Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Depression and the vision-related quality of life in patients with retinitis pigmentosa

Aims: To assess the relationship between depression and the vision-related quality of life in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Methods: The study included 144 patients diagnosed as having RP. The mean age of the patients was 38.5 (SD 13.3) years, and 42% of the subjects were women. They answered the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ) to assess the vision-related quality of life and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to assess depressive symptoms. Patients were classified into groups with and without depression according to the BDI score. The NEI-VFQ composite and subscale scores were compared between groups. The correlations between the BDI and the NEI-VFQ, weighted visual acuity (WVA) and functional vision score (FVS) were investigated. Results: The depressed group had significantly less subjective visual function compared with the non-depressed group. A negative correlation was observed between the BDI and the NEI-VFQ scores, while no correlation was found between the BDI score and WVA or FVS. Conclusion: The RP patients with depression had poorer vision-related functions compared with those patients without depression, which cannot be explained by the visual acuity. Interventions to diagnose and treat depression are necessary to enhance the overall quality of life in RP patients.
Melittin-GM1 interaction: a model for a side-by-side complex.

We report here the interaction of melittin with ganglioside GM1 by steady-state fluorescence, one-dimensional (1)H NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling. In the presence of GM1 the emission maximum of melittin is blue shifted and fluorescence quenching efficiencies of iodide and acrylamide are substantially reduced, indicating a shielding of tryptophan of melittin from aqueous environment. Significant line broadening of NMR resonances of melittin, suggestive of motional restriction, is observed. Molecular modeling indicates a melittin-GM1 complex with N-terminal hydrophobic stretch of melittin associating with the ceramide tail and C-terminal hydrophilic end of melittin having favorable electrostatic interaction with the carbohydrate head group of GM1.
Irregular behavior recognition based on treading track

Visual analysis of human motion from video sequences is one of the most active research topics in the field of computer vision. This research has certain practical value and can be widely applied in some places such as: bank^ prison > courtroom, large public facility > large storehouse and military base . In this paper we present a novel method for judging irregular behavior based on treading track. First we use the background subtraction method to detect moving body, and then we judge whether someone is suspicious or not on the basis of treading track. The experimental result has shown the method present in this paper having the superiority of simple algorithm, fast recognition speed and high accuracy rate. Meanwhile, this method has certain robustness.
Suicide prevention effects associated with clozapine therapy in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS Suicide is a significant cause of death among patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, affecting some 10 to 15 percent of these patients. This study examined annual suicide rates over a two-year period (1993-1995) among more than 30,000 patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder who received services from the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation and suicide rates over a six-year period (1991-1996) among a subgroup of patients treated with clozapine. RESULTS The annual suicide rate for all patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder was 63.1 per 100,000 patients, approximately five times higher than in the general population. In contrast, only one suicide occurred in six years among patients treated with clozapine who were of similar diagnosis, age, and sex, for a suicide rate of about 12.7 per 100,000 patients per year. This rate is similar to the 15.7 per 100,000 patients per year for all U.S. patients treated with clozapine, calculated from data reported as of June 1996 to the clozapine national registry system maintained by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, the U.S. manufacturer of clozapine. CONCLUSIONS The study results suggest that clozapine therapy is associated with a reduced risk of suicide among patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.
Lamellipodium-driven tissue reshaping: A parametric study

We recently showed that lamellipodia are able to generate forces of the right type to drive convergent extension (CE), an important class of tissue reshaping, in early stage embryos. The purpose of the present work is to quantify the mechanics of this process using parametric analyses. We use finite elements to implement a γ–μ model in which a net interfacial tension γ acts along each cell boundary and the cytoplasm exhibits an effective viscosity μ. The stress–strain characteristics of a rectangular patch of model tissue are investigated in terms of the rate r at which lamellipodia form and the relative strength q of their contractions. In tissues that are not constrained in-plane by adjacent tissues, the rate of tissue reshaping is proportional to r the rate of lamellipodium formation and its dependence on q is nonlinear and, near its expected value of 2 highly sensitive to q. Cell elongation, a central characteristic of CE, and stress is found to vary linearly with e the degree of kinematic restraint. Relevant “mechanical pathways” are also identified.
Development of QSAR for Antimicrobial Activity of Substituted Benzimidazoles

Abstract QSAR analysis has been done to correlate antimicrobial activity of substituted benzimidazole derivatives with their physicochemical parameters. Developed QSAR models have been cross validated using leave one out (LOO) method. Statistical parameters like probable error of the coefficient of correlation (PE), least square error (LSE), Friedman’s lack of fit measure (LOF), standard error of prediction (SEP) and quality value (Q) were also used to cross validate the models. QSAR studies established the importance of WAP, Mlog P and UI in describing the antimicrobial activities of substituted benzimidazole derivatives.
Differential neuronal fates in the CA1 hippocampus after hypoxia in newborn and 7‐day‐old rats: Effects of pre‐treatment with MK‐801

The brain displays an age‐dependent sensitivity to ischemic insults. However, the consequences of oxygen deprivation per se in the developing brain remain unclear, and the role of glutamate excitotoxicity via N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors is controversial. To gain a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the cerebral response to severe hypoxia, cell damage was temporally monitored in the CA1 hippocampus of rat pups transiently exposed to in vivo hypoxia (100% N2) at either 24 h or 7 days of age. Also, the influence of a pre‐treatment with the NMDA receptor antagonist MK‐801 (5 mg/kg, i.p.) was examined. At both ages, morphometric analyses and cell counts showed hypoxia‐induced significant neuronal loss (30–35%) in the pyramidal layer, with injury appearing more rapidly in rats exposed at 7 days. Morphological alterations of 4,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole (DAPI)‐labeled nuclei, DNA fragmentation patterns on agarose gels, as well as expression profiles of the apoptosis‐related regulatory proteins Bax and Bcl‐2 showed that apoptosis was prevalent in younger animals, whereas only necrosis was detected in hippocampi of rats treated at 7 days. Moreover, pre‐treatment with MK‐801 was ineffective in protecting hippocampal neurons from hypoxic injury in newborn rats, but significantly reduced necrosis in older subjects. These data confirm that hypoxia alone may trigger neuronal death in vivo, and the type of cell death is strongly influenced by the degree of brain maturity. Finally, NMDA receptors are not involved in the apoptotic consequences of hypoxia in the newborn rat brain, but they were found to mediate necrosis at 7 days of age. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The soluble interleukin‐6 receptor is generated by shedding

The ligand‐binding subunit (gp80) of the human interleukin‐6 receptor (IL‐6R) was transiently expressed in COS‐7 cells. The metabolically labeled protein was shown to be quantitatively released from the membrane within 20 h. We identified the protein released from the transfected COS‐7 cells after purification to homogeneity and N‐terminal sequencing as a soluble form of the gp80/IL‐6R. Shedding of the gp80 protein was strongly induced by 4β‐phorbol‐12‐myristate‐13‐acetate, indicating that the process was regulated by protein kinase C (PKC). This was further corroborated by the finding that co‐transfection of a PKC expression plasmid led to enhanced shedding of the gp80 protein. Since shedding of gp80 could not be prevented by treatment of the cells with inhibitors of all known classes of proteases, a novel protease seems to be involved. As a control, an unrelated membrane protein (vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein) was transfected into COS‐7 cells and analyzed for shedding. Since the turnover of this protein was not mediated by shedding, we conclude that the release of gp80 from COS‐7 cells is a specific process. The shed gp80 protein specifically binds IL‐6, and this complex shows biological activity on human hepatoma cells. Human peripheral blood monocytes released a soluble form of the gp80 protein into the culture medium upon PMA treatment indicating that PKC‐regulated shedding is the physiological mechanism of generation of the soluble IL‐6R.
Comparison of active and passive electrodes in their optimized electroencephalography amplifier system

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a common method of obtaining temporally distinguishable event-related potentials (ERP). The quality of the signal is dependent on several factors, including the selection of the amplifier system and electrode type. The aim of this study is to compare the performance of two electrode types, active and passive, with their respectively optimized amplifier system, in distinguishing an ERP signal. The QuickAmp system was used with passive electrodes, while the ActiCHamp was used with active electrodes. EEG data were recorded by the two amplifier systems in different experimental sessions. In each experimental session, the same participant listened to the same set of acoustically controlled English sentences. Data were obtained from the participant via a 32-channel Easycap (10-20 configuration), through the amplifier, to the BrainVision signal recording software. Based on the analysis using EEGlab, it appears that ActiCHamp reduced noise power, but also yielded lower signal power. The results are preliminary, being from a single participant, but suggest both electrode types can yield comparable signal-to-noise ratios.
Surgery in Tourette syndrome

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder with onset in early childhood. It is characterized by tics and often accompanied by disturbances in behavior, such as obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). In most cases, the disorder is self‐limited or can be treated by medication or behavioral therapy. In a small percentage, however, symptoms are intractable to any conservative treatment. Since 1955, various attempts have been made to treat these patients through neurosurgical procedures. The target sites have been diverse and include the frontal lobe (prefrontal lobotomy and bimedial frontal leucotomy), the limbic system (limbic leucotomy and anterior cingulotomy), the thalamus, and the cerebellum. Combined approaches have also been tried such as anterior cingulotomies plus infrathalamic lesions. The results have often been unsatisfactory or major side effects have occurred, such as hemiplegia or dystonia. Our review of the literature from 1960 until 2003 revealed 21 reports and 3 descriptions in textbooks covering about 65 patients in total who had undergone ablative procedures for intractable TS, the first being reported in 1962. In 1999, deep brain stimulation (DBS) was introduced as a new approach for intractable TS. To date, 3 patients have been reported who underwent bilateral thalamic stimulation, with promising results on tics and obsessive‐compulsive symptoms. © 2003 Movement Disorder Society
Determination of Metabolic Viability and Cell Mass Using a Tandem Resazurin/Sulforhodamine B Assay

The identification of rapid, reliable, and highly reproducible biological assays that can be standardized and routinely used in preclinical tests constitutes a promising approach to reducing drug discovery costs and time. This unit details a tandem, rapid, and reliable cell viability method for preliminary screening of chemical compounds. This assay measures metabolic activity and cell mass in the same cell sample using a dual resazurin/sulforhodamine B assay, eliminating the variation associated with cell seeding and excessive manipulations in assays that test different cell samples across plates. The procedure also reduces the amount of cells, test compound, and reagents required, as well as the time expended in conventional tests, thus resulting in a more confident prediction of toxic thresholds for the tested compounds. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Comparison Between Intraoperative Two-Space Injection Thoracic Paravertebral Block and Wound Infiltration as a Component of Multimodal Analgesia for Postoperative Pain Management After Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Lobectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE To compare paravertebral block under thoracoscopy with wound infiltration at an early stage after video-assisted thoracic lobectomy surgery. DESIGN A prospective, randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING A single-center university hospital. PARTICIPANTS Patients scheduled for video-assisted thoracic lobectomy surgery between February 20, 2014 and June 1, 2014 randomly were allocated into paravertebral block (PVB) (n = 35) and infiltration (n = 35) groups. INTERVENTIONS In the PVB group, 0.5% ropivacaine was injected into the paravertebral space by the surgeon under direct vision with placebo infiltration of saline in the wounds. In the infiltration group, the wounds were infiltrated with 0.5% ropivacaine by the surgeon with a placebo paravertebral block. Subsequently, patient-controlled intravenous morphine analgesia and paracoxib were administered. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The primary endpoints were visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores at rest and on cough 0, 2, 6, and 24 hours after surgery. The secondary endpoints were the total morphine during postoperative 0 hours to 24 hours, adverse events, and patient satisfaction with the analgesia. Sixty-one patients completed the study. VAS score on cough at each time point was significantly lower (p<0.05) and median (25th, 75th) morphine consumption was lower in the PVB group than in the infiltration group (26 [10, 35] mg and 42 [29, 58] mg, p<0.001, respectively). There was no difference in VAS score at rest. Patients in the PVB group had higher satisfaction with analgesia than in the infiltration group (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS As part of the multimodal postoperative analgesia, intraoperative paravertebral block provided better dynamic pain relief and reduced morphine consumption compared with local wound infiltration.
Analysis and design criteria of a tubular linear induction motor for a possible use in the electro-magnetic aircraft launch system

In this paper a double stator tubular linear induction machine is presented and its performance are discussed for a possible use as a catapult in the electromagnetic acceleration of aircrafts. Based on the use of the Fourier transform in the direction of the motion, a semi analytical model that is able to take into account the end effects due to the finite length of the stators is derived. The effectiveness of the model has been proved by comparison with a numerical analysis based on the Finite Elements Method. The reported results obtained by the two methods shows an excellent agreement that makes the proposed model as a valuable tool for a preliminary design of the device.
An efficient digital implementation of multicarrier CDMA system based on generalized DFT filter Banks

In this paper, an efficient digital implementation of multicarrier transmission scheme based on generalized discrete Fourier transform (DFT) filter banks is presented for multicarrier code-division multiple-access (MC-CDMA) systems. Generalized DFT filter banks has been traditionally discussed for very high-speed digital subscriber lines (VDSL) wireline systems, received interest also for wireless applications. The design of the generalized DFT modulated filter banks is investigated and its fast implementation is derived in the time-domain for arbitrary integer sampling rate. Through the utilization of the generalized DFT modulated filter banks, one or more subcarriers, even noncontiguous subcarriers can be easily supported by system in both uplink and downlink, which facilitates the users to access the network in a frequency-division multiple-access manner. Simulation results show that the overall bit-error-rate performance of the proposed multicarrier transmission scheme well approaches that of a single-carrier system due to the negligible intercarrier interference introduced by an appropriate design of the generalized DFT modulated filter banks.
Why Do People Hang Themselves on Trees? An Evaluation of Suicidal Hangings on Trees in Konya, Turkey, between 2001 and 2008

Hanging is the most common method of suicide in the world, and many public places offer a means or opportunity to carry out the activity. Of 4,452 death examinations and autopsies, there were 378 (8.5%) suicides and suicide method was hanging in 185 (48.9%) cases. In 20 of these (10.8%), the suspension point was the branch of a tree. The incident location was the garden of the victim's house in nine cases, the woodlands in seven cases. The suicides were attributed to psychiatric disorders in nine cases, economic problems in six cases, and family problems in five cases. It is concluded that hanging on a tree as a suicide method is often committed by males and the underlying motive may be different in suicidal hangings on trees occurring at daytime and night. For preventional purposes, the reporting of such suicides in public places by the media may be restricted by local authorities.
Toward Better Care Coordination Through Improved Communication With Referring Physicians

Background Effective care coordination requires good physician-to-physician communication. The authors evaluated a new tool called the Communication with Referring Physicians Practice Improvement Module (CRP-PIM), which assesses and encourages improved communication among physician consultants and referring physicians. Method Eight-hundred three consultants (internists and subspecialists) completed a practice system survey and were rated by 12,212 referring physicians on 13 communication processes using a six-point scale. Consultants received an interactive performance report and selected targets for improvement. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlations, t tests, and factor analysis. Results Mean overall rating was high, at 5.53 (SD 0.23, range 2.46–5.95); consultants still identified areas for improvement. The generalizability coefficient for overall ratings was 0.78. Factor analysis supported two categories of ratings associated with consultants’ gender, subspecialty, residency performance ratings, and specific practice system features. Conclusions The CRP-PIM provides a psychometrically viable measure and encourages consultants to improve communication with referring physicians.
Individual Muscle use in Hamstring Exercises by Soccer Players Assessed using Functional MRI

Abstract This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to compare individual muscle use in exercises aimed at preventing hamstring injuries. Thirty-six professional soccer players were randomized into 4 groups, each performing either Nordic hamstring, flywheel leg curl, Russian belt or conic-pulley exercise. MRIs were performed before and immediately after a bout of 4 sets of 8 repetitions. Pre-post exercise differences in contrast shift (T2) were analyzed for the long (BFLh) and short head (BFSh) of biceps femoris, semitendinosus (ST), semimembranosus (SM) and gracilis (GR) muscles. Flywheel leg curl increased (P<0.001) T2 of GR (95%), ST (65%), BFSh (51%) and BFLh (14%). After the Nordic hamstring, GR (39%), ST (16%) and BFSh (14%) showed increased T2 (P<0.001). Russian belt and conic-pulley exercise produced subtle (P<0.02) T2 increases of ST (9 and 6%, respectively) and BFLh (7 and 6%, respectively). Russian belt increased T2 of SM (7%). Among exercises examined, flywheel leg curl showed the most substantial hamstring and GR muscle use. However, no single exercise executed was able to increase T2 of all hamstring and synergist muscles analyzed. It is therefore suggested that multiple exercises must be carried out to bring in, and fully activate all knee flexors and hip extensors.
Antioxidative Properties of Functional Polyphenols and Their Metabolites Assessed by an ORAC Assay

We compared the antioxidative activities of polyphenol metabolites with those of intact functional polyphenols by an assay of the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). The metabolites of ellagitannin geraniin, chlorogenic acid, and (−)-epigallocatechin gallate displayed more potent antioxidative activity than their respective original compounds. Our findings suggest that these metabolites may play important roles as biological antioxidants after their consumption.
Generalized Maximum Expected Utility Models for Default Risk - A Comparison of Models with Different Dependence Structures

We compare different ways of modeling real-world probabilities of default over a fixed time horizon conditioned on a vector of explanatory variables. Besides a simple logistic regression, we introduce an extended version of the logistic regression that allows for modeling further dependencies. We also discuss a maximum expected utility approach (MEU), which chooses the model measure from a one-parameter family of pareto-optimal measures defined in terms of consistency with the data and a prior measure. We apply this setting to a very general class of utility functions, namely the class of hyperbolic absolute risk aversion (HARA) utility functions. The numerical comparison based on Fitch Risk? s North American Loan Loss Database shows mainly three things: the logarithmic utility function leads to good results in the MEU approach and can be used as a proxy for other utility functions in the HARA class, a more complex dependence structure leads to a better performance, and the extended version of the logistic regression outperforms the MEU model in-sample.