Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Upright magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine: Back pain and radiculopathy

Background: Lumbar back pain and radiculopathy are common diagnoses. Unfortunately, conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and clinical symptoms do not necessarily correlate in the lumbar spine. With upright imaging, disc pathologies or foraminal stenosis may become more salient, leading to improvements in diagnosis. Materials and Methods: Seventeen adults (10 asymptomatic and 7 symptomatic volunteers) provided their informed consent and participated in the study. A 0.6T upright MRI scan was performed on each adult in the seated position. Parameters were obtained from the L2/3 level to the L5/S1 level including those pertaining to the foramen [cross-sectional area (CSA), height, mid-disc width, width, thickness of ligamentum flavum], disc (bulge, height, width), vertebral body (height and width), and alignment (lordosis angle, wedge angle, lumbosacral angle). Each parameter was compared based on the spinal level and volunteer group using two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA). Bonferroni post hoc analysis was used to assess the differences between individual spinal levels. Results: Mid-disc width accounted for 56% of maximum foramen width in symptomatic volunteers and over 63% in asymptomatic volunteers. Disc bulge was 48% greater in symptomatic volunteers compared to asymptomatic volunteers. CSA was generally smaller in symptomatic volunteers compared to asymptomatic volunteers, particularly at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 spinal levels. Thickness of ligamentum flavum (TLF) generally increased from the cranial to caudal spinal levels where the L4-L5 and L5-S1 spinal levels were significantly thicker than the L1-L2 spinal level. Conclusions: The data implied that upright MRI could be a useful diagnostic option, as it can delineate pertinent differences between symptomatic volunteers and asymptomatic volunteers, especially with respect to foraminal geometry.
Resolvin D1 and Its Aspirin-triggered 17R Epimer

We recently uncovered two new families of potent docosahexaenoic acid-derived mediators, termed D series resolvins (Rv; resolution phase interaction products) and protectins. Here, we assign the stereochemistry of the conjugated double bonds and chirality of alcohols present in resolvin D1 (RvD1) and its aspirin-triggered 17R epimer (AT-RvD1) with compounds prepared by total organic synthesis. In addition, docosahexaenoic acid was converted by a single lipoxygenase in a “one-pot” reaction to RvD1 in vitro. The synthetic compounds matched the physical and biological properties of those enzymatically generated. RvD1 proved to be 7S,8R,17S-trihydroxy-4Z,9E,11E,13Z,15E,19Z-docosahexaenoic acid, AT-RvD1 matched 7S,8R,17R-trihydroxy-4Z,9E,11E,13Z,15E,19Z-docosahexaenoic acid, and they both stopped transendothelial migration of human neutrophils (EC50 ∼30 nm). In murine peritonitis in vivo, RvD1 and AT-RvD1 proved equipotent (at nanogram dosages), limiting polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration in a dose-dependent fashion. RvD1 was converted by eicosanoid oxidoreductase to novel 8-oxo- and 17-oxo-RvD1 that gave dramatically reduced bioactivity, whereas enzymatic conversion of AT-RvD1 was sharply reduced. These results establish the complete stereochemistry and actions of RvD1 and AT-RvD1 as well as demonstrate the stereoselective basis for their enzymatic inactivation. RvD1 regulates human polymorphonuclear leukocyte transendothelial migration and is anti-inflammatory. When its carbon 17S alcohol is enzymatically converted to 17-oxo-RvD1, it is essentially inactive, whereas the 17R alcohol configuration in its aspirin-triggered form (AT-RvD1) resists rapid inactivation. These results may contribute to the beneficial actions of aspirin and ω-3 fish oils in humans.
SENSITINS FOR DIFFERENTIATING NONSPECIFIC REACTIONS TO PPD TUBERCULIN MAMMALIAN IN CATTLE

The paper presents the study of the habitat of mycobacteria in various natural and climatic zones of the Karaganda region, which showed that out of all the isolated cultures, 307 (94.5%) were atypical mycobacteria (М. scrofulaceum, M. avium). At that, 64.5% of atypical mycobacteria cultures (М.scrofulaceum, M. avium) were isolated from the diagnostic material and objects of the external environment of the steppe zone.Thesensitinsfrom epizootic strains of mycobacteria were tested in terms of such criteria as sterility, safety, reactogenicity, lack of sensitizing properties, activity, and specificity. The sensitinswere administered to guinea pigs and cattle using an intradermal needless syringe. Preliminary experiments on guinea pigs found that sensitins had biological and specific activity, identical to avian purified protein derivative tuberculin. The tests of developed sensitinsМ. Scrofulaceumand M. avium on 59 cattle showed that the sensitins were highly effective in differentiating nonspecific reactions and demonstrated the expedience of their application.Using sensitins for lifetime differentiation of nonspecific reactions to tuberculin mammalian in healthy animals and cattle recovering from tuberculosis prevents the premature slaughtering of commercially valuable animals of a reproductive age.
On information-theoretical formalization of intracellular communications based on linear network coding

In this paper, the information-theoretical formalization is presented, in which the signaling pathways are formulated in terms of linear network coding, as a preliminary step to modeling the intracellular communication processes in cells by information theory, and the cellular communication protocol (on MAPK cascade) is discussed based on network coding. In addition, the computational complexity of interacted pathways is analyzed for global description of cellular signal transduction networks so that it is possible to design pathway interaction operators for network routing under the cellular communication protocols.
[Curcumin inhibits growth, induces G1 arrest and apoptosis on human prostatic stromal cells by regulating Bcl-2/Bax].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of curcumin on apoptosis of human prostatic stromal cells. METHOD Different concentrations of curcumin were added into culture media system to induce apoptosis of human prostatic stromal cells. The apoptosis was detected by MTT assay, flow cytometry, RT-PCR and TUNEL method. RESULT Curcumin at concentrations of 10-40 micromol x L(-1) could inhibit the proliferation of human prostatic stromal cells in a doseand time-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Characteristic apoptosis were confirmed by TUNEL RT-PCR manifest downregulation of Bcl-2/Bax (P < 0.05). Cell cycle was arrested into G1 phase by curcumin. CONCLUSION Curcumin can induce apoptosis in human prostatic stromal cells by down-regulation of Bcl-2/Bax.
Multidisciplinary Intervention for Childhood Feeding Difficulties

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine whether operant conditioning (OC) or systematic desensitization (SysD) intervention resulted in more improvements in dietary variety/intake, and more reductions in difficult mealtime behaviors. Methods: Children 2 to 6 years with autism spectrum disorder or with a nonmedically complex history were recruited. Feeding difficulties were confirmed based on clinical assessment. Participants were randomized to receive 10 OC or SysD sessions (parents could opt for intervention once per week, or intensively within a week). Immersive parent education was delivered across both arms. A 3-month review was provided to measure outcomes postintervention. Results: In total, 68 participants (87%) completed the study. There were no significant differences in outcome measures between the OC and SysD intervention groups from baseline to 3-month review. When the data were combined across both groups, however, significant improvements in primary outcome measures were observed (P < 0.05). Although not statistically significant, it was considered clinically significant that participants in the OC arm demonstrated more increases in dietary variety (mean difference 3.3 foods, 95% confidence interval −0.1 to 6.8, P = 0.06) compared with the SysD arm. There were limited differences in response observed between the autism spectrum disorder and nonmedically complex history groups, and the intensive and weekly arms. Conclusions: Favorable results were observed regardless of intervention, intensity, or etiological group. Results suggest that, when delivered to a protocol by experienced therapists and coupled with parent education, these 2 intervention approaches are effective. Further research is required in exploring these interventions across other subgroups, and examining outcomes for longer periods.
Relapse prevention for smoking cessation: review and evaluation of concepts and interventions.

Cigarette smoking continues to be the leading cause of premature morbidity and mortality in the United States (95). Although recent surveys reveal an encouraging decline (71), over 25% percent of the population are still regular smokers, and the prevalence of smoking approaches 50% in certain segments of the population (62, 71). Efforts to encourage and assist smokers to quit are an important component of the public health campaign against this epidemjc (63). Cessation efforts include mass media campaigns, the incorporation of nonsmoking advice and follow-up into health care delivery systems, provision of cessation assistance at the worksite, and the introduction of community-wide programs that promote nonsmoking norms, enforce regulations restricting smoking in public places, and provide an integrative structure for cessation efforts in different modalities. A major challenge to smoking cessation efforts is relapse prevention. That approximately one out of four adults continues to smoke is in part attributable to the high rates of relapse among smokers who seriously attempt to quit smoking. For example, in the 1986 Adult Use of Tobacco Survey (AUTS; 72) 26% of the respondents who had smoked during the year prior
Washout of [99mTc] sestamibi in predicting response to chemotherapy in patients with multiple myeloma.

AIM Technetium-99m 2-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile ([99mTc] MIBI) has been successfully used to study patients with multiple myeloma (MM). This tracer is also a substrate for P-glycoprotein (Pgp). Since Pgp overexpression is one of the primary mechanisms of multidrug resistance in MM, the aim of this study was to test whether [99mTc] MIBI could be an index of Pgp overexpression and function in MM and therefore predicts response to chemotherapy. METHODS Forty patients with MM (12 in stage I, 15 in stage II, and 13 in stage III) showing diffuse bone marrow [99mTc] MIBI uptake were included in the study. All patients underwent whole body scintigraphy at 10 and 60 minutes after i.v. injection of 555 MBq of [99mTc] MIBI. [99mTc] MIBI washout was measured, after decay correction, as: (10 minute counts/pixel minus 60 minute counts/pixel) divided by 10 minute counts/pixel, computed on a region of interest drawn on the thoracic spine (posterior projection), taking care of avoiding heart and splanchnic organs. Disease restaging was performed at a mean time of 32+/-20 months, and patients were considered to be in remission (complete or partial) or to show disease progression on the basis of a complete clinical and hematological evaluation. RESULTS Patients showing disease progression at restaging (n=26) had higher washout (19.3+/-9.8% vs 12.8+/-6.9%, p<0.05) than patients in remission (n=14). Disease free survival was significantly better in patients with lower washout of [99mTc] MIBI. No differences in therapeutic regimen and stage of disease at admission were found between the 2 groups. When patients treated with melphalan were excluded from the analysis, 87.5% of patients in remission had low washout. CONCLUSIONS The present study suggests a potential role of [99mTc] MIBI washout in predicting response to chemotherapy in patients with MM.
Demand for long-term care for older people in England to 2031

How best to finance long-term care has been the subject of considerable debate in Britain. This article outlines the methodology and results of a model (developed by the Personal Social Services Research Unit) that makes projections of demand for long-term care for older people (aged 65 and older) to 2031. Key findings include: to keep pace with demographic pressures over the next thirty years, residential and nursing home places would nee to expand by around 65 per cent and numbers of hours of home care by around 48 per cent, assuming unchanged dependency rates; long-term care expenditure would need to rise by around 148 per cent in real terms between 1996 and 2031 to meet demographic pressures and allow for real rises in care costs of one per cent per year for social care and 1.5 per cent per year for health care; these projections are highly sensitive to the projected growth in the number of older people, to future dependency rates and to assumed real rises in the unit costs of care. However, they are less sensitive to future household composition. They assume no change in policy and make no allowance for changes in public expectations.
Soccer Video Structure Analysis by Parallel Feature Fusion Network and Hidden-to-Observable Transferring Markov Model

Automated analysis of broadcast soccer game video is a challenging computer vision problem. Prior to performing high-level analysis (such as event detection), accurate classification of shot views and play–break segmentation are required to analyze the structure of soccer video. A novel deep network called parallel feature fusion network (PFF-Net) combines local and full-scene features to produce accurate shot view classification based on camera zoom and out-of-field status. Then, a novel hidden-to-observable Markov model (H2O-MM) is introduced to determine play/break status of the shots. Testing is performed using a variety of professional broadcast soccer videos. Variations of the PFF-Net are considered and compared with four existing methods where the PFF-Net demonstrates superior performance (92.6%). The H2O-MM has the accuracy of 98.7% for play–break segmentation, which is an improvement over two existing hidden Markov models. The new methods provide improved temporal labeling of broadcast soccer videos, which can be used to further improve overall automated event detection.
Heat‐shocked Neuronal PC12 Cells Reveal Alzheimer's Disease—associated Alterations in Amyloid Precursor Protein and Tau

The Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain contains many abnormal protein modifications. These include the abnormal processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) to form the amyloidogenic β/A4 peptide and the abnormal phosphorylation of tau to form A68, the major constituent of the neurofibrillary tangle. In addition, many of the biochemical alterations found in the AD brain are also found in heat‐shocked or stressed cells. We used heat‐shocked neuronal PC12 cells to investigate the effects of stress on APP and tau. We found that by simply exposing neuronal PC12 cells to an elevated temperature (45°C) for 30 minutes, they exhibited several features characteristic of the heat shock response. These included a 45% reduction in total protein synthesis, the induction of heat shock protein (hsp) 72, and increased phosphorylation of the protein synthesis initiation factor eIF‐2 α. The heat‐shocked cells also exhibited alterations in the metabolism and phosphorylation of APP. Under heat shock conditions, we found two additional APP‐like polypeptides not present in controls and a significant decrease in the phosphorylation state of APP. We also found that an A68‐like protein is formed in neuronal PC12 cells when subjected to elevated temperature. This A68‐like protein was formed with heat shock even in the absence of protein synthesis, suggesting that its production occurred post‐translationally. The tau/A68 polypeptides were identified as phosphoproteins, and the phosphorylation of tau to form A68 was reversed with recovery of the cells from heat shock. Immunoprecipitation of lysates from heat shocked cells with antibodies to hsp72/73 resulted in co‐precipitation of tau, but not A68 with hsp72 indicating a stable complex formation between these two proteins. These results suggest that heat shock proteins may play either a protective or promoting role in the formation of A68 and/or the amyloidogenic C‐terminal fragment of APP.
Cellular and Subcellular Distribution of 2′,3′‐Cyclic Nucleotide 3′‐Phosphodiesterase and Its mRNA in the Rat Central Nervous System

Abstract: The 2′,3′‐cyclic nucleotide 3′‐phosphodiesterases (CNPs) are closely related oligodendrocyte proteins whose in vivo function is unknown. To identify subcellular sites of CNP function, the distribution of CNP and CNP mRNA was determined in tissue sections from rats of various developmental ages. Our results indicate that CNP gene products were expressed exclusively by oligodendrocytes in the CNS. CNP mRNA was concentrated around oligodendrocyte perinuclear regions during all stages of myelination. Developmentally, initial detection of CNP mRNA closely paralleled initial detection of its translation products. In electron micrographs of immunostained ultrathin cryosections, CNP was associated with oligodendrocyte membranes during the earliest phase of axonal ensheathment. In more mature fibers, immunocytochemistry established that the CNPs are not major components of compact myelin but are concentrated within specific regions of the oligodendrocyte and myelin internode. These include (a) the plasma membrane of oligodendrocytes and their processes, (b) the periaxonal membrane and inner mesaxon, (c) the outer tongue process, (d) the paranodal myelin loops, and (e) the‘“incisure‐like” membranes found in many larger CNS myelin sheaths. A cytoplasmic pool of CNP was also detected in oligodendrocyte perikarya and larger oligodendrocyte processes. CNP was also enriched in similar locations in myelinated fibers of the PNS.
Analysis of urine biomarkers for early determination of acute kidney injury in non-septic and non-asphyxiated critically ill preterm neonates

Abstract Objective: We designed the present study to test the hypothesis that urinary biomarkers might predict acute kidney injury (AKI) development in non-septic and non-asphyxiated critically ill preterm infants. We evaluated urine (u) sistatin–C (uCys-C), kidney injury molecule–1 (uKIM–1) and neutrophil gelatinase associate lipocaline (uNGAL) as markers of AKI. Methods: Sixty-four preterm infants with gestational age between 28 and 32 weeks were included in this study. Biomarkers were measured on day of life (DOL) 1, 3, and 7. Results: uNGAL levels in the AKI group were significantly higher than in no-AKI group on DOL 1, 3 and 7 (p = 0.016, p = 0.007 and p = 0.0014, respectively). Conclusions: uNGAL is sensitive, early, and noninvasive AKI biomarkers, increasing significantly in non-septic and non-asphyxiated critically ill preterm neonates.
Theoretical Modeling of a Magnetic Loop Antenna for Ultra wide band Application

The functionality of an improved magnetic loop antenna (MLA) is a prominent research which has span almost three decades. Its shape and size had metaphorsize from the usual analogue to a digital device-which is now used for experiments in space. In this paper, the application of MLA for ultra wide band (UWB) design was proposed. A new concept was introduced -angular displacement theory which was used to mitigate fading in multipath propagation
Early‐eye morphogenesis in the zebrafish, Brachydanio rerio

Early eye morphogenesis in the zebrafish between 12 and 36 hours postfertilization was studied by light‐ and scanning electron microscopy. Overall, early eye morphogenesis in the zebrafish is similar to that vertebrates even thought the optic primordia evaginate from the forebrain as solid masses of cells. After initial evagination 6–7 somite stage [SS], the optic primordia take on a wing‐like shape (8–9 SS). Subsequently, they bend ventrally and rotate slighlty in an anterior direction (10–12 SS). These changes serve to bring the primordia from a horizontal to a more Vertical orientation in relation to the embryonic neural axis. Invagination commences from the center of each primordium (14 SS) and progresses symmetrically out towards the periphery (14–20 SS). The choroid fissure forms by an involution along the anterior region of the eyecup (18–20 SS). By 24 hours postfertilization (pf), the eyecups are well formed. Between 24 and 36 hours pf, the eyes rotate further in relation to the axis of the embryo, and this repositions the choroid fissue to a typical ventral location by 36 hours pf. Because of the two rotations of the eye during early morphogenesis, particularly the later one, the anterior‐posterior orientation of the emerging optic primordium ultimately becomes the ventral‐dorsal axis of the completed eyecup. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
On the generation and recovery of interface traps in MOSFETs subjected to NBTI, FN, and HCI stress

A common framework for interface-trap (NIT) generation involving broken equivSi-H and equivSi-O bonds is developed for negative bias temperature instability (NBTI), Fowler-Nordheim (FN), and hot-carrier injection (HCI) stress. Holes (from inversion layer for pMOSFET NBTI, from channel due to impact ionization, and from gate poly due to anode-hole injection or valence-band hole tunneling for nMOSFET HCI) break equivSi-H bonds, whose time evolution is governed by either one-dimensional (NBTI or FN) or two-dimensional (HCI) reaction-diffusion models. Hot holes break equivSi-O bonds during both FN and HCI stress. Power-law time exponent of NIT during stress and recovery of NIT after stress are governed by relative contribution of broken equivSi-H and equivSi-O bonds (determined by cold- and hot-hole densities) and have important implications for lifetime prediction under NBTI, FN, and HCI stress conditions
Role of the actin-binding protein profilin1 in radial migration and glial cell adhesion of granule neurons in the cerebellum

Profilins are small G-actin-binding proteins essential for cytoskeletal dynamics. Of the four mammalian profilin isoforms, profilin1 shows a broad expression pattern, profilin2 is abundant in the brain, and profilin3 and profilin4 are restricted to the testis. In vitro studies on cancer and epithelial cell lines suggested a role for profilins in cell migration and cell-cell adhesion. Genetic studies in mice revealed the importance of profilin1 in neuronal migration, while profilin2 has apparently acquired a specific function in synaptic physiology. We recently reported a mouse mutant line lacking profilin1 in the brain; animals display morphological defects that are typical for impaired neuronal migration. We found that during cerebellar development, profilin1 is specifically required for radial migration and glial cell adhesion of granule neurons. Profilin1 mutants showed cerebellar hypoplasia and aberrant organization of cerebellar cortex layers, with ectopically arranged granule neurons. In this commentary, we briefly introduce the profilin family and summarize the current knowledge on profilin activity in cell migration and adhesion. Employing cerebellar granule cells as a model, we shed some light on the mechanisms by which profilin1 may control radial migration and glial cell adhesion. Finally, a potential implication of profilin1 in human developmental neuropathies is discussed.