Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Glaucoma detection by morphological analysis of multifocal ERG records

This work deals with a detailed morphological analysis of various Multifocal Electroretinographic (mfERG) records from a number of control subjects and other affected by glaucoma. We study the variation in the morphology of these signals, according to its topographic origin in the retina, and glaucomatous records are compared with healthy records from the same topographic position. The purpose of the study is to early detection of signs of glaucoma in the affected retina, making use of thirteen parameters to characterize record's waveforms in detail.
Construction and Characterization of Thrombin-resistant Variants of Recombinant Human Protein S

Summary Protein S is a vitamin K-dependent plasma protein that functions as a cofactor of activated protein C (APC) in the inactivation of coagulation factors Va and Villa. Protein S, migrates as a doublet on reduced SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This heterogeneity in molecular weight has been explained by limited proteolysis of protein S. Human protein S contains at Arg-49, Arg-60 and Arg-70 three potential cleavage sites. Whether cleavage occurs at all three sites is not known. To study the role of these arginine residues in human protein S, we have replaced them by leucine or isoleucine. All seven possible variants were constructed: three variants with single mutations (R49L, R60L, R70I), three variants with double mutations (R49L/R60L, R60L/R70I, R49L/R70I) and one variant with a triple mutation (R49L/R60L/R70I). On reduced SDS polyacrylamide gels the single and double variants migrate as a doublet just like the wild type protein S. The triple variant migrates as a single band at a molecular weight corresponding to the upper band of the doublet. The upper band of the single and double variants but not of the triple variant could be converted into the lower band by thrombin treatment. All variants showed cofactor activity to APC in a clotting assay. After thrombin treatment, this cofactor activity was abolished for the single (R49L, R60L, R70I) and double variants (R49L/R60L, R60L/R70I, R49L/R70I), while the triple variant (R49L/R60L/R70I) tested at several concentrations, retained its cofactor activity completely, suggesting resistance to thrombin. This shows that thrombin can cleave at all three arginine sites and that cleavage at each of these sites results in the loss of APC cofactor activity. Finally, all variants bind to C4b-binding protein with an affinity similar as the wild type recombinant molecule.
Voltage-clamp analysis of the ionic conductances in a leech neuron with a purely calcium-dependent action potential.

1. The purely calcium-dependent action potential of the anterior lateral giant (ALG) cell in the leech Haementeria was examined under voltage clamp. 2. Analysis with ion substitutions showed that the ALG cell action potential is generated by only two time- and voltage-dependent conductance systems, an inward Ca-dependent current (ICa) and an outward Ca-dependent K current IK(Ca). 3. The kinetic properties of the inward current were examined both in Cs-loaded neurons with Ca as the current carrier as well as in Ba-containing Ringer solutions with Ba as the current carrier, since Ba effectively blocked all time- and voltage-dependent outward current. 4. During a maintained depolarization, Ba and Ca currents activated with a time constant tau m, they then inactivated with the decay following a single exponential time course with a time constant tau h. The time constants for decay of both Ba and Ca currents were comparable, suggesting that the mechanism of inactivation of ICa in the ALG cell is largely voltage dependent. In the range of potentials from 5 to 45 mV, tau m varied from 8 to 2 ms and tau h varied from 250 to 125 ms. 5. The activation of currents carried by Ba, after correction for inactivation, could be described reasonably well by the expression I'Ba = I'Ba(infinity) [1--exp(-t/tau m)]. 6. The steady-state activation of the Ba-conductance mBa(infinity) increased sigmoidally with voltage and was approximated by the equation mBa(infinity) = (1 + exp[(Vh-6)/3])-1. The steady-state inactivation hBa(infinity) varied with holding potential and could be described by the equation hBa(infinity) = [1 + exp(Vh + 10/7)]-1. Recovery from inactivation of IBa was best described by the sum of two exponential time courses with time constants of 300 ms and 1.75 s, respectively. 7. The outward current IK(Ca) developed very slowly (0.5-1 s to half-maximal amplitude) and did not inactivate during a 20-s depolarizing command pulse. Tail current decay of IK(Ca) followed a single exponential time course with voltage-dependent time constants of between 360 and 960 ms. The steady-state activation n infinity of IK(Ca) increased sigmoidally with depolarization as described by the equation n infinity = [1 + exp(Vh-13.5)/-8)]-1. 8. The reversal potentials of IK(Ca) tail currents were close to the expected equilibrium potential for potassium and they varied linearly with log [K]o with a slope of 51 mV. These results suggest a high selectivity of the conductance for K ions. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Demonstration of a New Approach Towards 0.25V Low-Vt CMOS Using Ni-Based FUSI

This report discusses a new and practical approach to implement low Vt bulk CMOS using Ni-based FUSI MOSFETs. On the nFET, we demonstrate for the first time that incorporating Yb by ion implantation can achieve similar reduction of effective work function (WF) compared to alloying making it a candidate for CMOS integration. We complement our previous work on WF modulation by Yb on NiSi/SiON with new data on NiSi/HfSiON and NiGeSi/HfSiON. On the pFET, we study the effect of Al and Pt on Ni-rich FUSI and integrate it with a SiGe-channel. Integration into our reference devices resulted in a Vt reduction from 0.55/0.61V down to 0.30/0.25V for nFET (NiSi:Yb gate) and pFET (Ni2 Si:Pt gate + SiGe channel) respectively on SiON without degradation of the dielectric integrity and long channel mobility, and without an increase in gate leakage and Dit
Transforming growth factor β signaling impairs Neu-induced mammary tumorigenesis while promoting pulmonary metastasis

The influence of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling on Neu-induced mammary tumorigenesis and metastasis was examined with transgenic mouse models. We generated mice expressing an activated TGF-β type I receptor or dominant negative TGF-β type II receptor under control of the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter. When crossed with mice expressing activated forms of the Neu receptor tyrosine kinase that selectively couple to the Grb2 or Shc signaling pathways the activated type I receptor increased the latency of mammary tumor formation but also enhanced the frequency of extravascular lung metastasis. Conversely, expression of the dominant negative type II receptor decreased the latency of Neu-induced mammary tumor formation while significantly reducing the incidence of extravascular lung metastases. These observations argue that TGF-β can promote the formation of lung metastases while impairing Neu-induced tumor growth and suggest that extravasation of breast cancer cells from pulmonary vessels is a point of action of TGF-β in the metastatic process.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder in patients with first-episode schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to determine the rate of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in patients with first-episode schizophrenia. METHOD Fifty patients consecutively hospitalized with first-episode psychosis who met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia spectrum disorders were assessed for OCD. The instruments used were the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, Schedule for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), Schedule for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), and Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale. RESULTS Seven (14%) of the 50 schizophrenic patients met DSM-IV criteria for OCD and scored significantly lower than schizophrenic patients without OCD on the formal thought disorder subscale of the SAPS and the flattened affect subscale of the SANS. CONCLUSIONS OCD is relatively frequent in patients with first-episode schizophrenia and may have a "protective" effect on some schizophrenic symptoms, at least in the early stages of the disease.
Diversification of Gene Expression during Formation of Static Submerged Biofilms by Escherichia coli

Many bacteria primarily exist in nature as structured multicellular communities, so called biofilms. Biofilm formation is a highly regulated process that includes the transition from the motile planktonic to sessile biofilm lifestyle. Cellular differentiation within a biofilm is a commonly accepted concept but it remains largely unclear when, where and how exactly such differentiation arises. Here we used fluorescent transcriptional reporters to quantitatively analyze spatio-temporal expression patterns of several groups of genes during the formation of submerged Escherichia coli biofilms in an open static system. We first confirm that formation of such submerged biofilms as well as pellicles at the liquid-air interface requires the major matrix component, curli, and flagella-mediated motility. We further demonstrate that in this system, diversification of gene expression leads to emergence of at least three distinct subpopulations of E. coli, which differ in their levels of curli and flagella expression, and in the activity of the stationary phase sigma factor σS. Our study reveals mutually exclusive expression of curli fibers and flagella at the single cell level, with high curli levels being confined to dense cell aggregates/microcolonies and flagella expression showing an opposite expression pattern. Interestingly, despite the known σS-dependence of curli induction, there was only a partial correlation between the σS activity and curli expression, with subpopulations of cells having high σS activity but low curli expression and vice versa. Finally, consistent with different physiology of the observed subpopulations, we show striking differences between the growth rates of cells within and outside of aggregates.
How terrestrial snails can be used in risk assessment of soils

Among soil invertebrates, terrestrial snails are herbivorous and detritivorous organisms exposed to polluted soils by both digestive and cutaneous routes. Using laboratory‐reared snails (Helix aspersa aspersa), we describe how the effects of contaminants on survival and growth of snails can be evaluated in laboratory bioassays. A national ring test was performed to assess the effect of Cd added to the soil or to the food. The ecotoxicity of sewage sludge also was evaluated. The present results demonstrate that toxicity depends on both the pollutants and the exposure route. Cadmium was sixfold more toxic for snails exposed via food contamination (median effective concentration [EC50], 68–139 μg/g) than via soil contamination (EC50, 534–877 μg/g), whereas the opposite occurred with the sewage sludge (EC50, 55% of sludge in the food and 10% of waste in the soil). A logistic relationship linked growth inhibition and internal Cd concentrations, which can reach 2,000 μg/g in the viscera of snails exposed to 626 μg/g in the food. No clear trend was found between Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, and Ni concentrations in the sludge and in snail tissues. These data enabled the development of an international standard, which should enhance the use of terrestrial gastropods for both fundamental research and routine risk assessment in the terrestrial environment.
Factors and models of pollution flashover on high voltage outdoor insulators: Review

This paper reviews pollution flashover phenomenon on high voltage outdoor insulators, focusing on modeling approaches for analysing flashover behavior other than influential factors affecting pollution performance. Previously proposed dynamic and static flashover models by well-known researchers i.e. Obenaus, Neumarker, Wilkin, Claverie etc. have been compared and evaluated. Resistance and conductivity of pollution layer have been simulated by using the proposed models. The results for all models reveal the same trend of plot with good consistency indicating reliable modeling technique for pollution flashover. The best pollution model which giving close agreement to the experimental results also been suggested in this articles.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Moderately Thermophilic Bacterium Schleiferia thermophila Strain Yellowstone (Bacteroidetes)

ABSTRACT The draft genome sequence of the moderately thermophilic bacterium Schleiferia thermophila strain Yellowstone (Bacteroidetes), isolated from Octopus Spring (Yellowstone National Park, WY, USA) was sequenced and comprises 2,617,694 bp in 35 contigs. The draft genome is predicted to encode 2,457 protein coding genes and 37 tRNA encoding genes and two rRNA operons.
Effects of pentoxifylline during Schistosoma mansoni infection in Swiss mice: an analysis of worm burden, fecundity and liver histopathology

Abstract The short-term effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on granulomatous lesions during Schistosoma mansoni infection in Swiss mice were evaluated. Drug administration was initiated 42 and 140 days post-infection (DPI) for the acute and chronic infection groups, respectively. Treatment was carried out daily with 200 mg/kg (subcutaneous route) of the drug for five consecutive days. Recovery of parasites and tissues was performed at 49 DPI and 147 DPI, respectively. Liver histological analysis showed a decrease in the inflammatory reaction and fibrous content of the granulomas studied, and a significant reduction (P < 0.001) in their mean diameter was observed in the groups of rodents treated with PTX in acute and chronic infection, when compared to their respective control groups. However, no alteration in the number of S. mansoni recovered from the portal system was observed, and egg-laying kinetics was not notably modified by PTX treatment, and the immature stage distribution of S. mansoni eggs showed minor intrinsic variations with no statistical differences in the parameter second-stage/female/g among untreated mice and treated mice in acute and chronic infections, respectively, when evaluated by intestinal oograms. Data obtained indicate probable immunomodulatory effects of PTX in murine schistosomiasis both in acute and chronic infection.
Longitudinal gradients for endothelium-dependent and -independent vascular responses in the coronary microcirculation.

BACKGROUND Coronary microvessels (< 300 microns in diameter) have been demonstrated to be important in the regulation of local resistance and flow. Recent studies also suggest that these microvessels are more responsive to physiological and pharmacological stimuli than conduit vessels. However, little is known regarding the relative sensitivity of different microvascular segments in response to flow (shear stress) and agonists. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that a longitudinal gradient for shear stress- and agonist-induced dilation exists in the coronary microcirculation. METHODS AND RESULTS Experiments were performed in four different sizes of porcine subepicardial coronary arterial microvessels: small arterioles (40 +/- 1-micron ID with resting tone); intermediate arterioles (60 +/- 1 micron); large arterioles (106 +/- 4 micron); and small arteries (179 +/- 9 microns). Vessels were isolated and cannulated to allow luminal pressure and flow to be independently controlled. All vessels developed active tone (to approximately 65% to 75% of maximum diameter) at their control luminal pressures and showed graded dilations to stepwise increases in shear stress (0 to 10 dynes/cm2). For arterioles, the magnitude of the dilations increased as vessel size increased. The highest shear stress produced 21 +/- 3%, 32 +/- 2%, and 52 +/- 5% increases in diameter in small, intermediate, and large arterioles, respectively. Small arteries dilated only 22 +/- 6%. The endothelium-dependent vasodilator substance P (SP) produced dose-dependent dilation of all vessels with a threshold at 10(-16) mol/L. Arterioles were maximally dilated at 10(-9) mol/L SP. However, this dose produced only 80% dilation in small arteries. The ED50 for SP was shifted to the right by two orders of magnitude in small arteries compared with the arterioles. Adenosine preferentially dilated small arterioles, and the dose-response curves shifted to the right for larger vessels. The thresholds for adenosine-induced dilation were 10(-12), 10(-11), and 10(-9) mol/L for small, intermediate, and large arterioles, respectively. The endothelium-independent vasodilator nitroprusside produced identical dose-dependent dilations in all vessel segments. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that the pig coronary circulation exhibits a heterogeneity in physiological and pharmacological responses along the microvascular network. Small arterioles are more sensitive to adenosine, but large arterioles are more responsive to shear-stress stimulation. We speculate that site-specific preferential responses may play a crucial role in coordinating overall vascular function in the coronary microvascular network.
Antinociceptive actions of spinal nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents on the formalin test in the rat.

Subcutaneous injection of formalin into the dorsal surface of the hindpaw evoked a two-phased flinching (phase 1:0-9 min; phase 2: 10-60 min) of the injected paw. Intrathecal administration of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) produced minimal effects upon phase 1, but showed a significant, though submaximal, dose-dependent suppression of the phase 2 response. Ordering of i.t. potency was (ID50 in nmol): indomethacin (1.9) > or = flurbiprofen (2.1) > ketorolac (5.2) > or = zomepirac (5.9) > S(+)ibuprofen (16) > or = ibuprofen(racemic) (19) > acetylsalicylic acid (27) > acetaminophen (250) > R(-)ibuprofen (> 270) = 0. Intraperitoneal administration also produced a dose-dependent inhibition of phase 2, but only at doses which were 100 to 1000 times higher than those required to produce similar effects after i.t. injection. Intrathecal and i.p. dose-response curves showed similar distinct plateaus of maximum achievable inhibition (intrinsic activity) of the phase 2 behavior, ranging from 20 to 50% of the control response. Varying the time of drug injection reveals that injection 9 min after formalin yielded effects the same as those observed when the agent was given 2 min before formalin. Pretreatment at longer intervals indicated that the duration of the antinociceptive effect was between 3 to 6 hr after the i.t. injection. The i.t. injection of the highest doses of the several NSAID were without significant effect upon the 52.5 degrees C hot plate test. These studies indicate that NSAID have a powerful effect upon spinal nociceptive processing evoked by the s.c. injection of formalin.
Large and Giant Congenital Pigmented Nevi of the Upper Extremity: An Algorithm to Surgical Management

The timing and choice of treatment of congenital giant pigmented nevi continues to evolve under the influence of changing opinions regarding the risk of malignant degeneration and the impact of excision and reconstruction on the affected child. Many studies exist to support a notable enough risk of malignancy to warrant excision, yet other series and pigmented lesion clinics suggest that the risk of malignancy does not warrant the potential scarring and deformity that has followed the surgery necessary to remove these giant lesions. To satisfy both sides in this controversy, we have been challenged to modify our surgical techniques in a manner that minimizes the risk of malignant degeneration and at the same time provides optimal functional and aesthetic outcomes for these complex reconstructions. Thirty consecutive patients with large and giant nevi of the upper extremity were treated over a 23-year period (1979–2002) by the senior author. These patients represent a subset of 259 children (12%) with large or giant congenital pigmented nevi treated and followed during this period of time. In proximal upper extremity lesions, expanded transposition flaps from the upper back and shoulder have effectively eliminated contour defects or circumferential constriction in the upper arm and axilla. An expanded free transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap has offered a possible avenue for larger lesions (shoulder and upper extremity to below the elbow), and pedicle flaps from the flank (both expanded and nonexpanded) have offered ways of improving the long-term contour in the forearm. Expanded and nonexpanded full-thickness skin grafts were chosen for reconstruction of the hand and the fingers. The authors describe in detail the surgical strategies and the techniques for reconstruction of each region of the upper extremity and then bring these ideas together in an algorithm for assessment and treatment of these challenging lesions.
Improving Generalization of Neural Networks Through Pruning

A technique for constructing neural network architectures with better ability to generalize is presented under the name Ockham's Razor: several networks are trained and then pruned by removing connections one by one and retraining. The networks which achieve fewest connections generalize best. The method is tested on a classification of bit strings (the contiguity problem): the optimal architecture emerges, resulting in perfect generalization. The internal representation of the network changes substantially during the retraining, and this distinguishes the method from previous pruning studies.
Relative Price Dispersion and Inflation: Evidence for the UK and the US

One potential real effect of inflation is its influence on the dispersion of relative prices in the economy which affects economic efficiency and aggregate output. Using a novel data set for the US and UK and a VARMA asymmetric bivariate GARCH-M model of inflation and relative price dispersion, we test for the effects of inflation and inflation uncertainty on relative price dispersion. We obtain two main results: First, inflation affects relative price dispersion positively in the US supporting the menu costs model and negatively in the UK supporting the monetary search model. Second, there is no evidence for the role of inflation uncertainty in explaining relative price dispersion, either for the US or the UK.
Mitochondrial dysfunction as a central event for mechanisms underlying insulin resistance: the roles of long chain fatty acids

Insulin resistance is characterized by hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia and oxidative stress prior to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. To date, a number of mechanisms have been proposed to link these syndromes together, but it remains unclear what the unifying condition that triggered these events in the progression of this metabolic disease. There have been a steady accumulation of data in numerous experimental studies showing the strong correlations between mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress and insulin resistance. In addition, a growing number of studies suggest that the raised plasma free fatty acid level induced insulin resistance with the significant alteration of oxidative metabolism in various target tissues such as skeletal muscle, liver and adipose tissue. In this review, we herein propose the idea of long chain fatty acid‐induced mitochondrial dysfunctions as one of the key events in the pathophysiological development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The accumulation of reactive oxygen species, lipotoxicity, inflammation‐induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and alterations of mitochondrial gene subset expressions are the most detrimental that lead to the developments of aberrant intracellular insulin signalling activity in a number of peripheral tissues, thereby leading to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.