Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Early migratory rat neural crest cells express functional gap junctions: Evidence that neural crest cell survival requires gap junction function

Gap junctions mediate crucial intercellular interactions during development. This study provides evidence that early migrating rat neural crest cells assemble functional gap junctions, as demonstrated by dye transfer following microinjection of single cells, which were phenotypically identified as neural crest cells by their expression of the low‐ affinity nerve growth factor receptor. An immunohistochemical analysis using connexin‐ specific antibodies revealed that migrating rat neural crest cells express the gap junction constituents connexins 43 (Cx 43) and Cx 46. We tested the hypothesis that gap junctions play an important role during early neural crest cell development by perturbing their function in migrating neural crest cells. Our data show that markedly decreasing gap junction communication between these neural crest cells in vitro with either 18α‐glycyrrhetinic acid or anandamide decreases their survival, whereas oleamide, a less effective blocker of connexon function, had quantitatively less effect on neural crest cell death. This cell death was associated with the occurrence of DNA nicking as detected by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)‐mediated dUTP‐biotin nick end‐labelling (TUNEL) procedure, suggesting cell death via apoptosis. The effect of 18α‐glycyrrhetinic acid and anandamide on neural crest cell survival was reversible and was not mimicked by the structurally related compounds glycyrrhizic acid and palmitoylethanolamide, respectively, which do not uncouple cells. These results indicate that gap junctions are necessary for the survival of spinal neural crest cells. J. Neurosci. Res. 61:605–615, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Approach to estimation of absorption of aliphatic hydrocarbons diffusing from interior materials in an automobile cabin by inhalation toxicokinetic analysis in rats

The interior air of an automobile cabin has been demonstrated in our previous studies to be contaminated by high concentrations of a large variety of aliphatic hydrocarbons diffusing from the interior materials. In the present study, the amounts of seven selected aliphatic hydrocarbons absorbed by the car driver were estimated by evaluating their inhalation toxicokinetics in rats. Measured amounts of the substances were injected into a closed chamber system in which a rat had been placed, and the concentration changes in the chamber were examined. The toxicokinetics of the substances were evaluated based on concentration–time courses using a nonlinear compartment model. Their absorption amounts in humans at the levels of actual concentrations in the cabins without ventilation were extrapolated from the results found with the rats. The absorption amounts estimated for a driver during a 2 h drive were as follows: 6 µg/60 kg of human body weight for methylcyclopentane (interior concentration 23 µg/m3 as median value in previous study), 5 µg for 2‐methylpentane (36 µg/m3), 13 µg for n‐hexane (65 µg/m3), 51 µg for n‐heptane (150 µg/m3), 26 µg for 2,4‐dimethylheptane (97 µg/m3), 17 µg for n‐nonane (25 µg/m3) and 49 µg for n‐decane (68 µg/m3). An inverse relationship was found between the exposure and absorption among the substances (e.g. between n‐decane and 2,4‐dimethylheptane). These findings suggest that not only the exposure concentrations but also the absorption amounts should be taken into account to evaluate the health effects of exposure to low concentrations of volatile compounds as environmental contaminants. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Venous Sinus Thrombosis in Blunt Trauma: Incidence and Risk Factors

Purpose The aim of our study was to determine the incidence and risk factors of dural venous sinus thrombosis and epidural hemorrhage in the setting of a blunt trauma causing a calvarial fracture crossing a dural venous sinus. Methods A retrospective review of 472 blunt trauma patients with calvarial fracture crossing a dural venous sinus was performed. Two hundred ten patients who underwent computed tomography venography were identified and evaluated for the presence of dural venous sinus thrombosis and/or epidural hemorrhage. Site and displacement of fractures, as well as age, sex, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, and mechanism of injury, were considered for potential predictive value of thrombosis and/or epidural hemorrhage. Results We found a 23% incidence of dural venous sinus thrombosis in patients with a fracture traversing a dural venous sinus. Significant predictors of thrombosis included temporal fracture (38% incidence) and skull base fracture (31% incidence). Occipital fracture not involving the skull base was associated with a significantly decreased risk of thrombosis, with an incidence of 9%. Decreased GCS score and fall from height greater than 10 feet additionally predicted dural venous sinus thrombosis. Significant predictors of epidural hemorrhage included parietal fractures and displaced fractures, although a large percentage of nondisplaced fractures in other bones demonstrated epidural hemorrhage as well. Conclusions Dural venous sinus thrombosis in the setting of blunt trauma with a calvarial fracture crossing a dural venous sinus has an incidence of 23%. Increased suspicion for thrombosis is warranted in patients with temporal or skull base fractures, low GCS score, and recent fall from great height.
Treatment of Wilms tumor using carboplatin compared to therapy without carboplatin

Wilms tumor (WT) is the most common pediatric malignant primary renal tumor. One of the main drugs used in treatment is actinomycin‐D. This was not readily available in Turkey at one time. Carboplatin was used in the primary treatment of WT in order to prevent delays in treatment. The aim of this study is to present the results of patients with WT receiving carboplatin or actinomycin‐D therapy.
Cation‐dependent gating of the hyperpolarization‐activated cation current in the rabbit sino‐atrial node cells.

1. The gating properties of the hyperpolarization‐activated cation current (I(f) or Ih) were investigated in single pacemaker cells dissociated from the rabbit sino‐atrial node. 2. The whole‐cell I(f) was recorded in the presence of different external cations. The inward I(f) was increased when external Na+ was replaced with K+, and was decreased in Li+ or Rb+ solution. In Tris+ and Cs+ solutions, the inward I(f) was negligible. The outward tail current recorded upon depolarization was largest in Li+ solution and smaller in a sequence of Na+, Tris+ and K+ solutions. In Rb+ and Cs+ solutions, only a small tail current was recorded. 3. The outward tail current had a ‘shoulder’ in Na+ solution, which was much delayed by replacing Na+ with Li+. In K+ solution, the decay of the tail current was much faster, and no obvious shoulder was recorded. The tail current was slowest in Li(+)‐rich and 0 mM K+ solution, and was progressively accelerated by adding K+ over the range from 0 to 3 mM. The tail current at 30 mM [K+]o showed only a small shoulder. A common binding site to modulate the I(f) deactivation was suggested for monovalent cations. 4. The shoulder of the I(f) tail became more evident as I(f) was activated to a larger extent either by prolonging the duration or by increasing the amplitude of the preceding hyperpolarization in both Na+ and Li+ solutions. 5. The I(f) was first activated by hyperpolarizing the membrane to ‐110 mV, and then deactivated by depolarization. The inward tail current at ‐50 mV showed a single exponential decay. At more positive potentials, the shoulder of the outward tail currents became more evident and the rate of the final decay was increased. 6. The time course of I(f) activation was well fitted with the sum of two exponential functions. Time constants of both components were not affected by the external cation (Na+, K+ or Li+) replacement. Likewise, the quasi‐steady state activation was conserved when external Na+ was replaced with Li+. 7. Two closed and three open states were assumed in a sequential state model of the I(f) channel. The cation effects were well simulated by assuming that the deactivation rate was selectively modulated. The flow of I(f) during the spontaneous action potential was calculated. The activation of I(f) started on repolarization to the maximum diastolic potential and reached a maximum in the middle of the diastolic period. Its peak amplitude was 14% of the net inward current during the diastolic period.
Deep-net fusion to classify shots in concert videos

Varying types of shots is a fundamental element in the language of film, commonly used by a visual storytelling director to convey the emotion, ideas, and art. To classify such types of shots from images, we present a new framework that facilitates the intriguing task by addressing two key issues. We first focus on learning more effective features by fusing the layer-wise outputs extracted from a deep convolutional neural network (CNN), pre-trained on a large-scale dataset for object recognition. We then introduce a probabilistic fusion model, termed as error weighted deep cross-correlation model (EW-Deep-CCM), to boost the classification accuracy. Specifically, the deep neural network-based cross-correlation model (Deep-CCM) is constructed to not only model the extracted feature hierarchies of CNN independently but also relate the statistical dependencies of paired features from different layers. Then, a Bayesian error weighting scheme for classifier combination is adopted to explore the contributions from individual Deep-CCM classifiers to enhance the accuracy of shot classification. We provide extensive experimental results on a dataset of live concert videos to demonstrate the advantage of the proposed EW-Deep-CCM over existing popular fusion approaches. The video demos can be found at https://sites.google. com/site/ewdeepccm2/demo.
Novel Linearized Power Flow and Linearized OPF Models for Active Distribution Networks With Application in Distribution LMP

The locational marginal price (LMP) methodology has been discussed for distribution networks/systems under the smart grid initiative. In this paper, a new distribution LMP (DLMP) formulation is presented which includes reactive power prices and voltage constraints. To solve DLMP, three modeling tools, namely, linearized power flow for distribution (LPF-D), loss factors for distribution (LF-D), and linear optimal power flow for distribution (LOPF-D) are proposed. LPF-D solves not only voltage angles but also magnitudes through linear expression between bus injections and bus voltages, specifically for distribution systems. LF-D is solved recursively based on the radial topology of typical distribution systems. With the integration of LPF-D and LF-D, conventional optimal power flow (OPF) can be reformulated as LOPF-D which is essentially a linear programming model. Test results on various systems show that: 1) LPF-D efficiently yields very close results if compared with AC power flow; 2) LOPF-D provides very close dispatch results in both real and reactive power if compared with ACOPF; and 3) the proposed DLMPs calculated with LF-D and LOPF-D give accurate price information if compared with the prices from ACOPF. Further, these three tools are not limited to DLMP but can be potentially applied to other distribution analyses.
The Role of Municipalities in Redistribution in Ontario: A Study on Ontario Works

This research report presents a qualitative study that examines the role of redistribution at the level of the municipality in Ontario. Grounded theory approach is used to guide the research process. Data for the study are drawn by semi-structural interviews in a mid-size municipality in southwestern Ontario from 15 stakeholders of Ontario Works located in municipal social services department, municipal council, community-based organizations, and members of community on Ontario Works. Findings of this study support a service provision model which builds upon the strengths of municipalities in relation to the issue of redistribution. This study further suggests that municipalities should have a greater degree of flexibility at the level of policy implementation.
A New Q-learning with Generalized Approximation Spaces

For measuring the uncertainty of behavior, the average rough coverage doesn’t consider the difference among middle learning stages in reinforcement learning. To address this problem, a novel measure model based on generalized approximation spaces is proposed. In this study, uncertainty is regarded as the local feature of a state and used to guide future learning. Data-driven Q-learning based this novel model is presented for improvement of strategies based exploration. The measure function of uncertainty is used to control the balance between exploration and exploitation. Experiment results show that data-driven reinforcement learning is effective.
The usefulness of CT for patients with carpal bone fractures in the emergency department

Objective: The wrist is the most commonly injured joint in the body. However, wrist injuries are often missed in the emergency department (ED). If the fracture is not diagnosed and remains untreated, the patient runs a considerable risk of chronic disability. The utility of CT as an aid in the diagnosis of carpal bone fracture was investigated. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of patients who underwent CT and plain radiography for wrist injury in the ED between March 2003 and February 2006. Plain radiograph interpretations were classified into three groups: (1) the definite fracture group, (2) the no fracture group, and (3) the ambiguous fracture group. The CT results were analysed in relation to the classification of the plain radiograph interpretation. The final diagnoses reviewed from the medical records were used as the reference standard. Results: 36 carpal fractures in 33 patients were identified from 45 patients who underwent plain radiography and CT. The interpretations of plain radiographs were classified into definite fractures (n = 10), ambiguous fractures (n = 15) and no fractures (n = 20). When both the definite fracture and ambiguous fracture groups were considered positive, the sensitivity and specificity were 69.7% and 83.3%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of CT scans were both 100%. Conclusion: Emergency physicians should consider CT of the wrist after plain radiography when patients with suspected carpal fracture show normal radiographic findings.
Increased Phosphatidylcholine Production but Disrupted Glycogen Metabolism in Fetal Type II Cells of Mice That Overexpress CTP:Phosphocholine Cytidylyltransferase*

CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CCT) is a rate-determining enzyme in the de novo synthesis of phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho). Alveolar type II cells synthesize large quantities of disaturated PtdCho, the surface-active agent of pulmonary surfactant, particularly at late gestation when the lung prepares itself for postnatal air breathing. To clarify the role of CCTα in lung surfactant maturation, we overexpressed CCTα1-367 using the surfactant protein-C promoter. Lungs of transgenic mice were analyzed at day 18 of gestation (term = 19 days). Overexpression of CCTα1-367 increased the synthesis and content of PtdCho in fetal type II cells isolated from the transgenic mice. Also, PtdCho content of fetal lung fluid was increased. No changes in surfactant protein content were detected. Interestingly, fetal type II cells of transgenic mice contained more glycogen than control cells. Incorporation studies with [U-14C]glucose demonstrated that overexpression of CCTα1-367 in fetal type II cells increased glycogen synthesis without affecting glycogen breakdown. To determine which domain contributes to this glycogen phenotype, two additional transgenes were created overexpressing either CCTα1-239 or CCTα239-367. Glycogen synthesis and content were increased in fetal type II cells expressing CCTα239-367 but not CCTα1-239. We conclude that overexpression of CCTα increases surfactant PtdCho synthesis without affecting surfactant protein levels but that it disrupts glycogen metabolism in differentiating type II cells via its regulatory domain.
Patients' perspective in Chilean primary care: a questionnaire validation study.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to adapt and validate an instrument for assessing quality of care from the patients' perspective in the context of Chilean primary care. METHODS The 'Health Centre Assessment Questionnaire' is made up of six multiple-item scales and two single-item scales addressing eight key areas of primary care activity. A further two single-item scales ask about the overall satisfaction and the way in which the centre deals with patients' health issues. The adaptation process was developed according to methods described in the specialized literature. The instrument was initially pre-tested in a sample of 100 primary care patients. The validation was carried out in 10 urban public primary healthcare centres where 2896 patients were invited to complete the questionnaire. The validity and reliability of the instrument was assessed using standard psychometric techniques. RESULTS Ninety nine per cent (2870) of those approached completed the questionnaire. It was acceptable to most of the patients as reflected by the high response rate, and a full range of possible scores in most of the scales. Reliability was good as reflected by high internal consistency and homogeneity. Validity was supported by the confirmation of scaling assumptions, the moderate correlations between multiple-item scales, and by the confirmation of our 'a priori' hypothesis. CONCLUSIONS The questionnaire could be a useful instrument for assessing a number of important dimensions in Chilean primary care. It is acceptable, reliable and valid. Further work is required to evaluate its validity against external criteria and its test-retest reliability.
Rapid Remodeling of Invadosomes by Gi-coupled Receptors

Invadosomes are actin-rich membrane protrusions that degrade the extracellular matrix to drive tumor cell invasion. Key players in invadosome formation are c-Src and Rho family GTPases. Invadosomes can reassemble into circular rosette-like superstructures, but the underlying signaling mechanisms remain obscure. Here we show that Src-induced invadosomes in human melanoma cells (A375M and MDA-MB-435) undergo rapid remodeling into dynamic extracellular matrix-degrading rosettes by distinct G protein-coupled receptor agonists, notably lysophosphatidic acid (LPA; acting through the LPA1 receptor) and endothelin. Agonist-induced rosette formation is blocked by pertussis toxin, dependent on PI3K activity and accompanied by localized production of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate, whereas MAPK and Ca2+ signaling are dispensable. Using FRET-based biosensors, we show that LPA and endothelin transiently activate Cdc42 through Gi, concurrent with a biphasic decrease in Rac activity and differential effects on RhoA. Cdc42 activity is essential for rosette formation, whereas G12/13-mediated RhoA-ROCK signaling suppresses the remodeling process. Our results reveal a Gi-mediated Cdc42 signaling axis by which G protein-coupled receptors trigger invadosome remodeling, the degree of which is dictated by the Cdc42-RhoA activity balance.
Endoclip-assisted resection of large pedunculated colon polyps.

BACKGROUND Large pedunculated colorectal polyps are often difficult to remove endoscopically. METHODS Four patients with giant pedunculated polyps (>3 cm) underwent an endoscopic procedure in which the polyp stalk was ligated with multiple clips and resected with a needle-knife papillotome. RESULTS No complications occurred either during or immediately after the procedure. Mean size of the resected polyps was 4.8 +/- 1.2 cm (range 3 to 6 cm). Mean time for the entire procedure was 31 +/- 5 minutes (range 25 to 45). No bleeding was found after a mean follow-up period of 4.3 +/- 1.1 months (range 3 to 6 months). CONCLUSIONS Although technical refinements are necessary to make the procedure easier and faster, this approach might represent the only option for selected patients who would otherwise need surgical resection of large pedunculated colonic polyps.
Becoming an expert: a review of adult learning theory and implications for vocational training in ophthalmology

One of the key responsibilities of professional bodies, such as the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists, is to determine, teach and assess the competencies required for trainees to reach an expert level. Vocational training programs (VTP) need to incorporate advances in educational research and reflect changes in generational thinking and learning styles to provide the most optimal learning environment to meet the desired educational outcomes. This paper seeks to introduce some of the important concepts of adult educational theory and to explain how they connect to four strategic areas in the development and implementation of the VTP:
Altered Ca 2 1 Signaling and Mitochondrial Deficiencies in Hippocampal Neurons of Trisomy 16 Mice : A Model of Down ’ s Syndrome

It has been suggested that augmented nerve cell death in neurodegenerative diseases might result from an impairment of mitochondrial function. To test this hypothesis, we investigated age-dependent changes in neuronal survival and glutamate effects on Ca homeostasis and mitochondrial energy metabolism in cultured hippocampal neurons from diploid and trisomy 16 (Ts16) mice, a model of Down’s syndrome. Microfluorometric techniques were used to measure survival rate, [Ca]i level, mitochondrial membrane potential, and NAD(P)H autofluorescence. We found that Ts16 neurons die more than twice as fast as diploid neurons under otherwise identical culture conditions. Basal [Ca]i levels were elevated in Ts16 neurons. Moreover, in comparison to diploid neurons, Ts16 neurons showed a prolonged recovery of [Ca]i and mitochondrial membrane potential after brief glutamate application. Glutamate evoked an initial NAD(P)H decrease that was found to be extended in Ts16 neurons in comparison to diploid neurons. Furthermore, for all age groups tested, glutamate failed to cause a subsequent NAD(P)H overshoot in Ts16 cultures in contrast to diploid cultures. In the presence of cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial membrane permeability transition, NAD(P)H increase was observed in both diploid and Ts16 neurons. The results support the hypothesis that Ca impairs mitochondrial energy metabolism and may play a role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative changes in neurons from Ts16 mice.
Road crack detection using adaptive multi resolution thresholding techniques

Machine vision is very important for ensuring the success of intelligent transportation systems, particularly in the area of road maintenance. For this reason, many studies had been focusing on automatic image-based crack detection as a replacement for manual inspection that had depended on the specialist’s knowledge and expertise. In the image processing technique, the pre-processing and edge detection stages are important for filtering out noises and in enhancing the quality of the edges in the image. Since threshold is one of the powerful methods used in the edge detection of an image, we have therefore proposed a modified Otsu-Canny Edge Detection Algorithm in the selection of the two threshold values as well as implemented a multi-resolution level fixed partitioning method in the analysis of the global and local threshold values of the image. This is then followed by a statistical measure in selecting the edge image with the best global threshold. This study had utilized the road crack image dataset that were obtained from Crackforest. The results had revealed the proposed method to not only perform better than the conventional Canny edge detection method but had also shown the maximum value derived from the local threshold of 5x5 partitioned image outperforming the other partitioned scales.