Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exogenous Adult Postmortem Neural Precursors Attenuate Secondary Degeneration and Promote Myelin Sparing and Functional Recovery following Experimental Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating clinical condition, characterized by a complex of neurological dysfunctions. Neural stem cells from the subventricular zone of the forebrain have been considered a potential tool for cell replacement therapies. We recently isolated a subclass of neural progenitors from the cadaver of mouse donors. These cells, named postmortem neural precursor cells (PM-NPCs), express both erythropoietin (EPO) and its receptor. Their EPO-dependent differentiation abilities produce a significantly higher percentage of neurons than regular NSCs. The cholinergic yield is also higher. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential repair properties of PM-NPCs in a mouse model of traumatic SCI. Labeled PM-NPCs were administered intravenously; then the functional recovery and the fate of transplanted cells were studied. Animals transplanted with PM-NPCs showed a remarkable improved recovery of hindlimb function that was evaluated up to 90 days after lesion. This was accompanied by reduced myelin loss, counteraction of the invasion of the lesion site by the inflammatory cells, and an attenuation of secondary degeneration. PM-NPCs migrate mostly at the injury site, where they survive at a significantly higher extent than classical NSCs. These cells accumulate at the edges of the lesion, where a reach neuropile is formed by MAP2- and β-tubulin III-positive transplanted cells that are also mostly labeled by anti-ChAT antibodies.
Acaricidal properties of piperazine and its derivatives against house-dust and stored-food mites.

BACKGROUND Piperazine derivatives possess pharmacological properties, yet the acaricidal activity of these compounds has not been investigated. This study was conducted to evaluate the colour alteration and acaricidal activity of piperazine derivatives against Dermatophagoides spp. and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) using filter paper and fumigant methods. RESULTS In a fumigant bioassay, 1-phenylpiperazine (7.83 microg cm(-2)) against D. farinae (Hughes) was found to be 4.7 times more toxic than DEET (36.84 microg cm(-2)), followed by benzyl benzoate (9.72 microg cm(-2)), piperazine (11.41 microg cm(-2)), 1-ethoxycarbonylpiperazine (20.14 microg cm(-2)) and 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine (22.14 microg cm(-2)). In a filter paper bioassay, 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine (3.65 microg cm(-2)) was 5.7 times more toxic than DEET (20.64 microg cm(-2)), followed by 1-ethoxycarbonylpiperazine (4.02 microg cm(-2)), 1-phenylpiperazine (4.75 microg cm(-2)), benzyl benzoate (7.83 microg cm(-2)) and piperazine (10.59 microg cm(-2)). Similar results have been exhibited with piperazine derivatives against D. pteronyssinus (Troussart). However, no activity against T. putrescentiae was observed for piperazine derivatives, except for piperazine. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that piperazine derivatives may be suitable as vapour-phase acaricide fumigants owing to their high volatility, acaricidal activity and safety. 1-Phenylpiperazine was found to be an excellent mite indicator based on the colour change it induced. Taken together, these findings indicate that piperazine derivatives may be used to replace existing problematical acaricides owing to their activity and ability to act as a mite indicator.
Technique to improve the accuracy of the retrieval of aerosol size-distribution.

A technique to improve the accuracy of the retrieval of aerosol size-distribution is introduced. This technique includes a wavelength-selecting method and a "function model. " The wavelength-selecting method is used to select the suitable wavelengths for the retrieval of aerosol size-distribution, and the function model is used to express the aerosol size-distributions with a fewer parameters. By using this technique, the accuracy of the retrieval of aerosol size-distribution can be improved.
Lack of pathogenetic role of proteins C and S in thrombosis associated with asparaginase‐prednisone‐vincristine therapy for leukaemia

Summary. Plasma levels of protein C and protein S antigens were measured in eight children who developed thrombosis following asparaginase‐prednisone‐vincristine treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and in nine similarly treated children without this complication. Protein C antigen levels were below normal in three of the eight patients with thrombosis and in three of the nine patients without the complication (P= 0‐38). Low protein S antigen levels were found in five of six patients with thrombosis and in two of seven patients without thrombosis (P=0‐10). Plasma factor IX and factor X antigen levels, other vitamin K dependent factors, were also measured in the two groups of patients. In general, reduced levels of protein C, protein S or both antigens (anticoagulant vitamin K dependent proteins) were associated with reduced levels of factor IX, factor X, or both of these factors (procoagulant vitamin K dependent clotting proteins). The ratios of protein C and protein S antigens to each other and to factor IX and factor X antigens did not differ between the two groups. Thus, there is no clear evidence that reduced levels of protein C and (or) protein S cause thrombosis in leukaemia patients treated with this drug combination.
Multi-detector row CT of left ventricular function with dedicated analysis software versus MR imaging: initial experience.

PURPOSE To determine left ventricular (LV) volumetric and functional parameters from retrospectively electrocardiographically gated multi-detector row computed tomography (CT) by using semiautomated analysis software and to correlate results with those of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS In 30 patients (mean age, 59.2 years +/- 7.1 [SD]) known to have or suspected of having coronary artery disease, four-channel multi-detector row CT was performed with standard technique, and diastolic and systolic image reconstructions were generated. With commercially available analysis software capable of semiautomated contour detection, end diastolic and end systolic LV volumes were determined from short-axis secondary CT reformations. Steady-state free-precession cine MR images were acquired in short-axis orientation within 48 hours and analyzed by using dedicated software. Bland-Altman analysis was performed to calculate limits of agreement and systematic errors between CT and MR imaging. RESULTS Mean end diastolic (138.8 mL +/- 31.9) and end systolic (53.9 mL +/- 21.2) LV volumes as determined with CT correlated well with MR imaging measurements (142.0 mL +/- 32.5 [r = 0.93] and 54.9 mL +/- 22.8 [r = 0.94], respectively [P <.001]). LV ejection fraction (61.6% +/- 10.6 for CT vs 62.3% +/- 10.1 for MR imaging; r = 0.89) and stroke volume (84.6 mL +/- 20.9 for CT vs 86.9 mL +/- 21.5 for MR imaging; r = 0.88) also showed good correlation (P <.001). Bland-Altman analysis showed acceptable limits of agreement (+/-9.8% for ejection fraction) without systematic errors. CONCLUSION In selected patients, semiautomated analysis software enables LV volumetric and functional analysis based on multi-detector row CT data sets, the results of which correlate well with MR imaging findings.
Apoptosis signaling in influenza virus propagation, innate host defense, and lung injury

Programmed cell death is a crucial cellular response frequently observed in IV‐infected tissue. This article reviews the current knowledge on the molecular virus–host interactions that induce apoptosis pathways in an IV‐infected cell and the functional implications of these cellular signaling events on viral propagation at distinct steps during the viral replication cycle. Furthermore, it summarizes the role of IV‐induced apoptosis pathways in equilibrating the hostˈs antiviral immune response between effective viral clearance and development of severe apoptotic lung injury.
Identifying Factors Driving US Citizens’ Preferences about Multifunctional Agriculture

This paper examines US citizens’ preferences about the notion of multifunctional agriculture using survey data collected by the Ipsos-Observer in 2007. The survey provided a box of information about multifunctional roles of US agriculture to respondents and sought to measure their attitudes and perceptions about various components of multifunctional agriculture. Data analysis showed that considerable segment of US citizens agreed that US agriculture produces an array of nonmarket goods and services in addition to marketed commodities. In particular, US citizens rated national food security as the most important multifunctional role of US agriculture when compared to cultural heritage, farmland amenities, or vitality of rural communities. Regression analysis demonstrates that perceptions about environmental services and national food security make the strongest contribution to explaining US citizens’ attitudes toward multifunctional agriculture.
Thalamocortical neural responses during hyperthermia: a resting-state functional MRI study

Abstract The neural responses during hyperthermia, once thought of as simple physiological processes (e.g. thermal sensation and regulation), have now been recognised involving more cognitive processes, which would be of high importance to the management of those occupations during heavy heat exposure. Previous studies have demonstrated altered activity in localised subcortical clusters for thermal sensation and regulation, as well as cortical–cortical activity for behavioural tasks during hyperthermia. However, the involvement of cortical–subcortical activity during hyperthermia has not been investigated. In this study, we performed exploratory analyses comparing thalamocortical functional connectivity during whole body hyperthermic condition for an hour at 50 °C and normothermic condition at 25 °C. We found weakened functional connectivity of cortical fronto-polar/anterior cingulate cortex and prefrontal areas with the corresponding thalamic nuclei during hyperthermic versus normothermic comparisons. On the contrary, the motor/premotor, somatosensory and temporal cortical subdivisions showed increased connectivity with thalamic nuclei during hyperthermia. Thalamocortical connectivity changes in the prefrontal were identified to be correlated with the behavioural reaction time during psychomotor vigilance test after controlling for physiological variables. These distinct thalamocortical pathway alterations might reflect physiologically thermal sensation and regulation, as well as psychologically neural behaviour changes underlying cortical–subcortical activity during hyperthermia.
Identification and characterization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants defective in fluid‐phase endocytosis

A mutant library generated by the European Functional Analysis Network (EUROFAN) was screened for strains defective in fluid‐phase endocytosis. Accumulation of Lucifer yellow in the vacuole was used as a marker for efficient endocytosis. Fourteen mutants, including ede1Δ, rcy1Δ, sys1Δ and tlg2Δ, previously described to be involved in membrane trafficking, were identified in this screen. α‐Factor uptake, endocytosis of FM4‐64, carboxypeptidase Y secretion, vacuolar morphology, and a vma2 synthetic growth defect were used as criteria to characterize the endocytic defect of the mutant strains obtained. Accordingly, eight mutant strains have endocytic phenotypes in addition to their defect in Lucifer yellow accumulation. These fluid‐phase endocytosis mutants are defective at different steps of the endocytic pathway. Interestingly, only two mutants were defective for internalization, two for vacuolar protein sorting and four mutants had aberrant vacuolar morphologies. Some of the mutants identified in this screen that sort carboxypeptidase Y correctly may affect endocytosis at an early post‐internalization step before the intersection of the endocytic with the vacuolar protein‐sorting pathway. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Regulation of In Vitro and In Vivo Immune Functions by the Cytosolic Adaptor Protein SKAP-HOM

ABSTRACT SKAP-HOM is a cytosolic adaptor protein representing a specific substrate for the Src family protein tyrosine kinase Fyn. Previously, several groups have provided experimental evidence that SKAP-HOM (most likely in cooperation with the cytosolic adaptor protein ADAP) is involved in regulating leukocyte adhesion. To further assess the physiological role of SKAP-HOM, we investigated the immune system of SKAP-HOM-deficient mice. Our data show that T-cell responses towards a variety of stimuli are unaffected in the absence of SKAP-HOM. Similarly, B-cell receptor (BCR)-mediated total tyrosine phosphorylation and phosphorylation of Erk, p38, and JNK, as well as immunoreceptor-mediated Ca2+ responses, are normal in SKAP-HOM−/− animals. However, despite apparently normal membrane-proximal signaling events, BCR-mediated proliferation is strongly attenuated in the absence of SKAP-HOM−/−. In addition, adhesion of activated B cells to fibronectin (a ligand for β1 integrins) as well as to ICAM-1 (a ligand for β2 integrins) is strongly reduced. In vivo, the loss of SKAP-HOM results in a less severe clinical course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis following immunization of mice with the encephalitogenic peptide of MOG (myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein). This is accompanied by strongly reduced serum levels of MOG-specific antibodies and lower MOG-specific T-cell responses. In summary, our data suggest that SKAP-HOM is required for proper activation of the immune system, likely by regulating the cross-talk between immunoreceptors and integrins.
ThoughtCloud: Exploring the Role of Feedback Technologies in Care Organisations

ThoughtCloud is a lightweight, situated, digital feedback system designed to allow voluntary and community sector care organisations to gather feedback and opinions from those who use their services. In this paper we describe the design and development of ThoughtCloud and its evaluation through a series of deployments with two organisations. Using the system, organisations were able to pose questions about the activities that they provide and gather data in the form of ratings, video or audio messages. We conducted observations of ThoughtCloud in use, analysed feedback received, and conducted interviews with those who 'commissioned' feedback around the value of comments received about their organisation. Our findings highlight how simple, easily deployable digital systems can support new feedback processes within care organisations and provide opportunities for understanding the personal journeys and experiences of vulnerable individuals who use these care services.
The in vivo and in vitro ananlysis of immunity to Trichinella spiralis in mice and rats

Wistar-Furth strain male rats and CFW strain male mice were immunized against Trichinella spiralis using an antegenic fraction derived from a cell-free homogenate of mature muscle larvae. In rats, animlas immunized with 250 μg of antigen harboured singnificantly fewer (135000) muscle larvae 30 days after oral challenge than controls (231000). Furhter 7-day-old adult worms derived from immunized rats shed 48% fewer (P < 0·001) newborn larvae over a 24 h period in vitro than adult worms from non-immunized animals. Mice were injected with either 10 or 100 μg of antigen. In comparison with non-immunized controls, mice immunized with 100μg of antigen harboured significantly fewer adult worms at days 7 and 9 after oral challenge infection, while female worms recovered from immune mice on days 6–10 after challenge shed fewer newborn larvae in vitro. Finally, mice immunized with 100μg of antigen harboured significantly fewer (10391) muscle larvae at 30 days after challenge than did controls (47750). Immunization of mice with 10μ of antigen did not induce a statistically significant reduction in adult worms at either days 7 or 9 after challenge (P < 0·5). However, adult female worms from mice receiving 10μg of antigen still shed fewer larvae than did adults from control mice (P < 0·05). Mice immunized with 10μg of antigen harboured significantly fewer (13700) recoverable muscle larvae than did controls at 30 days after challenge (39000).
SSIML/Behaviour: designing behaviour and animation of graphical objects in virtual reality and multimedia applications

The development of complex object behaviour in domains of interactive graphical applications such as desktop-virtual reality (desktop-VR) or multimedia is still a problem today. We attribute this situation to the lack of sophisticated concepts and tools for pre-implementation behaviour specification and provide the tool-supported visual modeling language SSIML/Behaviour to address this problem. As an extension of the Unified Modeling Language (UML) our language allows the platform-independent behaviour description and can be easily integrated into UML tools. Moreover, it is possible to map SSIML/Behaviour models to platform-specific program code automatically.
Processing Speed Measures as Clinical Markers for Children With Language Impairment.

PURPOSE This study investigated the relative utility of linguistic and nonlinguistic processing speed tasks as predictors of language impairment (LI) in children across 2 time points. METHOD Linguistic and nonlinguistic reaction time data, obtained from 131 children (89 children with typical development [TD] and 42 children with LI; 74 boys and 57 girls) were analyzed in the 3rd and 8th grades. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses and likelihood ratios were used to compare the diagnostic usefulness of each task. A binary logistic regression was used to test whether combined measures enhanced diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS In 3rd grade, a linguistic task, grammaticality judgment, provided the best discrimination between LI and TD groups. In 8th grade, a combination of linguistic and nonlinguistic tasks, rhyme judgment and simple response time, provided the best discrimination between groups. CONCLUSIONS Processing speed tasks were moderately predictive of LI status at both time points. Better LR+ than LR- values suggested that slow processing speed was more predictive of the presence than the absence of LI. A nonlinguistic processing measure contributed to the prediction of LI only at 8th grade, consistent with the view that nonlinguistic and linguistic processing speeds follow different developmental trajectories.
Validity of a Smartphone-Based Fall Detection Application on Different Phones Worn on a Belt or in a Trouser Pocket

The objective of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a smartphone-based fall detection application when different smartphone models are worn on a belt or in a trouser pocket. Eight healthy adults aged between 18 and 24 years old simulated 10 different types of true falls, 5 different types of falls with recovery, and 11 daily activities, five consecutive times. Participants wore one smartphone in a pocket that was attached to their belt and another one in their trouser pocket. All smartphones were equipped with a built-in accelerometer and the fall detection application. Four participants tested the application on a Samsung S3 and four tested the application on a Samsung S3 mini. Sensitivity scores were . 75 (Samsung S3 belt), . 88 (Samsung S3 mini trouser pocket), and . 90 (Samsung S3 mini belt/Samsung S3 trouser pocket). Specificity scores were . 87 (Samsung S3 trouser pocket), . 91 (Samsung S3 mini trouser pocket), . 97 (Samsung S3 belt), and . 99 (Samsung S3 mini belt). These results suggest that an application on a smartphone can generate valid fall alarms when worn on a belt or in a trouser pocket. However, sensitivity should be improved before implementation of the application in practice.
Exploring Dinofun park happenings

We want to give a brief introduction, how we solved the 2015 VAST challenge. The main goal was to explain the crime which happens in a theme park world called Dinofun. The provided data set contains communication and movement data for a three day weekend. During the time Scott Jones, a famous fictive soccer star celebrates his successes in the park. At one point some criminals vandalized the pavilion exhibiting Jones's memorabilia and steal an Olympic medal. In this paper we present two special ways to analyze the given data. Narrative Charts where used, to show interactions and coordinations between different people. Sequence Mining is used to find popular attraction combinations.
The influence of nanoscale phase separation and devitrification on the electrical transport properties of amorphous Cu–Nb alloy thin films

The formation of amorphous phases in immiscible alloys with a large positive enthalpy of mixing is thermodynamically unfavorable. Co-sputter deposited Cu–Nb films exhibit a nanoscale phase separation into Cu-rich and Nb-rich amorphous regions. They show relatively high room temperature resistivity, a negative temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR), and an incomplete superconducting transition with onset at 3.7 K. Annealing the nanophase-separated amorphous films at 200 °C results in the nucleation of fcc Cu-rich nanocrystals within an Nb-rich amorphous matrix. This film exhibits multiple resistance steps, eventually showing a sharp drop with (TC)onset = 3.7 K. Annealing at 350 °C leads to complete devitrification via the formation of large bcc Nb-rich grains encapsulating the existing fcc Cu nanocrystals. These films show low room temperature resistivity, positive TCR, and a sharp superconducting transition with onset at 5.2 K. The electrical transport and superconducting behavior appear to be consistent with a two-stage crystallization process.
MRI guides diagnostic approach for ischaemic stroke

Background and aim Identification of ischaemic stroke subtype currently relies on clinical evaluation supported by various diagnostic studies. The authors sought to determine whether specific diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) patterns could reliably guide the subsequent work-up for patients presenting with acute ischaemic stroke symptoms. Methods 273 consecutive patients with acute ischaemic stroke symptoms were enrolled in this prospective, observational, single-centre NIH-sponsored study. Electrocardiogram, non-contrast head CT, brain MRI, head and neck magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and transoesophageal echocardiography were performed in this prespecified order. Stroke neurologists determined TOAST (Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment) classification on admission and on discharge. Initial TOAST stroke subtypes were compared with the final TOAST subtype. If the final subtype differed from the initial assessment, the diagnostic test deemed the principal determinant of change was recorded. These principal determinants of change were compared between a CT-based and an MRI-based classification schema. Results Among patients with a thromboembolic DWI pattern, transoesophageal echocardiography was the principal determinant of diagnostic change in 8.8% versus 0% for the small vessel group and 1.7% for the other group (p<0.01). Among patients with the combination of a thromboembolic pattern on MRI and a negative cervical MRA, transoesophageal echocardiography led to a change in diagnosis in 12.1%. There was no significant difference between groups using a CT-based scheme. Conclusions DWI patterns appear to predict stroke aetiologies better than conventional methods. The study data suggest an MRI-based diagnostic algorithm that can potentially obviate the need for echocardiography in one-third of stroke patients and may limit the number of secondary extracranial vascular imaging studies to approximately 10%.