Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The acoustic startle reflex in ischemic stroke

The authors recorded the acoustic startle response in 32 patients with stroke, 6 patients with incomplete cervical cord lesions, and 26 controls. Increased startle occurred in about one quarter of both stroke and spinal cord injury patients. The response in biceps demonstrated the greatest deviation from normal, with less marked changes in tibialis anterior. Increased startle in spinal cord injury suggests that changes at the segmental level may contribute. Symptomatic increased startle occurred only in pontine lesions.
Detection of Bacterial Pathogens in River Water Using Multiplex-PCR

The aquatic environments receive a significant number of human microbial pathogens from point and non-point sources of pollution. Point-source pollution enters the environment at different locations, through a direct route of discharge of treated or untreated domestic sewage, industrial effluent and acid mine drainage (State of the Environment Report [SER], 2002). Non-point (or diffuse) sources of pollution comprises up to 80 % of the pollution entering major river systems thus are of significant concern with respect to the dissemination of pathogens and their indicators in water systems. They may be attributable to the run-off from urban and agricultural areas, leakage from sewers and septic systems, insecticides and herbicides from agricultural land, and sewer overflows (Stewart et al., 2008). Although majority of pathogenic microbes can be eliminated by sewage treatment, many end up in the effluent which is then discharged into receiving bodies of water. These pathogenic microbes have been implicated in human diseases linked with the use of contaminated water and food. Adequate sanitation and clean water, being two critical factors in ensuring human health, protects against a wide range of water-related diseases. These include diarrhoea, cholera, trachoma, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis, polio, malaria, and filariasis (United Nations Department of Public Information [UNDPI], 2005).
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic actions of enalapril in humans: effect of probenecid pretreatment.

The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of oral enalapril (20 mg), in absence and in presence of probenecid pretreatment (1 g twice daily for 5 days), were investigated in 12 healthy volunteers on normal salt intake (150 mmol/24 hr). Mean peak serum concentration of enalapril rose from 158 +/- 7 to 216 +/- 1 ng/ml (P less than .01), whereas that of its metabolite, enalaprilat, rose from 62 +/- 6 to 84 +/- 8 ng/ml (P less than .01) in the presence of probenecid pretreatment. Area under the curve of both enalapril and enalaprilat increased by 50% (P less than .001), which was accompanied by a reduction in renal excretion of both compounds. The renal clearance of enalapril decreased from 229 +/- 19 to 61 +/- 4 ml/min (P less than .001) and that of enalaprilat from 108 +/- 4 to 66 +/- 2 ml/min (P less than .001). The total drug recovery fell from 48 +/- 3 to 38 +/- 2% (P less than .01) of the administered dose with no accompanying changes in plasma elimination half-lives of the parent drug or metabolite. The pharmacodynamic response of enalapril such as fractional excretions of sodium, calcium, magnesium and urate were enhanced by probenecid pretreatment. Absolute urinary excretion of sodium increased from 51 +/- 5 to 91 +/- 8 mmol/6 hr (P less than .001) after enalapril and from 55 +/- 4 to 113 +/- 13 mmol/6 hr (P less than .01) after enalapril in presence of probenecid pretreatment, despite a significant decrease in the renal excretion of enalapril and enalaprilat over the same interval. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
What Causes Immunological Nonresponsiveness?

'In the moming his hbrary was open to scholars, in the evening his table was prepared for all of his friends. But he soon realized how dangerous scholars were. TTiey would start a great dispute about one of Zarathustra's laws that forbids the consumption of the meat of a griffin. "How can we defend a griffin," some said, "when this animal does not exist? " "But it clearly must exist," said the others, "because Zarathustra does not want us to eat it. " Zadig settled the dispute by saying: "If griffins exist, let us not eat them; if they do not exist, we shall eat them even less, and thus we shall all obey Zarathustra. '"
Low dose TGF-beta attenuates IL-12 responsiveness in murine Th cells.

Expression of IL-12Rs is one important checkpoint for Th1 development. BALB/c DO11.10 CD4+ T cells stimulated by Ag in neutral conditions lose expression of the IL-12R beta 2 subunit and become unresponsive to IL-12. In contrast, B10.D2 or F1 (BALB/c x B10.D2) DO11.10 CD4+ T cells maintain IL-12R beta 2 expression when stimulated similarly. Here we show that the loss of IL-12 responsiveness by BALB/c T cells involves the action of endogenous TGF-beta. BALB/c T cells stimulated in the presence of anti-TGF-beta specifically maintain IL-12 responsiveness, express IL-12R beta 2 mRNA, and can stimulate nitric oxide production in peritoneal exudate cells. Low concentrations of TGF-beta added exogenously during primary activation of B10.D2 or F1 T cells significantly inhibit their development of IL-12 responsiveness. These effects of anti-TGF-beta are dependent on endogenous IFN-gamma and are inhibited by exogenously added IL-4. Thus, at least one effect of TGF-beta on Th1/Th2 development may be the attenuation of IL-12R beta 2 expression.
Evaluating Food-Fuel Trade-Offs via Market Choice: The Case of Iowa Corn Producers

Abstract This study examines food-fuel trade-offs from the perspective of crop producers and their choices in marketing their grain among food, feed and fuel use. Based on a recent survey of Iowa grain producers, this study finds that price competition from ethanol plants has increased the share of the corn marketed directly to ethanol plants and lowered the market share of corn marketed for domestic and international food/feed purposes. Other factors, such as farm size and market distance, affect the share of corn directed to the fuel, food, and feed markets. The results indicate corn producers are willing to bear higher transportation costs to reach food markets over other market outlets.
Colocalisation of Dynorphin A and Neurokinin B Immunoreactivity in the Arcuate Nucleus and Median Eminence of the Sheep

Dynorphin A (DYN)‐containing cells play a key role in conveying the negative feedback influence of progesterone upon pulsatile gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion in the ewe. A very high percentage of DYN cells in the arcuate nucleus express the progesterone receptor; another population of arcuate nucleus cells that also express steroid receptors in the sheep are those that express the tachykinin peptide, neurokinin B (NKB). Both DYN and NKB fibres have been shown to form close contacts with ovine GnRH cells. Therefore, the present study tested the hypothesis that neurones expressing NKB and DYN represent the same neuronal population in the arcuate nucleus. Confocal microscopic analysis of brain sections processed for dual immunofluorescence revealed that a large majority of DYN neurones in the arcuate nucleus were also immunoreactive for NKB. Likewise, a similar majority of NKB neurones in the arcuate nucleus were immunoreactive for DYN. By contrast, DYN cells in the preoptic area and anterior hypothalamus did not colocalise with NKB, nor did DYN cells in the paraventricular or supraoptic nuclei. Fibres that stained positively for both DYN and NKB were seen in the arcuate nucleus, where they formed close appositions with DYN/NKB‐positive neurones, and in the external zone of the median eminence. Taken together with previous findings, these data suggest that a subpopulation of arcuate nucleus neurones coexpressing DYN and NKB mediate the negative feedback influence of progesterone on pulsatile GnRH secretion in the ewe and may also be involved in other feedback actions of gonadal steroids.
Microlaparoscopy for Suspected Pelvic Pathology A comparison of 2mm versus 10mm laparoscope

Summary: This study presents an independently‐assessed comparison of the laparoscopic view obtained using a 2mm versus 10mm laparoscope in women with suspected pelvic pathology. Fifteen female volunteers booked for laparoscopy with clinical evidence of pelvic abnormality according to clinical findings and/or pelvic ultrasound were recruited for this study. Sequential observations were carried out by independent observers for clinically significant differences. Although discrepancies were noted in 3 patients the view obtained with the 2mm microendoscope was considered to be comparable to that obtained with the 10mm telescope. The cases with discordant findings included mild or minimal endometriosis and distal tubal disease. The results of this study suggest that microendoscopy is likely to be entirely adequate for many routine laparoscopic procedures and sterilization.
Modulating the Er:YAG laser

In the past 2 years, there has been some controversy about the optimal laser system, or combination of systems, for cutaneous resurfacing. Initially, it seemed that the Er:YAG laser would have significant advantages over the CO2 laser. In practice, some of those who jumped early onto the Er:YAG bandwagon have been unimpressed with the degree of skin tightening that can be achieved with this system. Also, the excessive bleeding induced by the Er:YAG lasers prevented deeper vaporization. During the past 18 months, three new “modulated” Er:YAG lasers have been produced that are said to be able to achieve CO2 laser‐like effects, while maintaining the Er:YAG laser advantages. The purpose of this article is to examine these new systems and to discuss their potential benefits, if any, over the “conventional” Er:YAG lasers, and the CO2 lasers.
Purchase Intention to Undertake e-Commerce Transactions in Developing Countries: Application of Theory of Planned Behavior in Indonesia

The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical evidence of an examined model of purchase intentions on business to consumer e-commerce transactions in developing countries using Indonesia as a case study. Adopting the theory of planned behavior, data from an Indonesia Internet discussion group was analyzed using structural equation modeling. The main finding is that purchase intention of business to consumer e-commerce transactions in developing countries such as Indonesia is able to be predicted by theory of planned behavior. Limited numbers of previous studies accommodate some proof of the theory of planned behavior and its application to explain consumers' purchase intentions in developing countries. This empirical study has provided evidence that the model is applicable in this context.
Role of Insulin Receptor Dimerization Domains in Ligand Binding, Cooperativity, and Modulation by Anti-receptor Antibodies*

To define the structures within the insulin receptor (IR) that are required for high affinity ligand binding, we have used IR fragments consisting of four amino-terminal domains (L1, cysteine-rich, L2, first fibronectin type III domain) fused to sequences encoded by exon 10 (including the carboxyl terminus of the α-subunit). The fragments contained one or both cysteine residues (amino acids 524 and 682) that form disulfides between α-subunits in native IR. A dimeric fragment designated IR593.CT (amino acids 1–593 and 704–719) bound 125I-insulin with high affinity comparable to detergent-solubilized wild type IR and mIR.Fn0/Ex10 (amino acids 1–601 and 650–719) and greater than that of dimeric mIR.Fn0 (amino acids 1–601 and 704–719) and monomeric IR473.CT (amino acids 1–473 and 704–719). However, neither IR593.CT nor mIR.Fn0 exhibited negative cooperativity (a feature characteristic of the native insulin receptor and mIR.Fn0/Ex10), as shown by failure of unlabeled insulin to accelerate dissociation of bound125I-insulin. Anti-receptor monoclonal antibodies that recognize epitopes in the first fibronectin type III domain (amino acids 471–593) and inhibit insulin binding to wild type IR inhibited insulin binding to mIR.Fn0/Ex10 but not IR593.CT or mIR.Fn0. We conclude the following: 1) precise positioning of the carboxyl-terminal sequence can be a critical determinant of binding affinity; 2) dimerization via the first fibronectin domain alone can contribute to high affinity ligand binding; and 3) the second dimerization domain encoded by exon 10 is required for ligand cooperativity and modulation by antibodies.
Canadian Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of fibromyalgia syndrome

1 Division of Rheumatology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Alan Edwards Pain Management Unit, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Faculty of Law, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Division of Rheumatology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Centre de la recherche du Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal; Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Division of Physiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Departments of Clinical Neurological Sciences and Oncology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada Patient representative
Reduction of Malodorous Compounds from Liquid Swine Manure by a Multi-Stage Treatment System

A full-scale swine wastewater treatment system was designed and implemented to replace anaerobic lagoon treatment systems with a three-stage process of solids separation, biological nitrogen (N) removal, and phosphorus recovery. Our study had the objectives of evaluating both the system's efficiency for odor control and water quality parameters that better indicate odor reduction. This report presents data on the concentration in liquid of six selected malodorous compounds (phenol, p-cresol, p-ethylphenol, p-propylphenol, indole, and skatole) and 15 water quality parameters measured at the three successive stages of the treatment process. Solid phase extraction of odor compounds showed that the concentrations of malodorous compounds were reduced by almost 98% in the treated effluent as compared to untreated raw flushed manure. The majority of this odor reduction occurred during biological N treatment. No single water quality parameter served as the sole indicator for the levels of all six odor compounds that we measured in wastewater. Except for phenol, the levels of ammonia N and electrical conductivity (EC) measurements were highly correlated with reduction of individual malodorous compounds in wastewater. Seven out of 15 parameters measured (soluble COD, soluble BOD, TKN, ammonia-N, nitrate-N, alkalinity, and EC) were found to be highly related to reduction of total measured malodorous compounds. These results suggest that selected water quality parameters in swine wastewater could assist to evaluate odor control measures when no sensory analysis or appropriate analytical equipment is available. They also indicate that treatment systems incorporating biological N removal can greatly reduce malodorous compounds in liquid swine manure.
Do puerperal psychotic episodes identify a more familial subtype of bipolar disorder? Results of a family history study

Bipolar women have a marked vulnerability to puerperal psychosis, an episode of mania or psychosis following childbirth. We have conducted a family history study to examine the question of whether a vulnerability to puerperal episodes of illness is a marker for a more familial form of bipolar disorder. A consecutive series of 103 bipolar disorder probands were recruited in a lithium clinic and given a semi-structured interview, including a detailed family history. For the 52 female probands, information was also obtained about the relationship of episodes to childbirth. The morbid risk of affective disorder in first-degree relatives of bipolar women who had suffered an episode of mania, hypomania or schizoaffective mania with onset within 6 weeks of childbirth was significantly higher than that in relatives of parous bipolar women with no episodes in relation to childbirth (P =0.0077). Despite relatively small numbers, this study provides evidence to support the hypothesis that puerperal episodes identify a more familial subtype of bipolar disorder.
Propagation Matrix Method Study on THz Waves Propagation in a Dusty Plasma Sheath

Terahertz (THz) waves propagation in a stratified media slab containing dusty plasmas are investigated using the propagation matrix method. The dispersive permittivity of conductors and dusty plasmas at THz frequencies are given. After the validation of the method is performed, the propagation properties of aluminum coated by dusty plasmas with and without vacuum interlayer are compared. The THz reflection and transmission coefficients for a dusty plasma slab with different medium parameters are discussed.
Associations between aldosterone synthase gene polymorphism and the adrenocortical function in males

Hautanen A, Lankinen L, Kupari M, Jänne OA, Adlercreutz H, Nikkilä H, White PC (Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA). Associations between aldosterone synthase gene polymorphism and the adrenocortical function in males. J Intern Med 1998; 244: 11–18.
The role of life-course socioeconomic and lifestyle factors in the intergenerational transmission of the metabolic syndrome: results from the LifeLines Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND The risk of metabolic syndrome is associated between parents and offspring, but studies are inconsistent on differences by sex of parents and offspring. Our aim is to investigate to what extent metabolic syndrome present in fathers and mothers is associated with risk of metabolic syndrome in sons and daughters. Furthermore, we investigate to what extent these associations are explained by socioeconomic factors and health behaviours. METHODS We used data from the LifeLines Cohort Study (N = 7239). Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the NCEP-ATPIII criteria. Logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate associations of metabolic syndrome present in parents with the risk of metabolic syndrome in offspring. Analyses were sequentially adjusted for: age and sex; childhood factors (socioeconomic position and parental smoking); and adult factors (education, income, smoking, physical activity, alcohol intake, and dietary factors). RESULTS Multivariate regression analysis adjusted for age and sex showed associations of the metabolic syndrome between father-son: odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] 2.41 (1.93-3.00), father-daughter: OR (95% CI) 1.80 (1.39-2.33)), mother-son: OR (95% CI) 1.82 (1.44-2.29) and mother-daughter: OR (95% CI) 1.97 (1.52-2.55). Furthermore, each individual factor underlying the metabolic syndrome in parents was associated with metabolic syndrome in offspring, but not for all parent-offspring combinations. None of the parent-offspring associations was attenuated when adjusting for socioeconomic factors and health behaviours. CONCLUSIONS High risk of metabolic syndrome is transmitted from fathers and mothers to sons and daughters. Our results suggest that this transmission is irrespective of the socioeconomic position and health behaviours of the offspring.
Short Segment Conduction Study and Localization Features in Ulnar Neuropathy at the Elbow. A Retrospective Study of 57 Patients

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the localization properties in electrodiagnostically evaluated patients with a prediagnosis of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. Material and Methods: The results of 57 patients who were electrodiagnostically defined as ulnar neuropathy at the elbow, with using short segment conduction study (SSCS), were evaluated retrospectively. The number of extremities determined as having focal conduction block with changes in latency was 30, while focal conduction alone was 27. The locations of nerve entrapment sites were determined as humeroulnar arcade (HUA), retroepicondylar groove (RTC), medial intermuscular septum (MIS). Results: The entrapment was found in the left upper extremity with a rate of 73%. The frequencies of localizations were determined for RTC (35%), MIS (25%), RTC+MIS (19%), HUA (16%), HUA+RTC (5%). Conclusion: The entrapments at RTC, MIS and HUA regions could be determined in patients whom 10 cm SCSS technique was used. The localizations of ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow were RTC, MIS and HUA, in the order of decreasing frequency.
Exploring the Role that SDMs can play in Influencing the Business Client - Systems Developer Relationship: an Institutional Theory Perspective

This chapter reports on research into how two stakeholder groups - systems developers and the business client enact a systems development methodology (SDM). Our focus is on understanding how enactment is constrained by everyday social and organisational structures. The study develops a conceptual framework informed by institutional theory that integrates elements of Lamb and Kling's social actor model, and Scott's 3-pillars framework, concentrating on the relationships among systems developers, the business client, the SDM, and the context surrounding its use. The framework demonstrates that institutional structures such as authority, norms, symbolic values, and routines embedded within the methodology are active forces in the systems development process. In terms of theoretical contribution, the user as social actor model enables us to draw out the power concepts, and institutional theory explains how the SDM acts as a carrier of power, but not why developers are compliant with an unequal power arrangement.
Syneresis in Gels of Highly Ferulated Arabinoxylans: Characterization of Covalent Cross-Linking, Rheology, and Microstructure

Arabinoxylans (AXs) with high ferulic acid (FA) content (7.18 µg/mg AXs) were cross-linked using laccase. Storage (G’) modulus of AX solutions at 1% (AX-1) and 2% (AX-2) (w/v) registered maximum values of 409 Pa and 889 Pa at 180 min and 83 min, respectively. Atomic force microscopy revealed the grained and irregular surface of the AX-1 gel and the smoother surface without significant depressions of the AX-2 gel. Cured AX gels exhibited a liquid phase surrounding the samples indicating syneresis. The syneresis ratio percentage (% Rs) of the gels was registered over time reaching stabilization at 20 h. The % Rs was not significantly different between AX-1 (60.0%) and AX-2 (62.8%) gels. After 20 h of syneresis development, the dimers of the FA in the AX-1 and AX-2 gels significantly increased by 9% and 78%, respectively; moreover, the trimers of the FA in the AX-1 and AX-2 gels, by 94% and 300%, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy showed that, after syneresis stabilization, AX gels presented a more compact microstructure. Syneresis development in the gels of highly ferulated AXs could be related to the polymer network contraction due to the additional formation of dimers and trimers of the FA (cross-linking structures), which may act like a “zipping” process, increasing the polymer chains′ connectivity.