Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prefrontal Hemodynamics in Toddlers at Rest: A Pilot Study of Developmental Variability

Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive functional neuroimaging modality. Although, it is amenable to use in infants and young children, there is a lack of fNIRS research within the toddler age range. In this study, we used fNIRS to measure cerebral hemodynamics in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in 18–36 months old toddlers (n = 29) as part of a longitudinal study that enrolled typically-developing toddlers as well as those “at risk” for language and other delays based on presence of early language delays. In these toddlers, we explored two hemodynamic response indices during periods of rest during which time audiovisual children's programming was presented. First, we investigate Lateralization Index, based on differences in oxy-hemoglobin saturation from left and right prefrontal cortex. Then, we measure oxygenation variability (OV) index, based on variability in oxygen saturation at frequencies attributed to cerebral autoregulation. Preliminary findings show that lower cognitive (including language) abilities are associated with fNIRS measures of both lower OV index and more extreme Lateralization index values. These preliminary findings show the feasibility of using fNIRS in toddlers, including those at risk for developmental delay, and lay the groundwork for future studies.
A new method for fuzzy decision making based on ranking generalized fuzzy numbers and interval type-2 fuzzy sets

This paper presents a new method for fuzzy decision making based on ranking generalized fuzzy numbers and interval type-2 fuzzy sets. First, we propose a new fuzzy ranking method based on the α-cuts of generalized fuzzy numbers and interval type-2 fuzzy sets. The proposed fuzzy ranking method involves a decision-maker's attitude towards risks to calculate the left areas and the right areas of generalized fuzzy numbers and interval type-2 fuzzy sets with the consideration of the heights of generalized fuzzy numbers and interval type-2 fuzzy sets. Based on the proposed fuzzy ranking method, we propose a new method for fuzzy decision making. The proposed fuzzy decision making method is more flexible and more intelligent than the existing fuzzy decision making methods, where it not only considers the decision-maker's attitude towards risks, but also can deal with situations where the evaluating values are represented by interval type-2 fuzzy sets.
Physiological characteristics of anterior thalamic nuclei, a group devoid of inputs from reticular thalamic nucleus.

This study tested the hypothesis that neurons of thalamic nuclei, which are normally devoid of inputs from the reticular thalamic nucleus, do not display spindle oscillations and related rhythmic spike bursts. This proposal derived from our recent studies indicating that the reticular nucleus is the generator of spindling rhythmicity. We used retrograde tracing methods, intracellular recordings in barbiturized cats, and extracellular recordings of single neurons and field potentials in anteroventral (AV), anteromedial (AM), ventroanterior (VA), ventrolateral (VL), and central lateral (CL) thalamic nuclei in cats with rostral brain stem transections (cerveau isolé preparations), before and after administration of barbiturates. The observation that AV and AM nuclei do not receive inputs from the reticular nucleus was confirmed by using injections of horseradish peroxidase conjugated to wheat germ agglutinin confined within the limits of anterior nuclei. Such injections led to massive retrograde labeling in mammillary nuclei and layer VI of the retrosplenial cortex but left free of labeling the neurons of the reticular thalamic nucleus. Intracellular recordings showed that AV-AM neurons discharge tonically in response to a depolarizing current applied at rest, whereas they give rise to a slow spike that underlies a burst of fast action potentials when the membrane is hyperpolarized by 5-12 mV. Despite the fact that they share similar properties with other thalamic neurons, intracellularly recorded AV-AM neurons do not exhibit spindle waves under barbiturate anesthesia, whereas VA-VL, CL, and other thalamocortical neurons that receive afferents from the reticular nucleus commonly display such oscillations. With extracellular recordings performed simultaneously in CL and AV or AM nuclei of the unanesthetized cerveau isolé preparation, focal spindle oscillations and related rhythmic high-frequency spike bursts of single CL cells contrasted with absence of spindles and spike bursts in AV or AM neurons. Spindling could be induced in AV-AM nuclei only after administration of barbiturates at doses exceeding 3 mg/kg, and it appeared approximately 35-40 s after the barbiturate effect was detected in the simultaneously recorded CL nucleus. Moreover, the spike bursts that were elicited in AV-AM neurons after barbiturate administration were not temporally related with focal spindles. Since spindle oscillations did not appear intracellularly in AV-AM neurons, the possibility was envisaged that barbiturate-induced spindles were the passive reflection of field potentials actively generated in neighboring thalamic nuclei. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
ID-Migraine™ questionnaire and accurate diagnosis of migraine

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze the applicability of the Portuguese version of ID-Migraine TM in a sample of Brazilian patients. Methods Patients with headache were recruited from the neurology outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital and submitted to the ID-Migraine TM questionnaire. The diagnosis of headache was made according to the ICHD-2 criteria. Results Of the 232 patients, 86% had migraine. The questionnaire showed a sensitivity of 92% (95%CI, 88% to 95%), specificity of 60% (95%CI, 43% to 77%) and a positive predictive value of 93% (95%CI, 89% to 96%). Discussion Our results were similar to other international studies of the ID-Migraine TM application. The Portuguese version is considered easy to use, and an appropriate screening tool for migraine diagnosis in our sample. Conclusion Considering the characteristics of our health system, we can infer that this questionnaire would be beneficial in a Brazilian primary care setting; however, more studies are necessary.
A Human Fallopian Tube Model for Investigation of C. trachomatis Infections

Genital tract infections with Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) are the most frequent transmitted sexually disease in women worldwide. Inefficient clearance or persistence of the pathogens may lead to ascending infections of the upper genital tract and are supposed to cause chronic inflammatory damage to infected tissues 1,2. As a consequence, severe clinical sequelae like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), tubal occlusion and infertility may occur 3,4. Most of the research with C. trachomatis has been conducted in epithelial cell lines (e.g. HEp-2 cells and HeLa-229) or in mice. However, as with cell- culture based models, they do neither reflect the physiology of native tissue nor the pathophysiology of C. trachomatis genital tract infections in vivo 5. Further limitations are given by the fact that central signaling cascades (e.g. IFN-γ mediated JAK/STAT signaling pathway) that control intracellular chlamydial growth fundamentally differ between mice and humans 6,7. We and others therefore established a whole organ fallopian tube model to investigate direct interactions between C. trachomatis and human fallopian tube cells ex vivo 8,9. For this purpose, human fallopian tubes from women undergoing hysterectomy were collected and infected with C. trachomatis serovar D. Within 24 h post infection, specimen where analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to detect Chlamydia trachomatis mediated epithelial damage as well as C. trachomatis inclusion formation in the fallopian tissue.
Pathologic basis of antibody-mediated organ transplant rejection: from pathogenesis to diagnosis

Purpose of review Although antibody-mediated rejection of clinical organ transplants has been recognized more than a half-century ago, our understanding of its pathological/clinical phenotypes has dramatically increased over the past decade. This review highlights the pathological/clinical spectrum of ABMR and discusses its microscopic pathology in relationship with pathogenesis. Recent findings Newly recognized pathological manifestations of ABMR are: (1) C4d-negative active ABMR, which cannot be definitely diagnosed by current diagnostic systems and often remains underdetected. Novel molecular diagnostic tests can fill this diagnostic gap but these new tests are yet to be prepared for routine application; (2) antibody-mediated vascular rejection, which is misclassified by the current Banff Classification, is therefore inadequately treated and has a high risk for transplant failure; and (3) subclinical (insidious) microvascular inflammation, which can be with or without complement activation, predicts progression to chronic rejection, transplant dysfunction, and failure. Summary A major progress has been made in understanding of ABMR of clinical transplants in the last 5 years. New pathology types of ABMR are not appropriately classified and updates to the Banff diagnostic criteria are required. Better diagnosis would help develop effective antiantibody treatment strategies and improve long-term outcomes for patients.
Real Private Consumption Modeling of Pakistan

This study estimated the real private consumption model for Pakistan by using the annual data from 1971 to 2013. The Autoregressive distributed lag model is used to investigate the short run and long run relationship between private consumption, labor income, wealth, interest rate and unemployment rate. In the short run, current income, wealth, real interest rate and unemployment rate affected the real private consumption growth while in the long run labor income and wealth are significant. The numerical value of the coefficient of error correction model (ECM) is -0.58, which propose that Pakistan’s real private consumption converge from disequilibrium in period (t-1) to equilibrium (t) on a high speed.
Serological relationship of tumor necrosis factor-inducing exoantigens of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax

Exoantigens of Plasmodium vivax-parasitized erythrocytes stimulated macrophages to secrete tumor necrosis factor, and antisera raised against the exoantigens inhibited this secretion. The antisera also inhibited the activity of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium yoelii exoantigens, and conversely, antisera against the latter cross-reacted with the exoantigens of P. vivax.
Diamonds are Forever: Job-Matching and Career Success of Young Workers

Summary This study addresses the probability of young workers seeking for promotion after vocational training. By applying semi-parametric duration analysis with competing risks to a dataset of 17 youth rosters, each of them winner of either DFB-U19-Bundesliga or DFB-Youth-Cup between 1998/1999 and 2010/2011, the following paper tests some predictions that have emerged from Jovanovic’s (1979) matching theory. By running a youth academy a club assembles private information in order to decrease information deficits about a youth player’s performance. Findings from a database that covers 270 German youth players indicate that productivity, tenure and job seniority are key determinants for a successful debut with the home club. These results were not detected for potential debuts with an outside team after finishing youth engagement.
Quantitation of PAX6 and PAX6(5a) transcript levels in adult human lens, cornea, and monkey retina.

PURPOSE PAX6 is a critical regulator of the developing lens, other ocular tissues, central nervous system, and pancreas. There are two alternatively spliced forms of the protein, PAX6 and PAX6(5a), that may have different regulatory functions. This study was designed to determine the amounts of PAX6 and PAX6(5a) transcripts present in adult human lens epithelium and fibers, human cornea and monkey retina. METHODS PAX6 and PAX6(5a) transcript levels were monitored in microdissected lens epithelia, lens fibers, whole lens, cornea, and retina by competitive RT-PCR. The levels of TBP/TFIID were examined in adult human lens epithelium and fibers as control. RESULTS PAX6 and PAX6(5a) were expressed at equal levels in lens epithelium and fibers. Ninety-five times more PAX6 transcripts were detected in the epithelial cells than in the fibers. Adult human cornea and monkey retina expressed less PAX6/PAX6(5a) than lens epithelium but more than lens fibers. Correspondingly, 40 fold higher levels of TBP transcripts were detected in lens epithelium than fibers, suggesting reduced overall expression of transcription factors in the adult lens fibers. CONCLUSIONS The presence of PAX6 and PAX6(5a) messages and proteins in adult lens epithelium suggest functions for both forms of PAX6 in the growth and maintenance of the adult human lens. The reduced levels of both forms of PAX6 in the lens fibers suggest down regulation of this gene during differentiation of epithelia into fibers. The lower level of TBP expression in lens fibers also suggests reduced transcriptional competence of adult lens fibers.
Diseases Caused by Bacteria in Cattle: Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is an infectious, chronic or acute, localized or disseminated granulomatous disease that affects all animal species, caused by members of the genus mycobacteria. In cattle, the disease is caused by obligatory pathogenic and opportunistic species of mycobacteria and is transmitted between animals mainly through inhalation. It is a major public health concern and humans are infected chiefly through consumption of raw animal products. The disease is characterized by progressive emaciation, which may be terminally fatal. Pathological lesions comprising of be caseous or calcified granulomas are found mainly in the respiratory tract but animals infected through ingestion develop lesions in the lymph nodes of the head and the mesentery. Lesions may disseminate to involve other internal organs and tissues. Histologically, lesions manifest typical granulomas with a necrotic center surrounded by inflammatory cells and a fibrous capsule. Diagnosis is based on history, clinical signs, antemortem tests, and postmortem examination. Culture, isolation, and identification of the organism are confirmatory tests. The disease is a listed under the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code and the main method of control is testing and slaughter of affected animals. The importance of the disease is the zoonosis, loss in productivity in affected animals, and the cost of control.
Association of high sensitivity C-reactive protein with coronary heart disease prediction, but not with carotid atherosclerosis, in patients with hypertension.

BACKGROUND Inflammation is believed to predict coronary heart disease (CHD) in healthy subjects and in patients with atherosclerosis. We investigated the association of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (HS-CRP) and other inflammatory markers on cardiovascular outcome, and carotid atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients. METHODS AND RESULTS We conducted a cross-sectional study of 122 hypertensive patients and compared them with 64 normotensive volunteers. We measured circulating levels of HS-CRP, white blood cells (WBC), albumin, fibrinogen, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and interleukin-6, and examined the associations with traditional risk factors of CHD, carotid atherosclerosis, and a 10-year risk of CHD, based on the risk prediction algorithm of the Framingham model. The mean of blood pressure (BP) of the hypertensive patients was 163/102 mmHg (normotensives; 118/79 mmHg). The 10-year risk of CHD was higher in the hypertensive patients (9.3 +/- 7.3%) compared with the normotensive volunteers (4.3 +/- 4.2%). Albumin and HS-CRP were significantly higher in the hypertensive patients. Multivariate analysis showed that among markers, only HS-CRP was associated with 10-year risk of CHD (beta=0.13, p=0.03). The BP, body mass index, high-density lipoprotein, WBC count, fibrinogen, and cardiac hypertrophy increased across quartiles of HS-CRP. There was no association between HS-CRP and carotid atherosclerosis in subjects with hypertension and normotension. CONCLUSION A higher HS-CRP level was associated with a higher risk score of CHD, but not with carotid atherosclerosis, in patients with hypertension.
Effects of beam interruption time on tumor control probability in single-fractionated carbon-ion radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer

Carbon-ion radiotherapy treatment plans are designed on the assumption that the beams are delivered instantaneously, irrespective of actual dose-delivery time structure in a treatment session. As the beam lines are fixed in the vertical and horizontal directions at our facility, beam delivery is interrupted in multi-field treatment due to the necessity of patient repositioning within the fields. Single-fractionated treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is such a case, in which four treatment fields in multiple directions are delivered in one session with patient repositioning during the session. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the period of dose delivery, including interruptions due to patient repositioning, on tumor control probability (TCP) of NSCLC. All clinical doses were weighted by relative biological effectiveness (RBE) evaluated for instantaneous irradiation. The rate equations defined in the microdosimetric kinetic model (MKM) for primary lesions induced in DNA were applied to the single-fractionated treatment of NSCLC. Treatment plans were made for an NSCLC case for various prescribed doses ranging from 25 to 50 Gy (RBE), on the assumption of instantaneous beam delivery. These plans were recalculated by varying the interruption time τ ranging from 0 to 120 min between the second and third fields for continuous irradiations of 3 min per field based on the MKM. The curative doses that would result in a TCP of 90% were deduced for the respective interruption times. The curative dose was 34.5 Gy (RBE) for instantaneous irradiation and 36.6 Gy (RBE), 39.2 Gy (RBE), 41.2 Gy (RBE), 43.3 Gy (RBE) and 44.4 Gy (RBE) for τ = 0 min, 15 min, 30 min, 60 min and 120 min, respectively. The realistic biological effectiveness of therapeutic carbon-ion beam decreased with increasing interruption time. These data suggest that the curative dose can increase by 20% or more compared to the planned dose if the interruption time extends to 30 min or longer. These effects should be considered in carbon-ion radiotherapy treatment planning if a longer dose-delivery procedure time is anticipated.
The role of the hippocampus in feedback regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis.

There is considerable, although not entirely consistent, evidence that the hippocampus inhibits most aspects of HPA activity, including basal (circadian nadir) and circadian peak secretion as well as the onset and termination of responses to stress. Although much of the evidence for these effects rests only on the measurement of corticosteroids, recent lesion and implant studies indicate that the hippocampus regulates adrenocortical activity at the hypothalamic level, via the expression and secretion of ACTH secretagogues. Such inhibition results largely from the mediation of corticosteroid feedback, although more work is required to determine whether the hippocampus supplies a tonic inhibitory input in the absence of corticosteroids. It must be noted that the hippocampus is not the only feedback site in the adrenocortical system, since removal of its input only reduces, but does not abolish, the efficacy of corticosteroid inhibition, and since other elements of the axis appear eventually to compensate for deficits in feedback regulation. The importance of other feedback sites is further suggested not only by the presence of corticosteroid receptors in other parts of the brain and pituitary, but also by the improved prediction of CRF levels by combined hypothalamic and hippocampal receptor occupancy. The likelihood of feedback mediated by nonhippocampal sites underscores the need for future work to characterize hippocampal influence on HPA activity in the absence of changes in corticosteroid secretion. However, despite the fact that the hippocampus is not the only feedback site, it is distinguished from most potential feedback sites, including the hypothalamus and pituitary, by its high content of both type I and II corticosteroid receptors. The hippocampus is therefore capable of mediating inhibition over a wide range of steroid levels. The low end of this range is represented by corticosteroid inhibition of basal (circadian nadir) HPA activity. The apparent type I receptor specificity of this inhibition and the elevation of trough corticosteroid levels after hippocampal damage support a role for hippocampal type I receptors in regulating basal HPA activity. It is possible that basal activity is controlled in part through hippocampal inhibition of vasopressin, since the inhibition of portal blood vasopressin correlates with lower levels of hippocampal receptor occupancy, and the expression of vasopressin by some CRF neurons is sensitive to very low corticosteroid levels. At the high end of the physiological range, stress-induced or circadian peak corticosteroid secretion correlates strongly with occupancy of the lower affinity hippocampal type II receptors. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Developing a New Dental Implant Design and Comparing its Biomechanical Features with Four Designs

Background: As various implant geometries present different biomechanical behaviors, the purpose of this work was to study stress distribution around tapered and cylindrical threaded implant geometries using three-dimensional finite element stress analysis. Methods: Seven implant models were constructed using Computer Assisted Designing system. After digitized models of mandibular section, the crowns were created. They were combined with implant models, which were previously imported into CATIA software. The combined solid model was transferred to ABAQOUS to create a finite element meshed model which was later analyzed regarding the highest maximum and minimum principal stresses of bone. Results: For all models, the highest stresses of cortical bone were located at the crestal cortical bone around the implant. Threaded implants, triangular thread form and taper body form showed a higher peak of tensile and compressive stress than non-threaded implants, square thread form and straight body form, respectively. A taper implant with triangular threads, which is doubled in the cervical portion of the body, had a significantly lower peak of tensile and compressive stress in the cortical bone than straight/taper triangular or square threaded implant forms. Conclusion: For the investigation of bone implant interfacial stress, the non-bonded state should be studied too. Confirmative clinical and biological studies are required in order to benefit from the results of this study.