Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oocyte maturation in rabbits: effects of calmodulin inhibitors

Summary Oocyte maturation in mammals follows a highly conserved pattern of release from arrest through to the extrusion of the first polar body and formation of the second metaphase spindle. Oscillations in cytoplasmic calcium concentration precede the events of maturation in many species. These calcium ions interact with and activate calcium-binding proteins, including calmodulin, within the cell. Thus, it was of interest to us to examine whether calcium acted through calmodulin in the initial stages of maturation in rabbit oocytes or whether calmodulin was required for continuation through metaphase I on to metaphase II. Using the calmodulin inhibitor W-7 we found a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the percentage of oocytes that underwent germinal vesicle breakdown. Calmidazolium did not prevent germinal vesicle breakdown; however, it caused a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the proportion of oocytes with fully elaborated spindles and taxol-induced cytoplasmic asters. Both inhibitors caused a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the proportion of oocytes that extruded their first polar bodies. The kinase inhibitor 6-DMAP caused a significant reduction in the proportion of oocytes with spindles and condensed chromatin, indicating the necessity for phosphorylation events in the resumption of meiosis. In rabbit oocytes calmodulin may play a role in the release from prophase arrest, and it is necessary for spindle preservation and continuation through metaphase I to metaphase II. The varying effects of the two inhibitor stems from their different binding sites on the calmodulin molecule thus causing a differential effect on its downstream effectors.
MIP-1α, MIP-1β, RANTES, and ATAC/lymphotactin function together with IFN-γ as type 1 cytokines

We analyzed for the first time the expression of chemokines in subpopulations of the murine immune system at the single-cell level. We demonstrate in vitro and in a model of murine listeriosis that macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, MIP-1β, regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), and activation-induced, T cell-derived, and chemokine-related cytokine (ATAC)/lymphotactin are cosecreted to a high degree with IFN-γ by activated individual natural killer (NK), CD8+ T, and CD4+ T helper 1 (Th1) cells. Functionally, ATAC and the CC chemokines cooperate with IFN-γ in the up-regulation of CD40, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-α, molecules playing a central role in the effector phase of macrophages. Our data indicate that (i) MIP-1α, MIP-1β, RANTES, and ATAC are not only chemoattractants but also coactivators of macrophages, (ii) MIP-1α, MIP-1β, RANTES, and ATAC constitute together with IFN-γ a group of “type 1 cytokines,” and (iii) these cytokines act together as a functional unit that is used by NK cells in the innate phase and then “handed over” to CD8+ T cells in the antigen-specific phase of the immune defense, thus bridging the two components of a Th1 immune reaction.
The relationship between bite force and oral sensation during biting in molars.

BACKGROUND In prosthodontic treatment, the occlusal form should be designed such that bite force is applied at the position that has higher load-bearing capacity and is comfortable for the patient. The purpose of this study was to clarify the differences in bite force and occlusal sensation with different loading positions on the occlusal surface. METHODS Twelve healthy subjects were recruited for this study. Bite force and occlusal sensation were measured at five loading points on the upper and lower left first molars. Occlusal sensation was evaluated using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). RESULTS Bite forces on the lingual side of the upper first molar and the buccal side of the lower first molar were significantly higher and VAS scores were significantly lower, i.e. the subjects felt less discomfort during biting on the buccal side of the upper first molar and the lingual side of the lower first molar compared to the other side of each molar. CONCLUSIONS Loading on the occlusal surfaces of the functional cusps of the upper and lower first molars produces more load-bearing capacity and is more comfortable than loading on the non-functional cusps.
A vortex pump-based optically-transparent microfluidic platform for biotech and medical applications

Abstract This paper reports an automated polymer based microfluidic analysis system integrated with a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor that demonstrates the detection of specific binding of biomolecules and that qualitatively monitors cell adhesion on the sensor surface. Micropumps, microchannels, and an SPR biosensor were integrated into a single polymer (PMMA) based microfluidic system. The integrated system has been studied for its potential applications in bio-molecules detection and drugs discovery. Two experiments, (1) monitoring the reaction between the BSA-BSA antibody, and (2) monitoring the activities of living cells in the presence or absence of trypsin in a RPMI-1640 medium, were conducted to show the biomedical application capability. Because SPR based bio-detection requires optically transparent substrates, PMMA is a potential replacement for glass and silicon-glass in microfluidic systems, if bio-compatibility and low-cost are desired. Hence, our work has shown the feasibility of commercializing an SPR based bio-medical/chemical analysis system in the near future.
fMRI reveals amygdala activation to human faces in social phobics

FUNCTIONAL magnetic resonance imaging was used to determine the activation of the amygdala while seven social phobics and five healthy controls were exposed to slides of neutral faces as well as aversive odor stimuli. The amygdala was selectively activated in the social phobics during presentation of the face stimuli. The data show for the first time that the amygdala is active in human phobics when they are exposed to potentially fear-relevant stimuli. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which overactivation of the amygdala precedes or is a consequence of phobia.
Suicide in 406 Mood-Disorder Patients With and Without Long-Term Medication: A 40 to 44 Years' Follow-Up

ABSTRACT There is no data on the variation in the suicide risk over lifetime and on the suicide-preventive effect of the long-term treatment of mood-disorder patients with antidepressants and neuroleptics. Our research focused on 186 unipolar (D), 60 bipolar II (Dm), 130 nuclear bipolar I (MD), and 30 preponderantly manic patients (M/Md); that were followed-up from 1963 to 2003. By 2003, 45 (11.1%) of the 406 patients had committed suicide. Suicide rates were highest among D patients (Standardized Mortality Ratio, SMR = 26.4), MD (SMR = 13.6), Dm (SMR = 10.6) and lowest among M/Md patients (SMR = 4.7). Prospectively, the suicide rate decreased over the 44 years' follow-up; Lithium, neuroleptics and antidepressants reduced suicides significantly. Long-term treatment also reduced overall mortality, and combined treatments proved more effective than mono-therapy.
Trauma triage--a comparison of the trauma score and the vital signs score.

A pilot study of the Trauma Score (TS) was performed from July to September 1983. The Vital Signs Score (VSS) used by the ambulance paramedics, was compared with TS. Of 266 patients suitable for study, TS data was collected for 110. Other exclusions resulted in a detailed analysis of data from 65 patients among whom there were eight deaths. There was a significant correlation between TS and VSS, however, TS more accurately defined the population at risk of death. A score greater than 12 correlated with a mortality of zero for the TS, but for the VSS it correlated with a mortality of 4.4%. A score less than or equal to 12 correlated with a mortality of 61.5% for the TS but only 30% for the VSS. Stepwise regression analysis of the TS, VSS and combinations of their components was performed to determine their capacities to predict death. A combination of three components of the TS, corresponding to the Triage Index of Champion, was a better predictor than the total TS. Neither the VSS nor any combinations of its components had the predictive capacity of the total TS. If the TS and the VSS were used to select high risk patients for a particular rescue or resuscitation protocol, and scores were selected which gave 100% sensitivity with the highest possible specificity, the positive predictive values of the TS and VSS would be respectively 61.5% and 26.7%. The protocol would be administered unnecessarily to 73.3% of patients selected by the VSS, but only to 38.5% of patients selected by the TS. The TS is proposed as an aid to triage. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Perioperative Neurologic Complications in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery: Incidence and Risk Factors in 564 Patients

Study Design. Prognostic study—case controlled. Objective. Describe the rate of neurologic complications in adult spinal deformity surgery and describe the effect of these complications on clinical outcomes. Summary of Background Data. The incidence of neurologic complications and the risk factors for neurologic complications have not been reported in a large series of patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD). Existing series include a mixed patient cohort undergoing different types of spine surgery. Methods. Patients with ASD undergoing surgery between 2008 and 2014 were analyzed. Patients with neurologic complications were identified; demographics, operative details, and radiographic and clinical outcomes were compared. A subanalysis of those with surgical and nonsurgical (e.g., stroke) neurologic complications was performed. Statistical analysis included t tests or &khgr;2 tests as appropriate and a multivariate analysis. A P value of less than 0.025 was considered significant. Results. A total of 564 patients met the inclusion criteria. The average age was 57 years. There were a total of 116 neurologic complications in 99 patients (17.6%). There were 88 surgical procedure–related neurologic complications in 77 patients (13.7%) and 28 nonsurgical neurologic complications in 28 patients (5.0%). The most common complications were radiculopathy (30%), motor deficits (22%), mental status changes (12%), and sensory deficits (12%). Revisions (odds ratio [OR] 1.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–2.4) and interbody fusions (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4–3.2) were associated with an increased risk of neurologic complications. Decompression and osteotomies (including three-column osteotomies) did not increase the risk of neurologic complications. Patients with neurologic complications were not more likely to sustain other complications; however, they were more likely to undergo another operation during the follow-up period (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3–2.8). Conclusion. The overall incidence of neurologic complications in ASD surgery was 17.6%. The incidence of surgical neurologic complications was 13.7%. There was a higher risk of neurologic complications in revision cases and in cases in which interbody fusion was required. Level of Evidence: 3
The nucleus: A black box being opened

Until recently our knowledge about the structural and functional organization of the cell nucleus was very limited. Recent technical developments in the field of ultrastrcutural analysis, combined with ongoing research on the properties of the nuclear matrix, give new insight into how the nucleus is structured. Two types of observations shape our ideas about nuclear organization. First, most nuclear functions (replication, transcription, RNA processing, and RNA transport) are highly localized within the nucleus, rather than diffusely distributed. Moreover, they are associated with the nuclear matrix. Second, chromatin is organized in discrete loops, bordered by nuclear matrix attachment sequences (MARs). Each loop may contain one or several genes. The arrangement of chromatin in loops has profound consequences for the regulation of gene expression.
Estimating the Economic Effects of Remittances on the Left-Behind in Cambodia

Using propensity score matching with the 2009 Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey of households, this study examines the effects of remittances on indicators of household wellbeing: poverty, consumption and labour participation of non-migrant members. The theoretical framework is built upon a “new economics of labour migration”, hypothesising that the emigration decision is jointly determined by households and individual migrants and that remittances basically represent a form of contractual arrangements between them. The results indicate that households with at least one migrant member and which receive remittances could reduce their poverty headcount rate by 3-7 percentage points vis-a-vis their matched controls. Remittances also reduce depth and severity of poverty of treated households. On the contrary, remittances generate a 5-9 percent “dependency effect” on working age adults who are employed due to reduced weekly hours worked. The impact of remittances on labour participation and salary income is, however, vulnerable to unobservable factors.
An optimized solution for mobile computing environment

Mobile computing environment has a wireless network, which can cause signal disturbance, spurious disconnection by handoff, voluntary disconnection to use power efficiently and unpredictable transmission error. In this paper, how a mobile agent system is used to provide optimized solution for mobile computing environment in spite of having more problems. In this project, a mobile agent is created for every request made by the user. The mobile agent departs from the mobile host and then searches for the information appropriate to the user's requirements. After the job is completed, they bring the results to the mobile host. Since the mobile agents do not need continuous communication with the mobile host, they are not affected by the sudden disconnection of wireless network and the situation of turning mobile host off for power saving. A critical problem can arise if the mobile host is disconnected while the mobile agent wants to return the result from the user's request to mobile host. This paper deals with the problems in mobile computing environment and the solution.
Vaccinations and risk of central nervous system demyelinating diseases in adults.

BACKGROUND Several case reports of the onset or exacerbation of multiple sclerosis or other demyelinating conditions shortly after vaccination have suggested that vaccines may increase the risk of demyelinating diseases. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between vaccination and onset of multiple sclerosis or optic neuritis. DESIGN Case-control study involving cases of multiple sclerosis or optic neuritis among adults 18 to 49 years of age. Data on vaccinations and other risk factors were obtained from computerized and paper medical records and from telephone interviews. SETTING Three health maintenance organizations. PARTICIPANTS Four hundred forty case subjects and 950 control subjects matched on health maintenance organization, sex, and date of birth. INTERVENTIONS None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Onset of first symptoms of demyelinating disease at any time after vaccination and during specified intervals after vaccination (<1 year, 1-5 years, and >5 years). RESULTS Cases and controls had similar vaccination histories. The odds ratios (95% confidence intervals), adjusted for potential confounding variables, of the associations between ever having been vaccinated and risk of demyelinating disease (multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis combined) were 0.9 (0.6-1.5) for hepatitis B vaccine; 0.6 (0.4-0.8) for tetanus vaccination; 0.8 (0.6-1.2) for influenza vaccine; 0.8 (0.5-1.5) for measles, mumps, rubella vaccine; 0.9 (0.5-1.4) for measles vaccine; and 0.7 (0.4-1.0) for rubella vaccine. The results were similar when multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis were analyzed separately. There was no increased risk according to timing of vaccination. CONCLUSION Vaccination against hepatitis B, influenza, tetanus, measles, or rubella is not associated with an increased risk of multiple sclerosis or optic neuritis.
Nutrition and health claims - call for and justification of governmental intervention from the consumers' perspective Nährwert- und gesundheitsbezogene Angaben über Lebens- mittel - Notwendigkeit und Rechtfertigung einer staatlichen Regulierung aus Konsumentensicht

In December 2006 the Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 on the use of nutrition and health claims (NHCs) on foods was enacted in order to prevent consumer deception and to harmonise law within the EU. Against this background, this paper analyses the potential costs and benefits linked with NHCs and the necessity for governmental intervention to regulate NHCs within a theoretical and empirical framework. The theoretical investigation shows that NHCs can induce direct economic effects as well as spillover effects in the market of information. Whether those effects are beneficial or adverse depends on the truthfulness of the NHCs, and consumers’ perception and processing of such claims. As self regulatory forces of the market might not be sufficient to prevent market failure due to fraudulent claims, governmental intervention seems necessary. An analysis of the EU Regulation on NHCs reveals that this law focuses on preventing the authorisation of false or misleading claims. It is less concerned with not authorising a true and correctly understood claim. The results of the empirical analysis which is based on a standardised consumer survey reveal that the stated impact of NHCs on product perception considerably differs among consumers. While e.g. some consumers feel misled by NHCs on products with a negative nutrient profile such as candies, others point out that such claims have no impact on their product perception or even help them to make better choices. The results also indicate that the great majority of consumers is opposed to a ban of NHCs on products with a negative nutrient profile such as candies and salt.
Representative samples are an issue for the pollsters – but so are respondents who lie

The British Polling Council recently published their report about what went wrong with the polls in the 2015 general election. The report dismissed problems associated with voter registration, question wording, postal voting and mode of interviewing and opted for unrepresentative samples as the key factor in explaining what happened. Here, Paul Whiteley and Harold Clarke make the case for examining another factor: respondents who don’t tell the truth.
Verified Parallel String Matching in Haskell

In this paper, we prove correctness of parallelizing a string matcher using Haskell as a theorem prover. We use refinement types to specify correctness properties, Haskell terms to express proofs and Liquid Haskell to check correctness of proofs. First, we specify and prove that a class of monoid morphisms can be parallelized via parallel monoid concatenation. Then, we encode string matching as a morphism to get a provably correct parallel transformation. Our 1839LoC prototype proof shows that Liquid Haskell can be used as a fully expressive theorem prover on realistic Haskell implementations.
Gender differences in occupations, job attributes, and job satisfaction

The purpose of this paper is to analyse gender differences in job satisfaction in Spain, considering the gender distribution across occupational categories. Based on a representative sample of Spanish employees from the Spanish Quality of Work Life Survey, we use an estimation procedure that controls for potential endogeneity, and find that greater job satisfaction of women is associated with women being happier working in occupations where they are the majority. However, when considering additional objective and self-perceived variables, gender differences in job satisfaction disappear and occupational variables turn non-significant. This result suggests that women tend to congregate in jobs with particular characteristics that are preferred by them, and negates the correlation between job satisfaction and gender distribution across occupations.
Evidence for Less Irritation to the Peritoneal Membrane in Rats Dialyzed with Solutions Low in Glucose Degradation Products

Background Acidic pH and the presence of glucose degradation products (GDP) are believed to compromise the biocompatibility of peritoneal dialysis fluids (PDF). The present study examines the effects of long-term exposure to GDP and low pH by comparing conventional PDF and a new, neutral pH, low GDP solution. Methods All experiments were performed using a chronic infusion model of dialysis in nonuremic rats. The animals were treated for 6 weeks with 2 daily injections of 4.25% glucose-containing PDF. The following PDF were tested: CAPD3 (single-chamber bag, low pH, high GDP), CAPD3 pH 7.4 (single-chamber bag, neutral pH, high GDP), CAPD3-Balance (double-chamber bag, neutral pH, low GDP). All test solutions were obtained from Fresenius Medical Care, Bad Homburg, Germany. Results After 6 weeks of exposure, peritoneal permeability to water, urea, creatinine, glucose, and sodium, assessed by peritoneal equilibration test, was similar in all groups. However, compared to other PDF, dialysis with CAPD3-Balance was associated with reduced concentrations of protein and hyaluronan in the dialysate, decreased peritoneal eosinophilia, and reduced dialysate levels of chemokines CCL2/MCP-1 and CCL5/RANTES. Morphologic changes in the peritoneal membrane of CAPD3-Balance-treated animals were much less pronounced and included reduced vascular density, preservation of the mesothelial monolayer and intercellular junction, and no reduplication of the submesothelial basement membrane. Conclusions A new generation of PDF with physiologic pH and low GDP level produce less irritation to the peritoneal membrane and better preserve its structural integrity. This effect seems to be related predominantly to minimized GDP concentrations.
Damage in the anca-associated vasculitides: long-term data from the European vasculitis study group (EUVAS) therapeutic trials.

OBJECTIVES To describe short-term (up to 12 months) and long-term (up to 7 years) damage in patients with newly diagnosed antineutrophil-cytoplasm antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). METHODS Data were combined from six European Vasculitis Study group trials (n=735). Long-term follow-up (LTFU) data available for patients from four trials (n=535). Damage accrued was quantified by the Vasculitis Damage Index (VDI). Sixteen damage items were defined a priori as being potentially treatment-related. RESULTS VDI data were available for 629 of 735 patients (85.6%) at baseline, at which time 217/629 (34.5%) had ≥1 item of damage and 32 (5.1%) ≥5 items, reflecting disease manifestations prior to diagnosis and trial enrolment. LTFU data were available for 467/535 (87.3%) at a mean of 7.3 years postdiagnosis. 302/535 patients (56.4%) had VDI data at LTFU, with 104/302 (34.4%) having ≥5 items and only 24 (7.9%) no items of damage. At 6 months and LTFU, the most frequent items were proteinuria, impaired glomerular filtration rate, hypertension, nasal crusting, hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy. The frequency of damage, including potentially treatment-related damage, rose over time (p<0.01). At LTFU, the most commonly reported items of treatment-related damage were hypertension (41.5%; 95% CI 35.6 to 47.4%), osteoporosis (14.1%; 9.9 to 18.2%), malignancy (12.6%; 8.6 to 16.6%), and diabetes (10.4%; 6.7 to 14.0%). CONCLUSIONS In AAV, renal, otolaryngological and treatment-related (cardiovascular, disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and malignancy) damage increases over time, with around one-third of patients having ≥5 items of damage at a mean of 7 years postdiagnosis.