Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intermodal Competition and Compensation in Development

A large literature has attempted to verify experimentally the considerable anecdotal evidence that deprivation of input in one sensory modality leads to compensatory increases in the functioning of remaining modalities. Convincing evidence on this issue from convergent behavioral, physiological, and anatomical descriptions would provide information central to an understanding of how different brain systems become specialized to process different and specific types of information. Are there intrinsic properties of different brain regions that render them a suitable substrate to process certain and not other types of information? What is thc role of specific types of sensory input in the functional differentiation of specialized brain systems? The pertinent human literature on the effects of sensory deprivation consists almost entirely of behavioral studies, and these present a confusing array of results. Some studies report increases, some decreases, and others no differences in abilities of remaining modalities compared with those abilities in intact control subjects. This variability is no doubt due in large part to differences in the age of onset and completeness of blindness or deafness of the population under study. Additionally the etiology of the deafness or blindness is a key variable: For example, deafness secondary to encephalitis is likely to be associated with compromised functioning in several domains and thus make it difficult to separately assess the effects of the sensory deprivation per se. In the small number of studies that have controlled for these factors, there appears to be evidence for the hypothesis that elementary functions, like sensory thresholds and acuity within remaining modalities, may not display compensatory enhancement. In contrast, attentional processing and the spatial localization of information may show such enhancement (Burnstine, Greenough & Tees, 1984; Neville, 1988). Such behavioral data, if upheld, would raise specific hypotheses about the brain regions involved in intermodal compensation. For example, if major effects occur in attentional processing this would implicate nonprimary “association” areas
P‐Glycoprotein (ABCB1) expression in human skin is mainly restricted to dermal components

Abstract: Several transport proteins are constitutively expressed in skin cells, but the putative role of the ABC transporter P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) in human skin is yet unknown. Therefore, we analysed mRNA and protein expression and localization of P‐gp in human skin. Using qRT‐PCR, we demonstrated a strong MDR1 mRNA expression in whole skin specimens and dermis, whereas the expression of MDR1 in epidermis, epidermal keratinocytes or dermal fibroblasts was only weak. Immunohistochemistry confirmed mRNA data and revealed a marked expression of P‐gp within sweat ducts, vessels, nerve sheaths and muscles of human skin and a moderate expression in basal epidermis. Our findings closely correlate with previous studies in murine skin supporting the role of P‐gp in the uptake of compounds from the epidermal compartment and their secretion into the bloodstream and sweat ducts. It may also prevent the uptake of xenobiotics into the skin by functioning as a barrier located in the dermal vasculature.
Investigating the role of proinflammatory CD16+ monocytes in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease

Infiltrating monocytes and macrophages contribute to the initiation and perpetuation of mucosal inflammation characteristic for human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Peripheral blood monocytes expressing the low‐affinity Fcγ receptor CD16 have been identified previously as a major proinflammatory cell population, based on their unique cytokine secretion profile. However, the contribution of these cells to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease remains to be elucidated. Thus, in this study we investigated whether the peripheral CD16+ monocyte count correlates with common IBD disease parameters, and whether these cells infiltrate the intestinal mucosa under inflammatory conditions. We observed that CD16+ peripheral blood monocytes are increased significantly in active Crohn's disease, particularly in patients with high Crohn's disease activity index and colonic involvement. Furthermore, we found that CD16+ cells are a major contributor to the inflammatory infiltrate in Crohn's disease mucosa, although their spontaneous migration through primary human intestinal endothelial cells is limited. Our data suggest that lamina propria, but not peripheral blood, CD16+ monocytes are a crucial proinflammatory cell population in IBD, and a potential target for anti‐inflammatory therapy.
Elevated IL-6 levels correlate with the development of intervertebral disc degeneration : a case-control study and meta-analysis

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the correlation between serum IL-6 levels and the development of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) by conducting a case-control study and meta-analysis. Methods: Between January 2013 and December 2014, 87 IDD patients hospitalized in 307 Hospital of PLA, were regard as the case group and divided into bulging, protrusion and sequestration IDD types. The other 23 traumatic lumbar fracture patients who have received operations were identified as the control group. Visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were used for pain and low back, lower limb dysfunction pre-operatively. The IL-6 levels in nucleus pulposus of intervertebral disc was measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). All relevant casecontrol studies were retrieved under stringent exclusion and inclusion criteria. R 3.1. 0 software was applied for data analysis. Result: Our study showed thatthe IL-6 levels in the case group were evidently higher compared to the control group (all P < 0.05), and the highest IL-6 levels were observed in sequestration IDD type. The highest and lowest VAS and ODI score were respectively found on sequestration and bulging IDD patients. Results of metaanalysis also revealed significant correlation between IDD and serum IL-6 levels (SMD = 3.47, 95% CI = 1.73-5.22, P < 0.001). Serum IL-6 levels were also found to be correlated with the three IDD types (bulging: SMD = 2.41, 95% CI = 1.71-3.11, P < 0.001; protrusion: SMD = 3.27, 95% CI = 2.57-3.96, P < 0.001; sequestration: SMD = 7.33, 95% CI = 5.93-8.74, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that elevated IL-6 levels may correlate with the progression of IDD.
Predicting long‐term carbon mineralization and trace gas production from thawing permafrost of Northeast Siberia

The currently observed Arctic warming will increase permafrost degradation followed by mineralization of formerly frozen organic matter to carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). Despite increasing awareness of permafrost carbon vulnerability, the potential long‐term formation of trace gases from thawing permafrost remains unclear. The objective of the current study is to quantify the potential long‐term release of trace gases from permafrost organic matter. Therefore, Holocene and Pleistocene permafrost deposits were sampled in the Lena River Delta, Northeast Siberia. The sampled permafrost contained between 0.6% and 12.4% organic carbon. CO2 and CH4 production was measured for 1200 days in aerobic and anaerobic incubations at 4 °C. The derived fluxes were used to estimate parameters of a two pool carbon degradation model. Total CO2 production was similar in Holocene permafrost (1.3 ± 0.8 mg CO2‐C gdw−1 aerobically, 0.25 ± 0.13 mg CO2‐C gdw−1 anaerobically) as in 34 000–42 000‐year‐old Pleistocene permafrost (1.6 ± 1.2 mg CO2‐C gdw−1 aerobically, 0.26 ± 0.10 mg CO2‐C gdw−1 anaerobically). The main predictor for carbon mineralization was the content of organic matter. Anaerobic conditions strongly reduced carbon mineralization since only 25% of aerobically mineralized carbon was released as CO2 and CH4 in the absence of oxygen. CH4 production was low or absent in most of the Pleistocene permafrost and always started after a significant delay. After 1200 days on average 3.1% of initial carbon was mineralized to CO2 under aerobic conditions while without oxygen 0.55% were released as CO2 and 0.28% as CH4. The calibrated carbon degradation model predicted cumulative CO2 production over a period of 100 years accounting for 15.1% (aerobic) and 1.8% (anaerobic) of initial organic carbon, which is significantly less than recent estimates. The multiyear time series from the incubation experiments helps to more reliably constrain projections of future trace gas fluxes from thawing permafrost landscapes.
The effect of progesterone, estradiol and serum on RNA synthesis in preimplantation mouse embryos cultured in vitro.

The effect of concentrations of progesterone, from i0�-lOM. on RNA synthesis in pre- implantation mouse embryos was tested. It was found that there was no major stimulation nor inhibition of RNA synthesis in 8-cell or blastocyst mouse embryos cultured in vitro in the presence of progesterone. The same absence of an effect was observed when progesterone and estradiol were administered together. These results complement an earlier study which showed that estra- diol alone does not affect RNA synthesis in preimplantation mouse embryos. Although preim- plantation mouse embryos are refractory to stimulation of RNA synthesis by estradiol and/or progesterone, RNA synthesis is markedly stimulated when the embryos are exposed to 15% mouse serum which was heated to 56#{176}C for 30 mm. The nature of this stimulatory factor is unknown. Nonheated mouse serum was found to inhibit RNA synthesis in 8-cell and 2-cell preimplantation mouse embryos.
Hypertension in dichorionic twin gestations: how is birthweight affected?*

Abstract Objective: To examine the association between hypertension (HTN) and discordant or small for gestational age (SGA) birthweights among dichorionic twin pregnancies. Methods: Retrospective cohort of dichorionic twin pregnancies delivered at ≥24 0/7 weeks from 2002 to 2015. Women with HTN in pregnancy (gestational HTN or preeclampsia) and chronic HTN (cHTN) were compared to those with uncomplicated dichorionic pregnancies. Outcomes were any discordance (≥20% difference within each twin pair), discordance with at least one twin also SGA (≥20% discordance with at least one twin also SGA <10th percentile), and SGA alone of one or both twins (<5th and <10th percentile). Results: 474 Dichorionic pregnancies were identified. Women with HTN in pregnancy had an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 2.68 (95% CI 1.48-4.87) for any discordance and 2.94 (1.57-5.48) for discordance with at least one twin also SGA. These aORs for women with cHTN were 4.65 (1.39-15.52) and 4.37 (1.21-15.76), respectively. Significant differences were not observed for SGA alone of one or both twins. Conclusion: Among dichorionic pregnancies, both women with HTN in pregnancy and cHTN demonstrated increased odds of any discordant growth, as well as discordance with concurrent SGA of at least one twin. Odds of these outcomes were greatest with cHTN.
[Central serous chorioretinopathy and systemic steroid therapy].

BACKGROUND The manifestations of the ocular toxicity of systemic corticosteroids include posterior subcapsular cataracts and glaucoma. We describe 14 cases of serous detachment of the macula due to central serous chorioretinopathy in patients given long-term steroid therapy, which may be another potential ocular side effect of corticosteroid. CASES REPORT The 14 (9 men and 5 women) patients were aged from 39 to 55 year old. Their systemic diseases were allergic thrombopenic purpura, optic neuritis, kidney or heart transplant, Churg and Strauss vasculitis, facial palsy, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus and a kidney tumor. None of the patients had hypertension. RESULTS Serous detachment occurred between 6 days and 10 years after the start of steroid treatment. The higher the doses, the earlier the onset of ocular disease. All patients were symptomatic, with rapid onset of blurred vision. Serous detachment was bilateral in two cases. The fluorescein angiographic finding was in most cases a single small focal hyperfluorescent leak from the retinal pigment epithelium which appeared early in the angiogram and increased in size and intensity. No diffuse degradation of the retinal pigment epithelium was seen on the fluorescein angiogram. Five patients underwent laser photocoagulation of the leaking area followed by resorption of subretinal fluid. In other patients, the symptoms disappeared as the doses of steroid were reduced. CONCLUSION The pathogenesis of central serous chorioretinopathy remains unclear and is controversial. Corticosteroids are known to worsen the prognosis of idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy, and serous detachment has been reported after renal transplantation. In most of these cases, chorioretinopathy was combined with diffuse leakage from the choriocapillaris. We discuss the relationship between steroid therapy and focal leakage as seen in idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy. In conclusion, we describe 14 cases of central serous retinopathy whose clinical and fluorescein angiography were fairly typical, without obvious diffuse degradation of the retinal pigment epithelium. All these patients had been given long-term steroid therapy for various diseases.
Road Traffic Safety Beliefs and Driver Behaviors Among Personality Subtypes of Drivers in the Norwegian Population

Objective: To identify personality clusters of drivers in a population-based sample and to examine differences in safety beliefs, driver behaviors, and demographics between these clusters. Methods: A mailed self-completion questionnaire survey was conducted in a random sample of Norwegian drivers obtained from the Norwegian Population Registry (n = 1731). Results: Cluster analysis reflected 4 personality subtypes of drivers. The first cluster consisted of drivers with low normlessness and sensation seeking but high anxiety. The second cluster reported elevated scores on all 3 measured traits, whereas the third cluster had low scores on all traits. The fourth cluster reported low anxiety but high normlessness and sensation seeking. People in the latter cluster reported unsafe road traffic safety beliefs and driver behaviors. These individuals were also more likely to be males and adolescents. People with low normlessness and sensation seeking coupled with high anxiety reported the safest beliefs and behaviors, and this cluster mainly contained females and older individuals. Conclusions: Countermeasures aimed to reduce the frequency of road traffic accidents should be targeted to specific personality risk groups. Personality traits may also be used in early identification and intervention among risky drivers. Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Traffic Injury Prevention to view the supplemental file.
Directional climate change and potential reversal of desertification in arid and semiarid ecosystems

Our objective was to determine if long‐term increases in precipitation can maintain grasslands susceptible to desertification, and initiate a reversal of historic regime shifts on desertified shrublands. Perennial grass production and species richness in a multi‐year wet period were hypothesized to be greater than expected based on precipitation in a sequence of dry years. These responses were expected to differ for grasslands and shrublands with different dominant species and topo‐edaphic properties. Long‐term trends in desertification were documented using vegetation maps beginning in 1858, 1915, 1928, and 1998). These trends were compared with herbaceous and woody species responses to a sequence of dry (1994–2003) and wet years (2004–2008) for two grassland (uplands, playas) and three desertified shrubland types (honey mesquite, creosotebush, tarbush) in the Chihuahuan Desert. Analyses showed that both types of grasslands decreased in spatial extent since 1858 whereas areas dominated by mesquite or creosotebush increased. Production of upland grasslands in the wet period was greater than expected based on responses during the dry period whereas the relationships between species richness and precipitation was the same for both periods. Precipitation was not important to responses in playa grasslands in either period. For all ecosystem types, the production response in wet years primarily was an increase in herbaceous plants, and the most pronounced responses occurred on sandy sites (upland grasslands, mesquite shrubland). Results suggest that multiple wet years are needed to initiate a sequence of grass establishment and survival processes that can maintain upland grasslands without management inputs and lead to a state change reversal in desertified shrublands. Restoration strategies need to take advantage of opportunities provided by future climates while recognizing the importance of ecosystem type.
Deliberate overfeeding in women and men: energy cost and composition of the weight gain

1. Thirteen adult females and two males were overfed a total of 79–159 MJ (1900–38 000 kcal) during a 3-week period at the Clinical Research Center, Rochester. The average energy cost of the weight gain was 28 kJ (6.7 kcal)/g, and about half the gain consisted of lean body mass (LBM) as estimated by 40Kcounting. 2. A survey of the literature disclosed twenty-eight normal males and five females who had been overfed a total of 104–362 MJ (2500–87000 kcal) under controlled conditions: twenty-five of these had assays of body composition, and three had complete nitrogen balances. 3. When these values were combined with those from our subjects (total forty-eight), there was a significant correlation between weight gain and total excess energy consumed (r 0.77, P < 0.01) and between LBM gain and excess energy (r 0.49, P < 0.01). Based on means the energy cost was 33.7 kJ (8.05 kcal)/g gain and 43.6% of the gain was LBM; from regression analysis these values were 33.7 kJ (8.05 kcal)/g gain and 38.4% of gain as LBM. 4. Individual variations in the response could not be explained on the basis of sex, initial body-weight or fat content, duration of overfeeding, type of food eaten, amount of daily food consumption or, in a subset of subjects, on smoking behaviour. 5. The average energy cost of the weight gain was close to the theoretical value of 33.8 kJ (8.08 kcal)/g derived from the composition of the tissue gained.
Craniocaudal retroperitoneal node length as a risk factor for relapse from clinical stage I testicular germ cell tumor.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate whether retroperitoneal craniocaudal nodal length or nodal volume predicts relapse risk in stage I testicular cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 826 testicular cancer patients. Of these 826 patients, 118 had stage I disease and either less than 2 years of surveillance or retroperitoneal lymph node dissection with no adjuvant chemotherapy. These patients formed our analytic cohort, and 3D nodal volumes and craniocaudal nodal length were measured. Association between relapse risk and craniocaudal nodal length and nodal volume was evaluated using univariable or multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for known prognostic factors. RESULTS Sixty-six (56%) of 118 patients had nonseminomatous germ cell tumor and 52 (44%) had seminomatous germ cell tumor. Craniocaudal nodal length proved to be an independent risk factor in nonseminomatous germ cell tumors using a multivariable logistic regression model adjusting for other potential known risk factors of embryonal predominance and lymphovascular invasion. For every 3-mm increase in craniocaudal nodal length, the risk of relapse increased by 52% (odds ratio [OR], 1.52; 95% CI, 1.03-2.25). For patients with seminomas, only primary tumor size was an independent risk factor for relapse (1.34, 1.02-1.75). CONCLUSION In nonseminomatous germ cell tumors, craniocaudal nodal length was shown to be associated with increased risk of relapse independently of other known risk factors. If validated in an independent cohort, craniocaudal nodal length could provide important additional information to inform management decisions in these patients.
Pulse wave amplitude is associated with brachial artery diameter: Implications for gender differences in microvascular function

The ratio of pulse wave amplitude (PWA) during reactive hyperemia compared to baseline as measured by peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) is a non-invasive measure of microvascular endothelial function referred to as the pulse wave amplitude reactive hyperemia index (PWA-RHI). Whether upstream conduit vessel structure may affect downstream resistance vessel PWA has not been clearly examined. We tested the hypothesis that digital PWA is influenced by brachial artery diameter (BAD) and that this association would influence comparison of PWA-RHI between genders. Measures of vascular structure and microvascular function were carried out in 115 patients varying in cardiovascular risk profiles (average age 57 years, male n = 79, CAD n = 43). PWA was assessed using plethysmography at baseline and following 5 minutes of brachial artery occlusion. BAD was assessed using high-resolution ultrasonography. Results : There was a negative association between BAD and PWA-RHI ( r = —0.34, p < 0.05). Women had greater PWA-RHI and smaller BAD compared with men (p < 0.05). When co-varying for BAD, there were no longer gender differences in PWA-RHI. Moreover, when a sub-group of men and women without CAD (n = 40), matched for BAD, were examined, there were no gender differences in PWA-RHI. In conclusion, PWA-RHI obtained from PAT is associated with BAD. Studies examining gender differences in microvascular endothelial function with PAT may need to correct for BAD as a potential confounder.
Sistema para cálculo do balanço nutricional e recomendação de corretivos e fertilizantes para cana-de-açúcar

x 1. INTRODUÇÃO . 1 2. REVISÃO DE LITERATURA . 4 2.1. Cana-de-açúcar: origem, solos e Sistema produtivo . 4 2.2. Efeito da nutrição mineral na cultura da cana-de-açúcar . 8 2.2.1. Teor e extração de nutrientes pela cana -de-açúcar . 9 2.2.2. Nitrogênio . 14 2.2.3. Potássio . 17 2.2. 4. Fósforo . 18 2.2. 5. Cálcio e magnésio . 21 2.2. 6. Enxofre . 23 2.2. 7. Micronutrientes . 23 2.3. Recomendações de adubação e estado nutricional da cultura da cana-de-açúcar no Brasil . 24
Comparison of exercise electrocardiography and dobutamine echocardiography

It is uncertain whether dobutamine echocardiography is a better test than exercise electrocardiography for the detection of coronary disease in patients who can exercise. We compared the hemodynamics, sensitivity, and specificity of these tests in 24 patients, 16 with coronary disease and 8 controls. The tests were performed within six weeks of one another and were interpreted without knowledge of other clinical data. The exercise electrocardiogram was considered abnormal if the patient developed one mm of ST‐segment depression, while the dobutamine test (up to 40 μg/kg/min) was considered abnormal if the patient developed ST‐segment depression or a left ventricular wall motion abnormality. Exercise testing resulted in a higher heart rate (145±29 vs. 110±24, p<0.001) and blood pressure (176±31 vs. 148±24, p<0.001). Dobutamine testing was 25% more sensitive than exercise testing (94 vs. 69%, 95% confidence interval for difference is 0 to 50%, p=0.09), while exercise testing was 38% more specific (88 vs. 50%, 95% confidence interval for difference is –3 to 79%, p=0.14). We conclude that exercise results in a higher heart rate and blood pressure than dobutamine infusion. Differences in sensitivity and specificity are inconclusive, but indicate that the sensitivity of exercise testing is, at best, equivalent to dobutamine testing, while any increase in specificity with dobutamine testing, compared with exercise testing, would not be clinically significant.