Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Macrophage polarization: a key event in the secondary phase of acute spinal cord injury

Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) has become epidemic in modern society. Despite advances made in the understanding of the pathogenesis and improvements in early recognition and treatment, it remains a devastating event, often producing severe and permanent disability. SCI has two phases: acute and secondary. Although the acute phase is marked by severe local and systemic events such as tissue contusion, ischaemia, haemorrhage and vascular damage, the outcome of SCI are mainly influenced by the secondary phase. SCI causes inflammatory responses through the activation of innate immune responses that contribute to secondary injury, in which polarization‐based macrophage activation is a hallmarker. Macrophages accumulated within the epicentre and the haematoma of the injured spinal cord play a significant role in this inflammation. Depending on their phenotype and activation status, macrophages may initiate secondary injury mechanisms and/or promote CNS regeneration and repair. When it comes to therapies for SCI, very few can be performed in the acute phase. However, as macrophage activation and polarization switch are exquisitely sensitive to changes in microenvironment, some trials have been conducted to modulate macrophage polarization towards benefiting the recovery of SCI. Given this, it is important to understand how macrophages and SCI interrelate and interact on a molecular pathophysiological level. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the immuno‐pathophysiological features of acute SCI mainly from the following perspectives: (i) the overview of the pathophysiology of acute SCI, (ii) the roles of macrophage, especially its polarization switch in acute SCI, and (iii) newly developed neuroprotective therapies modulating macrophage polarization in acute SCI.
Energy Detection with Diversity Reception

We characterize the performance of energy detector (ED) over square-law, square-law selection, and switch-and-sta y diversity combining schemes. The exact average probabilities of a miss (Pm), and a false alarm (P f ) are derived in closed-form. To derive Pm for versatile Nakagami-m and Rician fading channels, a twofold approach, using the probability density function (PDF) and the moment generating function (MGF), is applied. Using the PDF method, the achievable diversity order over the Nakagamim channel is derived. However, this method becomes intractable when analyzingPm of the aforementioned combiners in Rician channels, but the MGF method can handle this case. Our analysis helps to quantify the performance gains of ED due to diversity reception. Theoretical derivations are verified through numerical Monte-Carlo simulation results.
Pingers cause temporary habitat displacement in the harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena

Several studies have shown that pingers mitigate porpoise bycatch and thus pinger use is now mandatory in some fisheries—although the long-term effects of pinger exposure on porpoises have not been well studied. The effects of 2 types of pingers (Airmar: 10 kHz tone; SaveWave Black Saver: 30−160 kHz sweep) on the presence of wild harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena, were investigated in 2 areas. Pinger spacing within the areas was similar to that used in commercial fisheries. Two scenarios were tested: (1) pingers were periodically activated and deactivated during 6 periods resembling the deployment and recovery of nets in a gillnet fishery, and (2) pingers were active continuously for 28 d. Acoustic dataloggers (T-PODs) were deployed, 4 within the pinger areas and 3 in control areas, and detected porpoise echolocation activity throughout the entire study. During the periodic-exposure scenario, the porpoise detection rate was reduced by 56% when pingers were active. The reduction was larger for the SaveWave pingers (65%) than for the Airmar pingers (40%). There was a tendency for the encounter rate to increase after the first 2−4 periodic exposures, which could indicate gradual habituation. During the continuous-exposure scenario, the detection rate was reduced by 65% throughout the 28 d with no sign of habituation. In the control areas (2.5, 3 and 5 km distant), neither a decrease nor an increase in detection rate was observed, suggesting that porpoises were displaced either <2.5 km or >5 km away. If pingers are used as deterrent devices, the impact of habitat exclusion must therefore be considered concurrently with mitigation of bycatch, especially when regulating fisheries in Marine Protected Areas.
Constraint on foreland basin migration in the Zagros mountain belt using Sr isotope stratigraphy

We have constrained the time‐space migration of the Zagros foredeep basin by performing Sr isotope stratigraphy on 31 samples of marine macrofossils from Neogene sediments now exposed in the Zagros mountain belt in southwest Iran. Our results show that these deposits (represented mainly by the Mishan Formation) are strongly diachronous, with ages ranging between 17.2 ± 0.2 and 1.1 ± 0.1 Ma. These deposits are older in the west (Dezful region) and become progressively younger towards the south and the south‐east (Fars region). Our results show that the marine foredeep was replaced by a fluvial sedimentary environment between ca. 14 and 12 Ma in the western sector, while this occurred between ca. 8 and 1 Ma in the eastern sector, becoming younger towards the south. These results enable us to show that the foreland basin migrated perpendicular to the orogen at rates of between 17.5 and 50 mm year−1 throughout the Neogene, exceeding migration rates in the Alps, Pyrenees, Apennines and Himalayan foreland basins. The sporadically elevated rates in the Zagros appear to be related to times when major widely spaced pre‐existing basement faults became reactivated. Finally, our results, when combined with published data, have enabled us to establish a new chronostratigraphic diagram for the Neogene portion of the Zagros foreland basin. Our study highlights that foreland basins are extremely dynamic settings where depocentres and palaeoenvironments may change rapidly in both time and space in relation to migrating deformation.
Role of interferon‐γ in immunity to herpes simplex virus

Removal of herpes simplex virus (HSV)‐infected cells from peripheral sites such as the skin is mainly an activity of T cells, particularly the CD4+ T subset. Such cells orchestrate an inflammatory response with interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) appearing to play the essential role in viral clearance. In accordance with this hypothesis, we show that infection of BALB/c background mice expressing the knockout phenotype for IFN‐γ (GKO mice) are significantly more susceptible to the development of cutaneous zosteriform lesions than are wild‐type. However, following HSV immunization, GKO mice become solidly immune to the development of zosteriform lesions. In addition, the transfer of T cells from immune GKO mice to nude mice recipients renders them resistant to zosteriform lesions. Our results are discussed in terms of the major and compensatory mechanisms available to the body to effect immunity to viral infections. J. Leukoc. Biol. 60: 528–532; 1996.
The influence of cultural orientation, alcohol expectancies and self-efficacy on adolescent drinking behavior in Beijing.

OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that the drinking behavior of adolescents in China is influenced by expectancies and self-efficacy and that adolescents' cultural orientation towards western versus traditional Chinese values influences expectancies, self-efficacy and drinking behavior, with western values leading to more dysfunctional patterns of beliefs and drinking, and that these beliefs are influenced by students' gender and school environment. METHODS A total of 1020 high school students from Beijing completed the Chinese Adolescent Alcohol Expectancy, the Chinese Cultural Orientation and the Chinese Self-regulation Self-efficacy questionnaires. RESULTS Results generally confirmed our hypotheses. Higher negative expectancies and higher self-efficacy reduced the likelihood of drinking significantly. Higher positive expectancies increased the likelihood of regular drinking but not occasional drinking. Having western cultural orientation increased the likelihood of drinking. Higher levels of western cultural orientation also increased positive expectancies, lowered negative expectancies and lowered self-efficacy. Having more western (less traditional) views towards traditional Chinese values decreased positive and negative expectancies. Gender influenced beliefs, with males having higher positive and lower negative expectancies, lower self-efficacy and more traditional cultural orientation. Students in key and general schools had less traditional cultural orientation and key school students had higher self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that cultural orientation influences adolescent drinking and this influence is mediated partially through cultural orientation influences on adolescent drinking expectancies and self-efficacy. Having more western and less traditional Chinese cultural orientation leads to more drinking, lower self-efficacy for regulating drinking and more risk-promoting alcohol expectancies.
An Efficient and Reconfigurable Synchronous Neuron Model

This brief presents a reconfigurable and efficient 2-D neuron model capable of extending to higher dimensions. The model is applied to the Izhikevich and FitzHugh-Nagumo neuron models as 2-D case studies and to the Hindmarsh-Rose model as a 3-D case study. Hardware synthesis and physical implementations show that the resulting circuits can reproduce neural dynamics with acceptable precision and considerably low hardware overhead compared to previously published piecewise linear models.
Optimization of Continuous Infusion of Piperacillin–Tazobactam in Children With Fever and Neutropenia

The study through Monte Carlo simulation of &bgr;-lactam pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic target attainment and determination of subsequent serum concentrations of piperacillin–tazobactam administered through continuous infusion to children treated for fever and neutropenia shows that 400 mg/kg/day has the highest probability of target attainment against Pseudomonas aeurginosa in our oncology ward compared with the standard regimen of 300 mg/kg/day.
Immigrant welfare recipiency: recent trends and future implications.

An economist analyzed microdata from the 1970 and 1980 US Censuses to look the large differences in welfare recipiency within the immigrant population. During the 1970s the percentage of immigrants who received public assistance increased from 5.9-8.8% which was a greater increase than that of native borns (6.1-7.9%). Further the most recent immigrants tended to use the welfare system more in 1980 than in 1970. For example, in the 1970 census, only 6% of the most recent immigrants were on public assistance which grew 2.3% by 1980 (8.3% of most recent immigrants) whereas native use of public assistance grew 1.8%. Moreover welfare recipiency rose as did age in both censuses and this increase was more rapid than that for natives. Besides assimilation had a tendency to lead to public assistance rather than away from it, yet immigrant earnings were more likely to increase. Welfare recipiency across countries of origin varied widely (2% for Morocco and Taiwan to 25.8% for the Dominican Republic). Among European nations, 3.8% of Belgian immigrants depended on public assistance compared to a high of 13.4% for Spanish immigrants. In 1980, immigrants from Mexico and Central and South America, and the Caribbean received the most public assistance (12.4%, 8.9%, and 16.3% respectively) while those from Africa received the least (4.8%). Source country characteristics explained 70% of the variation of welfare recipiency rates across countries of origin. They included per capita gross national product, income inequality, distance from the US, and percent refugees. The Asians represented the largest immigrant cohort in both censuses (32.4% and 40.4% respectively). Continual changes in the source country composition of immigrants to the US should prompt somewhat lower welfare recipiency rates among those coming in the 1980s and 1990s compared to those coming in the 1970s.
Peer training in expert searching: the observation effect.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study is to determine if searchers' observing each others' search processes is an effective training method and if sharing through observation can strengthen search skills. METHOD A shared email account was established among all public services librarians conducting literature searches at the Ehrman Medical Library. Three questionnaires were sent to the public services librarians soliciting input on the shared-search process. The results were analyzed for this study. RESULTS The shared-search process has helped searchers become more effective in searching. Colleagues' viewing of the search results is a major factor influencing the searchers' performance. CONCLUSIONS Easy to implement, the peer-training model is an effective way to train searchers as well as help keep skills up to date.
Increased growth rate, Delayed senescense and decreased serum dependence characterize cables-deficient cells

Cables (Cables1), a recently described growth suppressor protein that maps to human chromosome 18q 11-12, is lost in many primary colon, lung, and gynecological malignancies. Cultured cell lines that over-express Cables show a reduction in cell proliferation and Cables-/- mice are viable with normal embryonic development. Since Cables expression is lost in primary human tumors and over-expression of Cables suggests a role in growth suppression, we investigated growth properties of primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) from Cables-/- and Cables+/+ mice. Cables-/- MEFs exhibited a doubling time of 43-45 hours compared to 73-75 hours for the Cables+/+ MEFs. Similarly, Cables-/- MEFs show a delayed onset of senescence and extension of lifespan, while the Cables+/+ MEFs ceased proliferating after eight cumulative population doublings. Cables-/- MEFs were able to proliferate in low serum concentrations. These data provide convincing evidence that Cables plays a role in the regulation of cell proliferation and survival.
Mutation prevalence among 51 unrelated Spanish patients with Gaucher disease: identification of 11 novel mutations.

Gaucher disease is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the lysosomal beta-glucocerebrosidase (GBA) gene. Gaucher disease is a very heterogeneous entity due to the large number of different mutations existing in the GBA gene, resulting in a defective protein whose impaired activity is the cause of the disease. We present a mutation analysis of the GBA gene in 51 unrelated Spanish Gaucher disease patients together with clinical findings. Two common mutations, c.1226A>G (N370S) and c.1448T>C (L444P), were determined by restriction enzyme digestion after PCR amplification of genomic DNA. The remaining alleles were screened by amplifying the entire GBA gene followed by nested PCR and SSCP analysis under four different conditions. The c.1226A>G (N370S) and c.1448T>C (L444P) mutations were common, accounting for 56 alleles (55%) and 16 alleles (15%), respectively. In addition, 25 different mutations were found, 11 of which are described here for the first time: c. (-203)A>G, c.160G>A (V15M), c.256C>T (R47X), c.445-2a>g (IVS4-2a>g), c.485T>C (M123T), c.914C>T (P266L), c.953delT, c.1124T>C (L336P), c.1207A>C (S364R), c.1214delG,C, and c.1510delT,C,T (465delSer). Two mutations, S364R and P266L, were associated with neuronopathic forms of Gaucher disease: S364R mutation in heterozygosity with the L444P mutation and the P266L mutation in a homozygous state. Two type 1 patients were found to be carriers of two mutations in the same allele (genotypes [N370S] + [E326K + N188S] and [N370S] + [IVS4-2a>g+c.(-203)A>G]). This study allowed us to identify 100% of mutant alleles, and therefore we conclude that the method used to screen for mutations in the GBA gene is very reliable and there is a broad spectrum of mutations in the GBA gene in the Spanish population.
Orderliness of hormone release patterns: a complementary measure to conventional pulsatile and circadian analyses.

Pre-eminent features of physiological hormone release include both pulsatile and nyctohemeral elements, which are modulated in normal physiology and often disrupted in pathological states. The pulsatile nature of neurohormone signaling is critical to long-term activation and physiological regulation of many neuroendocrine axes, such as the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)–luteinizing hormone (LH)–gonadal axis in men and women. Indeed, a pulsatile but not continuous GnRH signal to gonadotrope cells will preserve physiological biosynthesis and secretion rates of the gonadotropins, LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and, in turn, maintain gonadal steroidogenesis and gametogenesis. For the growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)–somatostatin/growth hormone (GH)/insulinlike growth factor-I (IGF-I) axis, pulsatile GHRH release by hypothalamic neurons is also believed to organize episodic GH secretion, as coordinated by prior and concurrent hypothalamic somatostatin tone. Moreover, the pulsatile GH signal activates organ-specific secondmessenger signaling pathways, such as the STAT5b signaling cascade in the liver, with subsequent induction of specific genomic responses in relevant target tissues, which are not induced equivalently by a constant GH stimulus. Non-pituitary hormones (e.g. parathyroid hormone (PTH), insulin, renin) also exhibit a distinctly pulsatile time-course of release. Furthermore, neurohormone secretion often partakes of a nyctohemeral and, in some specific cases, circadian rhythmicity. The 24-h rhythms are assembled in part from day-night amplitude and frequency control of the underlying ultradian (shorter-term) pulsations (1). Recent modeling strategies suggest possible mechanisms linking physiological pulsatility and circadian rhythmicity (2), but far more study will be required to establish the bases for such connectivity in health and disease.
Sunscreens – Which and What for?

It is well established that sun exposure is the main cause for the development of skin cancer. Chronic continuous UV radiation is believed to induce malignant melanoma, whereas intermittent high-dose UV exposure contributes to the occurrence of actinic keratosis as precursor lesions of squamous cell carcinoma as well as basal cell carcinoma. Not only photocarcinogenesis but also the mechanisms of photoaging have recently become apparent. In this respect the use of sunscreens seemed to prove to be more and more important and popular within the last decades. However, there is still inconsistency about the usefulness of sunscreens. Several studies show that inadequate use and incomplete UV spectrum efficacy may compromise protection more than previously expected. The sunscreen market is crowded by numerous products. Inorganic sunscreens such as zinc oxide and titanium oxide have a wide spectral range of activity compared to most of the organic sunscreen products. It is not uncommon for organic sunscreens to cause photocontact allergy, but their cosmetic acceptability is still superior to the one given by inorganic sunscreens. Recently, modern galenic approaches such as micronization and encapsulation allow the development of high-quality inorganic sunscreens. The potential systemic toxicity of organic sunscreens has lately primarily been discussed controversially in public, and several studies show contradictory results. Although a matter of debate, at present the sun protection factor (SPF) is the most reliable information for the consumer as a measure of sunscreen filter efficacy. In this context additional tests have been introduced for the evaluation of not only the protective effect against erythema but also protection against UV-induced immunological and mutational effects. Recently, combinations of UV filters with agents active in DNA repair have been introduced in order to improve photoprotection. This article reviews the efficacy of sunscreens in the prevention of epithelial and nonepithelial skin cancer, the effect on immunosuppression and the value of the SPF as well as new developments on the sunscreen market.
Auditory resting-state functional connectivity in tinnitus and modulation with transcranial direct current stimulation

Abstract Conclusions: The functional connectivity (FC) between the right and left auditory cortex is weak in tinnitus patients. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the auditory cortex has potential as a tool to modulate auditory-based FC. Objective: This study investigated the effects of applying tDCS in tinnitus patients, and searched for modulation of brain networks in resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) through an analysis of FC with the stimulated brain region. Subjects and methods: Nine male patients with chronic tinnitus and 10 male volunteers with normal hearing were enrolled. The subjects were evaluated with rs-fMRI immediately before and after tDCS. The tinnitus patients filled out the self-evaluation questionnaires designed to measure tinnitus conditions before tDCS treatment and 1 week afterwards. Results: The FC between the right and left auditory cortex was significantly weaker in tinnitus patients than in controls. After tDCS treatment, in the tinnitus group, the primary auditory cortex showed a reduction in the amount of statistically significant connectivity with the somatosensory area and motor area, but maintained strong significant connectivity (p < 0.005) with the auditory area and insular cortex. In contrast, in the control group, there remained strong significant connectivity between the primary auditory cortex and the somatosensory area, motor area, insular cortex, and auditory area.
Fenoldopam Improves Corticomedullary Oxygen Delivery and Attenuates Angiogenesis Gene Expression in Acute Ischemic Renal Injury

Background/Aims: Vasoactive compounds are known to affect intrarenal hemodynamics and gene transcription, but specific effects of fenoldopam in the setting of acute renal ischemia are not known. We utilized a rat model of acute ischemic nephropathy to test the hypothesis that fenoldopam improves corticomedullary tissue oxygen tension (PtO2) and attenuates angiogenesis gene expression in acute renal ischemia. Methods: Rats anesthetized with 50 mg/kg urethane were divided into 4 groups (n = 6 each): (1) sham with infusion of 0.9% saline; (2) sham with infusion of 0.1 µg·kg–1·min–1 fenoldopam; (3) unilateral renal ischemia followed by 6 h of reperfusion with saline, and (4) ischemia/reperfusion with fenoldopam. Renal artery blood flow (RBF), renal cortical perfusion (RCP), and PtO2 were recorded throughout. Total RNA from left kidneys was used to probe microarrays. Gene expression was measured as percent positive control (GAPDH) and confirmed using RT-PCR. Results: Fenoldopam significantly increased RBF (p < 0.05), RCP (p < 0.01) and PtO2 (p <0.01) in both non-ischemic and post-ischemic kidneys. Fenoldopam attenuated 11 of the 13 ischemia-induced genes and 44 of 78 ischemia-suppressed genes. This attenuation was statistically significant (p <0.05) for five genes. Conclusion: Data from this rat model of ischemic nephropathy suggest that fenoldopam improves intrarenal hemodynamics and attenuates ischemia-related changes in angiogenesis gene expression.