Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Retinal W-cell input to the upper superficial gray layer of the cat's superior colliculus: a conduction-velocity analysis.

1. I have used several methods to estimate the conduction velocities of retinal afferents innervating the upper 50-100 micron of the stratum griseum superficiale (the upper SGS). The measurements were based on a unitary extracellular potential unique to this sublamina, which was first described by McIlwain (28). He termed it the juxtazonal potential (JZP), and showed that it results when a single spike invades the terminal arbor of a single retinal afferent to the upper SGS, triggering synchronous excitatory postsynaptic potentials in postsynaptic collicular cells. 2. Individual unitary JZPs were evoked at fixed latencies by weak shocks to the optic disk, chiasm, or tract. When the same JZP could be evoked in isolation from two stimulus sites, the conduction velocity of the axon triggering the JZP was estimated by dividing the conduction time between the stimulating electrodes (i.e., the "latency difference") into the distance separating these electrodes. This "latency-difference method" lacked general utility, however, since the same JZP could only rarely be evoked in isolation from two stimulus sites. 3. This limitation was circumvented by means of a collision method. When a stimulus that evoked a JZP in isolation was preceded by a sufficiently intense conditioning shock to a second, more central stimulus site, the conditioning stimulus caused the JZP to fail in an all-or-none fashion. It was assumed that when the JZP failed, the conditioning stimulus had exceeded the spike threshold of the axon mediating the JZP and that an antidromic action potential had collided with the orthodromic spike initiated at the peripheral stimulus site. Assessment of the critical interstimulus interval for producing such a collision, together with measurements of the axon's refractory period and the interelectrode conduction distance, permitted an estimate of the conduction velocity of the JZP-triggering axon. Conduction-velocity estimates generated in this way closely matched those based on the latency-difference technique when both methods could be applied. 4. Conduction velocities of 31 JZP-triggering axons analyzed by the collision method ranged from 2.9 to 6.8 m/s [4.6 +/- 1.0 (mean +/- SD)]. Comparable estimates were obtained for such axons by alternative methods based on the absolute latencies of electrically evoked JZPs or of the field potential to which they contribute. The conduction velocities of JZP-triggering axons fell within the range reported for retinal W-cells and entirely outside those of X- and Y-cells, confirming earlier evidence for W-cell input to the upper SGS (7, 15, 18, 28). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Biological heterogeneity of er‐positive breast cancers in the post‐menopausal population

In the natural history of post‐menopausal patients with primary breast cancer, high estrogen receptor levels (ER) have been associated with a poor recurrence‐free survival. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are any biological intratumoral characteristics to support this puzzling clinical observation. In a population of 542 post‐menopausal, primary‐breast‐cancer patients, 3 normal distributions fitted into the frequency distribution curve of the logarithmically transformed ER‐EIA values. The biological profiles of the low ER group, and of the intermediate and high ER groups identified in the ER‐positive population were compared. Parameters correlated with ER functional aspect (progesterone receptors and PS2), receptors of epidermal growth factor (EGFR), protease cathepsin D and tumor proliferation (deduced from thymidine kinase activity) were analyzed. As previously reported, the levels of progesterone receptors and PS2 increased significantly from the low to the high ER groups. The highest levels of cathepsin D and thymidine kinase which have been previously related to a poor prognosis in breast cancer were found in the low ER group, but high levels were, surprisingly, also found in the high ER group. This study indicates that the ER‐positive post‐menopausal population is biologically heterogeneous. The high levels of thymidine kinase found in the high ER group suggest that overexpression of ER may be associated with proliferation enhancement, partly explaining the poor spontaneous prognosis related to this subset.
Acute respiratory distress associated with external jugular vein catheterization in the newborn

We report on the acute onset of respiratory distress secondary to fluid accumulation in the chest within hours of placement of an external jugular venous line in a newborn. External jugular venous catheterization in the newborn is a procedure with potentially serious complications, and should be avoided unless the patient is monitored closely. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 36:549–550. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Analysis and Prediction of the Freezing of Gait Using EEG Brain Dynamics

Freezing of Gait (FOG) is a common symptom in the advanced stages of Parkinson's disease (PD), which significantly affects patients' quality of life. Treatment options offer limited benefit and there are currently no mechanisms able to effectively detect FOG before it occurs, allowing time for a sufferer to avert a freezing episode. Electroencephalography (EEG) offers a novel technique that may be able to address this problem. In this paper, we investigated the univariate and multivariate EEG features determined by both Fourier and wavelet analysis in the confirmation and prediction of FOG. The EEG power measures and network properties from 16 patients with PD and FOG were extracted and analyzed. It was found that both power spectral density and wavelet energy could potentially act as biomarkers during FOG. Information in the frequency domain of the EEG was found to provide better discrimination of EEG signals during transition to freezing than information coded in the time domain. The performance of the FOG prediction systems improved when the information from both domains was used. This combination resulted in a sensitivity of 86.0%, specificity of 74.4%, and accuracy of 80.2% when predicting episodes of freezing, outperforming current accelerometry-based tools for the prediction of FOG.
Area-Efficient Configurable High-Throughput Signal Detector Supporting Multiple MIMO Modes

This paper presents a low-complexity, high-throughput, and configurable multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) signal detector design solution targeting the emerging Long-Term-Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) downlink. The detector supports signal detection of multiple MIMO modes, which are spatial-multiplexing (SM), spatial-diversity (SD), and space-division-multiple-access (SDMA). Area-efficiency is achieved by algorithm and architecture co-design where low-complexity, near-maximum-likelihood (ML) detection algorithms are proposed for these three MIMO modes respectively while keeping in mind that the operations can be reused among different modes. A parallel multistage VLSI architecture is accordingly developed that achieves high detection throughput and run-time reconfigurability. To further improve the implementation efficiency, the detector also adopts an orthogonal-real-value-decomposition (ORVD) aided candidate-sharing technology for low-cost partial Euclidean distance calculation and a distributed interference cancelation scheme for a critical path delay reduction. The proposed multi-mode MIMO detector has been designed using a 65-nm CMOS technology with a core area of 0.25 mm2 (the equivalent gate-count is 88.2 K), representing a 22% less hardware-resource use than the state of art in the open literature. Operating at 1.2-V supply with 165-MHz clock, the detector achieves a 1.98 Gb/s throughput when configured to the 4 × 4 64-QAM spatial-multiplexing mode. The corresponding normalized energy consumption is 51.8 pJ per bit detection.
Valuing Non-market Goods: Three Essays on Outdoor Recreation

Annually, 23 million recreationists participate in downhill skiing on more than 180,000 acres of skiable land in the U.S. National Forest System, making it the second most popular outdoor activity in the system. While the emerging literature on climate science reveals changing climatic conditions in ski areas, the extent of climate change impact on the demand for and economic value of downhill skiing is unknown. By combining trip data collected from on-site surveys of skiers in national forests across the nation with climatic data collected through nearby weather stations, this study developed an aggregated travel cost model to estimate the net economic benefit of downhill skiing and snowboarding, and the projected impact of climate change on the demand and value. Per person per trip net economic benefit of downhill skiing was estimated to be in the range of $91 to $185 depending on the modeling assumptions about skiers’ opportunity cost of time. When aggregated across visits and national forests, the total economic value of downhill skiing in the U.S. National Forest System ranged from $2.16 to $4.39 billion, annually. Climate variables including temperature, snow depth, and rainfall were found to be correlated with ski demand, and projected changes in these climate variables could decrease the economic benefits from skiing. Findings are valuable in understanding the net
Why Are Genetics Important for Nutrition? Lessons from Epigenetic Research

Marked advances were made over the last decade in deciphering the molecular mechanisms on how external, nutritional factors can impact on the regulation of genes and ultimately their function without modification of the genetic code. This field of nutrigenomic research is literally exploding. With the understanding of epigenetic control mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone acetylation, methylation or phosphorylation, as well as the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression via non-coding microRNA, many different experimental and analytic approaches were possible to elucidate how varying nutritional support might impact on specific functions, with short- and potently long-term effects. This review highlights the major principles of epigenetic control mechanisms and their link to particular nutritional influences. Epidemiological data, such as the Dutch famine studies, suggest that targeted nutritional intervention might be causative for long-term effects on health, such as the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome in this cohort. However, to date most of the knowledge comes from experimental and animal data, which cannot be easily transferred to human situations. It is anticipated that within the next few years, major advances will be made to translate this knowledge of nutritional intervention on gene regulation and expression into health preventive programs.
Identification of a receptor‐like protein tyrosine phosphatase expressed during Xenopus development

To begin to determine the role of receptor‐like tyrosine phosphatases during Xenopus development, we have isolated a cDNA predicted to encode receptor‐like tyrosine phosphatase with significant amino acid sequence identity to mouse and human protein tyrosine phosphatase α (PTPα). Xenopus PTPα (XPTPα) exists as a maternally expressed mRNA that decreases in expression during gastrulation and then maintains a constant lower level of expression through early tadpole stages. In situ hybridization reveals that XPTPα mRNA is expressed throughout the gastrula stage embryo. During subsequent development, XPTPα mRNA becomes restricted in its expression to various regions of the brain and the visceral arches. XPTPα mRNA is also expressed in several adult tissues and in Xenopus XTC cells. Immunoblot analysis demonstrates that XPTPα protein is expressed at relatively uniform levels throughout development. Expression of XPTPα protein in insect cells with a recombinant baculovirus results in a glycosylated polypeptide of 110–130 kDa with intrinsic phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity. The spatial and temporal patterns of expression of XPTPα indicate that it may play multiple roles during early development including development of the brain. Dev. Dyn. 1998;212:403–412. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Keeping it Private: Financial Reporting by Large Proprietary Companies in Australia

Since 2010, proprietary companies have had a choice of preparing three types of financial reports that vary in scope. We find that between 2010 and 2015, most proprietary companies in our random sample chose the lowest scope option, with very low quality financial reports. Few adopted the new option provided by AASB 1053 Application of Tiers of Australian Accounting Standards. The characteristics of the firms that adopted each type of report are consistent with the regulator's intention. Our findings should provide a better understanding of how accounting standards impact practice, and should assist regulators to reform private company financial reporting.
Seroepidemiological Study of Epstein-Barr Virus in Different Population Groups in Croatia.

BACKGROUND The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is one of the most common viruses found in humans, causing lifelong infection in up to 95% of the world population. OBJECTIVES To analyze the seroprevalence of EBV infection in different population groups in Croatia. METHODS During a 2 year period (2015-2016), a total of 2022 consecutive serum samples collected from Croatian residents were tested for the presence of EBV-specific viral capsid antigen (VCA) immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunoassay. IgM/IgG-positive samples were further tested for IgG avidity. RESULTS The overall prevalence of EBV IgG antibodies was 91.4%. Females had significantly higher IgG seroprevalence than males (93.1% vs. 89.9%, P = 0.008). According to age, IgG seropositivity increased progressively from 59.6% in children age < 9 years to 98.3% in 30-39 year olds, and remained stable thereafter (P < 0.001). The IgG seroprevalence differed significantly among groups: 68.1% in children/adolescents and 95.9% in adults; multiple sclerosis (100%), hemodialysis patients (97.7%), heart transplant recipients (93.8%), hematological malignancies (91.2%), and Crohn's disease (88.5%), P < 0.001. IgM antibodies were detected in 9% of participants. Using IgG avidity, recent primary EBV infection was documented in 83.8% of IgM-positive subjects < 9 years old, 69.2% age 10-19, 33.3% age 20-29, and 3.6-4.2% > 40. All IgM positive participants > 40 years showed high IgG avidity. Logistic regression showed that age is associated with EBV IgG seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS EBV is widespread in the Croatian population. Older age appears to be the main risk factor for EBV seropositivity.
Managers' Views and Experiences of a Large-Scale County Council Improvement Program: Limitations and Opportunities

The aim of this study was to explore and evaluate managers' views of a large-scale improvement program, including their experiences and opinions about improvement initiatives and drivers for change. The study is based on a survey used in 2 nationwide mappings of improvement initiatives and developmental trends in Swedish health care. The participants were all managers in a county council in Sweden. Data were analyzed descriptively, and statements were ranked in order of preferences. A majority of the respondents stated that they had worked with improvements since the county council improvement program started. The managers sometimes found it difficult to find data and measurements that supported the improvements, yet a majority considered that it was worth the effort and that the improvement work yielded results. The top-ranked driving forces were ideas from personnel and problems in the daily work. Staff satisfaction was ranked highest of the improvement potentials, but issues about patients' experiences of their care and patient safety came second and third. The managers stated that no or only a few patients had been involved in their improvement initiatives. Large-scale county council improvement initiatives can illuminate quality problems and lead to increased interest in improvement initiatives in the health care sector.
Epidemiological correlates of breast cancer in South India.

BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women globally and represents the second leading cause of cancer death among women (after lung cancer). India is going through epidemiologic transition. It is reported that the incidence of breast cancer is rising rapidly as a result of changes in reproductive risk factors, dietary habits and increasing life expectancy, acting in concert with genetic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS In order to understand the existing epidemiological correlates of breast cancer in South India, a systematic review of evidence available on epidemiologic correlates of breast cancer addressing incidence, prevalence, and associated factors like age, reproductive factors, cultural and religious factors was performed with specific focus on screening procedures in southern India. RESULTS An increase in breast cancer incidence due to various modifiable risk factors was noted, especially in women over 40 years of age, with late stage of presentation, lack of awareness about screening, costs, fear and stigma associated with the disease serving as major barriers for early presentation. CONCLUSIONS Educational strategies should be aimed at modifying the life style, early planning of pregnancy, promoting breast feeding and physical activity. It is very important to obtain reliable data for planning policies, decision-making and setting up the priorities.
EFFECTS OF HIGH PRESSURE IN THE ARMORED DINOFLAGELLATE SCRIPPSIELLA HEXAPRAECINGULA (PERIDINIALES, DINOPHYCEAE): CHANGES IN THECAL PLATE PATTERN AND MICROTUBULE ASSEMBLY 1

The possible role of cortical microtubules in dinoflagellates was studied using high‐pressure treatments applied to nonmotile cells (just after ecdysis) of Scrippsiella hexapraecingula T. Horig. et Chihara. Whereas considerable disorganization of cortical microtubules was observed when cells were exposed to high‐pressure treatments of 98 MPa or more for 5–15 min, they were mostly intact in cells exposed to a pressure of <98 MPa for 5 min. After nonmotile cells were exposed to high‐pressure treatments sufficient to disorganize the cortical microtubules, they produced new motile cells with thecal plate patterns that differed considerably from the pattern known for this species. Increasing the intensity of high pressure applied to nonmotile cells resulted in an increase in the number of cells that exhibited disorganized cortical microtubules as well as a change in their thecal plate pattern, suggesting that high pressure disorganizes cortical microtubules leading to a change in the thecal plate pattern.
A prospective evaluation of a triple‐drug regimen containing cisplatin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (CVD) for metastatic melanoma

Based on the independent activity of cisplatin, vinblastine, and dimethyl‐triazeno‐imidazole‐carboxamide (DTIC) (CVD), a combination of these agents was used in the treatment of patients with advanced melanoma. Vinblastine was used in a dose of 1.6 mg/m2/d for 5 days, DTIC was used in a dose of 800 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) on day 1, and cisplatin was used in a dose of 20 mg/m2/d for 4 days starting on day 2 of chemotherapy. The courses of chemotherapy were repeated at 3‐week intervals. All patients were premedicated with antiemetics, and IV hydration was used before cisplatin. Fifty‐two consecutive patients were registered and 50 were evaluable for response. Two patients achieved a complete response (CR) and 18 patients had a partial response (PR) for an overall response rate of 40% (95% confidence interval, 27% to 55%). The median duration of response was 9 months and the median survival time of the responders was 12 months. The overall median survival time of patients treated on this protocol was 9 months. The treatment was associated with significant toxicity consisting of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and partial hair loss. Additionally, neutropenia with a median nadir granulocyte count of 500/μl was observed, and significant anemia required blood transfusions in a majority of the patients after three to four courses of chemotherapy. The dose‐limiting toxicity was peripheral neuropathy which required discontinuation of cisplatin after six to eight courses of chemotherapy. We believe that this triple‐drug regimen has significant activity that appears to be superior to the single‐agent activity of these drugs, both in terms of increased response rate and duration of response.
TMPRSS2 Activates the Human Coronavirus 229E for Cathepsin-Independent Host Cell Entry and Is Expressed in Viral Target Cells in the Respiratory Epithelium

ABSTRACT Infection with human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) is associated with the common cold and may result in pneumonia in immunocompromised patients. The viral spike (S) protein is incorporated into the viral envelope and mediates infectious entry of HCoV-229E into host cells, a process that depends on the activation of the S-protein by host cell proteases. However, the proteases responsible for HCoV-229E activation are incompletely defined. Here we show that the type II transmembrane serine proteases TMPRSS2 and HAT cleave the HCoV-229E S-protein (229E-S) and augment 229E-S-driven cell-cell fusion, suggesting that TMPRSS2 and HAT can activate 229E-S. Indeed, engineered expression of TMPRSS2 and HAT rendered 229E-S-driven virus-cell fusion insensitive to an inhibitor of cathepsin L, a protease previously shown to facilitate HCoV-229E infection. Inhibition of endogenous cathepsin L or TMPRSS2 demonstrated that both proteases can activate 229E-S for entry into cells that are naturally susceptible to infection. In addition, evidence was obtained that activation by TMPRSS2 rescues 229E-S-dependent cell entry from inhibition by IFITM proteins. Finally, immunohistochemistry revealed that TMPRSS2 is coexpressed with CD13, the HCoV-229E receptor, in human airway epithelial (HAE) cells, and that CD13+ TMPRSS2+ cells are preferentially targeted by HCoV-229E, suggesting that TMPRSS2 can activate HCoV-229E in infected humans. In sum, our results indicate that HCoV-229E can employ redundant proteolytic pathways to ensure its activation in host cells. In addition, our observations and previous work suggest that diverse human respiratory viruses are activated by TMPRSS2, which may constitute a target for antiviral intervention.
Insulin initiation in type 2 diabetes: What are the treatment regimen options and how can we best help patients feel empowered?

Purpose: This article summarizes treatment regimens and issues involved in initiating insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Progressive deterioration of beta‐cell mass and function characterizes the course of T2D. Following diet and exercise, oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs), and incretin therapies, many patients require insulin, but initiation is often delayed until complications develop. Data sources: Published guidelines for the management of T2D, primary and review articles, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prescribing information. Conclusions: The diabetes nurse practitioner should encourage patients to initiate insulin when appropriate; patients need to know that this represents a natural step in treatment, not a personal failing. Initiation often occurs when OADs no longer confer adequate glycemic control. Treatment regimens available include once‐daily basal insulin, sometimes with addition of prandial insulin, or premix/biphasic insulin. Insulin analogs confer less risk of hypoglycemia and weight gain, and greater dosing flexibility compared with conventional insulins. Insulin efficacy may be enhanced by continuing metformin and/or incretin therapies, while discontinuing other drugs as appropriate. Implications for practice: The well‐versed diabetes nurse practitioner assists the patient in selecting the most appropriate option for his/her specific needs. It is essential to help patients overcome barriers, including fears of injection pain, public embarrassment, and hypoglycemia risk.