Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Differing Antecedent Hypoglycemia on Subsequent Counterregulation in Normal Humans

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of specific levels of antecedent hypoglycemia on subsequent autonomic, neuroendocrine, and metabolic counter-regulatory responses. Eight healthy, overnight-fasted male subjects were studied during 2-day protocols on four separate randomized occasions separated by at least 2 months. On day 1, insulin was infused at a rate of 9 pmol · kg−1 · min−1 and 2-h clamped euglycemia (plasma glucose 5.2 ± 0.2 mmol/l) or differing hypoglycemia (plasma glucose 3.9 ± 0.1, 3.3 ± 0.1, or 2.9 ± 0.1 mmol/l) was obtained during morning and afternoon. The next morning after an evening meal and 10-h overnight fast, each subject underwent a 2-h hyperin-sulinemic (9 pmol · kg−1 · min−1) hypoglycemic (2.9 ± 0.1 mmol/l) clamp study. Despite equivalent day 2 plasma glucose and insulin levels, differing levels of antecedent hypoglycemia produced specific blunting of subsequent counterregulatory responses. Day 1 hypoglycemia of 3.9 mmol/l resulted in significantly (P < 0.01) blunted epinephrine, muscle sympathetic nerve activity, and glucagon responses. Day 1 hypoglycemia of 3.3 mmol/l resulted in additional significant blunting (P < 0.01) of pancreatic polypeptide, norepinephrine, growth hormone, endogenous glucose production, and lipolytic responses. Deeper day 1 hypoglycemia of 2.9 mmol/l produced similar day 2 counterregulatory failure as day 1 hypoglycemia of 3.3 mmol/l. In summary, in healthy overnight-fasted men, mild antecedent hypoglycemia of 3.9 mmol/l significantly blunts sympathoadrenal and glucagon, but not other forms of neuroendocrine counterregulatory responses, to subsequent hypoglycemia. Antecedent hypoglycemia of 3.3 mmol/l resulted in additional significant blunting of all major neuroendocrine and metabolic responses to subsequent hypoglycemia. We conclude that in normal humans, there is a hierarchy of blunted counterregulatory responses that are determined by the depth of antecedent hypoglycemia.
Model predictive control of TRMS

This paper deals with model predictive control (MPC) approach for a twin rotor multi-input-multi-output system (TRMS). The main objective is to stabilize beam of the TRMS with respect to pitch and yaw angles. Development of controller for TRMS is challenging because of its coupling effects between two axes and also due to its highly nonlinear characteristics. An accurate model of the system is developed first which has a similar response to that of the real plant. This model is used as a reference to design a linear MPC for 2 DOF of the TRMS. Irrespect of variations in reference signals and speed, the controller has a good response in terms of accuracy.
Noncontrast Hybrid Arterial Spin-Labeled Imaging of the Intracranial Arteries

Objective The purpose of this study is to evaluate feasibility, image quality (IQ), and accuracy of noncontrast hybrid arterial spin labeling (NoHASL) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) compared with time of flight (TOF) MRA and contrast-enhanced (CE) MRA in patients with known/suspected cerebrovascular ischemia. Methods Thirty inpatients were imaged at 1.5 T. Two neuroradiologists assessed 630 intracranial arterial segments for IQ (1, nondiagnostic; 3, satisfactory for diagnosis; and 5, excellent). Hemodynamically significant stenosis (>50%) was assessed against all combined techniques as reference. Results The NoHASL MRA IQ was diagnostic (3.32 ± 0.86) but affected by signal to noise ratio and spatial resolution limitations and significantly inferior to TOF (3.48 ± 0.68) and CE MRA (3.44 ± 0.78) (P < 0.0001 in both comparisons). Fourteen (2.2%) of 630 segments had hemodynamically significant stenoses at the reference standard. Sensitivity/specificity was not significantly different between techniques: NoHASL MRA, 67.9%/90.0%; TOF MRA, 67.9%/97.7%; and CE MRA, 50.0%/98.7%. Conclusions The NoHASL MRA is feasible, with diagnostic quality imaging of proximal intracranial vessels. Low disease prevalence limited the assessment of technique accuracy.
Autism in Angelman Syndrome

The aim was to explore the comorbidity between Angelman syndrome and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Identification of autism in children with Angelman syndrome presents a diagnostic challenge. In the present study, 16 children with Angelman syndrome, all with a 15q11-13 deletion, were examined for ASDs. Thirteen children with Angelman syndrome received an ADOS-G algorithm classification of ASD; the remaining three were outside the autistic spectrum. Ten fulfilled the criteria for autism, and three for PDD-NOS. The 10 children with Angelman syndrome and comorbid autism were compared with eight children with only autism regarding their social and communicative skills. The results indicated that Angelman syndrome is better understood in terms of developmental delay, and autism in terms of developmental deviance. It is concluded that autism might have been overdiagnosed due to the extremely low mental age of the children with Angelman syndrome.
A combination of semiquantative telomerase assay and in‐cell telomerase activity measurement using exfoliated urothelial cells for the detection of urothelial neoplasia

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein that synthesizes telomeres. It is detected in more than 85% of samples obtained from cancer tissues, including urologic neoplasia. The authors determined telomerase activity semiquantatively and in‐cell telomerase activity in exfoliated urothelial cells obtained from urologic neoplasia specimens. The goal of this study was to provide additional information regarding a noninvasive approach to the detection of urologic neoplasia.
Enhancement of radioactive decontamination in microalgae using dielectrophoresis based screening

This paper reports a new strategy to enhance the decontamination ability of microalgae by selecting a high potential strain for removing radioactive nuclide using a dielectrophoresis (DEP) based screening microplatform. Microalgae Chlorella vulgaris which has high contents of strontium, can be collected by finding the particular crossover frequency over the other that has relatively low strontium contents. Based on this, we design a novel screening microplatform considering easy separation and collection. After the screening and cultivation of C. vulgaris, they show more enhanced ability on radioactive decontamination in wastewater compared to wild type.
A randomized study of coronary angioplasty compared with bypass surgery in patients with symptomatic multivessel coronary disease. German Angioplasty Bypass Surgery Investigation (GABI)

BACKGROUND The standard treatment for patients with symptomatic multivessel coronary artery disease is coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG). Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is widely used as an alternative approach to revascularization, but a systematic comparison of the two procedures is needed. We compared the outcomes in patients one year after complete revascularization with CABG or PTCA. METHODS A total of 8981 patients with multivessel coronary disease were screened at eight clinical sites, and 359 patients were randomly assigned to undergo CABG (177 patients) or PTCA (182 patients). Enrollment required that complete revascularization of at least two major vessels supplying different myocardial regions be deemed clinically necessary and technically feasible. RESULTS Among the patients in the CABG group, an average of 2.2 +/- 0.6 vessels were grafted, and among those in the PTCA group, 1.9 +/- 0.5 vessels were dilated. After CABG, hospitalization was longer (median, 19, as compared with 5 days for PTCA), and Q-wave myocardial infarction in relation to the procedure was more frequent (8.1 percent, as compared with 2.3 percent after PTCA; P = 0.022), whereas in-hospital mortality did not differ significantly between the two groups (2.5 percent in the CABG group and 1.1 percent in the PTCA group). At discharge 93 percent of the patients in the CABG group were free of angina, as compared with 82 percent of those in the PTCA group (P = 0.005). During the first year of follow-up, further interventions were necessary in 44 percent of the patients in the PTCA group (repeated PTCA in 23 percent, CABG in 18 percent, and both in 3 percent) but in only 6 percent of the patients in the CABG group (repeated CABG in 1 percent and PTCA in 5 percent; P < 0.001). Seventy-four percent of the patients in the CABG group and 71 percent of those in the PTCA group were free of angina one year after treatment. Exercise capacity improved similarly in both groups. However, 22 percent of the CABG group, as compared with only 12 percent of the PTCA group, did not require antianginal medication (P = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS In selected patients with multivessel coronary disease, PTCA and CABG as initial treatments resulted in equivalent improvement in angina after one year. However, in order to achieve similar clinical outcomes, the patients treated with PTCA were more likely to require further interventions and antianginal drugs, whereas the patients treated with CABG were more likely to sustain an acute myocardial infarction at the time of the procedure.
Construction of Lactose-Utilizing Xanthomonas campestris with a Mini-Mu Derivative

Xanthomonas campestris is not able to grow in lactose media. The lactose operon from Escherichia coli as part of a mini-Mu phage was integrated at random sites in the chromosome of this bacterium. Clones expressing (beta)-galactosidase were selected. The resulting strain X. campestris 204, is suitable for production of xanthan gum directly from lactose.
Two-Dimensional Joint Bayesian Method for Face Verification

The Joint Bayesian (JB) method has been used in most state-of-the-art methods for face verification. However, since the publication of the original JB method in 2012, no improved verification method has been proposed. A lot of studies on face verification have been focused on extracting good features to improve the performance in the challenging Labeled Faces in the Wild (LFW) database. In this paper, we propose an improved version of the JB method, called the two-dimensional Joint Bayesian (2D-JB) method. It is very simple but effective in both the training and test phases. We separated two symmetric terms from the three terms of the JB log likelihood ratio function. Using the two terms as a two-dimensional vector, we learned a decision line to classify same and not-same cases. Our experimental results show that the proposed 2D-JB method significantly outperforms the original JB method by more than 1% in the LFW database.
A data flow optimization method for high speed MAC processing in an IEEE 802.16m modem

IEEE 802.16m technology is expected to provide high speed packet data service over wireless. Due to the large amount of data to be processed over a short period of time, an efficient MAC processing in the modem is crucial. Since the MAC processing algorithm has optimization limitations, we focus on a data flow optimization in the system level design, so that the number of external memory accesses is minimized. Experimental results show that our approach results in an up to sixteen times faster IEEE 802.16m modem system.
FUROSEMIDE AND SPIRONOLACTONE REDUCE TRANSMIGRATION OF LEUKOCYTES THROUGH ENDOTHELIAL CELL MONOLAYERS

Furosemide and spironolactone reduce transmigration of leukocytes through endothelial cell monolayers. Leukocytes play a tremendous role during inflammation. Leukocytes migrate from intravascular space into the tissue to attack microorganisms. Various agents are able to influence leukocyte recruitment. The influence of diuretics, such as furosemide and spironolactone, on inflammatory processes is not well known. The aim of our study was to examine the influence of furosemide and spironolactone on leukocyte migration through endothelial cell monolayers (ECM). Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were cultured on microporous membranes achieving a monolayer. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) were used in a currently described migration assay. PMNL and/or ECM were pretreated with furosemide and spironolactone using therapeutic, as well as higher and lower, concentrations. Furosemide (76 - 7.2%) and spironolactone (70 - 7.7%) were able to inhibit PMNL migration through ECM significantly, when both cell types were treated simulating the situation after an iv injection. Furosemide and spironolactone were identified as potent inhibitors of leukocyte migration through ECM.
Sulphur in the control of white root disease.

Peries (1965) suggested the amendment of the surface soil of planting holes with sulphur, for small scale trials in estates, based on encouraging results obtained in pot experiments and a field trial initiated in 1964. An outside estate had reported apparent total cure of White Root disease by incorporating sulphur around the affected roots and a preliminary trial was carried out (Peries, 1956). Although the application of sulphur for treatment of soil in the control of soil-borne diseases had been in practice since 1891, its use in soil treatment for plantation crops in Ceylon or elsewhere had not been reported prior to 1956.
Candidate gene analysis in human neural tube defects

Biochemical and developmental pathways, mouse models, and positional evidence have provided numerous candidate genes for the study of human neural tube defects. In a survey of 80 studies on 38 candidate genes, few found significant results in human populations through case‐control or family‐based association studies. While the folate pathway has been explored extensively, only the MTHFR 677C > T polymorphism was significant, and only in an Irish population. Developmental pathways such as the Wnt signaling pathway and Hox genes have also been explored without positive results. More than 90 mouse candidates have been identified through spontaneous and knockout mutations, but only the T locus (mouse Brachyury gene) showed association in an initial study that was not confirmed on follow‐up. Positional candidates have been derived from cytogenetic evidence, but preliminary genomic screens have limited power due to small sample sizes. Future studies would increase their power to detect association by using more samples. In addition a clarification of the phenotype would be beneficial as many studies used different inclusion criteria. Incorporating several types of data could highlight better candidates, as would looking beyond the traditional sources for candidate genes. Recent studies of an energy metabolism gene (UCP2) and vitamin B metabolism (Transcoalbumin) have produced promising results. Utilizing other model organisms may also be beneficial, as in a recent study from a chick model of NTDs in NCAM1. New approaches combined with traditional methods and increased sample sizes will help prioritize human NTD candidate genes and clarify the complex etiology of this condition. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Recollection and Familiarity Make Independent Contributions to Memory Judgments

Recognition memory can be supported by the processes of recollection and familiarity. Recollection is recovery of qualitative information about a prior event. Familiarity is a scalar strength signal that permits judgments of prior occurrence. There is vigorous debate about how these processes are conceptualized, how they contribute to memory judgments, and which brain regions support them. One popular method for investigating these questions is the Remember/Know procedure, where subjects give a Remember response to studied stimuli for which they can recover contextual details of the study encounter, and a Know response when details are not recovered but subjects nevertheless believe that a stimulus was studied. According to one model, Remember responses are strong memories that are typically associated with relatively high levels of recollection and familiarity. Know responses are weaker memories and are typically associated with lower levels of both processes. Data inconsistent with this account were obtained in this experiment, where magnetoencephalographic (MEG) measures of neural activity were acquired in the test phase of a verbal memory task where healthy human volunteers made Remember, Know, or New judgments to studied and unstudied words. An MEG index of the process of recollection was larger for Remember than Know judgments, whereas the reverse was true for a MEG index of familiarity. Critically, this result is predicted by a model where recollection and familiarity make independent contributions to Remember and Know judgments, and provides a powerful constraint when mapping memory processes onto their neural substrates.
Calpain 1 and 2 Are Required for RNA Replication of Echovirus 1

ABSTRACT Calpains are calcium-dependent cysteine proteases that degrade cytoskeletal and cytoplasmic proteins. We have studied the role of calpains in the life cycle of human echovirus 1 (EV1). The calpain inhibitors, including calpeptin, calpain inhibitor 1, and calpain inhibitor 2 as well as calpain 1 and calpain 2 short interfering RNAs, completely blocked EV1 infection in the host cells. The effect of the inhibitors was not specific for EV1, because they also inhibited infection by other picornaviruses, namely, human parechovirus 1 and coxsackievirus B3. The importance of the calpains in EV1 infection also was supported by the fact that EV1 increased calpain activity 3 h postinfection. Confocal microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy showed that the EV1/caveolin-1-positive vesicles also contain calpain 1 and 2. Our results indicate that calpains are not required for virus entry but that they are important at a later stage of infection. Calpain inhibitors blocked the production of EV1 particles after microinjection of EV1 RNA into the cells, and they effectively inhibited the synthesis of viral RNA in the host cells. Thus, both calpain 1 and calpain 2 are essential for the replication of EV1 RNA.
Curcumin I Mediates Neuroprotective Effect Through Attenuation of Quinoprotein Formation, p‐p38 MAPK Expression, and Caspase‐3 Activation in 6‐Hydroxydopamine Treated SH‐SY5Y Cells

6‐Hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) selectively enters dopaminergic neurons and undergoes auto‐oxidation resulting in the generation of reactive oxygen species and dopamine quinones, subsequently leading to apoptosis. This mechanism mimics the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease and has been used to induce experimental Parkinsonism in both in vitro and in vivo systems. In this study, we investigated the effects of curcumin I (diferuloylmethane) purified from Curcuma longa on quinoprotein production, phosphorylation of p38 MAPK (p‐p38), and caspase‐3 activation in 6‐OHDA‐treated SH‐SY5Y dopaminergic cells. Pretreatment of SH‐SY5Y with curcumin I at concentrations of 1, 5, 10, and 20 μM, significantly decreased the formation of quinoprotein and reduced the levels of p‐p38 and cleaved caspase‐3 in a dose‐dependent manner. Moreover, the levels of the dopaminergic neuron marker, phospho‐tyrosine hydroxylase (p‐TH), were also dose‐dependently increased upon treatment with curcumin I. Our results clearly demonstrated that curcumin I protects neurons against oxidative damage, as shown by attenuation of p‐p38 expression, caspase‐3‐activation, and toxic quinoprotein formation, together with the restoration of p‐TH levels. This study provides evidence for the therapeutic potential of curcumin I in the chemoprevention of oxidative stress‐related neurodegeneration. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The microbial and quality properties of poultry carcasses treated with peracetic acid as an antimicrobial treatment.

Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. continue to be prominent food safety concerns for the poultry industry and consumers alike. Peracetic acid (PAA) has been approved as an antimicrobial for use in poultry chillers. To validate its effectiveness, 100 poultry carcasses (per replication x 2) were inoculated with Salmonella (10(6) cfu) or Campylobacter (10(6) cfu) and were randomly allocated into chill water containing chlorine (0.003%) or PAA (0.0025%, 0.01%, or 0.02%). Results indicated that PAA concentrations as low as 0.0025% were effective in decreasing Salmonella spp. , whereas PAA levels of 0.02% were effective in decreasing Campylobacter spp. when compared with the chlorine treatment. A sensory study was also conducted with another set of 500 carcasses (not inoculated). Birds were treated with water, chlorine (0.003%), or PAA (0.01%, 0.015%, or 0.02%). Sensory panels and microbial data were collected weekly on randomly sampled carcasses that were stored at 4 degrees C for 21 d. The PAA-treated carcasses at 0.015% and 0.02% had an extended shelf-life compared with those treated with water or chlorine. Specifically, on d 15, the only treatments that could be served to sensory panelists were the carcasses treated with 0.015% or 0.02% PAA. The carcasses treated with water, chlorine, or 0.01% PAA had off-colors, off-odors, and high microbial counts. These results suggest that PAA may be an effective antimicrobial when used in poultry chiller applications and greater levels (>or=0.015%) may extend product shelf-life.
Prevalence of fluorosis in an endemic village in central India

Endemic fluorosis is an important public health problem in certain parts of the Durg district of Chhattisgarh. The aim of the study was to find out the prevalence of dental and skeletal fluorosis among the population and to assess the relation between drinking water fluoride level and prevalence of fluorosis. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in Gureda Village, of the Durg district of Chhattisgarh state in October 2009. The survey covered 805 individuals – 362 males and 443 females. The prevalence of dental and skeletal fluorosis was assessed based on clinical examinations of individuals. Drinking and eating habits of individuals were recorded as per checklist. Water fluoride levels of prime water sources were also determined by lab examination. The prevalence of dental fluorosis was 8.2%. Both skeletal and dental fluorosis were more common in males. Dental fluorosis was higher in the 8–45 age group, whereas the prevalence of skeletal fluorosis increased with age. Genu varum (38.1%) and genu vulgum (6.3%) were the common skeletal deformities. Water fluoride levels ranged from 0.2 to 7.8 ppm.
Safety of epidural steroid injections

ABSTRACT Introduction: Epidural steroid injections (ESI) are a commonly utilized treatment for cervical and lumbar radicular pain. All medical procedures and medications carry an inherent level of risk, that must be balanced with the effectiveness of the treatment to determine the risk to benefit ratio for a patient. Areas covered: This article will outline the risks of ESIs and in doing so help shed light on the procedural risks versus the risks of the medication. Additionally, it will help differentiate minor adverse events from significant permanent complications. Expert Opinion: Catastrophic complications of ESI such as paralysis and stroke unquestionably warrant the recent increased attention given to the safety of these injections. While a single major complication is unacceptable, the relative rate of these major complications must be put in prospective. The true rate is small enough that it is impossible to calculate. All cases are limited to case reports and not detected in even the largest published cohorts of ESI. Moreover, recent advances in medication selection and technique have further reduced the incidence of these very rare complications. Conversely, the more common adverse events are rather minor, generally transient, and mostly occur at incidences of less than 1%.