Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regional differences in NREM sleep slow‐wave activity in mice with congenital callosal dysgenesis

Topographic differences in the sleep EEG have been repeatedly found in humans and rodents. A frontal predominance of EEG slow‐wave activity (0.75–4 Hz; delta band) during non‐rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep is particularly evident under conditions of increased sleep propensity. Local aspects of neuronal connectivity in the neocortex that are modified by specific neuronal stimulation may underlie these differences. To investigate the role of altered neuronal connectivity on anterior–posterior EEG topography, sleep was recorded in mice with congenital dysgenesis of the corpus callosum (B1 strain) during baseline and after 6 h sleep deprivation (SD). In these mice neuronal connections within a hemisphere are increased due to the longitudinal Probst bundle, a structure of re‐routed callosal fibers. After SD the frequencies above 1.5 Hz within the delta band in NREM sleep were reduced in B1 mice compared with control C57BL/6 mice, a strain that has a normal corpus callosum, while power in the lowest frequency band (0.75–1.0 Hz) was enhanced in B1 mice. The differences between the strains subsided in the course of recovery. The redistribution of EEG power within the delta band in the frontal region in mice with a well developed Probst bundle, suggests a role of intracortical connectivity in local sleep regulation.
Physical fitness characteristics of active duty US Air Force members with HIV infection

AbstractHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with reduced muscle mass and adverse metabolic effects. We evaluated the impact of HIV infection on longitudinal exercise performance in US Air Force (USAF) members with HIV infection.USAF members perform standardized fitness assessments every 6 to 12 months with a composite score comprised of abdominal circumference, push-ups, sit-ups, and 1.5-mile run. Fitness tests between 2004 and 2014 for male USAF members with HIV infection (n = 172) were compared with male HIV-negative controls (∼10 per case; n = 1636) matched by age and rank category at service entry.Fitness tests for cases (n = 1821) were divided into 2 groups, before (pre-HIV) and after (post-HIV) diagnosis, and compared with control fitness assessments (n = 30,443) by paired t tests. Random-effects regression analyses were also performed to compare fitness components.Mean composite scores for cases were higher post-HIV (87.06 ± 9.10) compared with pre-HIV (84.92 ± 8.36; P = 0.004) and did not differ from respective controls. Compared with pre-HIV, mean push-up (51.50 ± 9.67 vs 50.35 ± 11.18; P = 0.018) and sit-up (51.66 ± 7.81 vs 50.57 ± 9.19; P < 0.001) counts improved post-HIV, whereas run times were similar (11:53 ± 1:42 vs 11:51 ± 2:05; P = 0.056). Regression analyses demonstrated that cases had significantly lower predicted abdominal circumference and push-up counts over time compared with controls, regardless of pre-HIV or post-HIV status (P < 0.05 for all). Although functional limitations may occur in the setting of HIV infection, vigorous exercise performance can be both preserved and improved in HIV-infected individuals at a level comparable with HIV-uninfected persons.
Thermal Response and Degressive Reaction Study of Oxo-Biodegradable Plastic Products Exposed to Various Degradation Media

In this work, three plastic film products commonly used as commodity thermoplastic articles were analysed with the aim of characterizing their thermal behaviour and stability. The test specimens were subjected to a series of analytical tests to confirm their biodegradable nature. The specimens ranged between 30 and 70 μm in thickness and showed high concentrations of regulated metals, namely, lead (Pb), postchemical analysis which can lead to its migration to natural sinks. The specimens were also exposed to degressive media, namely, accelerated (UV induced) weathering and soil burial field testing. The weight loss measured exceeded 58% after soil burial indicating deterioration under natural environmental stressors. In addition, the thermal characterization campaign executed with the aim of determining the product’s thermal response followed internationally recognised experimental protocols for the determination of thermal stability. The methodology used followed the International Confederation for Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry (ICTAC) recommendation for thermal stability and the computation of kinetic parameters. The degradation reaction kinetics were also determined postexposure to degressive media. Thermogravimetric analysis coupled with differential scanning calorimetry heat flow analysis and Fourier infrared spectroscopy results was also used in studying the degradation behaviour of the specimens. Analytical kinetic estimation methods relying on model free solutions enabled the determination of the apparent activation energy (Ea) of the specimens postexposure to degradation media. A shift in the degradation mechanism was also detected after studying the kinetic parameters which showed a range of Ea between 86.64 and 226.90 kJ mol-1 depending on the type of specimens and exposure media. It can be concluded that the oxo-biodegradable films are well suited for thermal treatment in the future as discarded plastic solid waste (PSW) articles. This work also paves the way for developing national standards and future plans for societies burdened with PSW accumulation.
Activation of the Following Mode to Simulate Heterogeneous Pedestrian Behavior in Crowded Environment

To simulate pedestrian crowds, most of the current studies use the microscopic approach, in which the pedestrian is modeled as an individual entity. With the microscopic approach, the heterogeneity in the pedestrian population is mostly based on inter-individual difference in the agent model parameters, like speed, destination, etc. In fact, what can be seen in congested real situations, is some pedestrians choosing to temporarily follow other ones in order to facilitate the flow while going on avoiding collisions. Each pedestrian can choose to adopt and leave such a behavior according to his/her individual and local situation. In order to model and simulate this behavior, we propose to include in the pedestrian agent navigational model a decision process that allows to activate the following task in addition to the collision avoidance task. The decision depends on the agent? s internal state and on what it perceives in its environment. Our proposition is an attempt to define the conditions that must trigger the switching to another navigation mode, and the selection of the other agent to be followed, i.e. the 'leader'.
ABSTRACT A Gendered Assessment of the Brain Drain

This paper updates and extends the Docquier-Marfouk data set on international migration by educational attainment. We use new sources, homogenize definitions of what a migrant is, and compute gender-disaggregated indicators of the brain drain. Emigration stocks and rates are provided by level of schooling and gender for 195 source countries in 1990 and 2000. Our data set can be used to capture the recent trend in women’s brain drain and to analyze its causes and consequences for developing countries. We show that women represent an increasing share of the OECD immigration stock and exhibit relatively higher rates of brain drain than men. The gender gap in skilled migration is strongly correlated with the gender gap in educational attainment at origin. Equating women’s and men’s access to education would probably reduce gender differences in the brain drain.
Prenatal microbiological risk factors associated with preterm birth

Dear Sir, I read with interest the article by McDonald regarding microbiological risk factors and preterm birth. The underlying trigger mechanisms for ‘idiopathic’ preterm labour and the resultant epidemiological, clinical and laboratory investigations to elucidate them resemble the quest for an obstetric holy grail. Given the generally high prevalence of many of the micro-organisms implicated in preterm delivery not all carriers are destined to deliver preterm. Screening for these organisms in early pregnancy would have a low positive predictive value. However, the prediction of those camers who will deliver preterm remains the crucial to any subsequent interventional strategies. Opening of the cervical 0s occurs by 32 weeks in one-third of primigravidae (Anderson & Turnbull 1969) and it is possibly in this group of women that cervical dilatation allows ascent through the cervix, subsequent phospholipase release, prostaglandin production and preterm labour. Preterm labour associated with chorioamnionitis is associated with very high levels of PGE, production by the amnion and choriodecidua, although uncomplicated preterm labour appears to start and progress with relatively low levels (Lopez-Bernal et a/. 1989). Therefore, alternate mechanisms for the initiation of labour would seem more likely. Mike Divers Reseurch Fellow Department of Obstetrics St James’s University Hospital Leeds LSY 7TF
Temporal discounting in social clusters on the basisof stated preferences

Samuelson’s discounted utility (DU) model was introduced in 1937 and applied for policies (e.g. Cost-Benefit Analysis) until recent times and generally accepted as a model which can describe actual intertemporal behavior representing it in one parameter (social discount rate, SDR). But over the last decades a lot of empirical research (Loewenstein and Prelec, 1992; Chapman, Lazaro et al., 2002) have documented anomalies in intertemporal choices. The most important discovery is that the discount rates are not constant over time, but are decreasing and seem to follow a hyperbolic curve. In addition, there are several observed anomalies in responses (Loewenstein and Prelec, 1992), namely: (1) sign effect (gains are discounted more than losses); (2) magnitude effect (small amounts are discounted more than large amounts); (3) delay/speedup asymmetry (greater discounting is shown to avoid delay of a good than to expedite its receipt); (4) improving sequences (in choices over sequences of outcomes, improving sequences are often preferred to declining sequences though positive time preference dictates the opposite); (5) violations of independence and preference for spread (in choices over sequences, violations of independence are pervasive, and people seem to prefer spreading consumption over time). Beyond those anomalies, time effect (inverse relationship between time horizon and discount rates) and domain effects (different discount rates are used for different goods, e.g. money, health) can be observed in case of long-term stated time preferences (Chapman, 1996).
Anterior cervical fixation: analysis of load-sharing and stability with use of static and dynamic plates.

BACKGROUND Anterior plates provide stability following decompression and fusion of the cervical spine. Various plate designs have emerged, and they include static plates with fixed-angle screws, rotationally dynamic plates that allow the screws to toggle in the plate, and translationally dynamic plates that allow the screws to both toggle and translate vertically. The goal of this study was to document the effects of plate design following a single-level corpectomy and placement of a full-length strut graft and the effects following 10% subsidence of the graft. METHODS A total of twenty-one cadaveric cervical spines (C2-T1) were randomized into three treatment groups and were tested for initial range of motion. A C5 corpectomy was performed, reconstruction was done with a full-length interbody spacer containing a load-cell, and an anterior cervical plate was applied. Load-sharing data were recorded with incremental axial loads. The range of motion was measured with +/- 2.5 Nm of torque in flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. Then, the total length of the interbody spacer was reduced by 10% to simulate subsidence, and load-sharing and the range of motion were retested. RESULTS With the full-length interbody spacer, there were no significant differences in the abilities of the constructs to share load or limit motion. Following shortening of the interbody spacer, the static plate construct lost nearly 70% of its load-sharing capability, while neither of the dynamic plate constructs lost load-sharing capabilities. Also, the static plate construct allowed significantly more motion in flexion-extension following simulated subsidence than did either of the dynamic plate constructs (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Although all of the tested anterior cervical plating systems provide similar load-sharing and stiffness following initial placement of the interbody spacer, the static plate system lost its ability to share load and limit motion following simulated subsidence of the interbody spacer. Both dynamic plate systems maintained load-sharing and stiffness despite simulated subsidence. CLINICAL RELEVANCE This study provides an improved understanding of the immediate performance of anterior cervical fusion surgery with plate fixation.
PpsR: a multifaceted regulator of photosynthesis gene expression in purple bacteria

Purple bacteria control the level of expression and the composition of their photosystem according to light and redox conditions. This control involves several regulatory systems that have been now well characterized. Among them, the PpsR regulator plays a central role, because it directly or indirectly controls the synthesis of all of the different components of the photosystem. In this review, we report our knowledge of the PpsR protein, highlighting the diversity of its mode of action and focusing on the proteins identified in four model purple bacteria (Rhodobacter capsulatus, Rhodobacter sphaeroides, Rubrivivax gelatinosus, Bradyrhizobium ORS278). This regulator exhibits unique regulatory features in each bacterium: it can activate and/or repress the expression of photosynthesis genes, its activity can be modulated or not by the redox conditions, it can interact with other specific regulators and therefore be involved differently in light and/or redox regulatory circuits.
S-100B and neuron specific enolase in outcome prediction of severe head injury.

OBJECTIVE To elucidate the role of S-100B and neuron specific enolase (NSE) in predicting the outcomes of patients with severe head injury. METHODS Forty patients with severe head injury were included in this study. The serum concentrations of S-100B and NSE were measured within 12 hours after head injury to investigate the correlation between serum levels of S-100B and NSE and outcome. Validity of both S-100B and NSE in outcome prediction was assessed with Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS The serum concentrations of S-100B and NSE of both groups, with favorable or unfavorable outcomes, were significantly higher than those of the normal group. The serum concentrations within 12 hours after head injury were closely correlated with the prognosis. Furthermore, according to the ROC curves of S-100B and NSE, S-100B was found better in predicting outcomes than NSE. CONCLUSIONS S-100B and NSE may play important roles in outcome prediction after severe head injury. Moreover, S-100B is clearly superior to NSE in terms of predictive value and appears to be a more promising serum marker in outcome prediction after severe head injury.
Inquiry and Review of Dependence in Marketing Channels: An Economics of Exchange Approach

This article extends the economics of exchange for bilateral monopolists to more general situations in marketing channels, that is, exchange between two members with alternatives, by incorporating insights drawn from power-dependence theory, interdependence theory, and the concept of switching cost. It proposes a framework of three factors of channel dependence and reviews the literature on the operationalizations of channel dependence based on the framework. This study concludes that the approaches used by channels researchers, explicitly or implicitly, more or less, capture the three factors of channel dependence. It also notices weaknesses in some approaches, including missing important aspects of a factor, possibilities of inflating or deflating channel dependence, and falling short of being a one-dimensional construct. The article finally draws conclusions and reports implications from the findings of this inquiry and literature review.
Under What Conditions Do Structural Funds Play a Significant Role in European Regional Economic Growth? Some Evidence from Recent Panel Data

Abstract: Strengthening economic, social, and territorial cohesion is a central objective of the European Union. However, disparities between European regions are considerable, and there are doubts as to whether they are likely to be attenuated. In recent years, there has been a growing body of literature that examines the effectiveness of the European Union’s funds for promoting growth and reducing asymmetries among members. We contribute to this literature by examining the conditions under which the European Union’s financial aid may be affecting regional growth. We explore the interactions between transfers and income and other regional characteristics, such as human capital or innovation. We apply this study to a panel of 137 European regions, covering the period from 1995 to 2009. Our conclusions suggest a positive and significant marginal impact of funds only in regions with low levels of human capital and innovation.
A Virtual Synchronous Control for Voltage-Source Converters Utilizing Dynamics of DC-Link Capacitor to Realize Self-Synchronization

Voltage-source converters (VSCs) are widely used in renewable energy sources as the grid interface, e.g., wind turbine generators and photovoltaics. These VSCs control the dc-link capacitor voltage and the reactive power output to track the reference values, which generally apply phase-locked loop (PLL) for grid synchronization. However, the dynamic performance of the conventional PLL can be deteriorated when the VSC is integrated into weak grids, which may even cause instability of the VSC. In this paper, a virtual synchronous control (ViSynC) is proposed for VSCs, which utilizes the dynamics of the dc-link capacitor to realize self-synchronization. Grid synchronization mechanism of the ViSynC-based VSC is particularly analyzed in this paper. The ViSynC-based VSC can provide inertial responses to the grid, and has the advantage that it can operate normally under weak grid conditions without any modification of the grid synchronization unit. Furthermore, virtual impedance and Q–V droop control can be easily implemented in the control structure of the ViSynC. Simulations based on MATLAB/ Simulink and hardware-in-the-loop real-time simulations based on RT-LAB verify the effectiveness of the proposed ViSynC.
Supplementation with Herbal Extracts to Promote Behavioral and Neuroprotective Effects in Experimental Models of Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review

Parkinson's disease (PD) consists of a neurodegenerative pathology that has received a considerable amount of attention because of its clinical manifestations. The most common treatment consists of administering the drugs levodopa and biperiden, which reduce the effectiveness of the disease and the progress of its symptoms. However, phytotherapy treatment of PD has shown great potential in retarding the loss of dopaminergic neurons and minimizing the behavioral abnormalities. The aim of this study is to systematically review the use of supplemental herbal plants with cellular protective effect and behavioral activity in in vivo and in vitro experimental models. A total of 20 studies were summarized, where the effectiveness of herbal extracts and their isolated bioactive compounds was observed in animal models for PD. The main neurochemical mechanisms found in these studies are schematically represented. The herbal extracts and their biocompounds have antioxidant, anti‐apoptotic, and antiinflammatory properties, which contribute to avoiding neuronal loss. Reports show that besides acting on the biosynthesis of dopamine and its metabolites, these compounds prevent D2 receptors' hypersensitivity. It is suggested that further studies need be conducted to better understand the mechanisms of action of the bioactive compounds distributed in these plants. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Systematic review of biochemical biomarkers for neck and upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders.

OBJECTIVE This study systematically summarizes biochemical biomarker research in non-traumatic musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). Two research questions guided the review: (i) Are there biochemical markers associated with neck and upper-extremity MSD? and (ii) Are there biochemical markers associated with the severity of neck and upper-extremity MSD? METHODS A literature search was conducted in PubMed and SCOPUS, and 87 studies met primary inclusion criteria. Following a quality screen, data were extracted from 44 articles of sufficient quality. RESULTS Most of the 87 studies were cross-sectional and utilized convenience samples of patients as both cases and controls. A response rate was explicitly stated in only 11 (13%) studies. Less than half of the studies controlled for potential confounding through restriction or in the analysis. Most sufficient-quality studies were conducted in older populations (mean age in one or more analysis group >50 years). In sufficient-quality articles, 82% demonstrated at least one statistically significant association between the MSD and biomarker(s) studied. Evidence suggested that: (i) the collagen-repair marker TIMP-1 is decreased in fibro proliferative disorders, (ii) 5-HT (serotonin) is increased in trapezius myalgia, and (iii) triglycerides are increased in a variety of MSD. Only 5 studies showed an association between a biochemical marker and MSD severity. CONCLUSION While some MSD biomarkers were identified, limitations in the articles examined included possible selection bias, confounding, spectrum effect (potentially heterogeneous biomarker associations in populations according to symptom severity or duration), and insufficient attention to comorbid conditions. A list of recommendations for future studies is provided.
Differential regulation of connective tissue growth factor in renal cells by histone deacetylase inhibitors

Regulation of the profibrotic and angiogenesis modulating cytokine connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) occurs primarily at the transcriptional level. Therefore, we hypothesized that histone deacetylating enzymes (HDAC), which modulate the accessibility of transcriptionally active promoter regions, might play a role in the regulation of CTGF gene expression. We analyzed microvascular endothelial cells, which showed immunoreactivity for acetylated histone in kidney sections, and compared them with renal tubular epithelial cells. Treatment of cultured endothelial cells with different HDAC inhibitors up‐regulated CTGF mRNA and protein. Pre‐treatment with HDAC inhibitors facilitated induction of CTGF by transforming growth factor–beta (TGF‐β) or lysophosphatidic acid. Transcription factors of the FoxO family were involved in the up‐regulation of CTGF as shown at protein level and by reporter gene analyses. In tubular epithelial cells, up‐regulation of CTGF was only observed when these cells were cultured as subconfluent cells. Dense cells, which are more likely to resemble tubular cells in vivo, showed no up‐regulation upon treatment with HDAC inhibitors and were protected against CTGF induction by TGF‐β. Taken together, our data indicate that the effect of HDAC inhibitors on CTGF expression is largely cell dependent in non‐tumour cells. Different cell type–specific transcription factors seem to determine whether CTGF expression is reduced or increased in cells exposed to HDAC inhibitors.