Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictive Control Based Constant Current Injection Scheme for Characterization of Switched Reluctance Machine

A novel constant current injection-based characterization scheme for the switched reluctance machine (SRM) is proposed here. Unlike conventional characterization methods where the rotor is locked at a fixed position, the current injection-based method maintains the phase current constant while the machine runs at constant speed. A novel current controller, required for the proposed constant current injection scheme, is also proposed in this paper. The predictive control-based current controller works without the machine model being available. The proposed current controller is validated experimentally and is then used to characterize a 4 kW, 1500 r/min 8/6 pole SRM. The characteristics obtained are found to be in good agreement with those obtained using conventional locked rotor tests.
Resting-state Dynamics as a Cortical Signature of Anesthesia in Monkeys

What We Already Know about This Topic Anesthesia-induced loss of consciousness is paralleled by a disruption of frontoparietal functional correlation, as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography. However, it is still unclear how anesthesia induces such a corticocortical disconnection. Dynamic-resting state is a recent analytical method to study large-scale brain networks, allowing the clustering of functional magnetic resonance images into functional brain states. What This Article Tells Us That Is New When moving from wakefulness to anesthesia, the anatomical structure of connections between brain areas becomes the main driver of the repertoire of functional states. Subjects given anesthesia lose the ability to generate flexible functional brain states that transcend brain anatomy. High similarity between brain structure and function is a new general signature of anesthesia-induced loss of consciousness. Background: The mechanism by which anesthetics induce a loss of consciousness remains a puzzling problem. We hypothesized that a cortical signature of anesthesia could be found in an increase in similarity between the matrix of resting-state functional correlations and the anatomical connectivity matrix of the brain, resulting in an increased function-structure similarity. Methods: We acquired resting-state functional magnetic resonance images in macaque monkeys during wakefulness (n = 3) or anesthesia with propofol (n = 3), ketamine (n = 3), or sevoflurane (n = 3). We used the k-means algorithm to cluster dynamic resting-state data into independent functional brain states. For each condition, we performed a regression analysis to quantify function-structure similarity and the repertoire of functional brain states. Results: Seven functional brain states were clustered and ranked according to their similarity to structural connectivity, with higher ranks corresponding to higher function-structure similarity and lower ranks corresponding to lower correlation between brain function and brain anatomy. Anesthesia shifted the brain state composition from a low rank (rounded rank [mean ± SD]) in the awake condition (awake rank = 4 [3.58 ± 1.03]) to high ranks in the different anesthetic conditions (ketamine rank = 6 [6.10 ± 0.32]; moderate propofol rank = 6 [6.15 ± 0.76]; deep propofol rank = 6 [6.16 ± 0.46]; moderate sevoflurane rank = 5 [5.10 ± 0.81]; deep sevoflurane rank = 6 [5.81 ± 1.11]; P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Whatever the molecular mechanism, anesthesia led to a massive reconfiguration of the repertoire of functional brain states that became predominantly shaped by brain anatomy (high function-structure similarity), giving rise to a well-defined cortical signature of anesthesia-induced loss of consciousness.
Direction of flagellum beat propagation is controlled by proximal/distal outer dynein arm asymmetry

Significance The motile flagellum/cilium is found across eukaryotic life, and it performs critical functions in many organisms including humans. A fundamental requirement for a motile flagellum is that it must undergo the appropriate waveform for its specific function. Much is known about the generation of asymmetry in flagellum movement; however, it is unknown how a motile flagellum specifies where waves should start and whether waves should go from base to tip, or from tip to base. We show here in two flagellum model organisms (the human parasites Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania mexicana) that differences in the outer dynein arms between the distal and proximal regions of the flagellum determine wave propagation direction and are generated and maintained by the flagellum growth machinery. The 9 + 2 axoneme structure of the motile flagellum/cilium is an iconic, apparently symmetrical cellular structure. Recently, asymmetries along the length of motile flagella have been identified in a number of organisms, typically in the inner and outer dynein arms. Flagellum-beat waveforms are adapted for different functions. They may start either near the flagellar tip or near its base and may be symmetrical or asymmetrical. We hypothesized that proximal/distal asymmetry in the molecular composition of the axoneme may control the site of waveform initiation and the direction of waveform propagation. The unicellular eukaryotic pathogens Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania mexicana often switch between tip-to-base and base-to-tip waveforms, making them ideal for analysis of this phenomenon. We show here that the proximal and distal portions of the flagellum contain distinct outer dynein arm docking-complex heterodimers. This proximal/distal asymmetry is produced and maintained through growth by a concentration gradient of the proximal docking complex, generated by intraflagellar transport. Furthermore, this asymmetry is involved in regulating whether a tip-to-base or base-to-tip beat occurs, which is linked to a calcium-dependent switch. Our data show that the mechanism for generating proximal/distal flagellar asymmetry can control waveform initiation and propagation direction.
The effects of El Niño‐Southern Oscillation events on intertidal seagrass beds over a long‐term timescale

El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events can cause dramatic changes in marine communities. However, we know little as to how ENSO events affect tropical seagrass beds over decadal timescales. Therefore, a diverse array of seagrass (Thalassia hemprichii) habitat types were surveyed once every 3 months for 16 years (January 2001 to February 2017) in a tropical intertidal zone that is regularly affected by both ENSO events and anthropogenic nutrient enrichment. La Niña and El Niño events had distinct effects on the biomass and growth of T. hemprichii. During La Niña years, higher (a) precipitation levels and (b) seawater nitrogen concentrations led to increases in seagrass leaf productivity, canopy height, and biomass. However, the latter simultaneously stimulated the growth of periphyton on seagrass leaves; this led to decreases in seagrass cover and shoot density. More frequent La Niña events could, then, eventually lead to either a decline in intertidal seagrass beds or a shift to another, less drought‐resistant seagrass species in those regions already characterized by eutrophication due to local anthropogenic activity.
Co-Amorphous Solid Dispersions for Solubility and Absorption Improvement of Drugs: Composition, Preparation, Characterization and Formulations for Oral Delivery

The amorphous solid state offers an improved apparent solubility and dissolution rate. However, due to thermodynamic instability and recrystallization tendencies during processing, storage and dissolution, their potential application is limited. For this reason, the production of amorphous drugs with adequate stability remains a major challenge and formulation strategies based on solid molecular dispersions are being exploited. Co-amorphous systems are a new formulation approach where the amorphous drug is stabilized through strong intermolecular interactions by a low molecular co-former. This review covers several topics applicable to co-amorphous drug delivery systems. In particular, it describes recent advances in the co-amorphous composition, preparation and solid-state characterization, as well as improvements of dissolution performance and absorption are detailed. Examples of drug-drug, drug-carboxylic acid and drug-amino acid co-amorphous dispersions interacting via hydrogen bonding, π−π interactions and ionic forces, are presented together with corresponding final dosage forms.
The expression of inflammatory markers and their potential influence on efflux transporters in drug‐resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy tissue

The role of neuroinflammation in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE), and how it relates to drug resistance, remains unclear. Expression levels of the inflammatory enzymes cyclooxygenase (COX)‐1 and COX‐2 have been found to be increased in animal models of epilepsy. Knowing the cellular expression of COX‐1 and COX‐2 is the key to understanding their functional role; however, only 3 studies have investigated COX‐2 expression in epilepsy in humans, and there are no reports on COX‐1. In addition, previous studies have shown that certain inflammatory proteins up‐regulate ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter expression (thought to be responsible for drug resistance), but this relationship remains unclear in human tissue. This study sought to measure the expression of COX‐1, COX‐2, and translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO, an inflammation biomarker acting as a positive control), as well as ABC transporters P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), in brain tissue samples from people with drug‐resistant MTLE.
The CCM1–CCM2 complex controls complementary functions of ROCK1 and ROCK2 that are required for endothelial integrity

ABSTRACT Endothelial integrity relies on a mechanical crosstalk between intercellular and cell–matrix interactions. This crosstalk is compromised in hemorrhagic vascular lesions of patients carrying loss-of-function mutations in cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) genes. RhoA/ROCK-dependent cytoskeletal remodeling is central to the disease, as it causes unbalanced cell adhesion towards increased cell–extracellular matrix adhesions and destabilized cell–cell junctions. This study reveals that CCM proteins directly orchestrate ROCK1 and ROCK2 complementary roles on the mechanics of the endothelium. CCM proteins act as a scaffold, promoting ROCK2 interactions with VE-cadherin and limiting ROCK1 kinase activity. Loss of CCM1 (also known as KRIT1) produces excessive ROCK1-dependent actin stress fibers and destabilizes intercellular junctions. Silencing of ROCK1 but not ROCK2 restores the adhesive and mechanical homeostasis of CCM1 and CCM2-depleted endothelial monolayers, and rescues the cardiovascular defects of ccm1 mutant zebrafish embryos. Conversely, knocking down Rock2 but not Rock1 in wild-type zebrafish embryos generates defects reminiscent of the ccm1 mutant phenotypes. Our study uncovers the role of the CCM1–CCM2 complex in controlling ROCK1 and ROCK2 to preserve endothelial integrity and drive heart morphogenesis. Moreover, it solely identifies the ROCK1 isoform as a potential therapeutic target for the CCM disease. Highlighted Article: Cerebral cavernous malformation proteins control non-redundant ROCK1 and ROCK2 functions to preserve endothelial integrity. This study identified ROCK1 as a potential therapeutic target.
Positron emission tomography-computed tomography for inguinal nodes in vulvar cancer

We aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) for the spread of disease to inguinal lymph nodes in vulvar cancer. A retrospective review of vulvar cancer patients who underwent both inguinal nodal sampling and dissection as well as FDG PET-CT was performed, with 21 patients meeting criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of the FDG PET-CT imaging was performed using a combination of maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG). Using an SUVmaxcutoff of 4.5 or of two times the average liver uptake, we had a 100% sensitivity and 89% specificity for positive inguinal nodes. MTV and TLG did not add to sensitivity or specificity. We conclude that FDG PET-CT has good sensitivity for inguinal nodal spread in vulvar cancer, and either a quantitative or semiquantitative approach is effective.
STAMPEDEing metastatic prostate cancer: CHAARTing the LATITUDEs

With the emergence of recent landmark trials, the treatment for hormone-sensitive metastatic prostate cancer (hsMPC) is changing from androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) alone to combination therapy. Both, docetaxel chemotherapy and abiraterone in addition to ADT have been extensively studied in well-conducted randomized controlled trials and were shown to improve outcomes. However, this paradigm shift in the treatment has also raised some queries. This mini review reflects upon the four landmark trials and tries to provide some perspective about the decision-making process for the patients with hsMPC.
Lung volume indices predict morbidity in smokers with preserved spirometry

Background Abnormal lung volumes that reflect air trapping are common in COPD. However, their significance in smokers with preserved spirometry (normal FEV1 to FVC ratio) is unclear. Methods Using the Veterans Administration Informatics and Computing Infrastructure database, we identified 7479 patients at risk for COPD (ever smokers >40 years of age without restrictive lung disease) who had preserved spirometry and concomitant lung volume measurements, and examined their subsequent health records for clinical diagnoses of COPD, healthcare utilisation, follow-up spirometry and mortality. Results Air trapping was prevalent, with 31% of patients having residual volume to total lung capacity ratio (RV:TLC) greater than the upper limit of normal (ULN). RV:TLC varied widely from 14% to 77% (51% to 204% of predicted) across the normal ranges of FEV1:FVC and FEV1. Patients with RV:TLC greater than the ULN were more likely to receive subsequent clinical diagnoses of COPD (HR (95% CI)=1.55 (1.42 to 1.70), p<0.001) and had higher all-cause mortality (HR (95% CI)=1.41 (1.29 to 1.54), p<0.001). They had higher rates of respiratory medication prescriptions and hospital and intensive care unit admissions. Other air trapping and static hyperinflation indices showed similar associations with health outcomes. Additionally, high-normal RV:TLC was associated with intermediate adverse health outcomes compared with low-normal and abnormal RV:TLC. Abnormal RV:TLC predicted higher likelihood of progression to spirometric COPD (OR (95% CI)=1.30 (1.03 to 1.65), p=0.027). Conclusion In this study of the Veterans Affairs electronic health records, air trapping was common in smokers with preserved spirometry and predicted adverse respiratory outcomes and progression to overt COPD.
Noninvasive Quantification of Cell Density in Three-Dimensional Gels by MRI

<italic>Objective:</italic> For tissue engineering, there is a need for quantitative methods to map cell density inside three-dimensional (3-D) bioreactors to assess tissue growth over time. The current cell mapping methods in 2-D cultures are based on optical microscopy. However, optical methods fail in 3-D due to increased opacity of the tissue. We present an approach for measuring the density of cells embedded in a hydrogel to generate quantitative maps of cell density in a living, 3-D tissue culture sample. <italic>Methods:</italic> Quantification of cell density was obtained by calibrating the <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\boldsymbol {^1}$</tex-math></inline-formula>H <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\boldsymbol {T_2}$</tex-math></inline-formula>, magnetization transfer (MT) and diffusion-weighted nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals to samples of known cell density. Maps of cell density were generated by weighting NMR images by these parameters post-calibration. <italic>Results:</italic> The highest sensitivity weighting arose from MT experiments, which yielded a limit of detection (LOD) of <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${ {\boldsymbol{2.5}} \times {\text{10}}^8}$</tex-math></inline-formula> cells/mL/<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\sqrt{\hbox{Hz}}$</tex-math></inline-formula> in a 400 MHz (9.4 T) magnet. <italic>Conclusion:</italic> This mapping technique provides a noninvasive means of visualizing cell growth within optically opaque bioreactors. <italic>Significance:</italic> We anticipate that such readouts of tissue culture growth will provide valuable feedback for controlled cell growth in bioreactors.
Cytoprotective Activities of Milk Thistle Seed Oil Used in Traditional Tunisian Medicine on 7-Ketocholesterol and 24S-Hydroxycholesterol-Induced Toxicity on 158N Murine Oligodendrocytes

The Asteraceae family is economically very important, because many of these plants are grown mainly for their food value, such as lettuce (Lactuca), chicory (Cichorium), and sunflower (Heliantus aminus). One of the typical properties of this family, which includes milk thistle (Sylibum marianum), is the richness of the oil in various compounds (flavonoids, alkaloids, tocopherols, and unsaturated fatty acids). Currently, and for the coming decades, age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, are a major public health problem. Preventing their appearance or opposing their evolution is a major objective. In this context, the cytoprotective activities of milk thistle seed oil produced in Tunisia were studied on the 158N model using 7-ketocholesterol (7KC) and 24S-hydroxycholesterol (24S) as cytotoxic agents. 7KC and 24S were used because they can be increased in the brain and body fluids of patients with major age-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. In order to evaluate the cytoprotective properties of milk thistle seed oil, complementary techniques of microscopy, flow cytometry, and biochemistry were used. The chemical composition of milk thistle seed oil has also been determined by various chromatography techniques. Milk thistle seed oils from different area of Tunisia are rich in tocopherols and are strongly antioxidant according to various biochemical tests (KRL (Kit Radicaux Libres), FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power), and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl)). The main fatty acids are linoleic acid (C18:2 n-6) and oleic acid (C18:1 n-9). The main polyphenols identified are homovanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, quercetin, and apigenin, with a predominance of vanillic acid. On 158N cells, milk thistle seed oil attenuates the cytotoxicity of 7KC and 24S including: loss of cell adhesion, increased plasma membrane permeability, mitochondrial dysfunction, overproduction of reactive oxygen species, induction of apoptosis, and autophagy. The attenuation of the cytotoxicity of 7KC and 24S observed with the milk thistle seed oil is in the order of that observed with α-tocopherol used as a positive control. In the presence of nigella seed oil, considered potentially cytotoxic, no cytoprotective effects were observed. Given the chemical characteristics, antioxidant properties, and cytoprotective activities of milk thistle seed oil, our results highlight the potential benefit of this oil for human health.
Physiological underarousal as a mechanism of aggressive behavior in university athletes with a history of concussion

Research has indicated that athletes who engage in high‐risk athletic activities, such as football and hockey, have riskier personalities than their low‐risk and nonathlete counterparts (Ahmadi et al., 2011, Procedia Soc Behav Sci, 30 and 247–251; Zuckerman, 1983, Biological bases of sensation seeking, impulsivity, and anxiety, Lawrence Erlbaum Assoc Inc.). For instance, increased sensation‐seeking and aggression are common in high‐risk athletes, rendering these individuals more likely to sustain a subsequent injury, such as concussion. Elevated levels of certain personality traits, including impulsivity and aggression, have also been observed after concussion (Goswami et al., 2016, Brain Struct Funct, 221 and 1911–1925). The purpose of this study therefore was to determine whether aggressive behavior in university athletes may be accounted for, in part, by a history of concussion, rather than exclusively athletic status.
Recommendations for the selection and treatment of patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension for venous sinus stenting

Introduction Although venous sinus stenting (VSS) has emerged as a promising treatment option for patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and associated venous sinus stenosis, there is considerable ambiguity regarding patient selection criteria, treatment protocols, and management strategies. Methods An extensive literature review was performed to identify all reports of VSS in patients with IIH using PubMed. Recommendations for the selection and treatment of patients with IIH with VSS are outlined as determined based on author opinion from supporting studies. Due to the lack of randomized trials and few published prospective studies, standard grading scales for recommendations and level of evidence are not fully applicable and therefore a revised grading scale has been provided for recommendations. Results The literature review identified a total of eight systematic reviews or meta-analyses and 29 published patient series on VSS. Recommendations for patient selection for diagnostic catheter angiography, angiography procedural considerations, stenting procedural considerations, and retreatment are provided based on the literature. Recommendations that were considered strong included: performance of venous sinus manometry to assess candidacy for treatment prior to stenting; administration of antiplatelet agents prior to stenting and for a follow-up period of at least 3–6 months; performance of post-stenting manometry to confirm resolution of pressure gradient; and performance of repeat angiography and manometry on patients with recurrence of symptoms after resolution with stenting to evaluate for recurrent stenosis. Conclusion VSS for patients with IIH with venous sinus stenosis is now an established and effective treatment option. These recommendations have been provided, based on a summative review of the available published literature, to assist in standardizing care for patients with IIH undergoing VSS.