Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Epidemiological research and surveillance throughout 30 years

Established in 1967, the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBRN) was organized in the wake of the thalidomide catastrophe that caused more than 10 000 cases of limb reduction deformities throughout the world (1). The particular aim was epidemiological surveillance of birth defects and other perinatal health problems in order to detect, as soon as possible, any future increase in rates. The same year, programs with similar objectives were organized in South America and Atlanta, USA. The subsequent years saw the establishment of such programs in many other countries. During the last 20 years, about thirty of these programs have been collaborating in the International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Monitoring Systems (2). In Europe, a similar number of programs are organized in the EUsponsored network EUROCAT. Most of the other programs represent birth defects registries, some of them organized as permanent case control studies. MBRN, however, is based on compulsory notification of every birth or late abortion in the country from 16 weeks of gestation onwards. Similar medical birth registries were later established in all the Nordic countries, collaborating in the Nordic Association of Medical Birth Registries.
Upregulating CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Regulatory T Cells in Pancreatic Lymph Nodes in Diabetic NOD Mice by Adjuvant Immunotherapy

Background. Immunotherapy with Complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) is effective in ameliorating autoimmunity in diabetic nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. We investigated whether CFA treatment up-regulates CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and increases transforming growth factor (TGF)-&bgr;1 production in diabetic NOD mice. Methods. New-onset diabetic NOD mice were treated with CFA and exendin-4, a potent analog of glucagon-like peptide-1. Reversal of diabetes was determined by monitoring blood glucose level. Ameliorating autoimmunity through immunoregulation was assessed by adoptive transfer. Regulatory T cells in the peripheral blood, spleen, thymus, and pancreatic nodes were measured. TGF-&bgr;1 in plasma and the insulin content in the pancreas were also measured. Immunostainings for insulin and BrdU were performed. Results. New-onset diabetes could be reversed in 38% of NOD mice treated with CFA alone and in 86% of NOD mice treated with both CFA and exendin-4. Diabetes adoptive transfer by splenocytes from CFA-treated NOD mice was delayed. The percentage of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in the pancreatic lymph nodes of CFA-treated NOD mice was significantly increased at 1, 5, and 15 to 17 weeks after treatment. TGF-&bgr;1 in the plasma of CFA-treated NOD mice was also significantly increased. Combining CFA with exendin-4 treatment significantly increased the insulin content and the numbers of insulin and BrdU double-labeled &bgr; cells in the islets. Conclusions. Our results demonstrated that CFA treatment ameliorates autoimmunity in diabetic NOD mice by up-regulating CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and increasing TGF-&bgr;1 production. Exendin-4 enhanced the effect of CFA on reversing diabetes in NOD mice by stimulating &bgr;-cell replication.
Differential responses of hippocampal subfields to cortical up–down states

The connectivity of the hippocampal trisynaptic circuit, formed by the dentate gyrus, the CA3 and the CA1 region, is well characterized anatomically and functionally in vitro. The functional connectivity of this circuit in vivo remains to be understood. Toward this goal, we investigated the influence of the spontaneous, synchronized oscillations in the neocortical local field potential, reflecting up–down states (UDS) of cortical neurons, on the hippocampus. We simultaneously measured the extracellular local field potential in association cortex and the membrane potential of identified hippocampal excitatory neurons in anesthetized mice. Dentate gyrus granule cells showed clear UDS modulation that was phase locked to cortical UDS with a short delay. In contrast, CA3 pyramidal neurons showed mixed UDS modulation, such that some cells were depolarized during the cortical up state and others were hyperpolarized. CA1 pyramidal neurons, located farther downstream, showed consistent UDS modulation, such that when the cortical and dentate gyrus neurons were depolarized, the CA1 pyramidal cells were hyperpolarized. These results demonstrate the differential functional connectivity between neocortex and hippocampal subfields during UDS oscillations.
Growth and isolation of Human cytomegalovirus on a new human fetal foreskin fibroblast-derived cell line in Iran

Cell culture technique has been used for detection and confirmation of many different viruses in clinical sam- ples. Although, new diagnostic methods have been developed for viral infections, traditional cell culture technique is still regarded as the "gold standard" for several infectious agents such as human cyto- megalovirus (HCMV). In the present study, a new human fetal foreskin fibroblast (HFFF)-derived cell line was obtained from a normal Iranian male fetus at the end of first trimester at National Cell Bank of Iran (NCBI) and its ability for HCMV growth was investigat- ed. Thirteen treated urine samples from renal trans- plant recipients were inoculated onto HFFF monolayer. HCMV growth was monitored and confirmed by typical CMV cytopathic effect (CPE), histological staining, immunological staining and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method and sequencing. All of the above- mentioned detection methods were confirmed that new HFFF-derived cell line is a sensitive line for growth of HCMV. This cell line has been named HFFF-PI6 and is available with accession number NCBI C170 at NCBI
Derivation and validation of a physical radioactive deposition model

Predictive models are necessary in order to minimize potential damages in the event of a nuclear or radiological release. For this reason a novel model for the calculation of both wet and dry deposition from airborne activity is proposed. Full derivation of the model and the estimation of uncertainty are presented, and the model is validated by calculating deposition based on several measured airborne activities in different countries. The results are compared with the corresponding measured deposition activities and the predictive power of the model is found to be good, with calculated depositions being within the limits of measurement uncertainty. Additionally, limitations of the model and possible sources of uncertainty in the calculations are discussed.
Characteristics of bone marrow-derived microglia in the normal and injured retina.

PURPOSE To compare the distribution and immunologic characteristics of bone marrow (BM)-derived and resident microglia in the retina. METHODS Mice were irradiated and injected with enhanced green fluorescent protein-positive (EGFP(+)) BM cells. One month to 12 months after BM transplantation, eyes were analyzed histologically for the expression of EGFP and various monocyte/microglia/macrophage markers (Iba-1, F4/80, GS-1, major histocompatibility complex [MHC] class II). N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) was injected or retinal detachment was created to induce retinal damage. RESULTS Many BM-derived EGFP(+) cells were found in the ciliary body and choroid and around the optic nerve in the uninjured eyes. Within the retina, few such cells existed at the retinal margin and juxtapapillary area at 3 to 12 months after BM transplantation. However, after MNU injection, many EGFP(+) cells were found in the retina adjacent to the retinal vessels, optic nerve, and ciliary body that rapidly spread throughout the retina. Most of them showed morphologic and immunohistochemical features of microglia. By 7 days after MNU injection, EGFP(+) BM-derived cells occupied approximately 15% of the total Iba-1(+) retinal microglia. Meanwhile, the proportion of MHC class II(+) cells was larger among BM-derived (EGFP(+)/Iba-1(+)) than resident (EGFP(-)/Iba-1(+)) microglia. In the eyes with retinal detachment, EGFP(+)/F4/80(+) cells engrafted exclusively around the detached retina. CONCLUSIONS In response to retinal damage, numerous BM-derived cells migrated to the retina from the ciliary body, optic nerve, and retinal vessels and differentiated into microglia. The higher rate of immunologic activation and the increased specificity to the damaged site appeared to be the characteristic features of BM-derived microglia.
Introducing Dynamic Adaptation in High Performance Real-Time Computing Platforms for Sensors

In high-end, data-intensive embedded sensor applications (radar, optronics), the evolution of algorithms is limited by the computation platform capabilities. These platforms impose Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) restrictions on top of reliability, cost, security and (potentially hard) real-time constraints. Thus mostly static mapping methods are used, negating the system's adaptation capabilities. Through the study of several industrial use-cases, our work aims at mitigating the aforementioned limitations by introducing a low-latency dynamic resource management system derived from techniques used in large-scale systems such as cloud and grid environments. We expect that this approach will be able to guarantee non-functional properties of applications and provide Quality of Service (QoS) negotiation on heterogeneous platforms.
The Positivication of Coalgebraic Logics

We present positive coalgebraic logic in full generality, and show how to obtain a positive coalgebraic logic from a boolean one. On the model side this involves canonically computing an endofunctor $T': Pos\to Pos$ from an endofunctor $T: Set\to Set$, in a procedure previously defined by the second author et alii called posetification. On the syntax side, it involves canonically computing a syntax-building functor $L': DL\to DL$ from a syntax-building functor $L: BA\to BA$, in a dual procedure which we call positivication. These operations are interesting in their own right and we explicitly compute posetifications and positivications in the case of several modal logics. We show how the semantics of a boolean coalgebraic logic can be canonically lifted to define a semantics for its positive fragment, and that weak completeness transfers from the boolean case to the positive case.
3D Gaze Estimation and Interaction

There are several researches on 2D gaze tracking techniques for the 2D screen for the human-computer interaction. However, the researches for gaze-based interaction to the 3D stereo images or contents are not reported. The 3D display techniques are emerging now for the reality service. Moreover, the 3D interaction techniques are much more needed in the 3D contents service environments. This paper addresses gaze-based 3D interaction techniques on autostereoscopic display, such as parallax barrier or lenticular display. This paper presents our researches on 3D gaze estimation and gaze-based interaction to autostereoscopic display. The evaluation of our system is shown in terms of accuracy in gaze direction and gaze depth.
Enhancing methyl parathion degradation by the immobilization of Burkholderia sp. isolated from agricultural soils

Organophosphate pesticides are of great interest for research because they are currently the most commonly used pesticides. In this study, a bacterial strain capable of completely degrading methyl parathion (MP) was isolated from agricultural soils in central Mexico. This strain was designated strain S5‐2 and was identified as Burkholderia cenocepacia. To increase degradation yields, cells were immobilized on three different supports: powdered zeolite and Opuntia sp. and Agave sp. fibers. The results indicated a significant increase in MP hydrolysis and p‐nitrophenol (PNP) degradation with immobilized cells compared to free cell cultures. Furthermore, immobilized cells were capable of withstanding and degrading higher concentrations of PNP compared to cell suspension cultures. The cell viability in the free cell cultures, as well as PNP degradation, was affected at concentrations greater than 25 mg/L. In contrast, cells immobilized on Opuntia sp. and Agave sp. fibers completely degraded PNP at concentrations of 100 mg/L. To verify that MP solution toxicity was decreased by B. cenocepacia strain S5‐2 via pesticide degradation, we measured the acetylcholinesterase activity, both before and after treatment with bacteria. The results demonstrate that the activity of acetylcholinesterase was unaffected after MP degradation by bacteria.
Radioautographology: the proposal of a new concept.

A new concept termed "radioautographology" is advocated. This term was synthesized from "radioautography" and "ology", expressing a new science derived from radioautography. The concept of radioautographology (RAGology) is that of a science whose objective is to localize radioactive substances in the biological structure of objects and to analyze and study the significance of these substances in the biological structure. On the other hand, the old term radioautography (RAG) is the technique used to demonstrate the pattern of localization of various radiolabeled compounds in specimens. The specimens used in biology and medicine are cells and tissues. They are fixed, sectioned and placed in contact with the radioautographic emulsions, which are exposed and developed to produce metallic silver grains. Such specimens are designated as radioautographs and the patterns of pictures made of silver grains are named radioautograms. The technicians who produce radioautographs are named radioautographers, while those who study RAGology are scientists and should be called radioautographologists. The science of RAGology can be divided into two parts, general RAGology and special RAGology, as most natural sciences usually can. General RAGology is the technology of RAG which consists of three fields of science, i.e., physics concerning radioactivity, histochemistry for the treatment of cells and tissues, and photochemistry dealing with the photographic emulsions. Special RAGology, on the other hand, consists of applications of general RAGology. The applications can be classified into several scientific fields, i.e., cellular and molecular biology, anatomy, histology, embryology, pathology and pharmacology. Studies carried out in our laboratory are summarized and reviewed. All the results obtained from such applications should be systematized as a new field of science in the future.
1 TITLE : Beyond ‘ doing ’ : Supporting nursing leadership and practice in aged care through innovative models of care

Contemporary health care environments are increasingly challenged by issues associated with the recruitment and retention of qualified nursing staff. This challenge is particularly felt by residential aged care providers, with registered nurse (RN) numbers already limited and resident acuity rapidly rising. As a result, aged care service providers are increasingly exploring creative and alternative models of care. This article details exploratory research into one such alternative model of care in a medium sized, regional residential aged care facility. Research findings suggest that the model of care is complex and multi-faceted and is an example of an integrated model of care. As a result of the implementation of this model of care a number of shifts have occurred in the practice experiences and clinical culture within this facility. Results suggest that the main benefits of this model are 1) increased opportunities for RNs to engage in clinical leadership and proactive care management; 2) improved management and communication in relation to work processes and practices; and 3) enhanced recruitment and retention of both RNs and care workers.
AICA-riboside (acadesine), an activator of AMP-activated protein kinase with potential for application in hematologic malignancies

Importance of the field: Despite considerable advances, B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is incurable with standard approaches. Thus, there remains a need for new therapies, particularly for patients who develop chemoresistance to DNA-targeting treatments. AICA-riboside (acadesine) is a nucleoside with a wide range of metabolic effects, including release of adenosine and activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which was initially developed as a cardioprotective agent. More recently, it has been shown that AICA-riboside induces apoptosis in various models of leukemia, including CLL. Areas covered in this review: The literature data show that apoptosis induced by AICA-riboside in CLL is not dependent on a functionally normal p53 pathway. Moreover, AICA-riboside is active towards resting and proliferative models of leukemia cells, including resistant phenotypes. Finally, studies in healthy subjects and during coronary artery bypass graft surgery show that AICA-riboside is devoid of serious toxicity. What the reader will gain: This paper reviews the mechanisms of action of AICA-riboside in normal and malignant cells and discusses how AICA-riboside could impact CLL treatment. Take home message: We propose that AICA-riboside, which displays a relative selectivity and a favorable toxicity profile, may offer a new treatment option for CLL.
Regularized two-step brain activity reconstruction from spatiotemporal EEG data

We are aiming at using EEG source localization in the framework of a Brain Computer Interface project. We propose here a new reconstruction procedure, targeting source (or equivalently mental task) differentiation. EEG data can be thought of as a collection of time continuous streams from sparse locations. The measured electric potential on one electrode is the result of the superposition of synchronized synaptic activity from sources in all the brain volume. Consequently, the EEG inverse problem is a highly underdetermined (and ill-posed) problem. Moreover, each source contribution is linear with respect to its amplitude but non-linear with respect to its localization and orientation. In order to overcome these drawbacks we propose a novel two-step inversion procedure. The solution is based on a double scale division of the solution space. The first step uses a coarse discretization and has the sole purpose of globally identifying the active regions, via a sparse approximation algorithm. The second step is applied only on the retained regions and makes use of a fine discretization of the space, aiming at detailing the brain activity. The local configuration of sources is recovered using an iterative stochastic estimator with adaptive joint minimum energy and directional consistency constraints.
The influence of thrombus components in mediating bacterial adhesion to biomaterials

Thrombosis and infection represent the two largest limiting factors determining the long term success of implanted biomaterials. Infections associated with biomaterials are difficult to treat, and appear to evade the host defense systems. Mechanisms relating infection to thrombosis are described. Investigations into the role of receptors in mediating adhesion to thrombi are also discussed, in addition to strategies to reduce bacterial adhesion to biomaterial surfaces.
Developmental stage-specific regulation of atrial natriuretic factor gene transcription in cardiac cells

Cardiac myocytes undergo a major genetic switch within the first week of postnatal development, when cell division ceases terminally and many cardiac genes are either activated or silenced. We have developed stage-specific cardiocyte cultures to analyze transcriptional control of the rat atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) gene to identify the mechanisms underlying tissue-specific and developmental regulation of this gene in the heart. The first 700 bp of ANF flanking sequences was sufficient for cardiac muscle- and stage-specific expression in both atrial and ventricular myocytes, and a cardiac muscle-specific enhancer was localized between -136 and -700 bp. Deletion of this enhancer markedly reduced promoter activity in cardiac myocytes and derepressed ANF promoter activity in nonexpressing cells. Two distinct domains of the enhancer appeared to contribute differentially to cardiac specificity depending on the differentiation stage of the myocytes. DNase I footprinting of the enhancer domain active in differentiated cells revealed four putative regulatory elements including an A+T-rich region and a CArG element. Deletion mutagenesis and promoter reconstitution assays revealed an important role for the CArG-containing element exclusively in cardiac cells, where its activity was switched on in differentiated myocytes. Transcriptional activity of the ANF-CArG box correlated with the presence of a cardiac- and stage-specific DNA-binding complex which was not recognized by the c-fos serum response element. Thus, the use of this in vitro model system representing stage-specific cardiac development unraveled the presence of different regulatory mechanisms for transcription of the ANF gene during cardiac differentiation and may be useful for studying the regulatory pathways of other genes that undergo switching during cardiac myogenesis.
A novel concept combining experimental and mathematical analysis for the identification of unknown interspecies effects in a mixed culture

Bacteria in natural habitats only occur in consortia together with various other species. Characterization of bacterial species, however, is normally done by laboratory testing of pure isolates. Any interactions that might appear during growth in mixed‐culture are obviously missed by this approach. Existing experimental studies mainly focus on two‐species mixed cultures with species specifically chosen for their known growth characteristics, and their anticipated interactions. Various theoretical mathematical studies dealing with mixed cultures and possible interspecies effects exist, but often models cannot be validated due to a lack of experimental data. Here, we present a concept for the identification of interspecies effects in mixed cultures with arbitrary and unknown single‐species properties. Model structure and parameters were inferred from single‐species experiments for the reproduction of mixed‐culture experiments by simulation. A mixed culture consisting of the three‐species Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkholderia cepacia, and Staphylococcus aureus served as a model system. For species‐specific enumeration a quantitative terminal restriction length polymorphism (qT‐RFLP) assay was used. Based on models fitted to single‐species cultivations, the outcome of mixed‐culture experiments was predicted. Deviations of simulation results and experimental findings were then used to design additional single‐cell experiments, to modify the corresponding growth kinetics, and to update model parameters. Eventually, the resulting mixed‐culture dynamics was predicted and compared again to experimental results. During this iterative cycle, it became evident that the observed coexistence of P. aeruginosa and B. cepacia in mixed‐culture chemostat experiments cannot be explained on the basis of glucose as the only substrate. After extension of growth kinetics, that is, for use of amino acids as secondary substrates, mixed‐culture simulations represented the experimental findings very well. According to the model structure, as motivated by single‐species experiments, the growth of P. aeruginosa and B. cepacia on glucose and amino acids could be assumed to be independent of each other. In contrast, both substrates are taken up simultaneously by S. aureus. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2011; 108:1900–1911. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.