Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Choosing our Science

This special issue of the New Review was aimed at researchers who believe that their work is in the intersection of Hypertext and Web Science. We invited papers on a variety of technical topics with a personal, cultural or societal slant and particularly welcomed work that we felt was interdisciplinary in nature. In this editorial we examine the relationship between Hypertext research and Web Science, and ask readers how they would choose their science.
Canine platelet transfusions.

OBJECTIVE To review potential platelet storage options, guidelines for administration of platelets, and adverse events associated with platelet transfusions. DATA SOURCES Data sources included original research publications and scientific reviews. HUMAN DATA SYNTHESIS Transfusion of platelet concentrates (PCs) plays a key role in the management of patients with severe thrombocytopenia. Currently PCs are stored at 22 degrees C under continuous gentle agitation for up to 5 days. Chilling of platelets is associated with rapid clearance of transfused platelets, and galactosylation of platelets has proven unsuccessful in prolonging platelet survival. Although approved by the American Association of Blood Banks, cryopreservation of human platelets in 6% DMSO largely remains a research technique. Pre-storage leukoreduction of PCs has reduced but not eliminated acute inflammatory transfusion reactions, with platelet inflammatory mediators contributing to such reactions. VETERINARY DATA SYNTHESIS Canine plateletpheresis allows collection of a concentrate with a high platelet yield, typically 3-4.5 x 10(11) versus <1 x 10(11) for whole blood-derived platelets, improving the ability to provide sufficient platelets to meet the recipient's transfusion needs. Cryopreservation of canine platelets in 6% DMSO offers immediate availability of platelets, with an acceptable posttransfusion in vivo platelet recovery and half-life of 50% and 2 days, respectively. While data on administration of rehydrated lyophilized platelets in bleeding animal models are encouraging, due to a short lifespan (min) posttransfusion, their use will be limited to control of active bleeding, without a sustained increase in platelet count. CONCLUSIONS Fresh PC remains the product of choice for control of bleeding due to severe thrombocytopenia or thrombopathia. While cryopreservation and lyophilization of canine platelets offer the benefits of immediate availability and long-term storage, the compromise is decreased in vivo recovery and survival of platelets and some degree of impaired function, though such products could still be life saving.
Molecular Armory of S. Typhi: Deciphering the Putative Arsenal of Our Enemy

The outer surface of bacteria is the first to interact with host components, such as the immune system, the extracellular matrix or cells. The bacterial Gram-negative cell wall is complex and composed of an inner membrane (IM), a periplasmic space and a thin peptidoglycan layer, all surrounded by an outer membrane (OM). The OM is a bilayered structure consisting mainly of phospholipids, proteins and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and serves as an impermeable barrier to prevent the escape of periplasmic molecules but also acts as a barrier for entry of external molecules. Salmonella enterica comprises more than 2500 serovars, based on three major antigens located at the cell surface: O antigen, capsule and flagella. All serovars are highly conserved genetically but have different host ranges and cause different diseases. In humans, Salmonella infection causes gastroenteritis, often associated with serovars Typhimurium and Enteritidis or typhoid-like disease, which is associated with serovars Typhi and Paratyphi. S. Typhi strains belong to serogroup D1 with the antigenic formula O:9,12; Vi+; H-d. These strains are human-restricted and besides asymptomatic carriers, no environmental reservoir is known.
Nasal irritation and pulmonary toxicity of aliphatic amines in mice

The expiratory bradypnoea indicative of upper airway irritation in mice was evaluated during a 15‐min oronasal exposure to increasing concentrations of twenty aliphatic amines. The airborne concentration resulting in a 50% decrease in the respiratory rate of mice (RD50) was calculated for each test compound. Moreover, eight out of the twenty amines were tested for pulmonary toxicity in mice and for the effects of a 120‐min exposure on the respiratory rates of non‐anaesthetized, traheally cannulated mice (RD50TC). Both allylamine and diallylamine showed RD50 values of 9 ppm and 4 ppm, respectively, while the RD50 values associated with exposure to saturated amines ranged from 50 to 200 ppm. Among the eight amines tested for both upper airway irritation and pulmonary toxicity, diisopropylamine and di‐n‐butylamine showed a RD50TC/RD50 ratio of <1, indicating that the respiratory toxicity induced by these two amines would be related primarily to pulmonary effects. On the basis of prior predictions proposed for upper airway irritants, tentative standards are given for ten amines. Moreover, it is suggested that the basis of standards for industrial exposure to diisopropylamine and di‐n‐butylamine should be specified.
Germline genetic variation and breast cancer survival: prognostic and therapeutic implications.

‘Not all tumors go through all stages of progression, and the rate of progression varies from person to person. The determinants of this process are multifaceted and incompletely understood. ’ Breast cancer development and progression are complex multistep processes. Following malignant transformation, a mammary tumor progresses from in situ disease to invasive disease. There may be local spread to neighboring tissues or local or regional lymph nodes, as well as metastasis to distal organs including the brain, bone, lungs or liver. Not all tumors go through all stages of progression, and the rate of progression varies from person to person. The determinants of this process are multifaceted and incompletely understood. They include factors related to the individual, such as BMI, tumorspecific factors, such as histopathological grade and hormone receptor status, and exogenous factors, such as treatment and environmental exposures. Inherited genetic variation is likely to either directly modulate these factors or interact with them to influence the course of disease. For the purpose of this editorial we will use the term outcome as a general proxy for a range of concepts related to disease progression.
Are All Presidents Created Equal? Presidential Powers and the Shadow of Presidential Elections

Presidential elections with few candidates held in temporal proximity to legislative elections are believed to promote the nationalization and consolidation of the legislative party system. However, contrary to the existing literature, the authors argue here that the shadow presidential elections cast over legislative elections is contingent on the relative powers of the president vis-à-vis the legislature. Specifically, the authors find that proximate presidential elections with few presidential candidates promote the nationalization and consolidation of the legislative party system only when the president is neither very weak nor very powerful. They also find that proximate presidential elections with many presidential candidates promote the denationalization and fragmentation of the legislative party system only when the president is at least reasonably powerful.
Sozialer Rang und Depression - ein Beispiel „evolutionärer Psychopathologie”

Affective disorders are pathological alterations of phylogenetically old emotional mechanisms the adaptive function of which is still a matter of debate. According to the social competition hypothesis, depressive syndromes involve activation of a mechanism serving subordination in competitive situations. This mechanism protects the individual from the damaging consequences of an escalating agonistic encounter. The paper critically discusses supporting evidence culled from biological, clinical and psychological findings. Animal models show phenomenological similarities between subordination and depression. In primates affiliative behavior and social bonding are closely linked to rank-related behaviors. Common biochemical and pharmacological features of subordination and depression include an activation of the stress axis, diminished serotonergic neurotransmission and modification by antidepressants. However, the discrimination between a specific subordination reaction and an unspecific stress response is often controversial. Many clinical and psychological aspects of depressive syndromes may be understood as an--exaggerated--submissive behavior, but have rarely been studied in that light. Typical endogenous depression and bipolar disorders challenge the social competition hypothesis. While the manic syndrome, due to its similarity to dominance behavior, supports the link between social competition and affective disorders, the cyclic alteration of mood cannot be sufficiently explained by the social competition hypothesis alone.
Generalized Fatigue , Amenorrhea Due to Snake Bite ?

Hypopituitarism is a clinical syndrome characterized by deficiency of pituitary hormone production. Disorders that involve pituitary gland, hypothalamus, or surrounding structures may cause it. Panhypopituitarism refers to involvement of all pituitary hormones; usually, only 1 or more pituitary hormones are involved, resulting in isolated or partial hypopituitarism. Hypopituitarism is an uncommon disorder as described by National Institutes of Health (NIH), affecting <200,000 individuals in the United States. Worldwide, estimated incidence is 4.2 cases per 100,000 per year and prevalence is 45.5 cases per 100,000 without gender difference.
Culture conditions supporting adipose conversion of stromal-vascular cells from bovine intramuscular adipose tissues.

The culture conditions which are able to support the differentiation of bovine intramuscular (i.m.) stromal-vascular (S-V) cells into adipocytes were investigated. Bovine i. m. S-V cells were able to undergo adipose conversion, assessed by emergence of lipid droplets and induction of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity, when treated with 0.25 microM dexamethasone and 0.5 mM 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine in a serum-deprived (0.1%) medium containing 850 nM insulin and 1 mM octanoate. Octanoate was essential for morphological differentiation and addition of 25 microM of cholesterol with octanoate induced higher GPDH activity. The differentiation of the cells was not observed in the medium containing 10% fetal calf serum which supported the cell proliferation of undifferentiated cells even after confluence. Similarly, both bovine brain extracts and muscle extracts inhibited the differentiation of S-V cells in the serum-deprived condition. These results suggest that the existence of lipids such as octanoate and the process of growth-arrest in preadipocytes and/or other cells are necessary for the differentiation of bovine S-V cells into adipocytes in culture.
Modification in Rotor Pole Geometry of Mutually Coupled Switched Reluctance Machine for Torque Ripple Mitigating

This paper presents a new method to minimize the torque ripple of a 3-phase, 6-slot, and 4-pole mutually coupled switched reluctance motor (MCSRM 6/4). The difference between a MCSRM and a classical SRM is their winding configuration. In a MCSRM, the mutual inductances are no longer neglectable when compared to self inductance. On the contrary, due to mutual inductances, the MCSRM can produce higher average torque than a classical SRM. A literature review is firstly performed to identify the source of high torque ripple level of a MCSRM. Then, the method using punching holes in rotor poles to modify the waveforms of flux as well as derivatives of inductances with respect to rotor position (dL/d and dM/d ) is proposed. Using the 2-D finite-element method (FEM), the influence of dimensions of punching hole on the electromagnetic performances (average torque and torque ripple) is analyzed. The two MCSRM are supplied by three-phase sine wave currents, and comparisons in terms of average torque and torque ripple versus RMS current density are also carried out. In order to make sure that the presence of punching holes does not cause mechanical problems, some mechanical studies are performed. Finally, experimental tests are also realized to validate numerical results obtained by 2-D FEM.
Exploring the burden of inpatient readmissions after major cancer surgery.

PURPOSE Travel distances to care have increased substantially with centralization of complex cancer procedures at high-volume centers. We hypothesize that longer travel distances are associated with higher rates of postoperative readmission and poorer outcomes. METHODS SEER-Medicare patients with bladder, lung, pancreas, or esophagus cancer who were diagnosed in 2001 to 2007 and underwent extirpative surgery were included. Readmission rates and survival were calculated using Kaplan-Meier functions. Multivariable negative binomial models were used to examine factors associated with readmission. RESULTS Four thousand nine hundred forty cystectomies, 1,573 esophagectomies, 20,362 lung resections, and 2,844 pancreatectomies were included. Thirty- and 90-day readmission rates ranged from 13% to 29% and 23% to 43%, respectively, based on tumor type. Predictors of readmission were discharge to somewhere other than home, longer length of stay, comorbidities, higher stage at diagnosis, and longer travel distance (P < .001 for each). Patients who lived farther from the index hospital also had increased emergency room visits and were more likely to be readmitted to a hospital other than the index hospital (P < .001). Of readmitted patients, 31.9% were readmitted more than once. Long-term survival was worse and costs of care higher for patients who were readmitted (P < .001 for all). CONCLUSION The burden of readmissions after major cancer surgery is high, resulting in substantially poorer patient outcomes and higher costs. Risk of readmission was most strongly associated with length of stay and discharge destination. Travel distance also has an impact on patterns of readmission. Interventions targeted at higher risk individuals could potentially decrease the population burden of readmissions after major cancer surgery.
Depression and substance use in minority middle-school students.

OBJECTIVES This study investigated the association between depression and substance use in a sample of middle-school students. METHODS The 5721 students (59%-63% Hispanic) completed self-report items on depressive symptoms, recent smoking and binge drinking, and lifetime use of marijuana, cocaine, and inhalants. RESULTS Symptoms of depression were strongly and positively related to substance use. For every type of use, a stepwise increase was seen between the percentage of students with low symptom frequency and the percentage of students with more symptoms. A sizable number of users reported symptoms indicating major depression. Depression scores showed few clinically meaningful differences among demographic subgroups. Substance use scores, in contrast, showed meaningful intergroup differences for racial/ethnic group and other demographic variables. CONCLUSIONS Depressive symptoms and substance use were associated in a sample of middle-school students who were largely non-White and predominantly Hispanic. Greater understanding of the nature of this association is needed; this understanding should be used to design prevention programs, and prevention programs should be introduced at least in the middle-school years.
Downregulation of spinal astrocytic connexin43 leads to upregulation of interleukin‐6 and cyclooxygenase‐2 and mechanical hypersensitivity in mice

Connexin43 (Cx43), involved in intercellular signaling, is expressed in spinal dorsal horn astrocytes and crucial in the maintenance of neuropathic pain. Downregulation of spinal astrocytic Cx43 in mice enhances glutamatergic neurotransmission by decreasing glutamate transporter GLT‐1 expression, resulting in cutaneous hypersensitivity. Decreased expression of astrocytic Cx43 could lead to altered expression of other nociceptive molecules. Transfection of Cx43‐targeting siRNA in cultured spinal astrocytes increased expression of the pronociceptive cytokine interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and the prostaglandin synthesizing enzyme cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2). Increased expression of IL‐6 and COX‐2 was due to decreased Cx43 expression rather than due to diminished Cx43 channel function. In mice, downregulation of spinal Cx43 expression by intrathecal treatment with Cx43‐targeting siRNA increased IL‐6 and COX‐2 expression and induced hind paw mechanical hypersensitivity. Cx43 siRNA‐induced mechanical hypersensitivity was attenuated by intrathecal treatment with anti‐IL‐6 neutralizing antibody and intraperitoneal treatment of selective COX‐2 inhibitor celecoxib, demonstrating that these molecules play a role in nociceptive processing following Cx43 downregulation. Restoring spinal Cx43 by intrathecal injection of an adenovirus vector expressing Cx43 in mice with a partial sciatic nerve ligation reduced spinal IL‐6 and COX‐2 expression. Suppression of glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK‐3β), a serine/threonine protein kinase, prevented upregulation of IL‐6 and COX‐2 expression induced by Cx43 downregulation in both cultured astrocytes and in mouse spinal dorsal horn. Inhibition of spinal GSK‐3β also ameliorated Cx43 siRNA‐induced mechanical hypersensitivity. The current findings indicate that downregulation of spinal astrocytic Cx43 leads to changes in spinal expression of pronociceptive molecules underlying the maintenance of pain following nerve injury.
Autism spectrum disorder screening with the CBCL/1½–5: Findings for young children at high risk for autism spectrum disorder

The screening power of the CBCL/1½–5’s Withdrawn and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Pervasive Developmental Problems (DSM-PDP) scales to identify children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at 24 months was tested in a longitudinal, familial high-risk study. Participants were 56 children at high risk for autism spectrum disorder due to an affected older sibling (high-risk group) and 26 low-risk children with a typically developing older sibling (low-risk group). At 24 months, 13 of the 56 high-risk children were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, whereas the other 43 were not. The high-risk children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder group had significantly higher scores on the CBCL/1½–5’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Pervasive Developmental Problems and Withdrawn scales than children in the low-risk and high-risk children not diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder groups ( η p 2 > 0 . 50 ) . Receiver operating characteristic analyses yielded very high area under the curve values (0.91 and 0.89), and a cut point of T ⩾ 60 yielded sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 97% to 99% between the high-risk children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and the combination of low-risk and high-risk children not diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Consistent with several previous studies, the CBCL/1½–5’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Pervasive Developmental Problems scale and the Withdrawn syndrome differentiated well between children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and those not diagnosed.
A study of the characteristic of the high-voltage induction motor considering the magnetic wedge effect with poles

The advantage of using magnetic wedges in the stator slots of the high-voltage induction machine with the form-wound coil is capable of reducing the magnetic field distortion in the air-gap, which is one of the negative factors to generate non-sinusoidal air-gap magnetic field. When magnetic wedges are applied in the high-voltage induction motor, the harmonic losses of core losses and rotor bar losses reduced. Consequently, the motor efficiency is increased. However, how much improvement on the high-voltage induction motor greatly depends on the number of poles. Therefore, It is investigated the effect of the magnetic wedges and the number of poles in this paper. Total 8 FEM cases are analyzed to evaluate magnetic wedge effects with the number of poles. Lastly, test results are compared to verify the reliability of FEM results.
A 1 V operating 256-Kbit full CMOS SRAM

A full CMOS six-transistor memory cell was fabricated with single-polysilicon, double-metal technology. The channel lengths of n-channel and p-channel transistors are 0.8 &mu;m and 1.2 &mu;m and the cell sizes are 8.5 &mu;m&times;12.8 &mu;m, respectively. The gate oxide thickness is 200 &Aring;, and the lightly doped drain (LDD) structure is adopted for the n-channel transistor. A 256-kb full CMOS SRAM utilizing the new technology has achieved a wide operating voltage from 1 V to 7 V and 5 mW (at f=1 MHz &amp; VCC=5 V) and 0.2 mW (at f=1 MHz &amp; VCC=1 V) power dissipation. The address input and data output signals with 100 pF load capacitance of V CC=1 V are shown
Freezing Lesions of the Developing Rat Brain: A Model for Cerebrocortical Microgyria

Cerebrocortical microgyri were induced by placing a freezing probe on the skull of P0 and PI rat pups. Freezing lesions resulted in laminar necrosis of the infragranular layers and the subsequent migration of supragranular neurons through the region of damage. The result was most often a region of four-layered microgyric cortex consisting of a molecular layer, a thickened layer ii, a lamina dissecans (corresponding to the necrotized layers IV, V, and VIa), and a neuronal layer iv which corresponded to layer VIb of the intact cortex. Immunocytochemical investigation of the microgyric cortex with antibodies to neurofilament, glial fibrillary acidic protein and glutamate showed more widespread disruption of neocortical architecture than could be seen from Nissl preparations. In contrast, vasoactive intestinal peptidecontaining neuronal bodies appeared to be distributed normally in the microgyric region although their processes were sometimes distorted. These results are considered in the light of previous research on induced microgyria, and possible implications for the behavioral consequences of focal, developmental neuropathologic lesions are discussed.
Das FitzHugh-Nagumo-Modell zur Beschreibung des Verhaltens von Neuronen

1961 entwickelte R. FitzHugh das BVP-Modell, ein zweidimensionales Differenzialgleichungssystem zur Beschreibung des Verhaltens von Neuronen. Es wurde 1962 von J. Nagumo aufgegriffen und ist daher heute unter dem Namen „FitzHugh-Nagumo-Modell“ bekannt. Neben einer kurzen Beschreibung anderer Neuronenmodelle und einem kleinen didaktischen Anteil beleuchtet die Arbeit vornehmlich, wie die Eigenschaften von Nervenzellen bei der Weiterleitung von Signalen durch das FitzHugh-Nagumo-Modell beschrieben werden.
Viewpoint: Why do we need a point‐of‐care CD4 test for low‐income countries?

In this paper, we discuss the reasons why we urgently need a point‐of‐care (POC) CD4 test, elaborate the problems we have experienced with the current technology which hampers CD4‐count coverage and highlight the ideal characteristics of a universal CD4 POC test. It is high‐time that CD4 technology is simplified and adapted for wider use in low‐income countries to change the current paradigm of restricted access once and for all.