Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microscope point spread function, focus and calculation of optimal microscope set-up

If we are observing very small objects in the microscope the information appears somehow distorted. This distortion is called point spread function (PSF) and it can be measured and simulated as we show in this article. Many experiments and simulations were done in the field of confocal or deconvolution microscopy, but we want to present 3D reconstruction and measurement of PSF in the bright field (or phase contrast) microscopy. Our goal is to use this knowledge about PSF to estimate objective focus. We want to use this method for automatic focusing of the microscope. We measured the PSF on our microscope in bright field using a 100×objective. We used 15 nm gold and 200 nm latex particles as point sources. We used two different simulations; first one was Airy disc simulation; the second one was Extended Nijboer–Zernike theory. Both approaches were used for description of PSF and finding the position of the focus.
In situ stress tensor measured in an Alaskan glacier

Abstract An experimental program at Worthington Glacier, Alaska, U.S.A. , has yielded the first in situ measurement of the full stress tensor in glacier ice. Measurements were made with an array of stiff (low-compliance) normal-force sensors frozen into a borehole at 120 m depth. Freezing in temperate ice was accomplished by a down-hole heat exchanger which extracted heat at a rate of 15 W. Under slowly varying stress conditions, relaxation of stress anomalies by viscous creep following drilling of the hole and installation of the sensors allows for equilibration of measured stresses with far-field stresses. Equilibration of local and far-field stresses was confirmed and pressure sensors calibrated in laboratory experiments prior to the field program. Results of the stress measurements show principal axes of the stress tensor oriented in directions consistent with the geometry of the glacier and broadly consistent with measured englacial strain rate. The magnitudes of stress-tensor components are more error-prone and more sensitive to uncertainty in sensor magnitude than uncertainty in sensor orientation. Mean stress determined by pressure measurements agrees with estimated lithostatic overburden to within approximately 15%. Unexpected results include a stress perturbation lasting about 5 days that caused a rotation of the orientations of the principal stress axes of approximately 5° about an axis pointing in the down-flow direction.
Maintenance of G1 Checkpoint Controls in Telomerase-Immortalized Endothelial Cells

Here we report the characterization of a series of telomerase-immortalized human umbilical vein endothelial cell lines (i-HUVEC). These cells maintain endothelial characteristics such as marker expression, dependence on basic fibroblast growth factor for proliferation, and the ability to form tube structures on Matrigel. In addition, these cells do not show signs of tumorigenic transformation because their growth is contact-inhibited, serum-dependent, and anchorage-dependent. In addition, i-HUVEC do not grow or survive when implanted subcutaneously in immunocompromised mice. Notably, the i-HUVEC lines maintain normal p53-dependent checkpoint control, inducing expression of p21Cip1/Waf1 in response to DNA damage. These cells subsequently decrease phosphorylation of pRb and arrest in G1. Furthermore, the i-HUVEC lines maintain normal p53-independent checkpoint control, inducing expression of p27Kip1 in response to lovastatin treatment, with a subsequent decrease in pRb phosphorylation. Lovastatin-treated i-HUVEC lines undergo a G1 arrest that can be reversed with comparable kinetics to that of low passage HUVEC. Together these data demonstrate that telomerase-immortalized endothelial cells can retain normal phenotypes and cell cycle regulation. This result could have significant implications in the study of angiogenic processes such as tumor growth, wound healing, and the vascularization of engineered tissue.
Evolving expectations around early management of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a progressive inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. With prevention or at least delay of disease progression as a key target in the management of multiple sclerosis, current opinion on treatment encourages early intervention with well-tolerated disease-modifying treatments in order to optimize long-term clinical outcomes. Patients presenting with a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) may progress to clinically definite multiple sclerosis, and clinical trials have demonstrated that early treatment with interferon beta can reduce the conversion rate. Cognitive impairment may already be present in patients with CISs. Today there is evolving evidence that cognitive impairment may be relevant for prognosis and that early treatment with interferon beta may also have a protective effect on the cognitive function. As an accumulation of neuronal loss is now considered to underlie the development of persistent disability in multiple sclerosis, it is crucial that treatment can protect against neuronal damage. In addition to its anti-inflammatory activity, interferon beta may have direct and indirect neuroprotective effects, and several studies have explored the role of interferon beta in regulating neuroprotective factors. With over 15 years of clinical experience as evidence, the long-term safety and efficacy of interferon beta treatment is unquestionable. Results from the CIS studies have demonstrated the high percentage of patients converting to clinically definite multiple sclerosis without treatment and the short- and long-term benefits of an early use of disease-modifying treatments. These findings support starting disease-modifying treatment as soon as the diagnosis of MS is reasonably formulated.
Assessment of Complications After Pancreatic Surgery: A Novel Grading System Applied to 633 Patients Undergoing Pancreaticoduodenectomy

Objective:To define a simple and reproducible classification of complications following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) based on a therapy-oriented severity grading system. Background:While mortality is rare after PD, morbidity rates remain high. The lack of standardization in evaluating morbidity after PD has severely hampered meaningful comparisons over time and among centers. We adapted a novel classification of complication to stratify morbidity by severity after PD, to test whether the incidence of pancreatic fistula has changed over time, and to identify risk factors in a single North American center. Methods:The classification was applied to a consecutive series of 633 patients undergoing PD between February 2003 and August 2005. Another series of 141 patients treated between 1987 and 1990 was also analyzed to identify changes in the incidence and severity of fistula. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to link respective complications with preoperative and intraoperative parameters, length of hospital stay, and long-term survival. Results:A total of 263 (41.5%) patients did not develop any complication, while 370 (58.5%) had at least one complication; 62 (10.0%) patients had only grade I complications (no need for specific intervention), 192 patients (30.0%) had grade II (need for drug therapy such as antibiotics), 85 patients (13.5%) had grade III (need for invasive therapy), and 19 patients (3.0%) had grade IV complications (organ dysfunction with ICU stay). Grade V (death) occurred in 12 patients (2.0%). A total of 57 patients (9.0%) developed pancreatic fistula, of which 33 (58.0%) were classified as grade II, 17 (30.0%) as grade III, 5 (9.0%) as grade IV, and 2 (3.5%) as grade V. Delayed gastric emptying was documented in 80 patients (12.7%); half of them were scored as grade II and the other half as grade III. A significant decrease in the incidence of fistula was observed between the 2 periods analyzed (14.0% vs. 9.0%, P < 0.001), mostly due to a decrease in grade II fistula. Cardiovascular disease was a risk factor for overall morbidity and complication severity, while texture of the gland and cardiovascular disease were risk factors for pancreatic fistula. Conclusion:This study demonstrates the applicability and utility of a new classification in grading complications following pancreatic surgery. This novel approach may provide a standardized, objective, and reproducible assessment of pancreas surgery enabling meaningful comparison among centers and over time.
A Review of EEG and Blood Flow Data

Novelty detection is a fundamental capacity of all mammalian nervous systems /64/. The ability to orient to unexpected events is critical for both survival and normal memory function /82/. The mechanisms whereby the brain detects and responds to novelty have become of increasing interest to neuroscientists. A review is provided of human electrophysiological and blood flow data focused on delineating the neural systems engaged by novelty. Electrophysiological recording of event-related potentials (ERPs) has shown that novel stimuli activate a distributed network involving prefrontal and posterior association cortex as well as the hippocampus /4,23,24,32,33,36,86,88/. Activation of this network facilitates subsequent memory for novel events /27/. Neural modeling provides additional support for a prominent role of novelty in normal memory function /43/. Blood flow studies employing PET and fMRI have also begun to define the neural regions activated by novelty. The blood flow data provide converging evidence on the role of the hippocampus and cortical association regions in the processing of novelty /30,66,75,76/. The results of the behavioral, ERP and blood flow research confirm that a distributed neocortical-limbic circuit is activated by stimulus novelty. These distributed circuits maintain a template of the recent past /74/. Deviations from the template activate a neocortical-limbic network facilitating behavioral response to and memory storage of novel events.
Resource Document on Access to Firearms by People with Mental Disorders.

The American Psychiatric Association, ("APA"), with more than 36,000 members at present, is the Nation's leading organization of physicians who specialize in psychiatry. APA provides for education and advocacy and develops policy through Position Statements. It promotes enhanced knowledge of particular topics relevant to psychiatric practice and patient care through Resource Documents. Since 1993, the APA has developed various positions and resource materials related to firearms and mental illness, incorporating evolving themes as new issues emerge. This paper reflects the APA's 2014 Resource Document on "Access to Firearms by People with Mental Disorders. " This article is derived from work done on behalf of American Psychiatric Association and remains the property of APA. It has been altered only in response to the requirements of peer review.
Role of pneumolysin for the development of acute lung injury in pneumococcal pneumonia

Objective:Acute respiratory failure is a significant complication of severe pneumococcal pneumonia. In a mouse model, we observed early-onset lung microvascular leakage after pulmonary infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae, and we hypothesized that the important virulence factor pneumolysin may be the direct causative agent. Design:Controlled, in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro laboratory study. Setting:Laboratory. Subjects:Female mice, 8–12 wks old. Interventions:Ventilated and blood-free perfused murine lungs were challenged with recombinant pneumolysin via the airways as well as via the vascular bed. In addition, we analyzed the impact of pneumolysin on electrical cell impedance and hydraulic conductivity of human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) and alveolar epithelial cell (A549) monolayers. Measurements and Main Results:Aerosolized pneumolysin dose-dependently increased capillary permeability with formation of severe lung edema but did not affect pulmonary vascular resistance. Intravascular pneumolysin caused an impressive dose-dependent increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and in lung microvascular permeability. By immunohistochemistry, pneumolysin was detected mainly in endothelial cells of pulmonary arterial vessels, which concomitantly displayed strong vasoconstriction. Moreover, pneumolysin increased permeability of HUVEC and A549 monolayers. Interestingly, immunofluorescence of endothelial cell monolayers exposed to pneumolysin showed gap formation and moderate stress fiber generation. Conclusions:Pneumolysin may play a central role for early-onset acute lung injury due to severe pneumococcal pneumonia by causing impairment of pulmonary microvascular barrier function and severe pulmonary hypertension.
How do cardiorespiratory fitness improvements vary with physical training modality in heart failure patients? A quantitative guide.

BACKGROUND Peak oxygen consumption (VO2) is the gold standard measure of cardiorespiratory fitness and a reliable predictor of survival in chronic heart failure patients. Furthermore, any form of physical training usually improves cardiorespiratory fitness, although the magnitude of improvement in peak VO2 may vary across different training prescriptions. OBJECTIVE To quantify, and subsequently rank, the magnitude of improvement in peak VO2 for different physical training prescriptions using data from published meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials. METHODS Prospective randomized controlled parallel trials and meta-analyses of exercise training in chronic heart failure patients that provided data on change in peak VO2 for nine a priori comparative analyses were examined. RESULTS All forms of physical training were beneficial, although the improvement in peak VO2 varied with modality. High-intensity interval exercise yielded the largest increase in peak VO2, followed in descending order by moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, functional electrical stimulation, inspiratory muscle training, combined aerobic and resistance training, and isolated resistance training. With regard to setting, the present study was unable to determine whether outpatient or unsupervised home exercise provided greater benefits in terms of peak VO2 improvment. CONCLUSIONS Interval exercise is not suitable for all patients, especially the high-intensity variety; however, when indicated, this form of exercise should be adopted to optimize peak VO2 adaptations. Other forms of activity, such as functional electrical stimulation, may be more appropriate for patients who are not capable of high-intensity interval training, especially for severely deconditioned patients who are initially unable to exercise.
Sex differences in peak adult bone mineral density

Osteoporotic fractures are more common in women than men. Although accelerated bone loss following the menopause is recognized as of major importance, it is generally considered that a lower peak adult bone mass in females also contributes to their increased risk of osteoporosis in later life. To examine potential sex differences in peak adult bone mass we studied 29 pairs of dizygotic twins of differing within‐pair sex in whom the female twin was premenopausal (mean age 37 years, range 21–55). Bone mineral density (BMD, g/cm2) was measured at the lumbar spine and femoral neck by dual‐photon absorptiometry; 22 pairs also had BMD measured in the distal and 21 pairs in the ultradistal radius by single‐photon absorptiometry. There was no significant difference in usual dietary calcium intake or tobacco consumption between the twin pairs. Consistent with accepted dogma, BMD at both radial sites were higher (+27%) in the males than their female cotwins. In contrast, there was no sex difference (male versus female) in BMD (mean ± SEM) in the femoral neck (0.96 ± 0.02 versus 0.97 ± 0.03), and surprisingly, the females had a greater lumbar spine BMD than their male cotwins (1.19 ± 0.03 versus 1.26 ± 0.03, p < 0.05). This difference was observed despite the fact that the males were taller (p = 0.033). If the femoral neck BMD values in the females were corrected for this difference in BMI, their values (0.99 ± 0.03 g/cm2) were significantly higher than those in their male cotwin (p < 0.05). Alternatively if the lumbar spine BMD in the female twins was corrected for the sex difference in anterior‐posterior vertebral dimension (measured in cadaveric vertebrae) the female values were then 15% greater than those of their male cotwin. Therefore, a sex difference in peak adult bone density at the lumbar spine or femoral neck does not contribute to the higher incidence of osteoporotic fracture at these sites in aging women. Rather, the data suggest that before the menopause the female sex is associated with a bone density greater than expected on the basis of muscle strength or body size or weight.
Candida in oral lichen planus

Introduction: Lichen planus is a human exclusive, chronic inflammatory disease affecting skin and mucosa, particularly oral mucosa affecting the stratified squamous epithelia. Epithelial alterations in oral lichen planus (OLP) may lead to superimposed Candida infection, especially the normal flora Candida albicans. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the prevalence of Candida infection in OLP lesions. Materials and methods: Thirty-four OLP patients were subjected to clinical, mycological and histopathological investigations for the presence of candidal organisms. The data obtained was analyzed statistically using Chi-square test and Student’s t-test. Results: Among the 34 patients in the study group 15 (44.11%) showed positive candidal culture on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar medium and none of the 34 histological sections of OLP showed candidal hyphae on Periodic acid-Schiff staining. No significant association of positive candidal culture with respect to symptoms and patterns of lichen planus were found. Conclusion: Candidal infection in OLP is insignificant.
Trends in unsafe sex and influence of viral load among patients followed since primary HIV infection, 2000–2009

Background:In the current context of increasing unsafe sex, HIV incidence may have evolved, depending on HIV prevalence in sexual networks and, among HIV-infected persons who practice unsafe sex, on their infectivity and partners' HIV serostatus. We examined calendar trends in sexual behaviours at risk of HIV-1 transmission (SBR) among 967 adults followed since primary HIV infection (ANRS PRIMO cohort) and relationship with current treatments and viral load. Methods:Patients completed since 2000 self-administered questionnaires on sexual practices every 6 months. SBR with HIV-negative/unknown partners were analyzed among 155 heterosexual women, 142 heterosexual men and 670 MSM by using logistic generalized estimating equation models (6656 visits). Results:During 2000–2009, the frequency of SBR did not increase significantly among women with steady partners; risk factors were a low education level and alcohol/smoking use. Among heterosexual men with steady partners, the frequency of SBR doubled since 2006; during this period, the only associated factor was combined antiretroviral treatment for at least 6 months or viral load less than 400 copies/ml. Among MSM, SBR increased gradually over time; SBR with steady partners was associated with a low education level and alcohol use. SBR was more frequent among MSM with casual partners; no association with viral load was found. Conclusion:In France, recent trends and risk factors in unprotected sex with HIV-negative/unknown partners differ according to sex/sexual preference. The recent increase in SBR among heterosexual men with low viral load may be related to increasing awareness of the ‘treatment-as-prevention’ concept. The lack of association between SBR and viral load among MSM supports use of treatment-as-prevention as part of diversified prevention strategies.
Surgical treatment of partial Achilles tendon rupture

Fifty-four patients with a total of 58 partial ruptures of the Achilles tendon were treated surgically. The postoperative observation time ranged from 8 months to 7 years. Forty-six patients indicated that they were pleased with the results, 8 were satisfied, and 3 were unsatisfied (one died during the interim). Thirty-seven of the 44 patients who had been engaged in competitive sports preoperatively were able to return suc cessfully to the activity. We recommend surgical treatment if conservative treatment for presumed tendinitis is not success ful. The operative procedure may encourage revascularization to the Achilles tendon and innervation after surgical excision of the pathologic and degenerated tissue.
The Role of Emotions and Culture in the Third-Person Effect Process of News Coverage of Election Poll Results

The current study examines how discrete emotions function in the manifestation of the third-person effect of news coverage of election poll results. An online survey was conducted employing a sample of undergraduate students from the United States (n = 197) and South Korea (n = 178) before the 2012 presidential elections in the two countries. Results demonstrate that third-person perception is negatively associated with pride, which, in turn, is positively linked to political participation intention only for the supporters of a losing candidate. For U.S. respondents, third-person perception is positively associated with anger, which is positively associated with support for restrictions on polling news. For South Korean respondents, the mediation of anxiety between third-person perception and political participation intention is significant for the supporters of a losing candidate. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Changes in Empowerment: Effects of Participation in a Lay Health Promotion Program

The Camp Health Aide Program is a lay health promotion program for migrant and seasonal farmworkers. The program increases access to health care while facilitating leadership development and empowerment of individual farmworkers through training and experience as lay health promoters (camp health aides [CHAs]). This article describes a study which documents impacts on the CHAs of working as lay health promoters in terms of changes in personal empowerment. The authors developed a working definition of personal empowerment and interviewed 27 CHAs at three program sites (Arizona, New Jersey, and Florida) at hree different times. CHAs are grouped in five descriptive categories reflecting varying degrees of change in empowerment over this period. Of the total group of 27 CHAs, 24 exhibited some increase in personal empowerment during the study period. These changes are described in detail, and implications are discussed.