Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation Combined with Polymer on Functional Recovery Following Spinal Cord Hemisection in Rats

The spontaneous axon regeneration of damaged neurons is limited after spinal cord injury (SCI). Recently, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation was proposed as a potential approach for enhancing nerve regeneration that avoids the ethical issues associated with embryonic stem cell transplantation. As SCI is a complex pathological entity, the treatment of SCI requires a multipronged approach. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the functional recovery and therapeutic potential of human MSCs (hMSCs) and polymer in a spinal cord hemisection injury model. Rats were subjected to hemisection injuries and then divided into three groups. Two groups of rats underwent partial thoracic hemisection injury followed by implantation of either polymer only or polymer with hMSCs. Another hemisection-only group was used as a control. Behavioral, electrophysiological and immunohistochemical studies were performed on all rats. The functional recovery was significantly improved in the polymer with hMSC-transplanted group as compared with control at five weeks after transplantation. The results of electrophysiologic study demonstrated that the latency of somatosensory-evoked potentials (SSEPs) in the polymer with hMSC-transplanted group was significantly shorter than in the hemisection-only control group. In the results of immunohistochemical study, β-gal-positive cells were observed in the injured and adjacent sites after hMSC transplantation. Surviving hMSCs differentiated into various cell types such as neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. These data suggest that hMSC transplantation with polymer may play an important role in functional recovery and axonal regeneration after SCI, and may be a potential therapeutic strategy for SCI.
Improving Web Learning through model Optimization using Bootstrap for a Tour-Guide Robot

We perform a review of Web Mining techniques and we describe a Bootstrap Statistics methodology applied to pattern model classifier optimization and verification for Supervised Learning for Tour-Guide Robot knowledge repository management. It is virtually impossible to test thoroughly Web Page Classifiers and many other Internet Applications with pure empirical data, due to the need for human intervention to generate training sets and test sets. We propose using the computer-based Bootstrap paradigm to design a test environment where they are checked with better reliability.
The LogLog counting reversible sketch: A distributed architecture for detecting anomalies in backbone networks

The increasing number of network attacks causes growing problems for network operators and users. Thus, detecting anomalous traffic is of primary interest in IP networks management and many detection techniques, able to promptly reveal and identify network attacks, mainly detecting Heavy Changes (HCs) in the network traffic, have been proposed. Nevertheless, the recent spread of coordinated attacks, that occur in multiple networks simultaneously, makes extremely difficult the detection, using isolated intrusion detection systems that only monitor a limited portion of the Internet. For this reason in this paper we propose a novel distributed architecture that represents a general framework for the detection of network anomalies. The performance analysis, presented in this paper, demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed architecture.
Biological network motif detection: principles and practice

Network motifs are statistically overrepresented sub-structures (sub-graphs) in a network, and have been recognized as 'the simple building blocks of complex networks'. Study of biological network motifs may reveal answers to many important biological questions. The main difficulty in detecting larger network motifs in biological networks lies in the facts that the number of possible sub-graphs increases exponentially with the network or motif size (node counts, in general), and that no known polynomial-time algorithm exists in deciding if two graphs are topologically equivalent. This article discusses the biological significance of network motifs, the motivation behind solving the motif-finding problem, and strategies to solve the various aspects of this problem. A simple classification scheme is designed to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of several existing algorithms. Experimental results derived from a few comparative studies in the literature are discussed, with conclusions that lead to future research directions.
Pharmacology and biochemistry of noradrenergic receptors

Neurotransmitters exert their physiological effects through their release and subsequent activation of specific receptors at the level of the effector organ. Noradrenaline released from postganglionic sympathetic neurones acts on postsynaptic aand |3-adrenoceptors to elicit vasoconstriction and positive chronotropic and inotropic effects respectively. In addition to these classical postsynaptic adrenoceptors, there are also receptors located on noradrenergic nerve terminals which can influence transmitter release: (a) presynaptic inhibitory a-adrenoceptors; (b) presynaptic facilitatory /3-adrenoceptors. Based on the relative orderof potencies of agonists and antagonists, two subtypes of a-adrenoceptors (Langer, 1974, 1979) and of/3-adrenoceptors (Lands et al., 1967) are now well established.
Linguistic units in word typing: Effects of word presentation modes and typing delay

This study reports on two experiments in which German participants had to type words presented to them in various modes. Experiment 1 compares typing following visual and oral word presentation with typing following picture presentation. In the second experiment typing responses following oral and visual word presentation were delayed by an extended preparatory period. Both experiments demonstrate significantly increased inter-keystroke intervals (IKIs) at exclusive syllable (S) boundaries and combined syllable and morpheme (SM) boundaries in comparison to within-syllable (L) boundaries. SM-IKIs are significantly larger than S-IKIs and influenced by word frequencies, indicating lexical dependencies. SM-IKIs were found to be significantly longer for oral than for visual word presentation. This is taken as an indication that additional processes are involved in the accessing of graphemic word forms when words are presented orally. Two effects of the typing delay were identified: a decrease of word initial latencies and the disappearance of size differences between SM-IKIs following visual and oral word presentation. On the other hand, the persistence of augmented SM- and S-IKIs in the delayed typing task indicates that input into the motor system is constituted by sub-word units instead by fully specified words. As SM- and S-IKIs reflect influences of different hierarchical levels of language processing, these findings suggest a processing architecture in which the peripheral motor system essentially connects at several hierarchical levels with central processing units.
Merging Results From Isolated Search Engines

Two new techniques for merging search results are introduced: Feature Distance ranking algorithms and Reference Statistics. These techniques are compared with other published methods, using TREC e(cid:11)ectiveness evaluations based on human relevance judgements and input rankings from 5 di(cid:11)erent search engines over 5 disjoint document collections. The new techniques are found to be more e(cid:11)ective than existing methods in an isolated-server environment such as the World Wide Web. In addition, Feature Distance algorithms are found to be as e(cid:11)ective in an isolated-server environment using Reference Statistics as they are in an integrated-server environment
Self-Report Tool for Recognizing Mania (SToRM): A New Scale for Aiding in the Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder

Objective: Bipolar disorder is a disabling disease that is difficult to diagnose. Primary care physicians share in the burden of diagnosing and caring for significant mental illness, including bipolar disorder, but they lack an adequate screening and diagnostic tool that can fit into use in a primary care practice. Modeling after the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, we created the Self-report Tool for Recognizing Mania (SToRM) to aid primary care physicians in the screening and diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Methods: A 13-question tool was created and distributed to returning patients over an 11-month time period at the psychiatric clinic of a university health center. Each completed questionnaire was scored as positive or negative and then compared to the preexisting psychiatric diagnosis for that respondent, as shown on the problem list of the respondent's electronic medical record. Results: A total of 102 subjects completed and returned their questionnaires. Twenty-eight surveys were scored as positive for bipolar disorder while 25 subjects carried this diagnosis on their problem list, giving a sensitivity of 72% and a specificity of 87% (CI at 95%). When alternative scoring was used, sensitivity increased to 96% with only a slight decrease in specificity to 84%. Conclusions: In this pilot study, we find that the SToRM shows potential in the pursuit of a highly reliable, self-report tool which could help primary care providers screen and diagnose bipolar disorder. As such, the SToRM deserves further study.
Rising to the Challenge of Treating OEF/OIF Veterans with Co‐occurring PTSD and Substance Abuse

This article reviews data on the relatively high incidence of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans reporting mental health and substance abuse problems, and some perceived barriers that may account for low rates of their engaging in treatment. Treatment outcomes for veterans with co‐occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD) are generally poorer than for those with PTSD or substance abuse alone. Several evidence‐based individual therapy approaches offered by VA Medical Centers are described along with how they conceptualize the relationship of substance abuse to PTSD. Problems with sequential treatment for persons with PTSD and substance abuse in specialized programs are discussed, including notably the practice of requiring veterans to be completely drug and alcohol free for a month or longer prior to entering PTSD treatment. Several integrated treatment programs are described along with a brief summary of evidence supporting their effectiveness. Some recent policy changes from the Department of Veterans Affairs that bode well for the future of PTSD/SUD treatment are described. Differences between younger and older veterans were cited along with their implications for treatment. Recommendations regarding how to better engage and retain OEF/OIF veterans with PTSD/SUD in treatment are presented together with examples of their implementation. The author concludes that to rise to the challenge of treating this difficult population it is necessary to adapt treatment to meet their needs rather than requiring them to adapt to therapies that may not be a good fit.
Improved Learning in Evolution Strategies via Sparser Inter-Agent Network Topologies

We draw upon a previously largely untapped literature on human collective intelligence as a source of inspiration for improving deep learning. Implicit in many algorithms that attempt to solve Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) tasks is the network of processors along which parameter values are shared. So far, existing approaches have implicitly utilized fully-connected networks, in which all processors are connected. However, the scientific literature on human collective intelligence suggests that complete networks may not always be the most effective information network structures for distributed search through complex spaces. Here we show that alternative topologies can improve deep neural network training: we find that sparser networks learn higher rewards faster, leading to learning improvements at lower communication costs.
Island tourism: destinations: an editorial introduction to the special issue

Purpose – This editorial aims to situate the papers chosen for this special issue within academic literature and identify their contributions to new knowledge.Design/methodology/approach – The editorial first discusses tourism research literature pertinent to the idiosyncrasies of destination management in island contexts. Second, the paper identifies the contributions made to this field by the authors and the implications of their innovative research for island tourism and destination management.Findings – Each paper contributes, in its way, to the field of island tourism, either by integration of explorations of theory, shifting paradigms or revealing new knowledge. This special issue contains two seminal papers by top academic leaders of the fields of islandness and HRM in island destinations. It also presents papers that comment on destination management issues at macro and micro levels.Originality/value – Collectively this collection of papers offers new perspectives concerning the challenges of crea.
Langerhans cells require signals from both tumour necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐1β for migration

The induction phase of contact sensitization is associated with the movement of epidermal Langerhans cells (LC) from the skin and their migration, via afferent lymphatics, to draining lymph nodes where they accumulate as immunostimulatory dendritic cells (DC). It has been demonstrated previously that tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) provides an important signal for LC migration and that in the absence of this cytokine, movement of LC from the epidermis to regional lymph nodes is inhibited. Recent evidence indicates that interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), a cytokine produced in murine epidermis exclusively by LC, may also play a role in LC migration. The purpose of the investigations described here was to clarify, using relevant neutralizing anti‐cytokine antibodies, the contributions made by TNF‐α and IL‐1β to the migration of LC from the epidermis. It was found that like anti‐TNF‐α, anti‐IL‐1β administered systemically to mice (by intraperitoneal injection), prior to skin sensitization with the contact allergen oxazolone, resulted in a marked inhibition of DC accumulation in draining lymph nodes. It was shown also that anti‐IL‐1β inhibited TNF‐α‐induced LC migration and DC accumulation and that, in similar fashion, the stimulation of LC migration and DC accumulation induced by IL‐1β was compromised by prior treatment with anti‐TNF‐α. Based upon these data it is proposed that the stimulation of LC migration in response to skin sensitization requires the receipt by LC of two independent signals, one provided by TNF‐α and the other by IL‐1β. Morphological analyses of LC in epidermal sheets prepared from animals exposed to these cytokines with or without prior systemic treatment with anti‐cytokine antibody suggested that the changes induced in LC by TNF‐α and IL‐1β may include the altered expression of adhesion molecules and acquisition of the ability to interact with and pass through the basement membrane.
Literature Survey on Relation Extraction and Relational Learning

: Semantic relation extraction between entities plays key role in many applications in natural language processing and understanding, information retrieval, text summarizing, etc. These application require an understanding of the semantic relations between entities. We present a comprehensive review of various aspects of the entity relation extraction task. We also present a review of relation extraction techniques in medical domain. Relation extraction techniques are used in relation extraction from unstructured text which can be used for further processing. These extracted relations are useful to construct a knowledge base. There are various relational learning methods which are used to learn new relations with the help of existing relations. Here we present a review of recent research on relational learning techniques as link prediction techniques.
Automatic seeds recognition by size, form and texture features

This work deals with an automatic seeds analysis system based on pattern recognition methods. However, this paper emphasizes only the pattern recognition aspects of the problem and, for our tests, four hundred samples of each of four species of seeds, namely corn, oat, barley and lentil are considered. The recognition procedure is, firstly, made on the basis of shape features and texture features, separately. Both of theses methods have given good results with a small confusion rate. In order to increase the recognition rate, the shape and texture features are used all together leading then to results considerably improved. After images acquisition and their pre-processing, the general process includes the features space reduction using the Principal Component and clustering operation based the k-means algorithm. The decision phase is based on the nearest Euclidean distance rule between the feature vector of an unknown seed and the average feature vector of each cluster.
Genetic Ablation of Nrf2/Antioxidant Response Pathway in Alexander Disease Mice Reduces Hippocampal Gliosis but Does Not Impact Survival

In Alexander disease (AxD) the presence of mutant glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), the major intermediate filament of astrocytes, triggers protein aggregation, with marked induction of a stress response mediated by the transcription factor, Nrf2. To clarify the role of Nrf2 in AxD, we have crossed Gfap mutant and transgenic mouse models into an Nrf2 null background. Deletion of Nrf2 eliminates the phase II stress response normally present in mouse models of AxD, but causes no change in body weight or lifespan, even in a severe lethal model. AxD astrocytes without Nrf2 retain features of reactivity, such as expression of the endothelin-B receptor, but have lower Gfap levels, a decrease in p62 protein and reduced iron accumulation, particularly in hippocampus. Microglial activation, indicated by Iba1 expression, is also diminished. Although the Nrf2 response is generally considered beneficial, these results show that in the context of AxD, loss of the antioxidant pathway has no obvious negative effects, while actually decreasing Gfap accumulation and pathology. Given the attention Nrf2 is receiving as a potential therapeutic target in AxD and other neurodegenerative diseases, it will be interesting to see whether induction of Nrf2, beyond the endogenous response, is beneficial or not in these same models.
A firm trial of interdisciplinary rounds on the inpatient medical wards: an intervention designed using continuous quality improvement.

OBJECTIVES In August 1993 a group of house staff and nursing staff at MetroHealth Medical Center formed a quality improvement team to evaluate the process of medical care on the inpatient wards. Using standard continuous quality improvement (CQI) methods, a team of medical interns, nurses, and other health professionals involved in patient care on the medicine inpatient service designed interdisciplinary, daily work rounds to improve the care of patients on the inpatient wards. METHODS The authors conducted a randomized, controlled firm trial of the impact of interdisciplinary rounds on the inpatient medicine services. The trial lasted 6 months (November 1993-April 1994) and included 1,102 admissions randomly assigned to experimental or control teams by the pre-existing firm system. Of the 1,102 admissions included in the study, 535 were randomized to medical services with traditional rounds and 567 to medical services with interdisciplinary rounds. The outcomes studied included length of stay (LOS), total hospital charges, provider satisfaction, and ancillary service efficiency. RESULTS Unadjusted analysis for log-transformed data showed lower length of stay and total charges for the interdisciplinary group. The mean LOS for interdisciplinary rounds was 5.46 days, compared with 6.06 days for traditional care (P = 0.006), whereas mean total charges were $6,681 and $8,090 (P = 0.002) for the two groups, respectively. After multivariate regression analysis using a propensity score that included gender, age, marital status, admission source, diagnosis-related group (DRG) weight, and primary diagnosis by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) cluster, these differences remained statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Previous studies of interdisciplinary teams have failed to show statistically significant cost savings. This study involving more patients shows both cost and LOS decreases with the use of interdisciplinary teams. At the end of the 6-month trial, interdisciplinary rounds were instituted on all medicine inpatient services.
Relationship between Lower Extremity Motions and Release Time of Baseball Infielders while Fielding Grounders

When inˆelders ˆeld a ground ball, decreasing the interval from catching to releasing the ball (release time) increases the probability of outing a batter or runner. The present study examines the relationship between lower extremity kinematics and release time. Right-handed fourteen inˆelders caught a ground ball that was rolled towards them from a distance of 5 m and then they threw the ball as quickly as possible towards a net located 20 m in front. The interval between the catch to the left-foot lift-oŠ (foot oŠ phase), and the stride-foot contacting the ground after the step motion (stride phase) signiˆcantly correlated with release time. We assessed relationships between these phases and lower extremity movement. The angular variation of the joints of the right lower extremity from the catch to the right foot lift oŠ signiˆcantly correlated with the foot oŠ phase. Forward mid-hip and left foot variation signiˆcantly correlated with the stride phase. Velocity data did not signiˆcantly correlate with these phases, indicating that the size, rather than the speed of the ˆelding motion has a greater eŠect on release time.
Sex-Specific Automatic Responses to Infant Cries: TMS Reveals Greater Excitability in Females than Males in Motor Evoked Potentials

Neuroimaging reveals that infant cries activate parts of the premotor cortical system. To validate this effect in a more direct way, we used event-related transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Here, we investigated the presence and the time course of modulation of motor cortex excitability in young adults who listened to infant cries. Specifically, we recorded motor evoked potentials (MEPs) from the biceps brachii (BB) and interosseus dorsalis primus (ID1) muscles as produced by TMS delivered from 0 to 250 ms after sound onset in six steps of 50 ms in 10 females and 10 males. We observed an excitatory modulation of MEPs at 100 ms from the onset of infant cry specific to females and to the ID1 muscle. We regard this modulation as a response to natural cry sounds because it was attenuated to stimuli increasingly different from natural cry and absent in a separate group of females who listened to non-cry stimuli physically matched to natural infant cries. Furthermore, the 100-ms latency of this response is not compatible with a voluntary reaction to the stimulus but suggests an automatic, bottom-up audiomotor association. The brains of adult females appear to be tuned to respond to infant cries with automatic motor excitation.