Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Explicit and implicit animation with fuzzy constraints of a versatile multi‐body system for virtual hand surgery

This work is designed to control the movement of hand structural agents under external action, using the implicit animation driven by explicit animation technique (AI‐CAE technique). Starting from the configuration of a hand at rest obtained by a 3D scanner and after meshing of the structural agents, we seek the configuration of the rigid agents under orthopaedic surgeon external action and interacting reliance of deformable and rigid agents. We have developed a model and software tools to answer this interactive application with adaptive execution. The first contribution comes from notations and definition of a versatile multi‐body system dedicated to the explicit and implicit animation. The second contribution comes from the implicit animation driven by explicit animation itself, and from its ability to mimic the role of cartilages and ligaments. The resulting technique is applied to the bone structure consistency of a specific human hand in the context of virtual hand orthopaedic surgery. The versatile specific multi‐body is made up of hierarchical interacting agents conceivable as a construction set of rigid bones with cartilages–ligaments and underlying links. The explicit animation produces a desired configuration from geometric command parameters of torsion, flexion, pivot and axis shifting, given in a scenario subdivided into temporal sequences. The implicit animation controls the movement by implementing a physics‐based model and fuzzy constraints of position and orientation. It gives better configuration than the explicit animation because it takes into account the interactions between agents, and it gives a neat solution without the problems of complexity due to geometric modelling. A methodology based on the AI‐CAE technique is discussed, medical expertise and validation tests are presented. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nonpathogenic Lactobacillus rhamnosus activates the inflammasome and antiviral responses in human macrophages

In this study, we have utilized global gene expression profiling to compare the responses of human primary macrophages to two closely related, well-characterized Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains GG and LC705, since our understanding of the responses elicited by nonpathogenic bacteria in human innate immune system is limited. Macrophages are phagocytic cells of the innate immune system that perform sentinel functions to initiate appropriate responses to surrounding stimuli. Macrophages that reside on gut mucosa encounter ingested and intestinal bacteria. Bacteria of Lactobacillus genus are nonpathogenic and used in food and as supplements with health-promoting probiotic potential. Our results demonstrate that live GG and LC705 induced quantitatively different gene expression profiles in macrophages. A gene ontology analysis revealed functional similarities and differences in responses to GG and LC705 that were reflected in host defense responses. Both GG and LC705 induced interleukin-1β production in macrophages that required caspase-1 activity. LC705, but not GG, induced type I interferon -dependent gene activation that correlated with its ability to prevent influenza A virus replication and production of viral proteins in macrophages. Our results indicate that nonpathogenic bacteria are able to activate the inflammasome. In addition, our results suggest that L. rhamnosus may prime the antiviral potential of human macrophages.
A New Approach to the Determination of Concentration Profiles in Atom Probe Tomography

Abstract Atom probe tomography (APT) provides three-dimensional analytical imaging of materials with near-atomic resolution using pulsed field evaporation. The processes of field evaporation can cause atoms to be placed at positions in the APT reconstruction that can deviate slightly from their original site in the material. Here, we describe and model one such process—that of preferential retention of solute atoms in multicomponent systems. Based on relative field evaporation probabilities, we calculate the point spread function for the solute atom distribution in the “z,” or in-depth direction, and use this to extract more accurate solute concentration profiles.
Mecamylamine suppresses Basal and nicotine-stimulated choroidal neovascularization.

PURPOSE Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) are best known for their role in neurotransmission, but they have recently been demonstrated on vascular endothelial cells. Acetylcholine is their endogenous ligand, but they are also stimulated by nicotine. By stimulating nAChR, nicotine promotes tumor angiogenesis as well as atherosclerotic plaque neovascularization. In this study, the authors investigated the role of nAChR in the pathogenesis of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). METHODS The effect of the nonselective nAChR antagonist mecamylamine was tested on human retinal and choroidal endothelial cells in vitro and in a murine model of CNV. RESULTS Several nAChR isoforms were identified in retinal and choroidal microvascular endothelial cells, and the ability of these cells to form tubules when grown in growth factor-reduced basement membrane matrix and supplemented with VEGF was suppressed by the nAChR antagonist mecamylamine. Supplementation of the drinking water of mice with nicotine increased the size of CNV lesions at Bruch membrane rupture sites, an effect that was blocked by subcutaneous administration of mecamylamine (50 mg/kg/d) by an osmotic pump. In the absence of nicotine, CNV formation was suppressed by the infusion of 50 mg/kg/d mecamylamine or by topical application 0.1 or 1% mecamylamine to the cornea. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that endogenous activation of nAChR promotes CNV and that activation of nAChR by nicotine may contribute to the increased incidence of CNV seen in smokers with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Topically administered mecamylamine could provide an appealing new treatment approach for CNV.
Electrophysiological Evaluation of Human Brain Development

The complex development of the human brain during infancy can only be understood by convergent structural, functional, and behavioral measurements. The evaluation of event-related potentials (ERPs) is the most effective current way to look at infant brain function. ERP paradigms can be used to examine the simple transmission of sensory information to the cortex and the discrimination of this information within the cortex. The main developmental changes involve localization of function as the brain becomes tuned to the experienced world (related to synaptic pruning) and a speeding up of transmission as pathways become efficient (related to myelination). ERPs that occur in relation to different temporal aspects of a stimulus (onset-responses, offset-responses, sustained potentials and steady-state responses) and ERPs recorded at different stimulus rates may help track perceptual development from a temporal perspective. Particularly important in human development are the ERP changes that occur in the processing of speech sounds and human faces. At present, ERP studies can show differences between groups of subjects that can demonstrate developmental disorders or elucidate mechanisms of development. However, because of their variability, ERPs are less helpful in determining whether an individual infant is developing abnormally. Where possible, ERP measurements should be used in conjunction with behavioral tests so as to relate performance to mechanism, and with anatomical brain measurements to relate mechanism to structure.
Predictors of symptoms are different from predictors of severe exacerbations from asthma in children.

BACKGROUND Asthma therapy is typically prescribed and titrated based on patient or parent self-report of symptoms. No longitudinal studies have assessed the relationship between symptoms and severe asthma exacerbations in children. The goal of our study was (1) to assess the association of asthma symptoms with severe asthma exacerbations and (2) to compare predictors of persistent asthma symptoms and predictors of severe asthma exacerbations. METHODS The Childhood Asthma Management Program was a multicenter clinical trial of 1,041 children randomized to receive budesonide, nedocromil, or placebo (as-needed β-agonist). We conducted a post hoc analysis of diary cards that were completed by subjects on a daily basis to categorize subjects as having persistent vs intermittent symptoms. We defined a severe asthma exacerbation as an episode requiring ≥ 3 days use of oral corticosteroids, hospitalization, or ED visit due to asthma based on self-report at study visits every 4 months. RESULTS While accounting for longitudinal measures, having persistent symptoms from asthma was significantly associated with having severe asthma exacerbations. Predictors of having persistent symptoms compared with intermittent symptoms included not being treated with inhaled corticosteroids, lower FEV(1)/FVC ratio, and a lower natural logarithm of provocative concentration of methacholine producing a 20% decline in FEV(1) (lnPC(20)). Predictors of having one or more severe asthma exacerbations included younger age, history of hospitalization or ED visit in the prior year, ≥ 3 days use of oral corticosteroids in the prior 3 months, lower FEV(1)/FVC ratio, lower lnPC(20), and higher logarithm to the base 10 eosinophil count; treatment with inhaled corticosteroids was predictive of having no severe asthma exacerbations. CONCLUSIONS Patients with persistent symptoms from asthma were more likely to experience severe asthma exacerbations. Nevertheless, demographic and laboratory predictors of having persistent symptoms are different from predictors of severe asthma exacerbations. Although symptoms and exacerbations are closely related, their predictors are different. The current focus of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines on the two separate domains of asthma control, impairment and risk, are supported by our analysis.
Gustatory neural coding in the amygdala of the alert macaque monkey.

1. Neurons in the amygdala are implicated in mediating hedonic appreciation, emotional expression, and conditioning, particularly as these relate to feeding. The amygdala receives projections from the primary taste cortex in monkeys, offering a route by which it could gain access to the gustatory information required to guide feeding behavior. We recorded the activity of 35 neurons in the amygdala of alert rhesus macaques in response to a range of gustatory intensities and qualities to characterize taste-evoked activity in this area. 2. The stimulus array comprised 26 chemicals, including four concentrations of each of the four basic taste stimuli, a series of other sugars, salts, and acids, monosodium glutamate, and orange juice. 3. Neurons responsive to taste stimulation could be found in a 76-mm3 region of the amygdala, centered 9.1 mm lateral to the midline, 14.9 mm anterior to the interaural line, and 25.7 mm below the surface of the dura. They composed 7.2% (35/484) of the cells tested for gustatory sensitivity in the amygdala. 4. The mean spontaneous activity of taste cells was 8.2 +/- 2.3 (SE) spikes per second. This rather high level provided an opportunity for reductions from spontaneous rate that was used regularly in the amygdala. When these negative response rates were included, the mean breadth-of-tuning coefficient of this sample of taste cells was 0.82. There was no strong evidence for gustatory neuron types, nor were functionally similar cells located together in a chemotopic arrangement. 5. Responses across 1.5 log units of stimulus concentration were nearly flat, with increasing excitation in some neurons largely offset by increasing inhibition in others. Taking the absolute value of the evoked activity, concentration-response functions rose monotonically to all basic stimuli except HCl, but were not sufficiently steep to account for human psychophysical data. The neural response to HCl did not rise with stimulus concentration within the range used. 6. Neural patterns representing the taste qualities of the basic stimuli were less sharply separated in the amygdala than at lower-order gustatory relays. Glucose elicited activity patterns that were most distinct from those of the nonsweet chemicals; those associated with NaCl were next most distinct. There was no clear separation between the patterns generated by chemicals that humans describe as sour and bitter. Monosodium glutamate evoked responses that did not correlate well with those of any basic stimulus, implying that its quality cannot be subsumed under the four basic tastes. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Multiple enhancer motifs in HIV type 1 strains from Ethiopia.

The authors determined the sequences of the LTR region of Ethiopian HIV-1 subtype C strains and compared them with Swedish HIV-1 subtype B strains and earlier published data. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from seven randomly chosen HIV-1 infected Ethiopian patients, all with pre-AIDS or AIDS. PBMCs were also obtained from three Swedish HIV-1 subtype B-infected patients. Extraction of HIV-1 DNA was performed with the phenol-chloroform plus ethanol precipitation method. In all the Ethiopian HIV-1 subtype C strains, the first five nucleotides were changed to (G/A)CAGA, a finding not observed in the Swedish subtype B strains sequenced at the same time. The most remarkable feature of the Ethiopian NF-KB region was the presence of what appears to be an extra site located upstream of the usual sites I and II. At the same time, the core enhancer sequence GGGACTTTCC at site I was modified by a deletion of the A nucleotide and a change of the first T to a G. The gross LTR organization may be radically different in "African" subtype HIV-1 isolates compared to the American/European HIV-1 subtype B prototype strains. These data from the Ethiopian strains reinforce the validity of this conclusion.
Effectiveness of internal quality assurance programmes in improving clinical practice and reducing costs.

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness of internal initiatives to improve quality as compared with external feedback, and as compared with a control group. METHOD Ten primary health centres were randomly selected from the centres in the Murcia's Region and were randomly assigned into three groups: G1 committed themselves to the improvement; G2 composed by two subgroups: with and without quality improvement (QI) activities - received external feedback; G3 received no intervention. Quality of common cold management was measured in a random sample of 50 patients per centre before and after interventions. Effect was assessed comparing criteria compliance and the cost of treatments for common cold in the three groups. RESULTS G1 and G2 subgroup with internal QI improved significantly in all criteria, and in G1 average treatment cost decreased by 60% (P < 0.01). G3 improved only in one criterion. Estimated yearly savings in treatment costs for common cold, for a centre with internal QI, were euro 12,193.83 and it would be euro 1,817 004.65 for the 30 centres in the Region. CONCLUSIONS Internally assumed QI activities were significantly more effective than external feedback. Besides, the high cost of deficient quality provides a wide margin to invest with benefits in the promotion of internal QI programmes.
“Bounce at the Bell”: a novel program of short bouts of exercise improves proximal femur bone mass in early pubertal children

Objectives: To examine the effects of a simple and inexpensive physical activity intervention on change in bone mass and structure in school aged children. Methods: Fifty one children (n = 23 boys and 28 girls; mean age 10.1 years) participated in “Bounce at the Bell” which consisted of 10 counter-movement jumps 3× per day (total ∼3 min/day). Controls were 71 matched children who followed usual school practice. We assessed dietary calcium, physical activity, physical performance, and anthropometry in September and after 8 months of intervention (June). We measured bone mineral content (BMC) and bone area at the lumbar spine, total body, and proximal femur. Proximal femur scans were also analysed for bone geometry and structural strength using the hip structural analysis program. Lean and fat mass (g) were also calculated. Results: Groups were similar at baseline and did not differ in weight, height, total body, lumbar spine, proximal femur, or femoral neck BMC. Control children had a greater increase in adjusted total body BMC (1.4%). Intervention children gained significantly more BMC at the total proximal femur (2%) and the intertrochanteric region (27%). Change in bone structural parameters did not differ between groups. Conclusions: This novel, easily implemented exercise program, took only a few minutes each day and enhanced bone mass at the weight bearing proximal femur in early pubertal children. A large, randomised study of boys and girls should be undertaken powered to test the effectiveness of Bounce at the Bell in children at different stages of maturity, and in boys and girls independently.
Evaluation of the analytical performance of the advanced method for cardiac troponin I for the AxSYM platform: comparison with the old method and the Access system

Abstract Background: The determination of cardiac troponins is routinely used for rule in/out, risk stratification, and follow-up of patients with acute coronary artery syndrome. We evaluated the analytical and clinical performance of the advanced immunoassay for troponin I (cTnI) carried out on an AxSYM platform (Abbott Diagnostic Division) and compared these characteristics to those of the previous version of this assay and to cTnI on the Access 2 immunoassay system (Beckman Coulter, Inc.). Methods: We assayed plasma samples from healthy subjects (n=66) and cardiac patients (n=132) using AxSYM Plus system assays called the old (OLD AxSYM) and advanced TnI (ADV AxSYM) methods and using an Access system. Results: An improvement in analytical sensitivity (detection limit) was observed for the advanced cTnI AxSYM compared to the previous method (0.014 vs. 0.31μg/L), while the cTnI value for the 10% CV (i.e., functional sensitivity) was 0. 41μg/L for the ADV and 1. 9μg/L for the OLD method. The kinetics of cTnI release was similar, as evaluated in 25 patients with typical acute myocardial infarction (AMI). A close linear relationship was found between the two methods on the AxSYM system (OLD cTnI=7.436+6.858 ADV cTnI; R=0.968, n=214) and with the Access system (OLD AxSYM=7.154+7.9 Access, R=0.876, n=158; ADV AxSYM=0.23+1.209 Access, R=0.927, n=160). However, wide bias was found between the OLD and ADV AxSYM methods (mean difference 118.4μg/L, p<0.0001), while more similar results were found between the ADV AxSYM and Access methods (mean difference 2.6μg/L, corresponding to a mean percentage difference of 17%, p<0.0001). In 106 patients with symptomatic rheumatoid arthritis with high rheumatoid factor (RF) concentration, the mean cTnI measured by the ADV AxSYM method was 0.009±0. 031μg/L (range 0–0.23μg/L) with a significant correlation (R=0.316, p=0.001) between cTnI and RF values. Furthermore, in 60 of these serum samples the cTnI concentration was also measured using the Access method; significant correlation with the values found by the ADV AxSYM method was observed (R=0.468, p=0.0002). Conclusions: The present study indicates that the AxSYM Troponin-I ADV immunoassay shows improved analytical sensitivity compared to the OLD AxSYM method, as well as very similar clinical results to those determined using the Access method. Clin Chem Lab Med 2006;44:1022–9.
Reduced activation and expression of ERK1/2 MAP kinase in the post‐mortem brain of depressed suicide subjects

The extracellular regulated kinases (ERK) 1 and ERK2 are members of mitogen‐activated protein (MAP) kinase family that play an important role in transducing extracellular signals to the nucleus and have been implicated in a broad spectrum of biological responses. To test the hypothesis that MAP kinases may be involved in depression, we examined the activation of p44/42 MAP kinase and expression of ERK1 and ERK2 in the post‐mortem brain tissue obtained from non‐psychiatric control subjects (n = 11) and age‐ and the post‐mortem interval‐matched depressed suicide subjects (n = 11). We observed that p44/42 MAP kinase activity was significantly decreased in the prefrontal cortical areas (Brodmann's areas 8, 9 and 10) and the hippocampus of depressed suicide subjects without any change in the cerebellum. This decrease was associated with a decrease in mRNA and protein levels of ERK1 and ERK2. In addition, the expression of MAP kinase phosphatase (MKP)2, a ‘dual function’ ERK1/2 phosphatase, was increased in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. These studies suggest that p44/42 MAP kinases are less activated in the post‐mortem brain of depressed suicide subjects and this may be because of reduced expression of ERK1/2 and increased expression of MKP2. Given the role of MAP kinases in various physiological functions and gene expression, alterations in p44/42 MAP kinase activation and expression of ERK1/2 may contribute significantly to the pathophysiology of depressive disorders.
Problem‐solving test: Pyrosequencing

Terms to be familiar with before you start to solve the test: Maxam–Gilbert sequencing, Sanger sequencing, gel electrophoresis, DNA synthesis reaction, polymerase chain reaction, template, primer, DNA polymerase, deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates, orthophosphate, pyrophosphate, nucleoside monophosphates, luminescence, acid anhydride bond, phosphodiester bond, mismatch, proofreading, 5′→3′ exonuclease.
Markets, Hierarchies, and Families: Toward a Transaction Cost Theory of the Family Firm

Why do family businesses exist? What factors explain their versatility, limitations, and success within and across different industrial and geographic contexts? We develop a transaction cost framework that addresses these questions. In doing so, we identify a class of assets we term generic nontradeables (GNTs), that are firm specific, but generic in application. While many types of firms may possess such assets, we reason that family firm governance provides relative advantages in developing, sustaining, and appropriating value from GNTs through combinations with other types of assets. We propose that these advantages, as well as some concomitant disadvantages, explain the versatility, limitations, and success of family business enterprise.
Molecular characterization of the hemagglutinin gene and oral immunization with a waterfowl-origin avian influenza virus.

Vaccination against highly pathogenic (HP) subtypes of avian influenza (AI) virus in poultry has been prohibited in the United States. Recently, policy has been changed to potentially allow use of inactivated vaccines in emergency programs to control HP H5 and H7 AI. Vaccination with inactivated virus against non-highly pathogenic AI viruses has been allowed in the U.S. turkey industry since 1979 (1) but requires expensive handling of individual birds for parenteral inoculation. Oral immunization would provide a less expensive method to protect commercial poultry from AI. Prime candidates for oral vaccines are waterfowl-origin (WFO) isolates, which have a tropism for the alimentary tract. One WFO isolate, A/mallard/Ohio/556/1987 (H5N9) (MOh87), was characterized by determining the complete nucleotide sequence of its hemagglutinin (HA) gene. The HA protein of this isolate possessed a deduced amino acid sequence nearly identical to the consensus amino acid sequence for all published H5 genes, indicating that it has potential as a broadly effective vaccine. Experimental results demonstrated measurable serum antibody responses to orally delivered live and inactivated preparations of MOh87. Oral vaccination also protected chickens from diverse, lethal H5 AI virus challenge strains and blocked cloacal shedding of challenge virus.