Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Life after pancreas transplantation: reversal of diabetic lesions

Purpose of reviewRecipients of pancreas transplantation bear the burden of chronic complications of diabetes, both microvascular and macrovascular. Pancreas transplantation provides the most effective method of glycemic and metabolic control. As transplantation provides immediate relief from acute complications of diabetes, the impact of a successful transplant on long-term complications is the focus of this review. Recent findingsIt is increasingly recognized that a successful pancreas transplant may slow, stabilize, or ameliorate the progression of macrovascular and microvascular complications of diabetes. New understanding of the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms and pathophysiology of diabetic complications has provided new data potentially useful for prospectively studying the effect of pancreas transplant on chronic complications of diabetes. SummaryEarlier correction of diabetes by pancreas transplantation decreases chronic complications. Refinements in the understanding of the tissue targets of diabetes complications and new diagnostic and imaging tools to measure them may prove useful in further studying the impact of pancreas transplantation on chronic complications of diabetes.
Two-stage expression of neurofilament polypeptides during rat neurogenesis with early establishment of adult phosphorylation patterns

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to rat neurofilament (NF) proteins NF-L, NF-M, and NF-H were used to examine the developmental programs of NF expression in rat embryos. The ability of these mAbs to recognize differentially phosphorylated states of NF-M and NF-H (Lee et al., 1987, the preceding paper) was exploited in order to examine the temporal and spatial patterns of NF phosphorylation during early neuronal development in vivo. NF proteins were first detected on the twelfth day postfertilization (E12) using NF-L- or NF-M-specific mAbs. By E13, the coexpression of NF-L and NF-M was widespread, reflecting dramatic increases of immunoreactivity to both subunits. Partial phosphorylation, denoted P[+], of NF-M was already present in perikarya and neurites of E12 neurons. Extensively phosphorylated, or P[+++], isoforms of NF-M appeared in E13 axons, thereby establishing a proximodistal gradient of NF phosphorylation during the earliest phase of NF expression. Immunoblots of tissue homogenates revealed that most NF-M of E13 embryos exists in a partially phosphorylated, or P[+], isoform. Unequivocal staining for NF-H first appeared at E15, a time at which NF-L and NF-M had already attained their adult patterns of immunocytochemical staining. Levels of NF-H were extremely low at E15 but could be detected in all of its differentially phosphorylated states, i.e., nonphosphorylated P[-], partly P[+], and highly P[+++] phosphorylated isoforms. P[+++] isoforms of NF-H were restricted to the distal portions of E15 axons, although staining of more proximal axons, like those in adult, was noted by E17. Immunoblots of E17 embryos revealed most NF-H as P[-] and P[+] isoforms. Quantities of immunoreactive NF-H increased very slowly and remained well below those of NF-M and NF-L for several weeks beyond birth. These results show that sequential forms of NFs are expressed by developing and maturing neurons throughout the nervous system. An “immature” form of NFs, composed of NF-M and NF-L, appears to function in establishing the neuronal phenotype and in initiating and maintaining neurite outgrowth. Addition of NF-H confers a “mature” state to the NF. This delayed expression of NF-H is a slow and graduated process that coincides in time with the stabilization of neuronal circuitries and may be important in modulating axonal events, such as the slowing of cytoskeletal transport and the growth of axonal caliber.
Variation of killing power of human sera against Bordetella pertussis.

A direct serological test has been developed, the effects of which have been shown, by electron microscopy, to be produced by immune lysis. The antibodies measured by the test show some measure of strain specificity, though this does not seem to be correlated with serotype of the organism or the agglutinating titres of the sera tested. Although under standardized conditions it is possible to measure the titre of bactericidal antibodies to various strains of Bordetella pertussis, it is suggested that immunity to infection depends not only on the antibody titre, but also on the complement titre. It is thought that the new direct serum bactericidal test when used with several strains of the organism may demonstrate the state of immunity of an individual more satisfactorily than any test used hitherto.
Effects of Vestibular and Balance Rehabilitation on Sensory Organization and Dizziness Handicap

This retrospective study was undertaken to assess balance recovery and dizziness handicap in 32 patients after a vestibular and balance rehabilitation program. Outcomes were compared between 12 patients with peripheral vestibular disorders and 20 patients with central or mixed balance disorders. The patients were tested with posturography (sensory organization test [SOT]) and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) before and after their therapy program. The vestibular SOT, composite SOT, and functional DHI scores obtained before and after exercise were significantly improved in both the peripheral and central groups. The visual SOT mean scores obtained before and after therapy were significantly different only for the group with central or mixed vestibular disorders. Changes in SOT scores were not directly correlated with changes in DHI scores. Outcome measures of vestibular rehabilitation protocols confirmed objective and subjective improvement of balance and dizziness handicap in patients with peripheral and central vestibular disorders.
Reinfection with Chlamydophila abortus by Uterine and Indirect Cohort Routes Reduces Fertility in Cattle Preexposed to Chlamydophila

ABSTRACT This study investigated the effects of controlled reinfection on fertility of cattle naturally preexposed to Chlamydophila abortus. All animals had high prechallenge levels of immunoglobulin M (IgM), IgG, IgG1, and IgG2 serum antibodies against ruminant C. abortus in a chemiluminescent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Twenty virgin heifers were estrus synchronized with prostaglandin F2, artificially inseminated 2 to 3 days later, and challenged immediately by intrauterine administration of 0, 104, 105, 106, or 108 inclusion-forming units (IFU) of C. abortus. Ten heifers were estrus synchronized, inseminated, and uterine challenged 2 weeks later. These animals were also indirectly exposed to C. abortus infection (cohort challenged) by contact with their previously challenged cohorts. Pregnancy was determined by rectal palpation 42 days after insemination. All anti-C. abortus antibody isotypes increased in heifers following uterine challenge with 108 IFU. A total of 11, 83, 50, 66, and 0% of heifers were pregnant after uterine challenge with 0, 104, 105, 106, and 108 IFU of C. abortus, respectively. A total of 50 and 65% of heifers were pregnant with and without cohort challenge, respectively. Uterine inoculum dose and cohort challenge (or, alternatively, a negative pregnancy outcome [infertility]) correlated highly significantly with a rise in postchallenge anti-C. abortus IgM levels over prechallenge levels. Logistic regression modeled fertility, with uterine challenge dose and cohort challenge or prechallenge IgM as predictors (P < 0.05). The models predict that the uterine C. abortus inoculum causing infertility is 8.5-fold higher for heifers without cohort exposure and 17-fold higher for heifers with high IgM levels than for heifers with cohort exposure or with low IgM levels.
On the discrepancy between whole‐cell and membrane patch mechanosensitivity in Xenopus oocytes

Mechanical stimulation of voltage‐clamped Xenopus oocytes by inflation, aspiration, or local indentation failed to activate an increase in membrane conductance up to the point of causing visible oocyte damage. The absence of mechanosensitivity is not due to the vitelline membrane, rapid MG channel adaptation or tension‐sensitive recruitment of new membrane. Membrane capacitance measurements indicate that the oocyte surface area is at least 5 times larger than that predicted assuming a smooth sphere. We propose that this excess membrane area provides an immediate reserve that can ‘buffer’ membrane tension changes and thus prevent MG channel activation. High‐resolution images of tightly sealed patches and patch capacitance measurements indicate a smooth membrane that is pulled flat and perpendicular across the inside of the pipette. Brief steps of pressure or suction cause rapid and reversible membrane flexing and MG channel activation. We propose that changes in membrane geometry induced during cell growth and differentiation or as a consequence of specific physiological and pathological conditions may alter mechanosensitivity of a cell independently of the intrinsic properties of channel proteins.
Performance and Power Impacts of Autotuning of Kalman Filters for Disparate Environments

In both high-performance computing and Internet of Things (IoT) applications, it is important for programmers to utilize the hardware as efficiently as possible in terms of both performance and power usage. Automatic methods of tuning code for such efficiency have been developed and used for many years in HPC, but less so in other areas. In this paper, we apply these methods to the domain of IoT to explore the feasibility of using autotuning in this domain. Our case study examines the application of roadway traffic analysis. We use Computer Vision techniques to count the cyclists, pedestrians, and cars as they travel through a video of a campus intersection. A significant portion of the tracking computations is the Kalman filter method, which is used to estimate the paths of objects through the video. This Kalman filter is the target of this autotuning study. We present results for the performance and power usage of the system with multiple autotuning techniques and optimized BLAS libraries on three disparate architectures. Our results show that autotuning is both feasible on and beneficial to IoT platforms.
Varying Coefficient Tensor Models for Brain Imaging

We revisit a multidimensional varying-coefficient model (VCM), by allowing regressor coefficients to vary smoothly in more than one dimension, thereby extending the VCM of Hastie and Tibshirani. The motivating example is 3-dimensional, involving a special type of nuclear magnetic resonance measurement technique that is being used to estimate the diffusion tensor at each point in the human brain. We aim to improve the current state of the art, which is to apply a multiple regression model for each voxel separately using information from six or more volume images. We present a model, based on P-spline tensor products, to introduce spatial smoothness of the estimated diffusion tensor. Since the regression design matrix is space-invariant, a 4-dimensional tensor product model results, allowing more efficient computation with penalized array regression.
Physiological Signaling and Structure of the HGF Receptor MET

The “hepatocyte growth factor” also known as “scatter factor”, is a multifunctional cytokine with the peculiar ability of simultaneously triggering epithelial cell proliferation, movement and survival. The combination of those proprieties results in the induction of an epithelial to mesenchymal transition in target cells, fundamental for embryogenesis but also exploited by tumor cells during metastatization. The hepatocyte growth factor receptor, MET, is a proto-oncogene and a prototypical transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor. Inhere we discuss the MET molecular structure and the hepatocyte growth factor driven physiological signaling which coordinates epithelial proliferation, motility and morphogenesis.
An SVM-based classification of oral and nasal snoring sounds with Kullback-Leibler kernel

Recently, numerous investigations have shown that loud habitual snoring is due to nasal obstruction and loud oral snoring is found in many sleep apnea patients. So, it is important to detect oral snoring in the earlier stage, but unfortunately we cannot know our own sleep condition. For such purpose, we adopt a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier with Kullback-Leibler (KL) kernel so as to classify oral and nasal snoring sounds based on the spectral properties, and compare it with the other kernel functions.
Responses of photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence and ROS-scavenging systems to salt stress during seedling and reproductive stages in rice.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Salinity is a widespread soil problem limiting productivity of cereal crops worldwide. Rice is particularly sensitive to salt stress during the seedling stage, with consequent poor crop establishment, as well as during reproduction where salinity can severely disrupt grain formation and yield. Tolerance at the seedling stage is weakly associated with tolerance during reproduction. Physiological responses to salinity were evaluated for contrasting genotypes, during the seedling and reproductive stages. METHODS Three rice genotypes differing in their tolerance of salinity were evaluated in a set of greenhouse experiments under salt stress during both seedling stage and reproduction. KEY RESULTS Photosynthetic CO2 fixation, stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration decreased substantially because of salt stress, but with greater reduction in the sensitive cultivar IR29. The tolerant lines IR651 and IR632 had more responsive stomata that tended to close faster during the first few hours of stress, followed by partial recovery after a brief period of acclimation. However, in the sensitive line, gs continued to decrease for longer duration and with no recovery afterward. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements revealed that non-photochemical quenching increased, whereas the electron transport rate decreased under salt stress. Salt-tolerant cultivars exhibited much lower lipid peroxidation, maintained elevated levels of reduced ascorbic acid and showed increased activities of the enzymes involved in the reactive oxygen scavenging system during both developmental stages. CONCLUSIONS Upregulation of the anti-oxidant system appears to play a role in salt tolerance of rice, with tolerant genotypes also maintaining relatively higher photosynthetic function; during both the vegetative and reproductive stages.
Histology and prognosis in malignant melanoma

ONE of the characteristic features of malignant melanoma is the wide range of its histological and cytological features. Though no single appearance can be regarded as an index of prognosis there are certain suggestive appearances that seem related to the period of survival. Although previous authors have reported on this subject there is still a lack of unanimity and too often " malignant melanoma " is the laconic report regarded as adequate by pathologists. The acceptance of essential additional significant facts that should be assessed and included in histopathological reports depends on the continued presentation of series of malignant melanomas and the analysis of their histopathology and its relevance to survival. With this in mind, the following paper was prepared. The clinical features of this series and results of treatment will be published elsewhere (Cochran, 1968, 1969).
Ex vivo biomechanical evaluation of the canine cranial cruciate ligament-deficient stifle with varying angles of stifle joint flexion and axial loads after tibial tuberosity advancement.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) on cranial tibial thrust (CrTT), retropatellar force (RPF), patellar tendon load (PTL), and patellar tendon angle determined by the tibial plateau angle (PTA(TPA) ) method or common tangent (PTA(CT) ) method in the canine cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL)-deficient stifle joint. STUDY DESIGN Ex vivo cadaver study. SAMPLE POPULATION Cadaveric canine hind limbs (n=30). METHODS Stifle joints were subjected to 3 differing loading conditions using a constrained limb press model (Group 1: 30% body weight axial load at stifle and talocrural joint angles of 135 ± 5° and 145 ± 5°, respectively; Group 2: 30% body weight axial load at stifle and talocrural angles of 145 ± 5° and 135 ± 5°, respectively; and Group 3: 50% body weight axial load at stifle and talocrural joint angles of 135 ± 5° and 145 ± 5°, respectively). The CrCL was transected in situ under load; sensors allowed direct measurement of CrTT, RPF, and PTL. Lateral radiographic projections were used to assess PTA(TPA) and PTA(CT) . Descriptive statistics were used to report CrTT (by design this force returned to 0-point values, defined as the neutral point of advancement [NPA]). At the NPA, RPF was compared with baseline using a 2-tailed sign test. PTL within groups were compared using a paired t-test; pair-wise comparisons of PTA(TPA) and PTA(CT) were performed using a paired t-test. Comparisons between loading conditions were made with a 1-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test. Equivalence tests were used to test mean PTA(TPA) and PTA(CT) for equivalence to 90°. Significance was set at a P-value of . 05. RESULTS CrTT returned to baseline values, and RPF and PTL at NPA were reduced below baseline values in all specimens in a near linear fashion with TTA. At the NPA, PTA(TPA) >PTA(CT) in 2 of the 3 loading conditions, but insufficient evidence to suggest they differed in the third. Mean PTA(TPA) and PTA(CT) varied between loading conditions. The threshold for each of the groups evaluated, at which the PTA could be significantly different from 90°, was larger for PTA(TPA) than PTA(CT) in all groups, as greater variation was observed with PTA(TPA) versus PTA(CT) . CONCLUSION This study further supports the claim that reduction of CrTT occurs after TTA in the CrCL-deficient stifle joint through an alteration of PTA. Additionally, RPF and PTL also decrease after TTA. The PTA(CT) may be a more precise method of determining PTA.
Persistent Stapedial Artery: Does it Prevent Successful Surgery?

Because of the important function of the embryologic stapedial artery, it is taken for granted by many surgeons that the finding of such a persistent artery in postnatal humans during middle ear surgery should urge maximal caution in order not to damage the artery. Often, discontinuation of the surgery is recommended. Yet this attitude is based on theoretic considerations rather than on any clinical evidence of complications following injury to this vessel. The present paper describes the embryology in relation to this specific aspect and reviews the literature on the persistent stapedial artery, emphasizing the papers dealing with injury to this vessel. In addition, we report 4 cases of persistent stapedial artery from the files of almost 20,000 patients in whom tympanotomy was performed. From all these data we conclude that injury to this artery or even complete section probably does not cause major, if any, postoperative sequelae, and that consequently, middle ear surgery is not necessarily hindered by the presence of this vessel.
Rapid regression of hepatic focal fatty infiltration. Computed-tomographic and ultrasound correlation.

The authors describe the computed-tomographic (CT) and ultrasound appearance of focal fatty infiltration of the liver which regressed completely in two weeks with nutritional supplementation alone. Initial diagnosis and recognition of possible rapid resolution of focal fatty infiltration are important, since CT and ultrasound changes may be ascribed to unrelated treatment and erroneously alter therapy.
Family Functioning and Child Asthma Severity: A Bio-Behavioral Approach

Introduction: Family factors are directly associated with the psychosocial adjustment of children with chronic illnesses such as asthma (Kaugars, Klinnert, & Bender, 2004). Research indicates that negative family factors may also contribute to child disease severity via bio-behavioral mechanisms of effect. For instance, children from more conflicted families often experience greater internalizing symptoms that subsequently impact their asthma severity (Wood et al., 2006). These pathways have yet to be examined with a comprehensive focus on strength-based family factors. This study examined whether factors such as family cohesion, problem-solving abilities, and communication influence asthma severity via their effects on child depression and anxiety symptoms. Method: Participants were 215 children (136 males and 79 females), ages 5 to 12 years old, and their families. Primary caregiver, child, and teacher ratings of child and family functioning in addition to objective measures of parent–child interactions and asthma severity were collected. Results: Using structural equation modeling, the authors identified significant indirect associations between family factors and child asthma severity via child depressive symptoms; however, these associations were not present in models with child anxiety symptoms. Discussion: Results suggest an indirect effect of family functioning on children’s lung function, with differential roles of anxiety and depression in these pathways. This article also highlights the importance of incorporating multirater multimethod measures to understand children’s experiences in pediatric asthma.
Very thin flexible coupled inductors for PV module integrated GaN converter

As the PV energy penetrates into the urban area, shortcomings of the conventional centralized PV system architectures become more pronounced under the influence of urban environment with shading, soiling and orientation mismatch issues. To overcome these limitations new PV system architectures were proposed with more granular power processing by means of distributed maximum power point tracking (DMPPT). This is achieved by adjoining a MPPT unit to each PV module in the PV array. This paper presents a step further in the distributed power tracking approach, with a concept of very low profile power converter integrated directly into a low cost flexible PV module. Additional problems arise in this case, specifically in magnetics design, due to the requirements for very low profile flexible construction and limited thermal headroom. Overcoming these limitations presents a challenge, but can lead to a cost effective, reliable solution for PV systems with improved integration level and power density.
Clinical Activity of Farnesyl Transferase Inhibitors in Hematologic Malignancies: Possible Mechanisms of Action

Farnesyl transferase inhibitors (FTIs) are a novel class of anti-cancer agents that competitively inhibit farnesyl protein transferase (FTase). Initially developed to inhibit the prenylation necessary for Ras activation, their mechanism of action seems to be more complex, involving other proteins unrelated to Ras. FTIs have been developed and tested across a wide range of human cancers. At least 3 agents within this family have been investigated in hematologic malignancies. These are tipifarnib (R115777, Zarnestra®), lonafarnib (SCH66336, SarasarTM), both of which are orally administered, and BMS-214662, which is given intravenously. Preliminary results from clinical trials demonstrate enzyme target inhibition, a favorable toxicity profile and promising efficacy. Ongoing studies will better determine their mechanism of action and the role of combination with other agents, defining their place in the therapeutic arsenal of hematologic disorders.
A Three-dimensional of Coastline Deformation using the Sorting Reliability Algorithm of ENVISAT Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar

At present, because of sea-level rise, and climate change (such as an increase in storm surg‐ es, hurricanes, etc.) there is a worldwide increase in coastal erosion, usually apparent in the progressive retreat of backshore cliffs, dunes, spits, and the concomitant landward displace‐ ment of the shoreline [10, 13, 21]. In this regard, coastal erosion requires standard proce‐ dures for monitoring, modelling, and mapping [12, 22].