Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In Vivo Protection of Nigral Dopamine Neurons by Lentiviral Gene Transfer of the Novel GDNF-Family Member Neublastin/Artemin

The glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)-family of neurotrophic factors consisted until recently of three members, GDNF, neurturin, and persephin. We describe here the cloning of a new GDNF-family member, neublastin (NBN), identical to artemin (ART), recently published (Baloh et al., 1998). Addition of NBN/ART to cultures of fetal mesencephalic dopamine (DA) neurons increased the number of surviving tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive neurons by approximately 70%, similar to the maximal effect obtained with GDNF. To investigate the neuroprotective effects in vivo, lentiviral vectors carrying the cDNA for NBN/ART or GDNF were injected into the striatum and ventral midbrain. Three weeks after an intrastriatal 6-hydroxydopamine lesion only about 20% of the nigral DA neurons were left in the control group, while 80-90% of the DA neurons remained in the NBN/ART and GDNF treatment groups, and the striatal TH-immunoreactive innervation was partly spared. We conclude that NBN/ART, similarly to GDNF, is a potent neuroprotective factor for the nigrostriatal DA neurons in vivo.
Evaluation of wrist joint proprioception by means of a robotic device

Stroke, Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions often cause proprioceptive deficits which impact the neural control of movement. Proprioception, which is the sense of body awareness, is central to assess accurate interaction with external environment and when compromised it results in several limitations in the activities of daily living. On the other hand, clinical assessment of the impact of proprioceptive deficits on motor functions has been difficult to elucidate mostly for the lack of accurate measurement devices especially for multi-DoF. Haptic robotic interfaces can be exploited to quantitatively evaluate proprioceptive acuity. We introduce a new method based on the use of a three-DoF robotic device to deliver accurate wrist kinematics and perform fine measurements in order to assess wrist joint proprioceptive acuity. Research protocol consists of passive movement in single-DoF configuration providing variable amplitude position stimuli. Data were collected from a group of healthy subjects who were instructed to discriminate the difference between stimuli intensities. Results highlight the efficacy and intrinsic simplicity of the proposed method marking the milestone for further investigations and characterization of proprioceptive acuity in pathologies and age related degradation of sensory motor functions. Moreover the robotic system can be used to design patient-customized therapies based on the particular impairment level and evaluate after every session the effectiveness of the therapeutic exercise.
Identification of Trypanocidal Activity for Known Clinical Compounds Using a New Trypanosoma cruzi Hit-Discovery Screening Cascade

Chagas disease is a significant health problem in Latin America and the available treatments have significant issues in terms of toxicity and efficacy. There is thus an urgent need to develop new treatments either via a repurposing strategy or through the development of new chemical entities. A key first step is the identification of compounds with anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity from compound libraries. Here we describe a hit discovery screening cascade designed to specifically identify hits that have the appropriate anti-parasitic properties to warrant further development. The cascade consists of a primary imaging-based assay followed by newly developed and appropriately scaled secondary assays to predict the cidality and rate-of-kill of the compounds. Finally, we incorporated a cytochrome P450 CYP51 biochemical assay to remove compounds that owe their phenotypic response to inhibition of this enzyme. We report the use of the cascade in profiling two small libraries containing clinically tested compounds and identify Clemastine, Azelastine, Ifenprodil, Ziprasidone and Clofibrate as molecules having appropriate profiles. Analysis of clinical derived pharmacokinetic and toxicity data indicates that none of these are appropriate for repurposing but they may represent suitable start points for further optimisation for the treatment of Chagas disease.
Preserving Meaning, Not Just Objects: Semantics and Digital Preservation

The ECHO DEPository project is a digital preservation research and development project funded by the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (NDIIPP) and administered by the Library of Congress. A key goal of this project is to investigate both practical solutions for supporting digital preservation activities today, and the more fundamental research questions underlying the development of the next generation of digital preservation systems. To support on-the-ground preservation efforts in existing technical and organizational environments, we have developed tools to help curators collect and manage Web-based digital resources, such as the Web Archives Workbench (Kaczmarek et al., 2008), and to enhance existing repositories' support for interoperability and emerging preservation standards, such as the Hub and Spoke Tool Suite (Habing et al., 2008). In the longer term, however, we recognize that successful digital preservation activities will require a more precise and complete account of the meaning of relationships within and among digital objects. This article describes project efforts to identify the core underlying semantic issues affecting long-term digital preservation, and to model how semantic inference may help next-generation archives head off long-term preservation risks.
Successful Use of Infliximab Therapy in Sight-threatening Corticosteroid-resistant Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease

Purpose: To report an experience with infliximab in severe corticosteroid-resistant Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease. Design: Interventional case series. Methods: The medical records of 2 adult patients were reviewed. Results: Both patients had a visual acuity reduced to hand motion perception bilaterally after 1 month of high-dose corticosteroid therapy, due to multiple exudative retinal detachment involving the fovea. Visual acuity and OCT findings improved immediately after the first infliximab infusion, retinal detachments fully resolved after 1 month and visual acuity returned to normal within 6 months. Despite a negative pretreatment screening, one patient developed multivisceral tuberculosis, which led to infliximab discontinuation after the 7th infusion and was cured by a 9-month ambulatory antibiotic regimen. The other patient received 11 well-tolerated infliximab infusions. Respectively, 9 and 4 months after infliximab discontinuation both patients had normal vision and OCT findings. Conclusion: Infliximab showed tremendous therapeutic efficacy in sight-threatening corticosteroid-resistant VKH disease.
Phosphorylation of Cytokeratin 17 by Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 US3 Protein Kinase

We previously reported the establishment of an HEp2 cell line which expresses the US3 protein kinase (PK) of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV‐2) upon induction with IPTG. Here we report that expression, phosphorylation and ubiquitination of cytokeratin 17 (CK17) are enhanced in US3‐expressing HEp2 cells. In vitro kinase and co‐immunoprecipitation assays provided evidence that US3 PK directly phosphorylates CK17. Expression of US3 PK caused a significant decrease in filamentous staining of CK17, suggesting that phosphorylation of CK17 by US3 PK causes a disruption of intermediate filaments. Our observations suggest a role for US3 in the regulation of CKs and intermediate filaments in cells. Moreover, we found that infection of a keratinocyte‐derived cell line, A431, with a US3‐deficient virus, results in cytopathic effects that are morphologically distinct from those induced by wild‐type and revertant viruses, suggesting that US3 PK may be important for interaction between HSV‐2 and peripheral epithelial cells.
Design and analysis of 3 DOF mobile robot traveling simulator using optical mice

This paper presents the design and analysis of 3 DOF mobile robot traveling simulator using three optical mice. In the proposed mobile robot traveling simulator, a traveling surface sample is rotating relative to stationary optical mice, instead of a mobile robot equipped with optical mice moving over a traveling surface. And, different velocities of a mobile robot can be simulated by changing the positions and orientations of optical mice installed on a stationary surface. First, the operational principle of the mobile robot traveling simulator is explained. Second, the design for 3 DOF mobile robot traveling simulator is proposed, in which the installation distances of two optical mice can be changed, as well as the installation angles of three optical mice. Third, the velocity kinematics of the mobile robot traveling simulator is derived, relating the velocity of a mobile robot and the velocities of optical mice. Fourth, the parameter setting of the mobile robot traveling simulator is described, according to the velocity of a mobile robot under simulation. Finally, simulation results are given to demonstrate the validity of the optical mouse based mobile robot traveling simulator.
PREVALENCE OF POLYPOIDAL CHOROIDAL VASCULOPATHY IN WHITE PATIENTS WITH EXUDATIVE AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Purpose: Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is a disease with significant inter-ethnical differences. In this study, we systematically review the literature on the prevalence of PCV in whites referred with a diagnosis of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science on 24 March, 2017 for studies evaluating the prevalence of PCV in white patients with exudative AMD. Data extraction and risk of bias assessments were performed in duplicate. Studies were included for a qualitative review and a meta-analysis, including subgroup analysis for differences in age and sex. Results: We included data from 11 studies (>2,200 participants). For diagnosis, indocyanine green angiography was used together with a set of supporting criteria on fundus examination and optical coherence tomography. Extramacular location was more prevalent in eyes with PCV. Drusen was present in the fellow eye in 17% to 27%. Pooled prevalence of PCV in white patients with exudative AMD was 8.7% (confidence interval 95%: 7.2%–10.3%). Patients with PCV were 3.7 years (confidence interval 95%: 2.1 years–5.3 years) younger than those with other exudative AMD. Sex did not differ significantly. Conclusion: Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy is not a rare subtype of exudative AMD in whites—it is present in approximately one in 11 patients.
Differential Quadrature Method for the General Singular Perturbation Problems

This paper extends the application of Differential Quadrature Method (DQM) for finding the numerical solution of general singularly perturbed two point boundary value problems with a boundary layer at right end point or both end point or at an internal point. The Differential Quadrature Method is an efficient descritization technique in solving initial and /or boundary value problems accurately using a considerably small number of grid points. To demonstrate the applicability of the method, we have solved model examples with right end boundary layer, internal layer and two boundary layers and presented the computational results. It is observed that the computed result approximates the exact solution with high accuracy and efficiency.
Reduced Synchronization Persistence in Neural Networks Derived from Atm-Deficient Mice

Many neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by malfunction of the DNA damage response. Therefore, it is important to understand the connection between system level neural network behavior and DNA. Neural networks drawn from genetically engineered animals, interfaced with micro-electrode arrays allowed us to unveil connections between networks’ system level activity properties and such genome instability. We discovered that Atm protein deficiency, which in humans leads to progressive motor impairment, leads to a reduced synchronization persistence compared to wild type synchronization, after chemically imposed DNA damage. Not only do these results suggest a role for DNA stability in neural network activity, they also establish an experimental paradigm for empirically determining the role a gene plays on the behavior of a neural network.
Cardiac arrest and chewing gum — an unfortunate combination

We report a case of successful resuscitation after cardiac arrest associated with obstruction of the airway by chewing gum. In December 2005, in Port Hedland, Western Australia, a 57-year-old electrician was found unconscious by workmates 5 minutes after he was seen working normally. He was not breathing and had no pulse. Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was commenced immediately and an ambulance arrived within 3 minutes. Cardiac monitoring showed the patient was in ventricular fibrillation. Direct-current defibrillation was performed three times, resulting in reversion to ventricular tachycardia, rapid atrial fibrillation and, within minutes, spontaneous reversion to sinus rhythm.
Event Stream Processing : Distributed Detection and Active Databases

The events generated by such an active database could be used by themselves, but it is much more interesting if they can be reuse as primitive events for more complex events. For example combining events from multiple active databases and also other sources. This implies that we do the event detection in the network, or have a way of getting notified every time when an interesting event occurs at one of the sources. Event detection in the network seems to have more advantages [1, 4]. Some points to consider are:
Debunking Health IT Usability Myths

Summary Poor usability is a threat to patient safety and linked to productivity loss, workflow disruption, user frustration, sub-optimal product use and system de-installations. Although usability is receiving more attention nationally and internationally, myths about usability persist. This editorial debunks five common myths about usability (1) usability only concerns the look and feel of a product and is, therefore, only a minor concern, (2) usability is not measurable, (3) usability stifles innovation, (4) vendors are solely responsible for product usability, and (5) usability methods are not practical for use in healthcare.
Taxonomic approaches to and interpretation of host specificity of trematodes of fishes: lessons from the Great Barrier Reef

SUMMARY The taxonomy of trematodes of Great Barrier Reef (GBR) fishes has been studied in some detail for over 20 years. Understanding of the fauna has been informed iteratively by approaches to sampling, understanding of morphology, the advent of molecular methodology and a feed-back loop from the emergent understanding of host specificity. Here we analyse 658 host-parasite combinations for 290 trematode species, 152 genera and 28 families from GBR fishes. These are reported from 8 orders, 38 families, 117 genera and 243 species of fishes. Of the 290 species, only 4 (1·4%) have been reported from more than one order of fishes and just 23 (7·9%) infect more than one family; 77·9% of species are known from only one genus, and 60% from only one species of fish. Molecular studies have revealed several complexes of cryptic species and others are suspected; we conclude that no euryxenous host distribution should be accepted on the basis of morphology only. The occurrence of individual trematode species in potential hosts is patchy and difficult to predict reliably a priori or explain convincingly a posteriori. These observations point to the need for a vigorous iterative interaction between the accretion of host specificity data and its interpretation.
Comparison of the Complete DNA Sequences of Human Herpesvirus 6 Variants A and B

ABSTRACT Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), which belongs to the betaherpesvirus subfamily and infects mainly T cells in vitro, causes acute and latent infections. Two variants of HHV-6 have been distinguished on the basis of differences in several properties. We have determined the complete DNA sequence of HHV-6 variant B (HHV-6B) strain HST, the causative agent of exanthem subitum, and compared the sequence with that of variant A strain U1102. A total of 115 potential open reading frames (ORFs) were identified within the 161,573-bp contiguous sequence of the entire HHV-6 genome, including some genes with remarkable differences in amino acid identity. All genes with <70% identity between the two variants were found to contain deleted regions when ORFs that could not be expressed were excluded from the comparison. Except in the case of U47, these differences were found in immediate-early/regulatory genes, DR2, DR7, U86/90, U89/90, and U95, which may represent characteristic differences of variants A and B. Also, we have successfully typed 14 different strains belonging to variant A or B by PCR using variant-specific primers; the results suggest that the remarkable differences observed were conserved evolutionarily as variant-specific divergence.
Imposed visual feedback delay of an action changes mass perception based on the sensory prediction error

While performing an action, the timing of when the sensory feedback is given can be used to establish the causal link between the action and its consequence. It has been shown that delaying the visual feedback while carrying an object makes people feel the mass of the object to be greater, suggesting that the feedback timing can also impact the perceived quality of an external object. In this study, we investigated the origin of the feedback timing information that influences the mass perception of the external object. Participants made a straight reaching movement while holding a manipulandum. The movement of the manipulandum was presented as a cursor movement on a monitor. In Experiment 1, various delays were imposed between the actual trajectory and the cursor movement. The participants' perceived mass of the manipulandum significantly increased as the delay increased to 400 ms, but this gain did not reach significance when the delay was 800 ms. This suggests the existence of a temporal tuning mechanism for incorporating the visual feedback into the perception of mass. In Experiment 2, we examined whether the increased mass perception during the visual delay was due to the prediction error of the visual consequence of an action or to the actual delay of the feedback itself. After the participants adapted to the feedback delay, the perceived mass of the object became lighter than before, indicating that updating the temporal prediction model for the visual consequence diminishes the overestimation of the object's mass. We propose that the misattribution of the visual delay into mass perception is induced by the sensorimotor prediction error, possibly when the amount of delay (error) is within the range that can reasonably include the consequence of an action.
Transverse and Longitudinal CTE Measurements of Carbon Fibers and their Impact on Interfacial Residual Stresses in Composites

In situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is utilized to evaluate the coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) of two polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based (T1000 and IM7) and one pitch-based (P55) carbon fiber in the temperature range 20–1100 C. The transverse morphology of the fibers is studied using field emission scanning electron microscope and selected area diffraction (SAD) patterns in a TEM and is co-related to the fiber transverse CTE. The PAN-based IM7 and T1000 fibers revealed a transversely isotropic structure, which was consistent with their transverse CTE measurements. Even though the pitch-based P55 fiber revealed cylindrical orthotropy, it did not translate to orthotropy in the transverse CTE. Finite element models of unidirectional IM7/977 composite, utilizing the present IM7 CTE values, are compared to experimental lamina scale CTE results where good agreement was obtained for cool-down regime. The models also indicate that the Tresca stresses in the epoxy matrix at the fiber–matrix interface exceed the allowable strength at cryogenic regimes suggesting possible fiber–matrix debonding and transverse matrix cracking.
Genetic and metabolic status of NGF-deprived sympathetic neurons saved by an inhibitor of ICE family proteases

Sympathetic neurons undergo programmed cell death (PCD) when deprived of NGF. We used an inhibitor to examine the function of interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme (ICE) family proteases during sympathetic neuronal death and to assess the metabolic and genetic status of neurons saved by such inhibition. Bocaspartyl(OMe)-fluoromethylketone (BAF), a cell-permeable inhibitor of the ICE family of cysteine proteases, inhibited ICE and CPP32 (IC50 approximately 4 microM) in vitro and blocked Fas-mediated apoptosis in thymocytes (EC50 approximately 10 microM). At similar concentrations, BAF also blocked the NGF deprivation-induced death of rat sympathetic neurons in culture. Compared to NGF-maintained neurons, BAF-saved neurons had markedly smaller somas and maintained only basal levels of protein synthesis; readdition of NGF restored growth and metabolism. Although BAF blocked apoptosis in sympathetic neurons, it did not prevent the fall in protein synthesis or the increase in the expression of c-jun, c- fos, and other mRNAs that occur during neuronal PCD, implying that the ICE-family proteases function downstream of these events during PCD.NGF and BAF rescued sympathetic neurons with an identical time course, suggesting that NGF, in addition to inhibiting metabolic and genetic events associated with neuronal PCD, can act posttranslationally to abort apoptosis at a time point indistinguishable from the activation of cysteine proteases. Both poly-(ADP ribose) polymerase and pro-ICE and Ced-3 homolog-1 (ICH-1) appear to be cleaved in a BAF-inhibitable manner, although the majority of pro-CPP32 appears unchanged, suggesting that ICH-1 is activated during neuronal PCD. Potential implications of these findings for anti-apoptotic therapies are discussed.