Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Obesity and the human microbiome

Purpose of review Obesity was once rare, but the last few decades have seen a rapid expansion of the proportion of obese individuals worldwide. Recent work has shown obesity to be associated with a shift in the representation of the dominant phyla of bacteria in the gut, both in humans and animal models. This review summarizes the latest research into the association between microbial ecology and host adiposity, and the mechanisms by which microbes in the gut may mediate host metabolism in the context of obesity. Recent findings Studies of the effect of excess body fat on the abundances of different bacteria taxa in the gut generally show alterations in the gastrointestinal microbiota, and changes during weight loss. The gastrointestinal microbiota have been shown to impact insulin resistance, inflammation, and adiposity via interactions with epithelial and endocrine cells. Summary Large-scale alterations of the gut microbiota and its microbiome (gene content) are associated with obesity and are responsive to weight loss. Gut microbes can impact host metabolism via signaling pathways in the gut, with effects on inflammation, insulin resistance, and deposition of energy in fat stores. Restoration of the gut microbiota to a healthy state may ameliorate the conditions associated with obesity and help maintain a healthy weight.
A Bayesian Approach to Optimal Warranty Length for A Kumaraswamy Life Time Distributed Product with General Progressive Censoring Scheme

In this paper we focus on the study of optimal warranty of a Kumaraswamy life time distributed product based on general progressive type-II censoring scheme. We have considered free-replacement, pro-rata and combination of the two policies under Bayesian set up. Optimal warranty lengths under the above policies are determined by maximizing expected utility function. A numerical data is used to exemplify the theory. A simulation study is also carried out to check the effect of hyper parameters on optimal warranty length under the above three warranty policies.
Real-time indexing over fixed finite alphabets

The quest for a real-time indexing algorithm is ove three decades old. To date there is no convincing understandable solution to this problem. This paper provides a real-time indexing algorithm over a constant sized alphabet. Assuming the text is arriving at a constant rate, the algorithm spends O(1) time on every text symbol. Whenever a length m pattern is given, the algorithm decides in time O(m) whether there is an occurrence of the pattern in the text thus far.
Genotoxic effects of the carbamate insecticide methomyl. I. In vitro studies with pure compound and the technical formulation “Lannate 25”

The carbamate insecticide methomyl and the methomyl‐containing technical formulation “Lannate 25” were tested on whole blood human lymphocyte cultures. Both products induced dose‐dependent increases in chromosome aberrations and micronuclei. Lannate 25 induced DNA damage as measured by the alkaline elution assay and hydroxylation of guanine at the C8 position. Sister chromatid exchanges were not increased significantly with either product. Overall, the technical formulation was more active than the pure compound, when compared at similar concentrations of active principle. Moreover, a different ratio of CREST‐positive/CREST‐negative micronuclei was observed with the two products, pure methomyl being relatively more active than Lannate 25 in the induction of CREST‐positive micronuclei. On the basis of these results, previous evaluations of methomyl as a nongenotoxic compound should be reconsidered. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Proposal of an extremely lightweight soft actuator using plastic films with a pleated structure

Safety is important for human friendly robots which mechanically touch humans or move around humans. This paper proposes an extremely lightweight soft actuator for aiming at realization of human friendly robots. The proposed actuator is made of pleated plastic thin films. An advantage of the proposed actuator is that various motions are easily generated by changing the pleated patterns. The basic characteristics of the proposed actuator are shown through some experimental results and the applications of the proposed actuator are described.
Three morphologically distinct types of interface develop between adult host and fetal brain transplants: Implications for scar formation in the adult central nervous system

The development of the host/graft interface of cerebellar and cerebral transplants was studied 1‐60 days after operation. Grafts from fetal Wistar rats were transplanted to a cavity over the superior colliculus of adult rats by removing parts of the overlying cortex and hippocampus according to the Björklund/Stenevi technique. In sham‐operated control rats, in which a cavity was made in the brain but no graft was implanted, the parenchyma bordering the entire cavity developed a complete glial‐meningeal scar within 2 weeks after operation consisting of multilayered glial processes, a basal lamina, and fibroblasts (meningeal cells).
Cyanotic breath‐holding spells in children respond to adenotonsillectomy for sleep‐disordered breathing

Children with breath‐holding (BH) spells may demonstrate sleep‐disordered breathing (SDB) during polysomnography. We studied five young children with cyanotic spells retrospectively and found both SDB and a response to adenotonsillectomy. We therefore proceeded with a prospective investigation of treatment for SDB in children with comorbid cyanotic spells. Nineteen children with cyanotic BH spells were identified and enrolled in the prospective study. Parents chose either treatment or observation. Fourteen children underwent complete SDB evaluation and treatment trials while five selected observation only (control group). Sleep and sleep‐surgery specialist evaluation and polysomnography revealed the presence of a narrow upper‐airway and an abnormal respiratory disturbance index in all 14 children. Nasal CPAP was not successful, but adenotonsillectomy performed near 14 months of age eliminated SDB. BH spells were eliminated 1 month after surgery, while they persisted to the end of the study (24 months of age) in the control group. In conclusion, the presence of cyanotic BH should prompt investigation and polysomnography for possible SDB. Independent treatment of SDB may hasten resolution of BH spells in these cases.
The European Commission 2030 framework for climate and energy policies: a step back?

The European Commission has recently presented its new framework for climate and energy policies for the period 2020-30. The proposal comes during a time of increased concerns over the European economic competitiveness. Some of the measures required to reach the 2030 targets give the impression that the European Union is ready to give up its strict environmental policies. We argue that in order to reach these targets, something the European Union certainly fails to do with respect to the catchy 20-20-20 strategy, a substantial revision of the core elements of the 2030 strategy is required.
Continuous nitric oxide inhalation reduces pulmonary arterial structural changes, right ventricular hypertrophy, and growth retardation in the hypoxic newborn rat.

Breathing low oxygen levels for several weeks produces progressive pulmonary artery hypertension and smooth muscle hypertrophy and hyperplasia in many species. Because nitric oxide (NO) is an important regulator of pulmonary vascular tone, we examined whether the continuous inhalation of low levels of NO gas would attenuate pulmonary arterial structural changes in hypoxic rat pups. Nine-day-old rat pups and their mothers continuously breathed at FIO2 0.21 or 0.10 with or without adding 20 ppm (by volume) NO for 2 weeks. Lung tissue was obtained for vascular morphometric analysis, and the hearts were dissected to measure right ventricular weight and levels of mRNA encoding rat atrial natriuretic factor (rANF). In addition, femur and skull length were radiographically determined. Breathing at FIO2 0.10 for 14 days increased pulmonary arterial wall thickness and the proportion of muscular arteries in the lung periphery. Right ventricular weight and right ventricular rANF gene expression increased, whereas body weight and skeletal growth were reduced (all P < .05). Continuous inhalation of 20 ppm NO at FIO2 0.10 for 2 weeks decreased hypoxic pulmonary vascular structural changes and somatic growth retardation and prevented the increase of right ventricular weight and right ventricular rANF mRNA levels. These observations suggest that chronically breathing NO attenuates pulmonary vascular smooth muscle hypertrophy and/or hyperplasia and extension into distal arterial walls, right ventricular hypertrophy, and growth retardation of newborns breathing at a low oxygen level.
Efficacy and tolerability of eperisone in patients with spastic palsy: a cross-over, placebo-controlled dose-ranging trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Central muscle relaxants are a clinical option in patients with spastic palsy. Eperisone is a central muscle relaxant used in several conditions, but its therapeutic potential in spastic palsy needs to be verified. This dose-ranging trial compares two doses of eperisone in patients with spastic palsy associated to cerebral or spinal diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, three-way cross-over study, patients (18-75 years) with spastic palsy received eperisone 150 mg/day, eperisone 300 mg/day, or placebo for 8 weeks. Treatment periods lasted for 14 days. Objective clinical parameters (intensity of spasticity and physiological reflexes) and functional parameters (walking capability, capability to climb stairs, rigidity) were measured. Tolerability was also evaluated. RESULTS Eighteen patients were enrolled. The reduction in the intensity of spasticity versus the beginning of each treatment cycle was significant with eperisone 300 mg/day (p = 0.004). Similar findings were observed in the evaluation of patellar reflex (p = 0.01), while the other reflexes were not significantly different. Walking capability was significantly improved with eperisone 300 mg/day (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the capability to climb stairs and in rigidity. A trend towards a reduction in pain was noted with eperisone 300 mg/day versus placebo. The incidence of adverse events was similar in all groups. DISCUSSION Eperisone 300 mg/day might be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for spastic palsy. Larger studies are required to further characterize the efficacy of eperisone in this therapeutic area.
Changes in self-efficacy and decisional balance for exercise among obese women in a weight management program.

OBJECTIVE To assess changes in eating and exercise self-efficacy and decisional balance for exercise in an obese population enrolled in a multi-disciplinary weight management program. RESEARCH METHOD AND PROCEDURES Thirty-two obese women were assessed at entry and after 12 weeks of treatment. RESULTS Participants showed 15% mean weight loss after 12 weeks of treatment. Mean minutes of self-reported exercise increased by 229%. Participants demonstrated significant improvements in self-efficacy for both eating and exercise and health parameters but not in decisional balance for exercise adoption. DISCUSSION These results may have implications for the practitioner in that self-efficacy changes occur during successful weight loss, but decisional balance for exercise may not change until individuals enter maintenance. These results imply that practitioners may be advised to shift from confidence building to relapse prevention early on in treatment, and that focusing on strengthening the pros of exercise and reducing the cons of exercise may need to remain constant during treatment.
The barrel field of the adult mouse Sml cortex as revealed by NADPH‐diaphorase histochemistry

The main goal of the present work was to investigate the pattern of NADPH-diaphorase activity in the somatosensory cortex of the adult mouse. Our results show that this enzyme, which is responsible for the production of the neuronal messenger nitric oxide, is abundant within the neuropil of Sml cortex, revealing the complete pattern of barrel fields. A previous study, however, had reported that NADPH-diaphorase reactivity within the barrels was transient, disappearing after the second postnatal week. We hypothesize that the massive occurrence of NADPH-diaphorase in the barrel fields of the adult mouse brain is related to the potential for plastic changes in the somatosensory cortex that is maintained throughout maturity.
The effect of strontium-loaded rough titanium surface on early osseointegration

It is not clear whether surface bioactive chemistry plays an important role in the early osseointegration of micro-structured titanium implants that have the same surface topography at the micrometer and submicrometer scales. In this study, magnetron sputtering methodology was employed for the preparation of Sr coating on sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) titanium implant without changing the surface characteristics. The study of the surface morphology of the coating was carried out with the use of scanning electron microscopy, and the chemical composition of the surface was examined by X-ray energy-dispersive spectrometry. Twenty SLA implants together with 20 Sr-SLA implants were randomly inserted into the proximal tibia of 20 rats. The early osseointegration of the Sr-SLA implant was compared with SLA implant by removal torque test and histological analysis following two and eight weeks of implantation, correspondingly. As revealed by the surface characteristics, both Sr-SLA and SLA surfaces exhibited similar typical isotropic irregular indentations. The strontium ions were effectively incorporated into the SLA surface (the atomic ratio is 2%). Following two and eight weeks of healing, significant increases in removal torque values (p < 0.05) were taken into observation in respect of Sr-SLA implant. Histologically, the Sr-SLA implants displayed significantly higher bone-to-implant contact percentages and bone area ratio in comparison with the SLA implant at eight weeks (p < 0.05). At two weeks, the bone-implant contact percentages, together with bone area ratio of Sr-SLA surface appeared to be a little bit slightly greater than that of SLA surface. But the statistical difference was not significant. These results indicated that the chemical modification with Sr incorporated by magnetron sputtering treatment in moderately rough surfaced implants remarkably increases early bone apposition.
Effects of geometry and material on the insertion oi very small neural electrode

For neural probes to be used chronically for years in the human body, they must provoke minimal scarring. Recently, a number of groups have reported substantially reduced scar tissue using cellular scale electrodes below 15 μm in size. This size scale is accessible to manufacturing techniques, but can be very difficult to insert in the brain for most common electrode materials. In this study, we explore the design space available to cellular scale electrodes that will self-insert into the brain. First a mathematical model is developed using beam buckling equations for different materials and geometries. Buckling mode was found to be one fixed and one hinged end resulting in a mode conditional constant of, n, 2.045. Model predicts insertion success between 90-100% for a 6.8 μm diameter electrode and was used to approximate applied force as 750 μN which is close to reference data of 780 μN [1]. Second, we developed a PVC phantom that mimics the brain's elastic modulus. This phantom was matched to insertion success data obtained from carbon fiber arrays [1]. Overall, these results enable studies to be conducted on other proposed cellular scale electrodes prior to animal testing or large scale fabrication.
Dental amalgam and multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES Amalgam restorations have long been controversial due to their mercury content. Allegations that the mercury may be linked to nervous disorders such as Alzheimer's, chronic fatigue syndrome, and multiple sclerosis (MS) have fueled the calls for the removal of amalgam restorations from dentists' armamentarium. To explore and quantify the association between amalgam restorations and MS we have conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. METHODS A systematic search in Medline (from 1966 to April 2006), EMBASE (2006, Week 16), and the Cochrane library (Issue 2, 2006) for English-language articles meeting specific definitions of MS and amalgam exposure was conducted. Studies were also identified using the references of retrieved articles. Studies were independently reviewed by two authors and disagreements were resolved by consensus. Studies were selected based on an a priori of defined criteria. Odds ratios (ORs) or relative risks were pooled using the random effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using Q statistics. RESULTS The pooled OR for the risk of MS among amalgam users was consistent, with a slight, nonstatistically significant increase between amalgam use and risk of MS. CONCLUSION Future studies that take into consideration the amalgam restoration size and surface area along with the duration of exposure are needed in order to definitively rule out any link between amalgam and MS.
The ascending projections of the nuclei of the descending trigeminal tract (nTTD) in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

In our traditional view of the avian somatosensory system, input from the beak and head reaches the telencephalon via a disynaptic pathway, involving projections from the principal sensory nucleus (PrV) directly to nucleus basorostralis (previously called nucleus basalis), whereas input from the rest of the body follows a trisynatic pathway similar to that in mammals, involving projections from the dorsal column nuclei to the thalamus, and thence to somatosensory wulst. However, the role of the nuclei of the descending trigeminal tract (nTTD) in this scenario is unclear, partly because their ascending projections have been examined in only one species, the mallard duck. Here we examine the ascending projections of the nTTD in the zebra finch, using in vivo injections of biotinylated dextran amine and verification of projections by means of retrograde transport of the beta subunit of cholera toxin. The results show a high degree of interconnectivity within the nTTD, and that these nuclei project to PrV. We also find a projection from nTTD to the contralateral thalamic nucleus uvaeformis, a multi‐sensory nucleus connected to the song system. Furthermore, our finding of a projection from nTTD to the contralateral somatosensory thalamic nucleus dorsalis intermedius ventralis anterior (DIVA) is consistent with the well‐known projection in mammals from nTTD to the ventrobasal thalamus, suggesting that the ascending trigeminal pathways in birds and mammals are more similar than previously thought.
Immunohistochemical determination of the P15INK4b protein expression in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

The tumor suppressor gene p15INK4b is a cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor, in which its inactivation has been determined in primary tumors and in several tumor‐derived cell lines. The precise role of p15INK4b protein expression in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is currently not known. In a previous study, we have shown the frequent occurrence of allelic imbalance/loss of heterozygosity in cutaneous SCC using two microsatellite markers flanking the p15INK4b gene. This study is a continuation of our previous study and aims to determine the possible role of p15INK4b protein expression in the genesis of cutaneous SCC. P15INK4b protein expression was determined using immunohistochemical approach in 107 cases of cutaneous SCC tissue arrays and 19 cases of normal human skin tissues. The expression of p15INK4b was significantly reduced in the cutaneous SCC cases as compared with normal human skin (p = 0.017 and p < 0.05). However, there were no significant relationship between clinicopathologic variables of the patients (age, sex and tumor grade) and p15INK4b protein expression. The absence of p15INK4b expression in the majority of tissue microarray cores of cutaneous SCC indicated that p15INK4b could possibly be involved in the pathogenesis of cutaneous SCC.
Conservative surgery for infiltrating lobular breast carcinoma

Background Some reports state that infiltrating lobular breast carcinoma (ILC) should not be treated by conservative methods because of a high risk of local recurrence. The aim of this study was to determine whether patients with conservatively treated ILC have a higher risk of intrabreast relapse than those with infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC).
Cortical Iron Reflects Severity of Alzheimer’s Disease

Abnormal iron distribution in the isocortex is increasingly recognized as an in vivo marker for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the contribution of iron accumulation to the AD pathology is still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated: 1) frontal cortical iron distribution in AD and normal aging and 2) the relation between iron distribution and degree of AD pathology. We used formalin fixed paraffin embedded frontal cortex from 10 AD patients, 10 elder, 10 middle aged, and 10 young controls and visualized iron with a modified Perl’s histochemical procedure. AD and elderly subjects were not different with respect to age and sex distribution. Iron distribution in the frontal cortex was not affected by normal aging but was clearly different between AD and controls. AD showed accumulation of iron in plaques, activated microglia, and, in the most severe cases, in the mid-cortical layers along myelinated fibers. The degree of altered iron accumulations was correlated to the amount of amyloid-β plaques and tau pathology in the same block, as well as to Braak stage (p < 0.001). AD and normal aging show different iron and myelin distribution in frontal cortex. These changes appear to occur after the development of the AD pathological hallmarks. These findings may help the interpretation of high resolution in vivo MRI and suggest the potential of using changes in iron-based MRI contrast to indirectly determine the degree of AD pathology in the frontal cortex.
Numerical Prediction of Electromagnetic Vibration and Noise of Permanent-Magnet Direct Current Commutator Motors With Rotor Eccentricities and Glue Effects

Numerical models are developed to predict the electromagnetic vibration and noise of permanent-magnet direct current (PMDC) commutator motors when both rotor eccentricities and glue effects are involved. Finite-element method (FEM) and boundary-element method (BEM) are combined to analyze the electromagnetic, mechanical, and acoustical characteristics of the studied motor. By using the finite-element method, an electromagnetic field considered as the electromagnetic vibration and noise sources of the motor is calculated in the two-dimensional air-gap region. Based on the electromagnetic field, the radial and tangential magnetic forces exciting the structure of the motor are then obtained in the time and frequency domains. Consequently, the transient responses (accelerations) of the motor are simulated by applying the magnetic forces on the three-dimensional dynamic-structure finite-element model of the motor. Furthermore, the sound pressures radiated from the vibrating surface of the motor can be obtained by using the boundary-element method in the frequency domain. The numerical results agree well with those measured in the laboratory. The present research reveals that the static eccentricity distorts the distribution of the magnetic forces in the spatial domain. And the distorted magnetic forces mainly exaggerate the accelerations of the motor for the frequency range which is lower than the natural frequencies of the motor. In addition, the epoxide-resin glue between the permanent magnets and the stator can influence the vibrational and the acoustical characteristics of the motor.