Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neuronal activity in prepositus nucleus correlated with eye movement in the alert cat.

1. In nine alert chronically prepared cats the activity of 177 neurons was recorded in the prepositus nucleus during either spontaneous eye movement or that induced by natural vestibular and optokinetic stimulation. 2. In 116 cells, eye position and/or eye velocity was precisely and unequivocally encoded whatever the origin of the eye movement. These cells were separated into different populations according to the eye movement variable encoded and the directionality of the neuronal response. The firing rates of the remaining 61 cells were loosely related to eye movements because a variety of discharge patterns were observed during identical eye movements. In the latter case, some other unmeasured variable (e.g., neck or visual) was suggested to be encoded in the firing frequency. 3. Discharge rate changed before the eyes began to move and reached a new steady level during fixation following a saccade into a particular direction of the orbit. The ondirection was horizontal for 59% of the neurons, vertical for 17%, and oblique for 24%. 4. Regardless of their preferred direction, the discharge rate in 19% of the neurons was closely proportional to eye position. The range in sensitivity was from 1.1 to 7.5 spikes X s-1/deg. Weak velocity responses were occasionally observed during the slow phase of vestibular and optokinetic nystagmus including during saccades. This class of neurons exhibited a very regular interspike interval for a given position of fixation. Since mainly eye position was encoded, these cells were called position neurons. 5. Other prepositus neurons showed both position and velocity sensitivity during saccades and fixation. Their firing rate encoded eye position over the same range as above and also coded velocity during the slow phase of vestibular and optokinetic nystagmus. Depending on the weighting between the position and velocity proportionality constants, these neurons were classified into position-velocity (48%) or velocity-position (33%) groups. 6. The distribution of the above responses led to the conclusion that the prepositus nucleus plays a role in vertical and horizontal spatial integration. The predominance of horizontal activity suggested that the nucleus may be a significant site underlying genesis of horizontal eye position.
The effect of spinning conditions on the mechanics of a spider's dragline silk

We studied the mechanical properties of dragline threads of the edible golden silk spider Nephila edulis that are produced under spinning speeds ranging from 0.1 to 400 mm s−1 and temperatures ranging from 5 to 40°C. These conditions affected the silk in all of the mechanical traits we tested (strain at breaking, breaking energy, initial Young's modulus and point of yielding). We argue that both trade–offs (between mechanical properties) and constraints (in the manufacturing process) have a large role in defining spider silk fibres.
Real‐World Data on the Lifespan of Implantable Cardioverter‐Defibrillators Depending on Manufacturers and the Amount of Ventricular Pacing

Real‐World Data on the Lifespan of ICDs Introduction: Implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) longevity is crucial for both patients and public health systems because it determines the number of surgical ICD replacements, which can generally be considered an additional risk factor for complications, and the cost‐effectiveness of ICD therapy. Our objective was to obtain insight into the “real‐world” longevities of implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators, which quite often differ from those stated in the manufacturers’ declarations.
Comparative study of dermaroller therapy versus trichloroacetic acid CROSS for the treatment of atrophic acne scars

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of dermaroller treatment with that of TCA CROSS in acne scars. Methods We selected thirty patients of atrophic acne scars for the study. Group I patients underwent four sessions of dermaroller therapy four weeks apart. Group II were treated with four sessions of TCA CROSS technique four weeks apart. Results After four sessions of dermaroller and TCA CROSS each, marked improvement was seen in 40% patients in the dermaroller group and in 60% patients in the CROSS group. Moderate improvement was seen in 40% patients in dermaroller group and in 26.6% patients in the CROSS group and mild improvement was seen in 20% patients in dermaroller group and 13.3% patients in the CROSS group. Side effects were mild and infrequent in both groups. Conclusion Both treatments are equally effective and safe for the treatment of acne scars.
Assessment and Validation of MODIS and GEOV1 LAI With Ground-Measured Data and an Analysis of the Effect of Residential Area in Mixed Pixel

Leaf area index (LAI) is a critical variable for simulating the carbon or nitrogen cycles and water and heat energy balance of ecosystem. MODIS and Geoland2 version 1 (GEOV1) LAI products were validated based on the groundmeasured maize, winter wheat, and grass LAI data in several years. This study also investigated the residential area effect in mixed pixels on global LAI product accuracies in North Plain and Northeastern Plain in China. The MODIS and GEOV1 LAI products showed marked difference in variations of maize and winter wheat LAI at different key growth stages, and the GEOV1 LAI can present much clear differences and variations during crop growth periods. The MODIS and GEOV1 LAI products often underestimate the maize and winter wheat LAI, with the exception that GEOV1 LAI overestimate when maize LAI is large. For grass, the MODIS and GEOV1 LAI both overestimate a little. Overall, the GEOV1 LAI is often larger than the MODIS LAI. The GEOV1 LAI showed better regressions (with R2 of 0.868, 0.496, and 0.216) with the ground-measured LAI than MODIS LAI (with R2 of 0.258, 0.350, and 0.129) for maize, winter wheat, and grass, respectively. The residential area in mixed pixel make marked impact on MODIS and GEOV1 LAI data at different maize and winter wheat growth stages, and it maybe a main error source of the MODIS and GEOV1 LAI underestimations. The quadratic polynomial fitting relationships (most of the regressions R2 exceeded 0.90) can describe well the effect of residential area percent in mixed pixel on global LAI product.
21-Hydroxylase-deficient nonclassic adrenal hyperplasia is a progressive disorder: a multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE Our aim was to determine whether the clinical features of 21-hydroxylase-deficient nonclassic adrenal hyperplasia are correlated with either age at symptom onset or age at presentation, or both, and with the degree of adrenocortical abnormality. STUDY DESIGN In a multicenter cohort design 220 women with nonclassic adrenal hyperplasia, with a basal or adrenocorticotropic hormone-stimulated 17-hydroxyprogesterone level >30.3 nmol/L, were studied, either prospectively (n = 39) or retrospectively (n = 181). Patients were stratified by age of presentation into 5 groups: (1) <10 years (n = 25), (2) 10 to 19 years (n = 64), (3) 20 to 29 years (n = 83), (4) 30 to 39 years (n = 30), and (5) 40 to 49 years (n = 16). Two patients >50 years old were excluded from the analysis because of age. RESULTS Ninety-two percent of patients <10 years old had premature pubarche at presentation, whereas clitoromegaly and acne were each present in only 20% of these younger subjects. With only patients > or =10 years old considered, presenting clinical features included hirsutism (59%), oligomenorrhea (54%), acne (33%), infertility (13%), clitoromegaly (10%), alopecia (8%), primary amenorrhea (4%), and premature pubarche (4%). Among the patients >/=10 years old, the prevalence but not the degree of hirsutism increased significantly with age. Basal levels of 17-hydroxyprogesterone in adolescents were significantly higher than the levels found either in children (<10 years old) or women 40 to 49 years old (P <.01 and P <.03, respectively), although no difference was noted in the stimulated 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels between age groups. The adrenocorticotropic hormone-stimulated levels but not the basal levels of 17-hydroxyprogesterone were significantly higher in patients with clitoromegaly than in women without clitoromegaly. Alternatively, there were no differences in either basal or stimulated 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels between patients with and those without hirsutism, acne, or alopecia. CONCLUSION In children <10 years old the most common presenting complaint was premature pubarche, whereas hirsutism and oligomenorrhea were more common in older patients. The prevalence of hirsutism increased with age, suggesting the progressive nature of nonclassic adrenal hyperplasia. Furthermore, the adrenocorticotropic hormone-stimulated levels of 17-hydroxyprogesterone were higher in patients with clitoromegaly, which suggests that the degree of adrenocortical dysfunction in nonclassic adrenal hyperplasia determines, at least in part, the clinical presentation.
Controlled evaluation of the volume of blood cultured in detection of bacteremia and fungemia

To evaluate the role of the volume of blood cultured in the detection of clinically important bacteremia and fungemia in adults, we evaluated the yield and speed of detection of microorganisms from 5,317 paired 2- and 5-ml samples of blood. The same kind of medium (supplemented peptone broth with 0.03% sodium polyanetholsulfonate) and atmosphere of incubation (open venting units) were used for all blood cultures. Only adequately filled (less than or equal to 80% of stated volume) sets (20-ml tube and 50-ml bottle) were compared statistically. Significantly more bacteria (p less than 0.01), Pseudomonas spp. In particular (P less than 0.05), were isolated from the 5-ml samples of blood. We conclude that the volume of blood cultured is a critical factor in the detection of septicemia. Consequently, valid evaluation of other factors influencing the detection of septicemia must be based on comparisons in which equal volumes of blood are cultured.
Arthritis in ducks. I. Aetiology and public health aspects.

A pure culture of potentially pathogenic bacteria was obtained from 90% of 233 joints examined, originating from 232 ducks condemned due to arthritis at slaughter. S. typhi-murium and Staph. aureus were isolated from 61% and 18% of the joints respectively. E. coli was obtained from 6% of the cases, serogroup 078 being most prevalent. E. rhusiopathiae, Y. pseudo-tuberculosis, P. vulgaris, Micrococcus sp. , Streptococcus sp. , Acinetobacter sp. , Flavobacterium sp. , Pseudomonas sp. and Ae. formicans made up 12 cases. Serotypes other than S. typhi-murium were prevalent among ducks from all farms investigated, but S. typhi-murium was the only serotype demonstrated in arthritis. A high incidence of S. typhi-murium in the intestinal tract of ducks maintained on free range or in open houses suggests that these sites are sources of infection and that the intestinal tract is the portal of entry for S. typhi-murium causing arthritis. Ducks with arthritis at slaughter should always be totally condemned because of the public health hazard from the organisms most often associated with this condition.
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention by Small Rural Hospitals: Reasons, Obstacles, and Enablers

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Rural health stakeholders expect small rural hospitals to help improve health status in their communities. Those hospitals may try to offer health promotion and disease prevention (HPDP) services, but they confront big obstacles when doing this. Research interviews with chief executive officers (CEOs) at small rural hospitals found that low reimbursement, community attitudes, inpatient priorities, personnel shortages, low educational levels, weak local economies, and large older populations are often barriers to HPDP. Research also found practical methods that enabled CEOs to overcome obstacles and to offer HPDP in their rural communities. Collaboration with many organizations within and beyond their communities is essential to expand and leverage facilities, equipment, legitimacy, funds, interpersonal connections, knowledge, and resources. Philanthropy, grant writers, and grants are important, as is the involvement of employee champions and volunteers. Political advocacy can help. Implementing these enablers requires effective leadership, communication, interpersonal relations, and trust building.
Cohort and Nested Case‐Control Studies of Hematopoietic Cancers and Brain Cancer among Electric Utility Workers

Recent studies have raised concern about the potential health effects of occupational exposures to power frequency electric and magnetic fields. We evaluated cancer mortality for leukemia, brain cancer, and lymphoma from 1960 to 1988 in a cohort of 36,221 electric utility workers using cohort analyses and three nested case-control studies. From a volunteer sample of the current workforce that represented a variety of different occupations and work locations, we collected 776 days of magnetic field measurements. We derived exposure information from company job history information and developed exposure scores by linking job history data to measured magnetic fields. In job title analyses, we compared “electrical workers” with other field and craft occupations, office, and technical support staff. Age-specific cancer rates for electrical and reference workers were similar. “Electrical workers” had rate ratios or odds ratios ranging from 0.7 to 1.4. Most ratios were close to 1.0. Lymphomas were slightly elevated compared with leukemias and brain cancers (ratios of 0.9–1.4 vs 0.7–1.2, respectively). Odds ratios for magnetic field exposure indices, based on scores for the mean, median, 99th percentile, and fractions exceeding 10 milligauss and 50 milligauss, were all close to or less than 1.0. The interval estimates indicate no strong association but are somewhat limited by imprecision.
Review: drugs do not improve symptoms in urinary urge incontinence and may have side effects

and commentary also appear in ACP Journal Club. 182 Volume 8 November/December 2003 EBM Therapeutics www.evidence-basedmedicine.com on O cber 5, 2023 by gest. P rocted by coright. ht://ebm bm jcom / E id B ased M d: frst pulished as 10.36/ebm . 8.182 on 4 D ecem er 203. D ow nladed fom
Reprogramming of defended body weight after Roux‐En‐Y gastric bypass surgery in diet‐induced obese mice

Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) results in sustained lowering of body weight in most patients, but the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to obtain support for the notion that reprogramming of defended body weight, rather than passive restriction of energy intake, is a fundamental mechanism of RYGB.
Morphological transformation of liposomes caused by assembly of encapsulated tubulin and determination of shape by microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs).

To examine the role of cytoskeletons in cellular morphogenesis, we generated liposomes encapsulating tubulin, with or without microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs), and observed their transformation using dark-field microscopy. When tubulin was polymerized with MAPs in liposomes, liposomes were transformed into a "bipolar" shape with a central sphere and two tubular membrane protrusions that aligned in a straight line. On the other hand, when pure tubulin was polymerized in liposomes without MAPs, they initially transformed into a bipolar shape but subsequently re-transformed into a "monopolar" shape, i.e. a sphere with only one straight tubular portion. This re-transformation occurred in two ways: first, by shortening of one of the tubular portions due to microtubule disassembly; or second, by fluctuation of the central sphere toward one of the ends without shortening of the tube portion. MAPs prevented this re-transformation, and their role in stabilizing the shape of transformed liposomes was studied by the co-sedimentation method. The results show that MAPs, particularly MAP1 and MAP2, mediate binding between microtubules and the liposomal membrane. However, MAP2 by itself did not bind to liposomes, but was able to stabilize bipolar liposomes. This stabilization is caused not only by direct links between microtubules and liposomes, but also by prevention of Brownian motion of microtubules through an increase in friction.
Lifestyle recommendations reduced blood pressure in patients with above optimal blood pressure

(2003) JAMA 289, 2083. Appel LJ, Champagne CM, Harsha DW, et al. . Effects of comprehensive lifestyle modification on blood pressure control: main results of the PREMIER clinical trial. ; . : . –93 . [OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4] QUESTION: In patients with above optimal blood pressure (BP), what is the relative effectiveness of 2 behavioural interventions (established lifestyle recommendations [ELR] and ELR plus the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension [DASH] diet) compared with advice only? Randomised (allocation concealed*), blinded (data collectors),* controlled trial with 6 months of follow up (PREMIER Clinical Trial). 4 clinical centres in Baltimore, Maryland; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Durham, North Carolina; and Portland, Oregon, USA. 810 generally healthy adults who were ≥25 years of age (mean age 50 y, 62% women), had above optimal BP (mean systolic BP 120–159 mm Hg and diastolic BP 80–95 mm Hg during 3 screening visits), were not taking antihypertensive medication, and had a body mass index of 18.5–45.0. Exclusion criteria were regular use of drugs … [1]: {openurl}? query=rft.jtitle%253DJAMA%26rft.stitle%253DJAMA%26rft.issn%253D0002-9955%26rft.aulast%253DWriting%2BGroup%2Bof%2Bthe%2BPREMIER%2BCollaborative%2BResearc%26rft.auinit1%253D%2B%26rft.volume%253D289%26rft.issue%253D16%26rft.spage%253D2083%26rft.epage%253D2093%26rft.atitle%253DEffects%2Bof%2BComprehensive%2BLifestyle%2BModification%2Bon%2BBlood%2BPressure%2BControl%253A%2BMain%2BResults%2Bof%2Bthe%2BPREMIER%2BClinical%2BTrial%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1001%252Fjama.289. 16.2083%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F12709466%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=10.1001/jama.289. 16.2083&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=12709466&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F8%2F6%2F174.atom [4]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=000182374300024&link_type=ISI
Checkpoint inhibitors in lung cancer: latest developments and clinical potential

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The vast majority of patients are diagnosed with metastatic disease with a 5-year survival rate of less than 5%. After first-line chemotherapy or biomarker-matched targeted therapy, only suitable for a small group of patients, further systemic therapy options rendered very limited, if any, benefit until recently. Checkpoint inhibitors have significantly improved outcomes in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and are currently an established second-line therapeutic option. In this manuscript, we review the mechanism of action of checkpoint inhibitors, present the available data with approved and experimental agents, discuss the progress that has already been made in the field, as well as toxicity awareness, and future perspectives.
Short-term neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy and external-beam radiotherapy for locally advanced prostate cancer: long-term results of RTOG 8610.

PURPOSE Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 8610 was the first phase III randomized trial to evaluate neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in combination with external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in men with locally advanced prostate cancer. This report summarizes long-term follow-up results. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between 1987 and 1991, 456 assessable patients (median age, 70 years) were enrolled. Eligible patients had bulky (5 x 5 cm) tumors (T2-4) with or without pelvic lymph node involvement according to the 1988 American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM staging system. Patients received combined ADT that consisted of goserelin 3.6 mg every 4 weeks and flutamide 250 mg tid for 2 months before and concurrent with EBRT, or they received EBRT alone. Study end points included overall survival (OS), disease-specific mortality (DSM), distant metastasis (DM), disease-free survival (DFS), and biochemical failure (BF). RESULTS Ten-year OS estimates (43% v 34%) and median survival times (8.7 v 7.3 years) favored ADT and EBRT, respectively; however, these differences did not reach statistical significance (P = .12). There was a statistically significant improvement in 10-year DSM (23% v 36%; P = .01), DM (35% v 47%; P = .006), DFS (11% v 3%; P < .0001), and BF (65% v 80%; P < .0001) with the addition of ADT, but no differences were observed in the risk of fatal cardiac events. CONCLUSION The addition of 4 months of ADT to EBRT appears to have a dramatic impact on clinically meaningful end points in men with locally advanced disease with no statistically significant impact on the risk of fatal cardiac events.
NMR Detection of Structures in the HIV-1 5′-Leader RNA That Regulate Genome Packaging

An RNA structural switch regulates whether the HIV genome is translated or dimerized and packaged. The 5′-leader of the HIV-1 genome regulates multiple functions during viral replication via mechanisms that have yet to be established. We developed a nuclear magnetic resonance approach that enabled direct detection of structural elements within the intact leader (712-nucleotide dimer) that are critical for genome packaging. Residues spanning the gag start codon (AUG) form a hairpin in the monomeric leader and base pair with residues of the unique-5′ region (U5) in the dimer. U5:AUG formation promotes dimerization by displacing and exposing a dimer-promoting hairpin and enhances binding by the nucleocapsid (NC) protein, which is the cognate domain of the viral Gag polyprotein that directs packaging. Our findings support a packaging mechanism in which translation, dimerization, NC binding, and packaging are regulated by a common RNA structural switch.