Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decoding of intended saccade direction in an oculomotor brain–computer interface

Objective. To date, invasive brain–computer interface (BCI) research has largely focused on replacing lost limb functions using signals from the hand/arm areas of motor cortex. However, the oculomotor system may be better suited to BCI applications involving rapid serial selection from spatial targets, such as choosing from a set of possible words displayed on a computer screen in an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) application. Here we aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of a BCI utilizing the oculomotor system. Approach. We developed a chronic intracortical BCI in monkeys to decode intended saccadic eye movement direction using activity from multiple frontal cortical areas. Main results. Intended saccade direction could be decoded in real time with high accuracy, particularly at contralateral locations. Accurate decoding was evident even at the beginning of the BCI session; no extensive BCI experience was necessary. High-frequency (80–500 Hz) local field potential magnitude provided the best performance, even over spiking activity, thus simplifying future BCI applications. Most of the information came from the frontal and supplementary eye fields, with relatively little contribution from dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Significance. Our results support the feasibility of high-accuracy intracortical oculomotor BCIs that require little or no practice to operate and may be ideally suited for ‘point and click’ computer operation as used in most current AAC systems.
Therapeutic ultrasound to noninvasively create intracardiac communications in an intact animal model

Objective: To determine if pulsed cavitational ultrasound therapy (histotripsy) can accurately and safely generate ventricular septal defects (VSDs) through the intact chest of a neonatal animal, with the eventual goal of developing a noninvasive technique of creating intra‐cardiac communications in patients with congenital heart disease. Background: Histotripsy is an innovative ultrasonic technique that generates demarcated, mechanical tissue fractionation utilizing high intensity ultrasound pulses. Previous work has shown that histotripsy can create atrial septal defects in a beating heart in an open‐chest canine model. Methods: Nine neonatal pigs were treated with transcutaneous histotripsy targeting the ventricular septum. Ultrasound pulses of 5‐μsec duration at a peak negative pressure of 13 MPa and a pulse repetition frequency of 1 kHz were generated by a 1 MHz focused transducer. The procedure was guided by real‐time ultrasound imaging. Results: VSDs were created in all pigs with diameters ranging from 2 to 6.5 mm. Six pigs were euthanized within 2 hrs of treatment, while three were recovered and maintained for 2–3 days to evaluate lesion maturation and clinical side effects. There were only transient clinical effects and pathology revealed mild collateral damage around the VSD with no significant damage to other cardiac or extra‐cardiac structures. Conclusions: Histotripsy can accurately and safely generate VSDs through the intact chest in a neonatal animal model. These results suggest that with further advances, histotripsy can be a useful, noninvasive technique to create intracardiac communications, which currently require invasive catheter‐based or surgical procedures, to clinically stabilize newborn infants with complex congenital heart disease. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cellular Prion Protein Is Expressed in a Subset of Neuroendocrine Cells of the Rat Gastrointestinal Tract

Prion diseases are believed to develop from the conformational change of normal cellular prion protein (PrPc) to a pathogenic isoform (PrPsc). PrPc is present in both the central nervous system and many peripheral tissues, although protein concentration is significantly lower in non-neuronal tissues. PrPc expression is essential for internalization and replication of the infectious agent. Several works have pointed to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract as the principal site of entry of PrPsc, but how passage through the GI mucosa occurs is not yet known. Here we studied PrPc expression using Western blot, RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry in rat GI tract. PrPc mRNA and protein were detected in corpus, antrum, duodenum, and colon. Immunoreactivity was found in scattered cells of the GI epithelium. With double immunofluorescence, these cells have been identified as neuroendocrine cells. PrPc immunostaining was found in subsets of histamine, somatostatin (Som), ghrelin, gastrin (G), and serotonin (5HT) cells in stomach. In small and large bowel, PrPc cells co-localized with subpopulations of 5HT-, Som-, G-, and peptide YY-immunolabeled cells. Our results provide evidence for a possible and important role of endocrine cells in the internalization of PrPsc from gut lumen.
The Psychology of Legitimacy: A Relational Perspective on Voluntary Deference to Authorities

People within organized groups often internalize their feelings of obligation to obey group rules and the decisions of group authorities. They believe that group authorities and rules are legitimate and, hence, entitled to be obeyed. Because of this belief, group members voluntarily accept and obey rules and decisions from group authorities. This review draws on evidence from studies of authorities in political, legal, managerial, educational, and family settings to explore why people view as legitimate and voluntarily defer to group authorities. Two theories about legitimacy are contrasted: resource-based theories, represented by instrumental models, and identification based theories, represented by the relational model. The findings provide strong support for the existence of a relational component of legitimacy, suggesting that authorities draw an important part of their legitimacy from their social relationship with group members. The findings also show that there is an instrumental component to legitimacy. Hence, the psychology of legitimacy involves both instrumental and relational elements.
Regulation of RhoA Signaling by the cAMP-dependent Phosphorylation of RhoGDIα*

Background: cAMP-induced phosphorylation of RhoA has been considered to inhibit RhoA signaling, causing cell rounding. Results: Knockdown of RhoGDIα blocks cAMP-induced cell rounding, and RhoGDIα-WT expression but not RhoGDIα-S174A expression recovers. Conclusion: Phosphorylation of RhoGDIα likely inhibits RhoA by stabilizing a active RhoA-RhoGDIα complex. Significance: This may underlie Gs/cAMP-induced cross-talk with Gq/G13/RhoA signaling. RhoA plays a pivotal role in regulating cell shape and movement. Protein kinase A (PKA) inhibits RhoA signaling and thereby induces a characteristic morphological change, cell rounding. This has been considered to result from cAMP-induced phosphorylation of RhoA at Ser-188, which induces a stable RhoA-GTP-RhoGDIα complex and sequesters RhoA to the cytosol. However, few groups have shown RhoA phosphorylation in intact cells. Here we show that phosphorylation of RhoGDIα but not RhoA plays an essential role in the PKA-induced inhibition of RhoA signaling and in the morphological changes using cardiac fibroblasts. The knockdown of RhoGDIα by siRNA blocks cAMP-induced cell rounding, which is recovered by RhoGDIα-WT expression but not when a RhoGDIα-S174A mutant is expressed. PKA phosphorylates RhoGDIα at Ser-174 and the phosphorylation of RhoGDIα is likely to induce the formation of a active RhoA-RhoGDIα complex. Our present results thus reveal a principal molecular mechanism underlying Gs/cAMP-induced cross-talk with Gq/G13/RhoA signaling.
Mental Health Analysis Profiles (MhAPs): Finland

As part of a wider project on mental health in OECD countries, a series of descriptive profiles have been prepared, intended to provide descriptive, easily comprehensible, highly informative accounts of the mental health systems of OECD countries. These profiles, entitled ‘Mental Health Analysis Profiles’ (MHAPs), will be able to inform discussion and reflection and provide an introduction to and a synthesised account of mental health in a given country. Each MHAP follows the same template, and whilst the MHAPs are stand-alone profiles, loose cross-country comparison using the MHAPs is possible and encouraged. Mental health disorders comprise one of the highest burdens of disease in Finland. The share of disability pensions granted due to mental disorders is high and while the rates of suicide have decreased in recent years, they are still above the OECD average. Consequently, tackling mental ill health is a government priority for Finland. The mental health system has undergone a number of reforms in recent years, and several innovative initiatives have been introduced. Whilst a number of challenges remain, the evolution of the mental health system has been promising, and holds lessons for other OECD countries. Lancee dans le cadre d’un projet plus vaste consacre a la sante mentale dans les pays de l'OCDE, la serie de profils « Sante mentale : profils d’analyse » (Mental Health Analysis Profiles - MHAP) vise a decrire de maniere simple et detaillee les systemes de sante mentale des pays de l'OCDE. Ces profils, qui etayeront les examens et les reflexions qui seront menes, feront le point sur la situation d’un pays donne dans le domaine de la sante mentale. Les profils MHAP sont independants les uns des autres mais suivent le meme modele : il est donc possible, et recommande, de les utiliser pour proceder a des comparaisons entre pays. En Finlande, les troubles de la sante mentale representent l’une des charges les plus lourdes pour le systeme de sante. La proportion de pensions d’invalidite versees au titre de troubles mentaux est elevee et bien qu’il ait diminue ces dernieres annees, le taux de suicide reste superieur a la moyenne de l'OCDE. C’est pourquoi les pouvoirs publics finlandais ont fait de la sante mentale une priorite. Plusieurs reformes ont ete menees dans le systeme de sante mentale au cours des dernieres annees, avec le lancement de plusieurs initiatives novatrices. Des problemes persistent mais l’evolution du systeme de sante mentale est encourageante et pourrait inspirer d’autres pays de l'OCDE.
Induction of Permanent Mixed Chimerism and Skin Allograft Tolerance Across Fully MHC-Mismatched Barriers by the Additional Myelosuppressive Treatments in Mice Primed with Allogeneic Spleen Cells Followed by Cyclophosphamide1

A pure method of drug (cyclophosphamide plus busulfan)-induced skin allograft tolerance in mice that can regularly overcome fully H-2-mismatched barriers in mice has been established. The components of the method are i.v. administration of 1 × 108 allogeneic spleen cells on day 0, i.p. injection of 200 mg/kg CP and 25 mg/kg busulfan on day 2, and i.v. injection of T cell-depleted 1 × 107 bone marrow cells from the same donor on day 3. Recipient B10 (H-2b; IE−) mice prepared with this conditioning developed donor-specific tolerance, and long-lasting survival of skin allografts was shown in almost of the recipient mice. In the tolerant B10 mice prepared with new conditioning, stable multilineage mixed chimerism was observed permanently, and IE-reactive Vβ11+ T cells were reduced in periphery as seen in untreated B10.D2 (H-2d; IE+) mice. The specific tolerant state was confirmed by the specific abrogation against donor Ag in the assays of CTL activity and MLR and donor-specific acceptance in the second skin grafting. These results demonstrated that the limitation of standard protocol of cyclophosphamide-induced tolerance, which have been reported by us since 1984, can be overcome by the additional treatments with the myelosuppressive drug busulfan, followed by 1 × 107 T cell-depleted bone marrow cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report to induce allograft tolerance with a short course of the Ag plus immunosuppressive drug treatment without any kind of mAbs (pure drug-induced tolerance).
Characterization of cannabinoid receptor ligands in tissues natively expressing cannabinoid CB2 receptors

Although cannabinoid CB2 receptor ligands have been widely characterized in recombinant systems in vitro, little pharmacological characterization has been performed in tissues natively expressing CB2 receptors. The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacology of CB2 receptor ligands in tissue natively expressing CB2 receptors (human, rat and mouse spleen) and hCB2‐transfected CHO cells.
Comparison of three portable instruments to measure compression pressure.

AIM Measurement of interface pressure between the skin and a compression device has gained practical importance not only for characterizing the efficacy of different compression products in physiological and clinical studies but also for the training of medical staff. METHODS A newly developed portable pneumatic pressure transducer (Picopress®) was compared with two established systems (Kikuhime® and SIGaT tester®) measuring linearity, variability and accuracy on a cylindrical model using a stepwise inflated sphygmomanometer as the reference. In addition the variation coefficients were measured by applying the transducers repeatedly under a blood pressure cuff on the distal lower leg of a healthy human subject with stepwise inflation. RESULTS In the pressure range between 10 and 80 mmHg all three devices showed a linear association compared with the sphygmomanometer values (Pearson r>0.99). The best reproducibility (variation coefficients between 1.05-7.4%) and the highest degree of accuracy demonstrated by Bland-Altman plots was achieved with the Picopress® transducer. Repeated measurements of pressure in a human leg revealed average variation coefficients for the three devices of 4.17% (Kikuhime®), 8.52% (SIGaT®) and 2.79% (Picopress®). CONCLUSION The results suggest that the Picopress® transducer, which also allows dynamic pressure tracing in connection with a software program and which may be left under a bandage for several days, is a reliable instrument for measuring the pressure under a compression device.
Efficacy of systemic therapy on adults with mental disorders: A meta-analysis

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of systemic therapy on psychiatric disorders in adulthood. Methods: This meta-analysis integrates results of 37 randomized controlled trials (RCT) of therapy with an explicit systemic focus on adults with psychiatric disorders. Studies were identified through systematic searches in electronic databases and cross-referencing. Results: On average, systemic therapy had stronger short-term (g = .51) and long-term (g = .55) efficacies than control groups without alternative treatment and stronger short-term effects than alternative active treatments (g = .25). In addition, efficacy of systemic therapy was similar to those of other bona fide psychotherapies. Individuals receiving systemic therapy plus medication showed stronger improvements at posttest (g = .71) and follow-up (g = .87) than those receiving only medication. Illness-specific analyses showed positive short-term efficacy of systemic therapy on eating disorders, mood disorders, obsessive–compulsive disorders, schizophrenia, and somatoform disorders. At follow-up, efficacy of systemic therapy was only found on eating disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. In addition, systemic therapy had lower dropout rates than alternative treatments. For certain comparisons, effect sizes were moderated by participant age, study quality, and year of publication. Conclusions: We conclude that the present meta-analysis found some evidence for the efficacy of systemic therapy on five disorders, but the number of available RCT is still limited. More research is needed on systemic therapy of other disorders, such as anxiety disorders and substance use disorders.
Anterior Fusion for Rotationally Unstable Cervical Spine Fractures

Study Design. A retrospective analysis of 32 rotationally unstable cervical fractures treated by brace, halo vest, or posterior surgical constructs plus fusion is compared with a second, prospective study of 18 similar fractures treated by early anterior discectomy, fusion, and plating. Objectives. To characterize an often unrecognized fracture pattern and compare various methods of management to identify the most effective treatment. Summary of Background Data. The rotationally unstable cervical spine fracture (compression–extension Stage 1) involves a hyperextension and lateral flexion injury, resulting in a unilateral pedicle, facet complex, and/or lamina fracture under compression and anterior anular disruption under tension. This fracture pattern allows a rotatory spondylolisthesis of the spine around the axis of the intact lateral mass and facet complex. Methods. A retrospective review was made of 284 cervical fractures, identifying 32 compression–extension Stage 1 fractures that were treated by a variety of techniques. The results of that study led to a second (prospective) study, in which 18 similar fractures were treated by early anterior discectomy, fusion, and plating. Results. Nonoperative treatment was uniformly unsuccessful. Posterior stabilization and fusion procedures led to unsuccessful results in 45%, related either to late kyphosis because of disc collapse or the inability of midline stabilization procedures to control rotational instability. Anterior fusion resulted in solid union without residual deformity in all cases. All four patients in the prospective study with incomplete cord lesions showed improvement in cord function, as did seven patients who had radiculopathy. Conclusion. Although posterior bony injury is the usual radiographic finding, the anterior disc and anterior longitudinal ligament disruption are the more significant injuries and lead to late collapse and kyphotic deformity. Early anterior fusion is recommended in compression- extension Stage 1 cervical spine injuries.
WHO/EORTC classification of cutaneous lymphomas 2005: histological and molecular aspects

Abstract: The new WHO/EORTC classification for cutaneous lymphomas comprises mature T‐cell and natural killer (NK)‐cell neoplasms, mature B‐cell neoplasms, and immature hematopoietic malignancies. It reflects the unique features of lymphoproliferative diseases of the skin, and at the same time it is as compatible as possible with the concepts underlying the WHO classification for nodal lymphomas and the EORTC classification of cutaneous lymphomas. This article reviews the histological, phenotypical, and molecular genetic features of the various nosological entities included in this new classification. These findings always have to be interpreted in the context of the clinical features and biologic behavior.
Early Inhibition of Activated Fibrinolysis Predicts Microbial Infection, Shock and Mortality in Febrile Medical Patients

Summary To evaluate the contribution of an imbalance between coagulation activation and fibinolysis activation and inhibition to morbidity and mortality in sepsis, we determined in medical hospitalized patients at inclusion (day 0) for fever (temperature above 38.0° C axillary or 38.3° C rectally), and daily thereafter for two days, circulating thrombin-antithrombin III (TAT) complexes, plasmin- 2-antiplasmin (PAP) complexes (day 0 only), tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and interleukin (IL)-6, the latter as a marker of the inflammatory host response. Study variables were 1) positive microbiological results for specimens from local sites associated with a clinical infection, positive blood cultures (including parasitemia) or both, within 7 days after inclusion, 2) development of shock, i.e. systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg or a reduction of 40 mmHg from baseline within 7 days after inclusion, and 3) death related to febrile illness within 28 days after inclusion. The peak plasma levels of TAT complexes were elevated in 44% and the PAP complexes in all patients. The t-PA and PAI-1 levels were elevated in 74 and 94% of patients, respectively. Values for TAT and PAP did not differ among subgroups, while peak t-PA and IL-6 levels were higher in patients with positive microbiological results, developing shock or ultimately dying than in those without the complications (p <0.005). Peak PAI-1 levels were elevated in patients developing shock and ultimate death versus those with an uncomplicated course (p <0.05). Peak IL-6 related to PAI-1 and t-PA levels, which interrelated. Patients with elevated TAT levels had increased plasma levels of IL-6, PAP, PAI-1 and t-PA versus those with normal TAT (p <0.05). Our data indicate that inhibition of activated fibrinolysis, which may partly depend on both cytokinemia and activation of coagulation, predicts microbial infection, septic shock and mortality of febrile medical patients. This suggests an early pathogenic role of inhibition of activated fibrinolysis in the downhill course of serious microbial infection.
Effect of high-frequency ventilation on the development of alveolar edema in premature monkeys at risk for hyaline membrane disease.

High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) permits adequate gas exchange but avoids the large phasic pressure-volume excursions of conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV); such avoidance may reduce the lung injury associated with hyaline membrane disease (HMD). We hypothesized that premature monkeys ventilated from birth with HFOV would have reduced lung injury compared to those assigned to CMV. Macaca nemestrina were delivered at 134 days (80% of term gestation) and ventilated from the first breath with either HFOV (n = 10) or CMV (n = 10). The mean airway pressure (Paw) was kept at 15 cm H2O pressure in HFOV animals; in CMV animals Paw was increased from 8 cm H2O at 2 h to 13 cm H2O at 6 h to prevent hypoxemia. At the conclusion of the 6-h experiment the HFOV animals had better oxygenation (p less than 0.05) and less evidence of HMD by chest radiograph (p less than 0.05). At 6 h of age a piece of the right middle lung lobe was removed, divided, and placed in fixatives for light and transmission electron microscopy. The lungs were subsequently inflated to 30 cm H2O pressure, and the right lower lobe was rapidly frozen in situ for morphometric studies. The proportion of peripheral lung tissue occupied by clear alveoli was greater in HFOV animals (66.3 +/- 14.8%) than in those assigned to CMV (44.2 +/- 16.9%, p less than 0.01); less alveolar debris and fluid was present in the HFOV animals (12.7 +/- 9.9%) compared with CMV animals (27.1 +/- 12.5%, p less than 0.02). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Surgical Relationship of the Medial Pectoral Nerve to the Musculocutaneous Nerve: A Cadaveric Study

OBJECTIVE For purposes of neurotization of the musculocutaneous nerve (MCN) with the medial pectoral nerve (MPN) after upper trunk brachial plexus injuries, the anatomic relationship between these two nerves was defined in a cadaveric model. METHODS Thirty-five brachial plexuses in 18 adult cadavers were dissected. The distance between the origin of the MPN from the medial cord to the origin of the MCN from the lateral cord was measured. The length, diameter, branching, and location of the MPN were recorded. The diameter of the proximal MCN was recorded. RESULTS Thirty-seven percent of the MPNs, when detached from the pectoralis muscles, were too short to reach the proximal MCN by a mean distance of 15 mm. The MPN pierced the pectoralis minor muscle in 80% of the dissections. The cross sectional area of the MCN was always larger than the cross sectional area of the MPN by an average factor of 2.5. CONCLUSION When planning to use the MPN for neurotization of the MCN, one should be prepared to harvest an interposition graft, because over one-third of MPNs may not have enough length to reach the MCN in a tension-free manner. Diameter mismatch occurs predictably between the distal MPN and the proximal MCN.