Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Magnetocardiography measurements with 4He vector optically pumped magnetometers at room temperature

In this paper, we present a proof of concept study which demonstrates for the first time the possibility of recording magnetocardiography (MCG) signals with 4He vector optically pumped magnetometers (OPM) operated in a gradiometer mode. Resulting from a compromise between sensitivity, size and operability in a clinical environment, the developed magnetometers are based on the parametric resonance of helium in a zero magnetic field. Sensors are operated at room temperature and provide a tri-axis vector measurement of the magnetic field. Measured sensitivity is around 210 f T (√Hz)−1 in the bandwidth (2 Hz; 300 Hz). MCG signals from a phantom and two healthy subjects are successfully recorded. Human MCG data obtained with the OPMs are compared to reference electrocardiogram recordings: similar heart rates, shapes of the main patterns of the cardiac cycle (P/T waves, QRS complex) and QRS widths are obtained with both techniques.
High-Deductible Health Plans: Implications for Substance Use Treatment.

OBJECTIVE To examine whether high-deductible health plans are related to patient complexity, health services use, and medical care costs among substance use treatment patients. DATA SOURCE/STUDY SETTING Electronic health record data from Kaiser Permanente Northern California; 2007-2011. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective analysis of electronic health record data of substance use treatment patients (N = 31,001). We examined relationship of patient demographics, health comorbidities, and services use and cost to deductible level: none, low ($1-$999), and high (≥$1,000). METHODS Demographic, membership, diagnostic, and utilization data were merged with cost data. Utilization and costs were summarized into 6-month intervals. Generalized estimation methods for repeated measures with logistic, Poisson, and linear regression were used. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Substance use patients with deductible plans were younger and had less comorbidity than those without deductibles. Patients with high deductibles had lower emergency room and hospital use 12- to 6-month pretreatment, but rates became similar to other groups in the 6 months immediately prior to treatment; treatment costs were similar. CONCLUSION Immediately prior to entering treatment, substance use patients with and without high deductibles have similar patterns of health services utilization. We discuss implications for health policy and treatment, particularly in an era of health reform.
Epistasis and Pleiotropy Affect the Modularity of the Genotype–Phenotype Map of Cross-Resistance in HIV-1

The genotype–phenotype (GP) map is a central concept in evolutionary biology as it describes the mapping of molecular genetic variation onto phenotypic trait variation. Our understanding of that mapping remains partial, especially when trying to link functional clustering of pleiotropic gene effects with patterns of phenotypic trait co-variation. Only on rare occasions have studies been able to fully explore that link and tend to show poor correspondence between modular structures within the GP map and among phenotypes. By dissecting the structure of the GP map of the replicative capacity of HIV-1 in 15 drug environments, we provide a detailed view of that mapping from mutational pleiotropic variation to phenotypic co-variation, including epistatic effects of a set of amino-acid substitutions in the reverse transcriptase and protease genes. We show that epistasis increases the pleiotropic degree of single mutations and provides modularity to the GP map of drug resistance in HIV-1. Moreover, modules of epistatic pleiotropic effects within the GP map match the phenotypic modules of correlated replicative capacity among drug classes. Epistasis thus increases the evolvability of cross-resistance in HIV by providing more drug- and class-specific pleiotropic profiles to the main effects of the mutations. We discuss the implications for the evolution of cross-resistance in HIV.
Conditional knockout of TOG results in CNS hypomyelination

The tumor overexpressed gene (TOG) protein is present in RNA granules that transport myelin basic protein (MBP) mRNA in oligodendrocyte processes to the myelin compartment. Its role was investigated by conditionally knocking it out (KO) in myelinating glia in vivo. TOG KO mice have severe motor deficits that are already apparent at the time of weaning. This phenotype correlates with a paucity of myelin in several CNS regions, the most severe being in the spinal cord. In the TOG KO optic nerve <30% of axons are myelinated. The number of oligodendrocytes in the corpus callosum, cerebellum, and cervical spinal cord is normal. In the absence of TOG, the most patent biochemical change is a large reduction in MBP content, yet normal amounts of MBP transcripts are found in the brain of affected animals. MBP transcripts are largely confined to the cell body of the oligodendrocytes in the TOG KO in contrast to the situation in wild type mice where they are found in the processes of the oligodendrocytes and in the myelin compartment. These findings indicate that MBP gene expression involves a post‐transcriptional TOG‐dependent step. TOG may be necessary for MBP mRNA assembly into translation permissive granules, and/or for transport to preferred sites of translation. GLIA 2017;65:489–501
Prediction of Blood–Brain Barrier Disruption and Intracerebral Hemorrhagic Infarction Using Arterial Spin-Labeling Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background and Purpose— Arterial spin-labeling magnetic resonance imaging is sensitive for detecting hyperemic lesions (HLs) in patients with acute ischemic stroke. We evaluated whether HLs could predict blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption and hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in acute ischemic stroke patients. Methods— In a retrospective study, arterial spin-labeling was performed within 6 hours of symptom onset before revascularization treatment in 25 patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion on baseline magnetic resonance angiography. All patients underwent angiographic procedures intended for endovascular therapy and a noncontrast computed tomography scan immediately after treatment. BBB disruption was defined as a hyperdense lesion present on the posttreatment computed tomography scan. A subacute magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography scan was performed during the subacute phase to assess HTs. The relationship between HLs and BBB disruption and HT was examined using the Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score locations in the symptomatic hemispheres. Results— A HL was defined as a region where CBFrelative≥1.4 (CBFrelative=CBFHL/CBFcontralateral). HLs, BBB disruption, and HT were found in 9, 15, and 15 patients, respectively. Compared with the patients without HLs, the patients with HLs had a higher incidence of both BBB disruption (100% versus 37.5%; P=0.003) and HT (100% versus 37.5%; P=0.003). Based on the Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score locations, 21 regions of interests displayed HLs. Compared with the regions of interests without HLs, the regions of interests with HLs had a higher incidence of both BBB disruption (42.8% versus 3.9%; P<0.001) and HT (85.7% versus 7.8%; P<0.001). Conclusions— HLs detected on pretreatment arterial spin-labeling maps may enable the prediction and localization of subsequent BBB disruption and HT.
Impact of Moisture on the Pressure Delivering Potential of Pressure Garments

Pressure garments are the main method of treatment and prophylaxis for hypertrophic burn scars. The pressure they exert on the scarred skin prevents contractures forming, reduces the itchiness and pruritus associated with active hypertrophic scars, and is believed, by many, to hasten normalization of the scar tissue. The pressure exerted is believed to be critical to treatment success and can be predicted based on laboratory measurement of the fabric’s tension profile. All previous research on the pressures delivered by pressure garments has been undertaken using dry fabrics in either laboratory or clinical conditions. However, many patients have complained of increased perspiration when wearing pressure garments, and many burn victims live and work in hot conditions where high levels of perspiration may be expected. This article investigated the impact of moisture content on fabric tension and thus the pressure exerting ability of pressure garments. Four different fabrics currently used in the construction of pressure garments were evaluated in seven different states of “wetness” from completely dry to completely saturated in water or artificial perspiration. Standard laboratory methods were used to measure the initial tension in fabrics and the tension after 11 cycles of extension. Pressures that would be exerted by these fabrics were calculated using the Laplace law. The results of this study showed that the tension, and therefore pressure delivering ability, of fabrics used in pressure garments was significantly reduced when they were wet but that the amount or type of “wetness” did not have a significant effect on pressure delivering ability.
Security of autonomous vehicle as a cyber-physical system

Security of (semi)-autonomous vehicles is a growing concern due to, first, the growing reliance of car functionalities on diverse (semi)-autonomous systems; second, the increased exposure of the such functionalities to potential attackers; third, the interaction of a single vehicle with myriads of other smart systems in an modern urban traffic infrastructure. In this paper, we review the security objectives of Autonomous Vehicle (AV) and argue that AV is a kind of Cyber-Physical System (CPS) for control and operations of the vehicle. We attempt to identify the core issues of securing an AV by modeling an AV as a special kind of CPS, which tend to be implemented by a complex interconnected embedded system hardware. Subsequently, the technical challenges of AV security are identified.
Simulation and Noise Analysis of Multimedia Transmission in Optical CDMA Computer Networks

This paper simulates and analyzes noise of multimedia transmission in a flexible optical code division multiple access (OCDMA) computer network with different quality of service (QoS) requirements. To achieve multimedia transmission in OCDMA, we have proposed strict variable-weight optical orthogonal codes (VW-OOCs), which can guarantee the smallest correlation value of one by the optimal design. In developing multimedia transmission for computer network, a simulation tool is essential in analyzing the effectiveness of various transmissions of services. In this paper, implementation models are proposed to analyze the multimedia transmission in the representative of OCDMA computer networks by using MATLAB simulink tools. Simulation results of the models are discussed including spectrums outputs of transmitted signals, superimposed signals, received signals, and eye diagrams with and without noise. Using the proposed models, multimedia OCDMA computer network using the strict VW-OOC is practically evaluated. Furthermore, system performance is also evaluated by considering avalanche photodiode (APD) noise and thermal noise. The results show that the system performance depends on code weight, received laser power, APD noise, and thermal noise which should be considered as important parameters to design and implement multimedia transmission in OCDMA computer networks.
Nitric Oxide Orchestrates a Power-Law Modulation of Sympathetic Firing Behaviors in Neonatal Rat Spinal Cords

Nitric oxide (NO) is a diffusible gas and has multifarious effects on both pre- and postsynaptic events. As a consequence of complex excitatory and inhibitory integrations, NO effects on neuronal activities are heterogeneous. Using in vitro preparations of neonatal rats that retain the splanchnic sympathetic nerves and the thoracic spinal cord as an experimental model, we report here that either enhancement or attenuation of NO production in the neonatal rat spinal cords could increase, decrease, or not change the spontaneous firing behaviors recorded from splanchnic sympathetic single fibers. To elucidate the mathematical features of NO-mediated heterogeneous responses, the ratios of changes in firing were plotted against their original firing rates. In log-log plots, a linear data distribution demonstrated that NO-mediated heterogeneity in sympathetic firing responses was well described by a power function. Selective antagonists were applied to test if glycinergic, GABAergic, glutamatergic, and cholinergic neurotransmission in the spinal cord are involved in NO-mediated power-law firing modulations (plFM). NO-mediated plFM diminished in the presence of mecamylamine (an open-channel blocker of nicotinic cholinergic receptors), indicating that endogenous nicotinic receptor activities were essential for plFM. Applications of strychnine (a glycine receptor blocker), gabazine (a GABAA receptor blocker), or kynurenate (a broad-spectrum ionotropic glutamate receptor blocker) also caused plFM. However, strychnine- or kynurenate-induced plFM was diminished by L-NAME (an NO synthase inhibitor) pretreatments, indicating that the involvements of glycine or ionotropic glutamate receptor activities in plFM were secondary to NO signaling. To recapitulate the arithmetic natures of the plFM, the plFM were simulated by firing changes in two components: a step increment and a fractional reduction of their basal firing activities. Ionotropic glutamate receptor activities were found to participate in plFM by both components. In contrast, GABAA receptor activities are involved in the component of fractional reduction only. These findings suggest that NO orchestrates a repertoire of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmissions, incurs a shunting effect on postsynaptic membrane properties, and thus, alters sympathetic firing in a manner of plFM. We propose that the plFM mediated by NO forms a basic scheme of differential controls for heterogeneous sympathetic regulation of visceral functions.
Smoking–Thrombolysis Relationship Depends on Ischemic Stroke Subtype

Background and Purpose— The relationship between smoking and the outcome in patients received thrombolysis is undetermined. The outcome could be influenced by different stroke subtypes. This study aimed to explore whether smoking had any impact on the outcome in patients with stroke of different subtypes who received intravenous thrombolysis. Methods— All patients who received intravenous thrombolysis within 4.5 hours after symptom onset from the Thrombolysis Implementation and Monitor of Acute Ischemic Stroke in China (TIMS-China) database were eligible to be entered into this analysis. Smokers were considered if they smoked at least 1 cigarette/d for >6 months before stroke. Ischemic stroke subtype was classified by using the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment criteria. Outcome measurements included post–intravenous thrombolysis symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 7 days, mortality, and functional independence at 90 days. The relationship between smoking and thrombolysis was analyzed by using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Results— Of 1118 patients enrolled, we identified 454 smokers and 664 nonsmokers. After stratifying for ischemic stroke subtypes, multivariate analysis revealed a significant relationship between smoking and functional independence in patients with noncardioembolism stroke subtypes (large artery atherosclerosis: odds ratio [OR], 1.452; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.053–2.264; small artery occlusion: OR, 4.275; 95% CI, 1.098–16.649; other: OR, 3.120; 95% CI, 1.162–8.373). Furthermore, smoking was specially related to lower rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (OR, 0.316; 95% CI, 0.120–0.832) and mortality (OR, 0.272; 95% CI, 0.128–0.577) in patients with large artery atherosclerosis subtype. Conclusions— In patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis, smoking could be related to a better chance of functional independence if their subtype of stroke was noncardioembolic, and a lower risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and mortality in those with large artery atherosclerosis.
Loperamide: a potential topical analgesic for the treatment of burn pain.

Pain sensation from the skin is transmitted through A and C groups of nerve fibers. The peripheral terminals of these nerve fibers are activated by direct damage as well as by various tissue factors that are released after injury. Pharmacotherapy is the cornerstone of pain management after burn injury. Beside the systemic administration of analgesics, attempts have been made to control pain locally. In this regard, the topical application of an opioid analgesic at the site of burn wound has shown encouraging results. Morphine-infused silver sulfadiazine cream could reduce mean pain ratings as compared with placebo-treated applications along with a decrease in the total amount of oral morphine consumed by patients with burns. Peripheral opioid analgesia also has been observed after intra-articular injections of morphine into the human knee joint. Naloxone has been reported to reverse the analgesia, indicating that it is an opioidmediated effect. However, some reports exist in which no significant analgesic effect has been noted after the administration of intra-articular morphine during knee arthroscopy. Peripheral opioid analgesia is mediated through opioid receptors (mu, delta, and kappa) on peripheral sensory nerve fibers. In a recent study on healthy human volunteers using systemic administration of a peripherally acting opioid that does not cross the blood–brain barrier, morphine-6– glucuronide produced antihyperalgesia in inflammatory pain, induced by freezing a small area of skin on the anterior side of forearm. Thus, it appears that the topical administration of mu-receptor agonists such as morphine can relieve inflammatory pain. The problem of mu agonists is that they also are systemically active and may get absorbed from the injury site, leading to side effects. In this regard, loperamide appears to be a better option because it does not cross the blood–brain barrier (ie, it is peripherally restricted). Also, note that loperamide is used commonly as an antidiarrheal medication (Imodium, Janssen Pharmaceutical NV, Beerse, Belgium). The effect of loperamide on experimentally produced burn injuries also has been studied. In one such study, thermal injury was produced in rats by placing the plantar surface of hind paw over a hot plate at 52°C for 45 seconds under halothane anesthesia. Loperamide (5%), applied as a cream, 1 minute after the injury was observed to decrease the pain sensation. Naloxone (1 mg/kg intraperitoneally) could reverse this analgesic effect of loperamide. Moreover, in full-thickness burns, loperamide could inhibit both C fiber activation and sensitization of peripheral normal skin. However, loperamide did not relieve secondary allodynia when applied after burn injury. In conclusion, loperamide may be effective as a topical analgesic for burn pain in humans and is worthy of clinical investigation.
Mutations in the signal transducer and activator of transcription family of genes in cancer

In recent years, it has become clear that members of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) family of genes play an important role in cancer. The STAT family consists of seven genes, STAT1‐4, STAT5A, STAT5B and STAT6, that are involved in regulating cellular proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and the immune system response. Constitutive activation of STAT3, via mutational changes, is important in oncogenesis in both solid and hematopoietic cancers. In the case of hematopoietic neoplasms, STAT3 driver mutations have been described in T‐cell large granular lymphocytic (T‐LGL) leukemia and chronic natural killer lymphoproliferative disorders (CLPD‐NK) and are seen in 30%‐40% of T‐LGL leukemia patients. STAT5B is also mutated in T‐LGL leukemia and CLPD‐NK, but in a much smaller proportion. Here we review past and current research on STAT genes in hematopoietic and solid cancers with emphasis on STAT3 and STAT5B and their roles in the pathogenesis of hematopoietic malignancies, particularly T‐LGL leukemia and CLPD‐NK.
Bladder Reconstruction with Human Amniotic Membrane in a Xenograft Rat Model: A Preclinical Study

Background: Human amniotic membranes (HAMs) are assumed to have a number of unique characteristics including durability, hypoallergenic and anti-inflammatory properties. Materials and Methods: Multilayer HAMs from caesarian sections were applied to repair defined bladder defects in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals were sacrificed at 7, 21 and 42 days after implantation. Bladder volume capacity after grafting was measured. Histological analyses were performed to asses a number of parameters including HAM degradation, inflammatory reaction, graft rejection and smooth muscle ingrowth. Results: One rat died from sepsis in the treated group. No severe complications or signs of leakage were observed. Bladder capacity did not change over time. The initially increased inflammation in the HAM group diminished significantly over time (p<0.05). No signs of HAM degradation were observed and smooth muscle staining increased over time. Conclusions: HAMs appear to be durable and hypoallergenic grafts. The assumed suitability for the reconstruction of urinary tract justifies further research on detailed immunological process in larger grafts.
Where Should Robots Talk?: Spatial Arrangement Study from a Participant Workload Perspective

Several benefits obtained using multiple robots in conversation have been reported in the human–robot interaction field. This paper first presents pre-trial results by which elderly people assigned a lower rating to a conversation with two robots than to one with a single robot. Observations of the trial suggest the hypothesis that an inappropriate spatial arrangement between robots and humans increases the workload in a conversation. Reducing the workload is important, especially when robots are used by elderly people. Therefore, we specifically examine the workload that is influenced by the spatial arrangement in group conversation. To verify the hypothesis, we use a NASA-TLX and a dual-task method to evaluate the workload and to conduct a comparative experiment in which the participant talks with two robots in two spatial arrangements. We also conduct a case study for elderly people in the same conversational conditions. From these experiments, we demonstrate that the spatial arrangement in which people cannot see both robots simultaneously increases their conversational workload and decreases their evaluation of the dialogue compared to a spatial arrangement by which people can see both robots simultaneously. We also show that the primary cause of the workload by positioning is not physical but mental.
Anti-cancer activity of Bauhinia tomentosa (Flowers) against human liver cancer

The present study has been performed experimentally by in vitro method to examine the anti-cancer activity of flowers of Bauhinia tomentosa. The report on to the research reveals a significant anti-cancer activity at different concentrations of the sample solution. The flowers of Bauhinia tomentosa was tested for its anti-cancer activity against liver cancer HePG2 cell line by MTT assay. The CTC50 value of the sample was 426. 18µg/ml against liver cancer HePG2 cell lines. Significant results were observed there by explaining the use of this plant in the traditional system of medicine.
Development of the K-state (Competence) and Mutagenesis in Stressed Bacillus subtillis Cells

iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . v LIST OF FIGURES . vii LIST OF TABLES . viii CHAPTER 1 LITERATURE REVIEW . 1 References . 6 CHAPTER 2 TRANSCRIPTION-ASSOCIATED MUTAGENESIS.8 Forward . 8 Abstract . 9 Introduction . 10 Materials and Methods . 12 Results and Discussion . 18 References . 34 CHAPTER 3 CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS.38 References . 43 APPENDIX . 45 Forward . 45 Methods.46 CIRRICULUM VITAE . 58