Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of motor training involving the less-affected side (MTLA) in post-stroke subjects: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Abstract Introduction: Poststroke, less-severe motor impairment occurs on the ipsilesional side of body. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the motor training involving the less-affected side (MTLA) in stroke. Methods: This was a randomized, controlled, double-blinded pilot study conducted in the occupational therapy unit of a rehabilitation Institute. A convenience sample of 35 stroke subjects (mean poststroke duration, 28.76 weeks) was randomized into two groups (the experimental group: 17 and control group: 18). Thirty-two participants completed the entire study protocol. The experimental group and control group were provided MTLA and neurophysiological-based conventional therapy respectively. Both the groups received 24 treatment sessions (60 minutes each) over the period of two months. The Affected side was assessed using Brunnstrom recovery stage (BRS) and Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) whereas the less-affected side was evaluated by Minnesota manual dexterity test (MMDT), Purdue peg board test (PPBT) and Manual Muscle Testing (MMT). Results: Postintervention, the less-affected side of experimental group demonstrated significant improvement for MMDT (P = 0.003), PPBT (P = 0.01) and MMT (P < 0.001 to 0.043) in comparison to the control group. Further, as compared to the control group, the experimental group exhibited positive significant change for the measure of affected side [BRS (P < 0.001) and FMA (P < 0.001 to 0.03)] at post assessment. Conclusion: MTLA enhanced the muscle strength, dexterity and coordination of the less-affected side as well as the motor recovery of the affected side in poststroke hemiparetic subjects.
Presepsin (sCD14-ST): could it be a novel marker for the diagnosis of ST elevation myocardial infarction?

Introduction Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) could be considered to be a state of inflammation. Many inflammatory markers have been evaluated in the AMI setting so far. Presepsin (PSP) is a novel biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of systemic inflammation that has not been studied in the AMI setting to date. In this study, we aimed to examine serum PSP levels in patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Material and methods Forty-eight patients with STEMI and fifty healthy controls without coronary artery disease, verified by coronary angiography, were included in the study. Together with routine laboratory tests needed for STEMI, plasma concentrations of PSP were measured in peripheral venous blood samples of the participants. Results Plasma PSP and troponin levels were significantly higher in patients with STEMI than controls (1988.89 ±3101.55 vs. 914.22 ±911.35 pg/ml, p = 0.001 and 3.46 ±3.39 vs. 0.08 ±0.43 ng/ml, p = 0.001, respectively). The cut-off value for PSP of 447 pg/ml was found to detect STEMI with 87.5% sensitivity, 44% specificity, 60% positive predictive value and 78.5% negative predictive value. Conclusions In this study, PSP levels were found to be significantly elevated in patients with STEMI together with high-sensitivity troponins. The PSP may be a new marker for AMI detection. Large scale studies are needed to reveal the importance of PSP in the diagnosis and prognosis of AMI.
Liquid storage of unseparated human bone marrow. Evaluation of hematopoietic progenitors by clonal assay

Marrow from five donors was aspirated into a small volume of heparinized culture media, filtered, and stored in 10‐ml nominal plastic bags at 4, 22, and 37°C, respectively, for 7 days with and without agitation. Samples were taken at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 7 days, respectively, for determination of cell numbers, trypan blue viability, and committed colony‐forming unit‐granulocyte‐monocyte (CFU‐GM) and erythroid burst‐forming unit (BFU‐E) and colony‐forming unit (CFU‐E), as well as multipotent (CFU‐MIX), hematopoietic progenitors. Glucose and pH decreased with storage, most markedly at higher storage temperatures. Recovery of recovered cells exceeded 90 percent under all conditions at 7 days. Viability of committed and multipotent progenitors was maintained fairly well for 3 days at 4 and 22°C, but fell off rapidly after 1 day at 37°C. Recovery of progenitor cells stored 7 days was relatively poor. Best maintenance was achieved for 3 days using 4°C storage without agitation.
Blood flow changes in the ovarian and uterine arteries during the normal menstrual cycle.

OBJECTIVE Our purpose was to study the hemodynamic changes in the uterine and intraovarian vessels during the normal menstrual cycle and to relate the vascular changes to hormonal index values. STUDY DESIGN Seven women who had bilateral tubal patency, a normal pelvis on laparoscopy, and regular ovulatory cycles underwent serial transvaginal ultrasonography on menstrual cycle day 2, daily from estimated day of ovulation-6, hourly from estimated day of ovulation-2, or when the mean follicular diameter was > 16 mm (whichever was earlier) until 6 hours after follicular rupture and once 7 days after follicular rupture. At each scan uterine and intraovarian blood flow was assessed with transvaginal color Doppler ultrasonography and serum concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and progesterone assessed by fluoroimmunoassay. RESULTS In one case there was evidence of a luteinized unruptured follicle and the patient was therefore excluded from analysis. In the other six women there was spontaneous ovulation at a mean of 39 hours after the onset of the luteinizing hormone surge. On the side with the dominant follicle, follicular and ovarian stromal peak systolic blood flow velocity rose significantly during the menstrual cycle with no significant change in pulsatility index. The changes in blood flow velocity correlated significantly with changes in serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and progesterone concentrations. There were no significant changes in either blood flow velocity or pulsatility index in the contralateral ovary. Uterine artery time-averaged maximum velocity on the side of the developing ovarian follicle increased during the menstrual cycle with no significant change in the contralateral vessel. Uterine artery pulsatility index on the side of the developing follicle declined during the midluteal phase and was significantly lower than on the contralateral side. The changes in time-averaged maximum velocity correlated with the changes in serum estradiol and progesterone concentrations. CONCLUSION The vascular changes in the wall of the dominant ovarian follicle and ovarian stroma during the menstrual cycle are consistent with activity of angiogenic-like factors. The decline in uterine artery resistance during the midluteal phase may reflect optimal vascularity for implantation of the blastocyst.
Efficacy of Interventions in Improving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence and HIV-1 RNA Viral Load: A Meta-Analytic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Summary:Adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is generally suboptimal, limiting the effectiveness of HAART. This meta-analytic review examined whether behavioral interventions addressing HAART adherence are successful in increasing the likelihood of a patient attaining 95% adherence or an undetectable HIV-1 RNA viral load (VL). We searched electronic databases from January 1996 to September 2005, consulted with experts in the field, and hand searched reference sections from relevant articles. Nineteen studies (with a total of 1839 participants) met the selection criteria of describing a randomized controlled trial among adults evaluating a behavioral intervention with HAART adherence or VL as an outcome. Random-effects models indicated that across studies, participants in the intervention arm were more likely than those in the control arm to achieve 95% adherence (odds ratio [OR] = 1.50, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16 to 1.94); the effect was nearly significant for undetectable VL (OR = 1.25; 95% CI: 0.99 to 1.59). The intervention effect for 95% adherence was significantly stronger in studies that used recall periods of 2 weeks or 1 month (vs. ≤7 days). No other stratification variables (ie, study, sample, measurement, methodologic quality, intervention characteristics) moderated the intervention effect, but some potentially important factors were observed. In sum, various HAART adherence intervention strategies were shown to be successful, but more research is needed to identify the most efficacious intervention components and the best methods for implementing them in real-world settings with limited resources.
The nuclear receptor PPAR gamma is expressed by mouse T lymphocytes and PPAR gamma agonists induce apoptosis

Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR)‐γ is a nuclear hormone receptor that serves as a trans factor to regulate lipid metabolism. Intense interest is focused on PPAR‐γ and its ligands owing to its putative role in adipocyte differentiation. Little is known, however, about the functions of PPAR‐γ in the immune system, especially in T lymphocytes. We demonstrate that both naive and activated ovalbumin‐specific T cells from DO11.10‐transgenic mice express PPAR‐γ mRNA and protein. In order to determine the function of PPAR‐γ, T cells were stimulated withphorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate and ionomycin or antigen and antigen‐presenting cells. Simultaneous exposure to PPAR‐γ ligands (e. g. 15‐deoxy‐Δ12, 14‐prostaglandin J2, troglitazone) showed drastic inhibition of proliferation and significant decreases in cell viability. The decrease in cell viability was due to apoptosis of the T lymphocytes, and occurred only when cells were treated with PPAR‐γ, and not PPAR‐α agonists, revealing specificity of this response for PPAR‐γ. These observations suggest that PPAR‐γ agonists play an important role in regulating T cell‐mediated immune responses by inducing apoptosis. T cell death via PPAR‐γ ligation may act as a potent anti‐inflammatory signal in the immune system, and ligands could possibly be used to control disorders in which excessive inflammation occurs.
Zika virus infections in Nigeria: virological and seroepidemiological investigations in Oyo State

summary A study of Zika virus infections was carried out in four communities in Oyo State, Nigeria. Virus isolation studies between 1971 and 1975 yielded two virus isolations from human cases of mild febrile illness. Haemagglutination-inhibition tests revealed a high prevalence of antibodies to Zika and three other flaviviruses used. The percentages of positive sera were as follows: Zika (31%), Yellow fever (50%), West Nile (46%), and Wesselsbron (59%). Neutralization tests showed that 40% of Nigerians had Zika virus neutralizing antibody. Fifty per cent of Zika virus immune persons had neutralizing antibody to Zika alone or to Zika and one other flavivirus. A total of 121 sera had antibody to Zika virus; of these 48 (40%) also showed antibody to two other flaviviruses, and 12 (10%) had antibodies to three or more other viruses. The percentage of neutralizing antibodies to other flaviviruses in Zika virus immune sera was 81% to Dengue type 1, 58% to Yellow fever, 7% to Wesselsbron, 6% to West Nile and 3% to Uganda S.
Chinese herb-resistance and adherence to human uroepithelial cells of uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

BACKGROUND In order to define the virulence factors between Chinese herb-resistant uropathogenic E. coli and susceptible strains, the UPEC isolates were classified into two groups according to its resistance to Chinese herbs. MATERIALS AND METHODS The susceptibility profile of strains was determined by disk diffusion method. PCR systems were used to detect genes encoding papC, Aer, hly and cnf1. Isolated human urothelial cells were incubated in vitro and investigated with light microscope immunohistochemistry. Adhesion of E. coli to urothelial cells was studied in vitro. RESULTS The results showed that, among the 105 UPEC isolates, 18 were resistant to the herbal concoction. Cnf1 and papC occurred in ≥66.7%, of herb-resistant isolates, while, hly and Aer occurred in 22.2% and 27.8% of strains respectively. Only one gene (Cnf1) occurred in >40%, of Herb-susceptible isolates. Other genes were also found in susceptible isolates: papC (20.7%), hly (11.5%), and Aer (6.9%). Light microscopy and immunochemical investigations demonstrated the normal pelvic transitional epithelial cells cultured. The adherence of strains in both groups increased in 30 min., and reached its peak at 60, (Susceptible E. coli) or 120 min., (Resistant E. coli). The adhesion of the susceptible bacteria to human uroepithelial cells was significantly lower compared with that of the resistant E. coli (p<0.05). CONCLUSION These findings revealed that, Chinese herb-resistant uropathogenic E. coli isolates that are hemolytic, and have Aer, papC, hly, Cnf1 genes are more able to be uropathogenic and adherent.
Metabolic imprinting: critical impact of the perinatal environment on the regulation of energy homeostasis

Epidemiological studies in humans suggest that maternal undernutrition, obesity and diabetes during gestation and lactation can all produce obesity in offspring. Animal models have allowed us to investigate the independent consequences of altering the pre- versus post-natal environments on a variety of metabolic, physiological and neuroendocrine functions as they effect the development in the offspring of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia (the ‘metabolic syndrome’). During gestation, maternal malnutrition, obesity, type 1 and type 2 diabetes and psychological, immunological and pharmacological stressors can all promote offspring obesity. Normal post-natal nutrition can reduce the adverse impact of some of these pre-natal factors but maternal high-fat diets, diabetes and increased neonatal access to food all enhance the development of obesity and the metabolic syndrome in offspring. The outcome of these perturbations of the perinatal environmental is also highly dependent upon the genetic background of the individual. Those with an obesity-prone genotype are more likely to be affected by factors such as maternal obesity and high-fat diets than are obesity-resistant individuals. Many perinatal manipulations appear to promote offspring obesity by permanently altering the development of central neural pathways, which regulate food intake, energy expenditure and storage. Given their strong neurotrophic properties, either excess or an absence of insulin and leptin during the perinatal period are likely to be effectors of these developmental changes. Because obesity is associated with an increased morbidity and mortality and because of its resistance to treatment, prevention is likely to be the best strategy for stemming the tide of the obesity epidemic. Such prevention should begin in the perinatal period with the identification and avoidance of factors which produce permanent, adverse alterations in neural pathways which control energy homeostasis.
The expansion decisions of cassava buying location with buying price decisions case study: Cassava processing manufacturers

This research aims to establish guidelines for selecting position of cassava buying location and assign the appropriate purchase price to cassava purchaser. Nowadays, the quantities of cassava, which facilities obtain, are lower than their production capacity due to high competition among cassava processing manufacturers. Cassava processing factories need to obtain more quantity of raw materials, which are required to expand cassava buying locations to obtain raw materials from other areas where agriculturists have never sold their products to the factory. After the appropriate locations have been established, purchasing prices are calculated in order to compete the price with competitor in such area. The solution methodology is divided into 2 parts such that location selection problem is formulated as Mixed integer linear programming (MIP) model and price competition model is used to calculate the purchasing price. The case study of one firm with two competitors, fifteen possible expansion sites, and fifteen agricultural areas is considered. The results from numerical example indicate that the factory expands 2 cassava buying locations which cover 10 harvesting areas and obtained 45,232 tons of cassava at the purchase price of $55.66 per ton with optimal profit of $2,265,758.73.
Neonatal Anti‐NGF Treatment Reduces the Aδ‐ and C‐Fibre Evoked Vasodilator Responses in Rat Skin: Evidence That Nociceptor Afferents Mediate Antidromic Vasodilatation

Electrical stimulation of cutaneous nerve Aδ‐fibres can lead to increases in skin blood flow (Jänig and Lisney, J. Physiol. (Lond.), 415, 477–486, 1989). Here we have examined this phenomenon in adult rats treated neonatally with antisera to nerve growth factor between postnatal days 2 and 14. This treatment forces many Aδ nociceptor afferents to take on the phenotype of low‐threshold D‐hair afferents (Lewin et al., J. Neurosci., 12, 1896–1905, 1992). In animals treated this way we found a parallel decrease in the ability of Aδ‐fibres to increase skin blood flow. The increase in blood flow evoked by C‐fibre stimulation was also reduced, but no change was seen in the ability of C‐fibres to elicit neurogenic extravasation in skin. These data may be taken as evidence that in rats, amongst the cutaneous Aδ‐fibres, nociceptor but not D‐hair afferents are capable of producing blood flow changes in the skin.
Volume Ray Casting quality estimation in terms of Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio

In spite of a large number of techniques aimed for improvement of Direct Volume Rendering (DVR) quality and performance proposed in the literature, there is a lack of approaches for numerical quality estimation of the images obtained by visualization of medical and scientiﬁc volumetric datasets. In this paper we propose a method to estimate sampling artefacts. Using the proposed estimation method we compare different RC algorithms to expose optimal ones in quality-performance criteria.
Multiple forms of bile salt hydrolase from Lactobacillus sp. strain 100-100

Four isozymes of bile salt hydrolase (BSH) have been purified from the cytosol of cells of Lactobacillus sp. strain 100-100. The four proteins were designated BSH A, B, C, and D. They eluted from anion-exchange high-pressure liquid chromatography columns at 0.15, 0.18, 0.21, and 0.25 M NaCl, respectively. They are catalytically similar, except that the Vmax of BSH D is about 10-fold lower than those of the other three isozymes. All four proteins consist of one or two polypeptides. The peptides have molecular weights of 42,000 and 38,000 and are designated alpha and beta, respectively. The approximate native molecular weights of BSH A, B, C, and D are 115,000, 105,000, 95,000, and 80,000, respectively. The native proteins are probably trimers; the four isozymes are the array of possible subunit combinations alpha 3, alpha 2 beta 1, alpha 1 beta 2, and beta 3 for A, B, C, and D, respectively. The two subunits are antigenically distinct. Polyclonal antibodies raised against BSH A (all alpha peptide) react in Western blots (immunoblots) only with proteins containing the alpha peptide; such antibodies raised against BSH D (all beta peptide) react only with proteins containing the beta peptide. The amino acid compositions of the two peptides differ. This is the first report of a bacterium that makes four BSH isozymes.
Immunogenicity and antigenic heterogeneity of a human transferrin-binding protein in Neisseria meningitidis

Growing Neisseria meningitidis on an iron restriction medium induces the synthesis of new outer membrane proteins, some of them true iron-regulated outer membrane proteins (IROMPs) and others synthesized because of the stress produced by the iron restriction. Some of these proteins are antigenic and can be considered for the development of vaccines; this is especially desirable in the case of N. meningitidis serogroup B, for which polysaccharide vaccines are not efficient. The antigenicity of N. meningitidis 37- and 70-kDa IROMPs has been studied previously; in this work, we studied the immunogenicity and antigenic heterogeneity of another IROMP, the human transferrin-binding protein 2 (TBP2), which seems to be indispensable for meningococcal growth inside the host. Mice were inoculated with purified outer membrane vesicles (blebs) from 5 selected N. meningitidis strains, and the five serum samples obtained were analyzed for anti-TBP2 antibodies by using the homologous strain and for cross-reactivity with the TBP2 of the 4 other selected strains and another 35 heterologous N. meningitidis strains. The TBP2s of the 5 strains tested were all immunogenic in mice to various degrees depending on the strain, and all five TBP2s shared one or more epitopes with heterologous strains (as shown by the cross-reactivities of the five serum samples), although the number of cross-reacting strains was very variable, ranging from 2 for strain V002 to 35 for strain P391. This suggests that the TBP2 epitopes of different strains differ in nature or in their accessibility to the immune system. Under the iron restriction conditions used, all strains synthesized a non-TBP2 antigenic 56-kDa protein thought to be a stress protein.
A practical tool for policy analysis: The ESRI Short-Run Macroeconometric Model of the Japanese Economy (in Japanese)

After seminal critics by Lucas (1976) and by Sims (1980) on traditional macroeconometric models, DSGE and VAR models have been developed and widely used as substitutes for the traditional models. However, those substitute models still have several problems to overcome for practical use in economic policy analyses. Basing on the concept of “Suite of Models,” which is nowadays widely shared among central banks and governments, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) of Cabinet Office, Japanese Government, has been developing and utilizing multiple types of models, including DSGE, VAR, as well as traditional models. This paper briefly reviews the critics of macroeconometric models and indicates some limitations and problems of DSGE and VAR models in practical policy analyses, and then clarify the positioning and contributions of the ESRI Short-Run Macroeconometric Model of the Japanese Economy, a traditional macroeconometric model. JEL Classification Number: C5, E17 Key Words: Macroeconometric model, DSGE model, VAR model, Suite of Models
A Complicated Message: Identification of a Novel PB1-Related Protein Translated from Influenza A Virus Segment 2 mRNA

ABSTRACT Influenza A virus segment 2 is known to encode two polypeptides in overlapping open reading frames: PB1, the polymerase, and PB1-F2, a proapoptotic virulence factor. We show that a third major polypeptide is synthesized from PB1 mRNA via differential AUG codon usage. PB1 codon 40 directs translation of an N-terminally truncated version of the polypeptide (N40) that lacks transcriptase function but nevertheless interacts with PB2 and the polymerase complex in the cellular environment. Importantly, the expression of N40, PB1-F2, and PB1 are interdependent, and certain mutations previously used to ablate PB1-F2 production affected N40 accumulation. Removal of the PB1-F2 AUG upregulated N40 synthesis, while truncating PB1-F2 after codon 8 (with a concomitant M40I change in PB1) abolished N40 expression. A virus lacking both N40 and PB1-F2 replicated normally. However, viruses that did not express N40 but retained an intact PB1-F2 gene overexpressed PB1 early in infection and replicated slowly in tissue culture. Thus, the influenza A virus proteome includes a 12th primary translation product that (similarly to PB1-F2) is nonessential for virus viability but whose loss, in particular genetic backgrounds, is detrimental to virus replication.