Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Smooth pursuit eye movements and attention in psychiatric patients.

The effects of two putative attention-engaging maneuvers on tracking performance were studied in three groups of subjects: inpatients (n = 19), outpatients (n = 19), and controls (n = 20). One method involved realerting subjects during tracking by repeating instructions to track carefully. The second method, a signal detection task incorporated into the tracking stimulus, required that subjects signal their perception of brief interruptions of the tracking light by pressing a hand-held button. The tracking performance of inpatients was significantly inferior to that of both outpatients and controls, whereas tracking performance of these two latter groups did not differ. Verbal realerting did not significantly improve tracking performance in any group; moreover, during the administration of these instructions there was an increase in tracking errors in inpatients. Inpatients also made more tracking errors than comparison groups during signal detection trials. Other subject factors of possible relevance to tracking performance, e.g., age, gender, and level of arousal, were found not to covary with tracking accuracy in a manner which would explain the observed group differences. It is unlikely that voluntary inattention is the basis for the observed impaired tracking in hospitalized psychiatric patients; the data are more consistent with an interpretation based on heightened distractibility or information overload in these patients.
Envelope Glycoprotein Binding to the Integrin α4β7 Is Not a General Property of Most HIV-1 Strains

ABSTRACT The HIV-1 surface glycoprotein gp120 has been reported to bind and signal through α4β7 by means of a tripeptide motif in the V2 loop that mimics structures present in the natural ligands for α4β7, suggesting that α4β7 may facilitate HIV-1 infection of CD4+ T cells in the gut. Furthermore, immune correlates in the RV144 vaccine efficacy trial generated the hypothesis that V1V2 antibodies to an epitope near the putative α4β7 binding motif may play a role in protection against HIV-1 infection. In the interest of developing an assay to detect antibodies that block gp120 binding to α4β7, we used retinoic acid (RA)-activated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and transfected HEK293T (293T) cells expressing the integrin complex to study the α4β7 binding properties of 16 HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins. The natural ligand for α4β7, mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1), bound efficiently to RA-activated PBMCs and transfected 293T cells, and this binding was blocked by antibodies to α4. gp120 from multiple HIV-1 subtypes bound to RA-activated PBMCs from three donors in a CD4-dependent manner, but little or no α4β7 binding was detected. Similarly, little or no binding to α4β7 on transfected 293T cells was detected with multiple gp120s and gp140s, including gp120s from transmitted/founder strains, or when gp120 was produced in CHO, 293T, and 293S/GnT1−/− cells. Finally, we found no evidence that infectious HIV-1 virions produced in either PBMCs or 293T cells could bind α4β7 on transfected 293T cells. Infectious HIV-1 virions and most gp120s/gp140s appear to be poor ligands for the α4β7 integrin complex under the conditions tested here. IMPORTANCE Certain HIV-1 gp120 envelope glycoproteins have been shown to bind the gut-homing receptor α4β7, and it has been suggested that this binding facilitates mucosal transmission and virus replication in the gut mucosa. Additional evidence has generated the hypothesis that antibodies that bind near the putative α4β7 binding motif in the V2 loop of gp120, possibly disrupting gp120-α4β7 binding, may be important for HIV-1 vaccines. Our evidence indicates that infectious HIV-1 virions and many gp120s lack detectable α4β7 binding activity, suggesting that this homing receptor may play a limited role in direct HIV-1 infection of cells.
Editorial: The Judgment of Princeton and Other Articles

At the original Paris event in 1976, British wine merchant Steve Spurrier organized two blind tastings with nine French wine judges who were associated with the wine industry in various ways (wine journalists, critics, sommeliers, merchants or winemakers). In the first flight, the judges rated ten white wines—six from Napa and four from Burgundy. In the second flight, the judges rated ten reds—six from Napa and four from Bordeaux. In both tastings a wine from Napa, a then relatively unknown wine region, was declared the winner. George Taber of TIME magazine, the only attending journalist, reported the surprising results to the world, and helped to put Napa, a then nascent wine region, on the global wine map.
[Obstructive sleep apnea and risk factors for coronary artery disease].

STUDY AIM Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is strongly associated with obesity, especially abdominal obesity. Obesity in turn is a well-known risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between OSA severity and CAD risk factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS The sample consisted of 73 subjects (mean age +/- SE, 46.7 +/- 1 years) referred to a sleep laboratory. Subjects were either: 1. obese with OSA (O-OSA group n = 35; body mass index, BMI ł 30 kg/m2; apnoea/hypopnoea index, AHI > 35), 2. non-obese with OSA (BO-OSA group n = 14; BMI < 27 kg/m2; AHI > 35), or 3. obese without OSA (O-Z group n = 24; BMI ł 30 kg/m2; AHI < 5). All subjects underwent full overnight polysomnography. Blood samples were taken from all subject, for fasting levels of insulin (INS), glucose (GLU), total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglyceride (TG) and uric acid (UA). RESULTS O-OSA had significantly higher INS and UA levels (p < 0.05) compared to BO-OSA and O-Z. GLU and lipid levels were comparable in the studied groups. GLU level correlated (p < 0.05) negatively to minimum oxyhemoglobin saturation (SAT-MIN) and positively to neck circumference. TG and UA levels were correlated (p < 0.05) positively to AHI and negatively to SAT-MIN. UA level was also positively correlated (p < 0.05) to BMI, waist/hip circumference ratio (WHR), and INS level. INS level correlated (p < 0.05) positively to AHI, T90, WHR and UA, and negatively to SAT-MIN and mean oxyhemoglobin saturation. After adjusting for the influence of OSA and obesity (multiple regression analysis), we found independent negative correlations (p < 0.05) between: GLU level and SAT-MIN, UA level and SAT-MIN, and INS level and SAT-MIN. An independent, positive correlation (p < 0.05) was found between TG level and AHI. CONCLUSIONS Results of our study suggest that OSA increases the risk of coronary artery disease by increasing plasma levels of glucose, triglyceride and insulin, independent of obesity.
Mobile EEG on the bike: disentangling attentional and physical contributions to auditory attention tasks

Objective. In the past few years there has been a growing interest in studying brain functioning in natural, real-life situations. Mobile EEG allows to study the brain in real unconstrained environments but it faces the intrinsic challenge that it is impossible to disentangle observed changes in brain activity due to increase in cognitive demands by the complex natural environment or due to the physical involvement. In this work we aim to disentangle the influence of cognitive demands and distractions that arise from such outdoor unconstrained recordings. Approach. We evaluate the ERP and single trial characteristics of a three-class auditory oddball paradigm recorded in outdoor scenario’s while peddling on a fixed bike or biking freely around. In addition we also carefully evaluate the trial specific motion artifacts through independent gyro measurements and control for muscle artifacts. Main results. A decrease in P300 amplitude was observed in the free biking condition as compared to the fixed bike conditions. Above chance P300 single-trial classification in highly dynamic real life environments while biking outdoors was achieved. Certain significant artifact patterns were identified in the free biking condition, but neither these nor the increase in movement (as derived from continuous gyrometer measurements) can explain the differences in classification accuracy and P300 waveform differences with full clarity. The increased cognitive load in real-life scenarios is shown to play a major role in the observed differences. Significance. Our findings suggest that auditory oddball results measured in natural real-life scenarios are influenced mainly by increased cognitive load due to being in an unconstrained environment.
Identification and Molecular Characterization of HNF1B Gene Mutations in Indian Diabetic Patients with Renal Abnormalities

Heterozygous mutations of the HNF1B gene (HNF1B‐MODY or MODY5) are associated with a wide clinical spectrum of renal and extrarenal disease without clear genotype–phenotype correlation. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of HNF1B gene mutations in young Indian diabetic patients with various renal abnormalities. Fifty unrelated young diabetic patients, who also had renal abnormalities, were selected from the electronic records of a large diabetes centre in Chennai, in southern India. All patients were sequenced for HNF1B gene mutations. The whole or partial gene deletion was analyzed by MLPA. Functional characterization of the novel variant (Asn321Asp) was also performed using transcriptional activation and subcellular localization assays. We identified six different HNF1B gene mutations which included four previously reported (‐67C>T, Arg165His, IVS2nt+2insT, Met1_Trp557del) and two novel variations (Asn321Asp, IVS3nt‐4C>G). The functional study revealed that the novel variation Asn321Asp in both the heterozygous and homozygous state showed similar transcriptional activity, expression levels and normal transportation of protein to the nucleus similar to wild type, suggesting that it is not likely to be pathogenic. This is the first major study of HNF1B‐MODY from India and shows that about 10% of young diabetic subjects with renal abnormalities seen at a tertiary diabetes centre harbor HNF1B gene mutations.
Two-end unsynchronized fault location algorithm for double-circuit series compensated lines

This paper presents an accurate fault location algorithm for double-circuit series compensated lines. Use of two-end current and voltage signals with taken into account a more general case of unsynchronized measurements is studied. Different options for analytical synchronization of the measurements are considered. The algorithm applies two subroutines, designated for locating faults on particular line sections, and the procedure for selecting the valid subroutine. The subroutines are formulated with use of the generalized fault loop model, leading to compact formulae. Taking into account the distributed parameter line model assures high accuracy of fault location. Application of the proposed selection procedure allows for reliable selection of the valid subroutine. The developed fault location algorithm has been thoroughly tested using signals taken from ATP-EMTP versatile simulations of faults on a double-circuit series compensated transmission line. The presented fault location example shows the validity of the derived fault location algorithm and its high accuracy.
Racial and ethnic minority participants in chronic disease self-management programs: findings from the Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative.

BACKGROUND The Communities Putting Prevention to Work: Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) Initiative funded grantees in 45 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to implement and expand delivery of CDSMP to older adults. We examine whether there are differences in the enrollment and completion rates of members of racial and ethnic minority groups and what sites have done to enhance their delivery of the CDSMP to such groups. METHOD This study used a multi-method approach including: site visits to 6 states, telephone interviews with the 47 program grantees and delivery sites, review of program reports, and analysis of administrative data on participants, completers, workshops and leaders. RESULTS Grantees served 89,861 participants, including 56.3% who self-identified as White, 17.3% as Black, 5.0% as other/multi-racial, 3.2% as Asian/Asian Americans, 1.4% as American Indian/Alaskans, . 8% as Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders, and 16.0% individuals of unknown race. Overall, completion rates averaged 74.5%, with Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders completing workshops at a higher rate (90.6%) than other groups. Completion rates for participants aged > or = 75 were higher than for younger participants. Senior centers, health care organizations, and residential facilities served 63.1% of the participants. CONCLUSIONS Grantees have successfully delivered CDSMP to racially and ethnically diverse participants in a range of settings. As the Administration for Community Living/Administration on Aging (ACL/AoA) grantees have demonstrated, CDSMP can be brought to scale by community organizations, partnerships and networks to reach diverse populations in diverse settings. The program can be a significant tool for addressing health disparities and empowering racial/ethnic minorities to take charge, promote better health and self-management of chronic conditions.
Clinical and clinicopathologic features of dogs that consumed foodborne hepatotoxic aflatoxins: 72 cases (2005-2006).

OBJECTIVE To characterize clinical signs, clinicopathologic features, treatments, and survival in dogs with naturally acquired foodborne aflatoxicosis. DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 72 dogs that consumed aflatoxin-contaminated commercial dog food. PROCEDURES Medical records of affected dogs were reviewed. Between December 2005 and March 2006, dogs were identified as having foodborne aflatoxin hepatotoxicosis on the basis of the history of consumption of contaminated food or characteristic histopathologic lesions (subject dog or a recently deceased dog in the same household or kennel). Recorded information included signalment, clinical features, clinicopathologic test results, treatments, and survival. Data were analyzed by survival status. RESULTS Most dogs were of large breeds from breeding kennels. No significant differences were found in age or weight between 26 (36%) survivor dogs and 46 (64%) nonsurvivor dogs. Severity of clinical signs varied widely; 7 dogs died abruptly. In order of onset, clinical features included anorexia, lethargy, vomiting, jaundice, diarrhea (melena, hematochezia), abdominal effusion, peripheral edema, and terminal encephalopathy and hemorrhagic diathesis. Common clinicopathologic features included coagulopathic and electrolyte disturbances, hypoproteinemia, increased serum liver enzyme activities, hyperbilirubinemia, and hypocholesterolemia. Cytologic hepatocellular lipid vacuolation was confirmed in 11 dogs examined. In comparisons of clinicopathologic test results between survivor and nonsurvivor dogs, only granular cylindruria (7/21 dogs) consistently predicted death. Best early markers of aflatoxicosis were low plasma activities of anticoagulant proteins (protein C, antithrombin) and hypocholesterolemia. Despite aggressive treatment, many but not all severely affected dogs died. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Serum liver enzyme activities and bilirubin concentration were unreliable early markers of aflatoxin hepatotoxicosis in dogs. Hypocholesterolemia and decreased plasma protein C and antithrombin activities may function as exposure biomarkers.
Pitfalls and challenges when assessing the depth of hypnosis during general anaesthesia by clinical signs and electronic indices

The objective of this article was to review the present methods used for validating the depth of hypnosis. We introduce three concepts, the real depth of hypnosis (DHreal), the observed depth of hypnosis (DHobs), and the electronic indices of depth of hypnosis (DHel‐ind). The DHreal is the real state of hypnosis that the patient has in a given moment during the general anaesthesia. The DHobs is the subjective assessment of the anaesthesiologist based on clinical signs. The DHel‐ind is any estimation of the depth of hypnosis given by an electronic device. The three entities DHreal, DHobs and DHel‐ind should in the ideal situation be identical. However, this is rarely the case. The correlation between the DHobs and the DHel‐ind can be affected by a number of factors such as the stimuli used for the assessment of the level of consciousness or the administration of analgesic agents or neuro muscular blocking agents. Opioids, for example, can block the response to tactile and noxious stimuli, and even the response to verbal command could vanish, hence deeming the patient in a lower depth of hypnosis than the real patient state. The DHel‐ind can be disturbed by the presence of facial muscular activity.
Functional Compensation of P/Q by N-Type Channels Blocks Short-Term Plasticity at the Calyx of Held Presynaptic Terminal

Calcium channels of the P/Q subtype mediate transmitter release at the neuromuscular junction and at many central synapses, such as the calyx of Held. Transgenic mice in which α1A channels are ablated provide a powerful tool with which to test compensatory mechanisms at the synapse and to explore mechanisms of presynaptic regulation associated with expression of P/Q channels. Using the calyx of Held preparation from the knock-out (KO) mice, we show here that N-type channels functionally compensate for the absence of P/Q subunits at the calyx and evoke giant synaptic currents [approximately two-thirds of the magnitude of wild-type (WT) responses]. However, although evoked paired-pulse facilitation is prominent in WT, this facilitation is greatly diminished in the KO. In addition, direct recording of presynaptic calcium currents revealed that the major functional difference was the absence of calcium-dependent facilitation at the calyx in the P/Q KO animals. We conclude that one physiological function of P/Q channels is to provide additional facilitatory drive, so contributing to maintenance of transmission as vesicles are depleted during high throughput synaptic transmission.
Serious Hemorrhagic Complications After Successful Treatment of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation-Associated Thrombotic Microangiopathy With Defibrotide in Pediatric Patient With Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Background: Transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TAM) is a life-threatening complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). There is some evidence of endothelial injury playing a significant role in TAM development. The efficacy of defibrotide was demonstrated for prophylaxis and treatment of another HSCT-associated endothelial damage syndrome—liver veno-occlusive disease. The data for defibrotide usage in TAM are limited. Case Description: A 9-year old boy underwent HSCT from a matched unrelated donor for monosomy seven-associated myelodysplastic syndrome treatment. A myeloablative preparative regimen and post-transplant immunosuppression with cyclophosphamide on days +3 and +4 and a combination of tacrolimus with mycophenolate mofetil from day +5 were used. From day +61, sustained fever with progressive neurologic impairment and no evidence of infection was observed. On day +68, the patient developed severe TAM with acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT). Defibrotide therapy 25 mg/kg/day was administered for 7 days with resolution of TAM symptoms. It was followed by multiple hemorrhagic episodes—epistaxis, hemorrhagic cystitis, and renal hemorrhage, which are presumed to be the complications of defibrotide therapy. Conclusion: Defibrotide could be an effective therapy for TAM, but adequate doses, duration of therapy, and drug safety profile both for pediatric and adult patients need to be evaluated by randomized prospective studies.
Crystal structure of delta9 stearoyl‐acyl carrier protein desaturase from castor seed and its relationship to other di‐iron proteins.

The three‐dimensional structure of recombinant homodimeric delta9 stearoyl‐acyl carrier protein desaturase, the archetype of the soluble plant fatty acid desaturases that convert saturated to unsaturated fatty acids, has been determined by protein crystallographic methods to a resolution of 2.4 angstroms. The structure was solved by a combination of single isomorphous replacement, anomalous contribution from the iron atoms to the native diffraction data and 6‐fold non‐crystallographic symmetry averaging. The 363 amino acid monomer consists of a single domain of 11 alpha‐helices. Nine of these form an antiparallel helix bundle. The enzyme subunit contains a di‐iron centre, with ligands from four of the alpha‐helices in the helix bundle. The iron ions are bound in a highly symmetric environment, with one of the irons forming interactions with the side chains of E196 and H232 and the second iron with the side chains of E105 and H146. Two additional glutamic acid side chains, from E143 and E229, are within coordination distance to both iron ions. A water molecule is found within the second coordination sphere from the iron atoms. The lack of electron density corresponding to a mu‐oxo bridge, and the long (4.2 angstroms) distance between the iron ions suggests that this probably represents the diferrous form of the enzyme. A deep channel which probably binds the fatty acid extends from the surface into the interior of the enzyme. Modelling of the substrate, stearic acid, into this channel places the delta9 carbon atom in the vicinity of one of the iron ions.
Review of the health benefits of peas (Pisum sativum L.).

Pulses, including peas, have long been important components of the human diet due to their content of starch, protein and other nutrients. More recently, the health benefits other than nutrition associated with pulse consumption have attracted much interest. The focus of the present review paper is the demonstrated and potential health benefits associated with the consumption of peas, Pisum sativum L. , specifically green and yellow cotyledon dry peas, also known as smooth peas or field peas. These health benefits derive mainly from the concentration and properties of starch, protein, fibre, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals in peas. Fibre from the seed coat and the cell walls of the cotyledon contributes to gastrointestinal function and health, and reduces the digestibility of starch in peas. The intermediate amylose content of pea starch also contributes to its lower glycaemic index and reduced starch digestibility. Pea protein, when hydrolysed, may yield peptides with bioactivities, including angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitor activity and antioxidant activity. The vitamin and mineral contents of peas may play important roles in the prevention of deficiency-related diseases, specifically those related to deficiencies of Se or folate. Peas contain a variety of phytochemicals once thought of only as antinutritive factors. These include polyphenolics, in coloured seed coat types in particular, which may have antioxidant and anticarcinogenic activity, saponins which may exhibit hypocholesterolaemic and anticarcinogenic activity, and galactose oligosaccharides which may exert beneficial prebiotic effects in the large intestine.