Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate suppresses hippocampal recurrent inhibition and synchronizes neuronal activity to theta rhythm

Several neurosteroids have proconvulsant and memory‐en‐hancing properties and are potent modulators of the γ‐amino butyric acid (GABA) receptor/chloride‐ionophore complex. The effects of in situ microelectrophoretic application of the natural sulfate ester of the neurosteroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) on evoked field responses and single‐unit activity were evaluated in the dentate gyrus and CA1 hippocampal subfield of halothane‐anesthetized rats. The effects of endogenous stimulation of DHEAS by in situ micropressure application of Trilostane ((4α, 5α, 17β)‐4, 5‐epoxy‐3, 17‐dihydroxyandrost‐2‐ene‐2‐carbonitrile (WIN24540)), an inhibitor of 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase (3β‐HSD), the enzyme that metabolizes DHEAS, on evoked responses and cellular activity in the hippocampus were also investigated. In situ microelectrophoretic application of DHEAS or micropressure application of Trilostane into CA1 markedly increased population excitatory postsynaptic potential (pEPSP) slopes and population spike (PS) amplitudes. Neither DHEAS nor Trilostane altered dentate pEPSP slopes or PS amplitudes, but both increased the amplitude of a late component of the pEPSP. Both DHEAS and Trilostane abolished GABA‐mediated pairedpulse inhibition in both the dentate and CA1. In addition, both DHEAS and Trilostane markedly increased the spontaneous firing rate of dentate hilar interneurons (INTs: 256% and 185%), CA1 pyramidal cells (PCs: 95% and 105%), and CA1 oriens/alveus (O/A) interneurons (179% and 85%) and synchronized their firing to hippocampal theta rhythm induced by tail‐pinch. These findings indicate that exogenous application and endogenous stimulation of DHEAS modulates hippocampal GABA inhibition in a physiologically relevant manner possibly by entraining hippocampal neurons to theta rhythm. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Flightless I is a focal adhesion‐associated actin‐capping protein that regulates cell migration

The role of adhesion‐associated actin‐binding proteins in cell migration is not well defined. In mouse fibroblasts we screened for focal adhesion‐associated proteins that were isolated with collagen‐coated beads and detected by tandem mass spectrometry. We identified flightless I (FliI) as an actin‐binding protein in focal adhesion fractions, which was verified by immunoblotting. By confocal microscopy most FliI was distributed throughout the cytosol and in focal adhesions. By sedimentation assays and in vitro binding assays, we found that FliI associates with actin filaments and actin monomers. Assays using purified proteins showed that FliI inhibits actin polymerization and caps but does not sever actin filaments. Cells with FliI knockdown or cells overexpressing FliI migrated more or less rapidly, respectively, than wild‐type controls. Compared with controls, cells with FliI knockdown were less adherent than wild‐type cells, exhibited reduced numbers of focal adhesions containing activated β1 integrins and vinculin, and exhibited increased incorporation of actin monomers into nascent filaments at focal adhesions. These data indicate that FliI regulates cell migration through its localization to focal adhesions and its ability to cap actin filaments, which collectively affect focal adhesion maturation. —Mohammad, I. , Arora, P. D. , Naghibzadeh, Y. , Wang, Y. , Li, J., Mascarenhas, W. , Janmey, P. A. , Dawson, J. F. , McCulloch, C. A. Flightless I is a focal adhesion‐associated actin‐capping protein that regulates cell migration. FASEB J. 26, 3260–3272 (2012). www.fasebj. org
Improvement in early symptoms of shock by delayed intestinal protease inhibition.

HYPOTHESIS Recent findings indicate that intraintestinal pancreatic protease inhibition before superior mesentery artery occlusion (SMAO) attenuates inflammation and symptoms of shock. Herein we examine the effectiveness of delayed intestinal protease inhibition during reperfusion after SMAO. SUBJECTS Three groups of male Wistar rats were studied: a nonshock sham group and 2 groups exposed to SMAO for 100 minutes and treated by delayed intestinal lavage starting 40 minutes after reperfusion with buffer (delayed-lavage group) or with the digestive protease inhibitor gabexate mesilate (FOY) (delayed FOY-lavage group). RESULTS Arterial pressure during reperfusion was significantly lower in the delayed-lavage animals compared with the sham group. Superior mesentery artery occlusion and reperfusion caused the formation of leukocyte activation factors in intestinal homogenates and in plasma, as well as intestinal injury. The delayed-lavage group had a significant increase in activated leukocytes in venules of cremaster muscle. In contrast, in the delayed FOY-lavage group, lavage 40 minutes after reperfusion led to a significant improvement of blood pressure and decreased formation of intestine-derived leukocyte activation factors and intestinal injury compared with the delayed-lavage group. In addition, the delayed FOY-lavage group exhibited fewer rolling leukocytes in venules and reduced apoptosis in the cremaster muscle microcirculation. Intestinal ischemia-induced endotoxemia was attenuated in the delayed FOY-lavage animals. CONCLUSION Delayed intestinal protease inhibition may improve experimental SMAO-induced shock by reducing intestinal injury, decreasing the level of cell activation in plasma and in the microcirculation, and restoring the blood pressure.
Tactile Functions of Mechanoreceptive Afferents Innervating the Hand

Summary Four types of mechanoreceptive afferents innervate the glabrous skin of the hand. Evidence from more than three decades of combined psychophysical and neurophysiological research supports the idea that each afferent type serves a distinctly different sensory function and that these functions explain most of tactual perceptual function. The available evidence supports the following hypotheses: (1) The slowly adapting type 1 system provides the information on which form and texture perception are based. (2) The cutaneous rapidly adapting system provides information about minute skin motion and, thereby, plays a critical role in grip control. (3) The Pacinian system is responsible for the detection and perception of distant events by vibrations transmitted through objects, probes, and tools held in the hand. (4) The slowly adapting type 2 system provides information for the perception of hand conformation and for the perception of forces acting on the hand. The authors review the evidence on which these hypotheses are based. They also review the role of proprioceptive afferents in the perception of hand conformation because they appear to play a significant role along with cutaneous afferents.
Job Strain as a Risk Factor for the Onset of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Findings From the MONICA/KORA Augsburg Cohort Study

Objective To examine whether job strain is associated with an increased risk of subsequent Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) development in a population-based study of men and women. Methods Data were derived from the prospective MONICA/KORA Augsburg study. We investigated 5337 working participants aged 29 to 66 years without diabetes at one of the three baseline surveys. Job strain was measured by the Karasek job content questionnaire. High job strain was defined by the quadrant approach, where high job demands combined with low job control were classified as high job strain. Continuous job strain (quotient of job demands divided by job control) was additionally analyzed as sensitivity analysis. Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models with adjustment for age, sex, survey, socioeconomic and life-style variables, parental history of diabetes, and body mass index. Results During a median follow-up of 12.7 years, 291 incident cases of T2DM were observed. The participants with high job strain at baseline had a 45% higher fully adjusted risk to develop T2DM than did those with low job strain (HR = 1.45 [95% confidence interval = 1.00–2.10], p = .048). On the continuous scale, more severe job strain in the magnitude of 1 standard deviation corresponded to a 12% increased fully adjusted T2DM risk (HR = 1.12 [95% confidence interval = 1.00–1.25], p = .045). Conclusions Men and women who experience high job strain are at higher risk for developing T2DM independently of traditional risk factors. Preventive strategies to combat the globally increasing T2DM epidemic should take into consideration the adverse effects of high strain in the work environment.
Indulgent angels or stingy venture capitalists? The entrepreneurs' choice

This paper studies entrepreneurs' choice of investors, who must provide financial capital and effort for projects with externalities. Venture capitalists (VCs) and individual investors (angels) compete to finance the projects. VCs seek to invest into a portfolio of projects, while angels have more slack in how much they invest into one project. In the presence of externalities between projects, VCs can potentially increase the total value of their investment portfolio through better coordination of investment, while some angels behave indulgently and give more financial investment than necessary, earning zero profits in equilibrium. Surprisingly, externalities do not give VCs as much of an advantage as one would expect. Quite often VCs lose out to angels even when this means that some projects will not receive an optimal amount of effort. In the projects they invest in, VCs always make strictly positive profits despite the competition.
Charting user preferences on wearable visual markers

Visual markers are an easily distributed technology allowing situated information access with standard mobile devices. Earlier works on wearable visual markers have largely focused on use case based research using QR code or similar markers. This paper aims to identify general preferences for the approach based on a user study (n = 60), reporting e.g., that the preferred location for tags was the right side of the chest and the arm. Study participants' perceptions related to the tags were generally neutral, but highlighted intrusiveness and usability as potential risks.
Effect of Nosocomial Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcal Bacteremia on Mortality, Length of Stay, and Costs

Abstract Objective: To determine the impact of vancomycin-resistant enterococcal bacteremia on patient outcomes and costs by assessing mortality, excess length of stay, and charges attributable to it. Design: A population-based, matched, historical cohort study. Setting: A 1,025-bed, university-based teaching facility and referral hospital. Patients: Two hundred seventy-seven vancomycin-resistant enterococcal bacteremia case-patients and 277 matched control-patients identified between 1993 and 2000. Results: The crude mortality rate was 50.2% and 19.9% for case-patients and control-patients, respectively, yielding a mortality rate of 30.3% attributable to vancomycin-resistant enterococcal bacteremia. The excess length of hospital stay attributable to vancomycin-resistant enterococcal bacteremia was 17 days, of which 12 days were spent in intensive care units. On average, $77,558 in extra charges was attributable to each vancomycin-resistant enterococcal bacteremia. To adjust for severity of illness, 159 pairs of case-patients and control-patients, who had the same severity of illness (All Patient Refined-Diagnosis Related Group complexity level), were further analyzed. When patients were stratified by severity of illness, the crude mortality rate was 50.3% among case-patients compared with 27.7% among control-patients, accounting for an attributable mortality rate of 22.6%. Attributable excess length of stay and charges were 17 days and $81,208, respectively. Conclusion: Vancomycin-resistant enterococcal bacteremia contributes significantly to excess mortality and economic loss, once severity of illness is considered. Efforts to prevent these infections will likely be cost-effective.
Gardening and Belonging: Reflections on How Social and Therapeutic Horticulture May Facilitate Health, Wellbeing and Inclusion

A sense of belonging is a key element in enabling social inclusion through meaningful occupations. This is evident in occupational science and social and therapeutic horticulture (STH) literature. How these theories interact in practice was explored at Thrive's STH project in Battersea in London. A workshop conducted with Thrive Battersea's therapists examined how gardening may facilitate health and wellbeing through belonging. The authors reflect on themes of belonging from the workshop. The implications for occupational therapy from this apparently rich synergy of occupational science, STH and social inclusion are considered.
Fornix-based versus limbal-based conjunctival flaps in initial trabeculectomy with postoperative 5-fluorouracil: four-year follow-up findings.

PURPOSE To evaluate the safety and efficacy of fornix-based conjunctival flap versus limbal-based flap in initial trabeculectomy with postoperative 5-fluorouracil. METHODS 29 patients (58 eyes) with bilateral primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) were included in the study. Patients were randomly assigned to have a fornix-based conjunctival flap in one eye and a limbal-based flap in the other, followed by subconjunctival injection of 5-fluorouracil. RESULTS Mean intraocular pressure (IOP) 2 years after treatment was 12.9 +/- 12.25 mmHg in eyes with fornix-based conjunctival flaps and 13.1 +/- 16.81 mmHg in eyes with limbal-based conjunctival flaps. At 4 years, mean IOP was 14.7 +/- 9.61 mmHg in eyes with fornix-based conjunctival flaps and 15.1 +/- 7.29 mmHg in eyes with limbal-based conjunctival flaps. Cumulative success at 4 years (IOP < 21 mmHg) was 89.6% in eyes with fornix-based conjunctival flaps versus 86.2% in eyes with limbal-based conjunctival flaps with medications. Cystic leaking blebs occurred in two cases, both with limbal-based flaps. CONCLUSION The efficacy of limbal- and fornix-based conjunctival flaps in initial trabeculectomy with postoperative 5-fluorouracil was not significantly different; however, in this study cystic leaking blebs were encountered only in eyes with limbal-based conjunctival flaps.
Security in Smart Home Environment

This chapter presents the concept of Smart Home, describes the Smart Home networking technologies and discusses the main issues for ensuring security in a Smart Home environment. Nowadays, the integration of current communication and information technologies within the dwelling has led to the emergence of Smart Homes. These technologies facilitate the building of Smart Home environments in which devices and systems can communicate with each other and can be controlled automatically in order to interact with the household members and improve the quality of their life. However, the nature of Smart Home environment, the fact that it is always connected to the outside world via Internet and the open security back doors derived from the household members raise many security concerns. Finally, by reviewing the existing literature regarding Smart Homes and security issues that exist in Smart Home environments
Plant extracts as potential mosquito larvicides

Mosquitoes act as a vector for most of the life threatening diseases like malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, chikungunya ferver, filariasis, encephalitis, West Nile Virus infection, etc. Under the Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM), emphasis was given on the application of alternative strategies in mosquito control. The continuous application of synthetic insecticides causes development of resistance in vector species, biological magnification of toxic substances through the food chain and adverse effects on environmental quality and non target organisms including human health. Application of active toxic agents from plant extracts as an alternative mosquito control strategy was available from ancient times. These are non-toxic, easily available at affordable prices, biodegradable and show broad-spectrum target-specific activities against different species of vector mosquitoes. In this article, the current state of knowledge on phytochemical sources and mosquitocidal activity, their mechanism of action on target population, variation of their larvicidal activity according to mosquito species, instar specificity, polarity of solvents used during extraction, nature of active ingredient and promising advances made in biological control of mosquitoes by plant derived secondary metabolites have been reviewed.
Toward a service ecosystem perspective at the base of the pyramid

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to combine service-dominant logic premises with ecosystem characteristics in the base of the pyramid (BoP) environment, aiming to establish the foundations of a new service ecosystem framework for BoP contexts. Design/methodology/approach – This conceptual paper is developed by connecting service logic with an ecosystem perspective, developing theoretical propositions for sustainable service ecosystems at the BoP, and identifying future research direction using this new framework. Findings – The paper first highlights main challenges faced in the BoP environment. It then constructs an ecosystem framework for BoP contexts composed by four theoretical propositions: first, need to shift from a top-down to a multi-actor BoP approach; second, need of social embeddedness for successful BoP initiatives; third, service co-creation for and with local communities with actors playing multiple social roles; and fourth, multi-actor and multi-dimensional value creation. Future res.
Cultural Sources of Variance in Telework Adoption in two Subsidiaries of an ICT-Multinational

This comparative case-study examines to what extent telework adoption among line managers in two subsidiaries of the same ICT-multinational in France and the Netherlands mirrors cultural values. In the Dutch case, a formal telework program was discontinued, but managers viewed informal teleworking an established practice fitting Dutch cultural values. In line with expectations, in the French case, the design of the formal telework policy and managers' telework attitudes and telework management-behaviours reflected power distance and uncertainty avoidance to be valued, which reduced telework practice. Moreover, the French managers mentioned collectivist values, work-life balance, and tradition as arguments against telework. However, their perceptions of telework as an unavoidable work practice in a globalizing economy also reflected a long-term orientation. It is concluded that despite institutional pressures leading to cross-cultural convergence in telework adoption, multinationals' global telework programs should remain sensitive to cultural variations, meanwhile taking the local histories of telework adoption processes into account.
Prophylactic strategies for hepatitis B patients undergoing liver transplant: A cost‐effectiveness analysis

Hepatitis B immunoglobulin with lamivudine prophylaxis (LAM/HBIG) is effective in preventing Hepatitis B (HBV) recurrence posttransplant but is expensive and inconvenient. Lamivudine‐resistant HBV, which has limited the usefulness of lamivudine monoprophylaxis in transplant, can now be effectively controlled with adefovir dipivoxil. We performed a cost‐effectiveness analysis on the strategies of lamivudine prophylaxis with adefovir rescue(LAM/ADV) compared to combination LAM/intravenous fixed high‐dose HBIG prophylaxis(LAM/ivHBIG) or LAM/intramuscular HBIG prophylaxis(LAM/imHBIG). Markov modeling was performed with analysis from societal perspective. Probability rates were derived from systematic review of the literature and cost taken from MEDICARE database. Outcome measures were incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio(ICER) and cost to prevent each HBV recurrence and death. Analysis was performed at 5 years posttransplant as well as at end of life expectancy (15 years). Combination LAM/ivHBIG cost an additional USD562,000 at 15 years, while LAM/imHBIG cost an additional USD139,000 per patient compared to LAM/ADV. Although there is an estimated increase in recurrence of 53% with LAM/ADV and 7.6% increased mortality at the end of life expectancy (15 years), the ICER of LAM/ivHBIG over LAM/ADV treatment is USD760,000 per quality‐adjusted life‐years and for LAM/imHBIG, USD188,000. Cost‐effectiveness is most sensitive to cost of HBIG. Lamivudine prophylaxis with adefovir dipivoxil salvage offers the more cost‐effective option for HBV patients undergoing liver transplant but with higher recurrence and death rate using a model that favors LAM/HBIG. Lowering the cost of HBIG maintenance will improve cost‐effectiveness of LAM/HBIG strategy. In conclusion, a tailored approach based on individual risks will optimize the cost‐benefit of HBV transplant prophylaxis. Liver Transpl 12:736–746, 2006. © 2006 AASLD.
T‐cell activation in the intestinal mucosa

Summary: The vast majority of peripheral T cells exist as resting lymphocytes until a signal for activation has been received. In response to antigen, this activation involves ligation of the T‐cell receptor (TCR) and signal transmission through the CD3 complex, which then initiates a cascade of intracellular events that lead to the expression of genes used in T‐cell activation. T‐cell activation also requires soluble mediators in the form of cytokines and chemokines that regulate the process in both positive and negative ways, and costimulatory signals received in conjunction with TCR/CD3 signaling are important in the activation of T cells. Unlike T cells in other peripheral immune compartments, small and large intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) bear some but not all properties of activated T cells, suggesting that they constitute a large population of ‘partially activated’ effector cells. Thus, regulation of the IEL activation process must be held in tight check, yet it must be ready to respond to foreign antigen rapidly and effectively. We discuss how costimulatory molecules may hold the key to controlling IEL activation through a multiphase process beginning with cells that have already entered into the early stage of activation.
Cerebrospinal Cytokine Levels in Patients with Acute Depression

There is increasing evidence for an association between the alteration of cytokine concentrations in blood and the pathophysiology of depressive disorders. Studies in humans have not investigated CSF cytokine concentrations and their relationship to depressive disorders. This study reports on the association of the CSF concentration of proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα, and major depressive disorders. CSF samples were obtained from 13 hospitalized patients with acute unmedicated severe depression and were compared with 10 control subjects. Compared to the control group, the depressed patient group had higher CSF concentrations of IL-1β, lower IL-6 and no change in TNFα. A positive correlation was found between serum IL-1β and the severity of depression. These results indicate a unique profile for CSF proinflammatory cytokines in acute depression. These findings merit further investigation and if replicated may possibly offer immunological treatment options for depression.
Robot control by reflex actions

This paper describes the principles of a new method of robot control which mimics the reflex control of human motion. The concept of an artificial or synthetic reflex arc is defined, using the biological reflex as reference. The view of reflex control as an "experiential expert system" is explained. Hardware and software elements necessary for the implementation of external reflex control are described, The set of artificial reflex arcs which can reproduce the desired functional motion is identified on the basis of singular events occurring during the execution of the the motion. Applications of the theory to control of knee and leg motion in rehabilitative robotics are discussed in detail.