Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of photoconversion technique for correlated confocal and ultrastructural studies in organotypic slice cultures

Photoconversion of fluorescent staining into stable diaminobenzidine (DAB) precipitate is widely used for neuroanatomical and developmental studies. An important advantage of the approach is to make correlations between light and electron microscopy analyses possible, the DAB reaction product formed during photoconversion being electron dense. By combining a photoconversion approach with biolistic transfection of neurons in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures, we describe here a methodology that allowed us to study at the electron microscopy level the fine details of cells expressing specific genes of interest. The same approach has also been used to analyze the ultrastructural characteristics of specific cells such as neurons recorded with patch clamp techniques. This approach revealed particularly useful for studies of dendritic arborisation, dendritic spines, and axon varicosities of identified cells, as precise morphometric parameters of these structures can only be obtained by electron microscopy. The techniques used for fluorescent staining and photoconversion of these different cell structures and the results obtained by electron microscopic analyses are described. Microsc. Res. Tech. 68:90–96, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Left atrial function in heart failure with impaired and preserved ejection fraction

Purpose of reviewLeft atrial structural and functional changes in heart failure are relatively ignored parts of cardiac assessment. This review illustrates the pathophysiological and functional changes in left atrium in heart failure as well as their prognostic value. Recent findingsHeart failure can be divided into those with systolic dysfunction and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF). Left atrial enlargement and dysfunction commonly occur in systolic heart failure, in particular, in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Atrial enlargement and dysfunction also carry important prognostic value in systolic heart failure, independently of known parameters such as left ventricular ejection fraction. In HFPEF, there is evidence of left atrial enlargement, impaired atrial compliance, and reduction of atrial pump function. This occurs not only at rest but also during exercise, indicating significant impairment of atrial contractile reserve. Furthermore, atrial dyssynchrony is common in HFPEF. These factors further contribute to the development of new onset or progression of atrial arrhythmias, in particular, atrial fibrillation. SummaryLeft atrial function is an integral part of cardiac function and its structural and functional changes in heart failure are common. As changes of left atrial structure and function have different clinical implications in systolic heart failure and HFPEF, routine assessment is warranted.
The activities of some metabolic enzymes in the intestines of germ-free and conventional chicks

1. The metabolic enzymes alkaline phosphatase (EC 3. 1. 3. 1), acid phosphatase (EC 3. 1. 3. 2) and isocitrate dehydrogenase (EC 1. 1. 1. 42) were measured in mucosal homogenates and these enzymes, together with glucose-6-phosphatase (EC 3. 1. 3. 9), were measured in homogenates of isolated enterocytes from germ-free (GF) and conventional (CV) chicks which were either fed continuously until they were killed or were subjected to a 16 h fast before killing. 2. The intestine of the GF chicks was generally lighter than that of the CV controls. The activity of alkaline phosphatase was greater in the mucosal homogenates of the CV chicks compared with the GF birds, but the concentrations of acid phosphatase and isocitric dehydrogenase were not different in the two groups. In the isolated enterocytes the concentration of all enzymes expressed per mg DNA, except alkaline phosphatase, was higher in the GF chicks. Expressed per mg protein there was no significant difference in enzyme activity in the two groups. 3. Fasting caused a reduction in intestinal weight and total mucosal protein in both groups but the reduction was greater in the GF chicks compared with the CV controls. In the GF chicks, fasting caused a significant fall in acid phosphatase and isocitric dehydrogenase activities of the mucosal homogenate, whereas in the CV chicks only acid phosphatase fell to a significant extent. In the isolated enterocytes feeding caused a marked fall in protein per mg DNA in the CV chicks; fasting tended to reduce enzyme concentrations in the GF chicks but to have less effect in the CV group except for alkaline phosphatase where there was a marked rise in activity. 4. It is suggested that the difference in enzyme activities in the mucosal homogenates and isolated enterocytes might result from (a) the presence of a much greater lamina propria in the CV compared with the GF chicks and (b) the greater mitotic activity in the fed CV chicks yielding a much larger number of smaller immature cells.
3D-point-cloud registration and real-world dynamic modelling-based virtual environment building method for teleoperation

SUMMARY It is a challenging task for a human operator to manipulate a robot from a remote distance, especially in an unknown environment. Excellent teleoperation provides the human operator with a sense of telepresence, mainly including real-world vision, haptic perception, etc. This paper presents a novel virtual environment building method using the red–green–blue (RGB) colour information, the surface normal feature-based 3D-point-cloud registration method and the weighted sliding-average least-square-method-based real-world dynamic modelling for teleoperation. The experiments prove the method to be an accurate and effective means of teleoperation.
New treatment paradigms in psoriatic arthritis: an update on new therapeutics approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Purpose of reviewThe purpose of this study is to give an overview of the new treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Recent findingsFDA has approved three new drugs for PsA: Certolizumab-pegol: a PEGylated Fc-free tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi); ustekinumab: an anti interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23 mAb; and apremilast and oral phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor. On well designed and extensive developing programmes, all three drugs proved to be effective for the treatment of most PsA manifestations, including peripheral arthritis, skin involvement, enthesitis, dactylitis, quality of life and radiographic progression in patients failing traditional disease modifying drugs (DMARDs) and TNFi. Safety profile of all three drugs seems to be reassuring until now, although long-term data are still not available. Although Certolizumab-pegol is likely to be placed among the other TNFi, ustekinumab and apremilast, due to lower efficacy on arthritis, are being more frequently used as second-line therapy after TNFi failure, especially among rheumatologists. SummaryThere are new therapeutic options approved for the treatment of PsA. For the first time, well proved effective therapies with a different mechanism of action than the inhibition of TNF alpha are available for the treatment of this progressive disease.
Endettement bancaire à long terme, rentabilité et croissance des PME au Cameroun : une analyse empirique sur données de panel

L’objectif de cette etude est d’analyser l’impact de l’acces a la dette a long terme sur la croissance et la rentabilite des PME au Cameroun. En se basant sur un panel cylindre de 200 PME sur la periode 2006-2013, il ressort en utilisant la methode des Moindres Carres Generalises (MCG) et la methode des equations simultanees que l’endettement a long terme exerce une influence positive et significative sur la croissance et sur la rentabilite indifferemment du secteur d’activite. Il ressort egalement que l’acces a la dette a long terme est fonction des garanties, de la rentabilite, de la taille de l’entreprise et du secteur d’activite de l’entreprise et que l’acces a la dette a long terme, la rentabilite et la croissance des PME au Cameroun sont freines par le cout de l’emprunt et la pression fiscale.
Effects of calcium and substrate on force‐velocity relation and energy turnover in skinned smooth muscle of the guinea‐pig.

Mechanical properties and rate of ATP breakdown (JATP) have been determined in the chemically skinned guinea‐pig taenia coli at 22 degrees C. The influence of varied [Ca2+], [Mg ATP] and muscle length were investigated. The shortening response after a step decrease in force (isotonic quick release) was highly curvilinear in the first 100‐200 ms. This effect was shown to be a time‐dependent response to the force step and not primarily caused by the shift along the length‐force relation associated with shortening. Maximal shortening velocity (Vmax) decreased gradually following the release. At pCa (= ‐log [Ca2+]) 4.5, Vmax at 20 and 1000 ms after release was 0.49 +/‐ 0.07 and 0.041 +/‐ 0.004 (mean +/‐ S.E. of mean, n = 5) lengths s‐1 respectively. Unloaded shortening velocity obtained from length steps of different magnitude (slack test) also showed a gradual decrease after the release, consistent with the isotonic release results. Increasing [Ca2+] from the relaxed state at pCa 9 (1 microM‐calmodulin present) gave increased isometric force to a maximum at pCa 4.5. Half‐maximal response was obtained at pCa 6.1. JATP at maximal force at pCa 4.5 was about 3 times the basal rate at pCa 9. The relation between JATP and force was highly non‐linear, with a marked increase in JATP with little alteration in force at the highest [Ca2+]. When force was reduced to zero at pCa 4.5 by shortening the muscle to 0.3 L0 (L0 being the length giving maximal active force), JATP decreased by about 30%. At two levels of [Ca2+] giving similar force (pCa 5.75 and 4.5) the energetic tension cost obtained by length variations was lower at the low [Ca2+]. At pCa 6.0, Vmax and force were decreased to the same extent relative to their values at pCa 4.5. At pCa 5.75, where there was no reduction in force but a 25% decrease in isometric JATP, Vmax was unchanged relative to pCa 4.5. Force, Vmax and JATP were all dependent on [Mg ATP]. Half‐maximal response was obtained at 0.1 mM for force and Vmax, and at 0.5 mM for JATP. The results are discussed in relation to a possible influence of both Ca2+ and Mg ATP on kinetic properties of the cross‐bridge cycle.
Human-to-human interfaces: emerging trends and challenges

We present a new research domain, human-to-human interaction (HHI) that describes how today's human interaction is largely indirect and mediated by a wide variety of technologies and devices. We show how this new and exciting field of design originates from the convergence of a few well-established research areas, such as traditional graphical user interfaces (GUIs), tangible user interfaces (TUIs), touchless gesture user interfaces (TGUIs), voice user interfaces (VUIs), and brain computer interfaces (BCIs). We analyse and describe current research in those areas and offer a first-hand view and presentation of its salient aspects for the human-to human interaction domain.
Are we doing too many cataract operations? Cataract surgery: a global perspective

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines blindness as a visual acuity of less than 3/60, or corresponding visual-field loss to less than 10°, in the better eye with best possible correction. In 2002, according to WHO estimates, there were 161 million visually impaired people living on this planet. Of these, 124 million had low vision, and 37 million were blind. Blindness can be broadly divided into “incurable” and “curable” or treatable. Age-related cataract is responsible for 48% of world blindness amounting to around 18 million people,1 who in theory should be cured by appropriate intervention. No one can argue that this is a compelling reason for increasing the number of cataract operations performed. The number of cataract operations performed per 100 000 population per year, known as the cataract surgery rate (CSR), serves as an indicator of the efforts made by any community towards alleviating cataract blindness. Except for the most developed countries, cataract remains the leading cause of blindness in all regions of the world. Associated with ageing, it is even more significant as a cause of low vision. Across the world, as a proportion of the total blind, the distribution is uneven. In the (WHO) Regions of the Americas and the European region,2 the percentage of total world blindness is only 7% for each. In the South-East Asia region it is 32%, in the Western pacific region it is 25%, and in the African region it is 18%. 3 Almost half of these figures are accounted for by cataract alone. More than 90% of the world’s visually impaired live in developing countries. This contrasts …
Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of mitoxantrone/prednisone and clodronate versus mitoxantrone/prednisone and placebo in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer and pain.

PURPOSE To compare the incidence of palliative response in patients with hormone-resistant prostate cancer (HRPC) treated with mitoxantrone and prednisone (MP) plus clodronate with that of patients treated with MP plus placebo. MATERIALS AND METHODS Men with HRPC, bone metastases, and bone pain were randomly assigned to receive clodronate 1,500 mg administered intravenously (IV) or placebo every 3 weeks, in combination with mitoxantrone 12 mg/m2 IV every 3 weeks and prednisone 5 mg orally bid. Patients completed the present pain intensity (PPI) index and Prostate Cancer-Specific Quality-of-Life Instrument at each treatment visit and used a diary to record analgesic use on a daily basis. The primary end point was a reduction to zero or of two points in the PPI or a decrease of 50% in analgesic intake, without increase in either. RESULTS The study accrued 209 eligible patients over 44 months. One hundred sixty patients (77%) had mild PPI scores (1 or 2), and 49 (24%) had moderate PPI scores (3 or 4). The primary end point of palliative response was achieved in 46 (46%) of 104 patients on the clodronate arm and in 41 (39%) of 105 patients on the placebo arm (P =.54). The median duration of response, symptomatic disease progression-free survival, overall survival, and overall quality of life were similar between the arms. Subgroup analysis suggested possible benefit in patients with more severe pain. CONCLUSION MP provides useful palliation in symptomatic men with HRPC. Clodronate does not increase the rate of palliative response or overall quality of life. Clodronate may be beneficial to patients who have moderate pain, but this requires further confirmation.
The complementary role of the cerebral hemispheres in recovery from aphasia after stroke: A critical review of literature

Abstract Objectives: To review the literature on the specific role of the right cerebral hemisphere during recovery from aphasia in order to address the lack of consensus among authors. To derive a theoretical model reconciling the controversial findings in the literature. Methods: Initial PubMed, MEDLINE (1946 to 5 May 2012) and PsycINFO (1806 to first week June 2012) searches on recovery mechanisms from aphasia, whether treatment-related or not, retrieved a total of 35 English language articles. Articles, cross-referenced in this initial set were also reviewed if they met the inclusion criteria, thus resulting in a total of 42 articles included in this review. Main outcomes: Recruitment of the right hemisphere during recovery from aphasia can be effective if it occurs during a critical time window post-stroke. The recruitment’s effectiveness will depend on the lesion’s location, extent and permanence. Preservation of core language processing areas will generate minimal right hemisphere recruitment and vice versa. Some experimental studies seem to suggest that the improvement linked to a particular hemisphere can be modulated by specific therapy methods. Conclusion: The specific conditions in which effective right recruitment takes place may have important implications for rehabilitation treatment. These findings could lead to improved recovery in people suffering from aphasia. However, more research with non-invasive brain stimulation is needed.
An Economist’s Perspective on Match-fixing and Self-sabotage in Contests

In this note we provide an economist’s perspective on self-sabotage in contests. When such self-sabotage is engineered at the behest of a third party for financial gains from betting markets, we see the twin problems of self-sabotage and betting corruption, which are known as the problem of match-fixing in sporting contests. We discuss the hidden incentives that different agents face in this environment. To curb match-fixing, legalization of betting would be a positive step followed by intelligent enforcement. Further, using a simple model we demonstrate that the risk of match-fixing diminishes with the number of teams involved in the contest.
Structural and Regulatory Genes Required to Make the Gas Dimethyl Sulfide in Bacteria

Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is a key compound in global sulfur and carbon cycles. DMS oxidation products cause cloud nucleation and may affect weather and climate. DMS is generated largely by bacterial catabolism of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), a secondary metabolite made by marine algae. We demonstrate that the bacterial gene dddD is required for this process and that its transcription is induced by the DMSP substrate. Cloned dddD from the marine bacterium Marinomonas and from two bacterial strains that associate with higher plants, the N2-fixing symbiont Rhizobium NGR234 and the root-colonizing Burkholderia cepacia AMMD, conferred to Escherichia coli the ability to make DMS from DMSP. The inferred enzymatic mechanism for DMS liberation involves an initial step in which DMSP is modified by addition of acyl coenzyme A, rather than the immediate release of DMS by a DMSP lyase, the previously suggested mechanism.
The cubic water Kuznets curve: patterns of urban water consumption and water policy effects

Utilizing panel data collected in 27 countries from 1960 to 2010, we demonstrate that the relationship between per capita urban water consumption and per capita gross domestic product exhibits an N-shaped pattern. Following the environmental Kuznets curve literature, this relationship can be named the cubic water Kuznets curve. We also demonstrate that water policies significantly influence per capita urban water consumption, which implies that appropriate policy interventions might allow developing countries to achieve economic development with less per capita water consumption.
Intrathecally administered endotoxin or cytokines produce allodynia, hyperalgesia and changes in spinal cord neuronal responses to nociceptive stimuli in the rat

Inflammatory processes occurring within the central nervous system (CNS) can produce ‘illness induced behaviours’ which include fever, sleep and the development of allodynia and hyperalgesia. Here we demonstrate the effects of the pro‐inflammatory mediators, bacterial endotoxin, and rat recombinant interleukin 1 β (rrIL‐1β) or tumour necrosis factor‐ α (rrTNF α) on the integration of somatosensory information at the single neuronal level, via recordings from wide‐dynamic range neurones in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in anaesthetized rats. Intrathecal administration of E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 and 100 μ g, i.t.) enhanced the activity of dorsal horn neurones, including facilitation of neuronal post‐discharge. Intrathecal administration of IL‐1β (5–5000 pg) or TNF‐ α (5–5000 pg) enhanced dorsal horn neuronal responses, including the acute responses to C‐fibre stimulation, wind‐up and post‐discharge, however, the effects of IL‐1 β were more robust than those of TNF α. Intrathecal administration of IL‐1 β (1–1000 pg) also leads to the development of mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia. On the other hand intrathecal application of TNF α did not produce changes in sensitivity to mechanical stimuli. Changes in the activity of spinal wide‐dynamic range neurones induced by local inflammation may provide a pathomechanism for the clinical pathology of central pain syndrome, which can accompany CNS disease or acute CNS injury.
Synchronizing Differential Evolution with a modified affinity-based mutation framework

Differential Evolution is a stochastic, population-based optimization algorithm that has gained wide popularity these days for solving multi-modal, non-smooth, non-convex, and ill-behaved optimization problems. In this research article, we propose a restrictive mutation strategy that helps to probabilistically select individuals for mutation based on the information conveyed by neighboring individuals. The strategy is to develop a generalized approach that can restrict the stochastic selection by a more guided technique depending on distribution of adjacent individuals. Our approach takes into account both the proximity and the gradient estimation of the neighboring members of an individual to compute the selection probability. This framework can be easily integrated with basic DE and its state-of-the-art variants with minor changes. Experimental analysis reveals the superiority of our framework over the original variants when tested on the real parameter benchmark problems proposed in the IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation 2005 competition.
Imaging of gliomas at 1.5 and 3 Tesla - A comparative study.

BACKGROUND Glioma follow-up is based on MRI parameters, which are correlated with survival. Although established criteria are used to evaluate tumor response, radiological markers may be confounded by differences in instrumentation including the magnetic field strength. We assessed whether MRIs obtained at 3 Tesla (T) and 1.5T provided similar information. METHODS We retrospectively compared imaging features of 30 consecutive patients with WHO grades II and III gliomas who underwent MRI at 1.5T and 3T within a month of each other, without any clinical changes during the same period. We compared lesion volumes on fluid attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR), ratio of cerebral blood volume (rCBV) on perfusion-weighted imaging, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) on FLAIR, and on post-gadolinium 3D T1-weighted sequences between 1.5T and 3T using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Concordance between observers within and between modalities was evaluated using weighted-kappa coefficient (wκ). RESULTS The mean ± SD delay between modalities (1.5T and 3T MRI) was 8.6 ± 5.6 days. Interobserver/intraobserver concordance for lesion volume was almost perfect for 1.5T (ICC = 0.96/0.97) and 3T (ICC = 0.99/0.98). Agreement between observers for contrast enhancement was excellent at 1.5T (wκ = 0.92) and 3T (wκ = 0.92). The tumor CNR was significantly higher for FLAIR at 1.5T (P < .001), but it was higher at 3T (P = .012) for contrast enhancement. Correlations between modalities for lesion volume (ICC = 0.97) and for rCBV values (ICC = 0.92) were almost perfect. CONCLUSIONS In the follow-up of WHO grades II and III gliomas, 1.5T and 3T provide similar MRI features, suggesting that monitoring could be performed on either a 1.5 or a 3T MR magnet.