Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[The effects of aerobic physical training of short duration using upper limbs in paraplegic persons with mild hypertension].

PURPOSE To study the modifications induced by physical training (PT) using upper limbs in aerobic condition of short duration on cardiovascular and metabolic variables. METHODS Eleven paraplegic persons, with a mean age of 59 years, 7 men and 4 women with lesions at T9 through T11 and mild hypertension (HAS) were studied. The patients were studied before and after 12 weeks of a supervised program of PT, through exercise tests in a mechanic ergometer (ST) adapted for the arms. We employed an intermittent protocol with stress increments of 125 (20w) and 140 kgm/min (25w) for women and men, respectively every 3 min. The ergometric speed ranged from 83 to 95 rpm. The oxygen consumption (VO2) was estimated according to American College of Sports Medicine equation for arms. The exercise intensity during the TF program was estimated through the Karvonen cardiac frequency reserve, with a variation of 65% to 85% and the Borg stress scale of subjective perception during the stress test. RESULTS The mean maximal aerobic capacity increased in 22% (930 +/- 349 vs 1138 +/- 290 mL/min; p = 0.003); there was a reduction of systolic and diastolic pressures at rest and after submaximal exercise of 4%, 15% and 5% and 5%, respectively. CONCLUSION Physical training of mild to moderate intensity using the upper limbs in paraplegic persons, besides inducing functional capacity increment, is an important model of non drug control of the hypertensive response.
RGB representation of two-dimensional multi-spectral acoustic data for object surface profile imaging

Conventionally, acoustic imaging has been performed using a single frequency or a limited number of frequencies. However, the rich information on surface profiles, structures hidden under surfaces and material properties of objects may exhibit frequency dependence. In this study, acoustic imaging on object surface was conducted over a wide frequency range with a fine frequency step, and a method for displaying the acquired multi-spectral acoustic data was proposed. A complicated rigid surface with different profiles was illuminated by sound waves sweeping over the frequency range from 1 to 20 kHz with a 30 Hz step. The reflected sound was two-dimensionally recorded using a scanning microphone, and processed using a holographic reconstruction method. The two-dimensional distributions of obtained sound pressure at each frequency were defined as ‘multi-spectral acoustic imaging data’. Next, the multi-spectral acoustic data were transformed into a single RGB-based picture for easy understanding of the surface characteristics. The acoustic frequencies were allocated to red, green and blue using the RGB filter technique. The depths of the grooves were identified by their colours in the RGB image.
Repeatability and Reproducibility of Population Viability Analysis (PVA) and the Implications for Threatened Species Management

Conservation triage focuses on prioritizing species, populations or habitats based on urgency, biodiversity benefits, recovery potential as well as cost. Population Viability Analysis (PVA) is frequently used in population focused conservation prioritizations. The critical nature of many of these management decisions requires that PVA models are repeatable and reproducible to reliably rank species and/or populations quantitatively. This paper assessed the repeatability and reproducibility of a subset of previously published PVA models. We attempted to rerun baseline models from 90 publicly available PVA studies published between 2000-2012 using the two most common PVA modelling software programs, VORTEX and RAMAS-GIS. Forty percent (n = 36) failed, 50% (45) were both repeatable and reproducible, and 10% (9) had missing baseline models. Repeatability was not linked to taxa, IUCN category, PVA program version used, year published or the quality of publication outlet, suggesting that the problem is systemic within the discipline. Complete and systematic presentation of PVA parameters and results are needed to ensure that the scientific input into conservation planning is both robust and reliable, thereby increasing the chances of making decisions that are both beneficial and defensible. The implications for conservation triage may be far reaching if population viability models cannot be reproduced with confidence, thus undermining their intended value.
A theoretical approach to the use of cyberinfrastructure in geographical analysis

This paper presents a theoretical approach that has been developed to capture the computational intensity and computing resource requirements of geographical data and analysis methods. These requirements are then transformed into a common framework, a grid‐based representation of a spatial computational domain, which supports the efficient use of emerging cyberinfrastructure environments. Two key types of transformational functions (data‐centric and operation‐centric) are identified and their relationships are explained. The application of the approach is illustrated using two geographical analysis methods: inverse distance weighted interpolation and the spatial statistic. We describe the underpinnings of these two methods, present their conventional sequential algorithms, and then address their latent parallelism based on a spatial computational domain representation. Through the application of this theoretical approach, the development of domain decomposition methods is decoupled from specific high‐performance computer architectures and task scheduling implementations, which makes the design of generic parallel processing solutions feasible for geographical analyses.
Enabling natural human-robot physical interaction using a robotic skin feedback and a prioritized tasks robot control architecture

This paper describes a procedure aimed to integrate tactile sensors into a real robot in order to create a platform suitable for human-robot physical interaction experiments. Furthermore, a framework for human-robot physical interaction based on tactile feedback and prioritized tasks control is presented. The framework has been successfully tested by defining and executing three physical interaction tasks. A further experiment has been performed, simulating a human intervention during a task execution.
Combinational Logic Soft Error Correction

We present two techniques for correcting radiation-induced soft errors in combinational logic - error correction using duplication, and error correction using time-shifted outputs. Simulation results show that both techniques reduce combinational logic soft error rate by more than an order of magnitude. Soft errors affecting sequential elements (latches and flip-flops) at combinational logic outputs are automatically corrected using these techniques
Targeting memory processes with drugs to prevent or cure PTSD

Introduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic debilitating psychiatric disorder resulting from exposure to a severe traumatic stressor and an area of great unmet medical need. Advances in pharmacological treatments beyond the currently approved SSRIs are needed. Areas covered: Background on PTSD, as well as the neurobiology of stress responding and fear conditioning, is provided. Clinical and preclinical data for investigational agents with diverse pharmacological mechanisms are summarized. Expert opinion: Advances in the understanding of stress biology and mechanisms of fear conditioning plasticity provide a rationale for treatment approaches that may reduce hyperarousal and dysfunctional aversive memories in PTSD. One challenge is to determine if these components are independent or reflect a common underlying neurobiological alteration. Numerous agents reviewed have potential for reducing PTSD core symptoms or targeted symptoms in chronic PTSD. Promising early data support drug approaches that seek to disrupt dysfunctional aversive memories by interfering with consolidation soon after trauma exposure, or in chronic PTSD, by blocking reconsolidation and/or enhancing extinction. Challenges remain for achieving selectivity when attempting to alter aversive memories. Targeting the underlying traumatic memory with a combination of pharmacological therapies applied with appropriate chronicity, and in combination with psychotherapy, is expected to substantially improve PTSD treatment.
ACCUMULATION OF TAXADIENE BY ROOT CULTURE OF NICOTIANA BENTHAMIANA DOMIN TRANSFORMED WITH TAXADIENE SYNTHASE

Nicotiana benthamiana was transformed with a taxadiene synthase (TS) gene for the de novo synthesis of taxadiene. The successfully transformed lines of N. benthamiana producing taxadiene was further cultivated for root culture to produce taxadiene in in vitro system. The roots of lines TSS-5, TSS-7, TSS-8 and TSS-10 accumulated 14.6 22.5 μg/g (dw) taxadiene. Methyl jasmonate treatment to the TSS-8 line for 7 or 14 days increased the accumulation of taxadiene by 1.17 and 1.88-folds, respectively. Data suggested that the root culture of TS gene transformed N. benthamiana is an ideal system for the stable and efficient production of taxadiene.
Supraphysiologic levels of the AML1-ETO isoform AE9a are essential for transformation

Significance The AE9a protein (alternative splicing at exon 9) is often used to model t(8;21) leukemia. Our study demonstrates that increased oncogene dosage is a critical parameter of AE9a transformation, likely as a result of impaired transcriptional regulation of AML1-ETO target genes. This insight could assist in identifying those downstream genes most critical for t(8;21)-associated transformation. Chromosomal translocation 8;21 is found in 40% of the FAB M2 subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The resultant in-frame fusion protein AML1-ETO (AE) acts as an initiating oncogene for leukemia development. AE immortalizes human CD34+ cord blood cells in long-term culture. We assessed the transforming properties of the alternatively spliced AE isoform AE9a (or alternative splicing at exon 9), which is fully transforming in a murine retroviral model, in human cord blood cells. Full activity was realized only upon increased fusion protein expression. This effect was recapitulated in the AE9a murine AML model. Cotransduction of AE and AE9a resulted in a strong selective pressure for AE-expressing cells. In the context of AE, AE9a did not show selection for increased expression, affirming observations of human t(8;21) patient samples where full-length AE is the dominant protein detected. Mechanistically, AE9a showed defective transcriptional regulation of AE target genes that was partially corrected at high expression. Together, these results bring an additional perspective to our understanding of AE function and highlight the contribution of oncogene expression level in t(8;21) experimental models.
Electrophysiological Features of Taxane-Induced Polyneuropathy in Patients With Breast Cancer

Summary: Fifty-five patients with breast cancer were analyzed for electrophysiological characteristics of taxane-induced polyneuropathy. Based on the electrodiagnostic criteria, sensory motor polyneuropathy was found in 67% (37/55) of patients ranging between mild degree and moderate to severe degree. The polyneuropathy is predominantly axonal with three unique features: (1) frequent asymmetry, (2) high sural and radial sensory amplitude ratio in patients with mild polyneuropathy, and (3) slow conduction velocity seen only at the common entrapment sites, such as the carpal tunnel. The severity of polyneuropathy correlated positively with the cumulative dose received. Our study supports the clinical utility of electrodiagnostic study in both diagnosis and monitoring of taxane-induced polyneuropathy.
Specificity of IgG subclass antibodies in different clinical manifestations of leprosy

We analysed specific IgG subclasses levels to Mycobacterium leprae sonicate extract (MSE), lipoarabinomannan B (LAM) and phenolic glycolipid I (PGL‐I) in the sera of leprosy patients with different clinical manifestations. IgG2 was found to be the predominant antibody to MSE regardless of clinical manifestations, and IgG 1 response was mostly seen in lepromatous patients. IgG3 reacted only rarely but IgG4 reacted relatively more in certain clinical groups such as borderline lepromatous and lepromatous with erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) reaction. Most of the IgG subclass responses to MSE could be accounted for reactivity with LAM, suggesting that LAM is the major immunogen involved in the pathogenesis of leprosy. In contrast to LAM. PGL‐I antigen showed considerably lower reactivities for IgG subclasses. An association between IgG subclass responses and clinical manifestations of leprosy was also seen. Whereas borderline lepromatous patients were found to have significantly higher levels of IgG2 and lgG4 to MSE, lepromatous patients had elevated levels of IgG I and lower levels of IgG2. An interesting observation, however, was the significantly higher levels of IgG2 to LAM in the pure neuritic leprosy patients.
Evidence for referential understanding in the emotions domain at twelve and eighteen months.

Infants as young as 12 months readily modulate their behavior toward novel, ambiguous objects based on emotional responses that others display. Such social-referencing skill offers powerful benefits to infants' knowledge acquisition, but the magnitude of these benefits depends on whether they appreciate the referential quality of others' emotional messages, and are skilled at using cues to reference (e.g., gaze direction, body posture) to guide their interpretation of such messages. Two studies demonstrated referential understanding in 12- and 18-month-olds' responses to another's emotional outburst. Infants relied on the presence versus absence of referential cues to determine whether an emotional message should be linked with a salient, novel object in the first study (N = 48), and they actively consulted referential cues to disambiguate the intended target of an affective display in the second study (N = 32). These findings provide the first experimental evidence of such sophisticated referential abilities in 12-month-olds, as well as the first evidence that infant social referencing at any age actually trades on referential understanding.
Neonatal FcR Expression in Bone Marrow-Derived Cells Functions to Protect Serum IgG from Catabolism1

The neonatal FcR (FcRn) is a receptor that protects IgG from catabolism and is important in maintaining high serum Ab levels. A major site of expression of FcRn is vascular endothelial cells where FcRn functions to extend the serum persistence of IgG by recycling internalized IgG back to the surface. Because FcRn is expressed in other tissues, it is unclear whether endothelial cells are the only site of IgG protection. In this study, we used FcRn-deficient mice and specific antiserum to determine the tissue distribution of FcRn in the adult mouse. In addition to its expression in the vascular endothelium of several organs, we found FcRn to be highly expressed in bone marrow-derived cells and professional APCs in different tissues. Experiments using bone marrow chimeras showed that FcRn expression in these cells acted to significantly extend the half-life of serum IgG indicating that in addition to the vascular endothelium, bone marrow-derived phagocytic cells are a major site of IgG homeostasis.
Potential Human Neurotoxicity of MDMA (‘Ecstasy’): Subjective Self-Reports, Evidence from an Italian Drug Addiction Centre and Clinical Case Studies

The present paper attempts to give an updated overview of the magnitude of the phenomenon of ecstasy abuse in Italy and other European countries. It gives an account of some clinical case studies and of a larger-scale report on polydrug (including MDMA) consumers attending our Public Health Addiction Treatment Unit in recent years, with a view to clarifying the characteristics and psychopathological consequences (mainly depression, psychotic disorders, cognitive disturbances, bulimic episodes, impulse control disorders, panic disorders, social phobia) of MDMA consumption. Longer-term, larger-dose (acute or cumulative) MDMA consumers were found to be at high risk of developing these psychopathological disturbances. A tentative description of certain personological dimensions of ecstasy consumers is also given (the novelty-seeking dimension was characteristic of those who occasionally experimented with the drug) while those who ingested larger quantities revealed low harm avoidance scores). Results are discussed in the light of the complex and different methodological issues arising from this kind of study, in which MDMA is far from being the only drug of abuse.
Gait transitions for walking and running of biped robots

In this paper, we propose a gait transition algorithm between walking and running for fast movement of a biped robot. Firstly, considering that walking and running differ in the oscillations of the body and legs that occur during each step or stride, the transitionary trajectory is constructed by the transformations of the velocities of hip link, the step height and stride of the feet, and the duration of the step using interpolating polynomials. And in order to increase the compliance about the environment and to absorb the impact force in the landing event, the impedance controller is designed for walking and running biped robot. The effectiveness and the performance of the proposed gait patterns are shown in computer simulations with a 19-DOF biped robot and a 6-DOF elastic pad model.
Molecular synergy of nanoprocesses

The heterogeneity of technologies in the products or object fabrication system, where the external control system usually is based on silicon technology, the interface e.g. transducers or robots represents mixed technology, and process another, leads to the material and energy losses, and the waste production. Surprisingly high effectiveness of objects creation can be reached in homogeneous processes with internal control, namely molecular. The paper discusses the systems where the molecular programs in cooperation with intermolecular modifiers create the molecular objects which, may have a new behavioral properties. This is caused by a specific molecular synergy of nanoprocesses.
Reconfigurable Doherty amplifier for efficient amplification of signals with variable PAPR

This paper proposes a reconfigurable Doherty amplifier capable of efficiently amplifying signals with variable peak-to-average power ratios (PAPR). A small number of electronically tunable devices are used to preserve appropriate Doherty load modulation as the input signal PAPR varies. A reconfigurable Doherty amplifier demonstrator was designed and fabricated, using gallium nitride transistors, to operate at 2.6 GHz and to efficiently amplify signals with PAPR of 6, 9 and 12 dB. Continuous wave measurements revealed power added efficiencies of higher than 64% at 6 and 9 dB and 59% at 12 dB output back-off. A Volterra based digital predistortion technique was also applied to examine the linearizability of the demonstrator and an Adjacent Channel Power Ratio (ACPR) of better than 46 dBc was achieved using 20MHz excitation signals with different PAPR values.
Morphology dependence of the thermal transport properties of single-walled carbon nanotube thin films

The thermal transport properties of random network, single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) films were assessed using Raman spectroscopy. Two types of SWNT films were investigated: single-layer and stacked. The single-layer films were fabricated by aerosol chemical vapour deposition and subsequent direct dry deposition, while the stacked films were prepared by placing the single-layer films on top of one another. The anisotropy of the network structures of each of these films was evaluated based on the angular dependence of the optical absorbance spectra. The results show that the anisotropy of the films decreases with increasing film thickness in the case of the single-layer films, and that the film anisotropy is preserved during the stacking process. The sheet thermal conductance is proportional to the SWNT area density in the case of stacked films, but is reduced with increasing thickness in the case of single-layer films. This effect is explained by a change in the network morphology from a two-dimensional anisotropic structure to the more isotropic structure. This work demonstrates the fabrication of low-density films with high sheet thermal conductance through the stacking of thin SWNT films.
Simultaneous detection of antibody to the human immunodeficiency virus and of the surface antigen of hepatitis B virus in human serum.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the etiologic agent of AIDS. This retrovirus destroys selected classes of T lymphocytes, which results in progressive, severe immunodeficiency. Populations at high risk for AIDS are also at risk for hepatitis B [1]. ELISAs that detect the surface antigen of hepatitis B virus (HBsAg) and antibody to HIV are routinely used to monitor donated blood and blood products to prevent transmission of these serious infections [2, 3]. A single test that could detect HBsAg and antibody to HIV simultaneously would be desirable for the clinical laboratory. In this preliminary report, we describe a singlewell immunoassay with specificity for these two markers. The HIV component of the assay uses synthetic oligopeptides unique to the env region of HIV [4,5]. The antibody bound to the env oligopeptides (anti-HIV env) on the solid phase is then detected by a complex of env peptide, biotin, streptavidin, and horseradish peroxidase (HRPO). The env peptide assay was combined with a sandwichtype immunoassay to detect HBsAg. HBsAg bound to a monoclonal antibody on the solid phase is detected with a noncompeting HRPO-conjugated monoclonal antibody to HBsAg. This combination assay accurately detected HIV antibody and HBsAg in several panels of sera that had been characterized with separate licensed procedures for each of these components. Using antigen standards to quantitate sensitivity, the combination assay detected 1 ng of HBsAg.
Bartonella spp. in Small Mammals, Benin.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and genetic diversity of Bartonella organisms in small mammals in Cotonou, Benin. We captured 163 rodents and 12 insectivores and successfully detected Bartonella DNA from 13 of the 175 small mammal individuals. Bartonella spp. , identical or closely related to Bartonella elizabethae, Bartonella tribocorum, and Bartonella rochalimae, was detected. A potential new Bartonella species, proposed as Candidatus Bartonella mastomydis, was found in three Mastomys individuals and genetically characterized by targeting two housekeeping genes (rpoB and gltA) and the intergenic species region. However, 20.8% of gray rats were found to be infected with Bartonella spp. , and none of the black rats analyzed was positive. This work may be important from a public health point of view due to the zoonotic nature of the Bartonella species detected and warrants further investigation on the unknown zoonotic potential of this newly proposed Bartonella species.