR and Western-blot analyses revealed specific transcriptional patterns and expression levels of HS biosynthetic system both in different cell lines in vitro and cancers in vivo. Balance between transcriptional activities of elongation- and post-synthetic modification- involved genes was suggested as most informative parameter for HS biosynthetic machinery characterization. Normal human fibroblasts showed elongation-oriented HS biosynthesis, while PNT2 prostate epithelial cells had modification-oriented one. However, cancer epithelial cells demonstrated common tendency to acquire fibroblast-like elongation-oriented mode of HS biosynthetic system. Surprisingly, aggressive metastatic cancer cells (U2020, DU145, KRC/Y) retained modification-oriented HS biosynthesis similar to normal PNT2 cells, possibly enabling the cells to keep like-to-normal cell surface glycosylation pattern to escape antimetastatic control. The obtained results show the cell type-specific changes of HS-biosynthetic machinery in cancer cells in vitro and tissue-specific changes in different cancers in vivo, supporting a close involvement of HS biosynthetic system in carcinogenesis.
High Vitamin D–Binding Protein Concentration, Low Albumin, and Mode of Remission Predict Relapse in Crohn's Disease

Background:Vitamin D (25(OH)D) deficiency occurs in active Crohn's disease (CD) and may be secondary to reduced sunlight exposure and oral intake. Vitamin D–binding protein (VDBP) levels, however, fluctuate less with season and sunlight. The aim, therefore, was to examine patients with CD in remission and determine any associations between VDBP, serum 25(OH)D, and the calculated free 25(OH)D concentrations with the risk of disease flare. Methods:Subjects were identified from prospectively maintained inflammatory bowel disease databases at 3 teaching hospitals in Australia. Patients were in steroid-free clinical remission at the time of blood draw and were followed for at least 12 months. Total and epimer-25(OH)D3, VDBP concentrations, and genotypes were determined. Results:A total of 309 patients with CD (46% men) met the inclusion criteria. A disease flare occurred in 100 (32.4%). Serum 25(OH)D3 was deficient (<50 nmol/L) in 36 (12%) and insufficient (50–75 nmol/L) in 107 (35%) patients. Total, free, and epimer-25(OH)D3 serum levels did not predict disease flare. Higher VDBP concentrations, however, significantly correlated with increased risk of disease flare (hazard ratio 1.2, 95% CI, 1.0–1.5). On multivariate analysis, VDBP concentration, low albumin, and medication-induced remission were significantly more associated with disease flare. VDBP genotypes were significantly associated with 25(OH)D and VDBP concentrations but not disease flare. Conclusions:Vitamin D deficiency was uncommon in our patients with CD in remission, and serum 25(OH)D3 did not predict disease flare, whereas higher VDBP concentrations were significantly associated with disease flare. Further investigations to explore the possible mechanisms for this association are warranted.
Neighborhood unions and hamilton cycles

Let G be a graph on n vertices and N2(G) denote the minimum size of N(u) ∪ N(v) taken over all pairs of independent vertices u, v of G. We show that if G is 3-connected and N2(G) ⩾ ½(n + 1), then G has a Hamilton cycle. We show further that if G is 2-connected and N2(G) ⩾ ½(n + 3), then either G has a Hamilton cycle or else G belongs to one of three families of exceptional graphs.
The influence of voids in solder joints on thermal performance and reliability investigated with transient thermal analysis

The thermal management of modern high power LEDs is essential for their life time. An important aspect is the thermal path from the heat generated in the LED die and phosphor, over the printed circuit board (PCB) to the heat sink. The temperature of the LED die depends on the quality of the solder joint between the LED package and the copper pads on the PCB. To evaluate the quality of the solder joint the transient thermal analysis is a powerful tool. In this paper the relative thermal resistance method is applied to detect the initial increase of the thermal resistance by voids in the solder joint and furthermore the impact of the initial voids on the reliability of the ceramic LED packages. The investigation in this paper reveals that the samples with voids have initially solely a slightly higher thermal resistance but the voids cause a significant faster thermal degradation during temperature shock test due to increased crack growth in the solder joint.
School Type, Parental Influence and Mathematics Attitudes-Achievement Relationship: A Quantile Analysis

In this paper, we report the findings of a study on the impact of school category and parental assistance with homework on the mathematics attitude and achievement of senior secondary school students in Botswana. We adopted a quantile regression (QReg) method to analyse the relationship between attitudes and achievement, and also adopted a chi-square and independent sample t-test analyses. The advantage of the quantile regression (QReg) is that it establishes the relationship at the quantile (percentile) levels and does not require the parametric assumptions usually used in the Ordinary Least Square Regression (OReg). The findings showed that positive attitude significantly influenced the mathematics achievement of students across all the achievement quantiles of the QReg. The QReg also indicated that the school category had an effect across all quantiles except at the 5th percentile. Furthermore, the QReg indicated that at the 95th percentile, parental assistance with homework was very crucial in mathematics achievement. These findings implied that the OLS did not sufficiently capture the extreme tail characteristics of the mathematics achievement-attitude relationship. In particular, we observed that at the uppermost tail of mathematics achievements, parental assistance with homework explained better mathematics achievements than attitude. The authors concluded that the QReg method was an innovation to bridge the methodological gaps in previous similar studies. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2014. v4n6p221