Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sirt1 Regulates Insulin Secretion by Repressing UCP2 in Pancreatic β Cells

Sir2 and insulin/IGF-1 are the major pathways that impinge upon aging in lower organisms. In Caenorhabditis elegans a possible genetic link between Sir2 and the insulin/IGF-1 pathway has been reported. Here we investigate such a link in mammals. We show that Sirt1 positively regulates insulin secretion in pancreatic β cells. Sirt1 represses the uncoupling protein (UCP) gene UCP2 by binding directly to the UCP2 promoter. In β cell lines in which Sirt1 is reduced by SiRNA, UCP2 levels are elevated and insulin secretion is blunted. The up-regulation of UCP2 is associated with a failure of cells to increase ATP levels after glucose stimulation. Knockdown of UCP2 restores the ability to secrete insulin in cells with reduced Sirt1, showing that UCP2 causes the defect in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Food deprivation induces UCP2 in mouse pancreas, which may occur via a reduction in NAD (a derivative of niacin) levels in the pancreas and down-regulation of Sirt1. Sirt1 knockout mice display constitutively high UCP2 expression. Our findings show that Sirt1 regulates UCP2 in β cells to affect insulin secretion.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder : from genes to patients

Historical Aspects of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Roscoe A. Dykman Scanning the Genome for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Aiveen Kirley Dopamine Knockouts and Behavior Davide Viggiano, Daniela Vallone, Lucia A. Ruocco, and Adolfo G. Sadile The SHR as a Model of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Vivienne Ann Russell The Roles of Norepinephrine and Serotonin in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Robert D. Oades Intermittent Hypoxia During Sleep as a Model of Environmental (Nongenetic) Contributions to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Barry W. Row and David Gozal The Psychological Evaluation of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in School-Aged Children: A Clinical Approach Based on Recent Practice Guidelines Dean W. Beebe Executive Function Martha Bridge Denckla The Neuropsychology of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Validity of the Executive Function Hypothesis Erik G. Willcutt, Kimberly Brodsky, Nomita Chhabildas, Michelle Shanahan, Benjamin Yerys, Ashley Scott, and Bruce F. Pennington Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Learning Disabilities Stephen R. Hooper and Emily A. Williams Selective Attention Deficits in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Review of Behavioral and Electrophysiological Studies Lisa M. Jonkman Working Memory in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Jack Stevens Developmental Underpinnings of the Association of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Its Subtypes to Neuropsychological and Academic Weaknesses Tuija Aro, Margaret Semrud-Clikeman, Anne-Mari Lapvetelainen, and Heikki Lyytinen Social Functioning of Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Hana Tur-Kaspa Reading Disabilities in ChildrenWith Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Juliana S. Bloom, Carlin J. Miller, Mauricio A. Garcia, and George W. Hynd Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and the Brain: Evidence From Electrophysiological Studies Alexandra P. Fonaryova-Key, Melissa Ferguson and Dennis L. Molfese Anatomical and Functional Neuroimaging Studies of Children and Adolescents With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Jonathan C. Pfeifer, Melissa DelBello, and Scott Holland State Regulation and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Jaap van der Meere Sleep and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Louise M. O'Brien and David Gozal Neuropsychological Performance in Adults With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Lisa Lee Weyandt Psychostimulants in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Theoretical and Practical Issues for the Community Practitioner Daniel F. Connor Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Drug Interactions: Methylphenidate, Amphetamine or Atomoxetine in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder John S. Markowitz and Kennerly S. Patrick Index
Effects of recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin treatment for disseminated intravascular coagulation at a single institution--an analysis of 62 cases caused by infectious diseases and 30 cases caused by hematological diseases.

OBJECTIVE Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a clinical condition with high mortality that is characterized by the systemic activation of coagulation pathways resulting in multiple organ failure. Although no standard treatment for DIC has been established, recent reports have indicated that recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (rTM) is effective against DIC. METHODS To elucidate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of DIC, we retrospectively analyzed 92 DIC patients who were treated with rTM at Miyazaki Prefectural Hospital over a 4-year period (62 patients had infectious diseases and 30 patients had hematological diseases). A diagnosis of DIC was made based on the diagnostic criteria of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine (JAAM) and Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare (JMHW) for infectious diseases and hematological diseases, respectively. In addition to treating the underlying disease, rTM was administered for six consecutive days. RESULTS In this study, 49 of the 92 DIC patients (53.3%) experienced resolution of DIC seven days after administration (46.8% patients with infectious disease and 66.7% with hematological disease). A higher survival rate was observed after a 28-day observation period in 69 of the 92 patients (75.0%) (72.6% of the patients with infectious disease and 80.0% of the patients with hematological disease). A lower DIC score at the initiation of rTM treatment was closely related to a higher rate of resolution of DIC. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that rTM therapy is an effective, safe and feasible treatment for DIC patients. Furthermore, making an accurate and early diagnosis of DIC and providing subsequent immediate treatment with rTM may improve the resolution of DIC.
Towards a Framework for Evaluating and Comparing Diagnosis Algorithms

Diagnostic inference involves the detection of anomalous system behavior and the identification of its cause, possibly down to a failed unit or to a parameter of a failed unit. Traditional approaches to solving this problem include expert/rule-based, model-based, and data-driven methods. Each approach (and various techniques within each approach) use different representations of the knowledge required to perform the diagnosis. The sensor data is expected to be combined with these internal representations to produce the diagnosis result. In spite of the availability of various diagnosis technologies, there have been only minimal efforts to develop a standardized software framework to run, evaluate, and compare different diagnosis technologies on the same system. This paper presents a framework that defines a standardized representation of the system knowledge, the sensor data, and the form of the diagnosis results and provides a run-time architecture that can execute diagnosis algorithms, send sensor data to the algorithms at appropriate time steps from a variety of sources (including the actual physical system), and collect resulting diagnoses. We also define a set of metrics that can be used to evaluate and compare the performance of the algorithms, and provide software to calculate the metrics.
The LIFE-H: Assessment of the quality of social participation

The purpose of this paper is to describe the Assessment of Life Habits (LIFE-H), a tool designed to document the quality of social participation of individuals with disabilities. Stemming from the conceptual model of the Handicap Creation Process, the LIFE-H assesses the performance of a person in carrying out activities of daily living and social roles which refer to life habits. Measurement is based on the level of difficulty and the assistance required to perform a series of life habits (69 and 240, short and long form, respectively). The validation process of the instrument is described as well as results of studies that have used LIFE-H to evaluate social participation. 1. Purpose of the instrument The Assessment of Life Habits (LIFE-H) (1) was developed to assess the quality of social participation. More precisely, this tool documents the manner in which people carry out daily activities and social roles, which are called life habits. Disruptions in the accom- plishment of life habits often result in a restriction of social participation into specific life domains, also de- scribed as handicap situations. In presence of persis- tent disabilities, supplying assistive technology (AT) is among solutions to limit the occurrence of such situa- tions. By documenting the degree of accomplishment of specific life habits and the resulting level of satis- faction, LIFE-H is presented as a potential tool to de- termine the impact of AT provision on social participa- tion.
Trafc Engineering Between Neighboring Domains

Network operators control the flow of traffic in today’s IP networks by manipulating the configuration of the routing protocols running on their routers. Although intradomain traffic engineering is largely isolated to individual Autonomous Systems (ASes), changes to interdomain routing policies affect the traffic load in other domains. In this paper, we argue that neighboring ASes should cooperate when changing how traffic flows between domains. Rather than proposing a new routing or signaling protocol, we argue that neighboring ASes can work in the context of the existing interdomain routing protocol— BGP (Border Gateway Protocol)—by employing network management tools that predict how configuration changes would affect the flow of traffic. Before modifying the configuration of the live routers, network operators can evaluate the effects of a proposed change and convey this information to the neighboring domain. This domain can, in turn, apply the same kind of tool to evaluate the effects of the proposed configuration change. We describe how to limit the amount of information that the neighboring ASes must exchange. This is crucial for the scalability of our scheme and for protecting the proprietary data of each domain. We also describe how a pair of ASes can control the traffic traveling between their networks without affecting how traffic flows through other domains not involved in the negotiation.
Robust Dynamic Integral Sliding Mode for MIMO Nonlinear Systems Operating Under Matched and Unmatched Uncertainties

In this research, a class of output feedback linearizable MIMO nonlinear systems is considered to be affected by both matched and unmatched uncertainties. The design of output feedback control law relies on an integral manifold, which permits subdivision of the control design architecture into two steps. In the first step, pole placement based continuous control component is designed, which regulates the system output when sliding mode is established. In the next step, a discontinuous control component is designed to cope with the uncertainties. In the proposed approach, the control input is applied to the actual system after passing through a chain of integrators. Consequently, the well-known chattering phenomenon, being caused by high frequency oscillations against the sliding manifold, is reduced and thus a continuous control input is fed into the system. This is a clear benefit in many applications, such as those of mechanical nature where a discontinuous control action could be inappropriate. The proposed control law is theoretically analysed and its performance in term of output regulation to zero is witnessed by the simulation results of two illustrative examples.
State-of-art modelling of inflammatory astrocyte-synapse interactions in injury and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Different outcomes of astrocyte inflammatory signalling in injury and neurodegeneration: It is emerging that astrocytes have a significant impact on the neuronal network by modulating synaptic connections and neuronal viability in both normal and pathological states. This provides a novel insight into pathomechanistic discoveries and therapeutics. It has been proposed that activation of the innate immune system and concomitant astrocytic and microglial inflammatory responses are contributors to synapse and neuronal dysfunction in neurodegenerative disorders (Heneka et al., 2014). On the contrary, current studies (Anderson et al., 2016) and our own work (Tyzack et al., 2014) indicate that astrocytic response in moderate traumatic injury induced inflammation promotes neuronal viability and synaptic recovery. This poses the question how beneficial and harmful aspects of inflammatory astrocyte signaling are altered in neurodegenerative diseases. Another central issue is how this effects synaptic connections then, which is an emerging theme in early pathogenesis in neurodegenerative conditions. Do astrocytes exacerbate synaptic dysfunction or impair plasticity? Discovery in this field had been hampered by the lack of cell-type specific experimental methods and human disease models suitable for exploring precise molecular events. Recent advances now provide an unprecedented opportunity to single out astrocyte mediated mechanisms relevant to degeneration or recovery of neuronal networks.
Prostaglandin Inhibition and Cardiovascular Risk: Maybe Timing Really Is Everything

Perspective on Zell et al., [p. 209][1] Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are among the oldest known medicines. White willow bark, which contains salicin, has been used to combat fevers and pain for thousands of years ([1][2]). The term “nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug” was
Differential temporal control of Foxa.a and Zic-r.b specifies brain versus notochord fate in the ascidian embryo

In embryos of an invertebrate chordate, Ciona intestinalis, two transcription factors, Foxa.a and Zic-r.b, are required for specification of the brain and the notochord, which are derived from distinct cell lineages. In the brain lineage, Foxa.a and Zic-r.b are expressed with no temporal overlap. In the notochord lineage, Foxa.a and Zic-r.b are expressed simultaneously. In the present study, we found that the temporally non-overlapping expression of Foxa.a and Zic-r.b in the brain lineage was regulated by three repressors: Prdm1-r.a (formerly called BZ1), Prdm1-r.b (BZ2) and Hes.a. In morphant embryos of these three repressor genes, Foxa.a expression was not terminated at the normal time, and Zic-r.b was precociously expressed. Consequently, Foxa.a and Zic-r.b were expressed simultaneously, which led to ectopic activation of Brachyury and its downstream pathways for notochord differentiation. Thus, temporal controls by transcriptional repressors are essential for specification of the two distinct fates of brain and notochord by Foxa.a and Zic-r.b. Such a mechanism might enable the repeated use of a limited repertoire of transcription factors in developmental gene regulatory networks. Summary: The temporally non-overlapping expression of Foxa.a and Zic-r.b in the brain lineage is regulated by three repressors: Prdm1-r.a, Prdm1-r.b and Hes.a.
3D-FLAIR MRI findings in patients with low-tone sudden deafness

Abstract Conclusion: The findings suggest that alterations in the composition of inner ear fluid play important roles in the development of low-tone sudden deafness (LTSD). High-intensity signals on three-dimensional fluid attenuated inversion recovery (3D-FLAIR) may reflect an increased concentration of protein in the inner ear due to the increased permeability of blood vessels. Disordered blood flow in the inner ear is associated with an increased permeability of the blood–labyrinth barrier. Therefore, the disordered blood flow in the cochlea may be closely related to the pathophysiological mechanisms of LTSD. Objectives: The 3D-FLAIR sequence has been used to detect alterations in the composition of inner ear fluid. The purpose of this study was to report imaging findings in cases of LTSD. Methods: 3D-FLAIR magnetic resonance imaging was performed in five women with nonrecurrent-type LTSD. Results: Three of the five patients (60%) showed high-intensity signals in the cochlear basal turn on precontrast 3D-FLAIR. Postcontrast enhancement was not prominent in any patient. In patient 1, the cochlea of the unaffected side showed high-intensity signals. No patients had such signals in the vestibulae or the semicircular canals.
Cognitive processes in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa

The series of studies reported in this thesis aimed to improve our knowledge of the cognitive disturbance in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Techniques from experimental cognitive psychology were used to test predictions made by cognitive theories of eating disorders. In the first study, subjects performed three tasks related to eating, weight and shape and self-statements were measured using concurrent verbalisation and a selfreport questionnaire. Compared to dieters and non-dieting controls, patients with bulimia nervosa showed greater concern with weight and appearance while patients with anorexia nervosa showed greater concern with eating. In the second study, using an adaptation of the Stroop colour-naming task, patients with eating disorders showed greater selective processing of information related to eating, weight and shape than normal, non-dieting controls and normal dieters. In the third study it was found that this disturbance was more closely related to measures of the specific psychopathology of eating disorders rather than to measures of general psychopathology. In the fourth study information processing before and after treatment was compared. As predicted by cognitive theories, selective processing appeared to be related to the emotional salience of the clour-named words rather than to patients' familiarity with the issues represented by these words. In the fifth study information processing before and after three different psychological treatments for bulimia nervosa was measured. No support was found for the hypothesis that cognitive behaviour therapy operates through mechanisms specific to this treatment. Contrary to predictions, in the sixth study, when colour-naming was measured at the end of treatment and at 12 month follow-up, selective information processing did not predict relapse in symptoms of bulimia nervosa. Finally, a seventh study, which manipulated attitudes to eating, weight and shape experimentally, found evidence for a causal relationship between these attitudes and disturbed eating behaviour. Methodological issues, and the clinical and theoretical relevance of the research findings, are discussed.
Tracking Melodic Patterns in Flamenco Singing by Analyzing Polyphonic Music Recordings

The purpose of this paper is to present an algorithmic pipeline for melodic pattern detection in audio files. Our method follows a two-stage approach: first, vocal pitch sequences are extracted from the audio recordings by means of a predominant fundamental frequency estimation technique; second, instances of the patterns are detected directly in the pitch sequences by means of a dynamic programming algorithm which is robust to pitch estimation errors. In order to test the proposed method, an analysis of characteristic melodic patterns in the context of the flamenco fandango style was performed. To this end, a number of such patterns were defined in symbolic format by flamenco experts and were later detected in music corpora, which were composed of un-segmented audio recordings taken from two fandango styles, namely Valverde fandangos and Huelva capital fandangos. These two styles are representative of the fandango tradition and also differ with respect to their musical characteristics. Finally, the strategy in the evaluation of the algorithm performance was discussed by flamenco experts and their conclusions are presented in this paper.
Examination of Frozen Cross Sections of Cervical Spinal Intersegments in Nine Horses with Cervical Vertebral Malformation: Lesions Associated with Spinal Cord Compression

Nine horses with clinical and radiographic findings of cervical vertebral malformation that were necropsied and examined using frozen cervical spinal cord cross sections were reviewed. Only cases with actual distortion of the spinal cord due to compression were selected. The goal of the study was to determine the morphologic features responsible for narrowing of the spinal canal and compression of the spinal cord. In individual cases, bony changes are associated with osteochondrosis and osteomyelitis of the dorsal articular facets and osteosclerosis of the dorsal cervical lamina. Soft tissue pathology associated with spinal cord compression included ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, joint capsule swelling and hypertrophy, and synovial cysts. In most cases, a combination of abnormalities was found in horses with spinal cord compression.
Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography: advance and current status in abdominal imaging

In the field of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (US), contrast agents are classified as either first- or second-generation agents depending on the gas within the microbubbles. In the case of first-generation contrast agents, a high-mechanical-index technique is used and only intermittent scanning is possible due to the early destruction of the microbubbles during the scanning. The use of second-generation contrast agents in a low-mechanical-index technique enables continuous scanning. Besides the detection and characterization of focal liver lesions, contrastenhanced US is helpful in the monitoring of radiofrequency ablation therapy and in the targeting step of an US-guided biopsy. Recently, there has been a demand for new criteria to evaluate the treatment response obtained using anti-angiogenic agents because morphologic criteria alone may not reflect the treatment response of the tumor and contrast-enhanced US can provide quantitative markers of tissue perfusion. In spite of the concerns related to its cost-effectiveness, contrast-enhanced US has the potential to be more widely used as a complimentary tool or to substitute the current imaging modalities in some occasions.
Parallel image thinning through topological operators on shared memory parallel machines

We present a concurrent implementation of a powerful topological thinning operator. This operator is able to act directly over grayscale images without modifying their topology. We introduce an adapted parallelization methodology which combines split, distribute and merge (SDM) strategy and mixed parallelism techniques (data and thread parallelism). The introduced strategy allows efficient parallelization of a large class of topological operators including, mainly, λ-leveling, skeletonization and crest restoring algorithms. To achieve a good speedup, we cared about coordination of threads. Distributed work during thinning process is done by a variable number of threads. Tests on 2D grayscale image (512*512), using shared memory parallel machine (SMPM) with 8 CPU cores (2× Xeon E5405 running at frequency of 2 GHz), showed an enhancement of 6.2 with a maximum achieved cadency of 125 images/s using 8 threads.