Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extrapyramidal signs, primitive reflexes and incontinence in fronto‐temporal dementia

According to the diagnostic consensus criteria [ 1 ] akinesia, rigidity and tremor as well as primitive reflexes and incontinence support the diagnosis of fronto‐temporal dementia (FTD). However, the prevalence of extrapyramidal signs (EPMS), primitive reflexes and incontinence in FTD has not yet been systematically studied. In the present study, thirty‐one patients with mild or moderate FTD without previous or present antipsychotic medication underwent a detailed neurological exam including the motor part of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). The average total score on the motor subscale of the UPDRS was 14.0 points. Akinesia and Parkinsonian gait or posture were found frequently but were mild in most instances. Rigidity was found in 36% of the patients. Resting tremor was a rare symptom. The only primitive reflex that occurred was a positive palmomental that was found in 7% of the patients. Urinary incontinence was present in 26%. The results have to be confirmed with larger or pooled patient samples from different ascertainment scenarios. If the results of the present study can be replicated, a revision of the consensus criteria from 1998 might be considered.
Pharmacodynamics of Levofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin in a Murine Pneumonia Model: Peak Concentration/MIC versus Area under the Curve/MIC Ratios

ABSTRACT During the last decade some studies have shown that the area under the curve (AUC)/MIC ratio is the pharmacodynamic index that best predicts the efficacies of quinolones, while other studies suggest that the predictive value of the peak concentration/MIC (peak/MIC) ratio is superior to the AUC/MIC ratio in explaining clinical and microbiological outcomes. In classical fractionated dose-response studies with animals, it is difficult to differentiate between the AUC/MIC ratio and the peak/MIC ratio because of colinearity. Three different levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin dosing regimens were studied in a neutropenic mouse pneumonia model. The different regimens were used with the aim of increasing the AUC/MIC ratio without changing the peak/MIC ratio and vice versa. The first regimen (RC) consisted of daily doses of 5 up to 160 mg/kg of body weight divided into one, two, or four doses. In the second regimen (R0), mice were given 1.25 mg/kg every hour from 1 to 23 h, while the dose given at 0 h was 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, or 80 mg/kg. In the third regimen (R11), mice also received 1.25 mg/kg every hour from 0 to 23 h; but in addition, they also received 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, or 80 mg/kg at 11 h. The level of protein binding was also evaluated. The results indicate that the unbound fraction (fu) was concentration dependent for both levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin and ranged from approximately 0.67 to 0.88 for both drugs between concentrations of 0.5 and 80 mg/liter. The relationships between the AUC/MIC ratio and the number of CFU were slightly better than those between the peak/MIC ratio and the number of CFU. There was no clear relationship between the amount of time that the concentration remained above the MIC and effect (R2 < 0.1). For both drugs, the peak/MIC ratio that resulted in a 50% effective concentration was lower for the R0 and R11 dosing regimens, indicating the importance of the AUC/MIC ratio. The same was true for the static doses. Survival studies showed that for mice treated with the low doses the rate of survival was comparable to that for the controls, but with the higher doses the rate of survival was better for mice receiving the R0 regimen. We conclude that for quinolones the AUC/MIC ratio best correlates with efficacy against pneumococci and that the effect of the peak/MIC ratio found in some studies could be partly explained by concentration-dependent protein binding.
Preliminary study on the use of therapeutic seal robot for patients with depression

Depression is a serious mental health challenge. If left untreated, it could lead to other critical symptoms, even suicide. In Malaysia, the prevalence is estimated between 8–10% of the population but it is often under-recognized and undertreated. This study is the first one in Malaysia to propose an animal robot to provide mental support to patients with depression. The main objective of this paper is to introduce PARO the seal robot as a remedy to reduce the need for psychotropic drugs during depression therapy at a rehabilitation center. Patients with depression requires repetitive conditioning and motivation. A robotic animal is a proposed solution to provide constant mental support and induce warm and empathetic feelings from the patients. Comparing assessment scores of pre and post robotic therapy shall shed light on the suitability of PARO to help patients with depression.
A New Species of Deiratonotus (Crustacea: Brachyura: Camptandriidae) Found in the Kumanoe River Estuary, Kyushu, Japan

Abstract Camptandriid crabs collected in the Kumanoe River Estuary, Kyushu, Japan were studied on the basis of morphological characters and molecular analysis. As a result, a new species, Deiratonotus kaoriae, was recognized. These crabs were found mainly in a creek of the sandy tidal flat within the Kumanoe River Estuary. The new species shares a very diagnostic character, the presence of a transverse ridge on the carapace, with D. cristatus (de Man, 1895) and differs markedly from the other congeners that lack this feature. The new species, however, differs from D. cristatus in the absence of harpoon-shaped setae on the subdistal end of the first gonopod and the presence of an extremely reduced second abdominal segment. According to a molecular analysis based on 12S+16S mitochondrial rRNA gene sequences, with Cleistostoma dilatatum (de Haan, 1833) and Camptandrium sexdentatum Stimpson, 1858 as outgroups, Deiratonotus kaoriae is more closely related to D. cristatus than to D. japonicus (Sakai, 1934).
Clinical implementation of integrated whole-genome copy number and mutation profiling for glioblastoma.

BACKGROUND Multidimensional genotyping of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples has the potential to improve diagnostics and clinical trials for brain tumors, but prospective use in the clinical setting is not yet routine. We report our experience with implementing a multiplexed copy number and mutation-testing program in a diagnostic laboratory certified by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments. METHODS We collected and analyzed clinical testing results from whole-genome array comparative genomic hybridization (OncoCopy) of 420 brain tumors, including 148 glioblastomas. Mass spectrometry-based mutation genotyping (OncoMap, 471 mutations) was performed on 86 glioblastomas. RESULTS OncoCopy was successful in 99% of samples for which sufficient DNA was obtained (n = 415). All clinically relevant loci for glioblastomas were detected, including amplifications (EGFR, PDGFRA, MET) and deletions (EGFRvIII, PTEN, 1p/19q). Glioblastoma patients ≤40 years old had distinct profiles compared with patients >40 years. OncoMap testing reliably identified mutations in IDH1, TP53, and PTEN. Seventy-seven glioblastoma patients enrolled on trials, of whom 51% participated in targeted therapeutic trials where multiplex data informed eligibility or outcomes. Data integration identified patients with complete tumor suppressor inactivation, albeit rarely (5% of patients) due to lack of whole-gene coverage in OncoMap. CONCLUSIONS Combined use of multiplexed copy number and mutation detection from FFPE samples in the clinical setting can efficiently replace singleton tests for clinical diagnosis and prognosis in most settings. Our results support incorporation of these assays into clinical trials as integral biomarkers and their potential to impact interpretation of results. Limited tumor suppressor variant capture by targeted genotyping highlights the need for whole-gene sequencing in glioblastoma.
Cytoplasmic androgen binding protein of rat liver: molecular characterization after photoaffinity labeling and functional correlation with the age-dependent synthesis of alpha 2u-globulin.

The liver of the mature male rat contains a moderate affinity (Kd = 10(-8)M), low-capacity, cytoplasmic androgen binding protein (CAB) whose appearance during puberty and disappearance during senescence correlate with the androgen-dependent synthesis of alpha 2u-globulin. Molecular properties of CAB were examined by photoaffinity labeling with tritiated methyltrienolone (R-1881), a synthetic androgen, and by its localization within the hepatocytes which are competent to produce alpha 2u-globulin. Photoaffinity labeling of the liver cytosol derived from postpubertal male rats, followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography, showed a predominant androgen binding band corresponding to Mr 31,000. This 31-kilodalton (kDa) binding component was conspicuously absent in the liver of androgen-insensitive prepubertal and senescent male rats and in adult male rats treated with estradiol-17 beta. In addition, unlike the cytoplasmic extract, the nuclear lysate of the male rat hepatocytes did not contain the 31-kDa androgen binder. Disappearance of the 31-kDa androgen binding band from the cytosolic fraction of androgen-insensitive animals was associated with a concomitant appearance of a minor androgen binding component of apparent Mr 29,000. The livers of postpubertal male rats normally contain two subpopulations of hepatocytes, only one of which is highly active (competent) in alpha 2u-globulin synthesis. Separation of these two subpopulations through a fluorescence-activated cell sorter followed by whole cell labeling showed more than a 2-fold higher uptake of R-1881 by the competent cells. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
BLACK PRE-SERVICE SCIENCE TEACHERS’ EXPERIENCES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE IN A SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY

The prevalence of social justice in teaching and learning is regarded as one of the most profound ideals that education should address. In societies such as South Africa where historical events indicate racial segregation, social justice should be promoted in education to address these past issues. For teachers to be able to foreground social justice during their teaching, they should be introduced, exposed and experience social justice during their training. In one South African university, effort has been placed on how pre-service teachers may be trained in ways that afford them social justice. This qualitative study aims to explore black pre-service science teachers’ experiences of social justice in their training. These students are enrolled for a Bachelor of Education degree specialising in Physical Science Education. There are higher incidences of failure in their science core modules. Semi-structured interviews and focus group interviews were used to collect the data. The interview data were then analysed using content analysis. The pre-service science teachers indicated that they are being discriminated against by the system. Their justification for this view is based on what they regard as the authorities’ negative attitude towards the issues that affect their training. The researcher concluded that the teacher training system in the university disregards social justice, though the policy stipulates it.
Purification, Enzymatic Characterization, and Inhibition of theZ-Farnesyl Diphosphate Synthase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis *

We have recently shown that open reading frame Rv1086 of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv genome sequence encodes a unique isoprenyl diphosphate synthase. The product of this enzyme, ω,E,Z-farnesyl diphosphate, is an intermediate for the synthesis of decaprenyl phosphate, which has a central role in the biosynthesis of most features of the mycobacterial cell wall, including peptidoglycan, arabinan, linker unit galactan, and lipoarabinomannan. We have now purified Z-farnesyl diphosphate synthase to near homogeneity using a novel mycobacterial expression system.Z-Farnesyl diphosphate synthase catalyzed the addition of isopentenyl diphosphate to ω,E-geranyl diphosphate or ω,Z-neryl diphosphate yieldingω,E,Z-farnesyl diphosphate andω,Z,Z-farnesyl diphosphate, respectively. The enzyme has an absolute requirement for a divalent cation, an optimal pH range of 7–8, and K m values of 124 μm for isopentenyl diphosphate, 38 μm for geranyl diphosphate, and 16 μm for neryl diphosphate. Inhibitors of the Z-farnesyl diphosphate synthase were designed and chemically synthesized as stable analogs ofω,E-geranyl diphosphate in which the labile diphosphate moiety was replaced with stable moieties. Studies with these compounds revealed that the active site of Z-farnesyl diphosphate synthase differs substantially from E-farnesyl diphosphate synthase from pig brain (Sus scrofa).
Trade Reintegration of Southeastern Europe : The Role of Slovenia

This paper analyzes economic cooperation between Slovenia and the countries of the former Yugoslavia. We find the region still highly unstable and bearing a high trade deficit that may prompt the governments in the region to put restrictions on trade. In order to secure exports markets, a number of Slovenian firms are actively drawing foreign direct investment (FDI) into the region. We analyze this increased investment activity in some depth, combining survey and accounting data of Slovenian major investors into the Southeastern European (SEE) region in order to reveal their motivation for FDI. We find that, so far, trade-promoting rather than efficiency-seeking or resource-seeking motives are the driving force behind this increased investment activity. Slovenian firms are predominantly oriented toward increasing sales to the region from their Slovenian headquarters rather than toward setting up SEE production facilities in order to exploit local comparative advantages. The rationale for this is the still too-unstable political and economic environment of the SEE region, the low financial discipline of local customers, and the still underutilized resources of Slovenian-headquartered firms. Trade promotion might be a short-term strategy of Slovenian firms; in the longer run, however, we find some evidence in support of efficiency-seeking and resource-seeking motives.
Geographic and Demographic Representativeness of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps

The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program serves more than 550,000 high school students each year, many of whom are at risk for failing academically or dropping out of school. This report examines the representativeness of the JROTC program at the school level with respect to geography and demographics and determines how federal laws and policies affect starting and sustaining JROTC units.
Fluorescent CXCL12AF647 as a novel probe for nonradioactive CXCL12/CXCR4 cellular interaction studies

Chemokines drive the migration of leukocytes via interaction with specific G protein–coupled 7‐transmembrane receptors. The chemokine ligand/receptor pair stromal cell–derived factor‐1 (SDF‐1, CXCL12)/CXCR4 is gaining increasing interest because of its involvement in the metastasis of several types of cancer and in certain inflammatory autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, CXCR4 serves as an important coreceptor for cellular entry of T‐tropic strains of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Therefore, potent and specific CXCR4 antagonists may have therapeutic potential as anti‐HIV, anti‐cancer, and anti‐inflammatory drugs.
The effect of pimobendan on left atrial pressure in dogs with mitral valve regurgitation.

BACKGROUND The effects of pimobendan on left atrial pressure (LAP) in dogs with mitral valve disease (MR) have not been documented in a quantitative manner. OBJECTIVE The objective was to document and study the short-term effects of pimobendan on LAP and echocardiographic parameters in MR dogs. ANIMALS Eight healthy Beagle dogs weighing 10.0-14.7 kg (3 males and 5 females; aged 2 years) were used. METHODS Experimental, cross-over, and interventional study. Dogs with surgically induced MR received pimobendan at either 0.25 mg/kg or 0.50 mg/kg p.o. q12h for 7 days and then, after a 7-day wash-out period, the other dosage. LAP was measured for 30 minutes at baseline and again on days 1, 2, 4, and 7 of pimobendan administration. RESULTS Mean LAP was significantly decreased after the administration of 0.25 mg/kg (15.81 ± 5.44 mmHg to 12.67 ± 5.71 mmHg, P < .001) and 0.50 mg/kg (15.76 ± 5.45 mmHg to 10.77 ± 5.23 mmHg, P < .001). Also, the 0.50 mg/kg group led to a significantly lower LAP (P < .01) compared with the 0.25 mg/kg group. Significant reduction was seen for the first time 4 days after the administration of 0.25 mg/kg and a day after the administration of 0.50 mg/kg. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Pimobendan decreased LAP in a dose-dependent manner in dogs with acute MR caused by experimental chordal rupture. This study did not evaluate adverse effects of high-dose pimobendan, and additional studies in clinical patients are warranted.
Accountability challenges in EU economic governance? Parliamentary scrutiny of the European Semester

Abstract This paper sets out to address to what extent and how national parliaments scrutinize the European Semester process. My central argument is that the European semester constitutes a complex regime of different policy-making modes, which poses severe challenges for effective parliamentary scrutiny of the process. Through paired comparison between two Nordic parliaments and the Spanish parliament, I identify a number of accountability challenges in the scrutiny of the European Semester. Although we should expect that parliaments of euro countries are more motivated for scrutinizing the European Semester as the process has stronger implications for national budgetary policy, the findings show the importance of formal monitoring capabilities. Thus, the ability to counteract the accountability challenges of the European Semester is not equal across parliamentary chambers of the EU leading to a reinforcement of existing differences of parliamentary involvement in EU policy-making.
W-band micromachined finite ground coplanar (FGC) line circuit elements

This paper describes the development and characterization of Si-micromachined Finite Ground Coplanar (FGC) circuit components between 2 and 110 GHz. FGC lines are micromachined to eliminate the dielectric in the aperture regions, where the electromagnetic fields concentrate, in an effort to further improve their propagation characteristics and to provide loss levels only demonstrated by membrane lines. Measured results have shown a loss improvement of 1 dB/cm at 94 GHz. A micromachined FGC bandpass filter has shown a . 8 dB improvement in insertion loss at 94 GHz over a conventional FGC line. Therefore, this approach offers an excellent alternative to the membrane technology, exhibiting very low loss, no dispersion, and mode free operation without using membranes to support the metallic structures.
Attenuation of the febrile response in guinea pigs by fish oil enriched diets.

The influence of dietary lipid manipulation on the fever response to an injection of murine recombinant Interleukin-1 (rIL-1) in guinea pigs was examined. The animals were fed diets identical except for the lipid source for periods of 5 and 6 wk. In vitro thromboxane B2/B3 (TxB2/B3) production in collagen-stimulated whole blood was also measured. One diet was enriched with menhaden oil, high in the omega-3 series of fatty acids. The other diet contained safflower oil, consisting primarily of the omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid (74%). Animals fed the fish oil-enriched diet for 6 wk not 5 week had a blunted fever response after rIL-1 injection. This was associated with a 27% increase (p less than 0.05) in total omega-3 fatty acids in plasma phospholipids between weeks 5 and 6 in fish oil-fed animals. Safflower oil-fed animals produced a "normal" febrile response regardless of the duration of feeding. Safflower-fed guinea pigs demonstrated a significant increase in TxB2/B3 production in whole blood after 6 wks that was associated with a 25% increase (p less than 0.05) in plasma phospholipid arachidonic acid levels between weeks 5 and 6. Despite significant reductions in phospholipid linoleic acid in animals fed fish oil, arachidonic acid levels remained unchanged. In the guinea pig model used, long-term menhaden oil feeding can significantly blunt the febrile response induced by exogenous Interleukin-1. Also, a high intake of linoleic acid as seen in safflower oil feeding can significantly increase thromboxane production in stimulated whole blood. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
HDAC6 is a target for protection and regeneration following injury in the nervous system

Central nervous system (CNS) trauma can result in tissue disruption, neuronal and axonal degeneration, and neurological dysfunction. The limited spontaneous CNS repair in adulthood and aging is often insufficient to overcome disability. Several investigations have demonstrated that targeting HDAC activity can protect neurons and glia and improve outcomes in CNS injury and disease models. However, the enthusiasm for pan-HDAC inhibition in treating neurological conditions is tempered by their toxicity toward a host of CNS cell types –a biological extension of their anticancer properties. Identification of the HDAC isoform, or isoforms, that specifically mediate the beneficial effects of pan-HDAC inhibition could overcome this concern. Here, we show that pan-HDAC inhibition not only promotes neuronal protection against oxidative stress, a common mediator of injury in many neurological conditions, but also promotes neurite growth on myelin-associated glycoprotein and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan substrates. Real-time PCR revealed a robust and selective increase in HDAC6 expression due to injury in neurons. Accordingly, we have used pharmacological and genetic approaches to demonstrate that inhibition of HDAC6 can promote survival and regeneration of neurons. Consistent with a cytoplasmic localization, the biological effects of HDAC6 inhibition appear transcription-independent. Notably, we find that selective inhibition of HDAC6 avoids cell death associated with pan-HDAC inhibition. Together, these findings define HDAC6 as a potential nontoxic therapeutic target for ameliorating CNS injury characterized by oxidative stress-induced neurodegeneration and insufficient axonal regeneration.
Iterative N-way partial least squares for a binary self-paced brain–computer interface in freely moving animals

In this paper a tensor-based approach is developed for calibration of binary self-paced brain–computer interface (BCI) systems. In order to form the feature tensor, electrocorticograms, recorded during behavioral experiments in freely moving animals (rats), were mapped to the spatial–temporal–frequency space using the continuous wavelet transformation. An N-way partial least squares (NPLS) method is applied for tensor factorization and the prediction of a movement intention depending on neuronal activity. To cope with the huge feature tensor dimension, an iterative NPLS (INPLS) algorithm is proposed. Computational experiments demonstrated the good accuracy and robustness of INPLS. The algorithm does not depend on any prior neurophysiological knowledge and allows fully automatic system calibration and extraction of the BCI-related features. Based on the analysis of time intervals preceding the BCI events, the calibration procedure constructs a predictive model of control. The BCI system was validated by experiments in freely moving animals under conditions close to those in a natural environment.