Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cerebral glucose metabolism: Influence on perihematomal edema formation after intracerebral hemorrhage in cat models

Background: Most intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) imaging studies focus on structural brain changes. Stereotactic neuroimaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) are helpful in the diagnosis of ICH, monitoring the subsequent recovery and investigating its functional mechanisms. Purpose: To explore the influence of the changes in cerebral glucose metabolism on perihematomal edema formation in an experimental cat model of ICH. Material and Methods: Forty-eight cats were divided into 1 sham operation group (6 cats) and 7 ICH model groups (42 cats)”. The ICH model groups were injected with 1.0 ml autologous nonheparinized blood into their thalami using accurate stereotactic guidance apparatus. MRI and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT scans were acquired at 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 120 h following the intervention. Pearson's correlation test was used to evaluate the association between T2-weighted signal intensity and the edema volume. Student's t test and q test were used to identify the times of significant temporal changes. Results: The volume of perilesional edema did not significantly increase from 2 h to 12 h after ICH, but then increased by 229.4% at 24 h, peaked (by 273.5%), and steadily decreased by 72 h. The FDG intensity in perihematomal edema tissues was markedly reduced 2 h after ICH on PET images, reached its lowest level at 12 h, and then steadily increased at 24 h and 48 h. The changes of standard absorption value (SUV) in perihematomal edema were consistent with those of FDG intensity. Conclusion: Perihematomal glucose metabolism abnormalities have a close relationship with the formation of vasogenic edema. Furthermore, abnormal glucose metabolism may impair capillary integrity and increase blood–brain barrier permeability.
Single Point Mutations in Either Gene Encoding the Subunits of the Heterooctameric Yeast Phosphofructokinase Abolish Allosteric Inhibition by ATP* 210

Yeast phosphofructokinase is a heterooctameric enzyme subject to a complex allosteric regulation. A mutation in thePFK1 gene, encoding the larger α-subunits, rendering the enzyme insensitive to allosteric inhibition by ATP was found to be caused by an exchange of proline 728 for a leucine residue. By in vitro mutagenesis, we introduced this mutation in eitherPFK1 or PFK2 and found that the exchange in either subunit drastically reduced the sensitivity of the holoenzyme to ATP inhibition. This was accompanied by a lack of allosteric activation by AMP, fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, or ammonium and an increased resistance to heat inactivation. Yeast cells carrying either one mutation or both in conjunction did not display a strong phenotype when grown on fermentable carbon sources and did not show any significant changes in intermediary metabolites. Growth on non-fermentable carbon sources was clearly impaired. The strain carrying both mutant alleles was more sensitive to Congo Red than the wild-type strain or the single mutants indicating differences in cell wall composition. In addition, we found single pfk null mutants to be less viable than wild type at different storage temperatures and apfk2 null mutant to be temperature-sensitive for growth at 37 °C. The latter mutant was shown to be respiration-dependent for growth on glucose.
Cystatin C is a sensitive marker for detecting a reduced glomerular filtration rate when assessing chronic kidney disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and secondary amyloidosis

Objective: Chronic kidney disease is a predictor of end-stage renal disease, and evaluating the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is necessary to make a definite diagnosis. We assessed the utility of serum cystatin C (cysC) for identifying a reduced GFR in patients who have rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with secondary amyloidosis. Methods: Fifty patients with RA and secondary amyloidosis (mean age 60.9±11.2 years; 45 women) were evaluated. The revised 24-h creatinine clearance (r24-hCCr), which was determined by multiplying the original value by 0.719, was used as a reference for the GFR. The screening potential of the serum cysC and some estimates of the GFR calculated from the serum cysC (cysC-eGFR: eGFRHoek and eGFRRule) for detecting a reduced GFR (r24-hCCr<60 mL/min/1.73 m2) were analysed. Results: Both cysC-eGFRs were strongly correlated with the r24-hCCr (eGFRHoek, r=0.846, p<0.001; eGFRRule, r=0.820, p<0.001). The difference between the average eGFRRule (37.1±31.2 mL/min/1.73m2) and average r24-hCCr (35.3±30.9 mL/min/1.73 m2) was small, whereas eGFRHoek and sCr-eGFR were higher than eGFRRule and r24-hCCr. In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses of a reduced GFR, serum cysC gave a greater area under the curve (AUC=0.958) than the sCr-eGFR (0.939–0.942). The specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) reached 100% when serum cysC >1.365 mg/L was used. Conclusions: Serum cysC can identify a reduced GFR more accurately than sCr-eGFRs. Serum cysC >1.09 mg/L (i.e. eGFRRule<60 mL/min/1.73 m2) could be a marker of a reduced GFR, and serum cysC >1.365 mg/L would strongly suggest a reduced GFR in patients who have RA with secondary amyloidosis.
In Silico Investigation of Piperine against Human Monoamine Oxidase-A ( MAO-A ) Enzyme – Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a depigmentation disorder; Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) plays a major role in the development of depigmentation. Monoamine oxidase-A(MAO-A) enzyme is one of the reasons in producing ROS by metabolizing norepinephrine which found to be high level in vitiligo patients. Inhibiting MAO-A enzyme prevents further depigmentation. Clinical studies proved that the isoquinoline alkaloids have inhibiting property against MAO-A enzyme. Piperine is a kind of quinoline alkaloid since it has been proved in treating vitiligo. In this work, computational analysis carried to study the inhibition efficacy of piperine against human MAO-A enzyme based on binding affinity and proteinligand stability. From the results, we observed binding affinity based on the docking scores, protein-ligand stability based on the hydrogen as well as hydrophobic interactions. This computational analysis gives various insights about structural features of disease target, stability of complex formation through hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interactions.
Insulin‐like growth factor‐I modulates monocyte adhesion to EAhy 926 endothelial cells

IGF‐I is a ubiquitous growth factor, found in platelets and elaborated by many other cell types. It is thought to be involved in several pathophysiological processes including embryonic development, angiogenesis and wound healing. We report that the adherence of human peripheral blood monocytes to an endothelial cell line (EAhy 926) is inhibited in a dose and time‐dependent manner by pre‐incubating the endothelial cells with IGF‐I (P < 0.001). Monocyte adhesion was inhibited 17.9 ± 1.9% by IGF‐I at a dose of 1000 ng/ml (P < 0.01). In contrast, IGF‐I had no significant effect on monocyte adherence to plastic. The inhibitory effects of IGF‐I were reversed by co‐incubating the endothelial cells with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, L‐NAME. These data suggest that the effects of IGF‐I are mediated by the release of nitric oxide from the endothelial cells.
Flavanol monomer-induced changes to the human faecal microflora

We have investigated the bacterial-dependent metabolism of ( − )-epicatechin and (+)-catechin using a pH-controlled, stirred, batch-culture fermentation system reflective of the distal region of the human large intestine. Incubation of ( − )-epicatechin or (+)-catechin (150 mg/l or 1000 mg/l) with faecal bacteria, led to the generation of 5-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-γ-valerolactone, 5-phenyl-γ-valerolactone and phenylpropionic acid. However, the formation of these metabolites from (+)-catechin required its initial conversion to (+)-epicatechin. The metabolism of both flavanols occurred in the presence of favourable carbon sources, notably sucrose and the prebiotic fructo-oligosaccharides, indicating that bacterial utilisation of flavanols also occurs when preferential energy sources are available. (+)-Catechin incubation affected the growth of select microflora, resulting in a statistically significant increase in the growth of the Clostridium coccoides–Eubacterium rectale group, Bifidobacterium spp. and Escherichia coli, as well as a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of the C. histolyticum group. In contrast, the effect of ( − )-epicatechin was less profound, only significantly increasing the growth of the C. coccoides–Eubacterium rectale group. These potential prebiotic effects for both (+)-catechin and ( − )-epicatechin were most notable at the lower concentration of 150 mg/l. As both ( − )-epicatechin and (+)-catechin were converted to the same metabolites, the more dramatic change in the growth of distinct microfloral populations produced by (+)-catechin incubation may be linked to the bacterial conversion of (+)-catechin to (+)-epicatechin. Together these data suggest that the consumption of flavanol-rich foods may support gut health through their ability to exert prebiotic actions.
Management of the contracted mastoid in the translabyrinthine removal of acoustic neuroma.

Several approaches to the internal auditory canal and cerebellopontine angle for acoustic neuroma removal have been described. We prefer the translabyrinthine approach in patients with tumors larger than 2 cm or poor preoperative hearing, since both factors predict poor hearing preservation. Many surgeons perceive this approach as confining and consider it contraindicated in large tumors or contracted mastoids. We have recently described the utility of the translabyrinthine approach for the removal of large (> 4 cm) acoustic neuromas. In more than 5000 tumor excisions performed by the senior author (W.E.H.), no cases required a modification of the approach because of anatomic constraints within the mastoid. We describe our techniques for the management of the low-lying tegmen, the anterior sigmoid sinus, and the high jugular bulb, alone or in combination, during translabyrinthine removal of acoustic neuromas.
A prospective study of physical activity and cognitive decline in elderly women: women who walk.

BACKGROUND Several studies have suggested that physical activity is positively associated with cognitive function in elderly persons. Evidence about this association has been limited by the cross-sectional design of most studies and by the frequent lack of adjustment for potential confounding variables. We determined whether physical activity is associated with cognitive decline in a prospective study of older women. METHODS We studied 5925 predominantly white community-dwelling women (aged > or =65 years) who were recruited at 4 clinical centers and were without baseline cognitive impairment or physical limitations. We measured cognitive performance using a modified Mini-Mental State Examination at baseline and 6 to 8 years later. Physical activity was measured by self-reported blocks (1 block approximately 160 m) walked per week and by total kilocalories (energy) expended per week in recreation, blocks walked, and stairs climbed. Cognitive decline was defined as a 3-point decline or greater on repeated modified Mini-Mental State Examination. RESULTS Women with a greater physical activity level at baseline were less likely to experience cognitive decline during the 6 to 8 years of follow-up: cognitive decline occurred in 17%, 18%, 22%, and 24% of those in the highest, third, second, and lowest quartile of blocks walked per week (P< .001 for trend). Almost identical results were obtained by quartile of total kilocalories expended per week. After adjustment for age, educational level, comorbid conditions, smoking status, estrogen use, and functional limitation, women in the highest quartile remained less likely than women in the lowest quartile to develop cognitive decline (for blocks walked: odds ratio, 0.66 [95% confidence interval, 0.54-0.82]; for total kilocalories: odds ratio, 0.74 [95% confidence interval, 0.60-0.90]). CONCLUSIONS Women with higher levels of baseline physical activity were less likely to develop cognitive decline. This association was not explained by differences in baseline function or health status. This finding supports the hypothesis that physical activity prevents cognitive decline in older community-dwelling women.
Visuospatial Neglect: The Ultimate Deconstruction?

Unilateral visuospatial neglect is now widely acknowledged to be a highly heterogeneous condition: The overt manifestations of visual neglect can vary as a function of task, spatial domain, and mode of response (at least). Double dissociations (sometimes of the strong form) have already been reported between most of the components of what was originally thought to be a relatively stable construct within the visual modality. Nonetheless, throughout successive fractionations of neglect, reported cases of bidirectional task-specific neglect after unilateral brain damage are rare. We now report two such cases. After right hemisphere stroke, the first patient reliably showed severe left neglect on cancellation but right neglect on line bisection. After left hemisphere stroke, the second case showed right neglect on cancellation but left neglect on line bisection. Extensive investigation of case 1 confirmed our previous conjecture that the crucial distinction between these tasks lies in the presence or the absence of an overt target. In contrast to cancellation, line bisection demands the internal computation of the location of the "target" (the midpoint), followed by executing a motor response toward the precise location of that "imaginary" midpoint. The relative attentional and premotor contributions of the intact and damaged hemispheres to these forms of bidirectional neglect are also assessed.
An approach based on activity theory and the SRK model for risk and performance evaluation of human activities in a context-aware middleware

Even though human activities may involve physical injuries, there is not much discussion in the academy of how ubiquitous computing could assess the risk related to them. This paper proposes an approach to evaluate the risk of activities considering two factors: actions that compose activities and user performance in such activities. Risk management based on composed actions is measured through the analysis of the frequency of each action for a particular user, so that we are able to capture his customary behaviour. The evaluation of the user's performance is accomplished by addressing performance properties, such as: attention, duration, effectiveness, etc. Our work has its foundations in the Activity Theory for modeling activities allowing the mediation by tools of the interactions between the subject and the environment and in the behavioural model Skill-Rule-Knowledge for understanding the subject's behaviours. To validate our model we developed a case study to demonstrate the functioning of our work. In this scenario we analyze how activities are detected, actions are evaluated and the performance is inferred. At last, an analysis of the final risk for the activity is presented.
Round‐Headed Spermatozoa: A Model to study the Role of the Acrosome in early events of Gamete Interaction: Rundkopfspermatozoen: Ein Modell zum Studium der Rolle des Akrosoms

Summary: Gamete interactions in mouse involves at least two steps: the first is the interaction of a spermatozoa receptor located in the plasma membrane and ZP3, a zona pellucida (ZP) glycoprotein. ZP3 also can induce the acrosome reaction, making possible the second step: a closer interaction between ZP2 and an inner acrosomal membrane receptor.
[In vivo measurements of regional cerebral hemocirculation and metabolism in gliomas using 15O and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography].

A high resolution PET-HEADTOME III has been employed to quantitate regional cerebral hemodynamics and metabolism in gliomas using O-15 and 18FDG tracers, and to evaluate histological malignancy preoperatively. Hemodynamic and metabolic indices of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), cerebral blood volume (rCBV), oxygen consumption (rCMRO2), oxygen extraction (rOEF), and glucose consumption (rCMRGl) were studied on thirteen preoperative gliomas involving one recurrent case. Regions of interest (ROIs) on PET were placed over the corresponding lesions in CT scans. In high grade gliomas, ROIs were also focused on the corresponding parts of central low density area, contrast enhanced area, and peritumoral low density area. rCBF and rCBV were variable and unrelated in both low and high grade gliomas. rCMRGl values were 5.99 +/- 3.99 mg/100 ml/min for high grade gliomas, and 3.01 +/- 0.48 mg/100 ml/min for low grade gliomas. Lesions with high uptake of radioisotope were proved to be high grade gliomas. lesions with low uptake being low grade gliomas. In comparison with the contralateral gray matter around the sylvian fissure, rCBV was significantly higher(p less than 0.02) in high grade gliomas, and rCMRGl was lower (p less than 0.05) in low grade gliomas. rCMRO2 and rOEF values were reduced markedly (p less than 0.01) in both low and high grade gliomas. These results support that anaerobic glycolysis increased with malignancy in the metabolism of gliomas. The hemodynamics and metabolism of central low density area and peritumoral low density area reflect the pathophysiological state of necrosis and edema respectively. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Automatic Grasp Planning in the Presence of Uncertainty

This paper presents an algorithm for automatic planning of robot grasping motions that are insensitive to bounded uncer tainties in the object's location. The algorithm plans parallel- jaw grasping motions for arbitrary two-dimensional polygo nal objects, which need not be of uniform density. Grasping motions are viewed as parameterized operations, where the parameter values that describe an individual operation define an operation space of all possible operations. By combining an analysis of object geometry and the physics of friction, the planning algorithm divides the operation space into regions, where all operations within a given region produce the same final grasping configuration. Task uncertainties are then included by shrinking these regions by the amount of uncer tainty present. The smaller regions that remain after shrink ing indicate all those operations that will successfully result in a given grasping configuration, even if the worst-case combination of errors occurs. Moreover, the grasping operations presented in this paper intrinsically reduce task uncertainty. If an operation is cho sen from a region and executed, then two degrees of uncer tainty will be removed from the object's position when the operation is completed. It is shown that simple squeeze-grasp operations are not sufficient for grasping all possible objects, and offset-grasp and push-grasp operations are added to increase the scope of the planner. The planner has been implemented, and the resulting program has been tested with an industrial manipu lator.
New dendritic adhesives for sutureless ophthalmic surgical procedures: in vitro studies of corneal laceration repair.

OBJECTIVE To compare a biodendrimer adhesive with a conventional suture for repairing linear and stellate corneal lacerations. METHODS A keratome knife was used to create 4.1-mm full-thickness linear incisions (n = 36) and 3 x 4-mm full-thickness stellate incisions (n = 25) in the central cornea of enucleated human eyes. The incisions were sealed with either a suture or the biodendrimer adhesive. The globes were inflated with balanced salt solution, and the increase in intraocular pressure was monitored via a cardiac transducer until fluid leaked from each eye. This intraocular pressure reading from the transducer was recorded at the sight of any leakage through the wound (leakage pressure). By using the Wilcoxon rank sum test, the median leakage pressure was compared for each closure method, separately for each wound group. By using the 1-sided 1-sample t test, each mean leakage pressure value was compared with 34 mm Hg, which is the intraocular pressure under certain stressful physiologic conditions (eg, coughing and the Valsalva maneuver). RESULTS For globes that underwent a linear incision, the mean leakage pressure was 78.7 mm Hg for the sutured group and 109.6 mm Hg for the adhesive group. Globes that underwent a stellate incision had a mean leakage pressure of 57.8 mm Hg for the sutured group and 78.7 mm Hg for the adhesive group. All of these pressures showed a statistical significance from 34 mm Hg via a 1-sided 1-sample t test. CONCLUSIONS The difference in leakage pressures for all 4 groups was statistically significant relative to 34 mm Hg. This suggests that either method of closure, adhesive or suture, can withstand physiologic increases in intraocular pressure postoperatively and that biodendrimer adhesives are able to seal large corneal lacerations.Clinical Relevance The use of biodendrimer adhesives to repair a corneal wound constitutes a viable alternative clinical procedure to conventional sutures.
Dynamic Elastic Behavior of Cotton and Cotton / Spandex Knitted Fabrics

The dynamic elastic behavior such as dynamic work recovery and stress at specific extension of the fabrics helps to analyze the instant garment response to body movements. It is an objective evaluation of the performance of the elastic fabrics for tight fit sportswear. The aim of the study was to compare the dynamic elastic behavior of cotton/ spandex fabrics with 100% cotton fabrics, since it is mandatory to know the level of performance of the cotton/spandex fabrics as compared with normal cotton fabrics with respect to energy gain or work recovery by the fabric which is necessary in evaluating the performance of the garment for specific sports application. It was found that the cotton/spandex fabrics have higher dynamic work recovery and lower stress value than those of cotton fabrics for both walewise and coursewise directions. The predictions of dynamic work recovery and stress values for different extension levels were made using a regression model.
Study on the Effect of a New Rotor Designed for Chipping Short Rotation Woody Crops

The particle size distribution of wood chips, along with the moisture content, are some of the main parameters for defining the quality of most wood fuels. A new experimental rotor, pow ered by the self-propelled forage harvester Claas Jaguar was developed by the Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria (CRA), Agricultural Engineering Research Unit (CRA-ING). The rotor allowed for improved dimensional features of wood chips. The comminution achieved with the CRA–ING drum increased the percentage of 16–45 mm wood chips fraction from 63.69% to 73.29%, and progressively reduced the fraction of chips less than 16 mm from 35.20 to 25.35%. Consequently, the bulk density of the chips decreased by 8.57% in comparison with products obtained by standard devices. The dimensional increments achieved by the rotor and the percentage reduction of the smallest fractions represent two valuable elements affecting the behaviour of the wood chips during storage and handling.