Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Body composition determination by bioimpedance: an update

Purpose of reviewTo review various methods for measuring body composition by bioimpedance and their limitations, as well as available impedance meters, including body fat analyzers for home use. Recent findingsBioimpedance spectroscopy, which requires multifrequency impedance meters, is preferable for fluid volume measurements, especially extracellular fluid, whereas bioimpedance analysis at 50 kHz is more widely used for measuring fat-free mass. A method for using bioimpedance spectroscopy equations with 50 kHz impedance meters has been recently proposed and successfully tested. Low cost foot-to-foot impedance meters (body fat analyzers) with plantar electrodes on a body scale, that are easy and fast to use, have been compared with medical impedance meters and with dual X-ray absorptiometry measurements and found reasonably accurate, except for individuals with very low or high BMI. SummaryBody composition by bioimpedance is gaining acceptance in nutrition, hemodialysis, gerontology and sports medicine. Body fat analyzers that have been validated by comparison with dual x-ray absorptiometry could be useful to general practitioners, nutritionists and cardiologists.
DNA Interaction and Photocleavage Properties of Ru (II) Complexes [Ru(bpy)2(pibi)]2+ and [Ru(phen)2(pibi)]2+

A new asymmetry ligand pibi (pibi = 2-(pyridine-2-yl)-1-H-imidazo[4,5-f]benzo[d]imidazolone) and its ruthenium complexes with [Ru(L)2(pibi)]2+ (L = bpy (2, 2′-bipyridine), phen (1, 10-phenanthroline)), have been synthesized and characterized. The binding of two complexes with calf thymus DNA has been investigated by spectroscopic and viscosity measurement. The results indicate that both complexes can bind to CT-DNA through intercalative mode. Under irradiation at 365 nm, both complexes can partly promote the photocleavage of plasmid pBR322DNA. The low singlet oxygen generation abilities of the two complexes may be the factor for the low DNA photocleavage abilities.
Optimisation de réseaux de transport de gaz

Le transport de grandes quantites de gaz naturel (GN) est effectue par gazoducs. Des stations de compression sont generalement positionnees a intervalles reguliers pour compenser la perte de pression. Deux axes principaux sont generalement mis en evidence lorsqu’on s’interesse aux reseaux de transmission, a savoir leur conception et leur exploitation. Ce travail a pour objectif de fournir une formulation non lineaire en variables mixtes pour modeliser et optimiser de telles grilles et est applique a une serie de cas d’etudes couvrant une gamme d’applications significatives. Des problemes typiques de taille industrielle pour minimiser la consommation de carburant servent d’illustration. Ensuite, une methodologie pour des problemes de conception de reseaux de gaz, impliquant le cout d’investissement comme critere d’optimisation est presentee. Enfin, une etude plus prospective, dediee au transport d’un melange GN-H2 est traitee dans une periode de transition vers une economie hydrogene.
Enhanced Skin Regeneration Using a Novel Amniotic-derived Tissue Graft.

BACKGROUND Chronic and recalcitrant wounds present a significant therapeutic challenge. Amniotic tissues contain many regenerative cytokines, growth factors, and extracellular matrix molecules including proteoglycans, hyaluronic acid, and collagens I, III, and IV. Dehydrated amnion/chorion grafts are currently used to treat a variety of wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers and burns. OBJECTIVE The investigators hypothesized that processing methodologies, dehydration, and hypothermic processing and storage of amniotic tissues would affect overall quality of wound healing; they compared dehydrated amnion/chorion (dHACM) grafts to a novel hypothermically stored amniotic membrane (HSAM) graft in a full-thickness rat wound model. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized and prepped for surgery; four 1.5-cm diameter full-thickness wounds were created and treated with either: (1) dHACM, (2) dHACM meshed, (3) HSAM, or (4) wound left ungrafted (sham). After 9 or 21 days, wounds and surrounding areas were collected and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Blinded quantitative analysis of quality of wound healing was completed by evaluating hair follicle/gland formation, dense/scar-like matrix, and basket-weave matrix. RESULTS At varying time points following placement of the grafts into full-thickness defects, the authors found that all amniotic-derived tissue grafts appeared to stimulate improved healing over sham wounds, evidenced by more normal-appearing dermal matrix architecture, epidermal structure, and maturity. In addition, the HSAM grafts promoted greater tissue regeneration than the dHACM meshed grafts, as measured by the presence of basket-weave collagen matrix and formation of follicles and glands. CONCLUSIONS In sum, this study builds on the amassing literature supporting amniotic tissues for wound repair and demonstrates the importance of tissue processing on the quality of wound healing.
Implementation Issues and Performance Evaluation of Sinusoidal, Surface-Mounted PM Machine Drives With Hall-Effect Position Sensors and a Vector-Tracking Observer

This paper presents the implementation and evaluation of a high-resolution position estimation system for sinusoidal, surface phase modulation machines based on Hall-effect sensors and a vector-tracking observer. First, the tuning of the observer is presented and a speed-dependent gain scheduling strategy is proposed. Then various harmonic decoupling strategies are investigated to improve the performance of the observer, particularly at low speeds. Stability analysis is performed leading to the definition of local stability limits, within which the actual position is tracked with bounded estimation error. Both simulation and experimental testing illustrate the performance and limitations of the proposed observer topology and of the drive when this observer is used for state feedback.
THE EMPIRICAL STUDY ON THE DETERMINANTS OF MOSLEM CONSUMERS TO PURCHASE HALAL PRODUCTS

Nowadays, the issue of Halal has been debated and argued by so many parties and M o s l e m consumers in Malaysia have to select acceptable food products which contain many ingredients in varying quantities, including trace amounts of haram or questionable ingredients. Halal starts from the very beginning o f food preparation process until the product reaches the consumer. Thus, it must be prepared, processed, manufactured and storage using equipment untainted by anything unclean (S. Shafie and O. Mohamad, 2002). The primary objective o f this study is to identify the determinants of Halal perceived by the M o s l e m consumer in Malaysia and measuring the consumer perception on the Malaysia Hala l certification. This study presents primary data collected by self-administered statements involving 385 responses from the Moslem respondents within concentration in Klang Va l l ey and East Coast region of Malaysia. The factors are analyzed using factor analysis with varimax rotation, to cluster the criteria into several variables to determine the dimensions o f Mos lem consumers' perception towards Hala l food produce. The result shows that religiosity commitment is a significant determinant for M o s l e m consumer to purchase Halal products i n Malaysia . W e also found encouraging result that shopping orientation is among important factor by M u s l i m consumers in their buying behavior towards Halal products
Tyrosine 319 in the Interdomain B of ZAP-70 Is a Binding Site for the Src Homology 2 Domain of Lck*

T-cell antigen receptor-induced signaling requires both ZAP-70 and Lck protein-tyrosine kinases. One essential function of Lck in this process is to phosphorylate ZAP-70 and up-regulate its catalytic activity. We have previously shown that after T-cell antigen receptor stimulation, Lck binds to ZAP-70 via its Src homology 2 (SH2) domain (LckSH2) and, more recently, that Tyr319 of ZAP-70 is phosphorylated in vivo and plays a positive regulatory role. Here, we investigated the possibility that Tyr319 mediates the SH2-dependent interaction between Lck and ZAP-70. We show that a phosphopeptide encompassing the motif harboring Tyr319, YSDP, interacted with LckSH2, although with a lower affinity compared with a phosphopeptide containing the optimal binding motif, YEEI. Moreover, mutation of Tyr319 to phenylalanine prevented the interaction of ZAP-70 with LckSH2. Based on these results, a gain-of-function mutant of ZAP-70 was generated by changing the sequence Y319SDP into Y319EEI. As a result of its increased ability to bind LckSH2, this mutant induced a dramatic increase in NFAT activity in Jurkat T-cells, was hyperphosphorylated, and displayed a higher catalytic activity compared with wild-type ZAP-70. Collectively, our findings indicate that Tyr319-mediated binding of the SH2 domain of Lck is crucial for ZAP-70 activation and consequently for the propagation of the signaling cascade leading to T-cell activation.
Accuracy and reliability of observational gait analysis data: judgments of push-off in gait after stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Physical therapists routinely observe gait in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy and reliability of observational assessments of push-off in gait after stroke. SUBJECTS Eighteen physical therapists and 11 subjects with hemiplegia following a stroke participated in the study. METHODS Measurements of ankle power generation were obtained from subjects following stroke using a gait analysis system. Concurrent videotaped gait performances were observed by the physical therapists on 2 occasions. Ankle power generation at push-off was scored as either normal or abnormal using two 11-point rating scales. These observational ratings were correlated with the measurements of peak ankle power generation. RESULTS A high correlation was obtained between the observational ratings and the measurements of ankle power generation (mean Pearson r=.84). Interobserver reliability was moderately high (mean intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC (2,1)]=. 76). Intraobserver reliability also was high, with a mean ICC (2,1) of.89 obtained. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Physical therapists were able to make accurate and reliable judgments of push-off in videotaped gait of subjects following stroke using observational assessment. Further research is indicated to explore the accuracy and reliability of data obtained with observational gait analysis as it occurs in clinical practice.
La función y transporte del ácido L-málico en plantas: un dicarboxílico estrella

El acido L-malico y su anion, el malato, juegan un papel muy importante en la bioquimica y fisiologia de las plantas. Ademas de su participacion en el ciclo de Krebs, puede convertirse en un almacen de CO y de equivalen- 2 tes reductores en algunas plantas. Tambien, puede servir como un transportador indirecto de equivalentes reductores, amortiguador del pH y de la osmolaridad del citosol, quelante de cationes toxicos y acidificante del suelo para solubilizar los fosfatos insolubles. Aunado a todas estas funciones, recientemente hemos propuesto que tambien participa en la modulacion del pH extracelular por las celulas de aleurona de trigo. Para el transporte del malato existe un numero considerable de transportadores y canales en las diversas membranas celulares, los cuales logran establecer una compartamentalizacion. Finalmente, es importante mencionar que en un numero de compartimientos celulares existen diversas rutas bioquimicas, finamente reguladas, que permiten sintetizar y/o degradar el L-malato
Sites of Phosphorylation by Protein Kinase A in CDC25Mm/GRF1, a Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor for Ras*

Activation of the neuronal Ras GDP/GTP exchange factor (GEF) CDC25Mm/GRF1 is known to be associated with phosphorylation of serine/threonine. To increase our knowledge of the mechanism involved, we have analyzed the ability of several serine/threonine kinases to phosphorylate CDC25Mm in vivoand in vitro. We could demonstrate the involvement of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) in the phosphorylation of CDC25Mm in fibroblasts overexpressing this RasGEF as well as in mouse brain synaptosomal membranes. In vitro, PKA was found to phosphorylate multiple sites on purified CDC25Mm, in contrast to protein kinase C, calmodulin kinase II, and casein kinase II, which were virtually inactive. Eight phosphorylated serines and one threonine were identified by mass spectrometry and Edman degradation. Most of them were clustered around the Ras exchanger motif/PEST motifs situated in the C-terminal moiety (residues 631–978) preceding the catalytic domain. Ser745 and Ser822 were the most heavily phosphorylated residues and the only ones coinciding with PKA consensus sequences. Substitutions S745D and S822D showed that the latter mutation strongly inhibited the exchange activity of CDC25Mm on Ha-Ras. The multiple PKA-dependent phosphorylation sites on CDC25Mm suggest a complex regulatory picture of this RasGEF. The results are discussed in the light of structural and/or functional similarities with other members of this RasGEF family.
Multimodality Intraoperative Neurophysiologic Monitoring Findings During Surgery for Adult Tethered Cord Syndrome: Analysis of a Series of 44 Patients With Long-Term Follow-up

Study Design. Prospective analysis of a consecutive series in which multimodality intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring was used as an adjunct to microneurosurgery for adult tethered cord syndrome. The results of multimodality intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring were compared with the “gold standard” (neurologic outcomes). Objective. To assess the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of multimodality intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring in surgery for adult tethered cord syndrome. Summary of Background Data. Although intraoperative electrophysiologic techniques may help to minimize neural injury during spinal microneurosurgery, to our knowledge, no study has quantitatively evaluated the value of multimodality intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring in the management of adult tethered cord syndrome. Methods. Multimodality intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring included posterior tibial nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), continuous electromyographic (EMG) monitoring of the L2 to S4 myotomes, and evoked EMG. Follow-up neurologic evaluations were performed for at least 1 year. Results. A total of 44 consecutive patients, including 19 males and 25 females (aged 43 ± 15 years), who underwent microsurgery for adult tethered cord syndrome were evaluated. After surgery, new neurologic deficits, including 1 transient and 1 permanent, developed in 2 patients. There was 1 patient who had persistent posterior tibial nerve SSEP amplitude reduction following microsurgical manipulation. In 1 patient, a transient posterior tibial nerve SSEP amplitude reduction prompted a change in microneurosurgical strategy. This patient awoke with no new postoperative neurologic deficits. For SSEPs, the sensitivity was 50% and specificity 100%. EMG bursts were recorded in 36 patients (82%). The 2 patients with postoperative neurologic worsening had EMG activity in the myotomes, where their new deficits presented. Continuous EMG had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 19%. Conclusions. To our knowledge, this is the largest series to date reporting the use of multimodality intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring in the surgical management of adult tethered cord syndrome. Posterior tibial nerve SSEPs have high specificity, but low sensitivity, for predicting new neurologic deficits. In contrast, continuous EMG showed high sensitivity and low specificity. Evoked EMG accurately identified functional neural tissue. The combined recording of SSEPs in concert with continuous and evoked EMGs may provide a useful adjunct to complex microsurgery for adult tethered cord syndrome.
Cognitive Neuroendocrinolgy : Risk Preference Changes Across the Menstrual Cycle

There is growing evidence that hormones play an important role in a number of cognitive processes. This challenges the concept of the brain as a computer in favor of it being thought of as a gland. However studies of hormones and cognition have often lacked clear hypotheses. The current study based its hypothesis on an evolutionary analysis. Previous studies suggest that women selectively reduce activities increasing risk of sexual assault when ovulating. Oral contraceptives blocked this effect, suggesting a hormonal mechanism. This study tested if there was a general decrease in risky choices during ovulation. 176 women were classified as menstrual, postmenstrual, ovulatory or premenstrual, and chose between a guaranteed ($85) or risky outcome (85% chance of $100). Phase affected rate of risky choice only for women not taking contraceptives. The effect was entirely due to risky choices dropping to 0% for ovulating women not taking contraceptives. This adds to evidence that understanding neurochemistry is important for understanding decision making, and adds to the plausibility of a field of cognitive
Effective approaches to reducing adolescent unprotected sex, pregnancy, and childbearing

In the United States, there exist a multitude of different approaches to reducing adolescent sexual risk‐taking, unintended pregnancy, childbearing, and sexually transmitted disease, including HIV. While many of these approaches have some positive effects upon some outcomes (such as greater knowledge), only some of these programs actually delay the initiation of sex, increase condom or contraceptive use, and reduce unprotected sex among youth. This article summarizes a review of 73 studies and their respective programs, and describes four groups of programs which have reasonably strong evidence that they delay sex, increase condom or contraceptive use, or reduce teen pregnancy or childbearing. These four groups of programs include (a) sex and HIV education curricula with specified characteristics, (b) one‐on‐one clinician‐patient protocols in health settings with some common qualities, (c) service learning programs, and (d) a particular intensive youth development program with multiple components.
Is the c.3G>C mutation in the succinate dehydrogenase subunit D (SDHD) gene due to a founder effect in Chinese head and neck paraganglioma patients?

Three Chinese patients with head and neck paragangliomas have been reported to carry the c.3G>C mutation in the succinate dehydrogenase subunit D (SDHD) gene. In addition, in our hospital, two further patients were identified who have the same mutation. It is unclear whether the c.3G>C mutation in Chinese patients is a recurrent mutation or if it is due to a founder effect. We conducted haplotype analysis on these patients to answer this question.
Ground-based FTIR measurements of volatile organic compounds: precious data for model and satellite validation

The global emission budget of many volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as needed in chemistry-transport models (CTM), is still very uncertain despite their great impact on Earth’s environment and human health. Recently, satellite measurements of VOCs have been performed (Razavi et al., 2011; González Abad et al., 2009), improving the current knowledge of these species on a global scale. However, such new satellite data suffer from the sparsity of available data for their validation. Either balloon or aircraft campaigns are used which do not provide a good temporal nor spatial coverage, or in situ measurements which are useful for model validation but not adapted for the satellite data, that have usually a poor sensitivity at the ground. Network ground-based FTIR measurements provide long time-series and total column data of VOCs and are therefore very good candidates for supporting the evaluation of both satellite and model data. We summarize in this letter the previous exploitation of groundbased FTIR VOCs measurements, focusing on the ones that have been used for satellite and/or model data comparisons, demonstrating their usefulness.
Duration of humoral immunity to common viral and vaccine antigens.

BACKGROUND Maintenance of long-term antibody responses is critical for protective immunity against many pathogens. However, the duration of humoral immunity and the role played by memory B cells remain poorly defined. METHODS We performed a longitudinal analysis of antibody titers specific for viral antigens (vaccinia, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella-zoster virus, and Epstein-Barr virus) and nonreplicating antigens (tetanus and diphtheria) in 45 subjects for a period of up to 26 years. In addition, we measured antigen-specific memory B cells by means of limiting-dilution analysis, and we compared memory B-cell frequencies to their corresponding serum antibody levels. RESULTS Antiviral antibody responses were remarkably stable, with half-lives ranging from an estimated 50 years for varicella-zoster virus to more than 200 years for other viruses such as measles and mumps. Antibody responses against tetanus and diphtheria antigens waned more quickly, with estimated half-lives of 11 years and 19 years, respectively. B-cell memory was long-lived, but there was no significant correlation between peripheral memory B-cell numbers and antibody levels for five of the eight antigens tested. CONCLUSIONS These studies provide quantitative analysis of serologic memory for multiple antigens in subjects followed longitudinally over the course of more than one decade. In cases in which multiple exposures or repeated vaccinations were common, memory B-cell numbers did not correlate with antibody titers. This finding suggests that peripheral memory B cells and antibody-secreting plasma cells may represent independently regulated cell populations and may play different roles in the maintenance of protective immunity.
Enhancement mu opioid antinociception by oral delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol: dose-response analysis and receptor identification.

The antinociceptive effects of various mu opioids given p.o. alone and in combination with Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta9-THC) were evaluated using the tail-flick test. Morphine preceded by Delta9-THC treatment (20 mg/kg) was significantly more potent than morphine alone, with an ED50 shift from 28.8 to 13.1 mg/kg. Codeine showed the greatest shift in ED50 value when administered after Delta9-THC (139.9 to 5.9 mg/kg). The dose-response curves for oxymorphone and hydromorphone were shifted 5- and 12.6-fold, respectively. Methadone was enhanced 4-fold, whereas its derivative, l-alpha-acetylmethadol, was enhanced 3-fold. The potency ratios after pretreatment with Delta9-THC for heroin and meperidine indicated significant enhancement (4.1 and 8.9, respectively). Pentazocine did not show a parallel shift in its dose-response curve with Delta9-THC. Naloxone administration (1 mg/kg s.c.) completely blocked the antinociceptive effects of morphine p.o. and codeine p.o. The Delta9-THC-induced enhancement of morphine and codeine was also significantly decreased by naloxone administration. Naltrindole (2 mg/kg s.c.) did not affect morphine or codeine antinociception but did block the enhancement of these two opioids by Delta9-THC. No effect was seen when nor-binaltorphimine was administered 2 mg/kg s.c. before morphine or codeine. Furthermore, the enhancements of morphine and codeine were not blocked by nor-binaltorphimine. We find that many mu opioids are enhanced by an inactive dose of Delta9-THC p.o. The exact nature of this enhancement is unknown. We show evidence of involvement of mu and possibly delta opioid receptors as a portion of this signaling pathway that leads to a decrease in pain perception.