Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A quantitative comparison of satellite cell ultrastructure in duchenne muscular dystrophy, polymyositis, and normal controls

Failure of the muscle to regenerate successfully is an important feature of the pathology of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). It is known that this is not due to a numerical reduction in the population of satellite cells. We have therefore examined the ultrastructural composition of the satellite cells in 25 DMD cases and compared them with satellite cells from normal subjects and from polymyositis patients to try to identify morphological features that might be associated with an impaired developmental competence. Profiles of randomly and serially sectioned satellite cells were analyzed stereolgically to obtain nuclear and cytoplasmic areas. Within the cytoplasm, the areas occupied by mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), and Golgi apparatus were measured. Micropinocytotic vesicles (MPVs) at the perïphery of the cells were counted. The nucleus to cytoplasm ratios and mitochondrial, RER, and Golgi volume fractions were not significantly different in the three satellite cell samples. The cells in the DMD sample contained more MPVs than those in the normal subjects. This is attributed to a generalized cell response to a physiologically altered environment in the diseased muscle.
Problems in the Use of Survey Questions to Measure Public Opinion

Sample interview surveys are frequently proposed and sometimes used as a way of studying public choices among alternatives. Questions in such surveys may be either "open" or "closed. " Two experiments are reported that demonstrate the difficulty of inferring not only absolute levels but even relative orderings of public choices from either type of question, although such questions can be used more successfully to study temporal change or variations across social categories.
Central role of PAFR signalling in ExoU‐induced NF‐κB activation

ExoU is an important virulence factor in acute Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. Here, we unveiled the mechanisms of ExoU‐driven NF‐κB activation by using human airway cells and mice infected with P. aeruginosa strains. Several approaches showed that PAFR was crucially implicated in the activation of the canonical NF‐κB pathway. Confocal microscopy of lungs from infected mice revealed that PAFR‐dependent NF‐κB activation occurred mainly in respiratory epithelial cells, and reduced p65 nuclear translocation was detected in mice PAFR−/− or treated with the PAFR antagonist WEB 2086. Several evidences showed that ExoU‐induced NF‐κB activation regulated PAFR expression. First, ExoU increased p65 occupation of PAFR promoter, as assessed by ChIP. Second, luciferase assays in cultures transfected with different plasmid constructs revealed that ExoU promoted p65 binding to the three κB sites in PAFR promoter. Third, treatment of cell cultures with the NF‐κB inhibitor Bay 11–7082, or transfection with IκBα negative‐dominant, significantly decreased PAFR mRNA. Finally, reduction in PAFR expression was observed in mice treated with Bay 11–7082 or WEB 2086 prior to infection. Together, our data demonstrate that ExoU activates NF‐κB by PAFR signalling, which in turns enhances PAFR expression, highlighting an important mechanism of amplification of response to this P. aeruginosa toxin.
Continuous Hidden Markov Model for Pedestrian Activity Classification and Gait Analysis

This paper presents a method for pedestrian activity classification and gait analysis based on the microelectromechanical-systems inertial measurement unit (IMU). The work targets two groups of applications, including the following: 1) human activity classification and 2) joint human activity and gait-phase classification. In the latter case, the gait phase is defined as a substate of a specific gait cycle, i.e., the states of the body between the stance and swing phases. We model the pedestrian motion with a continuous hidden Markov model (HMM) in which the output density functions are assumed to be Gaussian mixture models. For the joint activity and gait-phase classification, motivated by the cyclical nature of the IMU measurements, each individual activity is modeled by a “circular HMM. ” For both the proposed classification methods, proper feature vectors are extracted from the IMU measurements. In this paper, we report the results of conducted experiments where the IMU was mounted on the humans' chests. This permits the potential application of the current study in camera-aided inertial navigation for positioning and personal assistance for future research works. Five classes of activity, including walking, running, going upstairs, going downstairs, and standing, are considered in the experiments. The performance of the proposed methods is illustrated in various ways, and as an objective measure, the confusion matrix is computed and reported. The achieved relative figure of merits using the collected data validates the reliability of the proposed methods for the desired applications.
TNF-alpha promoter polymorphisms and susceptibility to human papillomavirus 16-associated cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND Polymorphisms in the TNF-alpha promoter region have recently been shown to be associated with susceptibility to cervical cancer. Some polymorphisms have been reported to influence transcription for this cytokine. Altered local levels in the cervix may influence an individual's immune response, thereby affecting persistence of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 infection, a primary etiological factor for cervical cancer. METHODS AND RESULTS The association of 11 TNF-alpha single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with susceptibility to HPV16-associated cervical cancer was investigated. Sequencing of the TNF-alpha promoter region confirmed 10 SNPs, and 1 previously unreported SNP (161 bp upstream of the transcriptional start site) was discovered. Microsphere-array flow cytometry-based genotyping was performed on 787 samples from Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women (241 from randomly selected control subjects, 205 from HPV16-positive control subjects, and 341 from HPV16-positive subjects with cervical cancer). The genotype distribution of 3 SNPs (-572, -857, and -863) was significantly different between case subjects and control subjects. Analysis of haplotypes, which were computationally inferred from genotype data, also revealed statistically significant differences in haplotype distribution between case subjects and control subjects. CONCLUSIONS We report new associations between several TNF-alpha SNPs and susceptibility to cervical cancer that support the involvement of the TNF- alpha promoter region in development of cervical cancer.
Applying Empirical Methods in Clinical Practice: Introducing the Model for Assessing Treatment Effect

Background:One challenge in rehabilitation is determining whether improvement in the patient is a treatment-specific effect or due to extraneous factors (eg, the passage of time, spontaneous recovery). Design:Descriptive, model building, and 2 cases illustrating the model. Method:The Model for Assessing Treatment Effect (MATE) incorporates the conceptual frameworks of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF), along with single-case experimental methodology. Results:The MATE contains 7 levels organized in a hierarchy, representing (i) increasing specificity of evaluation procedures and (ii) control of extraneous variables during therapy. Two illustrative cases of patients with traumatic brain injury undergoing inpatient rehabilitation for, inter alia, cognitive-communication impairments are described to illustrate common clinical practice (level 2 of MATE) and a superior method using a multiple-baseline design across behaviors, enabling rigorous evaluation of treatment effect (level 6 of MATE). Conclusions:The MATE offers a systematic, evidence-based approach for implementing ICF-informed goals into clinical practice. It also provides a benchmark against which a clinical service can be evaluated in terms of the rigor of its therapy program.
Fatty acids profile of pulp and nuts of Brazilian fruits

Fruits and nuts from the North and Northeast regions of Brazil were collected to determine the fatty acid profile of their oils. The species studied were Brazil (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K.), Mucaja (Couma rigida M.), Inaja (Maximiliana maripa D.), Jenipapo (Genipa Americana L.), and Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa L.) nuts. Fatty acid methyl esters were analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Brazil nut major fatty acid was 18:3n-3 (α-linolenic acid), and Buriti nut had approximately 23 times more 18:3n-3 than the pulp. Mucaja nut presented high content of 12:0 (lauric acid) and 16:0 (palmitic acid), and Mucaja pulp showed significant levels of 18:2n-6 (linoleic acid). Considering the PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acid) sum values, almost all fruits and nuts analyzed presented very high levels of these compounds. Regarding n-6/n-3 ratio, only Brazil Nut, Buriti Nut, Inaja pulp, and Jenipapo pulp corresponded to the desired profile. These Brazilian fruits and nuts could be of potential interest due to their high nutritive value and lipid content.
Diterpenoid Alkaloid Derivatives as Potential Chemotherapeutic Agents in American Trypanosomiasis

The use of natural products for the treatment of protozoal infections (Leishmania and Trypanosoma spp.) is well known and has been documented since ancient times. We have already established an in vitro culture system using mammalian host cells (Vero) infected with Trypanosoma cruzi in which the time course of parasite growth is determined quantitatively. This system was used to screen anti-T. cruzi agents using two experimental models: simultaneous cell infection and compound addition or preincubation of the parasite with the test compound prior to cell infection. Among 64 diterpenoid alkaloids tested, including C19 and C20 skeletons, five C20 compounds were active on T. cruzi epimastigotes: azitine, isoazitine and 15,22-O-diacetyl-19-oxodihydroatisine had moderate effects on the parasite, while atisinium chloride and 13-oxocardiopetamine were potent T. cruzi epimastigote growth inhibitors with activity levels similar to that of benznidazole, used as the reference drug. Additionally, these compounds decreased the ability of metacyclic forms to invade mammalian cells, their intracellular replications and their transformation into trypomastigotes, with no toxicity to the host cell. These results suggest that these alkaloids are structural leads of clinically active compounds against T. cruzi and probably other members of the Trypanosomatidae.
Coalition Formation Games: a Survey

In this paper we give an overview of various methods used to study cooperation within a set of players. Besides the classical games with transferable utility and games without transferable utility, recently new models have been proposed: the coalition formation games. In these, each player has his own preferences over coalitions to which he could belong and the quality of a coalition structure is evaluated according to its stability. We review various definitions of stability and restrictions of preferences ensuring the existence of a partition stable with respect to a particular stability definition. Further, we stress the importance of preferences over sets of players derived from preferences over individuals and review the known algorithmic results for special types of preferences derived from the best and/or the worst player of a coalition.
OF THE EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF BEHAVIOR PERFORMANCE IN CONCURRENT INTERVAL SCHEDULES : A SYSTEMATIC REPLICATION '

Five pigeons were trained on a variety of concurrent interval schedules that arranged reinforcements at either fixed or variable times after the last reinforcement. Two measures were obtained: the number of responses on each schedule, and the time spent responding on each schedule. Ratios of response rates on the two schedules did not equal ratios of reinforcement rates when both schedules were variable nor when one was variable and the other fixed. Ratios of times spent responding approximately equalled ratios of reinforcement rates when both schedules were variable, but did not do so when one was fixed.
Vaccines for the Elderly

The aging of the human population is posing serious challenges to research and to public health authorities in order to prevent diseases that more frequently affect the elderly, a portion of the population that will increase more and more in the coming years. While some vaccines exist and are used in the elderly to effectively fight against some infections (e.g. influenza, pneumococci, varicella-zoster virus, diphtheria, and tetanus), still a lot of work remains to be done to better adapt these vaccines and to develop new ones for this age group. The prevention of infectious diseases affecting the elderly can be successful only through a holistic approach. This approach will aim at the following: (1) a deeper understanding of the mechanisms leading to the senescence of the immune system, (2) a better and broader use of vaccines recommended for the elderly, (3) the use of vaccines currently considered only for other age groups and (4) actively priming the population when they are immunological competent, before the physiological waning of immune responsiveness may affect the beneficial effects of vaccination.
The effects of tides on the water mass mixing and sea ice in the Arctic Ocean

In this study, we use a novel pan-Arctic sea ice-ocean coupled model to examine the effects of tides on sea ice and the mixing of water masses. Two 30 year simulations were performed: one with explicitly resolved tides and the other without any tidal dynamics. We find that the tides are responsible for a ∼15% reduction in the volume of sea ice during the last decade and a redistribution of salinity, with surface salinity in the case with tides being on average ∼1.0–1.8 practical salinity units (PSU) higher than without tides. The ice volume trend in the two simulations also differs: −2.09 × 103 km3/decade without tides and −2.49 × 103 km3/decade with tides, the latter being closer to the trend of −2.58 × 103 km3/decade in the PIOMAS model, which assimilates SST and ice concentration. The three following mechanisms of tidal interaction appear to be significant: (a) strong shear stresses generated by the baroclinic clockwise rotating component of tidal currents in the interior waters; (b) thicker subsurface ice-ocean and bottom boundary layers; and (c) intensification of quasi-steady vertical motions of isopycnals (by ∼50%) through enhanced bottom Ekman pumping and stretching of relative vorticity over rough bottom topography. The combination of these effects leads to entrainment of warm Atlantic Waters into the colder and fresher surface waters, supporting the melting of the overlying ice.
THE RESULTS OF TREATMENT

THE December 1966 issue of The Reader’s Digest summarises a novel describing how a child, considered by doctors to be mentally subnormal and to have cerebral palsy of very poor prognosis as regards motor function, had, after treatment prescribed at a particular clinic, been able to go to an ordinary school and was on the way to walking. The treatment programme described was extremely rigorous and demanding for all concerned but, after all, worth while for the results were spectacular. It is not emphasised that, however falsely gloomy earlier prognoses had been, the prognosis given at Massachusetts General Hospital when she was eighteen months old was that she was of average intelligence, would be able to go to an ordinary school and would eventually walk. In fact the ‘special’ treatment achieved much of what had been indicated as likely to follow conventional management which would have been less demanding for the whole family. The physician’s position is not an easy one. He has seen good and bad results of surgery; he has heard and seen disappointing as well as good results from established lines of treatment. He has heard fantastic neurophysiological ‘explanations’ given for ROOD’S methods and finds the lay advocacy of the TEMPLE FAY-DOMAN-DELACATO method uncritically enthusiastic and its assumption that the ontogeny of locomotion normally repeats phylogeny too facile. Yet he knows this does not necessarily imply that there is nothing good in their methods. We have no scientific evidence-in the sense of studies with controls-that any one method of treatment of cerebral palsy gets better results than any other. (It is possible to say the patient before and after treatment is his own control but this is to ignore the effects of maturation and the placebo effects.) The physician caring for the family with a cerebral palsied child cannot wait until scientific evidence is available on all the schools of therapy. And if it were, what should he do when a new method claiming greater success is introduced ? What can he do now about the child who is brought to him? He could, with some feeling, ask the various schools of therapy (in the broadest sense) to look at the enormous benefit drug therapy has gained from well planned clinical trials. He can, in his impatience to know the answers, tell the therapists who say ‘We know our treatment works best, and it would be unethical to withhold it’ that this does not hold water; that in fact each school of treatment has an ethical responsibility to show, as quickly as possible, that its treatment works and whether it is better than any other treatment. For,
Adolescent sleep disturbance and school performance: the confounding variable of socioeconomics.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To assess how selected socioeconomic variables known to affect school performance alter the association between reported sleep disturbance and poor school performance in a contiguous middle school/high school population. METHODS A school district/college IRB approved questionnaire was distributed in science and health classes in middle school and high school. This questionnaire included a frequency scaled pediatric sleep disturbance questionnaire for completion by students and a permission and demographic questionnaire for completion by parents (completed questionnaires n = 238 with 69.3% including GPA). RESULTS Sleep complaints occur at high frequency in this sample (sleep onset insomnia 60% > 1 x /wk.; 21.2% every night; sleepiness during the day (45.7% > 1 x /wk.; 15.2 % every night), and difficulty concentrating (54.6% > 1 x /wk.; 12.9% always). Students with lower grade point averages (GPAs) were more likely to have restless/aching legs when trying to fall asleep, difficulty concentrating during the day, snoring every night, difficulty waking in the morning, sleepiness during the day, and falling asleep in class. Lower reported GPAs were significantly associated with lower household incomes. After statistically controlling for income, restless legs, sleepiness during the day, and difficulty with concentration continued to significantly affect school performance. CONCLUSIONS This study provides additional evidence indicating that sleep disturbances occur at high frequencies in adolescents and significantly affect daytime performance, as measured by GPA. The socioeconomic variable of household income also significantly affects GPA. After statistically controlling for age and household income, the number and type of sleep variables noted to significantly affect GPA are altered but persistent in demonstrating significant effects on school performance.
Minimum correct thermo-electric model for transient behaviour of incandescent lamp

Accurate description of thermo-electric systems and their behaviour during transient represents a demanding task. Because of high nonlinearity of elements in such system and if linearization cannot be done during transient, corresponding differential equation(s) are also nonlinear. Development of personal computers (PCs) and the reduction of their price, provide application of the numerical techniques and procedures for solving such nonlinear systems instead of the analytical solving techniques. However, knowing of analytical expression(s) which describes behaviour of nonlinear system during the transient is beneficial. In this article development of minimum correct transient thermo-electric model of incandescent lamp is described in detail. Procedure for obtaining analytical solution with exact solution which describes behaviour of incandescent lamp during the transient is shown. Obtained analytical solution and presented model are verified with numerical solution of non approximated nonlinear differential equation and measurement results. The application of presented thermo-electric model for description transient behaviour of incandescent lamp is shown on obtaining inrush current of well known H7 car light bulb. Presented thermo-electric model and its analytical solution are also applicable for determining inrush current of all incandescent lamps and infrared heaters.
Building-related illnesses.

Over the past 30 years, a new man-made ecosystem has developed — the controlled indoor environment within the sealed exterior shells of modern office buildings. This new environment has considerable potential to affect public health because more than half the adult work force in North America and Western Europe works in offices or “office-like” nonindustrial environments.1 The indoor environment of modern office buildings may be affected by the occupants, their work activities, equipment, plants, furnishings, building materials, ventilation systems, and outdoor air pollution. In the vast majority of buildings, this complex environment is controlled by one or two technicians who .
Anxiety Symptoms in Spouses of Stroke Patients

Background: The aim of this longitudinal study was to investigate prevalence rates of anxiety symptoms in stroke patients’ spouses and associated factors. Methods: Data were collected from 114 couples upon the patients’ admission for rehabilitation as well as 1 year later and analysed with linear regression analyses. The Beck Anxiety Inventory was used to assess anxiety symptoms. Results: The results showed a high prevalence of anxiety symptoms at both time points of 28.9 and 27.6%. An association was found between spouses’ anxiety symptoms at both time points and their gender as well as spouses’ anxiety symptoms (at time 2) and patients’ perceived disability. Conclusions: Post-stroke rehabilitation process should include a focus on treating anxiety symptoms in patients’ spouses in order to prevent the development of stress-related disorders in this group.
Identificación de entidades con nombre basada en modelos de Markov y árboles de decisión

In this paper we investigate Named Entity Recognition (NER) systems using two well-known classifiers in the machine learning literature: Markov Models and Decision Trees. We have designed several systems to check the impact of introducing different characteristics which have a weak dependence of the language used. We also report the results obtained by our systems on the Spanish corpus provided in the NER Task of ConNLL 2002 conference.
Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP)-12 by Myofibroblasts during Alkali-Burned Corneal Wound Healing

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the expression of MMP-12 by myofibroblasts during the healing of alkali-burned rabbit corneas (ARC), thus implicating its role in ECM remodeling. Methods: Rabbit corneas during alkali burn were examined for MMP-12 mRNA expression by RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the presence of α-SMA, MMP-12 protein, and macrophages. In situ hybridization was performed to identify MMP-12 mRNA expressing cells. Results: RT-PCR showed that MMP-12 mRNA was expressed in the alkali-burned corneas from one week after the injury. Immunohistochemistry showed myofibroblasts positive for MMP-12 expression. In situ hybridization revealed that MMP-12 mRNA was expressed by myofibroblasts. Conclusion: Our results indicate that, in alkali-burned corneas, myofibroblasts express both MMP-12 mRNA and protein. We suggest that MMP-12 may disintegrate some components of the ECM released after severe alkali burn, which may be involved in the ECM remodeling.