Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lumbar Paraspinal Muscle Function, Perception of Lumbar Position, and Postural Control in Disc Herniation-Related Back Pain

Study Design. A follow-up study evaluating postural control, lumbar movement perception, and paraspinal muscle reflexes in disc herniation-related chronic low back pain (LBP) before and after discectomy. Objectives. To assess the effect of discectomy on postural control, lumbar perception, and reflex activation of paraspinal muscles during sudden upper limb loading. Summary of Background Data. Impaired muscle function, postural control, and lumbar proprioception have been observed in LBP. However, they have not been studied in sciatica patients after surgery. Methods. The study included 20 patients selected for an operation for chronic LBP caused by disc herniation and 15 controls without chronic LBP. The paraspinal muscle responses for upper limb loading during unexpected and expected conditions were measured by surface electromyography. The ability to sense lumbar rotation was assessed in a previously validated motorized trunk rotation unit in the seated position. The postural control was measured with a vertical force platform. Pain, disability, and depression scores were recorded. Results. Patients had poorer lumbar perception (P = 0.012) and postural control (P < 0.05) than did healthy controls. The postural control remained unchanged, but lumbar perception (P = 0.054) and the lumbar feed-forward control (P = 0.043) improved after the surgery. Conclusions. The results demonstrate impaired lumbar proprioception and postural control in sciatica patients. During short-term follow-up after operative treatment, postural control does not seem to change, but impaired lumbar proprioception and feed-forward control of paraspinal muscles seem to recover.
Rural Patients' Interests In Preventive Medical Care

A number of national studies have reported patients' interests in preventive medical care, but rural populations have not been well studied. We surveyed patients from a major clinic in rural central Minnesota to determine their interests in preventive medical care and their physicians' perceptions of those interests. Of 270 patients who responded to a questionnaire, 63–93 percent agreed that physicians should perform a wide variety of primary and secondary preventive medical services, such as periodic health examinations and counseling about smoking, exercise, and diet. Study physicians recommended most preventive medical services at least as often as did their patients, but physicians consistently underestimated patients' wishes for these services. Our results indicate that this rural clinic population is interested in a broad range of preventive medical services, which was not fully appreciated by the physicians.
Studies on Angiostrongylus cantonensis in molluscan intermediate hosts.

First-stage larvae of Angiostrongylus cantonensis from rat feces developed to infective third-stage larvae in 20 of 26 species of freshwater mollusks experimentally exposed. Numbers of larvae up to 2,000 per snail and survival of larvae for a year were observed in Biomphalaria glabrata. First-stage larvae were susceptible to drying but survived at least 3 weeks in freshwater and were infective to snails after at least 2 weeks in either freshwater or seawater. B. glabrata was routinely infected by ingestion of infected rat feces, and first-stage larvae were observed penetrating the wall of the intestine. A cellular reaction enclosed the developing larvae in tissue nodules. Isolated third-stage larvae were susceptible to drying but survived up to 11 days in B. glabrata removed from water, larvae remaining alive 4 days after death of the snails. Rats became infected by drinking water containing third-stage larvae, and larvae were observed active in freshwater for up to a week. Infected B. glabrata died a few minutes after immersion in seawater, but yielded by digestion numerous infective larvae after 4 days in seawater, and a few infective larvae after 5 days. Results suggest the potential importance of freshwater mollusks as intermediate hosts and the possibility of infection of marine hosts. The life cycle of Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Chen) Dougherty, the rat lungworm, was described by Mackerras and Sandars (1955). A. cantonensis has been suspected as the etiologic agent of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in several Pacific Islands (Rosen et al., 1961, 1962; Horio and Alicata, 1961; Alicata, 1962a, 1962b; and Alicata and Brown, 1962). Human infections were reviewed by Rosen et al. (1962); by Weinstein et al. (1963); and by Kuntz and Myers (1964). Terrestrial mollusks, both slugs and snails, have been infected (Mackerras and Sandars, 1955; Weinstein et al., 1962; and Alicata, 1962a). Experimental infection of the freshwater snail Fossaria ollula was reported by Alicata and Brown (1962). Liat et al. (1965) found three species of freshwater snails infected in nature with A.
Seasonal Changes in the Rhizosphere Microbial Communities Associated with Field-Grown Genetically Modified Canola (Brassica napus)

ABSTRACT The introduction of transgenic plants into agricultural ecosystems has raised the question of the ecological impact of these plants on nontarget organisms, such as soil bacteria. Although differences in both the genetic structure and the metabolic function of the microbial communities associated with some transgenic plant lines have been established, it remains to be seen whether these differences have an ecological impact on the soil microbial communities. We conducted a 2-year, multiple-site field study in which rhizosphere samples associated with a transgenic canola variety and a conventional canola variety were sampled at six times throughout the growing season. The objectives of this study were to identify differences between the rhizosphere microbial community associated with the transgenic plants and the rhizosphere microbial community associated with the conventional canola plants and to determine whether the differences were permanent or depended on the presence of the plant. Community-level physiological profiles, fatty acid methyl ester profiles, and terminal amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis profiles of rhizosphere microbial communities were compared to the profiles of the microbial community associated with an unplanted, fallow field plot. Principal-component analysis showed that there was variation in the microbial community associated with both canola variety and growth season. Importantly, while differences between the microbial communities associated with the transgenic plant variety were observed at several times throughout the growing season, all analyses indicated that when the microbial communities were assessed after winter, there were no differences between microbial communities from field plots that contained harvested transgenic canola plants and microbial communities from field plots that did not contain plants during the field season. Hence, the changes in the microbial community structure associated with genetically modified plants were temporary and did not persist into the next field season.
Sex, Marital Status, and Mortality

This paper explores the relationship between marital status and mortality for both men and women. It is shown that, controlling for age, the married have lower mortality rates than the single, the widowed, or the divorced and that the differences between the married and unmarried statuses are much greater for men than for women. It is argued that these relationships can, at least in part, be attributed to the characteristics of the marital statuses in our society, for: (1) precisely the same pattern is found in studies of psychlogical wellbeing and mental illness; (2) the evidence from specific types of mortality indicates that this pattern is characteristic primarily of types of mortality in which one's psychological state may greatly affect one's life chances; (3) a role explanation can account for the way the pattern varies with changes in age; and (4) it appears that the alternative explanation, namely, that the relationship are due to selective process, does not account for most of the variation in rates.
Comparison of mRNA levels for matrix molecules in normal and disrupted human anterior cruciate ligaments using reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction

Midsubstance samples of anterior cruciate ligaments from seven normal human cadaver knees (16–50 years old) were harvested and compared with midsubstance pieces of scarred anterior cruciate ligaments from 30 patients (15–40 years old). RNA was isolated from each ligament, and the expression of type‐I collagen, type‐III collagen, biglycan, decorin, lumican, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase‐1 was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction with use of β‐actin as the housekeeping gene. Data for injured ligaments were further compared statistically as a function of time after injury to better define patterns of cellular expression over time. Our hypothesis was that injured ligaments would show minimal cellular activity and decreasing activity over time. The results revealed that both normal and injured anterior cruciate ligaments contain cells that express mRNA for all molecules studied. However, cells in Injured ligaments express much higher, but still proportional, quantities of message for type‐I collagen and, type‐III collagen (p < 0.000001) and higher quantities of biglycan (p < 0.02) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase‐1 (p < 0.0003) than do cells in normal anterior cruciate ligaments. These levels remained elevated for longer than 1 year after injury. Linear regression analysis showed biglycan expression correlated with time from injury (r2 = –0.69; p = 0.007). These results collectively demonstrate that injured human anterior cruciate ligaments contain cells that express scar‐like molecules and that the injured ligaments are likely continuing to remodel matrix over time. Furthermore, they suggest that human anterior cruciate ligaments have not failed to heal due to the failure of scar formation per se. The quality and quantity of this scar remain questionable; however, the possibility of its enhancement as a healing strategy for human anterior cruciate ligaments cannot be dismissed.
Actions of the GABAB agonist, (−)‐baclofen, on neurones in deep dorsal horn of the rat spinal cord in vitro

1 The electrophysiological actions of the GABAB agonist, (−)‐baclofen, on deep dorsal horn neurones were studied using an in vitro preparation of the spinal cord of 9–16 day old rat. 2 On all neurones tested, (−)‐baclofen (100nM‐30μm) had a hyperpolarizing action which was associated with a reduction in apparent membrane input resistance. The increase in membrane conductance was dose‐dependent and had a Hill coefficient of 1.0. 3 The (−)‐baclofen‐activated hyperpolarization persisted in the presence of bicuculline (50 μm) and Mg2+(20 mm). 4 The reversal potential of the hyperpolarizing event was estimated at 102 mV and was made less negative by increasing the external concentration of potassium ions. 5 Over the same concentration range, (−)‐baclofen also depressed the polysynaptic composite excitatory postsynaptic potentials (e.p.s.ps) evoked in these neurones by electrical stimulation of the dorsal root entry zone. 6 The potassium channel blockers caesium, applied intracellularly, and barium, applied extracellularly, depressed the postsynaptic response to baclofen but not its effect on e.p.s.ps. 7 We propose that (−)‐baclofen has more than one mechanism of action in spinal dorsal horn: a postsynaptic action mediated via an increase in potassium conductance and a presynaptic action that is not associated with potassium channels and may be mediated via calcium channels. Since previous studies have demonstrated little effect of (−)‐baclofen on transmitter release in spinal cord, it is possible that the postsynaptic hyperpolarizing action of (−)‐baclofen may account for its clinical potency as an anti‐spastic agent.
The Optomotor Response and Induced Motion of the Self

Although the optomotor response in animals and induced motion of the self in humans occur under very similar stimulus conditions, they have not hitherto been related. Experiments with fish are reported which support the hypothesis that the optomotor response is based on the animal's attempt to nullify the unwanted experience of its own motion that is imposed upon it.
Protecting the Privacy and Trust of VIP Users on Social Network Sites

: There is a real threat on the VIPs personal pages on the Social Network Sites (SNS). The real threats to these pages is violation of privacy and theft of identity through creating fake pages that exploit their names and pictures to attract the victims and spread of lies. In this paper, we propose a new secure architecture that improves the trusting and finds an effective solution to reduce fake pages and possibility of recognizing VIP pages on SNS. The proposed architecture works as a third party that is added to Facebook to provide the trust service to personal pages for VIPs. Through this mechanism, it works to ensure the real identity of the applicant through the electronic authentication of personal information by storing this information within content of their website. As a result, the significance of the proposed architecture is that it secures and provides trust to the VIPs personal pages. Furthermore, it can help to discover fake page, protect the privacy, reduce crimes of personality-theft, and increase the sense of trust and satisfaction by friends and admirers in interacting with SNS.
CreatineKinaseB-SubunitActivity In Serum in Cases of Suspected MyocardiaiInfarction : A Prediction Model Based on the Slopeof MB increase and Percentage CK-MB Activity

590 CLINICALCHEMISTRY, Vol. 29, No.3, 1983 it3’ of 55 U/L). The diagnostic efficiencies increase to 92% at 12 h and 95% or more at 24 and 48 h when a cutoff value of65 U ofLD-1 activity per liter is used. This study confirms the reported early occurrence of an increased LD-1 within the first 24 h after infarct (2,3) with a 90% efficiency in the first 16 h (3). We also point out the high error rate that may be expected if the LD-1 activity is measured earlier than 12 h after admission. Our results indicate that LD-1 assay is most efficient if a cutoff value can be assigned for an optimum sampling time. However, a measurement of LD-1 activity at the time of admission may be indicated if the total LD activity is above normal. The use of a bivariate distribution plot of total LD activity vs percent LD-1 as a means to identify individuals with MI with greater accuracy is similar to the LD-1 activity vs LD-1/LD activity ratio recently reported (7).
Atm Is Dispensable for p53 Apoptosis and Tumor Suppression Triggered by Cell Cycle Dysfunction

ABSTRACT Both p53 and ATM are checkpoint regulators with roles in genetic stabilization and cancer susceptibility. ATM appears to function in the same DNA damage checkpoint pathway as p53. However, ATM’s role in p53-dependent apoptosis and tumor suppression in response to cell cycle dysregulation is unknown. In this study, we tested the role of murine ataxia telangiectasia protein (Atm) in a transgenic mouse brain tumor model in which p53-mediated apoptosis results in tumor suppression. These p53-mediated activities are induced by tissue-specific inactivation of pRb family proteins by a truncated simian virus 40 large T antigen in brain epithelium. We show that p53-dependent apoptosis, transactivation, and tumor suppression are unaffected by Atm deficiency, suggesting that signaling in the DNA damage pathway is distinct from that in the oncogene-induced pathway. In addition, we show that Atm deficiency has no overall effect on tumor growth and progression in this model.
Effect of magnetic field exposure on calcium channel currents using patch clamp technique

Calcium influxes through the membrane of PC‐12D cells were measured under exposure to DC biased AC magnetic fields in resonant conditions of the ion cyclotron and the ion parametric resonance hypotheses and compared with influxes in cells without exposure to the magnetic field. After cancellation of the geomagnetic field, the cells were exposed to the horizontal fields generated by a current sheet, a planar sheet of conductor which generated a satisfactorily homogeneous horizontal magnetic field on the stage of a microscope without hindering treatment of a cell under observation. At or near any resonant conditions, no change in calcium influx could be detected under standard patch clamp conditions. Bioelectromagnetics 23:306–314, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Standardised Geo-Sensor Webs for Integrated Urban Air Quality Monitoring

‘In the next century, planet earth will don an electronic skin. It will use the Internet as a scaffold to support and transmit its sensations. This skin is already being stitched together. It consists of millions of embedded electronic measuring devices: thermostats, pressure gauges, pollution detectors, cameras, microphones, glucose sensors, EKGs, electroencephalographs. These will probe and monitor cities and endangered species, the atmosphere, our ships, highways and fleets of trucks, our conversations, our bodies – even our dreams. ’ (Gross, 1999) Following this comprehensive vision by Neil Gross (1999), it can be assumed that sensor network deployments will increase dramatically within the coming years, as pervasive sensing has recently become feasible and affordable. This enriches knowledge about our environment with previously uncharted real-time information layers. However, leveraging sensor data in an ad-hoc fashion is not trivial as ubiquitous geo-sensor web applications comprise numerous technologies, such as sensors, communications, massive data manipulation and analysis, data fusion with mathematical modelling, the production of outputs on a variety of scales, the provision of information as both hard data and user-sensitive visualisation, together with appropriate delivery structures. Apart from this, requirements for geo-sensor webs are highly heterogeneous depending on the functional context. This chapter addresses the nature of this supply chain; one overarching aspect is that all elements are currently undergoing both great performance enhancement combined with drastic price reduction (Paulsen & Riegger, 2006). This has led to the deployment of a number of geo-sensor networks. On the positive side the growing establishment of such networks will further decrease prices and improve component performance. This will particularly be so if the environmental regulatory structure moves from a mathematical modelling base to a more pervasive monitoring structure. Of specific interest in this chapter is our concern that most sensor networks are being built up in monolithic and specific application-centred measurement systems. In consequence, there is a clear gap between sensor network research and mostly very heterogeneous end user requirements. Sensor network research is often dedicated to a long-term vision, which tells a compelling story about potential applications. On the contrary, the actual implementation is mostly not more than a very limited demonstration without taking into account well-known issues such as interoperability, sustainable development, portability or the coupling with established data analysis systems.
Q uantitative Characterizations of Speech Rhythm: Syllable-Timing in Singapore English

British English and Singapore English are said to differ in rhythmic patterning. British English is commonly described as stress-timed, but Singapore English is claimed to be syllable-timed. In the present paper, we explore the acoustic nature of the suggested cross-varietal difference. In directly comparable samples from British English and Singapore English, two types of acoustic measurements were taken; we calculateda variability index reflecting changes in vowel length over utterances, and measurements reflecting vowel quality. Our findings provide acoustic data which support the hypothesized crossvarietal difference in rhythmic patterning; we show(1) that successive vowel durations are more nearly equal in Singapore English than in British English, and(2) that reduced vowels pattern more peripherally in the F1/F2 formant space in Singapore English than in British English. We complete the paper with a comparison of our vowel variability index with a set of acoustic measures for rhythm proposed by Ramus, Nespor, and Mehler(1999), which focus on variability in vocalic and intervocalic intervals. We conclude that our variability index is more successful in capturing rhythmic differences than Ramus et al. (1999)'s measures, and that an application of our index to Ramus et al.'s intervocalic measure may provide a further diagnostic of rhythmic class.
Cellular and molecular parameters of mesothelioma

Malignant mesotheliomas (MM) are neoplasms arising from mesothelial cells that line the body cavities, most commonly the pleural and peritoneal cavities. Although traditionally recognized as associated with occupational asbestos exposures, MMs can appear in individuals with no documented exposures to asbestos fibers, and emerging data suggest that genetic susceptibility and simian virus 40 (SV40) infections also facilitate the development of MMs. Both asbestos exposure and transfection of human mesothelial cells with SV40 large and small antigens (Tag, tag) cause genetic modifications and cell signaling events, most notably the induction of cell survival pathways and activation of receptors, and other proteins that favor the growth and establishment of MMs as well as their resistance to chemotherapy. Recent advances in high‐throughput technologies documenting gene and protein expression in patients and animal models of MMs can now be validated in human MM tissue arrays. These have revealed expression profiles that allow more accurate diagnosis and prognosis of MMs. More importantly, serum proteomics has revealed two new candidates (osteopontin and serum mesothelin‐related protein or SMRP) potentially useful in screening individuals for MMs. These mechanistic approaches offer new hope for early detection and treatment of these devastating tumors. J. Cell. Biochem. 98: 723–734, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
PERSPECTIVAS CURRICULARES PARA LA FORMACIÓN DE FORMADORES EN EDUCACIÓN AMBIENTAL

Es profesora en la Facultad de Ciencias de la Educacion de la Universidad del Quebec en Montreal (UQAM) y titular de la Catedra de Investigacion del Canada en Educacion Ambiental. Es responsable del Programa de Estudios Superiores en Educacion Ambiental de la UQAM, co-directora de la revista de investigacion Education relative a l’environnement – Regards, Recherche, Reflexions y directora del Comite cientifico de la Red internacional de investigacion RefERE. Dirige diferentes proyectos de investigacion, tanto a nivel nacional que internacional, principalmente en los campos de la educacion cientifica y tecnologica, la educacion a la salud ambiental, la educacion para el ecodesarrollo, los desafios de la participacion comunitaria y popular en materia de medio ambiente, la institucionalizacion de la educacion ambiental y la formacion de los educadores. PERSPECTIVAS CURRICULARES PARA LA FORMACION DE FORMADORES EN EDUCACION AMBIENTAL