Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of myo-inositol on cell proliferation and collagen transcription and secretion in proximal tubule cells cultured in elevated glucose.

Tubulointerstitial lesions often develop in the kidneys of patients and experimental animals with diabetes mellitus. In an in vitro model of diabetic renal disease, it has been previously demonstrated in this laboratory that elevated glucose levels stimulate procollagen transcription and secretion in proximal tubule cells in culture while inducing cellular hypertrophy and reducing cellular proliferation. Previous experiments in other tissues have suggested that myo-inositol supplementation, probably by reversing a disturbance in cell myo-inositol metabolism related to increased activity of the polyol pathway, reverses the effects of glucose on cell function. We tested the effect of myo-inositol supplementation on proximal tubule cells in culture in the presence of elevated medium glucose level. Incubation in 450 mg/dL of glucose media reduced cell proliferation; 450 mg/dL of glucose plus myo-inositol (800 microM) increased proliferation, returning the value to that seen in cells incubated in 100 mg/dL of glucose. Incubation in 450 mg/dL of glucose media increased type IV and type I procollagen mRNA levels and peptide secretion rates compared with those seen in cells incubated in medium containing 100 mg/dL of glucose. This glucose-induced stimulation of procollagen mRNA levels and procollagen secretion was not observed when the elevated glucose medium was supplemented with 800 microM myo-inositol. On the other hand, myo-inositol supplementation did not prevent the glucose-induced cellular hypertrophy: there was no reduction in the increased leucine incorporation and cellular protein content. Cell incubation in 450 mg/dL of glucose media did not lead to a measurable decrease in total cellular myo-inositol. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Middlemen in Search Equilibrium

This article shows how allowing for goods to be divisible at the point of consumption and incorporating productive heterogeneity lead to the emergence of middlemen in an equilibrium search environment. In the baseline model, middlemen are welfare reducing and their number increases as market frictions are reduced. When the model is extended to allow for time taken in production and increasing returns to scale in the market meeting technology, middlemen can be beneficial to society by speeding up the meeting process.
[Characteristics of injuries due to traffic accidents in the pediatric age group].

BACKGROUND In this study, the pediatric age group exposed to road traffic accidents was investigated, and patients with risk factors were studied to obtain relevant data. METHODS Trauma patients under the age of 15 who were admitted to the emergency department of this university over five years were analyzed retrospectively. Age, gender, accident time and type, personal injury area, type of injury, and clinical outcome were examined. RESULTS When the cases were analyzed with respect to the causes that led to the accidents, in-vehicle accidents formed the largest group (n=479, 59%). More than a quarter of all applications (34%) took place in summer months. Most of the applications were between 17:00 and 17:59 (n=94, 11.6%), followed by between 18:00 and 18:59 (n=88, 10.8%). The most commonly affected body parts were the head and neck region (n=226, 27.8%) and extremities (lower extremity: n=144, 17.7%; upper extremity: n=99, 12.2%). The most frequently seen injuries were contusions, abrasions, hematomas, and crush (n=443, 54.6%). The majority of patients who died were pedestrians who were hit by a motor vehicle (n=19, 59.4%). CONCLUSION In this study, it was observed that in the pediatric age group, traffic accidents involving a pedestrian and vehicle collision have greater fatality.
A HUMORAL THYMUS MECHANISM RESPONSIBLE FOR IMMUNOLOGIC MATURATION *

Thymectomy of the neonate has been associated with a deficiency of small lymphocytes in the lymphoid tissues, an impairment of the capacity to produce serum antibodies to some antigens and to reject allogeneic skin grafts, and the development, in some species, of a fatal wasting syndrome between one and four months after birth (Miller, 1963a). Thymectomy in adult life has been followed by some deficiency in the lymphocyte population of the peripheral blood and tissues (Metcalf, 1960) but not by any significant defects in immune response (Miller, Doak & Cross, 1963). These observations suggested that the thymus is essential for the establishment of a functioning immune system during development. Once this is established, the presence of the thymus is no longer absolutely essential, unless the immune system is damaged, for instance, by total-body irradiation. Under these circumstances, it was shown that the recovery of lymphopoietic and immune functions was thymus dependent (Miller, 1962a; Miller, Doak & Cross, 1963). Adult mice thymectomized and irradiated had persistently low lymphocyte levels in blood and tissues and failed to recover their capacity for producing immune reactions. The immune defects observed in neonatally thymectomized mice were demonstrable as early as three days after birth. Sham-operated three-dayold mice were capable of rejecting foreign grafts of ear skin within 10 to 15 days; thymectomized mice, on the other hand, failed to reject such skin and died of wasting disease five-seven weeks later with their graft intact (TABLE 1, FIGURE 1 and 2). The deficiency of small lymphocytes in the peripheral blood was also demonstrable in early life. In sham-operated controls the lymphocyte/ polymorphonuclear leucocyte ratio rose progressively during the first eight days after birth to reach almost the normal adult ratio. This did not take place in mice thymectomized a t birth in which the ratio did not increase significantly throughout life (Miller, 1961; 19626). The total lymphocyte count in many strains was significantly reduced, this reduction becoming
Kava and Valerian in the treatment of stress‐induced insomnia

Kava and valerian are herbal remedies, claimed to have anxiolytic and sedative properties respectively, without dependence potential or any appreciable side‐effects. In this pilot study, 24 patients suffering from stress‐induced insomnia were treated for 6 weeks with kava 120 mg daily. This was followed by 2 weeks off treatment and then, 5 having dropped out, 19 received valerian 600 mg daily for another 6 weeks. Stress was measured in three areas: social, personal and life‐events; insomnia in three areas also: time to fall asleep, hours slept and waking mood. Total stress severity was significantly relieved by both compounds (p < 0.01) with no significant differences between them; as was also insomnia (p < 0.01). The proportion of patients with no side‐effects was 58% with each drug respectively and the ‘commonest’ effect was vivid dreams with valerian (16%), followed by dizziness with kava (12% ). These compounds may be useful in the treatment of stress and insomnia but further studies are required to determine their relative roles for such indications. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A 245 GHz LNA in SiGe Technology

A five-stage differential SiGe low noise amplifier (LNA) in cascode topology is presented. Transformer coupling is used between the stages to obtain inter-stage matching. The single ended input and output of the LNA are realized by baluns. The LNA has 18 dB of gain at 245 GHz and a 3 dB bandwidth of 8 GHz. A noise figure of 11 ±1 dB NF of the LNA at 245 GHz was measured by the Y-factor method. These values represent the highest gain and the lowest measured noise figure at 245 GHz reported for a SiGe LNA so far. The LNA draws 82 mA at a supply voltage of 3.7 V.
Temporal global solar radiation forecasting using artificial neural network in Tunisian climate

The temporal prediction of the solar radiation is very important for the operation of any solar energy system technology and completing data set. Based on meteorological parameters, the artificial neural network (ANN) can bring a technical solution for the prediction problems. In this paper, we developed an ANN for the south Tunisian climate to predict global solar radiation. Five years of record from January 2008 to December 2012 and five zones were selected to train and test the neural networks. The root mean square error (rmse), the coefficient of correlation (r) and the mean absolute error (Mae) are used to evaluate our model. The results show that the errors for the temporal forecasting varies between: 0.952 ≤ r ≤ 0.988, 4.9% ≤ rmse ≤ 10.1% and 1847 ≤ mae (j/cm2) ≤ 4657. Keywords— temporal forecasting, solar energy, artificial neural network, ground station meteorological parameter, south Tunisia
Three-dimensional graph cuts for human airway analysis Master thesis

Airway abnormalities in the form of morphological changes are associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Computerized Tomography (CT) is becoming an increasingly popular imaging tool to investigate these pathologies. This thesis focuses on airway wall segmentation algorithms applicable for such investigations. We present a globally optimal three-dimensional graph cut algorithm for the purpose. Its novelty include the construction of a graph based on columns following flow lines calculated from the convolution of an initial segmentation of the airways with different kernels. We evaluate the method within a framework of 649 manually annotated two-dimensional cross-sectional images from 15 different subjects and show that the obtained results are superior to a previously developed two-dimensional method and a similar three-dimensional method using straight columns pointing in the initial segmentation surface normal direction. We quantify the method’s use as a COPD diagnostic tool in a series of large scale tests, involving 2,512 CT scans from a lung cancer screening study, comparing the results with the two-dimensional method. The majority of the measurements conducted with the proposed method are shown to be statistically more reproducible, correlate more with lung function and have statistically better diagnostic ability quantified as area under the receiver operating characteristic for different disease stages. We investigate the association between subject health as quantified by answers to the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire and airway measurements obtained in 690 subjects and show moderate but significant correlations with especially disease symptoms and what impact it has on their psychological and social functioning. The results presented in this thesis, demonstrate the use of CT and the proposed method for COPD investigation and diagnosis.
Mercury contamination in artisanal gold mining area of Manyera river , niger state Nigeria

The study was conducted on Manyera River, Niger State Nigeria due to the mining activities in the area as the river is mainly used as the source of livelihood of people around it. Samples of water, fishes and sediments were collected along the river course in March, 2013. Samples were persevered and taken to the laboratory for analysis by Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. The water collected at SBW5 downstream had the highest concentration of 0.025mg/L and lowest value was recorded from upstream where there’s little or no mining activity with concentration of 0.014mg/L. The concentration of fish obtained from the river (Heterotis niloticus) is 0.008mg/L, although no fishing activity where the mined soil is been washed. Sediment collected downstream also had the highest concentration of mercury of 0.021mg/L while at point where the mined soil is washed showed lower concentration of 0.015mg/L. These values were high compared to 0.001ppm standard limit for environmental matrices by WHO. There is need to continually monitor this activity to prevent the outbreak of problems associated with Mercury poisoning as the water is the only source of livelihood for domestic activities in the communities around it.
Quadruple bandwidth true time delay printed microwave lens beam former for ultra wideband multifunctional phased array applications

A 9 × 13 printed microwave lens beam former was investigated numerically using MoM, and good performance was predicted across the quadruple band 6 GHz – 25GHz. TTD behavior across entire band was achieved by array factor comparisons, with good beam quality demonstrations. Future work on this lens will involve the power efficiency study and prototype measurement validations.
The Zinc Finger Repressor, ZBP-89, Binds to the Silencer Element of the Human Vimentin Gene and Complexes with the Transcriptional Activator, Sp1*

Vimentin is a component of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton belonging to the family of intermediate filament proteins. It exhibits a complex pattern of tissue- and development-specific expression. It is also a marker of the metastatic potential of many tumor cells. Previously, the human vimentin promoter was shown to contain several regions for the binding of positive and negative acting regulatory factors. Until now, the silencer element, which shuts down vimentin synthesis in selected tissues during development, was not precisely localized; nor was its binding protein known. In vivo DMS footprinting by ligation-mediated PCR delineated the position of guanine residues important to vimentin expression. Transient transfection assays in HeLa cells of various vimentin 5′-end promoter sequences and mutants thereof precisely defined two regulatory elements, a negative element and an adjoining positive acting element. Band shift assays, UV cross-linking, and Southwestern blot analysis confirm that the silencer element specifically binds a protein. Several lines of evidence show that ZBP-89, a zinc finger, Kruppel-like repressor protein is vimentin's silencer element binding factor. Co-immunoprecipitation and DNA affinity chromatography prove that Sp1 heterodimerizes with ZBP-89 when bound to the silencer element to yield a DNA-protein complex whose mobility is indistinguishable from that displayed by HeLa nuclear extract in band shift assays.
Sequence analysis of the hemagglutinin gene of measles virus isolates in Denmark 1997–1998: no evidence of persistent circulation of measles virus in Denmark

The hemagglutinin‐coding region of 17 virus samples from 12 measles cases in Denmark during 1997–1998 was analysed by partial nucleotide sequencing. The cases appeared as three sporadic cases and two epidemics, both with a limited time course and geographical distribution. The measles strains identified from the three sporadic cases and two epidemics could be allocated to five different previously well‐defined sequence groups consistent with the assumption that cases of measles in Denmark are due to repeated introduction from abroad rather than persistent circulation of strains in the population.
Anterior and Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion With Percutaneous Pedicle Screws: Comparison to Muscle Damage and Minimally Invasive Techniques

Study Design. Retrospective analysis of patients whom underwent one-level anterior lumbar interbody fusion or posterior lumbar interbody fusion with percutaneous pedicle screws. Objective. To determine which minimally invasive fusion technique, anterior or posterior lumbar fusions, induces the least amount of muscle damage. Summary of Background Data. Creatine phosphokinase is recognized as a good marker for muscle damage occurring in patients after spine surgery. Minimally invasive fusions are known to reduce the amount of muscle damage. Which surgery induces the least amount of muscle damage is yet to be determined. Minimally invasive spine surgery is becoming increasing popular due to the benefits of less muscle damage, shorter hospital length and quicker recovery. Lumbar fusions are one of the most common surgeries and is becoming less invasive with the use of percutaneous pedicle screws. Methods. Seventy-four patients whom underwent either anterior or posterior lumbar interbody fusions with percutaneous pedicle screws had preoperative and postoperative creatine kinase levels. Statistical analysis then compared the average change between the 2 groups. Results. Minimally invasive anterior lumbar interbody fusions with percutaneous pedicle screws had significantly less muscle damage (P < 0.05) than minimally invasive posterior lumbar interbody fusions with percutanoues screws. Conclusion. Minimally invasive anterior lumbar interbody fusions with percutaneous pedicle screws cause significantly less muscle damage than minimally invasive posterior lumbar interbody fusions with percutaneous screws. Furthermore minimally invasive anterior lumbar body interbody fusions demonstrated near the same amount of muscle damage to previously published literature on lumbar microdikectomies.
Connected speech processes in developmental speech impairment: observations from an electropalatographic perspective

This paper uses a combination of perceptual and electropalatographic (EPG) analysis to explore the presence and characteristics of connected speech processes in the speech output of five older children with developmental speech impairments. Each of the children is shown to use some processes typical of normal speech production but also to use a range of more unusual processes at word junctures, with both inter- and intra-speaker variability apparent in the data. The findings suggest that the traditional focus on single word production in the assessment of developmental speech disorders needs to be modified to allow more extensive consideration of speech production in spontaneous speech.
Screening for Mild Cognitive Impairment Using the Dementia Rating Scale-2

This study examined the sensitivity and specificity of the Dementia Rating Scale-2 (DRS-2) to distinguish individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from both patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and healthy controls (HCs). A total of 50 HCs, 98 patients with MCI, and 49 patients with AD completed a neurological examination and battery of neuropsychological tests that included the DRS-2. Across almost all subscales of the DRS-2, patients with AD scored significantly worse than patients with MCI who in turn performed more poorly than the HCs. The only exception was the construction subscale where no significant difference was found between patients with MCI and the HCs. At a cutoff of 136, the sensitivity was 71% and specificity was 86% for distinguishing between patients with MCI and the HCs. Sensitivity was 82% and specificity was 78% for distinguishing between patients with MCI and patients with AD (cutoff score <124). For distinguishing between patients (with MCI and AD) and the HCs, sensitivity was 81% and specificity was 86% at a cutoff of 136. Our findings suggest the DRS-2 is a brief, easily administered cognitive test that appears to be useful in assisting with the detection of MCI.
Psychological epidemic in Hong Kong

A double blind retrospective study was carried out on a sample of children who were affected in a mysterious gas poisoning epidemic together with controls drawn from the same school. The dependent measures employed were the Junior Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (JEPQ), a Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale (HSC), Heart Rate (HR) and Skin Potential Response (SPR). A vigilance task was administered during assessment of the latter two variables. The affected children had significantly higher HR together with a marginal increase in SPR. It is proposed that constitutional factors play an important role in determining whether an individual is affected in such an epidemic.
Randomized trial of high‐dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell support for high‐risk primary breast carcinoma

The authors previously reported results from a randomized trial of standard‐dose chemotherapy with combined 5‐fluorouracil (1000 mg/m2 per cycle), doxorubicin (50 mg/m2 per cycle), and cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m2 per cycle) (FAC) versus FAC followed by high‐dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and autologous stem cell support (ASCS) for patients with high‐risk primary breast carcinoma. After a median follow‐up of 6.5 years, no significant differences were observed in recurrence‐free survival (RFS) or overall survival (OS) between the 2 arms. This report updates the survival analyses.
THE CAMBRIDGE HANDBOOK OF CONSCIOUSNESS The Importance of Individual Differences

In hypnosis, subjects respond to suggestions for imaginative experiences that can involve alterations in conscious perception, memory, and action. However, these phenomena occur most profoundly in those subjects who are highly hypnotizable. The chapter reviews a number of these phenomena, including posthypnotic amnesia; hypnotic analgesia; hypnotic deafness, blindness, and agnosia; and emotional numbing, with an eye toward uncovering dissociations between explicit and implicit memory, perception, and emotion. These dissociative phenomena of hypnosis bear a phenotypic similarity to the "hysterical" symptoms characteristic of the dissociative and conversion disorders. The experience of involuntariness in hypnotic response is considered in light of the concept of automatic processing. Hypnosis may be described as an altered state of consciousness based on the convergence of four variables: induction procedure, subjective experience, overt behavior, and psychophysiological indices including neural correlates of hypnotic suggestion revealed by
On the threshold energization of radiation belt electrons by double layers

Using a Hamiltonian approach, we quantify the energization threshold of electrons interacting with radiation belts' double layers discovered by Mozer et al. (2013). We find that double layers with electric field amplitude E0 ranging between 10 and 100 mV/m and spatial scales of the order of few Debye lengths are very efficient in energizing electrons with initial velocities v∥ ≤ vth to 1 keV levels but are unable to energize electrons with E ≥ 100 keV. Our results indicate that the localized electric field associated with the double layers are unlikely to generate a seed population of 100 keV necessary for a plethora of relativistic acceleration mechanisms and additional transport to higher energetic levels.
Twenty-four-hour pattern of intraocular pressure in the aging population.

PURPOSE To characterize the 24-hour pattern of intraocular pressure (IOP) in a sample of the aging human population. METHODS Twenty-one healthy volunteers 50 to 69 years of age were housed in a sleep laboratory for 24 hours. Experimental conditions were strictly controlled with a 16-hour light period and an 8-hour dark period. Sleep was encouraged in the dark period. Intraocular pressure was measured using a pneumatonometer every 2 hours (total of 12 times). Measurements were taken in both the sitting position and the supine position during the light/wake period but only in the supine position during the dark period. RESULTS When the sitting IOP data from the light/wake period and the supine IOP data from the dark period were considered, elevation and reduction of IOP occurred around the scheduled lights-off and lights-on transitions, respectively. Mean IOP in the dark period was significantly higher than mean IOP in the light/wake period. The trough appeared at the end of the light/wake period, and the peak appeared at the beginning of the dark period. The magnitude of trough-peak difference was 8.6+/-0.8 mm Hg (mean +/- SEM). Cosine fits of 24-hour IOP data showed a significant 24-hour rhythm. When IOP data from just the supine position were analyzed, the trough-peak IOP difference was 3.4+/-0.7 mm Hg, with similar clock times for the trough and the peak. Cosine fits of supine IOP data showed no statistically significant 24 hour rhythm. CONCLUSIONS Nocturnal elevation of IOP occurred in this sample of the aging population. The trough of IOP appeared at the end of the light/wake period, and the peak appeared at the beginning of the dark period. The main factor in the nocturnal IOP elevation appeared to be the shift from daytime upright posture to supine posture at night.