Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative characterization of the corticospinal tract at 3T.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE White matter tract-specific imaging will probably become a major component of clinical neuroradiology. Fiber tracking with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is widely used, but variability is substantial. This article reports the ranges of MR imaging appearance and right-left asymmetry of healthy corticospinal tracts (CST) reconstructed with DTI. METHODS For 20 healthy volunteers, whole-brain DTI data were coregistered with maps of absolute T1 and T2 relaxation times and magnetization transfer ratio (MTR), all acquired at 3T. For each individual, the 2 reconstructed CSTs and their asymmetry were analyzed with respect to the number of fibers reconstructed; tract volume; and individual MR imaging parameters restricted to the tracts. Interscan variability was estimated by repeat imaging of 8 individuals. RESULTS Reconstructed fiber number and tract volume are highly variable, rendering them insensitive to abnormalities in disease. Individual tract-restricted MR imaging parameters are more constrained, and their population averages and normal ranges are reported. The average population asymmetry is generally zero; therefore, normal ranges for an index of asymmetry are reported. By way of example, CST-restricted MR imaging parameters and their asymmetries are shown to be abnormal in an individual with multiple sclerosis who had a lesion affecting the CST. CONCLUSIONS The results constitute a normative dataset for the following imaging parameters of the CST: T1, T2, MTR, fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, transverse diffusivity, and the 3 diffusion tensor eigenvalues. These data can be used to identify, characterize, and establish the significance of changes in diseases that affect the CST.
Influenza vaccination coverage rates among diabetes sufferers, predictors of adherence and time trends from 2003 to 2010 in Spain

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted for adults (aged ≥ 50 y) with diabetes. Data was obtained from the 2009 European Health Interview Survey for Spain and the 2003 and 2006 Spanish National Health Surveys. To assess influenza vaccination status, we considered the response (yes or no) to the question “Have you received the influenza vaccine in the previous season? ” Both dependent and independent variables were based on the survey questionnaires. The independent variables analyzed included socio-demographic characteristics, health-related variables and use of health care services. The coverage among adults with diabetes in 2010 was 65.0% (95% CI: 62.1–67.7) compared with 41.2% (95% CI 40.0–42.4) for those without diabetes (p < 0.01) adjusted OR 1.67 (95% CI: 1.40–1.99). The positive predictors of vaccine uptake among diabetic adults were: higher age, being male, the presence of associated chronic conditions and physician visits in the last 2 wk. The vaccine uptake among adults with diabetes was 61.4% (95% CI: 57.9–64.8) in 2003 and 63.8% (95% CI: 60.7–66.8) in 2006.The adjusted OR of having been vaccinated in 2010 with respect to 2003 was not significant 1.18 (95% CI: 0.97–1.44). We conclude that the levels of influenza vaccination coverage are below desirable levels among adults with diabetes. Furthermore, trend analysis in influenza vaccination coverage indicates that influenza vaccination rates in adults with diabetes have not improved in recent years. Urgent strategies for increasing vaccination coverage among diabetes sufferers are necessary especially for those aged 50–59, women, those without chronic conditions and those who are not frequent users of health care services.
Inhibition of mRNA maturation in trypanosomes causes the formation of novel foci at the nuclear periphery containing cytoplasmic regulators of mRNA fate

Summary Maturation of all cytoplasmic mRNAs in trypanosomes involves trans-splicing of a short exon at the 5′ end. Inhibition of trans-splicing results in an accumulation of partially processed oligocistronic mRNAs. Here, we show that the accumulation of newly synthesised partially processed mRNAs results in the formation of foci around the periphery of the nucleus. These nuclear periphery granules (NPGs) contain the full complement of P-body proteins identified in trypanosomes to date, as well as poly(A)-binding protein 2 and the trypanosome homologue of the RNA helicase VASA. NPGs resemble perinuclear germ granules from metazoa more than P-bodies because they: (1) are localised around the nuclear periphery; (2) are dependent on active transcription; (3) are not dissipated by cycloheximide; (4) contain VASA; and (5) depend on nuclear integrity. In addition, NPGs can be induced in cells depleted of the P-body core component SCD6. The description of NPGs in trypanosomes provides evidence that there is a perinuclear compartment that can determine the fate of newly transcribed mRNAs and that germ granules could be a specialised derivative.
Environmental health concerns in urban and rural family practice.

OBJECTIVE To describe environmental health problems encountered in some Ontario family practices and to describe differences between the environmental concerns of urban (small and large) and rural physicians. DESIGN A self-completed questionnaire was mailed to 536 family physicians with hospital affiliations in three areas of Ontario. SETTING Family practices (rural, small urban, and large urban) in Ontario. PARTICIPANTS Of 521 eligible community family physicians with hospital affiliations, 214 returned usable questionnaires for a 41% response rate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Environmental health problems encountered in practice were measured using questions about physician concerns, reported patient questions, physician-identified high-risk groups, problems related to environmental exposure, self-rated knowledge, and current and preferred sources of information on environmental health effects. RESULTS Physicians were highly concerned and reported many patient questions about the health effects of environmental exposures. Pregnant women, agricultural workers, and children were considered important at-risk groups. Self-ratings of knowledge were generally very low. Rural physicians were concerned about agricultural pesticide exposure and their patients about moldy hay. Urban physicians had different concerns about lead and reported patient concerns about exposure to Great Lakes fish. All groups used similar sources of current environmental health information. CONCLUSIONS Family physicians who participated in this study identified important patient and professional concerns about environmental health issues and reported a lack of resources to meet those concerns. This study provides information to family medicine residency programs and continuing medical education providers to help them enhance their focus on environmental health.
Characterization of the canine rostral ventricular‐subventricular zone: Morphological, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and neurosphere assay studies

The mammalian ventricular‐subventricular zone (V‐SVZ) presents the highest neurogenic potential in the brain of the adult individual. In rodents, it is mainly composed of chains of neuroblasts. In humans, it is organized in layers where neuroblasts do not form chains. The aim of this study is to describe the cytoarchitecture of canine V‐SVZ (cV‐SVZ), to assess its neurogenic potential, and to compare our results with those previously described in other species. We have studied by histology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), electron microscopy and neurosphere assay the morphology, cytoarchitecture and neurogenic potential of cV‐SVZ. Age groups of animals were performed. Histological and ultrastructural studies indicated that the cV‐SVZ is organized in layers as in humans, but including migratory chains as in rodents. Neural progenitors were organized in niches in the subependymal area and a decline in their number was observed with age. Adult‐young dogs contained migratory cells capable to expand and differentiate in vitro according with previous results obtained in rodents, primates, humans, pigs, and dogs. Some adult animals presented perivascular niches outside the V‐SVZ. Our observations evidence a great similarity between canine and human V‐SVZ indicating that the dog may be better representative of neurogenic events in humans, compared with rodents. Accordingly with our results, we conclude that dogs are a valuable animal model of adult neurogenesis in comparative and preclinical studies.
A navigation-grade MEMS accelerometer based on a versatile front end

This paper presents a MEMS-based 5<sup>th</sup>-order ΔΣ capacitive accelerometer. The ΔΣ loop is implemented in mixed signal, the global 5<sup>th</sup>-order filter having a 2<sup>nd</sup>-order analog and a 3<sup>rd</sup>-order digital part. The system can be used with a wide range of sensors, because the mixed-signal front-end is programmable. The developed ASIC comprises a voltage-mode preamplifier, two parallel demodulators implementing CDS, and a 7-bit internally non-linear flash ADC. The latter drives a 3<sup>rd</sup>-order digital filter which can be configured for different sensor parameters in order to ensure overall loop stability and to optimize the noise performance. With a low-noise MEMS sensor, the system achieves a 19-bit DR and a 16-bit SNR, both over a 300-Hz bandwidth.
The Cooperative Induction of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α and STAT3 during Hypoxia Induced an Impairment of Tumor Susceptibility to CTL-Mediated Cell Lysis12

Hypoxia is an essential component of tumor microenvironment. In this study, we investigated the influence of hypoxia (1% PO2) on CTL-mediated tumor cell lysis. We demonstrate that exposure of target tumor cells to hypoxia has an inhibitory effect on the CTL clone (Heu171)-induced autologous target cell lysis. Such inhibition correlates with hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) induction but is not associated with an alteration of CTL reactivity as revealed by granzyme B polarization or morphological change. Western blot analysis indicates that although hypoxia had no effect on p53 accumulation, it induced the phosphorylation of STAT3 in tumor cells by a mechanism at least in part involving vascular endothelial growth factor secretion. We additionally show that a simultaneous nuclear translocation of HIF-1α and phospho-STAT3 was observed. Interestingly, gene silencing of STAT3 by small interfering RNA resulted in HIF-1α inhibition and a significant restoration of target cell susceptibility to CTL-induced killing under hypoxic conditions by a mechanism involving at least in part down-regulation of AKT phosphorylation. Moreover, knockdown of HIF-1α resulted in the restoration of target cell lysis under hypoxic conditions. This was further supported by DNA microarray analysis where STAT3 inhibition resulted in a partly reversal of the hypoxia-induced gene expression profile. The present study demonstrates that the concomitant hypoxic induction of phopho-STAT3 and HIF-1α are functionally linked to the alteration of non-small cell lung carcinoma target susceptibility to CTL-mediated killing. Considering the eminent functions of STAT3 and HIF-1α in the tumor microenvironment, their targeting may represent novel strategies for immunotherapeutic intervention.
Thermal ablation may improve outcomes in patients with colorectal liver metastasis: a case-control study.

PURPOSE Local thermal ablation may extend the scope of palliative therapy in patients with colorectal liver metastasis. We performed a retrospective, case-controlled study to compare patients with colorectal liver metastases that were treated with percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) or microwave (MW) thermal ablation, against the control group of chemotherapy alone. METHODS We described baseline demographics, ablation sessions, procedure duration and related complications. We compared outcomes of percutaneous thermal ablation versus chemotherapy alone (controls) in patients with colorectal liver metastasis. The control group assigned (non-ablated patients) had similar demographics and prior treatment profile when compared to ablated patients. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated for the two groups. RESULTS Twenty-eight cases with 57 baseline hepatic lesions (median age 68 years; male to female ratio 2:1) were evaluated and compared with 48 controls. A total of 55 sessions (52 RF, 3 MW) were performed among the cases, with minimal procedural time (median 8 min), zero mortality and no severe complications (3 cases of local hepatic hematoma not requiring hospitalization). Ablated patients had prolonged median PFS (19.4 months) and OS (27.5 months) when compared against controls (14.0 and 21.4 months, respectively). After adjusting for hepatic involvement, PFS estimates were comparable and OS was better for the ablated group. One and 2-year survival estimates were 0.96 and 0.79 for thermal ablation patients compared with 0.82 and 0.52 for controls (p=0.05 and p=0.07, respectively). CONCLUSION Percutaneous thermal ablation may delay progression and death in colorectal cancer patients with metastatic liver disease.
Four‐locus gene interaction between IL13, IL4, FCER1B, and ADRB2 for asthma in Chinese Han children

Rationale: IL13, IL4, IL4RA, FCER1B, and ADRB2 are important inflammatory genes associated with immunoglobulin E levels. This study attempts to determine whether there are gene–gene interactions in the five genes among asthmatic children of Chinese Han nationality. Methods: Nine single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the five genes were genotyped in 1,000 asthmatic children and 1,000 healthy controls using TaqMan real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Multifactor–dimensionality reduction method was applied for the analysis. Results: A four‐way gene–gene interaction model consisting of IL13 rs20541, IL4 rs2243250, ADRB2 rs1042713, and FCER1B rs569108 was chosen as the optimal one for determining asthma susceptibility (testing balanced accuracy = 0.6089, cross‐validation consistency = 10/10, P = 6.98E−05). Each of the four SNPs was identified to have an independent association with childhood asthma (G allele of rs20541, odds ratio (OR) = 1.24, P = 1.23E−03; T allele of rs2243250, OR = 1.25, P = 3.81E‐03; A allele of rs1042713, OR = 1.29, P = 6.75E‐05; G allele of rs569108, OR = 1.27, P = 3.86E−03). Individuals homozygous for the risk alleles at all the four loci (rs20541 GG, rs2243250 TT, rs1042713 AA, and rs569108 GG) had a significantly higher risk of asthma compared with those without any risk homozygotes (OR = 13.55, P = 4.28E−03), and also greater than those with less than four risk homozygotes (OR = 10.09, P = 6.51E−03). Conclusions: Our results suggest that IL13 rs20541, IL4 rs2243250, ADRB2 rs1042713, and FCER1B rs569108, four SNPs with significant sole effect on asthma, interact to confer a higher risk for the disease in Chinese Han children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016;51:364–371. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Coordinated Reactivation of Distributed Memory Traces in Primate Neocortex

Conversion of new memories into a lasting form may involve the gradual refinement and linking together of neural representations stored widely throughout neocortex. This consolidation process may require coordinated reactivation of distributed components of memory traces while the cortex is “offline,” i.e., not engaged in processing external stimuli. Simultaneous neural ensemble recordings from four sites in the macaque neocortex revealed such coordinated reactivation. In motor, somatosensory, and parietal cortex (but not prefrontal cortex), the behaviorally induced correlation structure and temporal patterning of neural ensembles within and between regions were preserved, confirming a major tenet of the trace-reactivation theory of memory consolidation.
Myostatin negatively regulates the expression of the steroid receptor co‐factor ARA70

Myostatin is a transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) superfamily member and a key negative regulator of embryonic and postnatal muscle growth. In order to identify downstream target genes regulated by Myostatin, we performed suppressive subtraction hybridization (SSH) on cDNA generated from the biceps femoris muscle of wild‐type and myostatin‐null mice. Sequence analysis identified several known and unknown genes as Myostatin downstream target genes. Here, we have investigated the regulation of gene expression of an androgen receptor (AR) binding co‐factor, androgen receptor associated protein‐70 (ARA70), by Myostatin. We show that in mouse there are two isoforms of ARA70 with high homology (79%) to human ARA70; an α‐isoform which is a canonical ARA70 and a β‐isoform which has a 9 consecutive amino acid deletion and 6 amino acid substitutions in the carboxyl‐terminal portion. Reverse Northern analysis on the differentially expressed cDNA library indicated that there is increased expression of ARA70 in the muscles of myostatin‐null mice. In addition, Northern blot, together with semi‐quantitative PCR analysis, confirmed that there is increased expression of ARA70 in myostatin‐null biceps femoris muscle when compared to wild‐type muscle. In corroboration of these results, addition of exogenous Myostatin results in down‐regulation of ARA70 expression confirming that Myostatin is a negative regulator of ARA70 gene expression. Expression analysis further confirmed that ARA70 is up‐regulated during myogenesis and that peak expression of ARA70 is observed following the peak expression of MyoD in differentiating myoblasts. Given that lack of Myostatin and increased expression of AR leads to hypertrophy, we propose that absence of Myostatin, at least in part, induces the hypertrophy phenotype by increasing the activity of AR by up‐regulating the expression of ARA70, a known stimulating co‐factor of AR. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen (HBsAg)-Positive and HBsAg-Negative Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Mother-Teenager Pairs 13 Years after Neonatal Hepatitis B Virus Vaccination

ABSTRACT It is unclear whether a mother who is negative for hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) but positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) is at potential risk for mother-to-child transmission of HBV. This study, using a paired mother-teenager population, aimed to assess whether maternal HBsAg-negative HBV infection (hnHBI) is a significant source of child HBV infection (HBI). A follow-up study with blood collection has been conducted on the 93 mother-teenager pairs from the initial 135 pregnant woman-newborn pairs 13 years after neonatal HBV vaccination. Serological and viral markers of HBV have been tested, and phylogenetic analysis of HBV isolates has been done. The HBI prevalence was 1.9% (1 hnHBI/53) for teenage children of non-HBI mothers, compared with 16.7% (1 hnHBI/6) for those of hnHBI mothers and 2.9% (1 HBsAg-positive HBV infection [hpHBI]/34) for those of hpHBI mothers. Similar viral sequences have been found in one pair of whom both the mother and teenager have had hnHBI. In comparison with the hpHBI cases, those with hnHBI had a lower level of HBV load and a higher proportion of genotype-C strains, which were accompanied by differentiated mutations (Q129R, K141E, and Y161N) of the “a” determinant of the HBV surface gene. Our findings suggest that mother-to-teenager transmission of hnHBI can occur among those in the neonatal HBV vaccination program.
Hybrid Petri nets for modeling and analysis of microgrid systems

Hybrid Petri nets U+0028 HPNs U+0029 are widely used to describe and analyze various industrial hybrid systems that have both discrete-event and continuous discrete-time behaviors. Recently, many researchers attempt to utilize them to characterize power and energy systems. This work proposes to adopt an HPN to model and analyze a microgrid that consists of green energy sources. A reachability graph for such a model is generated and used to analyze the system properties.
Effect of propylene glycol supplementation to feed of dairy cows on some biochemical measurements

The periparturient period during late pregnancy and early lactation are physiologicaly important status for health of dairy cows and inside great metabolic stress. Propylene glycol (PG) is a substance used to prevent negative energy balance in periparturient dairy cows, since it has a beneficial effect on glucose and fat homeostasis. Fifteen clinically health pregnant cows in good nutritional condition nearly ages , weights , body condition , and 30 days before expected calving day . Animals are divided into three equal groups , the first fed a basal ration , the second was administrated 100ml liquid does of PG/os and the third group was administrated 200 ml of PG/os to every cow beside basal ration . The experimental period extended from 30 days periparturient to 30 days post parturient. Blood samples were obtained 4 hours after the onset of first feed in take or / and PG administration days. Serum was separated and analyzed for glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA). The obtained results revealed, an improvement in the metabolic status reflected by an increase in glucose and total proteins in PG 200ml treated group at 30 days post parturient. Meanwhile, significant decreases in each of total cholesterol , triglycerides , NEFA and urea in PG supplied groups (100ml and 200ml )at 30 days post parturient . In addition a significant decrease in the creatinine level was observed in the 200 ml PG treated group at 30 days post parturient. The concentrations of albumin and globulin were uniform in all groups. It can be concluded that the use of such additional nutrient (PG) in later periparturient and in early post parturient period of cows was indicated beneficial effects in the treatment of such physiology and biochemical disturbances.
Time trends in Swedish patch test data from 1992 to 2000. A multi‐centre study based on age‐ and sex‐adjusted results of the Swedish standard series

Allergic contact dermatitis is recognized as a public health problem and some major allergens have been subject to intervention aiming at lowering skin exposure. There is an obvious interest in evaluating the effect of such interventions. Population studies are difficult to perform and epidemiological studies based on clinical data from testing patients with contact dermatitis are common surrogates. Our objective was to gather Swedish clinical standard series test data on two occasions in order to monitor trends in sensitization rates. Consecutive patch test results from the Swedish standard series were collected from 9 centres from 1991 to 1993 and from 1999 to 2001. In total, 3680 and 3790 patients, respectively, were included. Crude, age‐adjusted and age‐stratified prevalence are given separately for women and men. Our top 10 allergens are much in line with newly published European test data. Significant changes among those allergens are increasing sensitization rates for Myroxylon pereirae and decreasing rates for colophony, 5‐chloro‐2‐methyl‐4‐isothiazolin‐3‐one, Amerchol L 101 and thiuram mix. Nickel allergy is decreasing among young women. Among less common allergens, a noteworthy increase of sensitization to 4‐phenylendiamine is found. In conclusion, significant trends in sensitization rates of important allergen, reflecting changes in exposure, have been found.