Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Summary: Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common form of adult localization-related epilepsy. Hippocampal onset accounts for at least 80% of all temporal lobe seizures. The electroencephalogram (EEG) of mesial TLE contains interictal features often associated with anterior temporal epileptiform discharges with a maximal voltage over the basal temporal electrodes. Localized ictal patterns on scalp EEGs characteristically reveal unilateral 5- to 9-Hz rhythmic ictal theta or alpha epileptiform activity maximal in the anterior temporal scalp electrodes. Invasive-scalp EEG comparisons have yielded direct information about mesial temporal sources and their corresponding electrical fields. Refinement of macroscopic spatial and the temporal resolution suggest that a more precise seizure localization may exist beyond 1- to 35-Hz frequencies observed in routine scalp recording. Defining the focal areas of ictogenesis within the medial temporal lobe demonstrates a rich connection to a broad network that goes beyond the medial structures and even the temporal lobe itself. Advanced electrophysiologic application in TLE may further our understanding of ictogenesis to perfect surgical treatment and to elucidate the neurophysiologic corollaries of epileptogensis itself.
Retrospective evaluation of concurrent intra-abdominal injuries in dogs with traumatic pelvic fractures: 83 cases (2008-2013).

OBJECTIVE To report the occurrence of intra-abdominal injury (IA) in dogs with pelvic fractures due to blunt trauma, to evaluate for association between characterization of pelvic fractures and the presence of IA, and to evaluate for association between IA and other specific clinical conditions. DESIGN Retrospective case series (2008-2013). SETTING University teaching hospital. ANIMALS Eighty-three client-owned dogs with pelvic fractures due to blunt trauma. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Pelvic injuries included pubic fractures (90.4%), ischial fractures (80.7%), sacroiliac luxations (57.8%), iliac fractures (43.4%), acetabular fractures (30.1%), and sacral fractures (13.3%). Thirty-one dogs (37%) had IA, which included hemoabdomen (27 dogs), uroabdomen (3), and septic abdomen (3); 2 dogs had 2 types of IA. Dogs with sacral fractures were significantly more likely to have IA than dogs without sacral fractures (P = 0.0162). Characterization of pelvic fractures included the direction of compression, presence of a weight-bearing bone fracture, and degree of pelvic narrowing, none of which had an association with IA (P > 0.05). Dogs were more likely to have IA if they had cardiac dysrhythmia (P = 0.0002) or hematuria (P = 0.0001), and were more likely to have a hemoabdomen if they had cardiac dysrhythmia (P = 0.0005). Dogs with hematochezia were more likely to have a septic abdomen (P = 0.0123). Dogs were more likely to receive a transfusion if they had AI (P = 0.033) or hemoabdomen specifically (P = 0.0033). Overall survival to discharge was 89%, which was significantly greater than survival in dogs with pelvic injury that also had septic abdomen (33%; P = 0.0299). CONCLUSIONS IA is common in dogs with pelvic fractures, especially those with sacral fractures. Pelvic fracture characterization had no bearing on the presence of IA.
Multicenter clinical trial of the Nucleus Hybrid S8 cochlear implant: Final outcomes

The concept of expanding electrical speech processing to those with more residual acoustic hearing with a less‐invasive shorter cochlear implant (CI) has been ongoing since 1999. A multicenter study of the Nucleus Hybrid S8 CI took place between 2002 and 2011. This report describes the final outcomes of this clinical trial.
What's Missing? Discussing Stem Cell Translational Research in Educational Information on Stem Cell “Tourism”

Stem cell tourism is a form of medical tourism in which patients travel to receive unproven or untested stem cell-based interventions for many different diseases and conditions. A few studies indicate that patients and the public have several reasons for seeking these treatments for themselves or for their loved ones. Among these are the feeling of not having any other clinical options left, distrust of or frustration with their home country’s health care system, and a perception that their home country has a burdensome or sluggish regulatory system for the approval of novel stem cell therapies. These last two viewpoints may contribute to a certain sense of distrust of regulatory agencies governing the conduct of clinical research, and perhaps the perception of a health care system that seems unresponsive to the needs of patients suffering from severe conditions.
Does Brain Temperature Correlate With Intracranial Pressure?

Objective A positive correlation between brain temperature and intracranial pressure (ICP) has been proposed for patients under intensive care conditions. Design and Methods Data were recorded at 5-minute intervals in patients under ICP monitoring conditions. Brain temperature: combined ICP/temperature probe (Raumedic), core temperature: indwelling urinary catheter with temperature probe (Rüsch). The correlation between brain temperature and ICP was assessed by computing an estimated mean correlation coefficient (re) and by a time series analysis. Patients Forty consecutive neurosurgical patients receiving intensive care therapy for trauma, cerebrovascular malformation, and spontaneous hemorrhage were studied. A total of 48,892 measurements (9778 h) were analyzed. No additional interventions were performed. Results The median ICP was 14 mm Hg (range: −13 to 167). The brain temperature (median 38°C; range 23.2 to 42.1) was 0.3°C (range: −3.6 to 2.6) higher than the core temperature (median 37.7°C; range 16.6 to 42.0), P<0.001. The mean Pearson correlation between ICP and brain temperature in all patients was re=0.13 (P<0.05); the time series analysis (assuming a possible lagged correlation between ICP and brain temperature) revealed a mean correlation of 0.05±0.25 (P<0.05). Both correlation coefficients indicate that any relationship between brain temperature and ICP accounts for less than 2% of the variability [coefficient of determination (r2)<0.02]. Conclusions These data do not support the notion of a clinically useful correlation between brain temperature and ICP.
Peptide models of local and long-range interactions in the molten globule state of human alpha-lactalbumin.

alpha-Lactalbumin, a small calcium-binding protein, forms an equilibrium molten globule state under a variety of conditions. A set of four peptides designed to probe the role of local interactions and the role of potential long-range interactions in stabilizing the molten globule of alpha-lactalbumin has been prepared. The first peptide consists of residues 20 through 36 of human alpha-lactalbumin and includes the entire B-helix. This peptide is unstructured in solution as judged by CD. The second peptide is derived from residues 101 through 120 and contains both the D and 310 helices. When this peptide is crosslinked via the native 28 to 111 disulfide to the B-helix peptide, a dramatic increase in helicity is observed. The crosslinked peptide is monomeric, as judged by analytical ultracentrifugation. The peptide binds 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulphonate (ANS) and the fluorescence emission maximum of the construct is consistent with partial solvent exposure of the tryptophan residues. The peptide corresponding to residues 101 to 120 adopts significant non-random structure in aqueous solution at low pH. Two hydrophobic clusters, one involving residues 101 through 104 and the other residues 115 through 119 have been identified and characterized by NMR. The hydrophobic cluster formed by residues 101 through 104 is still present in a smaller peptide containing only residues 101 to 111 of alpha-lactalbumin. The cluster also persists in 6 M urea. A non-native, pH-dependent interaction between the Y103 and H107 side-chains that was previously identified in the acid-denatured molten globule state was examined. This interaction was found to be more prevalent at low pH and may therefore be an example of a local interaction that stabilizes preferentially the acid-induced molten globule state.
Effects of the Replacement of Soybean Meal with Pea as Dietary Protein Source on the Serum Protein Fractions of Broilers

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the replacement of different levels of protein derived from soybean meal with that from peas in broiler diets on serum protein fractions. A corn-soybean meal basal diet was formulated as the control diet (Control=C) (NRC, 1994), and then pea was added to the control diet to replace 20% (P20) or 40% (P40) of the crude protein of the control diet. The diets were randomly fed to 12 pens per treatment, each housing five birds, for 42 days. Blood samples were collected from 36 birds (3 birds x 4 pens x3 treatments) and the serum protein fractions were separated. Gamma-globulin percentage was higher in group P20 compared with C and P40 groups. Total protein, beta-globulin, and gamma-globulin concentrations were significantly higher in group P20 compared with those of both control and P40 group (p<0.05).
Does Inhalational Nitrous Oxide Affect Induction Dose of Propofol and Haemodynamic

Background: Propofol is a commonly used induction agent. Propofol does not possess any strong analgesic effect, when used alone for induction of anaesthesia. In dose of more than 2 mg/kg bolus known to cause hypotension even requiring vasopressors. Nitrous oxide (N2O) has been in use for more than 150 years. Although N2O reduces the requirement of propofol for induction and maintenance, the effects of both the drugs on overall haemodynamic remain controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of induction dose of propofol when N2O was concurrently administered and haemodynamic alteration with addition of N2O to therapeutic dose of propofol. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective, randomized and double blinded comparison study that was conducted after obtaining institutional ethical approval. The study population consisted of eighty patients aged between 18 to 60 years from either sex and classified as American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I or II which were scheduled for various elective surgical procedures under general anaesthesias. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups comprising 40 subjects each. Group PN received breathed 67% N2O (4 L/min) + 33% O2 (2L/min) and propofol. Group PO: breathed 100 % O2 (6L/min) and propofol. Changes in heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and Oxygen saturation (SpO2) were measured Preoperatively (baseline T0), After 3minutes of premedication (T1), After 1minute of inhalation of 100% O2 before induction of anesthesia (T2), After induction (T3), At 2, 5 and 10 minutes after induction (T4), (T5), and (T6). Results: Induction time and dose of propofol in PN group were significantly less. As 42.5% of the patients were induced in less than 100 sec, 57.5% in less than 200 sec and none of the patients required more than 200 sec for induction as compare to group PO where 77.5% required more than 200 sec, 22.5% in less than 200 sec and none of the patients were induced in less than 100 sec. The mean ± SD of induction time in groups PN and PO were 113.38±35.93 and 258.00±59.43 seconds respectively with p < 0.001. In group PN, 57.5% required 0.5-1.0mg/kg, 40% required less than 0.5mg/kg unlike group PO where 77.5% required 1-2mg/kg. The mean ± SD induction dose required for induction of anesthesia were 0.58±0.19 mg/kg and 1.43±0.40 mg/kg with and without 67% N2O in O2. Increase in HR in groups PN and PO 16.38% and 6.42% respectively. Conclusions: Co-administration of N2O during induction of anaesthesia achieves significant reduction in induction dose as well as induction time of propofol. It provides significant stability in SBP, and MAP, without affecting arterial oxygen saturation. N2O causes significant increase in HR.
The effect of immunization on the fate of injected second stage Ascaris lumbricoides larvae in the rabbit.

Summary Albino rabbits immunized with lyophilized, in vitro hatched, second-stage Ascaris larvae and nonimmune rabbits were challenged intravenously with a suspension of live “in vitro” hatched larvae. Those injected into immune animals were immobilized in septal capillaries of the lung and degenerated rapidly. As a result, few hemorrhages were noted in the lungs. On the other hand, larvae injected into control animals migrated readily to the interstitium and alveolar spaces causing extensive hemorrhages. Most of the larvae were found in the alveolar sacs of control animals as late as 12 days after inoculation; of these, many had developed into advanced-stage larvae. No larvae were found in immune animals after 4 days. Although the inflammatory response appeared quickly in both immune and nonimmune rabbits, it was more intense in the former. The acute inflammatory reaction was characterized by accumulations of neutrophils and eosinophils. This was later replaced by a granulomatous process containing abundant epithelioid cells, multinucleated giant cells and, in the immune, by the presence about degenerating larvae of an intensely acidophilic material intimately related to the cuticle of the larvae. This material, which is probably an antigen-antibody complex, was never observed in control animals. The granulomatous process lagged by 24 to 48 hours in the controls as compared with the immune animals. Resorption of the granulomas was almost complete 20 days after challenge in the immunes and had markedly decreased in the controls 30 days postinoculation. It is suggested that the X-ray findings described in the so-called “eosinophilic pneumonia of ascariasis” may be the result of a granulomatous process rather than being due entirely to accumulations of eosinophilic granulocytes. The rapidity with which the acute and the granulomatous inflammatory responses appear both in the immune and control animals indicate that mechanisms other than hypersensitivity may play a role in the defense against Ascaris larvae. There was no relationship between the levels of circulating antibody and the severity of the lesions found. No decrease in circulating antibody was observed after the challenging dose was administered.
Characterization of fHbp, nhba (gna2132), nadA, porA, Sequence Type (ST), and Genomic Presence of IS1301 in Group B Meningococcal ST269 Clonal Complex Isolates from England and Wales

ABSTRACT Highly effective glycoconjugate vaccines exist against four of the five major pathogenic groups of meningococci: A, C, W-135, and Y. An equivalent vaccine against group B meningococci (menB) has remained elusive due to the poorly immunogenic capsular polysaccharide. A promising alternative, the investigational recombinant menB (rMenB)- outer membrane vesicle (OMV) vaccine, contains fHBP, NHBA (previously GNA2132), NadA, and outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) from the New Zealand MeNZB vaccine. MenB currently accounts for 90% of meningococcal disease in England and Wales, where the multilocus sequence type (ST) 269 (ST269) clonal complex (cc269) has recently expanded to account for a third of menB cases. To assess the potential cc269 coverage of the rMenB-OMV vaccine, English and Welsh cc269 isolates from the past decade were genetically characterized with respect to fHBP, NHBA, and NadA. All of the isolates harbored fHbp and nhba alleles, while 98% of the cc269 isolates were devoid of nadA. Subvariant profiling of fHbp, nhba, and porA against STs revealed the presence of two broadly distinct and well-defined clusters of isolates, centered around ST269 and ST275, respectively. An additional molecular marker, insertion sequence IS1301, was found to be present in 100% and <2% of isolates of the respective clusters. On the basis of the genetic data, the potential rMenB-OMV coverage of cc269 in England and Wales is high (up to 100%) within both clusters. Expression studies and serum bactericidal antibody assays will serve to enhance predictions of coverage and will augment ongoing studies regarding the significance of IS1301 within the ST269 cluster.
Histopathology of Rotator Cuff Tears

The pathogenesis of rotator cuff tears is multifactorial. Tendon abnormalities of the rotator cuff include alteration of collagen fiber structure, tenocytes, cellularity, and vascularity. Ruptured tendons show marked collagen degeneration and disordered arrangement of collagen fibers. Fibroblast population decreases as the size of the tear in the rotator cuff increases. The larger fibroblast population seen in the smaller tears is also actively proliferating and is part of an active reparative process. Inflammatory cell infiltrate correlates inversely to rotator cuff tear size in the torn supraspinatus tendon samples, with larger tears showing a marked reduction in all cell types. As tear size increase, there is also a progressive decrease in the number of blood vessels. Whether rotator cuff tear heals spontaneously is an important pathologic and clinical question. Histologic changes indicative of repair and inflammation lead to consider biological options in addition to biomechanical treatment of the rotator cuff tears.
An efficient VLSI circuit extraction algorithm for transistor-level to gate-level abstraction

This paper proposes an efficient VLSI extraction algorithm to extract a transistor level netlist to a gate level netlist for functional verification and diagnosis. Compared with other reported circuit extraction algorithm, our proposed technique does not require a cell library and is able to generate Boolean equations without the prior knowledge of transistor type or drain/source orientation of the transistors in the netlist. The proposed algorithm firstly transforms the netlist into a matrix. Secondly, the output nodes of different gates are detected using a pre-sorting comparison algorithm. Then, respective pull-up networks (PUNs) and pull-down networks (PDNs) are identified by a depth-first search algorithm. Finally, the function of the PUN/PDN is verified and stored in terms of Boolean equations. The results on 10 standard cells and 6 testing circuits show that the algorithm performs a near-linear time operation. For a 30-transistor standard cell (XOR4), the time required to complete the extraction is 35.4ms, and for a 3639-transistor combinational circuit, the time required to complete the extraction is around 114.4sec. Compared with the reported technique, our proposed algorithm has an average of 8.4% reduction in CPU time.
Effects of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide and Lidocaine on Mechanically-Induced Vasospasm in a Rat Island Flap

A neurovascular island flap based on the superficial epigastric vessels was raised in 59 rats. Blood flow in the flap was recorded continuously with a laser Doppler flowmeter. Complete vasospasm was induced mechanically in the artery by pinching it. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (10(-7) M), lidocaine 2 percent, lidocaine 20 percent, or sodium chloride 0.9 percent were applied topically to the vessels in order to relieve the vasospasm. In 18 arteries, spasm was induced a second time after the resolution of the first vasospasm. Calcitonin gene-related peptide significantly shortened the time to reach 50 percent of the original blood flow and increased the final blood-flow values 30 min after mechanically-induced vasospasm, in comparison with pre-spasm values, and significantly increased the number of flaps in which the blood-flow values were restored to pre-spasm levels. Lidocaine did not significantly change the time to reach 50 percent of the original blood-flow values and the number of flaps recovering to pre-spasm blood-flow levels, or the final levels after vasospasm, in comparison with saline. It was concluded that, in this model, calcitonin gene-related peptide, but not lidocaine, increased blood flow after mechanically-induced vasospasm.
Auditory modulation of wind-elicited walking behavior in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus

ABSTRACT Animals flexibly change their locomotion triggered by an identical stimulus depending on the environmental context and behavioral state. This indicates that additional sensory inputs in different modality from the stimulus triggering the escape response affect the neuronal circuit governing that behavior. However, how the spatio-temporal relationships between these two stimuli effect a behavioral change remains unknown. We studied this question, using crickets, which respond to a short air-puff by oriented walking activity mediated by the cercal sensory system. In addition, an acoustic stimulus, such as conspecific ‘song’ received by the tympanal organ, elicits a distinct oriented locomotion termed phonotaxis. In this study, we examined the cross-modal effects on wind-elicited walking when an acoustic stimulus was preceded by an air-puff and tested whether the auditory modulation depends on the coincidence of the direction of both stimuli. A preceding 10 kHz pure tone biased the wind-elicited walking in a backward direction and elevated a threshold of the wind-elicited response, whereas other movement parameters, including turn angle, reaction time, walking speed and distance were unaffected. The auditory modulations, however, did not depend on the coincidence of the stimulus directions. A preceding sound consistently altered the wind-elicited walking direction and response probability throughout the experimental sessions, meaning that the auditory modulation did not result from previous experience or associative learning. These results suggest that the cricket nervous system is able to integrate auditory and air-puff stimuli, and modulate the wind-elicited escape behavior depending on the acoustic context. Summary: Crickets alter the orientation of their wind-elicited walking behavior and response threshold after exposure to a 10 kHz sound stimulus, suggesting a multisensory interaction between the auditory and cercal sensory systems.
Humidity sensor with graphene oxide as sensing material

Humidity sensor can found wide application in industry, automobile and consumer electronics. In this work, capacitive humidity sensor structure was designed and fabricated on 200mm CMOS BEOL Line. BEOL Al was used as electrode with comb/serpent structure, and graphene oxide (GO) was used as humidity sensing material. Result shows that GO based humidity sensor has high sensitivity, faster recovery time and good linearity performance. Based on the sensor structure, prototype humidity sensor was built by PCB-level integration with dedicated readout ASIC and display/calibration module, and the output data can well match that of standard humidity product.
DESIGN, SYNTHESIS AND PRELIMINARY PHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF NEW METFORMIN DERIVATIVES

Objective: The purpose of this work was to enhance oral bioavailability of metformin by incorporation of different amino acid residues through the glycolic acid spacer. Methods: Two series of metformin derivatives (V a-e) and (VI a-e) were synthesized by incorporation of five amino acids (glycine, alanine, phenylalanine, proline and GABA amino butyric acid) and their methyl esters respectively into metformin through glycolic acid spacer and preliminary evaluation for the antihyperglycemic activity was carried out using streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats model. Results: In vivo anti-hyperglycemic activity of the final compounds (V a-e) and (VI a-e) showed that compounds (V b, V c, VI c and V e) produced higher percent of decrease in blood glucose level compared to metformin after 5 h of the treatment while compounds (VI b, VI c, V d, VI d, V e and VI e) showed profound effect after 24 h of the treatment. Although compounds (V a, VI a, V b and V c) showed a significant decrease in blood glucose level at 5 h but their effect diminished at 24 h. Compound (V e) showed higher anti-hyperglycemic effect than metformin and its effect continued up to 24 h. Conclusion: From this study, it was concluded that incorporation of these amino acids or their methyl esters maintained or enhanced the antihyperglycemic effect of metformin.