Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recent Advances in Stroke Rehabilitation

Following hemiparetic stroke, recovery of motor function is often not adequate. There are now multiple approaches that seem promising for promoting recovery of the weakened limb, and they are often guided by new understandings of biological principles, many relating to brain plasticity, including: (a) Use of a body part enhances its function. Intensive, focused physical therapy does help, as has been demonstrated, for example, by constraint-induced movement therapy. Other techniques use the same principle. (b) The ipsilateral hemisphere can contribute to motor control, and bilateral, symmetrical arm movement training may help on this basis. (c) Sensory stimulation enhances plasticity. (d) Reduction of inhibition enhances plasticity. This has been demonstrated to be useful for rehabilitation utilizing transient deafferentation. (e) Pharmacological agents such as amphetamines can enhance plasticity. (f) Transcranial magnetic stimulation can enhance plasticity. (g) Spasticity can be reduced with oral, intrathecal, or intramuscular agents. (h) Cortical activity can be interpreted for the intended movement and a signal derived to control a prosthesis. (i) Lost tissue might be replaced with either regrowth of tissue or implantation. Following hemiparetic stroke, although there is typically some recovery of motor function in the weakened limb, it is often not adequate. Until recently, it has not been clear whether this improvement could be facilitated by any intervention. Clearly, physical and occupational therapy directed to activities of daily living are commonly successful, but this may be due to substitutions by the unaffected body parts. There are now multiple approaches that seem promising for promoting recovery of the weakened limb, and they are often guided by new understandings of biological principles, many relating to brain plasticity. Brain plasticity is the concept that the brain is able to change (Hallett 1999, 2000, 2001a, 2001b). Neurons and neural networks can change their function by several mechanisms. Alterations in the balance of excitation and inhibition may occur, including reduction in inhibition called “unmasking. ” Synaptic strength can increase or decrease by mechanisms such as long-term potentiation or depression. The excitability of neuronal membrane can change, and new synapses can form. Not only can these processes occur, they are constantly occurring. To harness these for recovery is now a major task for rehabilitation.
Efficient analysis of slotted SIW

A full-wave analysis of substrate integrated waveguide structures with radiating slots is presented. The field inside the parallel plate waveguide is computed by considering the dyadic Green's function expressed as an expansion in terms of vectorial cylindrical eigenfunctions and considering the scattering from the ensemble of conducting posts. Radiating slots have been taken into account considering their equivalent magnetic current distribution and solving the integral equation derived by the continuity of the field on the slots surface. Results relevant to structures already presented in literature will be shown and compared with HFSS simulations. It will be shown that the proposed method is efficient and gives results in excellent agreement with the most common simulations tools.
JNK-1 deficiency limits macrophage-mediated antigen-induced arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To elucidate the nonredundant roles of JNK-1 and JNK-2 in antigen-induced arthritis (AIA). METHODS Mice that were genetically disrupted in Jnk1 or Jnk2 were primed by injection of methylated bovine serum albumin (mBSA) in Freund's complete adjuvant and then challenged on day 21 by intraarticular injection of mBSA into the right knee. Bone marrow chimeras were generated and similarly treated. Joints were harvested and prepared for histologic assessment. T cell responses were verified by cytokine and proliferation responses, and relative immunoglobulin responses were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cytokine messenger RNA expression levels were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. Thioglycollate-elicited and zymosan A-elicited macrophage recruitment was tested in vivo, and cell migration was tested in vitro. The peptide inhibitor D-JNKi was injected daily starting 4 days after intraarticular injection of mBSA into wild-type (WT) mice, and inflammation was scored histologically. RESULTS JNK-1-deficient, but not JNK-2-deficient, mice had a reduction in inflammatory cell infiltration and joint damage. This effect was primarily restricted to hematopoietic cells, but B and T cell responses were preserved in mBSA-injected mice. JNK-1-deficient macrophages produced cytokines and chemokines at a level comparable to that in their WT counterparts. However, macrophage migration was impaired in vivo and in vitro. Targeting JNK with the peptide inhibitor D-JNKi dramatically reduced inflammation and joint destruction in WT mice. CONCLUSION AIA is dependent on JNK-1, but not JNK-2. JNK-1 is a promising molecular target for reducing autoimmune inflammation, since its inhibition impairs macrophage migration.
Effects of Exogenous Nitric Oxide Protects Tomato Plants under Copper Stress

Nitric oxide (NO) serves as a bioactive molecule involved in antioxidant and anti-stress agent in tolerance responses to abiotic stress. Here, we investigated the effects of exogenous sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor, on both the ROS metabolism and functions of plasma membrane and tonoplast in tomato plants treated with 50 µM CuCl2. Cu stress induced significant accumulation of H2O2, led to serious lipid peroxidation, and finally markedly decreased shoot height, fresh weight of tomato plants. The application of 100 µM SNP promoted ROS-scavenging enzymes, reduced accumulation of H2O2 in tomato plants, and promoted the activity of H + -ATPase and H + -PPase in plasma membrane or tonoplast, significantly alleviated the growth inhibition induced by CuCl2. While application of sodium ferrocyanide (an analog of SNP) and sodium nitrate or nitrite (the decomposition product of NO or its donor SNP) which did not release NO, did not show the effects of SNP; furthermore, the effects of SNP were reverted by addition of hemoglobin (a NO scavenger). To sum up, these results suggested that exogenous NO could effectively induce tomato seedlings to adjust physiological and biochemical effect against copper (Cu) toxicity, and maintain fundamentally metabolic capability and normal growth under heavy metal stress. Keyword: tomato; copper stress; nitric oxide; oxidative stress; plasma membrane; tonoplast
A novel and consistent amplicon at 13q31 associated with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcomas are the most common soft‐tissue sarcoma found in children. The alveolar subtype is clinically more aggressive than the embryonal subtype. In addition to the presence of specific chromosome translocations and associated fusion gene products in a high proportion of the alveolar subtype, we previously showed that tumors with this histology frequently show evidence of genomic amplification. Here, we substantially extended the number of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma samples examined by comparative genomic hybridization analysis. Regions of loss were noted, including the smallest overlapping regions corresponding to 16q, 17/17p, and 9q32–34, in 16%, 10%, and 10% of cases, respectively (44 primary samples/6 cell lines). Amplification or gain at 12q13–15 in the region of the MDM2/GLI1/SAS/CDK4 loci and 2p24 at the MYCN locus was found in 28% and 32% of cases, respectively. Single amplicons were found at locations that in other samples showed consistent gain, including the regions 5q15–23, 7q21–31, 11p11–14, 17q23–24, and 20q13, and amplification was found in two cases at 15q24–26. However, most striking was a novel region of amplification or gain at 13q31 in 19% of cases (51 primary samples/6 cell lines). This indicates that a gene or genes at 13q31 are significant in the development or progression of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 28:220–226, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Worksite Weight Loss Intervention for Employees in Stressful Workplaces: A Pilot Study and Baseline Survey Indicators of Success

Statement of problem: Correctional facilities are stressful, unhealthy and dangerous working environments, which increase the risk of chronic diseases and a shortened lifespan for employees, particularly corrections officers. The need exists for effective worksite interventions to lower chronic disease risk and improve health of correctional employees. Objective: The primary aim was to pilot test eight-week worksite nutrition and physical activity educational intervention for correctional employees and to determine baseline indicators of weight loss success. Methods: Twenty overweight/obese volunteer employees were recruited by convenience sampling. Educational material was tailored to baseline responses on diet and physical activity knowledge, preferences, and behaviors. Adiposity status was both self-rated by the study participants and measured by researchers. The primary indicator was change in adiposity with a goal of 3% loss in weight across the intervention. Results: The group averaged one-pound loss per week; eleven of 20 employees lost ≥3% of body weight. The number of overweight/obese employees with healthy waist circumferences increased from 3 to 8 post-intervention. At baseline, employees who reached the weight loss goal were most likely to: accurately assess their level of adiposity; have lower knowledge about nutrition and healthy eating; report greater preference for discretionary-energy foods but less preference for vegetables; and less confidence in changing their physical activity behaviors. Conclusions: The intervention resulted in clinically meaningful, short-term weight loss among employees in stressful workplaces. Simple baseline survey-assessment defined employees who reported room to change their dietary and physical activity patterns as well as an accurate realization of their level of excessive adiposity.
Linear prediction, entropy and signal analysis

This paper reviews the fundamental concepts of Linear Prediction (LP) and Maximum Entropy (ME) spectral analysis, and elucidates the reasons for their practical importance in the world of real signals. Subsequently, the paper introduces the powerful principle of Minimum Cross-Entropy (MCE) spectral analysis. MCE permits the incorporation of prior information into signal analysis. In a new approach to speech signal analysis, application of the MCE principle reduces the average number of predictor coefficients (poles) that have to be specified per time frame for a given spectral resolution by relying on prior spectral information. Such prior spectral information may be given by glottal source and lip radiation Characteristics, microphone and transmission frequency responses, and spectral information from preceding time frames-particularly during steady-state or slowly-varying portions of a speech utterance.
Dietary survey during pregnancy in a low socio-economic group.

Maternal food intakes were assessed by 7-d weighed diet records during the three trimesters of pregnancy in 75 mothers in a low socio-economic groups. Mean (+/- s.e.) energy intakes in the first, second and third trimesters were 1613 +/- 45.7, 1723 +/- 45.4, 1772 +/- 50.2 kcal respectively. Mean (+/- s.e.) energy intakes of nine mothers with babies less than 2500 g at birth were 1446 +/- 95.1 kcal, compared with 1723 +/- 39.9, P less than 0.001. Intake of almost all nutrients was lower in mothers of babies less than 2500 g, but only the difference in fat (62.1 +/- 5.0 vs 72.6 +/- 1.75, P less than 0.025) and pyridoxine (0.92 +/- 0.06 vs 1.47 +/- 0.14, P less than 0.005) intakes reached statistical significance.
Integrated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Comorbid Cannabis Use and Anxiety Disorders

Cannabis use disorders (CUDs) co-occur with anxiety disorders at high rates, presumably because some individuals with anxiety disorders may rely on cannabis to manage anxiety. Motivation enhancement therapy (MET) combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an efficacious intervention for CUD, yet outcomes are worse for patients with elevated anxiety. The integration of MET-CBT with False Safety Behavior Elimination Treatment (FSET) may be useful with anxious CUD patients, as the use of cannabis to manage anxiety can be targeted as a false safety behavior. Here, we describe the integrated treatment and the successful use of it among two patients—one with CUD and comorbid social anxiety disorder (SAD) and one with CUD and comorbid SAD and generalized anxiety disorder. Data support the feasibility of this integrated treatment as a viable approach to the treatment of CUD and comorbid anxiety disorders. Future controlled trials are now warranted to further evaluate the intervention.
The Antagonistic Action of B56-containing Protein Phosphatase 2As and Casein Kinase 2 Controls the Phosphorylation and Gli Turnover Function of Daz Interacting Protein 1*

Background: The stability of Gli proteins is important for the outcome of Hedgehog signaling. Results: Dzip1 is involved in a novel Gli turnover mechanism. This function of Dzip1 is regulated by CK2 and PP2A-dependent reversible phosphorylation. Conclusion: The antagonistic action of PP2A and CK2 controls the phosphorylation and Gli turnover function of Dzip1. Significance: Our studies have identified a novel Gli regulatory mechanism. The Hedgehog (Hh) pathway is evolutionarily conserved and plays critical roles during embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis. Defective Hh signaling has been linked to a wide range of birth defects and cancers. Hh family proteins regulate the expression of their downstream target genes through the control of proteolytic processing and the transcriptional activation function of Gli transcription factors. Although Hh-dependent regulation of Gli has been studied extensively, other Gli regulatory mechanisms remain relatively unappreciated. Here we report our identification of a novel signaling cascade that controls the stability of Gli proteins. This cascade consists of Daz interacting protein 1 (Dzip1), casein kinase 2 (CK2), and B56 containing protein phosphatase 2As (PP2As). We provide evidence that Dzip1 is involved in a novel Gli turnover pathway. We show that CK2 directly phosphorylates Dzip1 at four serine residues, Ser-664/665/706/714. B56-containing PP2As, through binding to a domain located between amino acid residue 474 and 550 of Dzip1, dephosphorylate Dzip1 on these CK2 sites. Our mutagenesis analysis further demonstrates that the unphosphorylatable form of Dzip1 is more potent in promoting Gli turnover. Consistently, we found that the stability of Gli proteins was decreased upon CK2 inhibition and increased by inhibition of B56-containing PP2As. Thus, reversible phosphorylation of Dzip1, which is controlled by the antagonistic action of CK2 and B56-containing PP2As, has an important impact on the stability of Gli transcription factors and Hh signaling.
MODEL PREDICTIVE STATISTICAL PROCESS CONTROL - HANDLING STEP UPSETS

Abstract A feedback-based model predictive control (MPC) approach to product quality improvement that incorporates multivariate statistical techniques has been developed [1]. The objective of the approach is to use existing process measurements to help reduce the variability of product quality when its online measurement is not feasible. The approach is model based and it uses principal component analysis to compress selected process measurements into scores. One or more manipulated setpoints are chosen and varied to control the scores in order to counteract the effect of stochastic process disturbances on product quality. The approach assumes that the selected process measurements correlate with product quality, and that the stochastic disturbances that cause product variability are stationary. When implemented on the Tennessee Eastman process the approach resulted in a 44% reduction in the variability of the product quality. In this paper the issue of how to handle non-stationary step upsets is addressed. A steady state model predictive control approach is used in conjunction with the dynamic score control to overcome the problems caused by the step disturbances.
Nonlinear motion and mechanical mixing in as-grown GaAs nanowires

We report nonlinear behavior in the motion of driven nanowire cantilevers. The nonlinearity can be described by the Duffing equation and is used to demonstrate mechanical mixing of two distinct excitation frequencies. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the nonlinearity can be used to amplify a signal at a frequency close to the mechanical resonance of the nanowire oscillator. Up to 26 dB of amplitude gain is demonstrated in this way.
Deaths from Neoplasms and Detection of Radionuclides in Excised Human Lungs in the Eordea Basin, Greece

Lignite contains various trace-metal natural radioactive contaminants. In the Eordea Basin, the most important lignite field in Greece, the authors conducted a proportional mortality ratio (PMR) study that compared the mortality rates of individuals who lived in the basin vs. a control group who resided in the city of Kilkis, over a 30-yr period. The following information was used in the study: (a) municipal registrations of deaths from neoplasms during the period from 1971 to 2000, and (b) detection of radioactive substances in samples obtained from excised lungs of individuals living in Eordea Basin who suffered from neoplasm. The corresponding registrations of deaths from neoplasm of the inhabitants of Kilkis, a city located outside the Eordea Basin, formed the control group. A diachronic increase of the PMR was detected as a result of neoplasms and, particularly, as a result of lung cancer in Eordea Basin. However, the above ratio did not exceed the corresponding PMR recorded in Kilkis. In 20 lung samples obtained from patients who had lived in Eordea Basin, and in 19 lung samples from patients in Kilkis, the activity of the radionuclides of uranium and thorium radioactive decay series, potassium-40, and cesium-137 was not higher than expected. No statistically significant difference was found between the inhabitants of the 2 regions, thus it was concluded that the increase in respiratory-system neoplasms was likely associated with the high prevalence of smoking among the regions' inhabitants. In future studies, a longer observation period and examination of more cases will be necessary to further investigate a possible association between radionuclides and lung neoplasms in the Eordea Basin.
Multiple Effector Functions Mediated by Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Specific CD4+ T-Cell Clones

ABSTRACT Mounting evidence suggests that human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag-specific T helper cells contribute to effective antiviral control, but their functional characteristics and the precise epitopes targeted by this response remain to be defined. In this study, we generated CD4+ T-cell clones specific for Gag from HIV-1-infected persons with vigorous Gag-specific responses detectable in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Multiple peptides containing T helper epitopes were identified, including a minimal peptide, VHAGPIAG (amino acids 218 to 226), in the cyclophilin binding domain of Gag. Peptide recognition by all clones examined induced cell proliferation, gamma interferon (IFN-γ) secretion, and cytolytic activity. Cytolysis was abrogated by concanamycin A and EGTA but not brefeldin A or anti-Fas antibody, implying a perforin-mediated mechanism of cell lysis. Additionally, serine esterase release into the extracellular medium, a marker for cytolytic granules, was demonstrated in an antigen-specific, dose-dependent fashion. These data indicate that T helper cells can target multiple regions of the p24 Gag protein and suggest that cytolytic activity may be a component of the antiviral effect of these cells.
A noise-robust obstacle detection algorithm for mobile robots using active 3D sensors

Obstacle detection is one of the most important tasks for mobile robots moving along a plane, and it is critical to avoid damages, either to the robot or to human operators. In the past decades, several techniques were proposed for visual navigation of mobile robots, relying on different kind of sensors and algorithms: sonar sensors, laser stripes, and stereo vision are commonly used techniques. Even if these techniques are well-established and used in commercial robots, different and better sensors are now widespread, such as depth sensors. This work proposes an algorithm based on the use of an active 3D depth sensor for obstacle detection and avoidance. The algorithm, conceived to be used in embedded systems with low processing power, underwent several experiments and proved to be robust to Gaussian white noise.
Tele-micro-surgery system with intelligent user interface

This paper describes a master-slave type tele-micro-surgical system with an intelligent user interface. To enhance the accuracy and the rigidity of the slave-manipulator, multicircular guides were adopted for the rotational degrees of freedom. To increase the operability of the system, an "antishadow" technique was used and the 3D relative information was presented on a 2D display. Furthermore, the anti-shadow was processed using a real-time tracking vision system to guide the slave-manipulator to the target position automatically. It took approximately 25 minutes to suture a 1 mm diameter artificial micro-blood-vessel using the system. The carotid artery of a rat with a diameter of 0.3 mm was also successfully sutured.
Astrocytic glutamate uptake and prion protein expression

Factors influencing glutamate uptake by astrocytes may indirectly influence neuronal survival. Elevated extracellular glutamate may be excitotoxic or may exacerbate neurodegeneration in various neurological diseases. By using a cell culture model, we have investigated the influence of astrocytic prion protein (PrPc) expression on glutamate uptake. Type 1 astrocytes expressing PrPc have a higher rate of Na+‐dependent glutamate uptake than PrPc‐deficient type 1 astrocytes. This difference is exacerbated when serum free media is used to culture the astrocytes. Further analysis suggested that a decrease in substrate affinity is responsible for the sensitivity of PrP‐deficient astrocytic glutamate uptake to culture conditions. PrPc has been shown to bind copper. Greater sensitivity of cells to copper concentrations may be responsible for the decreased substrate affinity observed. PrPc‐deficient cerebellar cells are more sensitive to glutamate toxicity in the presence of copper. These results show that glutamate uptake from astrocytes is dependent on PrPc expression which in turn may be related to copper metabolism. GLIA 25:282–292, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.