Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intrasubthalamic cell transplants for epilepsy therapy: hopes and concerns

The mainstay of treatment of patients suffering from epilepsies involves antiepileptic drug therapy. However, about one-third of patients continue to have seizures or show intolerable adverse effects despite appropriate medication. Neuronal transplantation into key brain regions involved in seizure generation, propagation, or modulation is a promising alternative experimental approach to treat drug-resistant epilepsies. Especially for patients with multiple-epileptic foci, or without a clear focal onset, therapeutic manipulation of brain structures remote to the focus but significantly involved in seizure modulation may be a more advantageous strategy. Using animal experiments, we recently showed that the subthalamic nucleus (STN) may be an auspicious target region in this respect. The STN repeatedly showed up to be highly sensitive to changes in GABAergic transmission, which can be achieved by localized microinjection of GABA-elevating drugs or by grafting GABA-releasing cells. However, there are many hurdles to overcome and questions to resolve before clinical translation of this approach appears realistic. This commentary discusses potential benefits as well as concerns associated with grafting of inhibitory cells into the STN.
Clustering and probabilistic matching of arbitrarily shaped ceiling features for monocular vision-based SLAM

This paper presents improved extraction and matching methods for arbitrarily shaped (AS) ceiling features for monocular vision-based simultaneous localization and mapping. The feature descriptor, which is robust to illumination changes, comprises the vertex distribution, size, and orientation strength of the region of interest. However, to cope with the problem of vertices being detected at different positions in successive images, Bayes’ rule is applied to preserve robust vertices and remove rarely observed vertices. Moreover, unstable features surrounded by similar features are clustered to create a robust feature by calculating their similarities to adjacent clusters. AS features from the proposed scheme are used as landmarks in the extended Kalman filter, and the effectiveness of the proposed scheme is verified through various experiments in real environments.
Serological tests of a relationship between rumen selenomonads in vitro and in vivo.

SUMMARY: Fluorescent antisera to strains of small Selenomonas ruminantium var. lactilyticas grown in vitro from sheep rumen contents appeared to react specifically with some of the large selenomonads seen in vivo in rumen contents. It seems probable, therefore, that the selenomonads isolated by the usual cultural methods are those seen in rumen contents.
Computational efficiency of numerical approximations of tangent moduli for finite element implementation of a fiber-reinforced hyperelastic material model

Abstract In this study, we evaluated computational efficiency of finite element (FE) simulations when a numerical approximation method was used to obtain the tangent moduli. A fiber-reinforced hyperelastic material model for nearly incompressible soft tissues was implemented for 3D solid elements using both the approximation method and the closed-form analytical method, and validated by comparing the components of the tangent modulus tensor (also referred to as the material Jacobian) between the two methods. The computational efficiency of the approximation method was evaluated with different perturbation parameters and approximation schemes, and quantified by the number of iteration steps and CPU time required to complete these simulations. From the simulation results, it can be seen that the overall accuracy of the approximation method is improved by adopting the central difference approximation scheme compared to the forward Euler approximation scheme. For small-scale simulations with about 10,000 DOFs, the approximation schemes could reduce the CPU time substantially compared to the closed-form solution, due to the fact that fewer calculation steps are needed at each integration point. However, for a large-scale simulation with about 300,000 DOFs, the advantages of the approximation schemes diminish because the factorization of the stiffness matrix will dominate the solution time. Overall, as it is material model independent, the approximation method simplifies the FE implementation of a complex constitutive model with comparable accuracy and computational efficiency to the closed-form solution, which makes it attractive in FE simulations with complex material models.
Large photoresponse of a single Si nanowire (diameter ∼50nm) Metal-Semiconductor-Metal device

The photoresponse of a single Si nanowire (50 nm diameter) is reported. The Metal-Semiconductor-Metal device structure is made by focused ion beam assisted Platinum deposited contacts on the single nanowire. Upon illumination with 405 nm light, the nanowires shows a large photoresponse even at zero bias. The dark and illuminated I-V curves have been analyzed using MSM device structure showing that there is lowering of the work function at the junctions on illumination and also a photoconductive component in the response. The response exhibits a rapid turn on/off of the photo-current when the light is turned on/off and can follow the light modulations upto a frequency of 4kHz.
An efficient frequency adjustable penta-band slot antenna

In this paper an efficient penta-band microstrip-fed slot antenna with a compact size of 38×19 mm<sup>2</sup> is presented for wireless applications. Each band can be controlled in a wide range by variation of only one dimension parameter whereas other bands remain unchanged. Variation ranges are from 2.3 to 2.62 GHz for f<sub>1</sub>, 4.25 to 4.76 GHz for f<sub>2</sub>, 5.7 to 6.35 GHz for f<sub>3</sub>, 6.72 to 7.35 GHz for f<sub>4</sub> and 7.55 to 8.35 GHz for f<sub>5</sub>. Also a measured bandwidth of 130 MHz (%5.3 at 2.47 GHz) is achieved for the first resonance.
TO IMPROVE ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE IN THE IRAQI MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATION SECTOR

In the era of knowledge-based economy, there is only one way to achieve survival, stability and growth of the organizations. This is through knowledge management implementation. But in order to ensure the successful knowledge management implementation, role of middle managers is critical. In other words, the role of middle managers will enable sustainability of successful knowledge management implementation, which in turn may improve organizational performance. The interrelationships among these variables, coupled with the fact that studies are limited in this area, have led this study to look at the role of middle managers in knowledge management implementation toward improving organizational performance of the Iraqi mmobile telecommunication sector.
Elderly Women in Institutions versus Those in Public Housing: Comparison of Personal and Social Adjustments

An investigation was made of the comparative effects of living in urban public housing or a suburban nursing home upon the personal and social adjustment of elderly women. Structured personal interviews were held with 20 residents in each setting. The Kutner Morale scale and a Socialness scale designed for this study were used. The findings indicated that there existed: 1) a statistically significant difference in the personal and social adjustments between the two populations, with the public‐housing elderly achieving higher mean scores; 2) a significant relationship between the personal and social adjustment of individuals within each residential setting; and 3) a strong positive relationship between health and social adjustment in the public‐housing population. It was tentatively concluded that the female elderly in public housing showed higher adjustment than did the female elderly in the nursing home. Factors which may have influenced these findings were the nursing home's comparative lack of privacy, independence of action and nearness to friends, relatives and the community. It is recommended that future research in this area be carried out for the aged in all types of residence.
Effect of Genetic Obesity on Thermoregulatory Activity Responses to Inversion of the Light/Dark Cycle

In this pilot work, the authors compared the circadian rhythm responses of 3-month-old female fatty Zucker rats with those of lean Zucker rats and Sprague-Dawley rats to reversal of the light/dark (LD) cycle. Core temperature and spontaneous cage activity were continuously monitored by implanted microtelemetry devices prior to and for 5 days following complete LD cycle reversal. By the 5th day after LD reversal, temperature rhythm nadir had phase-advanced 10.5 hours in the lean Zucker rats, 10.8 hours in the Sprague-Dawley rats, and only 3.8 hours in the fatty Zucker rats. Similarly, total activity increased in lean Zucker rats and Sprague-Dawley rats after LD reversal but declined in the fatty Zucker rat during the same time. Results of this study show that obese Zucker rats displayed an impaired ability to reentrain circadian rhythms for temperature and activity when compared to lean Zucker rats and Sprague-Dawley rats. These findings suggest that dysfunction in the circadian pacemaker previously shown to manifest itself by 43 weeks of age in fatty Zucker rats may already be present at 3 months of age and suggest that altered thermoregulation may play a role in the development of obesity in this animal model of genetic obesity.
Propofol improves endothelial dysfunction and attenuates vascular superoxide production in septic rats

Objective:To determine the effects of propofol on vascular functions, plasma and endothelium-derived nitric oxide (EDNO), vascular NO, and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), as well as vascular production of superoxide anion (O2·−), in septic animals. Design:Prospective, multiexperimental, randomized, controlled studies. Setting:University research laboratory. Subjects:Male adult Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 350–400 g. Interventions:Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), with and without propofol (25 mg/kg/hr) infusion, after sham or CLP (24 hrs postsurgery). Measurements and Main Results:Plasma NOx, basal aortic NOx, and cGMP concentrations all increased, whereas acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR), contractile response, and EDNO all decreased in CLP vs. sham rats (p < .001). Acetylcholine stimulated aortic NOx and cGMP significantly in sham and CLP-propofol (p < .01) but not CLP rats. Thus, propofol ameliorated the CLP-induced increases in plasma NOx, basal aortic NOx, and cGMP. It restored the CLP-induced impairment of EDR, EDNO, and acetylcholine-stimulated aortic NOx and cGMP levels. More O2·− production (measured by lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence) was noted in carotid arteries from CLP vs. sham rats (p < .001). Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH; 1 mM) stimulated O2·− production in all rings, with significantly more increase in CLP vs. sham (p < .001). Propofol attenuated the excessive increase in O2·− production of CLP rings. Conclusions:Propofol treatment attenuated the overproduction of NO and O2·−, thus restoring the acetylcholine-responsive NO-cGMP pathway in CLP-induced sepsis. It also significantly improved the CLP-impaired EDR and EDNO in a parallel manner. These beneficial effects of propofol could be accounted for by improvement of the disturbed NO/O2·− balance in sepsis.
The population dynamics of acquired immunity to Heligmosomoides polygyrus in the laboratory mouse: strain, diet and exposure

An experiment was designed to investigate aspects of the population dynamics of acquired immunity to Heligmosomoides polygyrus in laboratory mice. The influence of host strain (CBA or NIH), rate of exposure (5 or 40 L3/mouse/2 weeks) and diet (3 or 16% protein w/w) on the population dynamics of repeated infection and the response to a standard challenge infection were investigated. The time delay between the end of the period of repeated infection and the subsequent challenge (between 1 and 24 weeks) had no effect on worm recovery. The effects of both exposure and diet were significant and similar whether assessed on the basis of the dynamics of repeated infection or response to challenge: low rates of exposure and low dietary protein were both associated with low levels of acquired immunity. Mouse strain was the most important determinant of worm recovery after challenge, but had no significant effect on the degree to which parasite population growth was constrained by acquired immunity during repeated infection. It is suggested that both CBA and NIH mice raise immune responses which act on parasite survival, but that only NIH mice raise responses operative against larval establishment.
Comparison of cell populations derived from canine olfactory bulb and olfactory mucosal cultures.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the numbers and proportions of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) in cell cultures derived from the olfactory bulb (OB) and olfactory mucosa of dogs. ANIMALS 7 dogs. PROCEDURES OB tissue and olfactory mucosa from the nasal cavity and frontal sinus were obtained from euthanatized dogs and prepared for cell culture. At 7, 14, and 21 days of culture in vitro, numbers and proportions of OECs, astrocytes, and fibroblasts were determined via immunocytochemistry. Antibody against the low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor p75 was used to identify OECs, antibody against glial fibrillary acidic protein was used to identify astrocytes, and antibody against fibronectin was used to identify fibroblasts. RESULTS Cultured OECs derived from the olfactory mucosa of the nasal cavity and frontal sinus had similar characteristics. However, whereas OECs in the OB cell cultures constituted approximately 50% of the cells at 7 days and approximately 75% at 21 days the proportion of OECs in cultures derived from both mucosal types was much lower, with approximately 40% OECs at 7 days and approximately 25% at 21 days. Analysis of OEC numbers revealed that these changes were accompanied by corresponding decreases and increases in the population of cells with fibronectin receptors. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Although olfactory mucosal cell cultures yielded a sufficient number of OECs for spinal cord transplantation procedures in dogs, modification of culture conditions would be required to ensure that the derived cell population contained a sufficient proportion of OECs.
T cells can bind antigen via cytophilic IgM antibody made by B cells.

The specificity of cell-mediated immune responses presupposes the existence of an antigen recognition unit associated with those cells responsible for this type of immunity. Evidence is accumulating which indicates the presence of immunoglobulins on thymus-dependent lymphocytes (T cells)2 and suggests that these may represent the recognition units (1–10). Much of the supporting evidence was obtained from studies in which anti-immunoglobulin reagents inhibited antigen binding by T cells as detected by direct (autoradiography and erythrocyte rosette formation) and indirect (e.g., highly radioactive antigen-induced “suicide”) techniques. Most of these studies were done in mice; in all instances the T cells studied had been associated in vivo with bone marrow dependent (B) cells and their immunoglobulin products. Agammaglobulinemic (Aγ) chickens represent an animal model particularly well suited to studies involving T lymphocytes since they completely lack B cells and circulating immunoglobulins but have normal T cell development and cell mediated immunity.
Pathway utilization in response to a site‐specific DNA double‐strand break in fission yeast

We have examined the genetic requirements for efficient repair of a site‐specific DNA double‐strand break (DSB) in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Tech nology was developed in which a unique DSB could be generated in a non‐essential minichromosome, Ch16, using the Saccharomyces cerevisiae HO‐endonuclease and its target site, MATa. DSB repair in this context was predominantly through interchromosomal gene conversion. We found that the homologous recombination (HR) genes rhp51+, rad22A+, rad32+ and the nucleotide excision repair gene rad16+ were required for efficient interchromosomal gene conversion. Further, DSB‐induced cell cycle delay and efficient HR required the DNA integrity checkpoint gene rad3+. Rhp55 was required for interchromosomal gene conversion; however, an alternative DSB repair mechanism was used in an rhp55Δ background involving ku70+ and rhp51+. Surprisingly, DSB‐induced minichromosome loss was significantly reduced in ku70Δ and lig4Δ non‐homologous end joining (NHEJ) mutant backgrounds compared with wild type. Furthermore, roles for Ku70 and Lig4 were identified in suppressing DSB‐induced chromosomal rearrangements associated with gene conversion. These findings are consistent with both competitive and cooperative interactions between components of the HR and NHEJ pathways.
Exercise Training and Rehabilitation in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: RATIONALE AND CURRENT DATA EVALUATION

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by reduced functional capacity and health-related quality of life. Despite the progress made in recent years in disease-targeted therapies with improvement in prognosis, PAH patients often experience progressive exercise intolerance. Exercise rehabilitation is beneficial and has become a standard of care in patients with systolic heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, although PAH patients present with similar exertional limitation and often share common hemodynamic, ventilatory, and skeletal muscle derangements, exercise rehabilitation was discouraged in PAH patients because of concerns of clinical deterioration and adverse outcomes. In recent years, several small-scale studies have demonstrated that closely supervised and monitored exercise training programs may have potential benefits in the management of stable PAH patients, improving exercise capacity and quality of life, with an acceptable low risk of adverse events in the studied populations. This review describes the emerging clinical data supporting the efficacy and safety of exercise training in PAH patients. The review provides a perspective on the pathophysiological impairments contributing to exercise intolerance in these patients and critically project from the proven evidence-based benefits of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation in chronic heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on the PAH population.
Delayed Hypersensitivity in Man: A Correlate in vitro and Transfer by an RNA Extract

The migration of sensitized human monocytic-phagocytic cells from lymph-node tissue-culture suspensions was regularly and specifically inhibited by purified protein derivative or histoplasmin. Moreover, when nonsensitive cells were incubated with an RNA extract from lymph nodes of donors sensitive to purified protein derivative, histoplasmin, or both, the migration of these cells was specifically inhibited by these antigens. Ribonuclease inactivated the RNA extract.
Anatomical and physiological observations on suprapinal control of bladder and urethral sphincter muscles in the cat

In 15 cats injections of 3H‐leucine were made in the pontine tegmentum. Injections in the medial part of the dorsolateral pontine tegmentum (M‐region) resulted in specific projections to the sacral intermediomedial and intermediolateral cell groups. The intermediolateral cell group contains preganglionic parasympathetic neurons that form the motor supply of the detrusor muscle of the bladder. Injections in the lateral part of the pontine tegmental field (L‐region) produced labeled fibers in the nucleus of Onuf, which contains motoneurons innervating the pelvic floor including the anal and urethral sphincters. L‐region projections to the sacral preganglionic parasympathetic neurons and M‐region projections to the nucleus of Onuf were very limited or absent.
Congenital absence of the cecal appendix. Case report.

BACKGROUND Agenesis of the vermiform appendix is very rare and was first described by Morgagni in 1718. The estimated incidence is 1/100,000 laparotomies performed for suspected appendicitis. This case is reported with the aim of attracting the attention of surgeons who may be in a similar situation during laparotomy. CLINICAL CASE A 48-year-old male was admitted through the emergency room with the complaint of vague abdominal pain most marked in the epigastrium and mesogastrium which, 4 h after it began, was located in the right iliac fossa and was accompanied by hyporexia, nausea, vomiting and fever. During physical examination, the patient was febrile, tachycardic, and tachypneic, with decreased peristalsis, abdomen painful to palpation and percussion in the right iliac fossa. There were positive appendicular signs. Blood panel showed leukocytosis (14,000), neutrophilia (89.60%) and lymphopenia (5.33%). X-rays of the abdomen showed no abnormalities. We made a presumptive diagnosis of acute appendicitis and the patient underwent celioscopy where surgical findings were reported as type IV Collins appendiceal agenesis and concomitant mesenteric adenitis. CONCLUSIONS Several criteria must be determined before the surgeon can conclude that the appendix is congenitally absent. Diagnosis should not be confirmed until the ileo- and retrocecal regions have been explored.
La observación electoral con voto electrónico

Este trabajo avanza en la elaboracion de un protocolo de observacion electoral para la aplicación del voto electronico. El interes es tanto para el ciudadano comun (en su posible participacion como autoridad de mesa), como para las organizaciones civiles (fortaleciendo su proceso de observacion, de manera informada y critica). Los actores politicos tambien podran mejorar la tarea del control de los comicios, favorecer la confianza en el proceso electoral y la consecuente legitimidad de sus resultados. Se divide en tres secciones: i) Descripcion del voto electronico y un repaso sobre algunos motivos de su incorporacion; ii) Definicion de un protocolo de observacion electoral para esta modalidad; y, iii) Proposicion de algunos requisitos indispensables para su puesta en funcionamiento
Continuous Self‐Healing Life Cycle in Vascularized Structural Composites

J. F. Patrick Civil and Environmental Engineering Department Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Urbana , IL 61801 , USA K. R. Hart, Prof. S. R. White Aerospace Engineering Department Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Urbana , IL 61801 , USA E-mail: swhite@illinois.edu Dr. C. E. Diesendruck, Prof. J. S. Moore Chemistry Department Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Urbana , IL 61801 , USA B. P. Krull, Prof. N. R. Sottos Materials Science and Engineering Department Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Urbana , IL 61801 , USA E-mail: n-sottos@illinois.edu