Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predicting and accelerating motor recovery after stroke.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review presents recent developments in the prediction of motor recovery after stroke; explores whether rehabilitation interventions delivered during the spontaneous recovery process can improve outcomes; and identifies the first trials to focus on the rate rather than extent of motor recovery (Supplementary Digital Content 1). RECENT FINDINGS Two recent studies have attempted to accelerate the rate of motor recovery during the first few weeks after stroke, with neuromodulation techniques designed to facilitate excitability of the ipsilesional motor cortex. One trial using transcranial direct current stimulation was negative, and the other trial using bilateral priming was positive. These contrasting results may be explained by important differences in trial design. This new focus on modifying rate, rather than extent, of motor recovery is in line with accumulating evidence that the motor recovery plateau is largely determined by the extent of damage to descending motor pathways, which is currently untreatable. SUMMARY Interventions that facilitate neural plasticity and reorganization may accelerate recovery of motor function during the spontaneous recovery period, without affecting final outcome. This may represent a useful new approach for future trials conducted during rehabilitation at the subacute stage of stroke.
Parametric instability in oscillatory shear flows

In this article we investigate time-periodic shear flows in the context of the two-dimensional vorticity equation, which may be applied to describe certain large-scale atmospheric and oceanic flows. The linear stability analyses of both discrete and continuous profiles demonstrate that parametric instability can arise even in this simple model: the oscillations can stabilize (destabilize) an otherwise unstable (stable) shear flow, as in Mathieu's equation (Stoker 1950). Nonlinear simulations of the continuous oscillatory basic state support the predictions from linear theory and, in addition, illustrate the evolution of the instability process and thereby show the structure of the vortices that emerge. The discovery of parametric instability in this model suggests that this mechanism can occur in geophysical shear flows and provides an additional means through which turbulent mixing can be generated in large-scale flows.
Impingement air cooled plate fin heat sinks. Part I - Pressure drop model

The performance of impingement air cooled plate fin heat sinks differs significantly from that of parallel flow plate fin heat sinks. A semi-empirical zonal model has been published to predict impingement flow in plate fin heat sinks. This model is not convenient to apply since it involves a large number of equations. A simple impingement flow pressure drop model based on developing laminar flow in rectangular channels is proposed. To test the validity of the model, experimental measurements of pressure drop are performed with heat sinks of various impingement inlet widths, fin spacings, fin heights and airflow velocities. It was found that the predictions agree with experimental data within 20% at channel Reynolds numbers less than 1200. The simple model is suitable for parametric design studies.
Role of Leydig cells and endogenous inhibin in regulating pulsatile gonadotropin secretion in the adult male rat.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the parameters of pulsatile gonadotropin secretion in the adult male rat that are regulated by the suppressive feedback influences provided by factors originating in the Leydig cells or by endogenous inhibin, or both. This was achieved by examining the changes in the secretion parameters of FSH and LH that result from selectively destroying the Leydig cells using the toxicant ethane dimethane sulfonate (EDS) or passively immunoneutralizing endogenous inhibin using high-titer anti alpha-inhibin subunit serum, or both. Both FSH and LH were secreted in a pulsatile manner in intact male rats as determined using two different pulse-detection methods. Destruction of the Leydig cells with EDS 6 days before sampling significantly increased basal FSH secretion without affecting pulsatile FSH secretion. Injection of anti-inhibin serum into intact (vehicle treated) males 18 h before sampling produced no observable alteration in any parameter of FSH secretion. Either administration of anti-inhibin serum or castration of rats previously treated with EDS induced further significant, selective increases in the basal parameters of FSH secretion, raising mean FSH to levels comparable to those observed in 6-day castrate rats. When examined individually, however, the parameters of mean trough and peak FSH level and mean pulse amplitude remained significantly higher in the 6-day castrate males. In sharp contrast to the selective effects on basal FSH, destruction of the Leydig cells with EDS dramatically elevated all parameters of LH secretion to levels comparable to those observed in similarly timed castrate rats. Neither immunoneutralization of endogenous inhibin nor castration of EDS-treated rats 18 h before sampling caused any further alteration in any parameter of LH secretion. The results from these studies demonstrate that the Leydig cell provides all of the suppressive influence of the testes on LH secretion and a major portion of the suppressive influence over FSH secretion. This influence is exerted through a suppression of all parameters of LH secretion, but through a selective suppression of basal FSH secretion parameters. Collectively, the results suggest that the Leydig cell-derived influences suppress those parameters of gonadotropin secretion that are mediated by LHRH, acting, at least in part, through a suppression of pituitary sensitivity to LHRH. In the absence of the Leydig cells, endogenous inhibin can be demonstrated to also suppress basal FSH secretion in the adult male rat. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Personal history of prostate cancer and increased risk of incident melanoma in the United States.

PURPOSE Steroid hormones, particularly androgens, play a major role in prostatic carcinogenesis. Personal history of severe acne, a surrogate for higher androgen activity, has been associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer (PCa), and one recent study indicated that severe teenage acne was a novel risk factor for melanoma. These findings suggest a possible relationship between PCa and risk of melanoma. We prospectively evaluated this association among US men. METHODS A total of 42,372 participants in the Health Professionals' Follow-Up Study (HPFS; 1986 to 2010) were included. Biennially self-reported PCa diagnosis was confirmed using pathology reports. Diagnosis of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) was self-reported biennially, and diagnosis of melanoma was pathologically confirmed. We sought to confirm the association in 18,603 participants from the Physicians' Health Study (PHS; 1982 to 1998). RESULTS We identified 539 melanomas in the HPFS. Personal history of PCa was associated with an increased risk of melanoma (multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.83; 95% CI, 1.32 to 2.54). Although we also detected a marginally increased risk of NMSC associated with PCa (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.995 to 1.16), the difference in the magnitude of the association between melanoma and NMSC was significant (P for heterogeneity = .002). We did not find an altered risk of melanoma associated with personal history of other cancers. The association between PCa and risk of incident melanoma was confirmed in the PHS (HR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.12 to 4.21). CONCLUSION Personal history of PCa is associated with an increased risk of melanoma, which may not be entirely a result of greater medical scrutiny.
Translocation and Colocalization of ICP4 and ICP0 in Cells Infected with Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Mutants Lacking Glycoprotein E, Glycoprotein I, or the Virion Host Shutoff Product of the UL41 Gene

ABSTRACT In wild-type herpes simplex virus 1-infected cells, the major regulatory protein ICP4 resides in the nucleus whereas ICP0 becomes dynamically associated with proteasomes and late in infection is translocated and dispersed in the cytoplasm. Inhibition of proteasomal function results in retention or transport of ICP0 to the nucleus. We report that in cells infected with mutants lacking glycoprotein E (gE), glycoprotein I (gI), or the product of the UL41 gene, both ICP4 and ICP0 are translocated to the cytoplasm and coaggregate in small dense structures that, in the presence of proteasomal inhibitor MG132, also contain proteasomal components. Gold particle-conjugated antibody to ICP0 reacted in thin sections with dense protein aggregates in the cytoplasm of mutant virus-infected cells. Similar aggregates were present in the nuclei but not in the cytoplasm of wild-type virus-infected cells. Exposure of cells early in infection to MG132 does not result in retention of ICP0 as in wild-type virus-infected cells. The results suggest that the retention of ICP4 and ICP0 in the nucleus is a dynamic process that involves the function of other viral proteins that may include the Fc receptor formed by the gE/gI complex and is not merely the consequence of expression of a nuclear localization signal. It is noteworthy that in ΔUL41-infected cells gE is retained in the trans-Golgi network and is not widely dispersed in cellular membranes.
Effect of dietary supplementation of acetone extracts of Nigella sativa L. seeds on serum cholesterol and pathogenic intestinal bacterial count in broilers.

This study aimed to investigate effects of varying doses of Nigella sativa seed powder or acetone extracts in diet on feed intake, mortality, serum lipid profiles and population of intestinal microflora of broilers. A total 168, day-old broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were ad-libitium manually prepared feeds supplemented with 0, 1.5, 2.5, 3.0% seed powder or 0, 0.2, 0.4% acetone extracts of N. sativa seed for 4 weeks. The experiment was conducted in a complete randomized design (CRD) with seven treatments and three replications. N. sativa supplemented feed had no significant effects on feed intake, body weight and mortality rate of broiler. However, supplementation of either 3.0% seed powder or 0.4% extracts of N. sativa seeds significantly (p<0.05) decreased serum cholesterol and triglycerides contents in broiler. Furthermore, both N. sativa seed powder and extract supplemented feed also suppressed harmful bacterial (Escherichia coli) population in the feces. These results suggest that N. sativa seed might have potential as an alternative to hazardous synthetic feed additives (antibiotics) to formulate low cost and environment-friendly diet for the broiler.
Managing Hypertension in Patients with or without Comorbidities in a Teaching Hospital Outpatient Setting

Objective. According to the findings of the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 50 million citizens in the U.S. have hypertension, and only about 30% of these patients are at their goal for blood pressure control. A more serious problem is evident when these patients present with comorbidities such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and renal insufficiency. At Winthrop University Hospital’s Internal Medicine Outpatient clinic, we wanted to evaluate how hypertensive patients, with or without other comorbidities, were being managed and whether they were achieving recommended goals for blood pressure, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA 1c ), and lowdensity lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels if they also had diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Methods and Study Population. We conducted a crosssectional, observational study from June 2004 to March 2005 and enrolled 167 adults with hypertension, with or without diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and renal insufficiency. (Moderate-to-severe renal insufficiency was defined as a creatinine clearance of less than 30 ml/minute.) During the study period, we compared blood pressure, HbA1c values, and LDL-C levels with the treatment goals set by guidelines from the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7); the American Diabetes Association (ADA); and the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel (ATP III). Results. Sixty-two percent of patients seen by our hospital’s physicians met their blood pressure goal, compared with the national benchmark of 31% (P < .0001). Thirteen percent of patients with diabetes achieved their blood pressure, LDL-C, and HbA 1c goals at a rate that was four times better than the national benchmark of less than 3% (P = .005). The national benchmark for achieving LDL-C and hypertension goals in hyperlipidemic patients is less than 10%; at our hospital, this figure was 32%
Efficacy of different prophylactic antifungal regimens in bone marrow transplantation.

BACKGROUND Fungal infections still represent a major clinical problem in neutropenic patients; the recent availability of active imidazole derivatives, particularly fluconazole and itraconazole, has increased interest in prophylaxis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty-nine consecutive bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients were randomized to receive either itraconazole 400 mg/day or fluconazole 300 mg/day as oral antimycotic prophylaxis during the pancytopenic phase; they were retrospectively compared with a historical control group of 30 patients who had received fluconazole 50 mg/day. Every febrile episode was treated with the same empirical antibiotic combination; amphotericin-B was added after 4-5 days in the case of persistent fever. Proven or suspected mycotic infections and the empirical use of amphotericin-B were considered as failures of prophylaxis. RESULTS There were no differences in the number of febrile episodes in the three groups. Five patient died of bacterial sepsis: two in the fluconazole 300, two in the itraconazole and one in the fluconazole 50 group. The addition of amphotericin-B was required in 12, 16 and 11 cases, respectively, in the three groups. There were four documented fungal infections in the intraconazole and one in both fluconazole groups; three suspected fungal infections were observed in the fluconazole 300 group and two in both the itraconazole and the fluconazole 50 group. None of the differences were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS The present results indicate that high-dose fluconazole and itraconazole are equivalent; neither of them was superior to low-dose fluconazole, which is regarded as being devoid of prophylactic activity against systemic mycoses.
Rapid restoration of CD4 T cell subsets in subjects receiving antiretroviral therapy during primary HIV-1 infection

ObjectiveTo compare the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy on immune reconstitution in subjects with acute and chronic HIV-1 infection. DesignProspective study including 58 treatment-naive subjects who commenced indinavir or nelfinavir and two nucleosides during primary (PHI; n = 28) or chronic HIV-1 infection (CHI; n = 30). MethodsNaive (CD45RA+62L+), memory (CD45RA−) and activated (CD38+HLA-DR+) T cell subsets were quantified at 1–2 monthly time intervals using 4-colour flow cytometry. ResultsAt 1 year, HIV-1 RNA declined in both cohorts to undetectable levels (< 50 copies/ml), while median CD4 lymphocyte count increased from 470 to 758 × 106 cells/l in PHI and from 204 to 310 × 106 cells/l in CHI, reaching > 500 × 106 cells/l in 93% of PHI, but only in 37% of CHI subjects (P < 0.001). Naive CD4 lymphocytes increased from 106 to 176 × 106 cells/l in PHI and from 41 to 44 × 106 cells/l in CHI (PHI versus CHI at 12 months:P = 0.003), while memory cells rose from 368 to 573 × 106 cells/l in PHI and from 148 to 223 × 106 cells/l in CHI (P < 0.001). Early increases (< 3 months) of CD4 lymphocytes were larger in subjects with PHI, consisting of naive CD45RA+CD62L+ as well as memory CD45RA−CD62L+ cells (P = 0.001). CD4 activation declined from 5 to 2% in PHI and from 13 to 6% in CHI (P = 0.001), while CD8 cell activation was reduced from 33 to 15% in PHI and from 42 to 19% in CHI (P = 0.02). ConclusionImmune reconstitution was more complete, occurred earlier and comprised both naive and memory CD4 T lymphocytes in subjects who commenced antiretroviral therapy during primary HIV-1 infection.
Psychological aspects of the LSD treatment of the neuroses.

Recent work by the author and his colleagues (Sandison, Spencer and Whitelaw, 1954) has established that lysergic acid diethylamide is of great value in the psychotherapy of the neuroses. This paper attempts to examine in rather more detail the possible mechanism of action of the drug in terms of dynamic psychology. It is now generally accepted that the psychoneuroses are the result of a faulty relationship between the conscious and the unconscious, leading to a one-sided or prejudiced conscious point of view. Any discussion which follows this observation must be preceded by a definition of the writer's conception of the unconscious, and in this paper the standpoint adopted by Jungian analytical psychology will be preferred.
The Rab27a Effectors JFC1/Slp1 and Munc13‐4 Regulate Exocytosis of Neutrophil Granules

Neutrophil granules contain secretory molecules that contribute to the implementation of all neutrophil functions. The molecular components that regulate the exocytosis of neutrophil granules have not been characterized. In this study, using small interfering RNA gene‐targeting approaches and granulocytes from genetically modified mice, we characterized the Rab27a effectors JFC1/Slp1 and Munc13‐4 as components of the exocytic machinery of granulocytes. Using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy analysis, we show that Rab27a and JFC1 colocalize in predocked and docked vesicles in granulocytes. Next, we demonstrate that JFC1‐downregulated granulocytes have impaired myeloperoxidase secretion. Using immunological interference, we confirm that JFC1 plays an important role in azurophilic granule exocytosis in human neutrophils. Interference with Rab27a but not with JFC1 impaired gelatinase B secretion in neutrophils, suggesting that a different Rab27a effector modulates this process. In similar studies, we confirmed that Munc13‐4 regulates gelatinase secretion. Immunofluorescence analysis indicates that Munc13‐4 localizes at secretory organelles in neutrophils. Using neutrophils from a Munc13‐4‐deficient mouse model (Jinx), we demonstrate that Munc13‐4 plays a central role in the regulation of exocytosis of various sets of secretory organelles. However, mobilization of CD11b was not affected in Munc13‐4‐deficient neutrophils, indicating that secretory defects in these cells are limited to a selective group of exocytosable organelles.
Evaluations of Molecular Docking Programs for Virtual Screening

Structure-based virtual screening is carried out using molecular docking programs. A number of such docking programs are currently available, and the selection of docking program is difficult without knowing the characteristics or performance of each program. In this study, the screening performances of three molecular docking programs, DOCK, AutoDock, and GOLD, were evaluated with 116 target proteins. The screening performances were validated using two novel standards, along with a traditional enrichment rate measurement. For the evaluations, each docking run was repeated 1000 times with three initial conformations of a ligand. While each docking program has some merit over the other docking programs in some aspects, DOCK showed an unexpectedly better screening performance in the enrichment rates. Finally, we made several recommendations based on the evaluation results to enhance the screening performances of the docking programs.
Primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts: A model of mesenchymal cartilage formation

Cartilage formation is an intricate process that requires temporal and spatial organization of regulatory factors in order for a mesenchymal progenitor cell to differentiate through the distinct stages of chondrogenesis. Gene function during this process has best been studied by analysis of in vivo cartilage formation in genetically altered mouse models. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) isolated from such mouse models have been widely used for the study of growth control and DNA damage response. Here, we address the potential of MEFs to undergo chondrogenic differentiation. We demonstrate for the first time that MEFs can enter and complete the program of chondrogenic differentiation ex vivo, from undifferentiated progenitor cells to mature, hypertrophic chondrocytes. We show that chondrogenic differentiation can be induced by cell–cell contact or BMP‐2 treatment, while in combination, these conditions synergistically enhance chondrocyte differentiation resulting in the formation of 3‐dimensional (3‐D) cartilaginous tissue ex vivo. Temporal expression profiles of pro‐chondrogenic transcription factors Bapx1 and Sox9 and cartilaginous extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins Collagen Type II and X (Coll II and Coll X) demonstrate that the in vivo progression of chondrocyte maturation is recapitulated in the MEF model system. Our findings establish the MEF as a powerful tool for the generation of cartilaginous tissue ex vivo and for the study of gene function during chondrogenesis. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reliability of landing 3D motion analysis: implications for longitudinal analyses.

PURPOSE Biomechanical measures quantified during dynamic tasks with coupled epidemiological data in longitudinal experimental designs may be useful to determine which mechanisms underlie injury risk in young athletes. A key component is the ability to reliably measure biomechanical variables between testing sessions. The purpose was to determine the reliability of three-dimensional (3D) lower-extremity kinematic and kinetic variables during landing in young athletes measured within a session and between two sessions 7 wk apart. METHODS Lower-extremity kinetics and kinematics were quantified during a drop vertical jump. Coefficient of multiple correlations (CMC), intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC (3, k), ICC (3, 1)), and typical error (TE) analyses were used to examine within- and between-session reliability. RESULTS There were no differences in within-session reliability for peak angular rotations between planes with all discrete variables combined (sagittal ICC > or = 0.933, frontal ICC > or = 0.955, transverse ICC > or = 0.934). Similarly, the between-session reliability of kinematic measures were not different between the three planes of motion but were lower than the within-session ICC. The within- and between-session reliability of discrete joint moment variables were excellent for all sagittal (within ICC > or = 0.925, between ICC > or = 0.800) and frontal plane moment measures (within ICC > or = 0.778, between ICC > or = 0.748). CMC analysis revealed similar averaged within-session (CMC = 0.830 +/- 0.119) and between-session (CMC = 0.823 +/- 0.124) waveform comparisons. CONCLUSION The majority of the kinematic and kinetic variables in young athletes during landing have excellent to good reliability. The ability to reliably quantify lower-extremity biomechanical variables of young athletes during dynamic tasks over extended intervals may aid in identifying potential mechanisms related to injury risk factors.