Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anatomical distribution of the chemorepellent semaphorin III/collapsin‐1 in the adult rat and human brain: Predominant expression in structures of the olfactory‐hippocampal pathway and the motor system

Alterations in neuronal connectivity of the mature central nervous system (CNS) appear to depend on a delicate balance between growth‐promoting and growth‐inhibiting molecules. To begin to address a potential role of the secreted chemorepulsive protein semaphorin(D)III/collapsin‐1 (semaIII/coll‐1) in structural plasticity during adulthood, we used high‐resolution nonradioactive in situ hybridization to identify neural structures that express semaIII/coll‐1 mRNA in the mature rat and human brain. SemaIII/coll‐1 was expressed in distinct but anatomically and functionally linked structures of the adult nervous system. The olfactory‐hippocampal pathway displayed semaIII/coll‐1 expression in a continuum of neuronal structures, including mitral and tufted cells of the olfactory bulb, olfactory tubercle, and piriform cortex; and distinct nuclei of the amygdaloid complex, the superficial layers of the entorhinal cortex, and the subiculum of the hippocampal formation. In addition, prominent labeling was found in neuronal components of the motor system, particularly in cerebellar Purkinje cells and in subpopulations of cranial and spinal motoneurons. Retrograde tracing combined with in situ hybridization also revealed that the staining of semaIII/coll‐1 within the entorhinal cortex was present in the stellate neurons that project via the perforant path to the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus. Like in the rat, the human brain displayed discrete expression of semaIII/coll‐1. Among the structures examined, the most prominent staining was observed in the cellular islands of the superficial layers of the human entorhinal cortex. The constitutive expression of the chemorepellent semaIII/coll‐1 in discrete populations of neurons in the mature rat and human CNS raises the possibility that, in addition to its function as repulsive axon guidance cue during development, semaIII/coll‐1 might be involved in restricting structural changes that occur in the wiring of the intact CNS. J. Neurosci. Res. 52:27–42, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Is Sea Spray a Factor in Microwave Backscatter from the Ocean?

A continuous wave, Ku-band microwave system was operated in a wind-wave tank simultaneously with a video microphotography system to determine the effect of spray on microwave backscatter from rough water surfaces at high wind speeds. The results confirmed that spray does impact microwave backscatter. The important droplets, however, appear to be below the crests of wind waves and therefore difficult to measure by other means
GA-MTL: A Random Method of Multi-Task Learning

Multi-task learning techniques can employ the removed redundant information to improve prediction accuracy. Which features to add to the target and/or the input during multi-task learning is still an open issue. The previous study used heuristic search methods. In this paper, a random method of genetic algorithm based multi-task learning (GA- MTL) is proposed to automatically determine the features for the input and/or the target. Experimental results on data sets from the real world show that GA-MTL is easy to use and obtains better performance than heuristic methods.
The dynamic nature of depression: a new micro-level perspective of mental disorder that meets current challenges

The examination of moment-to-moment, ‘micro-level’ patterns of experience and behaviour using experience sampling methodology has contributed to our understanding of the ‘macro-level’ development of full-blown symptoms and disorders. This paper argues that the micro-level perspective can be used to identify the smallest building blocks underlying the onset and course of mental ill-health. Psychopathology may be the result of the continuous dynamic interplay between micro-level moment-to-moment experiences and behavioural patterns over time. Reinforcing loops between momentary states may alter the course of mental health towards either a more or less healthy state. An example with observed data, from a population of individuals with depressive symptoms, supports the validity of a dynamic network model of psychopathology and shows that together and over time, this continuous interplay between momentary states may result in the cluster of symptoms we call major depressive disorder. This approach may help conceptualize the nature of mental disorders, and generate individualized insights useful for diagnosis and treatment in psychiatry.
The Reaction of Water with Guanosine Radical Cation in DNA

Abstract Structural analyses of DNA oligonucleotides indicate the presence of strongly bound water molecules in the major and minor grooves. These water molecules may react with guanosine radical cation to form 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine and other oxidation products, which can result in strand scission or other DNA damage. We probed the reaction of guanosine radical cation with water by incorporating alkyl-substituted cytidines and thymidines into anthraquinone-linked DNA duplexes and irradiating them with UV light at 350 nm. The incorporation of these hydrophobic substituents disrupts the DNA spine of hydration and we have observed that these modifications do not affect the trapping or long-distance hopping of radical cations in DNA.
Physical vulnerability and fatal self-harm in the elderly

Summary Although the high rate of suicide in elderly people is conventionally explained as being due to greater intent to die, we have noted elderly Sri Lankans dying after relatively mild poisoning. Using data from cases of yellow oleander poisoning, we investigated the effect of age on outcome in 1697 patients, controlling for gender and amount ingested. In fully adjusted models, people over 64 years old were 13.8 (95% CI 3.6–53.0) times more likely to die than those less than 25 years old. The high number of suicides in elderly people globally is likely to be due, in part, to the difficulty they face in surviving the effects of both the poisoning and its treatment.
Traumatic bleeding of spinal angiolipoma presenting with subacute paraparesis – a case report and histopathological aspects

Spinal angiolipoma is a rare benign tumour. It usually presents as a slowly progressive compressive lesion. Bleeding in this tumour is extremely rare and is spontaneous and acute. This is the first reported case of post-traumatic bleeding from a spinal angiolipoma, who developed subacute progressive paraparesis. The pathological definition of this rare entity is not well established. Histologically it is distinct from cutaneous angiolipoma.
Enzootic intranasal tumour virus infection in apparently healthy sheep in Japan

others 2002). Hybridisation was revealed by positive cytoplasmic staining of numerous epithelial cells in the nasal neoplasm (Fig 2a). There were no signs of hybridisation from the same tissue using a sense probe (Fig 2b), nor were any signs observed when a specific antisense probe was used on uninfected ovine nasal tissues. These findings provide evidence of the presence of EITV infection in the nasal neoplasm from the ewe (Yonemichi and others 1978, de las Heras and others 1993), indicating the occurrence of ovine EIT. To investigate the prevalence of EITV in three sheep flocks (A, B and C) in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan,
Cognitive Orientation, Precompetition, and Actual Competition Anxiety in Collegiate Softball Players

Although anxiety is widely recognized as a significant contributor to levels ofathletic performance, theoretical approaches to this association have varied (Cox, 1994; Gould & Krane, 1992; Raglin, 1992; Weinberg & Gould, 1999). Hanin (1986, 2000) developed a common method used to discern this relationship. Hanin proposed a model ofanxiety and performance, suggesting that wide variations exist in the optimal levels of precompetition anxiety among athletes. The Individual Zones of Optimal Functioning (IZOF) model (Hanin, 1986, 1997, 2000) posits that rather than a single discreet point ofanxiety (i.e., moderate) as optimal for all athletes, a flexible range or "zone" ofanxiety exists ranging from low to high depending on the individual athlete (Gould & Tuffey, 1996). Hence, IZOF theory does not contend that low, moderate, or high levels of anxiety hold a position ofsuperiority in athletic performance but that individual athletes may vary in optimum levels of precompetition anxiety. Although there has been considerable support for Hanin's work (Gould & Krane, 1992; Gould & Tuffey, 1996; Krane, 1993; Morgan, O'Connor, Sparling, & Pate, 1987; Raglin, Morgan, & Wise, 1990; Raglin & Turner, 1992; Wilson & Raglin, 1997), reasons for such variation in optimal levels of anxiety are unknown (Gould & Tuffey, 1996). Furthermore, it is not understood why
Is there a correlation between testosterone levels and the severity of the disease in male patients with obstructive sleep apnea?

OBJECTIVES Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent disease that can decrease quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum testosterone levels and the severity of the disease in patients with OSA. MATERIAL AND METHODS Severity of OSA was quantified with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) which was defined as the total number of apneas and hypopneas per hour of sleep. Thirty-six male patients with mild-to-severe stable OSA and thirty age-matched subjects without OSA were included in this study. Erectile function was assessed by the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-5. The association between severity of OSA and selected comorbidities was evaluated and compared with findings reported in the literature. RESULTS Mean serum testosterone levels of OSA and control patients were 462.8 +/- 160.3 ng/dL and 486.9 +/- 163.2 ng/dL, respectively (p > 0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between serum testosterone levels and AHI in patients with OSA (r = - 0,502, p < 0.01). Mean IIEF scores of OSA and control patients were 17.5 +/- 5.9 and 17.4 +/- 4.7, respectively (p > 0.05). Body mass index (BMI) of the OSA patients and control group were as 30.1 +/- 0.8 and 26.9 +/- 0.4, respectively (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Serum testosterone levels were negatively correlated with BMI and the severity of OSA. Measuring testosterone level may be an additional helpful indicator in diagnosis of severity and in follow-up of OSA.
Latino English in North Carolina: A Comparison of Emerging Communities

KOHN, MARY ELIZABETH. Latino English in North Carolina: A Comparison of Emerging Communities. (Under the direction of Agnes Bolonyai.) Previous studies of Latino English within North Carolina cite the opportunity to explore an emerging dialect as one of the prime motivations for their research (Carter 2004, Wolfram, Carter & Moriello 2004). And, while these studies identify community factors as creating difference between the varieties found in various locations (Wolfram, et al 2004), the larger context of Latino English must still be accounted for in order to understand how certain traits become field-site specific and which features prevail across the various emerging Latino communities in the Southeastern United States. This paper explores several linguistic variants within Latino English in two demographically distinct North Carolina communities to identify how the local ecolinguistic system and spatial setting affect an emerging dialect, and whether there are common traits between field sites that may become identified as regional features of Latino English. The features to be studied include quotative frames, consonant cluster reduction, vowel space analysis, and Codeswitching (CS) patterns. This range of variables allows for multiple levels of comparison with previous studies of global English variants as well as with studies of interacting linguistic systems (Tagliamonte & Hudson 1999, Maguire, McMahon & Heggarty 2006, Blommaert 2003). Placing this information in the context of a cross-community analysis, this study demonstrates how structurally different spaces impact the distribution of linguistic variables, leading to community and regional norms with local and individual variation. While initial analyses demonstrate community as well as idiolectal differences, looking at these patterns together demonstrates that local differences become established within regional norms. The effect of community difference leaves its imprint on the variety. Understanding linguistic diversity in this way demonstrates how multiple varieties come to exist in the same region: by interacting with the specific economic and demographic forces that shape each community. Latino English in North Carolina: A Comparison of Emerging Communities by Mary Elizabeth Kohn A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science English Raleigh, North Carolina 2008
Perioperative Auricular Electroacupuncture Has No Effect on Pain and Analgesic Consumption After Third Molar Tooth Extraction

BACKGROUND:Auricular acupuncture (AA) has been shown to alleviate acute and chronic pain. We investigated the effects of auricular electroacupuncture (AE) on pain and analgesic drug consumption in the first 48 h after unilateral mandibular third molar tooth extraction under local anesthesia in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 149 patients. METHODS:Patients received either AA with electrical stimulation (AE, n = 76) or without (AA, n = 37) electrical stimulation at an alternating frequency of 2/100 Hz or a sham AE with metal plates instead of needles and no electrical stimulation, no-needle (NN, n = 36) at the AA points 1 (tooth), 55 (Shen men) and 84 (mouth) during the entire study period. Regularly rated pain intensity (five-point verbal rating scale), consumption of acetaminophen 500 mg tablets and additional rescue medication with mefenamic acid 500 mg were assessed. RESULTS:The median fraction of time when pain was rated as moderate or worse (upper and lower quartile): AE: 33% (12%, 64%), AA: 22% (6%, 56%), NN: 30% (7%, 53%) did not differ significantly among the treatment groups. There were no significant differences in mean number of acetaminophen 500 mg tablets (range): AE: 5.2 (0–12), AA: 4.6 (0–11), NN: 5.4 (0–10) or percentage of patients requiring additional mefenamic acid: AE: 19%, AA: 18%, NN: 19%. CONCLUSION:We conclude that neither AE nor AA alone reduce either pain intensity or analgesic consumption in a molar tooth extraction model of acute pain.
Clinical and electrodiagnostic findings in copper deficiency myeloneuropathy

Introduction: Copper deficiency is an increasingly recognised cause of neurological impairment. This retrospective review highlights clinical and electrodiagnostic findings in patients diagnosed at our institution with copper deficiency. Methods: Clinical, radiographic and electrodiagnostic findings were reviewed in patients with evidence of copper deficiency. Patients with other potential causes of myelopathy or neuropathy were excluded. Results: The predominant clinical feature in all six patients was a sensory ataxia, resulting in marked gait unsteadiness. Nerve conduction studies and needle EMG were performed in all patients and revealed a mild to moderate distal, axonal, sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy. Median and tibial somatosensory evoked potentials were abnormal in all five patients in which it was performed, showing impaired conduction in central or proximal peripheral somatosensory pathways. Conclusions: This pattern of electrodiagnostic findings suggests that impairment in somatosensory pathways demonstrated by somatosensory evoked potential testing is the main cause of the sensory ataxia in patients with copper deficiency.
Image4Act: Online Social Media Image Processing for Disaster Response

We present an end-to-end social media image processing system called Image4Act. The system aims at collecting, denoising, and classifying imagery content posted on social media platforms to help humanitarian organizations in gaining situational awareness and launching relief operations. It combines human computation and machine learning techniques to process high-volume social media imagery content in real time during natural and human-made disasters. To cope with the noisy nature of the social media imagery data, we use a deep neural network and perceptual hashing techniques to filter out irrelevant and duplicate images. Furthermore, we present a specific use case to assess the severity of infrastructure damage incurred by a disaster. The evaluations of the system on existing disaster datasets as well as a real-world deployment during a recent cyclone prove the effectiveness of the system.
Anisotropic nanochain-clusters of nanoferrofluid and its applications in vector magnetometer

Nanoferrofluid is emerging as promising nanomaterials for the critical element of magneto-optical fiber devices. Herein, we demonstrate the mechanism of anisotropic nanochain-clusters formation and motion of nanoferrofluid around an optical fiber with the variation of magnetic field intensity and its direction. Based on anisotropic distribution of nanochain-clusters, we design a new nanoferrofluid-based vector magnetometer with simultaneous measurement of magnetic field intensity and direction. The sensing mechanism is based on the tunable ERI modulation of asymmetric cladding modes in fiber, modulated by magnetic field dependent nanochain-clusters. The all-fiber vector magnetometer with direction detection error of ±1.5°, and intensity sensitivity of 222.0pm/mT was fabricated and investigated.
Liposome‐mediated transfection with extract from neonatal rat cardiomyocytes induces transdifferentiation of human adipose‐derived stem cells into cardiomyocytes

Objective. Recent studies indicate that direct cell‐to‐cell interaction is involved in transdifferentiation of adult stem cells into cardiomyocytes. We investigated whether transdifferentiation of human adipose‐tissue‐derived stem cells could be achieved by transfecting the cells with a nuclear neonatal cardiomyocyte extract using a liposome‐based transfection system. Material and methods. In this study, we isolated stem cells derived from human subcutaneous adipose tissue. These cells were transfected with nuclear protein extracts from either isolated cardiomyocytes or whole hearts of neonatal rats. Results. We found that transfection induced expression of the cardiac markers α‐sarcomeric actin, Nk×2.5, troponin I and troponin T after 1–3 weeks. Whole‐heart protein extracts showed the additional capacity to induce differentiation into endothelial‐like and smooth muscle‐like cells. Conclusion. We demonstrate that transfection with nuclear protein extracts from neonatal rat cardiomyocytes can induce a cardiomyogenic differentiation pathway in human stem cells.
Adenosine Acting on A 1 Receptors Protects NO-Triggered Rebound Potentiation and LTP in Rat Hippocampal Slices

Bon, Christelle L. M. and John Garthwaite. Adenosine acting on A1 receptors protects NO-triggered rebound potentiation and LTP in rat hippocampal slices. J Neurophysiol 87: 1781–1789, 2002; 10.1152/jn.00630.2001. Exposure of hippocampal slices to nitric oxide (NO) results in a depression of CA1 synaptic transmission. Under 0.2-Hz stimulation, washout of NO leads to a persistent potentiation that depends on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and endogenous NO formation and that occludes tetanus-induced long-term potentiation (LTP). The experiments were initially aimed at determining the relationship between the NO-induced synaptic depression and rebound potentiation. The adenosine A1 antagonist, 8-cyclopentyl1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX) partially inhibited the depression produced by the NO donor diethylamine NONOate (300 M). It also led to a complete block of both the rebound potentiation and the subsequent tetanus-induced LTP. LTP was preserved in the presence of DPCPX if the stimulation frequency was reduced to 0.033 Hz or if the NO application was omitted. The NO-triggered rebound potentiation was restored if the experiment (DPCPX followed by exogenous NO) was conducted in the presence of an NMDA antagonist. The restored potentiation was completely blocked by the NO synthase inhibitor, L-nitroarginine. It is concluded that the NO-induced depression is partially mediated by increased release of endogenous adenosine acting on A1 receptors. Moreover, tonic A1 receptor activation by adenosine protects LTP and the rebound potentiation from being disabled by untimely NMDA receptor activity. Hence, the NO-induced depression and rebound potentiation are linked in the sense that the depression helps to preserve the capacity of the synapses to undergo potentiation. Finally, the results give the first example of exogenous NO eliciting an enduring potentiation of hippocampal synaptic transmission that is dependent on endogenous NO formation, but not on NMDA receptors.
Evaluation of long-term toxicity after chemotherapy for testicular cancer.

PURPOSE The current study evaluates the extent and reversibility of late sequelae after chemotherapy in longterm survivors of testicular cancer. The influence of therapy and patient characteristics and the relationship between different toxicities are assessed. PATIENTS AND METHODS Ninety patients with a median age of 28 years (range, 19 to 53) and a median followup time of 58 months (range, 15 to 159) participated in the clinical examinations, a personal interview, and technical investigations. Overall health and the impact of late toxicity were assessed by the patients. All patients were in complete remission (CR) for at least 1 year. Chemotherapy had consisted of cisplatin (P), bleomycin (B), and vinblastine (V) in 30 patients (33%); P, B, and etoposide (E) in 26 patients (29%); P, B, E, and a vinca alkaloid in 22 patients (24%); and other P-based combination regimens in 12 patients (13%). RESULTS Alterations of gonadotropin levels (follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] luteinizing hormone [LH]) in up to 68% of patients and Leydig cell insufficiency in one third of patients were the most frequently detected abnormalities. Approximately 20% of patients had low serum magnesium [Mg] or phosphate levels, or elevated creatinine levels. Cardiovascular risk factors were identified in one third of patients with elevated serum cholesterol levels with or without obesity; 15% had developed arterial hypertension after chemotherapy. The most frequent symptomatic toxicities were Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) in 30% of patients, ototoxicity in 21%, and peripheral neuropathy in 17%. Major risk factors for the development of toxicity were cumulative dose of P (P < .0001 for ototoxicity and neurotoxicity; P < .01 for overall toxicity, gonadal toxicity, and dehydroepiandrosteron elevation; P < .05 for hypertension and Mg depletion) and type of chemotherapy (57% of PVB-treated patients v25% of PEB +/- vincristine-treated patients with RP; P < .01). CONCLUSION The cumulative dose of P was a major predictor for toxicity. Patients and treatment characteristics such as noise exposure, age, history of smoking, and mode of B application were less important. Further clinical trials should evaluate the sequelae of chemotherapy treatment for testicular cancer prospectively.