Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Upper limb cortical maps in amputees with targeted muscle and sensory reinnervation

Neuroprosthetics research in amputee patients aims at developing new prostheses that move and feel like real limbs. Targeted muscle and sensory reinnervation (TMSR) is such an approach and consists of rerouting motor and sensory nerves from the residual limb towards intact muscles and skin regions. Movement of the myoelectric prosthesis is enabled via decoded electromyography activity from reinnervated muscles and touch sensation on the missing limb is enabled by stimulation of the reinnervated skin areas. Here we ask whether and how motor control and redirected somatosensory stimulation provided via TMSR affected the maps of the upper limb in primary motor (M1) and primary somatosensory (S1) cortex, as well as their functional connections. To this aim, we tested three TMSR patients and investigated the extent, strength, and topographical organization of the missing limb and several control body regions in M1 and S1 at ultra high-field (7 T) functional magnetic resonance imaging. Additionally, we analysed the functional connectivity between M1 and S1 and of both these regions with fronto-parietal regions, known to be important for multisensory upper limb processing. These data were compared with those of control amputee patients (n = 6) and healthy controls (n = 12). We found that M1 maps of the amputated limb in TMSR patients were similar in terms of extent, strength, and topography to healthy controls and different from non-TMSR patients. S1 maps of TMSR patients were also more similar to normal conditions in terms of topographical organization and extent, as compared to non-targeted muscle and sensory reinnervation patients, but weaker in activation strength compared to healthy controls. Functional connectivity in TMSR patients between upper limb maps in M1 and S1 was comparable with healthy controls, while being reduced in non-TMSR patients. However, connectivity was reduced between S1 and fronto-parietal regions, in both the TMSR and non-TMSR patients with respect to healthy controls. This was associated with the absence of a well-established multisensory effect (visual enhancement of touch) in TMSR patients. Collectively, these results show how M1 and S1 process signals related to movement and touch are enabled by targeted muscle and sensory reinnervation. Moreover, they suggest that TMSR may counteract maladaptive cortical plasticity typically found after limb loss, in M1, partially in S1, and in their mutual connectivity. The lack of multisensory interaction in the present data suggests that further engineering advances are necessary (e.g. the integration of somatosensory feedback into current prostheses) to enable prostheses that move and feel as real limbs.
Plexiform leiomyoma of the uterus in a patient with breast carcinoma: case report and review of the literature.

Plexiform leiomyomas of the uterus are incidental findings in hysterectomy specimens. Histogenetically, these rare tumors are classified as a variant of epithelioid leiomyomas. Most of the plexiform leiomyomas reported range in size from microscopically small lesions to less than 1 cm in largest diameter, and they macroscopically present as a nodular white-yellowish cut surface. Microscopically, the "Indian-file" pattern of epithelial-like tumor cells of plexiform leiomyomas may be confused with metastatic breast carcinoma, in particular lobular breast carcinoma, i.e.; one of the most frequent extragenital neoplasms metastasizing to the uterus. This report describes the occurrence of a large plexiform leiomyoma in a patient with a history of breast carcinoma, and draws attention to the histological differential diagnosis between these lesions. The results of immunohistochemical stainings for cytokeratin and smooth muscle actin confirmed the final diagnosis of plexiform leiomyoma.
Esophageal Doppler (ODM II) Improves Intraoperative Hemodynamic Monitoring During Laparoscopic Surgery

Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery has been expanded to the elderly and high-risk surgical patients with underlying cardiac and pulmonary disease. However, possible cardiovascular changes during CO2 pneumoperitoneum necessitate close intraoperative monitoring. In this prospective study, 55 patients (mean age 62.52 years, range 26-82) undergoing laparoscopic surgery were included. Patients were categorized into 3 groups of low (group A: 12 patients, mean age 55.5 years), moderate (group B: 22 patients, mean age 59.5 years), and high (group C: 21 patients, mean age 69.71 years) surgical risk according to ASA physical status classification. Similar anesthetic agents and anesthetic techniques were used in the above cases. An esophageal Doppler (ODM II, Abbott Laboratories) was used to measure aortic blood flow velocity and thereby estimating stroke volume (SVe) and cardiac output (COe) throughout anesthesia, in addition to traditional monitoring. After abdominal insufflation (peak intra-abdominal pressure: 13-15 mm Hg) COe values decreased from the initial value after induction of anesthesia by 22%, 20%, and 18% for groups A, B, and C, respectively (P < 0.05). The above values further deteriorated (25%, 28%, and 30% for groups A, B, and C, respectively) in the anti-Trendelenburg positioning of the patient. The peak aortic blood flow velocity (PV) followed the changes, thus indicating that heart muscle contractility is affected during the procedure. Stabilization of the above values was achieved after 20 minutes of CO2 pneumoperitoneum and improvement was noted only after deflation of the abdomen. Heart rate and blood pressure essentially remained unchanged throughout the procedure, although the final values were increased compared with initial. Insufflation of the abdomen with CO2 produces measurable effects on the cardiovascular system that require reappraisal of hemodynamic monitoring during anesthesia. ODM II offers a reliable, relatively noninvasive, cost-effective tool for intraoperative monitoring of the hemodynamic changes with a potential for future application for improvement of intraoperative hemodynamic status of patients.
A Comparative Analysis of MMPI-2 Malingering Detection Models Among Inmates

There are several strategies, or models, for combining the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) validity indicators to detect malingered psychiatric symptoms. Some scholars have recommended that an elevated F (Infrequency) score should be followed by the inspection of Fp (Infrequency—Psychopathology), whereas a recent meta-analysis indicated that Fp and Ds (Gough’s Dissimulation Scale) should be examined. For correctional settings, one model of malingering suggests that F, Fp, and F - K (Gough’s Dissimulation Index) should be inspected for one or more elevated scores. Although a large body of research has examined malingering detection with the MMPI-2, this research has typically focused on the contributions of individual validity indicators to differentiate malingered from genuine psychiatric symptoms. Therefore, the current study compared these models of malingering detection on the MMPI-2. Inmate simulators were contrasted with inmates who were hospitalized for psychiatric treatment. Results from classification and logistic regression analyses supported the sequential use of F and Fp in malingering detection.
Nineteenth-Century Arrow Wounds and Perceptions of Prehistoric Warfare

In recent years, prehistoric warfare has increasingly attracted the attention of archaeologists in North America, much like other parts of the world. Skeletons with several forms of trauma, including arrow wounds, are often used as evidence of intergroup conflict, although opinion is divided over what these casualties might mean in terms of the effect of warfare on everyday life. Information on 191 patients from the nineteenth-century Indian Wars in the American West indicates that only about one in three arrows damaged bone, and as many as one-half of wounded lived for months or years following their injuries. Arrow wound distributions vary among Indian Wars cases, modern Papua New Guinea patients, and prehistoric skeletons from eastern North America, in large part because of differences in how fighting was conducted. Despite arguments to the contrary, it is reasonable to infer that even low percentages of archaeological skeletons with distinctive conflict-related bone damage indicate that warfare must have had a perceptible impact on ways of life.
Colonization history and ancestry of northeastern coyotes

Recently [Kays et al. (2010)][1] reported on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence data and skull measurements to demonstrate a hybrid origin for northeastern coyotes. They suggested that, as western coyotes ( Canis latrans ) expanded their range in the last century, they colonized Ontario from
A robust method for assessing chemically induced mutagenic effects in the oral cavity of transgenic Big Blue® rats

The Big Blue® (BB) in vivo mutation assay uses transgenic rodents to measure treatment‐induced mutations in virtually any tissue. The BB assay can be conducted in rats or mice and is ideal for investigating tissue‐specific mutagenic mode of action of tumor induction. Some tissues such as oral mucosa have not been thoroughly studied. Due to the small quantity and cartilaginous nature of oral cavity tissues, development of special prosection and DNA isolation methods was required to permit robust analysis of mutations in these tissues. Improved surgical methods permitted collection of adequate and reproducible quantities of tissue (∼45 mg gingiva/buccal and ∼30 mg gingiva/palate). Optimized DNA isolation methods included use of liquid nitrogen pulverization, homogenization, nuclei pelleting, digestion, and phenol/chloroform extraction, to yield sufficient quantities of DNA from these tissues. In preliminary optimization work, mutant frequency (MF) in tongue and gingiva was increased in rats exposed to the promutagen, benzo[a]pyrene, and the direct mutagen, N‐ethyl‐N‐nitrosourea. The oral cavity carcinogen, 4‐nitroquinoline‐1‐oxide (4‐NQO; 10 ppm in drinking water; 28 days), was qualified as a positive control for mutagenesis in oral tissues since it caused significant increases in cII MFs in gingiva/palate (50.2‐fold) and gingiva/buccal tissues (21.3‐fold), but not in liver or bone marrow (0.9‐ and 1.4‐fold, respectively). These results are consistent with the observation that 4‐NQO primarily induces tumors in oral cavity. Results also demonstrate the utility of the BB rat mutation assay and optimized methods for investigation of oral cavity mutagenicity, and by extension, analysis of other small and cartilaginous tissues. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 56:629–636, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
What can be concluded from the Oxcheck and British family heart studies: commentary on cost effectiveness analyses

Abstract Objectives: To provide a commentary on the economic evaluations of the Oxcheck and British family heart studies: direct comparison of their relative effectiveness and cost effectiveness; comparisons with other interventions; and consideration of problems encountered. Design: Modelling from cost and effectiveness data to estimates of cost per life year gained. Subjects: Middle aged men and women. Interventions: Screening for cardiovascular risk factors followed by appropriate lifestyle advice and drug intervention in general practice, and other primary coronary risk management strategies. Main outcome measures: Life years gained; cost per life year gained. Results: Depending on the assumed duration of risk reduction, the programme cost per discounted life year gained ranged from £34 800 for a 1 year duration to £1500 for 20 years for the British family heart study and from £29 300 to £900 for Oxcheck. These figures exclude broader net clinical and cost effects and longer term clinical and cost effects other than coronary mortality. Conclusions: Despite differences in underlying methods, the estimates in the two economic analyses of the studies can be directly compared. Neither study was large enough to provide precise estimates of the overall net cost. Modelling to cost per life year gained provides more readily interpretable measures. These estimates emphasise the importance of the relatively weak evidence on duration of effect. Only if the effect lasts at least five years is the Oxcheck programme likely to be cost effective. The effect must last for about 10 years to justify the extra cost associated with the British family heart study. Key messages A more meaningful measure, cost per life year gained, requires modelling of the longer term effect of that risk reduction In terms of life years gained, the more intensive British family heart study intervention was more effective but less cost effective than the Oxcheck intervention The cost effectiveness of these relative to other interventions crucially depends on the assumed duration of the risk reduction, which must persist for at least five years for either programme to be viewed as cost effective Larger trials with longer follow up would be required to fully assess the long term effectiveness and overall cost effectiveness of population cardiovascular screening
Discussion of “On Bayesian Estimation of Marginal Structural Models”

Olli Saarela,* David A. Stephens, Erica E. M. Moodie, and Marina B. Klein Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, 6th floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 3M7 Department of Mathematics and Statistics, McGill University, 805 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2K6 Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, 1020 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 1A2 Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, McGill University, 3650 Saint Urbain, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2X 2P4 ∗email: olli.saarela@utoronto.ca
Management of Gingival Hyperpigmentation by Semiconductor Diode Laser

Gingival hyperpigmentation is caused by excessive deposition of melanin in the basal and suprabasal cell layers of the epithelium. Although melanin pigmentation of the gingiva is completely benign, cosmetic concerns are common, particularly in patients having a very high smile line (gummy smile). Various depigmentation techniques have been employed, such as scalpel surgery, gingivectomy, gingivectomy with free gingival autografting, cryosurgery, electrosurgery, chemical agents such as 90% phenol and 95% alcohol, abrasion with diamond burs, Nd:YAG laser, semiconductor diode laser, and CO2 laser. The present case report describes simple and effective depigmentation technique using semiconductor diode laser surgery – for gingival depigmentation, which have produced good results with patient satisfaction.
Information Exchange With Shared Databases as a Social Dilemma

When group members exchange information via shared databases people are often reluctant to contribute information they possess. This is explained by the fact that this kind of information exchange represents a social dilemma. This article applies critical concepts of dilemma theory to the interpretation of database information exchange as a social dilemma and tests their effects experimentally. A prestudy with the experimental task ensures that people perceive database information exchange as a social dilemma, and two experiments investigate three factors influencing this dilemma: (a) a person’s meta-knowledge about the importance of his information for the other group members, (b) a use-related bonus system that rewards contribution of important information, and (c) costs incurred by the contribution of important or less important information. As dependent variables people’s contribution behavior as well as their subjective perception of the dilemma structure are considered. The results show that metaknowledge enhances the quality of contributions, especially in combination with a use-related bonus system, whereas increased contribution costs influence the contribution behavior negatively.
Diurnal changes in photosynthetic efficiency and carotenoid composition of the lichen Anaptychia ciliaris: Effects of hydration and light intensity

Diurnal changes in chlorophyll fluorescence and carotenoid composition were studied in artificially hydrated thalli of the lichen Anaptychia ciliaris to assess the concomitant variations in photosynthetic efficiency and xanthophyll cycle associated energy dissipation under contrasting light conditions. One group ofthalli was kept continuously wet (over 50% ofmaximum water content) while another was kept dry and hydrated only 15 minutes before each measurement. Half of the thalli of each group were kept in the shade (natural environment) while the other half were exposed to direct sunlight. The photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (assessed by the fluorescence parameter Fv/Fm) decreased significantly towards the end of the day in thalli of A. ciliaris kept wet under direct sunlight, but not in wet, shaded thalli. The relative proportions of antheraxanthin (A) and zeaxanthin (Z) of wet thalli exposed to direct sunlight showed a significant increase in the afternoon and a sharp decrease during the evening. Dry thalli hydrated just 15 minutes before the measurements showed similar diurnal changes in Fv/Fm and in the relative proportions of A + Z to the continuously wet thalli under the same light environment. Predawn data from naturally dried thalli indicated a sustained high proportion ofA + Z that accountedfor a relatively lowphotochemical efficiency at the beginning of the experiments.
Effect of prior cognitive state on resting state networks measured with functional connectivity

To address the extent to which functional connectivity measures an absolute brain state, we observed the effect of prior performance of a language task on resting‐state networks in regions associated with language. Six subjects were imaged during rest before and after a block‐design language task. Connectivity maps were generated for each of four language regions (identified from analysis of the language activation portion of the study) in each subject for both rest periods. Conjunction analysis demonstrated distinct networks of voxels for each seed region, indicating separate functional subnetworks associated with the different regions. In a comparison of rest before and after the activation task widespread and significant changes were observed in all individuals, suggesting that the measured resting state network reflects a dynamic image of the current brain state. At the group level, an extended network was observed that was largely persistent over time. Even at the group level an increase in connectivity was observed between left and right middle frontal gyri, and between posterior cingulate cortex and medial frontal cortex in the rest after the language task. These results suggest that functional connectivity may be a powerful measure of cognitive state, sensitive to differences between controls and patients together with the particular cognitive processing occurring during the rest state. Hum. Brain Mapping 24:59–68, 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Partial Breakdown of Input Specificity of STDP at Individual Synapses Promotes New Learning

Hebbian-type learning rules, which underlie learning and refinement of neuronal connectivity, postulate input specificity of synaptic changes. However, theoretical analyses have long appreciated that additional mechanisms, not restricted to activated synapses, are needed to counteract positive feedback imposed by Hebbian-type rules on synaptic weight changes and to achieve stable operation of learning systems. The biological basis of such mechanisms has remained elusive. Here we show that, in layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons from slices of visual cortex of rats, synaptic changes induced at individual synapses by spike timing-dependent plasticity do not strictly follow the input specificity rule. Spike timing-dependent plasticity is accompanied by changes in unpaired synapses: heterosynaptic plasticity. The direction of heterosynaptic changes is weight-dependent, with balanced potentiation and depression, so that the total synaptic input to a cell remains preserved despite potentiation or depression of individual synapses. Importantly, this form of heterosynaptic plasticity is induced at unpaired synapses by the same pattern of postsynaptic activity that induces homosynaptic changes at paired synapses. In computer simulations, we show that experimentally observed heterosynaptic plasticity can indeed serve the theoretically predicted role of robustly preventing runaway dynamics of synaptic weights and activity. Moreover, it endows model neurons and networks with essential computational features: enhancement of synaptic competition, facilitation of the development of specific intrinsic connectivity, and the ability for relearning. We conclude that heterosynaptic plasticity is an inherent property of plastic synapses, crucial for normal operation of learning systems. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We show that spike timing-dependent plasticity in L2/L3 pyramids from rat visual cortex is accompanied by plastic changes in unpaired synapses. These heterosynaptic changes are weight-dependent and balanced: individual synapses expressed significant LTP or LTD, but the average over all synapses did not change. Thus, the rule of input specificity breaks down at individual synapses but holds for responses averaged over many inputs. In model neurons and networks, this experimentally characterized form of heterosynaptic plasticity prevents runaway dynamics of synaptic weights and activity, enhances synaptic competition, facilitates development of specific intrinsic connectivity, and enables relearning. This new form of heterosynaptic plasticity represents the cellular basis of a theoretically postulated mechanism, which is additional to Hebbian-type rules, and is necessary for stable operation of learning systems.
Letter by Chugh et al Regarding Article, "The Rotterdam Radial Access Research: Ultrasound-Based Radial Artery Evaluation for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Coronary Procedures".

We would like to congratulate the authors for a comprehensive periprocedural ultrasound-based study1 of radial arteries to help understand the pathophysiology of radial arterial injuries and occlusion after transradial procedures. There are, however, a few limitations of this work that may have confounded the outcomes and conclusions of the study, which we would like to highlight. The authors found radial artery occlusion (RAO) in 3.4% of all cases at 3 hours postprocedure and 3.9% on a 30-day follow-up, which is higher compared with previous ultrasound-based studies.2 …
Mitochondrial DNA Variation Reveals Recent Evolutionary History of Main Boa constrictor Clades

We sequenced a 1114-bp fragment of cytochrome b gene in six subspecies (115 samples) of Boa constrictor and detected 67 haplotypes. Our analyses revealed the presence of two distinct clades, one from Central America (CA) including the neighboring part of South America west of the Andes, and the other covering the rest of South America (SA). Sequence divergence between CA and SA clades is about 5–7%, which roughly corresponds to a separation at the time of uplift of the Colombian Andes following formation of the Panama Isthmus before 3.5 Myr Sequence divergence within the SA and CA clades is only 2–3%, suggesting a fairly recent spread of these clades into their current geographic ranges. Thus, we may not be dealing with taxa with a markedly old evolutionary history. Because juveniles of B. constrictor feed mostly on small rodents, we hypothesized that spread of this species was allowed by a new food source represented by muroid rodents that appeared after closure of the Panama portal. With respect to the taxonomy, B. c. imperator may be elevated to full species rank. Within the SA clade, a haplotype of Argentinian B. c. occidentalis is markedly distinct, while the remaining haplotype groups analyzed are distributed throughout large ranges and may all belong to a single nominotypic subspecies.