Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vigilance Levels During and After Bright Light Exposure in the First Half of the Night

Fourteen healthy subjects (8 women, 6 men, aged 22–35 yr) were recruited. Each subject was exposed, in a counterbalanced order, to bright white light (BWL: 3000 lux) and to dim red light (DRL: <15 lux) at a 1‐week interval. Light treatments were administered from 00:30 to 04:30h during sleep deprivation. Salivary melatonin and urinary cortisol concentrations were measured as was core body temperature. Vigilance levels were evaluated by subjective estimates, maintenance of wakefulness tests (MWT), waking EEG recordings, and three performance tests. Under BWL melatonin secretion was suppressed and core body temperature was significantly higher than under DRL. The BWL and DRL conditions produced no difference in cortisol secretion. Significant effects of BWL treatment were found for the MWT and theta–alpha and beta‐1 frequency bands of the waking EEG. There was no significant effect of BWL on subjective alertness and performance. Vigilance measures were similar under the two conditions for the tests performed 1.5h after the end of light treatments. Overall, the findings suggest that bright light (BL) exposure in the first half of the night decreases EEG‐defined sleep propensity but has only modest effects on other aspects of vigilance.
Identification and characterization of three cholinesterases from the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius

We identified and characterized the full‐length cDNA sequences encoding two acetylcholinesterases (ClAChE1 and ClAChE2) and a salivary gland‐specific cholinesterase‐like protein (ClSChE) from the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius. All three cholinesterase genes (Clac1, Clace2 and Clsce) have conserved motifs, including a catalytic triad, a choline‐binding site and an acyl pocket. Phylogenetic analysis showed that ClAChE1 belongs to the insect AChE1 clade, whereas ClAChE2 belongs to the insect AChE2 clade. ClSChE was grouped into the clade containing all AChE1s, suggesting a paralogous relationship to ClAChE1. Transcription levels of Clace1 were higher than those of Clace2 in all tissues examined, including the central nervous system (CNS). In contrast, the Clsce transcript was not detected in the CNS but specifically found in the salivary gland at much higher levels (>3000‐fold) than those of Clace1 and Clace2. Western blot analysis using anti‐ClAChE antibodies, in conjunction with activity staining, revealed that ClAChE1 is more active than ClAChE2, whereas ClSChE has little enzyme activity. Three‐dimensional structure modelling suggested that ClAChEs and ClSChE shared structural similarities, but had some differences in the residues forming the acyl pocket and oxyanion hole. The current findings should provide valuable insights into the evolution and functional diversification of insect cholinesterase.
Competitive inhibition of N-acetylated-alpha-linked acidic dipeptidase activity by N-acetyl-L-aspartyl-beta-linked L-glutamate.

The endogenous neuropeptide N-acetyl-L-aspartyl-L-glutamate (NAAG) fulfills several criteria required to be accepted as a neurotransmitter. NAAG inactivation may proceed through enzymatic hydrolysis into N-acetyl-L-aspartate and glutamate by an N-acetylated-alpha-linked acidic dipeptidase (NAALADase). Therefore, some properties of NAALADase activity were investigated using crude membranes from the rat forebrain. Kinetic parameters of the hydrolysis of [Glu-3H]NAAG were determined first (Km = 0.40 +/- 0.05 microM; Vmax = 155 +/- 20 pmol/min/mg of protein). The enzymatic activity, i.e., NAALADase, was inhibited noncompetitively by the glutamatergic agonist quisqualate (Ki = 1.9 +/- 0.3 microM), and competitively by N-acetyl-L-aspartyl-beta-linked L-glutamate (beta-NAAG; Ki = 0.70 +/- 0.05 microM). To determine whether glutamate-containing dipeptides, such as NAAG, beta-NAAG, N-acetyl-L-aspartyl-D-glutamate, L-aspartyl-L-glutamate, L-alanyl-L-glutamate, L-glutamyl-L-glutamate, and L-glutamyl-gamma-linked L-glutamate, were substrates of NAALADase, rat brain membranes were immobilized on a C-8 column. Thus, endogenous trapped glutamate was washed away and formation of unlabelled glutamate could be estimated using an o-phthaldialdehyde/reverse-phase HPLC detection procedure. beta-NAAG was shown to be a nonhydrolyzable competitive inhibitor of NAALADase. L-Aspartyl-L-glutamate was hydrolyzed faster than NAAG, suggesting that the acetylated moiety is not essential for NAALADase specificity. Rat brain membranes also contained nonspecific peptidase activities (insensitive to both quisqualate and beta-NAAG), which, in the case of L-alanyl-L-glutamate, for instance, accounted for all observed hydrolysis.
A modern process perspective, process mapping, and simulation in health care: Opportunities and IT infrastructural needs

Today, health care organizations often claim that they are “process oriented”, and that one should approach health care from a process perspective in order to utilize the present IT related benefits; such as increased service quality, cost efficiency, and enhanced communication. In this paper we investigate how well founded the concept of process orientation really is — by examining IT/IS infrastructures, and procedures for process definition, visualization, and evaluation — at a prominent hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. A case study of the organization and the interaction of the emergency and radiology departments at the same hospital (using process mapping and data analysis) reveals data fragmentation, incompatible data, and disparate information systems. This results in difficulties regarding process definition and analysis, which makes the use of innovative tools such as simulation, problematic. The implications of this, and the contextual factors, are also discussed and some final recommendations for smooth digitization are put forth.
Intraoperative smile in a multiple sclerosis patient with medication-refractory tremor

Deep brain stimulation has been utilized to improve disease symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, essential tremor, and other neuropsychiatric syndromes such as depression and obsessive compulsive disorder. Deep brain stimulation has also been observed to improve tremor for select patients with multiple sclerosis. During intraoperative stimulation in these multiple sclerosis patients, researchers have observed a wide spectrum of motor and sensory phenomena, but no stimulation-induced emotional responses have been reported. We detailed intraoperative smiling associated with stimulation of the ventralis oralis anterior/ventralis oralis posterior border region of the left thalamus. A single patient with medication-resistant multiple sclerosis tremor experienced smiling, laughing, and subjective euphoria during intraoperative stimulation of the left thalamus. Specifically, during intraoperative stimulation of the left thalamic ventralis oralis anterior border, the patient developed a contralateral smile which progressed to a bilateral smile and was accompanied by a feeling of subjective happiness. The smile habituated in approximately 60 seconds and it was reproducible on a repeat stimulation. The patient could subjectively feel the facial movement, and, at higher voltages, the movement was described as a pulling sensation. Stimulation of the anterior ventralis oralis anterior border of the left thalamus in an multiple sclerosis patient produced a unilateral smile that rapidly developed into a bilateral smile accompanied by euphoria. There were presumed capsular side effects at higher voltages. The exact mechanism by which stimulation of the thalamus produced a smile and mood elevation is unknown, but we speculate that the smile could be induced by stimulation of corticobulbar fibers arising from the caudal cingulate motor area connecting the contralateral facial nerve nucleus.
Effect of intradialytic versus home-based aerobic exercise training on physical function and vascular parameters in hemodialysis patients: a randomized pilot study.

BACKGROUND Hemodialysis patients show reduced physical function and greater risk of increased arterial stiffness because of hypertension, metabolic disturbances, and vascular calcification. Exercise interventions potentially could improve their vascular risk profile. STUDY DESIGN Randomized controlled pilot clinical study comparing the effects of 6 months of supervised intradialytic exercise training versus home-based exercise training or usual care on physical function and arterial stiffness in hemodialysis patients. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS 70 hemodialysis patients from 3 renal units. INTERVENTION Intradialytic-exercise patients trained 3 times/wk for 6 months on a cycle ergometer and home-based-exercise patients followed a walking program to achieve the same weekly physical activity. Usual-care patients received no specific intervention. OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS Primary outcome measures were distance traveled during a 6-minute walk test and aortic pulse wave velocity. Secondary outcome measures included augmentation index (augmentation pressure as a percentage of central pulse pressure), peripheral (brachial) and central blood pressures (measured noninvasively using radial tonometry), physical activity, and self-reported physical functioning. Measurements were made at baseline and 6 months. RESULTS At 6 months, there were no significant differences between changes in 6-minute walk test distance (intradialytic exercise, +14%; home-based exercise, +11%; usual care, +5%), pulse wave velocity (intradialytic exercise, -4%; home-based exercise, -2%; usual care, +5%), or any secondary outcome measure. LIMITATIONS Lack of medication data limited the analysis of vascular parameters in this study. CONCLUSION There were no differences between intradialytic or home-based exercise training and usual care for either physical function or vascular parameters.
Early repolarization in young children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder versus normal controls: a retrospective preliminary chart review study.

OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND Early repolarization (ER), considered a common and benign electrocardiographic pattern on the surface 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), was recently found to be prevalent among patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation. It is also highly predominant in physically active young males. Reports on sudden cardiac death (SCD) of children and adolescents treated with psychotropic agents have raised concerns regarding the need for cardiovascular monitoring and risk stratification schedules. The rate of ER pattern has not been estimated in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Thus, in the present retrospective chart review study, we estimated the rate of ER pattern, as well as RR, QT, and QTc intervals, from ECG tracings of physically healthy children with ADHD versus physically and mentally healthy controls. METHODS The ECG tracings of 50 children (aged 8.7 +/- 1.4 years; 12 girls, 44 boys) diagnosed as suffering from ADHD were compared to 55 physically and mentally healthy controls (aged 8.25 +/- 2.1 years; 20 girls, 35 boys). ER was defined as an elevation of the QRS-ST junction (J point) of at least 0.1 mV from baseline with slurring or notching of the QRS complex, and assessed separately by two senior cardiologists who were blind to all other data relating to the study participants. RESULTS The rate of ER pattern was significantly higher in ADHD children compared to normal controls (32% vs. 13%, respectively, P = 0.012; relative risk [RR] = 1.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-2.44), irrespective of stimulant treatment or gender. All other standard ECG measures (heart rate, QT and QTc intervals) were within normal range. CONCLUSION The rate of ER in children with ADHD is significantly higher than in normal controls. Its clinical significance awaits further research.
DISCOVERY OF SEVEN COMPANIONS TO INTERMEDIATE-MASS STARS WITH EXTREME MASS RATIOS IN THE SCORPIUS–CENTAURUS ASSOCIATION

We report the detection of seven low-mass companions to intermediate-mass stars (SpT B/A/F; M ∼ ? > 1.5–4.5 M⊙) in the Scorpius–Centaurus (Sco–Cen) Association using nonredundant aperture masking interferometry. Our newly detected objects have contrasts Δ L ′ ≈ ? > 4–6, corresponding to masses as low as ∼20 MJup and mass ratios of q ≈ ? > 0.01–0.08, depending on the assumed age of the target stars. With projected separations ρ ≈ 10–30 AU, our aperture masking detections sample an orbital region previously unprobed by conventional adaptive optics imaging of intermediate-mass Sco–Cen stars covering much larger orbital radii (∼30–3000 AU). At such orbital separations, these objects resemble higher-mass versions of the directly imaged planetary mass companions to the 10–30 Myr, intermediate-mass stars HR 8799, β Pictoris, and HD 95086. These newly discovered companions span the brown dwarf desert, and their masses and orbital radii provide a new constraint on models of the formation of low-mass stellar and substellar companions to intermediate-mass stars.
Preventive (myoglobin, transferrin) and scavenging (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase) anti-oxidative properties of raw liquid extract of Morinda lucida leaf in the traditional treatment of Plasmodium infection

Background: Liquid extract of Morinda lucida leaf has been demonstrated to have antiplasmodial activities. Some phytochemicals act as preventive and or scavenging antioxidants. This study aimed to investigate the preventative and scavenging properties of the raw liquid extract of M. lucida leaf using plasma myoglobin, transferrin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH) peroxidase. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight Plasmodium-infected patients aged 29-47 years that have not been treated with any antimalaria medication but have decided to be treated traditionally using M. lucida leaf extract were recruited from 15 traditional homes in ATISBO, Saki-East, and Saki-West local government areas of Oke-Ogun - the Northern part of Oyo State-Nigeria. Identification of Plasmodium in the blood of the test and normal control subjects were carried out by Giemsha thick film technique. Packed cell volume, total bile acids, blood glucose, blood pressure, plasma myoglobin, transferrin, SOD, and GSH peroxidase (GPx) were evaluated in the normal control subjects and in the Plasmodium-infected patients before and after the treatment with raw liquid extract of M. lucida leaf. Results: A significant (P < 0.05) biochemical alterations were observed in the plasma values of transferrin, SOD, and GPx in the Plasmodium-infected patients when compared with the normal control subjects and after treatment with the raw liquid extract of M. lucida leaf. Conclusion: Our study supports the possible preventative and scavenging antioxidative effect of the raw liquid extract of M. lucida leaf in the traditional treatment of Plasmodium infection.
[Study of 1,595 brucellosis cases in the Almeria province (1972-1998) based on epidemiological data from disease reporting].

OBJECTIVE To know clinical, diagnostic, and treatment issues of brucellosis in the Almeria province. METHODS Descriptive, epidemiological study from 1,595 disease report cards in the Almeria province during the 1972-1998 period. Issues concerning complications and treatment were reported in 890 cards (57.8%), symptoms, signs and hemograms in 565 (35.4%), and other diagnostic findings in all cards. The chi2 test was used to compare independent qualitative parameters for a 95% CI. RESULTS In the early phase the most common symptom was asthenia (95.2%); sweating in the chronic stage (95.8%). The most commonly recorded sign was spleen enlargement (37.5%) and the most commonly reported complication was bone and joint involvement (22.8%). No changes in symptoms occurred over years. The hemogram revealed anemia in 30.3% of cases. Blood culture was positive for 91.2%. Regarding serological diagnosis, rose Bengal was positive for 99.2% of cases; the most common agglutination titer to Brucella or B. mellitensis was 1/640 (13.5%). The most commonly used therapy consisted of the association tetracycline plus streptomycin (42.4%). For 42.6% of cards, patients were transferred to hospital, particularly since 1984. CONCLUSIONS Generally speaking, clinical data recorded in the reporting card regarding brucellosis disease reveal the clinical features of the disease, after a long surveillance period. Rose Bengal should be used as screening test for the diagnosis of this disease.
Sacroiliitis is common in Crohn's disease patients with perianal or upper gastrointestinal involvement.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Sacroiliitis (SI) is one of the most frequent extraintestinal manifestations in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, but the exact prevalence has not been evaluated in Asia. There are few data on the association between SI and other clinical features of IBD. The prevalence of SI was evaluated using computed tomography (CT) and the phenotypic parameters associated with SI in Korean IBD patients were determined. METHODS Eighty-two patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 81 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) were evaluated clinically. The presence of SI was evaluated using bone window setting of abdomino-pelvic CT images by two radiologists. RESULTS The prevalence rates of SI were 12.2% and 21.0% in the UC and CD groups, respectively. There was no relationship between the localization or extent of intestinal inflammation and the presence of SI in the UC group. Multivariate analyses confirmed that perianal and upper-gastrointestinal (from the mouth through to the jejunum) diseases were associated with the occurrence of SI in the CD group (p=0.026 and p=0.047, respectively). CONCLUSIONS SI was as common among Korean IBD patients as among Western patients. Perianal or upper-gastrointestinal involvement is associated with SI in CD patients.
Visualizing surface area and volume of lumens in three dimensions using images from histological sections

Visualizing the interior (lumen) of a tubular structure within tissue can provide a unique perspective on anatomical organization of the tissue. Portal tracts of the liver contain several vessels and ducts in various patterns of intertwining branches and are an example of such spaces. An inexpensive method, using light microscopy and a sample of conventionally stained canine livers, was used to colorize and allow visualization of the lumens of vessels within the portal tract in three dimensions. When the colour of the background was digitally cleared and the lumen filled with a solid colour, it was possible to measure areas and volumes of the portal vein, arteries, bile ducts and lymphatics. Significant differences between vessels and ducts across lobes and gender in control samples are discussed. Differences were also found between control and mixed breed dogs and between controls and a dog that died of accidental traumatic haemorrhage. These differences are discussed in relation to visualizing lumens using images generated from a light microscope. Vessels in plants such as xylem and continuously formed spaces resulting from ice formation are other examples where this technique could be applied.
Biochemical analysis of Centaurea depressa phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) for biotechnological applications in phenylketonuria (PKU)

Abstract Context: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is the most common hereditary defect of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) enzyme achieving the hydroxylation of phenylalanine (Phe). Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) converts Phe to a harmless metabolite, trans-cinnamic acid (TCA) in plants and PAL enzyme activity is fairly high in plants rich in flavonoids. Objective: The study aimed the biochemical analysis of PAL form Centaurea depressa BIEB. (Asteraceae) a flavonoid rich plant. This study may form the main frame of future research efforts for the development of a plant preparation aimed for oral intake in PKU patients in an attempt to enrich their diet by allowing them to ingest some food stuff containing Phe without being exposed to complications. Materials and methods: PAL was partially purified from the leaves of C. depressa. Enzyme activity was determined in comparison with that of other herbs that reportedly have a high PAL activity. Enzyme optimization was achieved and the PAL protein was detected by western blotting. Results: C. depressa PAL demonstrated high activity (34.9 ± 0.6 U/mg protein). The enzyme was purified by 1.92-fold, which resulted in an activity of 53.30 ± 0.2 U/mg protein. The high-performance liquid chromatography analyzes of the PAL activity both before and after purification were in agreement. Western blot of PAL exhibited a 70 kDa protein band. The optimum pH and temperature are pH 8.8 and 37 °C. The optimum activities under gastric and intestinal digestion conditions were observed at pH 4.0 and pH 8.0, respectively. Discussion and conclusion: PAL activity of C. depressa is high, and does not disappear under different environmental conditions. This enzyme could be used for the development of dietary foods and biotechnological products for patients with PKU.
Isolation, identification, and characterization of an Aspergillus niger bioflocculant-producing strain using potato starch wastewater as nutrilite and its application

A bioflocculant (MBFA18) was produced by Aspergillus niger (A18) using potato starch wastewater (PSW) as nutrients. The cultivation processes and flocculating treatment for PSW purification were systematically studied. The flocculating rate of the MBFA 18 achieved 90.06% (kaolin clay) under the optimal cultivation condition (PSW with 5950 mg/L COD, 20 g/L glucose, 0.2 g/L urea and without phosphorus source addition and pH adjustment). Furthermore, effects of flocculant dosage, initial pH, coagulant aid (CaCl2) addition and sedimentation time on the PSW treatment were discussed and studied in detail. The optimum flocculation treatment conditions were determined according to the treatment efficiency, cost and flocculation conditions. During the PSW treatment, 2 mL/L bioflocculant (1.89 g/L) dosage and 0.5 mol/L coagulant aid addition were applied without pH adjustment and 91.15% COD and 60.22% turbidity removal rate could be achieved within 20 min. The comparative study between the bioflocculant and conventional chemical flocculants showed excellent flocculating efficiency of MBFA 18 with lower cost (4.7 yuan/t), which indicated that the bioflocculant MBFA 18 produced in PSW substrate has a great potential to be an alternative flocculant in PSW treatment.
Post-transcriptional regulation of mouse neurogenesis by Pumilio proteins

In this study, Zhang et al. investigated post-transcriptional regulation during mammalian neurogenesis. They demonstrate that neural-specific inactivation of two murine post-transcriptional regulators, Pumilio 1 (Pum1) and Pum2, severely reduced the number of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the postnatal dentate gyrus (DG), drastically increased perinatal apoptosis, altered DG cell composition, and impaired learning and memory, and their data further suggest that PUM2 facilitates FMRP function and that Pum1 and Pum2 have different roles in neurogenesis.
Unpacking Personhood and Identity in the Hohokam Area of Southern Arizona

14 CHAPTER ONE 16 Introduction 16 General Overview of Studies of Identity 17 Processual Archaeology, Individual Identity, and Social Status 18 The “Saxe-Binford” Approach and Post-Processual Critiques of Social Status Intersections 24 Moving from Social Status to Other Aspects of Identity 28 Sex and Gender Intersections 31 Aging, Life Course, and Life Cycle 37 Ethnicity Identity Intersections 41 New Directions in Identity(ies) Research 47 General Overview of Personhood Studies 49 Mortuary Customs in the Southwest: Previous Studies, Review, and Critiques 59 Dissertation Research 68 Putting it All Together: Operationalizing Personhood and Intersecting Identities 71 CHAPTER TWO: PRESENT STUDY 77 Unpacking Personhood and Intersecting Identities: Methods and Main Findings 77 Materials and Methods 77 Time Periods and Samples 77 Human Skeletal Remains and Biological Profiles 79 Posthumous Treatment of the Body and Archaeological Context 87