Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Corpus callosum atrophy is a possible indicator of region- and cell type-specific neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer disease: a magnetic resonance imaging analysis.

BACKGROUND Pathological studies in Alzheimer disease indicate the specific loss of layer III and V large pyramidal neurons in association cortex. These neurons give rise to long corticocortical connections within and between the cerebral hemispheres. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the corpus callosum as an in vivo marker for cortical neuronal loss. METHOD Using a new imaging technique, we measured region-specific corpus callosum atrophy in patients with Alzheimer disease and correlated the changes with neuropsychological functioning. Total cross-sectional area of the corpus callosum and areas of 5 callosal subregions were measured on midsagittal magnetic resonance imaging scans of 14 patients with Alzheimer disease (mean age, 64.4 years; Mini-Mental State Examination score, 11.4) and 22 healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects (mean age, 66.6 years; Mini-Mental State Examination score, 29.8). All subjects had minimal white matter changes. RESULTS The total callosal area was significantly reduced in the patients with Alzheimer disease, with the greatest changes in the rostrum and splenium and relative sparing of the callosal body. Regional callosal atrophy correlated significantly with cognitive impairment in the patients with Alzheimer disease, but not with age or the white matter hyperintensities score. CONCLUSIONS Callosal atrophy in patients with Alzheimer disease with only minimal white matter changes may indicate loss of callosal efferent neurons in corresponding regions of the cortex. Because these neurons are a subset of corticocortical projecting neurons, region-specific callosal atrophy may serve as a marker of progressive neocortical disconnection in Alzheimer disease.
Enhancement of adenovirus transformation of cloned rat embryo fibroblast cells by gamma irradiation

We have analyzed the effect of γ irradiation on the induction of morphological transformation of cloned rat embryo fibroblast (CREF) cells by the host‐range cold‐sensitive type 5 adenovirus mutant, H5hr1. Treatment of CREF cells with 1–6 Gy of γ irradiation immediately prior to viral infection resulted in dose‐dependent decrease in cell survival and concomitant increase in viral transformation frequency. Exposure of CREF cells to 1–6 Gy of γ radiation alone resulted in a similar dose‐dependent inhibition in cell survival but without any subsequent morphological transformation. The effect of γ irradiation on viral transformation was greatest when cells were irradiated directly before viral infection. The reduction in the enhancement of transformation was both dose and time dependent. The ability of γ irradiation to enhance viral transformation was substantially reduced if CREF cells were treated with inhibitors of RNA (actinomycin D) and protein (cycloheximide) synthesis. Employing a single‐cell colony transfer assay and in situ hybridization with a 32P‐labeled Ad5 DNA probe, we found that γ irradiation of CREF cells prior to infection with H5hr1 resulted, 10 and 17 d after infection and replating, in an increase in the percentage of surviving CREF colonies that contain Ad5 DNA. Analysis of viral DNA integration by DNA‐filter hybridization (Southern blot analysis) in H5hr1‐transformed CREF clones isolated from untreated and γ‐irradiated cultures indicates that γ irradiation caused increases in both the number of copies of Ad5 E1A DNA sequences integrated into cellular DNA and the number of unique Ad5 E1A DNA integration sites in transformed cells. These results indicate that γ irradiation enhancement of adenovirus transformation was a consequence of radiation‐induced cellular factors with finite life spans that are mediators of enhanced viral transformation. Potentially important components of the radiation enhancement process appear to involve an alteration in both the retention of free Ad5 DNA in surviving cells and an alteration in the profile of viral‐DNA integration in γ‐irradiated cells.
Environmental Iodine Content, Female Sex and Age Are Associated with New-Onset Amiodarone-Induced Hypothyroidism: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Adverse Reactions of Amiodarone on the Thyroid

Objectives: To investigate the incidence of new-onset amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism (AIH) and the associated risk factors. Methods: We performed a systematic search in MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library and the Chinese database from 1995 to 2015. Studies that investigated amiodarone-related adverse reactions on the thyroid were included. A random-effect model was used for the meta-analysis to investigate the incidence rate of AIH and associated risk factors. Results: We identified 465 studies, of which data from 9 studies were included, comprising 1,972 patients. The incidence of AIH was 14.0% (95% confidence interval, CI, 8.7-21.7%) as a whole; it was higher in areas with a high than a low iodine content in the environment (20.3 vs. 8.7%, p < 0.001); subgroup analysis showed that AIH occurred in 19.2% (95% CI 10.2-33.1%) of women and 13.3% (95% CI 7.9-21.7%) of men (p < 0.001). Meta-regression analysis indicated a positive correlation with the mean age and percentage of women. Conclusions: The occurrence of AIH is a relatively frequent complication of amiodarone, and older women are more likely to develop AIH, especially in areas with a high iodine content in the environment, and restriction of total exposure to iodine might decrease the incidence of AIH.
Hereditary aspects of occipital bone hypoplasia and syringomyelia (Chiari type I malformation) in cavalier King Charles spaniels

A database of over 1300 cavalier King Charles spaniels spanning 20 generations was established by obtaining pedigree information from 45 dogs with syringomyelia secondary to occipital bone hypoplasia. These data were supplemented with published information from the breed club. The incidence of syringomyelia was very high in certain families and lines which had been extensively inbred. The affected dogs could be traced back to one bitch born in 1956 and the two offspring from her single lifter. Four key dogs representing four major breeding lines consistently occurred within the individual pedigrees. If a dog had more than five of its eight great-grandparents descended from these four lines there was a greater chance of it having syringomyelia. The data from this preliminary study suggest that occipital bone hypoplasia is hereditary in the cavalier King Charles spaniel and that its inheritance is more likely to be autosomal recessive because both dam and sire must be inbred descendants from certain lines. However, the inheritance is more likely to be of variable penetrance or oligogenic than simple.
Biocompatible evaluation of barium titanate foamed ceramic structures for orthopedic applications.

The potential of barium titanate (BT) to be electrically active makes it a material of interest in regenerative medicine. To enhance the understanding of this material for orthopedic applications, the in vitro biocompatibility of porous BT fabricated using a direct foaming technique was investigated. Characterization of the resultant foams yielded an overall porosity between 50 and 70% with average pore size in excess of 30 µm in diameter. A mouse osteoblast (7F2) cell line was cultured with the BT to determine the extent of the foams' toxicity using a LDH assay. After 72 h, BT foams showed a comparable cytotoxicity of 6.4 ± 0.8% to the 8.4 ± 1.5% of porous 45S5 Bioglass®. The in vitro inflammatory response elicited from porous BT was measured as a function of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) secreted from a human monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1). Results indicate that the BT foams do not cause a significant inflammatory response, eliciting a 9.4 ± 1.3 pg of TNF-α per mL of media compared with 20.2 ± 2.3 pg/mL from untreated cells. These results indicate that porous BT does not exhibit short term cytotoxicity and has potential for orthopedic tissue engineering applications.
GROWTH DYNAMICS OF ULVA ROTUNDATA (CHLOROPHYTA) IN A FISH FARM: IMPLICATIONS FOR BIOMITIGATION AT A LARGE SCALE 1

Changes in biomass of several macroalgae [Ulva rotundata Bliding; Gracilariopsis longissima (S. G. Gmel.) Steentoft, L. M. Irvine et Farnham; Ulva intestinalis L. ; and Cladophora sp. ] and marine plants (Zostera noltii and Ruppia cirrhosa) growing naturally in earthen ponds of a fish farm (Acuinova, San Fernando, Southern Spain) were recorded during a year. The farm is mainly devoted to the culture of gilthered seabream (Sparus aurata). The most conspicuous algal species thriving in the ponds was U. rotundata, which reached densities up to 600 g dry mass · m−2 and produced up to 20.45 g C · m−2 · d−1. Dissolved nutrients (phosphate and ammonium), tissue nutrient content, and growth rates of this species were estimated during 2001 and 2002. Evidence of natural biomitigation by U. rotundata when water circulates throughout the fish farm is presented. Due to the fish cultivation, both phosphate and ammonium increased as water circulated from the preculture ponds to the postculture ponds. As a consequence, U. rotundata tissue nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) increased from algae growing in preculture ponds to algae growing in the outflow channel, so that mean C:N:P ratio varied from 773:57:1 in preculture ponds to 567:64:1 in the outflow channel. Phosphorus limited growth of U. rotundata during the spring. As growth rates increased as a function of tissue P, data were fitted to the Droop equation. From this equation, the estimated maximal growth rate was 0.295 ± 0.041 d−1, the subsistence quota was 0.05 ± 0.01% P of dry mass, and the critical quota was 0.215% P of dry mass. The results suggest that management of the fish farm based on a large‐scale integrated mariculture system of fish and macroalgae may increase the total ecological and economic benefits, both for the farm and for the environment.
Identification of drought induced differentially expressed genes in barley leaves using the annealing control-primer-based GeneFishing technique

In the present study, we have used an annealing-control-primer (ACP)-based differential display reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method to identify drought-stress-induced differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in barley leaves. Using 120 ACPs, a total of 12 up-regulated and 3 down-regulated genes were identified and sequenced. Temporal expression patterns of the 15 up- or down-regulated drought-responsive DEGs were further analyzed by Northern blot analysis. Temporal expression analysis of several candidate genes revealed that within 6 h the mRNA expression was increased and maintained at a high level up to 48h after drought stress. Gradual increases of the mRNA expression of genes encoding dehydrins, receptor kinase and jasmonic acid induced protein suggests that multiple adaptive-mechanisms are involved in plants to cope in drought stress. The possible roles of the identified DEGs are discussed in the context of their putative role during drought stress.
Wide recognition of Culex pipiens and lack of detection of Culex torrentium through biomolecular differentiation of mosquitoes in the Emilia‐Romagna region, Northern Italy

The Culex pipiens complex includes species with reported differences in vector competence for arthropod‐borne viruses, many of which are of significant importance to human health such as the West Nile virus and the Sindbis virus. This group of mosquitoes is difficult to distinguish morphologically; particularly as adult females. In Europe, the two species of the complex, Culex pipiens Linnaeus 1758 and Culex torrentium Martini 1925, are often found sympatrically. With the aim to characterize the presence and spread of both species in the Emilia‐Romagna region, Northern Italy, mosquitoes of the complex – collected during the West Nile virus surveillance plans – were tested by multiplex real‐time PCR for the detection of the two species Cx. pipiens and Cx. torrentium. A total of 24 165 mosquitoes, collected between 2012 and 2014 from 105 sites, and sorted in 204 pools, were tested. All tested pools were found to be composed of Cx. pipiens, whereas Cx. torrentium was not detected. These results indicate a likely absence of Cx. torrentium mosquitoes within the surveyed territory, whereas Cx. pipiens is widely distributed in the area mentioned. This is in line with previous reports, which describe a pre‐alpine distribution of Cx. torrentium in Italy.
Contact Resistance of Microbumps in a Typical Through-Silicon-Via Structure

The contact resistance of microbumps in a plastic ball grid array packaging with a through-silicon-via (TSV) structure was characterized. Accordingly, a self-designed TSV daisy-chain circuit was proposed to facilitate the formulation of the measurement paths, and the test samples were made by using a commercialized packaging process to simulate real product behaviors. Using the proposed single model and the complete model for the testing structure, about 25 mQ was measured as the average contact resistance per microbump, and the contact resistance for each microbump was separately extracted between 4 and 60 mQ In addition, decreasing contact resistance due to the annealing effect was observed from two different reliability tests.
WORKERS' REMITTANCES AND ECONOMIC GROWTH: EVIDENCE FROMTURKEY

Isci dovizleri bircok gelismekte olan ulke icin en onemli dis finansman kaynaklarindan birini olusturmaktadir. Son yillarda bir azalma trendi gostermekle birlikte, 1960’lardan sonra yurtdisina duzenli ve kitle halinde isgucu gonderen Turkiye hâlâ dunyada en fazla isci dovizi ceken ulkelerden biridir. Bircok ulke icin yurutulen ampirik calismalar isci dovizlerinin ekonomik buyume uzerinde artirici, notr veya azaltici bir etkide bulunabildigini gostermektedir. Bu calismada, 1970-2005 donemine ait yillik veriler kullanilarak, isci dovizlerinin Turk ekonomisi uzerinde buyumeye yol acip acmadigi arastirilmaktadir. Zaman * PhD. , Inonu University, FEAS, 44280, Malatya, « +90422 341 00 10, kkaragoz@inonu.edu. trserileri regresyon sonuclari isci dovizlerinin buyume uzerinde anlamli fakat negatif bir etkiye sahip oldugunu gostermektedir. Diger taraftan, ihracat ve yurtici yatirimlar olumlu etkiye sahipken, yabanci yatirimlar anlamli bir etkide bulunmuyor gorunmektedir
Application of the Method of Lines for High-Q Resonant Structures

In this paper, we present two applications of electromagnetic software based on the Method of Lines: the rutile-ring method of dielectrically frequency-temperature compensating a high-Q whispering gallery sapphire resonator and a TE01¿ sapphire resonator with distributed Bragg reflector. These studies are based on the Method of Lines in cylindrical coordinates. Because this method use a 2D1/2 resolution, it is possible to take into account layers with very small thickness. The resonant frequencies, field distribution and quality factors can be calculated by this method. Results of Method of Lines are compared with finite element analysis.
Knowledge of birth defects among nursing mothers in a developing country.

BACKGROUND In the absence of established guidelines, where formal screening is unavailable for birth defects, a lot of responsibility is placed on parents in the recognition of these defects. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to determine the awareness of mothers about birth effects in a developing country and assess what they know about the prevention, detection and treatment of children with birth defects. METHODS This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 714 mothers consecutively selected at two major hospitals in Nigeria between May and December, 2012. Data were collected with interviewer administered questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed using SPSS and statistical significance set at p <0.05. RESULTS The participants were aged 17 to 42 years. Only 183 (25.6%) were aware of birth defects. Factors associated with awareness of birth defects were older age, religious belief, better education, higher socioeconomic class, early age at booking and registering at a tertiary care facility. Education, socioeconomic class as well as month and location of booking were found to be independent predictors of awareness of birth defects. CONCLUSION Mothers in Ibadan, Nigeria, a country without a formal newborn screening programme, have a poor level of awareness about birth defects.
The influence of espresso coffee on neurocognitive function in HIV-infected patients

ABSTRACT The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of coffee intake on cognitive function in persons living with HIV (PLWH). 130 PLWH with CD4 > 200 cells/mm3, undetectable viral load, treated with HAART were included. A structured interview was applied and relevant clinical and laboratory data were assessed, including coffee intake. For neuropsychological assessment, the HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center Battery was chosen. Univariate nonparametric statistics and multivariate regression model were used. A significant association between espresso coffee use and a better cognitive function was verified in five of the eight psychometric measurements. In the multivariate analysis, after variable adjustment, linear regression analysis showed that coffee intake was a positive predictor for attention/working memory, executive functions and Global Deficit Score. Although the mechanisms behind the influence of caffeine on cognitive functioning are controversial, regular espresso coffee intake may have favourable effects on cognitive deterioration caused by HIV.
Residential and nursing home care of elderly people with cognitive impairment: Prevalence, mortality and costs

Cognitive impairment among residents has considerable resource implications for both individuals and those responsible for publicly funded care. Two linked surveys were carried out in England: (1) a longitudinal study followed 2500 admissions to publicly funded care up to 42 months after admission; and (2) a cross-sectional survey of 618 homes collected information about 11,900 residents. Information was collected about cognitive impairment using the Minimum Data Set Cognitive Performance Scale. Cognitive impairment was associated with source of funding and type of home. Although level of cognitive impairment has some effect, fees and costs were most influenced by type of home. At the same level of impairment, self-funded residents were more likely to be located in relatively low-cost settings than publicly funded residents. In independent homes fees were lower for publicly funded than for self-funded residents. Overall median length of stay of publicly funded admissions was 18 months. For the most part length of stay was not associated with level of cognitive impairment on admission. It is concluded that more information is needed about the effect of quality of care on people with cognitive impairment in different settings. If the same quality of care can be achieved in residential and nursing homes, the evidence would suggest that changes in placement policies could result in potential savings to the public purse.
UV Resonance Raman Spectra of Ligand Binding Intermediates of Sol-Gel Encapsulated Hemoglobin* 210

We report for the first time specific conformational changes for a homogeneous population of ligand-bound adult deoxy human hemoglobin A (HbA) generated by introducing CO into a sample of deoxy-HbA with the effector, inositol hexaphosphate, encapsulated in a porous sol-gel. The preparation of ligand-bound deoxy-HbA results from the speed of ligand diffusion relative to globin conformational dynamics within the sol-gel (1). The ultraviolet resonance Raman (UVRR) difference spectra obtained reveal that E helix motion is initiated upon ligand binding, as signaled by the appearance of an α14β15 Trp W3 band difference at 1559 cm−1. The subsequent appearance of Tyr (Y8a and Y9a) and W3 (1549 cm−1) UVRR difference bands suggest conformational shifts for the penultimate Tyrα140 on the F helix, the “switch” region Tyrα42, and the “hinge” region Trpβ37. The UVRR results expose a sequence of conformational steps leading up to the ligation-induced T to R quaternary structure transition as opposed to a single, concerted switch. More generally, this report demonstrates that sol-gel encapsulation of proteins can be used to study a sequence of specific conformational events triggered by substrate binding because the traditional limitation of substrate diffusion times is overcome.
Early Administration of Intrapleural Streptokinase in the Treatment of Multiloculated Pleural Effusions and Pleural Empyemas

In the treatment of multiloculated pleural effusions and empyemas tube thoracostomy often fails and more aggressive surgical therapy is required. Intrapleural administration of fibrinolytics is a valuable alternative. Between October 1994 and December 1995 28 patients (aged 22 to 62 years) with multiloculated pleural effusions were treated with intrapleural instillations of streptokinase after unsuccessful conventional chest tube drainage. Twenty-three pleural effusions were grossly purulent, others were loculated effusions with low pH. The most common cause of the pleural effusions was pneumonia. Duration of illness before hospitalization was 3 to 105 (mean 21.8) days. Treatment with streptokinase was started most commonly one day after chest tube placement. Once a day after clamping the chest tube streptokinase was administered intrapleurally for 10-15 minutes as a solution of 250,000 units in 100 ml normal saline. The tube remained clamped for 3 hours. Two to 8 (mean 3.7) instillations per patient were needed. Twenty-one cases (72.4%) showed excellent resolution of pleural effusion and needed no more therapy. However, one patient died in hospital due to purulent meningitis and bilateral pneumonia. Eight patients needed further surgical treatment, e.g. decortication, in 5 cases together with wedge lung resection. Eleven patients experienced some adverse effects of streptokinase therapy, most frequently chest pain and elevation of body temperature in one case pleural effusion became hemorrhagic, and one patient had nasal bleeding. We conclude that usage of intrapleural streptokinase in the treatment of multiloculated pleural effusions (including pleural empyemas) reduces the need for major surgical interventions in quite a large group of patients.
ANO‐RECTAL MANOMETRY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF HIRSCHSPRUNG'S DISEASE IN INFANTS

ABSTRACT. Manometric recordings of internal sphincter activity were performed during distension of the rectum in 10 healthy control infants and in 9 infants with clinical signs of Hirschsprung's disease. In 8 of the healthy infants relaxations of the internal sphincter were obtained, which were maximal 4 to 7 secs after rectal distension. This was also the case in S of the patients who were later proven not to have Hirschsprung's disease. In 3 patients no relaxations of the internal sphincter could be recorded. Subsequent rectal biopsy revealed absence of ganglion cells, confirming the diagnosis Hirschsprung's disease. The remaining 3 infants (2 controls and 1 patient) could not be calmed during the examination and the results were inconclusive. It is concluded that ano‐rectal manometry is a valuable method of examination in the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease in infants. No false results were obtained in this study. Furthermore, it is an easy procedure without risk or discomfort for the patient.