Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptations de la force musculaire des muscles rotateurs médiaux et latéraux dans la stabilisation dynamique de l' articulation scapulo-humérale : applications à des situations pathologiques et sportives

Le but de ce travail est de determiner les liens eventuels existant entre la force et l’equilibre agoniste / antagoniste des muscles rotateurs mediaux et lateraux de l’articulation scapulohumerale, et la stabilite scapulo-humerale. La premiere partie de ce travail est un rappel d’anatomie fonctionnelle, de physiologie articulaire et de biomecanique de l’articulation scapulo-humerale, ainsi que des aspects pathologiques en rapport avec la problematique de sa stabilite et de son exploration. La deuxieme partie propose une analyse critique de la technique d’exploration de la force musculaire par dynamometrie isocinetique, afin de determiner un protocole d’evaluation fiable et reproductible. Ainsi, nous choisissons d’utiliser la position d’evaluation la plus reproductible et la plus adaptee pour l’evaluation de sujets pathologiques : la position assise avec 45° d’abduction dans le plan de la scapula avec correction de la gravite. La troisieme partie a pour objet de rechercher, a partir d’etudes cliniques originales, les liens existant entre la force musculaire des rotateurs mediaux et lateraux de l’epaule et l’instabilite anterieure chronique post-traumatique d’une part, et les adaptations de cette force avec certaines sollicitations sportives d’autre part. Bien qu’un deficit de la force musculaire des rotateurs mediaux et lateraux soit associe a l’instabilite anterieure chronique, nos etudes ne rapportent pas d’association entre le desequilibre agoniste/antagoniste et l’instabilite anterieure chronique. Dans le cadre de la pratique de sports sollicitant les membres superieurs, les adaptations de la force, avec une augmentation de la force des muscles rotateurs mediaux et lateraux du cote dominant, sont inconstantes, et surtout, nos resultats ne rapportent aucun desequilibre agoniste/antagoniste induit par la pratique sportive. En conclusion, notre travail de these met en evidence des adaptations de la force musculaire sans perturbation de l’equilibre agoniste/antagoniste des rotateurs mediaux et lateraux de l’articulation scapulo-humerale, associees a l’instabilite scapulo-humerale ou induites par la pratique de sports sollicitant cette articulation. Prenant en compte les limites de notre experimentation, on peut faire l’hypothese que les adaptations physiologiques induites par la pratique sportive n’interviendraient pas comme un mecanisme de desadaptation, ou un facteur de risque predisposant, a l’origine des pathologies de l’articulation scapulo-humerale. Ainsi, notre conclusion serait que l’equilibre agoniste / antagoniste aurait un role protecteur de la stabilite articulaire ; la survenue d’un desequilibre musculaire agoniste / antagoniste serait alors secondaire a une lesion anatomique et marquerait le signe de son evolution longue et/ou pejorative
Multiply-accumulate architecture for a special class of optimal extension fields

Finite field arithmetic is useful in the implementation of error-correcting codes as well as cryptographic protocols. Large finite field numbers are particularly important in the implementation of elliptic curve cryptography. This paper presents a multiply-accumulate architecture for multipliers over a special class of type II optimal extension fields (OEFs). Type II OEFs are Galois fields GF (p/sup m/) with p a pseudo-Mersenne prime of the form p = 2/sup n/ $c, where c is "small", and an irreducible binomial of the form f (z) = z/sup m/ $2 exists over GF (p). The Type II OEF multiplier presented uses merged arithmetic to combine multiple multiply and addition operations together. Unlike previous work, the multiplier also performs subfield and extension field reduction in parallel for this class of finite fields. Though the multiplier design requires large silicon area for practical implementation, it obviates the need for performing subfield and extension field reduction separately, thereby reducing the overall delay.
Microfluidic Biofabrication of 3D Multicellular Spheroids by Modulation of Non-geometrical Parameters

Three-dimensional (3D) cell spheroids are being increasingly applied in many research fields due to their enhanced biological functions as compared to conventional two-dimensional (2D) cultures. 3D cell spheroids can replicate tissue functions, which enables their use both as in vitro models and as building blocks in tissue biofabrication approaches. In this study, we developed a perfusable microfluidic platform suitable for robust and reproducible 3D cell spheroid formation and tissue maturation. The geometry of the device was optimized through computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations to improve cell trapping. Experimental data were used in turn to generate a model able to predict the number of trapped cells as a function of cell concentration, flow rate, and seeding time. We demonstrated that tuning non-geometrical parameters it is possible to control the size and shape of 3D cell spheroids generated using articular chondrocytes (ACs) as cellular model. After seeding, cells were cultured under perfusion at different flow rates (20, 100, and 500 μl/min), which induced the formation of conical and spherical spheroids. Wall shear stress values on cell spheroids, computed by CFD simulations, increased accordingly to the flow rate while remaining under the chondroprotective threshold in all configurations. The effect of flow rate on cell number, metabolic activity, and tissue-specific matrix deposition was evaluated and correlated with fluid velocity and shear stress distribution. The obtained results demonstrated that our device represents a helpful tool to generate stable 3D cell spheroids which can find application both to develop advanced in vitro models for the study of physio-pathological tissue maturation mechanisms and to obtain building blocks for the biofabrication of macrotissues.
Applications of Mass Spectrometry in the Onset of Amyloid Fibril Formation: Focus on the Analysis of Early-Stage Oligomers

Amyloid fibril formation is a hallmark of diverse neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Conventional diagnosis is based on the appearance of fibrils or plaques, while neglects the role of early-stage oligomers in the disease progression. Recent studies have uncovered that it is the early-stage oligomer, rather than the mature fibril, that greatly contributes cytotoxicity. The formation of oligomers involves complicate structural conversions and it is essential to investigate their conformational changes for a better understanding of aggregation mechanism. The coexistence of soluble early-stage oligomers, intermediates, and pre-fibril species makes it difficult to be differentiate by morphological methods, and only average structural information is provided as they lack the ability of separation. Therefore, mass spectrometry (MS) becomes an alternative technique that presents new and complementary insights into the onset of amyloid fibrils. This review highlights the hotspots and important achievements by MS in the field of amyloid formation mechanism, including the direct detection and differentiation of soluble oligomers (native MS), unambiguous identification of interacted sites involved in the onset of aggregation [hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) and chemical cross-linking (CX)], and conformational switch that leads to fibrilization [collision cross section (CCS) regularity by ion mobility (IM)].
Outcomes and complications related to the management of Bosniak cystic renal lesions.

OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to evaluate outcomes and complications related to the management of Bosniak category IIF, III, and IV renal cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS For this multiinstitutional retrospective study, a Web-based Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) data registry was used to record data of 286 adult patients with 312 prospectively classified Bosniak IIF, III, and IV renal cysts diagnosed between January 2000 and October 2011. Included patients were managed by surgery (n = 86), percutaneous ablation (n = 19), or imaging surveillance of 1 year or more (n = 181). The median number of years of clinical surveillance was 2.4 years (range, 0-11.7 years), 2.6 years (range, 0.4-11.4 years), and 3.2 years (range, 1.1-11.6 years) for patients managed by surgery, ablation, and imaging surveillance, respectively. Pathologic and survival outcomes and complications related to management were evaluated. RESULTS The malignancy rate at surgical pathology was 38% (3/8) for Bosniak IIF, 40% (29/72) for Bosniak III, and 90% (18/20) for Bosniak IV renal cysts. There were no metastases or deaths (0/144) directly related to Bosniak IIF renal cysts. There were no deaths (0/113) directly related to Bosniak III renal cysts, although one patient (1/113) developed local progression and lung metastases after thermal ablation. One patient with a Bosniak IV renal cyst (1/29) presented with and died of metastatic disease. Moderate to severe complications occurred in 19% (16/86), 5% (1/19), and 0% (0/181) of patients managed by surgery, ablation, and imaging surveillance, respectively (p < 0.0001). Severe complications occurred in 7% (6/86) of surgical patients and included multiorgan failure (n = 2), acute myocardial infarction (n = 1), acute ischemic stroke (n = 1), conversion to hemodialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (n = 1), and postoperative severe hemorrhage (n = 1). CONCLUSION There were no deaths from Bosniak IIF or III renal cysts regardless of management approach. Moderate to severe complications are frequent in patients managed by surgery.
The effect of Age on Web-safe Color Visibility for a White Background

This paper investigates the effect of subject's age on Web-safe color visibility on a white background. An evaluation of Website accessibility is necessary because of the rapid dissemination of information on the World Wide Web. One important factor to be considered when developing accessible Websites is the foreground color and the background color combination. In this study, the visibility of 21 chromatic Web-safe colors on a white background was examined using a psychological methodology, i.e. a paired comparison. The participants in the experiment were 12 young adults, 17 middle-aged adults and 11 elderly adults. The young adults conducted three tests involving 420 paired-comparison trials while the other groups' participants conducted the test in consideration of the physical burden. It was found that the chromaticity of the foreground color influenced the assessment of the page's visibility by the young adult group more strongly than that by the other groups. It was also found that the contrast between the foreground and background colors affected the assessment of the page's visibility by the middle-aged and elderly groups more strongly than that by the young adult group. This indicated that the ageing effect in the visibility increases the effect of the contrast and decreases the effect of the chromaticity
Deficits in Verbal Declarative Memory Function in Women With Childhood Sexual Abuse-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Several studies have shown deficits in verbal declarative memory function in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Most of these studies have been performed in men with combat-related PTSD compared with healthy subjects; relatively little is known about memory function in women with abuse-related PTSD, or whether these effects are specific to PTSD or are a nonspecific outcome of exposure to early abuse. The purpose of this study was to assess declarative memory function in women with and without a history of early childhood sexual abuse and PTSD. Forty-three women with and without a history of early childhood sexual abuse and PTSD underwent neuropsychological testing with subtests of the Wechsler Memory Scale—Revised for measurement of verbal and visual memory and subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale for measurement of IQ, and behavioral ratings of PTSD and other psychiatric symptoms. Abused women with PTSD had deficits in verbal declarative memory as measured with the subtests of the Wechsler Memory Scale—Revised compared with women with early abuse without PTSD and nonabused women without PTSD. There were no significant differences in IQ. These findings suggest that early abuse with PTSD is associated with deficits in verbal declarative memory, and that these effects are not related to the nonspecific effects of childhood abuse.
Circulating levels of HER-2/neu oncoprotein in breast cancer

Abstract HER-2/neu, also known as c-erbB-2/neu, is an oncogene located in chromosome 17 which encodes HER-2/neu, a transmembrane protein belonging to the EGFR family. The external domain of this protein is released by the cell and can be studied in serum by immunoassay. HER-2/neu in serum is a specific tumor marker and only slight elevations may be found in the absence of malignancy, mainly in association with liver diseases. Likewise, the highest concentrations of this oncoprotein are found in patients with breast cancer, but lower concentrations may be found in other malignancies, particularly ovarian, prostate and lung cancer (mainly adenocarcinomas). HER-2/neu assay sensitivity in patients with untreated primary loco-regional breast cancer is <10% and seems to be related to overexpression in tissue as well as to the most important prognostic factors: tumor size and nodal involvement. Serial HER-2/neu determinations after surgery seem to be useful in the early diagnosis of recurrence, mainly in patients with HER-2/neu overexpression in tissue, but additional studies are necessary to confirm these results. HER-2/neu sensitivity (proportion of patients with abnormal values) in patients with metastasis is around 40%–45%, with a clear relationship to tissue overexpression and to site (higher in visceral metastases) and number of metastases. The clinical utility of HER-2/neu in patients with advanced disease is mainly for therapeutic monitoring. Likewise, in most of the studies published, a relationship has been found between serum HER-2/neu levels (either pretreatment or at follow-up) with tumor response.
Improving learning efficiency of recurrent neural network through adjusting weights of all layers in a biologically-inspired framework

Brain-inspired models have become a focus in artificial intelligence field. As a biologically plausible network, the recurrent neural network in reservoir computing framework has been proposed as a popular model of cortical computation because of its complicated dynamics and highly recurrent connections. To train this network, unlike adjusting only readout weights in liquid computing theory or changing only internal recurrent weights, inspired by global modulation of human emotions on cognition and motion control, we introduce a novel reward-modulated Hebbian learning rule to train the network by adjusting not only the internal recurrent weights but also the input connected weights and readout weights together, with solely delayed, phasic rewards. Experiment results show that the proposed method can train a recurrent neural network in near-chaotic regime to complete the motion control and working-memory tasks with higher accuracy and learning efficiency.
Addiction as an Attachment Disorder: Implications for Group Therapy

Abstract This article presents a perspective on addiction that not only substantiates why group therapy is the treatment of choice for addiction, but also integrates diverse perspectives from 12-step abstinence-based models, self psychology, and attachment theory into a complementary integrative formula. Attachment theory, self psychology, and affect regulation theory characterize addiction as an attachment disorder induced by a person’s misguided attempt at self-repair because of deficits in psychic structure. Vulnerability of the self is the consequence of developmental failures and early environmental deprivation leading to ineffective attachment styles. Substance abuse, as a reparative attempt, only exacerbates that condition because of physical dependence and further deterioration of existing physiological and psychological structures. Prolonged stress on existing structures leads to exaggerated difficulty in the regulation of affect, which leads to inadequate modulation of appropriate behavior and self-care and increased character pathology.
Crystal Structures of Yeast-Produced Enterovirus 71 and Enterovirus 71/Coxsackievirus A16 Chimeric Virus-Like Particles Provide the Structural Basis for Novel Vaccine Design against Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease

ABSTRACT Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) and coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16) are the two major causative agents for hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD). Previously, we demonstrated that a virus-like particle (VLP) for EV71 produced from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a potential vaccine candidate against EV71 infection, and an EV71/CVA16 chimeric VLP can elicit protective immune responses against both virus infections. Here, we presented the crystal structures of both VLPs, showing that both the linear and conformational neutralization epitopes identified in EV71 are mostly preserved on both VLPs. The replacement of only 4 residues in the VP1 GH loop converted strongly negatively charged surface patches formed by portions of the SP70 epitope in EV71 VLP into a relatively neutral surface in the chimeric VLP, which likely accounted for the additional neutralization capability of the chimeric VLP against CVA16 infection. Such local variations in the amino acid sequences and the surface charge potential are also present in different types of polioviruses. In comparison to EV71 VLP, the chimeric VLP exhibits structural changes at the local site of amino acid replacement and the surface loops of all capsid proteins. This is consistent with the observation that the VP1 GH loop located near the pseudo-3-fold junction is involved in extensive interactions with other capsid regions. Furthermore, portions of VP0 and VP1 in EV71 VLP are at least transiently exposed, revealing the structural flexibility of the VLP. Together, our structural analysis provided insights into the structural basis of enterovirus neutralization and novel vaccine design against HFMD and other enterovirus-associated diseases. IMPORTANCE Our previous studies demonstrated that the enterovirus 71 (EV71) virus-like particle (VLP) produced from yeast is a vaccine candidate against EV71 infection and that a chimeric EV71/coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16) VLP with the replacement of 4 amino acids in the VP1 GH loop can confer protection against both EV71 and CVA16 infections. This study reported the crystal structures of both the EV71 VLP and the chimeric EV71/CVA16 VLP and revealed that the major neutralization epitopes of EV71 are mostly preserved in both VLPs. In addition, the mutated VP1 GH loop in the chimeric VLP is well exposed on the particle surface and exhibits a surface charge potential different from that contributed by the original VP1 GH loop in EV71 VLP. Together, this study provided insights into the structural basis of enterovirus neutralization and evidence that the yeast-produced VLPs can be developed into novel vaccines against hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) and other enterovirus-associated diseases.
Upregulation of inward rectifying currents and Fabry disease neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain are common clinical manifestations of Fabry disease (FD). Although the mechanisms underlying the development of sensory neuropathy remain to be fully elucidated, a chronic ischemic process was proposed. Consequently, this study utilized axonal excitability techniques to gain further insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the development of FD neuropathy. Median motor and sensory axonal excitability studies were undertaken in 13 FD patients and results were compared to 19 healthy subjects. A “fanning‐in” of threshold electrotonus, suggestive of membrane depolarization, was evident only in motor axons in FD patients. In contrast, the sensory axons exhibited a lower threshold in FD (p < 0.05) and a significantly increased hyperpolarizing current/threshold (I/V) gradient (FD 0.48 ± 0.03; controls, 0.31 ± 0.02, p < 0.001), which correlated with clinical scores of disease severity (Rho = 0.65, p < 0.05), neuropathy (Rho = 0.54, p < 0.05) and neuropathic pain (Rho = 0.56, p < 0.05). These findings indicate that upregulation of Ih, rather than ischemia, may underlie the sensory symptoms and possibly development of neuropathy in FD. Modulation of sensory Ih may prove therapeutically useful in Fabry disease.
Possible regulation by N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptors of proliferative progenitor cells expressed in adult mouse hippocampal dentate gyrus

An immunohistochemical technique was employed to analyze mechanisms underlying modulation by N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors of proliferation of neural progenitor cells in adult mouse brain. The systemic administration of NMDA at 100 mg/kg resulted in marked expression of c‐Fos, Fra‐2 and c‐Jun proteins in the granule cell layers of the dentate gyrus in murine hippocampus 2 h later, followed by a significant reduction of the incorporation of 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine (BrdU) in a manner sensitive to the antagonist dizocilpine 2 days after administration. The administration of NMDA also suppressed constitutive expression of both nestin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the dentate granule cells 2 days later, without markedly affecting cell viability for up to 8 weeks after administration. In the subventricular zone and olfactory bulb, however, NMDA failed to affect either the incorporation of BrdU or the expression of nestin and PCNA. The NR1 subunit was highly expressed in the dentate gyrus in addition to the stratum oriens in the hippocampus, but not in the subventricular zone and olfactory bulb. These results suggest that NMDA receptors may play a role crucial for maintenance of the integrity and function of proliferative neural progenitor cells through expression of the nuclear transcription factor activator protein‐1 in granule cells of the dentate gyrus in adult mouse brain.
Chromosomal organization governs the timing of cell type‐specific gene expression required for spore formation in Bacillus subtilis

During the early stages of spore formation in Bacillus subtilis, asymmetric division precedes chromosome segregation, such that the forespore transiently contains only about one‐third of the genetic material surrounding the origin of replication. Shortly after septum formation, the transcription factor σF initiates forespore‐specific gene expression that is essential for the proteolytic activation of pro‐σE in the neighbouring mother cell. Moving the σF‐dependent spoIIR gene from its original origin‐proximal position to an ectopic origin‐distal site caused a delay in spoIIR transcription, as well as delays and reductions in the proteolytic activation of pro‐σE and σE‐directed gene expression. These defects correlated with the accumulation of disporic sporangia, thus reducing sporulation efficiency in a manner that depended upon the distance that spoIIR had been moved from the origin‐proximal third of the chromosome. A significant proportion of disporic sporangia exhibited σE activity in their central compartment, indicating that delays and reductions in σE activation can lead to the formation of a second septum at the opposite pole. These observations support a model in which chromosomal spoIIR position temporally regulates σE activation, thereby allowing for the rapid establishment of mother cell‐specific gene expression that is essential for efficient spore formation. The implications of these findings for cell type‐specific gene expression during the early stages of spore formation in B. subtilis are discussed.