Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is the Vestibular System Affected by Middle Ear Effusion?

The association between middle ear effusion (MEE) and vestibular pathology is controversial. To investigate this point, 50 children with MEE scheduled for myringotomy and grommet, and 20 normal hearing children without MEE scheduled for adenotonsillectomy, underwent vestibular investigations by craniocorpography and rotatory chair, preoperatively and postoperatively. Most of the correlations, preoperative vs. postoperative, and study vs. control groups, were nonsignificant. Assuming that serous labyrinthitis is responsible for vestibular involvement in MEE, the lack of significant vestibular pathology in our study could probably be explained by the fact that no children with acute otitis media episodes or otalgia were included. (OTOLARYNGOL HEAD NECK SURG 1993;109:421-6.)
Effect of high pressure/high temperature processing on cell wall pectic substances in relation to firmness of carrot tissue.

Thermal processing for food preservation results in undesired softening of fruits and vegetables. To explore the potential of high pressure sterilization in food processing, the effects of combined high pressure/high temperature (HP/HT) treatments on carrot pectic polysaccharides and the related textural properties were investigated and compared with that of samples thermally processed at atmospheric pressure. Disks of fresh carrot (Daucus carota var. Yukon) tissue were subjected to three different treatments (80 C–0.1 MPa, 100 C– 0.1 MPa and 80 C–600 MPa) for varying time intervals. Subsequently, the residual texture and microstructural changes of the carrots were evaluated. Alcohol-insoluble residues were prepared from the samples and sequentially fractionated with water, cyclohexane-trans1,2-diamine tetra-acetic acid (CDTA) and Na2CO3 solutions. Thermal treatments at 0.1 MPa caused extensive tissue softening. This was marked by increased cell separation, an increase in water soluble pectin (WSP) paralleled by a decrease in chelator (CSP) and sodium carbonate (NSP) soluble pectin. HP/HT treated carrots showed minimal softening and negligible changes in intercellular adhesion. This was accompanied by a significant reduction in the degree of methyl esterification of pectin, low WSP in contrast to the high CSP and NSP fractions, minor changes in the different pectin fractions during treatment, and a substantial amount of pectin in the fractionation residue. There was a clear difference between HP/HT and thermally processed carrot pectin; HP/HT showing pronounced texture preservation. 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Compulsive hoarding: a qualitative investigation of partner and carer perspectives.

OBJECTIVE This study explores the experiences of family members caring for a person who compulsively hoards. DESIGN Ten participants, all 'key carers' for a hoarding family member, were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule designed for the purpose of the study. METHODS Transcribed interviews were analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. RESULTS Five superordinate, discrete but interconnecting themes were identified: 'loss of normal family life'; 'the need for understanding'; 'coping with the situation'; 'impact on relationships'; and 'marginalization'. Carers' accommodation of hoarding behaviours and role isolation were examined in drawing connections between themes. Outlying themes suggesting factors protective of relationships and facilitating coping were also identified. CONCLUSION Carers struggled to cope with both the environmental and interpersonal impacts of the hoarding. Lacking both formal and informal networks of support, carers are in need of information and treatment options for themselves and their families. Possible avenues for future clinical and theoretical research are suggested.
N-Terminal Protease of Pestiviruses: Identification of Putative Catalytic Residues by Site-Directed Mutagenesis

ABSTRACT Pestiviruses are the only members of the Flaviviridaethat encode a nonstructural protease at the N terminus of their polyproteins. This N-terminal protease (Npro) cleaves itself off of the nascent polyprotein autocatalytically and thereby generates the N terminus of the adjacent viral capsid protein C. In previous reports, sequence similarities between Npro and the catalytic residues of papain-like cysteine proteases were put forward. To test this hypothesis, substitutions of cysteine and histidine residues within Npro were carried out by site-directed mutagenesis. Translation of the mutagenized Npro-C proteins in cell-free lysates confirmed that only the predicted Cys69 was an essential amino acid for proteolysis, not His130. Further essential residues were identified with His49 and Glu22. While it remains speculative whether Glu22-His49-Cys69 actually build a catalytic triad, these results invalidate the assumption that Npro is a papain-like cysteine protease.
Commensurating endomorphisms of acylindrically hyperbolic groups and applications

An endomorphism ' of a group G is said to be commensurating, if for every g 2 G some non-zero power of '(g) is conjugate to a non-zero power of g. Given an acylindrically hyperbolic group G, we show that any commensurating endomorphism of G is inner modulo a small perturbation. This generalizes a theorem of Minasyan and Osin, which provided a similar statement in the case when G is relatively hyperbolic. We then use this result to study pointwise inner and normal endomorphisms of acylindrically hyperbolic groups. As a first application, we show that every commensurating endomorphism of a non-abelian subgroup of a finitely generated right angled Artin group is an inner automorphism. Next, we combine these results together with a new criterion for residual finiteness of outer automor- phism groups to prove that Out(G) is residually finite when G is virtually compact special or when G is isomorphic to the fundamental group of some compact 3-manifold. A large part of the paper is devoted to generalizing techniques from the theory of relatively hyperbolic groups to the context of acylindrically hyperbolic groups.
Localization of Cellular Storage Compartments and Sites of Constitutive and Activity-Dependent Release of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) in Primary Cultures of Hippocampal Neurons

The characteristics of the constitutive and activity-mediated secretion of NGF from native hippocampal slices are the same as those from hippocampal cultures transfected with an NGF-overexpressing plasmid (Blöchl and Thoenen, 1995). In these cultures, the distribution of intracellular NGF immunoreactivity-including the co-localization with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi markers-in soma, dendrites, and axons, as visualized by confocal microscopy, is compatible with a localization of NGF in an ER-like compartment. Since the positively charged NGF molecule is bound, at the sites of its release, to the negatively charged neuronal surface, at low salt buffer concentrations, it was possible to attribute the different release mechanisms to specific neuronal surface sites. Constitutive secretion of NGF is confined to the neuronal soma and the very proximal parts of dendrites. In contrast, the activity-dependent secretion, initiated by high potassium or glutamate also occurs all along the neuronal processes, in particular dendrites. This release is independent of extracellular calcium, but depends on calcium released from intracellular calcium stores and is mediated by sodium influx via voltagegated sodium channels and non-NMDA glutamate receptors. The confocal intensity analysis of the NGF surface staining permitted quantitative assessment of the different release mechanisms to different neuronal domains.
Simple improvements of bit-flipping decoding

A bit-flipping (BF) algorithm is a decoding algorithm for LDPC codes that can be efficiently implemented by electronic circuits. Although its error correcting performance is rather poor, we show that a BF algorithm with bias terms has good error correcting performance. We also introduce two more parameters to improve the performance further. We also propose a variant of candidate bit based BF (CBBF) algorithm by introducing bias terms. We see that these algorithms having bias terms exhibit very good error correcting performances.
Time resolved characterization of a free-burning argon arc after ignition by optical emission spectroscopy

Time resolved properties of a free-burning argon arc after ignition have been characterized using optical spectroscopic method. After ignition, when the arc current keeps constant, the plasma temperature decreases with time at any position of the arc. The decrease of the plasma temperature is associated with the increase of the arc cathode surface temperature. It is suggested that the variation of the cathode surface temperature, which changes the current density distribution over the cathode surface, leads to the decrease of the plasma temperature in the free-burning arc after ignition.
Pathogen-Associated Molecular Patterns T Cells Respond Directly to d g

(cid:1)(cid:2) T cells recognize unprocessed or non-peptide Ags, respond rapidly to infection, and localize to mucosal surfaces. We have hypothesized that the innate functions of (cid:1)(cid:2) T cells may be more similar to those of cells of the myeloid lineage than to other T cells. To begin to test this assumption, we have analyzed the direct response of cultured human and peripheral blood bovine (cid:1)(cid:2) T cells to pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) in the absence of APCs using microarray, real-time RT-PCR, proteome array, and chemotaxis assays. Our results indicate that puriﬁed (cid:1)(cid:2) T cells respond directly to PAMPs by increasing expression of chemokine and activation-related genes. The response was distinct from that to known (cid:1)(cid:2) T cell Ags and different from the response of myeloid cells to PAMPs. In addition, we have analyzed the expression of a variety of PAMP receptors in (cid:1)(cid:2) T cells. Freshly puriﬁed bovine (cid:1)(cid:2) T cells responded more robustly to PAMPs than did cultured human cells and expressed measurable mRNA encoding a variety of PAMP receptors. Our results suggest that rapid response to PAMPs through the expression of PAMP receptors may be another innate role of (cid:1)(cid:2) T cells. The Journal of Immunology, 2005, 174: 6045–6053.
Sleep apnea in Alzheimer's dementia: correlation with mental deterioration.

In a prospective study of sleep-disordered breathing among healthy elderly controls (N = 23), major depressives (N = 17), and demented patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (N = 21), sleep apnea (defined as an apnea index of 5 or more) was found in 42.9% of demented patients, 17.6% of depressives, and 4.3% of controls (chi 2 = 9.90, p less than .01). A significant association between sleep apnea and dementia of the Alzheimer type was found in women but not in men. Moreover, severity of dementia was significantly correlated with apnea index. Possible neuropathologic and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
In vivo knockdown of basal forebrain p75 neurotrophin receptor stimulates choline acetyltransferase activity in the mature hippocampus

This study seeks to determine whether knockdown of basal forebrain p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) expression elicits increased hippocampal choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity in mature animals. Antisense (AS) oligonucleotides (oligos) targeting p75NTR were infused into the medial septal area of mature rats continuously for 4 weeks. In all rats, the cannula outlet was placed equidistant between the left and the right sides of the vertical diagonal band of Broca. We tested phosphorothioate (PS), morpholino (Mo), and gapmer (mixed PS/RNA) oligos. Gapmer AS infusions of 7.5 and 22 μg/day decreased septal p75NTR mRNA by 34% and 48%, respectively. The same infusions increased hippocampal ChAT activity by 41% and 55%. Increased hippocampal ChAT activity correlated strongly with septal p75NTR downregulation in individual rats. Infusions of PS and Mo AS oligos did not downregulate p75NTR mRNA or stimulate ChAT activity. These results demonstrate that p75NTR can dynamically regulate hippocampal ChAT activity in the mature CNS. They also reveal the different efficacies of three diverse AS oligo chemistries when infused intracerebrally. Among the three types, gapmer oligos worked best. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Determination of thigh volume in youth with anthropometry and DXA: Agreement between estimates

Abstract This study examined the agreement between estimates of thigh volume (TV) with anthropometry and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in healthy school children. Participants (n=168, 83 boys and 85 girls) were school children 10.0–13.9 years of age. In addition to body mass, height and sitting height, anthropometric dimensions included those needed to estimate TV using the equation of Jones & Pearson. Total TV was also estimated with DXA. Agreement between protocols was examined using linear least products regression (Deming regressions). Stepwise regression of log-transformed variables identified variables that best predicted TV estimated by DXA. The regression models were then internally validated using the predicted residual sum of squares method. Correlation between estimates of TV was 0.846 (95%CI: 0.796–0.884, Sy·x=0.152L). It was possible to obtain an anthropometry-based model to improve the prediction of TVs in youth. The total volume by DXA was best predicted by adding body mass and sum of skinfolds to volume estimated with the equation of Jones & Pearson (R=0.972; 95%CI: 0.962–0.979; R 2=0.945).
Predicting Asian undergraduates’ intention to continue using social network services from negative perspectives

With the maturity of the social network service (SNS) market, the increasing sophistication of its customer or user base, and the growing intensity of competition, SNS success has now become a pressing issue. Understanding the antecedents of continuance intention is the first step to assure the success of an SNS. This study proposed a model to examine the key drivers of users’ intention to continue using SNSs from negative standpoints. The developed research model was empirically validated using the responses from a field survey of 236 Asian undergraduates. The results revealed that normative pressure and fatigue are the main determinants of the users’ intention to continue using SNSs. Moreover, the findings showed that satisfaction is a major determinant of fatigue, whereas negative critical incidents are crucial predictors of satisfaction. The negative critical incidents experienced when undergraduates use services include rumour dissemination, advertising interference, and low ease of use. The implications of the present findings for research and managerial practice were analysed and discussed.
Cytomegalovirus-associated idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in Chinese children

The objective was to investigate the clinical features, glycoprotein B (gB) genotype and therapy of the human cytomegalovirus (CMV)-associated idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in Chinese children. Clinical features and laboratory data of 25 CMV-associated ITP, including 18 males and 7 females with a median age of 0.3 y, were analysed and compared with 116 CMV-negative ITP. The CMV gB of 17 cases was genotyped. Apart from dermatorrhagia, jaundice was noted in 6 cases. Cough, diarrhoea, fever, splenohepatomegaly, alimentary tract haemorrhage and raised ALT were also found. Compared with CMV-negative ITP, CMV-associated ITP has a younger median age, raised ALT and AST, and longer hospitalization (p<0.05, respectively). The most prevalent genotype was gB1 (15/17), followed by coinfection and gB3. Compared with congenitally CMV-infected children in our previous study, more prevalence of gB1 was noted (40/79 vs 15/17, p=0.004). Most of these cases were receiving the therapy of immunoglobulin, corticoid and/or gancyclovir with good therapeutic effect except for 2 cases. In conclusion, CMV infection, especially gB1 genotype, is an important cause of ITP and careful examination of markers of CMV in all cases of apparent ‘idiopathic’ ITP is required. Combination therapy of immunoglobulin, corticoid and gancyclovir is effective.
Exploration of target architecture for a wireless camera based sensor node

The challenges associated with wireless vision sensor networks are low energy consumption, less bandwidth and limited processing capabilities. In order to meet these challenges different approaches are proposed. Research in wireless vision sensor networks has been focused on two different assumptions, first is sending all data to the central base station without local processing, second approach is based on conducting all processing locally at the sensor node and transmitting only the final results. Our research is focused on partitioning the vision processing tasks between Senor node and central base station. In this paper we have added the exploration dimension to perform some of the vision tasks such as image capturing, background subtraction, segmentation and Tiff Group4 compression on FPGA while communication on microcontroller. The remaining vision processing tasks i.e. morphology, labeling, bubble remover and classification are processed on central base station. Our results show that the introduction of FPGA for some of the visual tasks will result in a longer life time for the visual sensor node while the architecture is still programmable.
The Impact of Food for Education Programs on School Participation in Northern Uganda

There is a general consensus that food for education (FFE) programs increase primary school participation. Although this view is widely held, there is limited causal evidence to support it. Moreover, little is known about how the design of FFE programs affects schooling outcomes. This article presents evidence of the impacts of alternative methods of FFE delivery on schooling in Northern Uganda using a randomized controlled evaluation conducted from 2005 to 2007. We compare the impacts of the World Food Program’s in-school feeding program (SFP) with an experimental take-home rations (THR) program conditional on school attendance. Results show that the in-school meals program increased enrollment for those children who were not enrolled at baseline but who had reached the recommended age of school entry. For many outcomes we cannot reject that the THR impact is equivalent to that of the SFP. Both programs had large impacts on school attendance and reduced grade repetition. The SFP program also reduced girls’ age at entry to primary school. Neither program affected progression to secondary school, but children in grade 6 in SFP schools at baseline were significantly more likely to remain in primary school and repeat a grade than drop out. Program benefits may be improved by offering school meals in secondary schools as well, so that the attraction of school meals is at least neutral with respect to grade progression.
Bladder Adelta afferent nerve activity in normal cats and cats with feline interstitial cystitis.

PURPOSE Symptoms associated with interstitial cystitis (IC) (urinary frequency, urgency and pain) resemble those in cats diagnosed with feline IC (FIC). Patients with IC also show enhanced sensitivity to intravesical application of KCl solution. In the current study we compared the effect of bladder distention and intravesical infusion of KCl solution on Adelta bladder afferent nerve activity in normal and FIC cats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cats were anesthetized with alpha-chloralose (60 to 70 mg/kg intravenously). Single and multiunit afferent nerve activity was recorded with platinum electrodes from fibers dissected from the transected pelvic nerve. Bladder Adelta afferents were activated by bladder distention at constant pressures (5 to 80 cm H2O) by infusing saline or KCl solution (80 to 300 mM). RESULTS Increasing bladder pressure by saline infusion over a range of constant pressures (5 to 80 cm H2O) increased afferent firing in normal and FIC cats. However, the slope of the pressure-firing curve was significantly steeper in cats with FIC. In normal cats KCl infusion (80 to 300 mM) into the bladder produced a pressure-firing curve similar to that induced by saline infusion. However, in FIC cats KCl at concentrations of 150 to 300 mM produced almost complete inhibition of afferent firing at pressures between 30 and 80 cm H2O. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that 1) bladder Adelta afferents in FIC cats are more sensitive to pressure changes than are afferents in normal cats and 2) the inhibition of afferent firing by high concentrations of KCl in FIC cats is likely the result of afferent nerve depolarization and it is consistent with the idea of increased permeability of bladder epithelium in FIC.
Pyrethroid resistance/susceptibility and differential urban/rural distribution of Anopheles arabiensis and An. gambiae s.s. malaria vectors in Nigeria and Ghana

Abstract. Resistance to pyrethroid insecticides and DDT caused by the kdr gene in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae Giles s.s. (Diptera: Culicidae) has been reported in several West African countries. To test for pyrethroid resistance in two more countries, we sampled populations of the An. gambiae complex from south‐western Ghana and from urban and rural localities in Ogun State, south‐west Nigeria. Adult mosquitoes, reared from field‐collected larvae, were exposed to the WHO‐recommended discriminating dosage of exposure for 1 h to DDT 4%, deltamethrin 0.05% or permethrin 0.75% and mortality was recorded 24 h post‐exposure. Susceptibility of An. gambiae s.l. to DDT was 94–100% in Ghana and 72–100% in Nigeria, indicating low levels of DDT resistance. Deltamethrin gave the highest mortality rates: 97–100% in Ghana, 95–100% in Nigeria. Ghanaian samples of An. gambiae s.l. were fully susceptible to permethrin, whereas some resistance to permethrin was detected at 4/5 Nigerian localities (percentage mortalities 75, 82, 88, 90 and 100%), with survivors including both An. arabiensis Patton and An. gambiae s.s. identified by PCR assay. Even so, the mean knockdown time was not significantly different from a susceptible reference strain, indicating absence or low frequency of kdr‐type resistance. Such low levels of pyrethroid resistance are unlikely to impair the effectiveness of pyrethroid‐impregnated bednets against malaria transmission. Among Nigerian samples of An. gambiae s.l. , the majority from two urban localities were identified as An. arabiensis, whereas the majority from rural localities were An. gambiae s.s. These findings are consistent with those of M. Coluzzi et al. (1979). Differences of ecological distribution between molecular forms of An. gambiae s.s. were also found, with rural samples almost exclusively of the S‐form, whereas the M‐form predominated in urban samples. It is suggested that ‘urban island’ populations of An. arabiensis and of An. gambiae s.s. M‐form in the rainforest belt of West Africa might be appropriate targets for elimination of these malaria vectors by the sterile insect technique.