Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cerebrospinal IL-10 concentration is elevated in non-survivors as compared to survivors after severe traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE The intrathecal posttraumatic inflammation contributes to secondary brain damage as well as to the induction of neuroreparative mechanisms. In this context release of interleukin-10 (IL-10) has been reported to play a major role. However, initial IL-10 concentration in CSF remains incompletely characterized. Therefore, the aim was to analyze Il-10 in CSF and serum of patients early after TBI. METHODS For control, 10 volunteers receiving spinal puncture were enrolled. In patients with severe TBI (GCS<8 pts.), CSF and serum was drawn within 90+/-45 min after intraventricular catheter insertion (0 h), as well as 12 h, 24 h and 48 h after TBI. Albumin for assessing Blood-Brain-Barrier (BBB) function and IL-10 (IMMULITE, DPC Biermann, Bad Nauheim, Germany) were analyzed. RESULTS 23 patients were enrolled. 15 survived and 8 deceased within 24h. In controls, CSF IL-10 was below detection limit (<5 pg/ml). In contrast, IL-10 was elevated significantly in non-survivors at 0 h vs. survivors and controls (30+/-6 vs. 9+/-1 vs. <5 pg/mL). This was accompanied by a significant increase of serum IL-10 in both groups at 0 h vs. controls (survivors: 30+/-6 pg/mL, non-survivors: 48+/-8 pg/mL, controls: 10+/-7 pg/mL, p<0.001). Survivors revealed signs of a mild BBB dysfunction during the entire observation period. In contrast, non-survivors presented a severe BBB breakage. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated an analysis of IL-10 CSF and serum concentration after TBI. These data support an intrathecal IL-10 synthesis. Although the significant increase of IL-10 might indicate a bad outcome of TBI, responsible mechanisms still have to be elucidated.
Antibody‐induced redistribution of HL‐A antigens at the cell surface

The in vitro binding of anti‐HL‐A antibodies to the membrane of human lymphocytes induces important changes in the distribution of HL‐A antigens on the cell surface. Following either direct or indirect immunofluorescence staining at 0 °C, cell‐bound anti‐HL‐A antibodies are dispersed all over the cell surface. When the washed, stained lymphocytes are warmed and incubated at 37 °C, fluorescent antibodies cluster progressively at the cell surface. They form large spots of fluorescence, and sometimes single caps at one pole of the cell, outside which HL‐A antigens are no longer detectable, but other antigens can still be found. Similar findings were made in electron microscopy, following indirect labeling of HL‐A antigens on human lymphocytes, with ferritin or plant virus as the markers.
Chemosensory control of surface antigen switching in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Nematodes change their surface compositions in response to environmental signals, which may allow them to survive attacks from microbial pathogens or host immune systems. In the free‐living species Caenorhabditis elegans, wild‐type worms are induced to display an L1 (first larval stage) surface epitope at later larval stages when grown on an extract of spent culture medium (Inducible Larval Display or ILD). Before this study, it was not known whether ILD was regulated by the well‐characterized, neurologically based chemical senses of C. elegans, which mediate other behavioural and developmental responses to environmental signals such as chemotaxis and formation of the facultatively arrested dauer larva stage. We show here that ILD requires the activities of three genes that are essential for the function of the C. elegans chemosensory neurons. ILD was abolished in chemotaxis‐defective che‐3, osm‐3 and tax‐4 mutants. In contrast, chemotaxis‐defective mutants altered in a different gene, srf‐6, show constitutive display of the L1 epitope on all four larval stages. The ILD‐defective che‐3, osm‐3 and tax‐4 mutations blocked the constitutive larval display of an srf‐6 mutant. Combining srf‐6 and certain dauer‐constitutive mutations in double mutants enhanced constitutive dauer formation, consistent with the idea that srf‐6 acts in parallel with specific components of the dauer formation pathway. These results taken together are consistent with the hypothesis that ILD is triggered by environmental signals detected by the nematode‘s chemosensory neurons.
High-level robot programming in dynamic and incompletely known environments

This thesis advocates the usefulness and practicality of a logic-based approach to AI and in particular to high-level control of mobile robots. The contribution of the research work reported here is twofold: (1) the development of theoretical frameworks that account for uncertainty and unmodeled dynamics in an environment where an acting agent has to achieve certain goals and (2) the implementation of the developed ideas on a mobile robot. We have elaborated the approach to designing efficient and reliable controllers in Golog following two different perspectives on the environment where the control program is supposed to operate. According to one perspective, investigated in Chapter 4, the agent has a logical model of the world, but there is no probabilistic information about the environment where the agent is planning to act, and the agent is not capable or has no time for acquiring probabilities of different effects of its actions. In this case, the uncertainty and dynamics of the environment can be accounted only by observing the real outcomes of actions executed by the agent, by determining possible discrepancies between the observed outcomes and the effects expected according to the logical model of the world and then by recovering, if necessary, from the relevant discrepancies. To recover the agent computes on-line an appropriate correction of the program that is being executed. A general framework for execution monitoring of Golog programs provides the aforementioned functionalities and generalizes those previously known approaches to execution monitoring that have been formulated only for cases when the agent is given a linearly or partially ordered sequence of actions, but not an arbitrary program. According to the second perspective, investigated in Chapter 5, we can model actions of the agent as stochastic actions and characterize them by a finite set of probabilities: whenever the agent does a stochastic action, it may lead to a finite number of possible outcomes. Two major innovations in this research direction are the development of a decision-theoretic Golog (DT Golog) interpreter, that deals with programs that include stochastic actions, and the development of the situation calculus representation of MDPs. In addition to this off-line DT-Golog interpreter, in Chapter 6 we develop an on-line DT Golog interpreter that combines planning with the execution of policies. This new on-line architecture allows one to compute an optimal policy (optimal with respect to a given Golog program and a current model of the world) from an initial segment of a Golog program, execute the computed policy on-line and then proceed to computing and executing policies for the remaining segments of the program. The specification and implementation of the on-line interpreter requires a new approach to the representation of sensing actions in the situation calculus. A formal study of this approach is undertaken in Chapter 3. We also describe implementations of our frameworks; these were successfully tested in a real office environment on a mobile robot B21.
Flux Control of a CPPM Machine for Both a Wide Speed Range and High Efficiency

This paper proposes a flux control strategy for a consequent-pole permanent-magnet (CPPM) machine that increases torque capability over a wide speed range and enhances efficiency with a fast convergence. After a brief analysis of the parameters of the CPPM machine, a new flux-weakening algorithm is proposed to achieve maximum torque output over the entire speed range. The optimal flux reference is determined by the preset output flux generated by the 1/ω method and compensated by the voltage closed-loop controller to improve dynamics response. A variable structure voltage controller incorporated with a limiter is designed to generate the antiwindup control. Furthermore, the loss model of the CPPM machine is derived to demonstrate that a 1-D search is suitable for optimizing the machine's efficiency. Then, an adaptive flux step search algorithm, which calculates the flux step proportional to the derivative of the input power with respect to the q-axis voltage, is proposed to minimize the power losses online. The experimental results are compared with the traditional flux control strategy on a CPPM prototype machine, which confirmed the robustness of the presented flux control strategy to obtain the maximum torque output over the entire flux-weakening speed range. The convergence speed is also increased in the efficiency optimization process.
Avian and Mammalian Facilitative Glucose Transporters

The GLUT members belong to a family of glucose transporter proteins that facilitate glucose transport across the cell membrane. The mammalian GLUT family consists of thirteen members (GLUTs 1–12 and H+-myo-inositol transporter (HMIT)). Humans have a recently duplicated GLUT member, GLUT14. Avians express the majority of GLUT members. The arrangement of multiple GLUTs across all somatic tissues signifies the important role of glucose across all organisms. Defects in glucose transport have been linked to metabolic disorders, insulin resistance and diabetes. Despite the essential importance of these transporters, our knowledge regarding GLUT members in avians is fragmented. It is clear that there are no chicken orthologs of mammalian GLUT4 and GLUT7. Our examination of GLUT members in the chicken revealed that some chicken GLUT members do not have corresponding orthologs in mammals. We review the information regarding GLUT orthologs and their function and expression in mammals and birds, with emphasis on chickens and humans.
Writing Time- and Space- Efficient LogicGuard Specifications∗

Based on the analysis carried out as part of the LogicGuard II project we purpose various methods for reducing the time and space complexity of LogicGuard specifications. The key results of these investigations are that space complexity is most effected by the order of the intervals based on length and time complexity is most effected by the overlap of the intervals. We provide examples illustrating these findings as well as analysis of the theoretical results.
Application of the pupal/demographic-survey methodology in an area of Havana, Cuba, with low densities of Aedes aegypti (L.)

Abstract Between the April and December of 2004, an Aedes aegypti (L.) pupal/demographic survey was conducted in the Playa municipality of Havana. The aims were to identify the key types of container in the production of the adult mosquitoes (and so provide a basis for targeted control) and assess transmission risk in terms of the number of pupae/person. Pupal abundance, as measured in the survey, was compared with traditional Stegomyia indices. The immature stages of Ae. aegypti were only found in 70 of the 15,153 containers that were investigated and the pupae of this species were only seen in 52 of the containers. Ground-level water-storage tanks yielded 74.1% of all the pupae, with a further 19.0% found in miscellaneous small containers. The utility of the pupal/demographic-survey methodology in the evaluation of dengue risk in the study area, and other areas of Cuba with low densities of Ae. aegypti, is discussed.
Cognitive Impairment of Rats Caused by Oxidative Stress and Aging, and Its Prevention by Vitamin E

In order to verify whether brain damage caused by chronic oxidative stress induces the impairment of cognitive function, the ability of learning and memory was assessed using the water maze and the eight‐arm radial maze tasks. Young rats showed significantly greater learning ability before the stress than the old and vitamin E‐deficient rats. At five days after subjection to oxidative stress, the memory function of the young declined toward the level of that in the aged rats maintained under normal condition. This phenomenon is supported by the findings that the delayed‐type apoptosis appeared in the CA1 region of the hippocampus of the young at five to seven days after the stress. Vitamin E supplementation to the young accelerated significantly their learning functions before the stress and prevented the deficit of memory caused by the stress. When rats were subjected to stress, thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substance (TBARS), lipid hydroperoxides, and protein carbonyls were significantly increased in synaptic plasma membranes. It was found that ζ‐potential of the synaptic membrane surface was remarkably decreased. These phenomena were also observed in the aged and vitamin E‐deficient rats maintained under normal condition. These results suggest that oxidative damage to the rat synapse in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus during aging may contribute to the deficit of cognitive functions.
Attitudes of children towards peers with acquired brain injury (ABI)

Research objective: Children with acquired brain injury (ABI) can experience severe problems in establishing peer relationships. The attitudes peers hold toward a child with an ABI can significantly impact on their willingness to befriend. The present work sought to investigate the attitudes peers hold toward a fictional child with ABI. Methods and procedures: Fifty children from a primary school were compared against a similar number from a secondary school. Gender was evenly split across both groups. A vignette describing a young boy acquiring a brain injury, and his subsequent change in behaviour, was presented to the children. The Friendship Activity Scale (FAS) was then used to judge how likely the children were to befriend the fictional character. Outcomes and results: Results showed a statistically significant interaction between gender and age [F(1, 96) 6.285, p = 0.014] with older males expressing more positive attitudes than younger males. Conclusion: The study suggests that children with ABI are more likely to experience negative attitudes in primary school, and concludes in calling for additional research to more fully explore the social experience of children with ABI.
Efeito da repetição de itens na codificação da memória episódica

Effect of item repetition on episodic memory codification Item repetition is a mechanism which can cause interference during codification. To investigate the impact of this type of inference in long term episodic memory we established a codification procedure composed of three consecutive word recognition tests in which repeated distractors were used (difficult context), or not (easy context). The score obtained in both contexts was compared when the stimulus was presented auditorily as well as visually. Our subjects were 46 university students and 16 middle aged adults. The score from the immediate and the long term recognition tests was worse in the difficult context, independent of item presentation type or subject age. The results indicate that item repetition generated interference, hindering immediate and long term memory. This process lends itself to everyday situations, allowing further investigation concerning interference.
Strategic quality competitiveness management

Nowadays, experienced practitioners are considering the effectiveness and efficiency of project management as the vital factors for their long-term enterprise failure or success. As such, the author introduces the key issues of the planning and implementation on quality improvement of the manufactured products. In reality, quality products cannot be produced through the short-term business profit activities. Quality can be fulfilled through the long-term reliable procedures for the joint committed agreement between producers and customers. In this paper, the author recommends that proper detail tasks over the specification and design phases may drastically reduce the whole life cycle cost (i.e. up to 85% of cost saving). The author also adopts the Six Sigma practices, by which the competitive conditions of products can be formulated, planned and managed. Furthermore, the Bayesian sequential procedures, the well-defined review, verification and validation tasks, the level of the product competitiveness as well as the degree of customers' satisfaction can be measured.
Laser photocoagulation for choroidal neovascularisation in pathologic myopia.

BACKGROUND Pathologic myopia is usually defined as the need for a spectacle correction of -6 diopters or higher. Choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) is the most commonly occurring cause of visual loss in people with pathologic myopia. In myopic macular degeneration the occurrence of newly formed vessels in the macula often leads to a fibrotic pigmented scar causing a blind spot in the centre of the visual field. OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this review was to examine the effects of laser photocoagulation for CNV associated with pathologic myopia. A secondary objective was to compare the effects of different photocoagulation techniques. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group Trials Register) on The Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2005), MEDLINE (1966 to July 2005), EMBASE (1980 to July 2005, week 28), LILACS (July 2005) and the reference lists of included studies. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomised controlled trials comparing photocoagulation with observation or comparing different photocoagulation techniques in people with CNV associated with myopia of -6 diopters or higher. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors independently assessed the search results for eligibility. MAIN RESULTS Two studies were included that enrolled people with CNV located at 100 microns or more from the foveal centre. One study compared photocoagulation with observation. At the final examination, 16/35 participants randomised to photocoagulation versus 31/35 randomised to observation had visual acuity of 20/100 or worse after 6 to 48 months. The second study randomised 27 eyes (26 patients) to photocoagulation with three laser wavelengths (9 eyes per group). The number of eyes losing two or more lines was 2 (577 nm), 3 (590 nm) and 3 (620 nm) after 3 to 17 months. In both studies comparisons were made using outcomes assessed at the final examination. As the final examination took place at different follow-up times it was difficult to interpret the findings and it was impossible to extract data for further analyses. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Despite its use over several years the effectiveness of laser photocoagulation for myopic CNV has not been established. Although there was a suggestion of short-term effectiveness in one small study on non-subfoveal CNV the results were potentially biased. Observational studies suggest that the enlargement of the atrophic laser scar after laser treatment of non-subfoveal CNV could be a potentially vision-threatening long-term complication, even in eyes free of CNV recurrence.
Functional domains within the degenerin/epithelial sodium channel (Deg/ENaC) superfamily of ion channels

Application of recombinant DNA technology and electrophysiology to the study of amiloride‐sensitive Na+ channels has resulted in an enormous increase in the understanding of the structure‐function relationships of these channels. Moreover, this knowledge has permitted the elucidation of the physiological roles of these ion channels in cellular processes as diverse as transepithelial salt and water movement, taste perception, volume regulation, nociception, neuronal function, mechanosensation, and even defaecation. Although members of this ever‐growing superfamily of ion channels (the Deg/ENaC superfamily) share little amino acid identity, they are all organized similarly, namely, two short N‐ and C‐termini, two short membrane‐spanning segments, and a very large extracellular loop domain. In this brief Topical Review, we discuss the structural features of each domain of this Deg/ENaC superfamily and, using ENaC as a model, show how each domain relates to overall channel function.
Validity of activity-based devices to estimate sleep.

STUDY OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of sleep estimation using a device designed and marketed to measure core physical activity. METHODS Thirty adolescent participants in an epidemiological research study wore 3 actigraphy devices on the wrist over a single night concurrent with polysomnography (PSG). Devices used include Actical actigraph, designed and marketed for placement around the trunk to measure physical activity, in addition to 2 standard actigraphy devices used to assess sleep-wake states: Sleepwatch actigraph and Actiwatch actigraph. Sleep-wake behaviors, including total sleep time (TST) and sleep efficiency (SE), were estimated from each wrist-device and PSG. Agreements between each device were calculated using Pearson product movement correlation and Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS Statistical analyses of TST revealed strong correlations between each wrist device and PSG (r = 0.822, 0.836, and 0.722 for Sleepwatch, Actiwatch, and Actical, respectively). TST measured using the Actical correlated strongly with Sleepwatch (r = 0.796), and even stronger still with Actiwatch (r = 0.955). In analyses of SE, Actical correlated strongly with Actiwatch (r = 0.820; p < 0.0001), but not with Sleepwatch (0.405; p = 0.0266). SE determined by PSG correlated somewhat strongly with SE estimated from the Sleepwatch and Actiwatch (r = 0.619 and 0.651, respectively), but only weakly with SE estimated from the Actical (r = 0.348; p = 0.0598). CONCLUSIONS The results from this study suggest that a device designed for assessment of physical activity and truncal placement can be used to measure sleep duration as reliably as devices designed for wrist use and sleep wake inference.
Activation of the c-myc oncogene in a precursor-B-cell blast crisis of follicular lymphoma, presenting as composite lymphoma.

B-CELL lymphomas are considered to represent "frozen" stages in the maturation of normal B cells. However, progression to a more malignant histologic form is frequently observed in low-grade lymphomas.1 Cytogenetic studies have shown that sub-clones can develop during the course of the disease, identifiable by a cascade of multiple recurrent chromosomal abnormalities.2 , 3 In follicular lymphoma, for example, these abnormalities may be superimposed on translocation t(14;18)(q32;q21), which is found as a marker in about 85 percent of cases and involves the putative oncogene bcl-2.4 Although several of these aberrations could be correlated with histologic progression, development of leukemia, or a poor .
HLA Class I or Class II and Disease Association: Catch the Difference If You Can

The association of autoimmune diseases with HLA has been known for many decades. To date, however, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully understood. The recently introduced genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have suggested that several genes converging in common pathways contribute to the genetic susceptibility in such disorders. Nevertheless, for most autoimmune/autoinflammatory diseases, the HLA genes are by far the strongest risk factors. The basis of some associations has now been elucidated, particularly in those cases in which exogenous factors are involved.