Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protein kinase and protein phosphatase expression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis spinal cord

The Kinetworks™ multi‐immunoblotting technique was used to evaluate the expressions of 78 protein kinases, 24 protein phosphatases and phosphorylation states of 31 phosphoproteins in thoracic spinal cord tissue from control subjects and patients having the sporadic form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In both the cytosolic (C) and particulate (P) fractions of spinal cord from ALS patients as compared with controls, there were increased levels of calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase kinase (CaMKK; C = 120% increase/P = 580% increase;% change, compared with control), extracellular regulated kinase 2 (ERK2; C = 120% increase/P = 170% increase), G protein‐coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2; C = 140% increase/P = 140% increase), phospho‐Y279/216 glycogen synthase kinase 3 α/β (GSK3α/β; C = 90% increase/P = 220% increase), protein kinase B α (PKBα; C = 360% increase/P = 200% increase), phospho‐T638 PKCα/β (C = 630% increase/P = 170% increase), cGMP‐dependent protein kinase (PKG; C = 100% increase/P = 75% increase), phospho‐T451 dsRNA‐dependent protein kinase (PKR; C = 2600% increase/P = 3330% increase), ribosomal S6 kinase 1 (RSK1; C = 750% increase/P = 630% increase), phospho‐T389 p70 S6 kinase (S6K; C = 1000% increase/P = 460% increase), and protein‐tyrosine phosphatase 1 δ (PTP1δ; C = 43% increase/P = 70% increase). Cytosolic increases in phospho‐α‐S724/γ‐S662 adducin (C = 15650% increase), PKCα (C = 100% increase) and PKCζ (C = 190% increase) were found in ALS patients as compared with controls, while particulate increases in cAMP‐dependent protein kinase (PKA; 43% increase), protein kinase C β (PKCβ; 330% increase), and stress‐activated protein kinase β (SAPKβ; 34% increase) were also observed. Cyclin‐dependent kinase‐associated phosphatase (KAP) was apparently translocated, as it was reduced (31% decrease) in cytosolic fractions but elevated (100% increase) in particulate fractions of ALS spinal cord tissue. Our observations indicate that ALS is associated with the elevated expression and/or activation of many protein kinases, including PKCα, PKCβ, PKCζ and GSK3α/β, which may augment neural death in ALS, and CaMKK, PKBα, Rsk1, S6K, and SAPK, which may be a response to neuronal injury that potentially can mitigate cell death.
Comparison of Multisegmental Foot and Ankle Motion Between Total Ankle Replacement and Ankle Arthrodesis in Adults

Background: Total ankle replacement (TAR) and ankle arthrodesis (AA) are usually performed for severe ankle arthritis. We compared postoperative foot segmental motion during gait in patients treated with TAR and AA. Methods: Gait analysis was performed in 17 and 7 patients undergoing TAR and AA, respectively. Subjects were evaluated using a 3-dimensional multisegmental foot model with 15 markers. Temporal gait parameters were calculated. The maximum and minimum values and the differences in hallux, forefoot, hindfoot, and arch in 3 planes (sagittal, coronal, transverse) were compared between the 2 groups. One hundred healthy adults were evaluated as a control. Results: Gait speed was faster in the TAR (P = .028). On analysis of foot and ankle segmental motion, the range of hindfoot sagittal motion was significantly greater in the TAR (15.1 vs 10.2 degrees in AA; P = .004). The main component of motion increase was hindfoot dorsiflexion (12.3 and 8.6 degrees). The range of forefoot sagittal motion was greater in the TAR (9.3 vs 5.8 degrees in AA; P = .004). Maximum ankle power in the TAR (1.16) was significantly higher than 0.32 in AA;P = . 008). However, the range of hindfoot and forefoot sagittal motion was decreased in both TAR and AA compared with the control group (P = .000). Conclusion: Although biomechanical results of TAR and AA were not similar to those in the normal controls, joint motions in the TAR more closely matched normal values. Treatment decision making should involve considerations of the effect of surgery on the adjacent joints. Level of Evidence: Level III, case-control study.
Factors influencing mammography screening of Chinese American women.

OBJECTIVE To explore factors influencing breast cancer screening behavior among Chinese women residing in the United States. DESIGN A descriptive study guided by the health belief model adapted for Chinese American women. An English-language questionnaire was modified, translated, and pretested before use in the study sample. Data were analyzed using descriptive and multivariate analysis techniques. SETTING An urban area in Michigan in 2001. PARTICIPANTS A consecutive nonprobability sample of 206 Chinese American women age 40 and older. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The percentage of women age 40 and older who received a mammogram in the past year. RESULTS Access to health care, perceived barriers to mammography screening, need for breast health care, and information-seeking behavior had direct effects on Chinese American women's mammography screening utilization. Cultural affiliation had an indirect effect on breast cancer screening behavior, moderated through access to health care. The variance in mammography screening explained by these factors was 51%. CONCLUSION Effective strategies for promoting breast cancer screening among Chinese American women should address ways to improve information-seeking behaviors and access to health care. Cultural affiliation and beliefs should be considered when counseling Chinese American women regarding breast cancer screening.
Improved prediction of ovulation time may increase pregnancy rates to artificial insemination in lactating dairy cattle.

A prospective observational study was conducted in two Australian dairy herds to assess the potential for improving pregnancy rates (proportions of inseminations that result in pregnancy) to artificial insemination (AI) if the time of ovulation could be predicted with more certainty. Herd 1 calved year-round and inseminations were performed during two periods each day. Herd 2 calved during autumn-winter and inseminations were performed only after the morning milking each day. In both herds, the AI to ovulation interval of enrolled cows was determined by trans-rectal ovarian ultrasonography approximately 0, 12, 24 and 36 h after AI, and pregnancy was assessed by palpation per rectum 35-56 days after AI. Also, in Herd 1 vaginal electrical resistance (VER) measurements were taken at approximately 0, 12, 24 and 36 h after AI, and in Herd 2 cows were fitted with neck mounted activity meters that monitored cow activity count in 2-h periods. There was substantial variation in the intervals from AI to ovulation within and between herds (mean ± SD 21.2 ± 10.7, n = 102; 14.7 ± 10.4, n = 100 in herds 1 and 2, respectively). Pregnancy rates were higher for inseminations close to, but preceding, ovulation. Using combined herd data (n = 202), the highest pregnancy rate (50.8%) was observed for inseminations between 0 and 16 h before ovulation, a period in which only a modest proportion of inseminations (31.2%) occurred. In contrast, pregnancy rate was significantly lower (28.7%; risk ratio 0.6; 95% CI 0.4-1.0; p = 0.039) for inseminations between 16 and 32 h before ovulation, a period where the highest proportion of inseminations (53.2%) occurred. Thus pregnancy rates could potentially be improved if a greater proportion of inseminations were conducted shortly before ovulation. In Herd 1, mean VER during the peri-ovulatory period varied with time from ovulation. Lowest values (mean ± SEM, VER = 64.8 ± 1.2, n = 55) occurred approximately 18 h before ovulation and were significantly lower than measurements approximately 6 h before ovulation (67.4 ± 1.0; n = 73; p = 0.003). Further work is required to determine if VER can be used to identify ovulation time and hence the optimal time to inseminate in individual animals. In Herd 2 a modest proportion of inseminations (26.9%) occurred between 24 and 40 h after the onset of increased cow activity where the highest pregnancy rate (67.9%) was observed, whereas a significantly lower pregnancy rate (42.4%; risk ratio 0.6; 95% CI 0.4-0.9; p = 0.036) was observed for inseminations between 8 and 24 h after the onset of increased cow activity where the highest proportion of inseminations (56.7%) occurred. Thus cow activity monitoring may be useful to identify the optimal time to inseminate cows. Results from this study indicate that improved methods of ovulation prediction may allow better insemination timing relative to ovulation and consequently increased pregnancy rates.
A new role for α‐synuclein in Parkinson's disease: Alteration of ER–mitochondrial communication

Familial cases of Parkinson's disease (PD) can be associated with overexpression or mutation of α‐synuclein, a synaptic protein reported to be localized mainly in the cytosol and mitochondria. We recently showed that wild‐type α‐synuclein is not present in mitochondria, as previously thought, but rather is located in mitochondrial‐associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes. Remarkably, we also found that PD‐related mutated α‐synuclein results in its reduced association with mitochondria‐associated membranes, coincident with a lower degree of apposition of endoplasmic reticulum with mitochondria and an increase in mitochondrial fragmentation, as compared with wild‐type. This new subcellular localization of α‐synuclein raises fundamental questions regarding the relationship of α‐synuclein to mitochondria‐associated membranes function, in both normal and pathological states. In this article, we attempt to relate aspects of PD pathogenesis to what is known about mitochondria‐associated membranes' behavior and function. We hypothesize that early events occurring in dopaminergic neurons at the level of the mitochondria‐associated membranes could cause long‐term disturbances that lead to PD. © 2015 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Influence of the effective layer thickness with Dy and Temperature of heat treatment on the structural-phase state and magnetoresistive properties of Ni/Dy/Co three-layer films

The influence of the effective Dy layer thickness and temperature of the heat treatment on the structural-phase state, electrophysical and magnetoresistive properties of three-layer Ni/Dy/Co films have been analyzed. The research result of the phase composition investigation in the as-deposited state corresponds to fcc-Ni + hcp-Co + fcc-Co + qa-Dy. It was determined that the system is characterized by a relatively large value of the temperature coefficient of resistance (∼10−3K−1) and has resistivity of the order of ρ∼ 10−6 Om m, that is due to the presence of a large number of defects in the crystalline system structure. The investigation in the as-deposited state indicates an anisotropic behavior of the magnetoresistance dependence, the magnitude of which varies with the change in the effective thickness of the Dy layer. The heat treatment within the limits of 500–800 K does not lead to a change in the phase composition and the nature of the dependence of magnetoresistance (B), but only causes recrystallization processes and changes in the value of the magnetoresistance amplitude. The sharp change in the magnetoresistance and the coercive force with the change of the orientation of the sample in the external magnetic field allows to consider these films as a sensitive element of the AMR-sensor.
Alcohol intervention strategy among tuberculosis patients: a pilot study from South India.

BACKGROUND Alcohol dependence has been a major cause of treatment non-adherence in tuberculosis (TB) management. There is an urgent need to develop a feasible, acceptable alcohol intervention programme to ensure treatment completion. METHODOLOGY Four of the 10 Chennai Corporation zones in Chennai, South India, were randomly selected: two each for the experimental and control arms of the study. TB patients registered from August 2013 to January 2014 with the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme were assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) scale. The intervention consisted of four individual counselling sessions at months 0, 2, 4 and 6 conducted by highly trained interventionists. RESULTS Of 872 TB patients, 298 (31%) were found to have alcohol use disorders. The numbers of TB patients in the experimental and control arms were respectively 113 (38%) and 185 (62%). The proportion of patients with favourable treatment outcomes was higher in the intervention than in the control group (87% vs. 62%, P = 0.04). Overall adherence to anti-tuberculosis treatment was significantly higher in the intervention group (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION Study findings suggest that alcohol interventions could be effective in ensuring favourable TB treatment outcomes and adherence. This calls for a large cluster randomised trial for greater generalisability. Tested alcohol-intervention strategies should be recommended to promote treatment adherence among TB patients who consume alcohol.
Conditioning exercises in ski jumping: biomechanical relationship of squat jumps, imitation jumps, and hill jumps

Abstract As hill jumps are very time-consuming, ski jumping athletes often perform various imitation jumps during training. The performed jumps should be similar to hill jumps, but a direct comparison of the kinetic and kinematic parameters has not been performed yet. Therefore, this study aimed to correlate 11 common parameters during hill jumps (Oberstdorf Germany), squat jumps (wearing indoor shoes), and various imitation jumps (rolling 4°, rolling flat, static; jumping equipment or indoor shoes) on a custom-built instrumented vehicle with a catch by the coach. During the performed jumps, force and video data of the take-off of 10 athletes were measured. The imitation and squat jumps were then ranked. The main difference between the hill jumps and the imitation and squat jumps is the higher maximal force loading rate during the hill jumps. Imitation jumps performed on a rolling platform, on flat ground were the most similar to hill jumps in terms of the force–time, and leg joint kinematic properties. Thus, non-hill jumps with a technical focus should be performed from a rolling platform with a flat inrun with normal indoor shoes or jumping equipment, and high normal force loading rates should be the main focus of imitation training.
Functional brain network modularity predicts response to cognitive training after brain injury

Objective: We tested the value of measuring modularity, a graph theory metric indexing the relative extent of integration and segregation of distributed functional brain networks, for predicting individual differences in response to cognitive training in patients with brain injury. Methods: Patients with acquired brain injury (n = 11) participated in 5 weeks of cognitive training and a comparison condition (brief education) in a crossover intervention study design. We quantified the measure of functional brain network organization, modularity, from functional connectivity networks during a state of tonic attention regulation measured during fMRI scanning before the intervention conditions. We examined the relationship of baseline modularity with pre- to posttraining changes in neuropsychological measures of attention and executive control. Results: The modularity of brain network organization at baseline predicted improvement in attention and executive function after cognitive training, but not after the comparison intervention. Individuals with higher baseline modularity exhibited greater improvements with cognitive training, suggesting that a more modular baseline network state may contribute to greater adaptation in response to cognitive training. Conclusions: Brain network properties such as modularity provide valuable information for understanding mechanisms that influence rehabilitation of cognitive function after brain injury, and may contribute to the discovery of clinically relevant biomarkers that could guide rehabilitation efforts.
AECA AND ANCA IN PATIENTS WITH PREMATURE ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Autoimmunity is suggested to play a pathogenetic role in premature atherosclerosis. Since atherosclerosis and vasculitis seem pathogenetically related, we hypothesized that ANCA, an important antibody in vasculitis, plays a role in atherosclerosis as well. We therefore investigated the prevalence of ANCA in patients with premature atherosclerosis and related the presence of these antibodies to levels of AECA and markers of inflammation. Methods & Results: In a cohort of 286 patients with premature atherosclerosis the prevalence of ANCA was 5.6% (16/286). All had perinuclear ANCA. More females were ANCA-positive (8M/8F vs. 200M/70F, p=0.03). In a nested case-control study, comparing the 16 ANCA-positive patients with 32 controls, levels of AECA were higher in the first (7.32±0.91U vs. 5.52±0.41U, p<0.05). Conclusion: ANCA does not seem to play a major role in premature atherosclerosis. Whether elevated levels of AECA in ANCA-positive patients with premature atherosclerosis reflect more extended vascular disease remains to be determined.
COMPARISON OF THE VASODEPRESSOR EFFECTS OF PROSTACYCLIN AND 6‐OXO‐PROSTAGLANDIN F1α WITH THOSE OF PROSTAGLANDIN E2 IN RATS AND RABBITS

1 Vasodepressor effects of prostacyclin (5z‐5,6‐didehydro‐9‐deoxy‐6,9a‐epoxyprostaglandin F1) and its decomposition product 6‐oxo‐prostaglandin F1α (6‐oxo‐PGF1α) have been compared with those of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in anaesthetized rats and rabbits. 2 In rats intravenous prostacyclin produced hypotension and was 4–8 times more potent than PGE2 and about 128 times more potent than 6‐oxo‐PGF1α. 3 In rabbits also, intravenous prostacyclin (less than 2 μg/kg) produced hypotension and was twice as active as PGE2 and approximately 250 times more active than 6‐oxo‐PGF1α. 4 In rats and rabbits vasodepressor responses induced by prostacyclin were similar in magnitude after either intravenous or intra‐aortic administration. 5 Thus, in both species prostacyclin resembles PGE2 in producing vasodepression but does not lose activity on passage through the lungs. The results emphasize the need to consider prostacyclin in addition to PGE2 as a major determinant influencing blood pressure.
Day/night variation of tryptophan hydroxylase and serotonin N‐acetyltransferase mRNA levels in the ovine pineal gland and retina

Abstract: In mammals, the photoperiodic information, received by the retina, is transmitted to the pineal gland. In both organs, melatonin is produced and functions as a neurohorinone giving temporal information to the organism. A four‐step enzymatic pathway, involving in particular the tryptophan hydroxylase (TPOH), the rate‐limiting enzyme in serotonin synthesis, and the serotonin N‐acetyltransferase (NAT) that converts serotonin to N‐acetylserotonin, allows the synthesis of melatonin. Many studies on melatonin synthesis modulation have focused on the enzyme NAT, but the regulation of TPOH is less well understood. We report here a quantitative study, using a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) analysis. of the nycthemeral expression of TPOH and NAT mRNAs in the ovine retina and pineal gland. In both organs, we show a nocturnal increase in mRNA levels of the two enzymes, suggesting a role of transcriptional mechanisms in the regulation of melatonin synthesis. However, the amplitude of the observed increase in TPOH and NAT mRNAs expression can not entirely explain the 7‐fold nocturnal increase in the plasma melatonin level. Our results suggest that, in the sheep, post‐transcriptional mechanisms might also be involved in the day/night modulation of melatonin production.
Dermatomal Somatosensory Evoked Potentials and Electrical Perception Thresholds During Recovery From Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

Background. Dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials (dSSEPs) not only provide a neurophysiological readout comparable with conventional SSEPs but also provide an opportunity to track changes in sensory function corresponding to individual dermatomes (ie, a single spinal segment) above, at, and below the level of spinal cord injury (SCI). Objectives. This study aimed to determine the reliability and responsiveness of dSSEPs and electrical perception thresholds (EPTs) to monitor changes in sensory function after cervical SCI. Methods. Initial and follow-up dSSEPs and EPTs were recorded from cervical dermatomes (C4-C8) of patients with traumatic tetraplegia (C3-C8; ASIA Impairment Scale A-D) during recovery after SCI (n = 18). Results. Follow-up examination of 74 initial dSSEPs unaffected by SCI (n = 18) revealed no significant change in latency (Δ = 0.0 ± 1.4 ms; P = .9) or EPT sensitivity (Δ = 0.1 ± 0.8 mA; P = .3). In 41 dSSEPs initially delayed after SCI (n = 14), latencies significantly decreased on follow-up examination (Δ = -3.1 ± 2.9 ms; P < .01) without a corresponding increase in sensitivity of the EPT (Δ = 0.2 ± 3.4 mA; P = .7). dSSEPs that were not measurable initially were subsequently recorded in 11 dermatomes (n = 5) on follow-up examination. This conversion of abolished-to-recordable dSSEPs was often preceded by the perception of an initial EPT and associated with a concomitant recovery of EPT at follow-up. Conclusion. dSSEPs and EPT can be reliably recorded to monitor changes in sensory function for each individual spinal segment after cervical SCI. dSSEPs may be potentially useful to monitor the safety of a therapeutic drug or cell transplant in early-phase (I/II) clinical trials as well as document the potential efficacy of interventions where the standard neurological assessment might not detect subtle therapeutic effects.
Factors driving unified communications and collaboration adoption and use in organizations

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to reveal factors that drive the adoption and use of unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) technology in organizations. Design/methodology/approach The authors used quantitative method to survey 296 employees from 50 different countries by conducting and international study. Partial least squares -method was used for the latent variables latent variable analysis Findings The authors found that unified theory of acceptance and use of technology constructs are mainly validated where results suggests that performance expectancy and social influence are the most influential drivers in employee acceptance and use of UC&C in organizations. Social presence, influence of peers and superiors are the main factors to take into consideration when implementation UC&C technology. Research limitations/implications The study was not longitudinal in design, which should be addressed by a future study that includes multi-cultural dimensions with a longitudinal design Practical implications Awareness through education and training of employees needs to be given very particular attention in the future mobile implementations. Moreover, management and employee support is the critical component of the effective information security governance framework implementation. Finally, mobile strategy needs to go over very precise and detailed planning process to ensure the right technology acceptance by users. Originality/value The authors close the existing research gap by providing useful insights into organizations regarding their UC&C technology adoption and use factors