Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Retinal pigmented epithelium determination requires the redundant activities of Pax2 and Pax6

The transcription factors Pax2 and Pax6 are co-expressed in the entire optic vesicle (OV) prior and concomitant with the establishment of distinct neuroretinal, retinal, pigmented-epithelial and optic-stalk progenitor domains, suggesting redundant functions during retinal determination. Pax2; Pax6 compound mutants display a dose-dependent reduction in the expression of the melanocyte determinant Mitf, accompanied by transdifferentiation of retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) into neuroretina (NR) in Pax2-/-; Pax6+/- embryos, which strongly resembles the phenotype of Mitf-null mutants. In Pax2-/-; Pax6-/- OVs Mitf fails to be expressed and NR markers occupy the area that usually represents the Mitf+ RPE domain. Furthermore, both, Pax2 and Pax6 bind to and activate a MITF RPE-promoter element in vitro, whereas prolonged expression of Pax6 in the Pax2-positive optic stalk leads to ectopic Mitf expression and RPE differentiation in vivo. Together, these results demonstrate that the redundant activities of Pax2 and Pax6 direct the determination of RPE, potentially by directly controlling the expression of RPE determinants.
A rapid, specific enzyme immunoassay for follitropin and lutropin determination.

Determination of lutropin (luteinizing hormone, LH) and follitropin (follicle stimulating hormone, FSH) in human serum is useful in clinically evaluating infertility, amenorrhea, male hypogonadism, and induction of ovulation (1). Two new techniques for LII and FSH determination are likely to find widespread acceptance among analysts: immunometric assay and non-isotopic labels. We evaluated two new enzymoimmunometric assays for FSH and LH determination in which two high-affinity monoclonal antibodies are used. The first antibody, cordugated with bovine alkaline phosphatase, attacks a specific site on the hormone molecule. The second monoclonal antibody, linked to fluorescein, binds to another site on the hormone molecule, forming a “sandwich. ” After incubation, the immunocomplex is separated by adding an excess of anti-fluorescein sheep antiserum covalently bound to magnetizable particles. After washing, all tubes (samples, standards, and controls) are incubated with the substrate, phenolphthalein monophosphate in a diethanolamine buffer, and the intensity of thedevelopedcolorismeasured at 592 nm in an automatic spectrophotometer (Chem-Stat; Ocean Scientific Inc., Garden Grove, CA 92641). The reagents (LII and FSH Serozyme) were from Ares Serono Diagnostici S.p.A. , Roma, Italy. The main characteristics of those methods are the brevity of incubation (first incubation, 15 miii at 37 #{176}C; second, 5 miii at 37#{176}C) and the simplicity of the procedure (centrifugation not needed). Results of an analytical run are available in 60 mm. Figure 1 shows the precision profiles of the tests, calculated according to Ekins (2). The range of acceptability (10% CV) demonstrates that the tests cover a wide range o LH and FSH concentrations. Furthermore, sensitivityis good, the lower limit of detection (mean +3 SD for 20 measurements of the zero standard) being 0.66 int.unitlL (1st LRP 68/40) for LII and 0.26 mt.unit/L (2nd JRP 78/549) for FSH. A significant agreement was found between results by these methods and those by a conventional radioimmunoassay (Liso-Phase; SclavoS.p.A.,CiniselloBalsamo, Milano, Italy), the regressionequationbeing EIA = 1.069 RIA 1.045, r = 0.96, Si,,,, = 0.015 for FSH, and EIA = 0.947 RIA 2.392, r = 0.871,S,,, = 0.05forLII. The developed color is stable for 48 h. We saw no cross reactivity of thyrotropin (up to 800 milli-int. unitsfL) and human choriogonadotropin (up to 500 mt.units/L) with LII and FSH assays, nor significant interference by lutropin (up to 500 int. unitsfL) on FSH assay or follitropin (upto 1000 int.units/L)on LII assay. We concludethat FSH and LH Serozyme provide rapid and analytically reliableresults. Indeed, these methods seem suitable for routine determination of follitropin and lutropin inclinical practice.
Challenges in the microbiological diagnosis and management of hVISA infections

Aims: To highlight the challenges involved in diagnosing and managing complicated heterogeneous vancomycin intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (hVISA) infections and to improve clinical recognition of such infections. Methods: A retrospective review of patients with proven hVISA infections was undertaken in two major referral centres of North Queensland from 2006 to 2010. All isolates had population analysis profiling (PAP) done along with hVISA screening performed by the macro-Etest (MET). Results: Five patients were identified, two of whom died of hVISA-related sepsis. Their population analysis profiling-area-under-the-curve ratio (PAP-AUC) ranged between 0.96 and 1.43. Conclusions: The identification of hVISA isolates in the diagnostic laboratory presents specific challenges. Clinical failure with vancomycin or MICs to vancomycin of ≥2 mg/L should alert the laboratory to proceed with the more specific methods of MET and PAP to identify hVISA or VISA isolates. Alternatives to vancomycin are limited and not always efficacious or tolerated.
Circulating antibodies against the breast tumor marker GCDFP‐15/gp17 in mammary carcinoma patients and in patients carrying benign breast conditions

Sera samples from 111 women, including 73 breast cancer patients and 38 patients with benign diseases of the breast, were examined. These were compared with samples from healthy women or from patients carrying tumors of origin other than breast as controls. This was done to determine whether antibodies against GCDFP‐15/gp17, a protein of gross cystic disease fluid also secreted by mammary apocrine tumor cells, could be found. We observed that 2.6% of mammary disease patients affected by benign conditions and 5.5% of patients carrying malignant mammary gland tumors expressed statistically significant amounts of antibodies against GCDFP‐15/gp17 (p < 0.01). The highest circulating anti‐GCDFP‐15/gp17 antibody levels occurred in patients with highly malignant ductal or lobular carcinoma of the breast and in patients with dysplasia. No correlation was found between the presence of circulating antibodies and the size of the tumor or the age of the patients. A bimodal correlation with the percent of invaded lymph nodes was observed instead. IgM and IgG isotypes were detected among the circulating anti‐GCDFP‐15/gp17 antibodies, suggesting the involvement of a T‐cell‐mediated immunoresponse. Our findings raise the possibility that the anti‐GCDFP‐15/gp17 immune response may be useful as a tool for investigating some aspects of the mechanisms of breast disease progression and that GCDFP‐15/gp17 may be explored as an antigen for anti‐tumor vaccination. Int. J. Cancer (Pred. Oncol.) 84:568–572, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Whole genome amplification in preimplantation genetic diagnosis

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) refers to a procedure for genetically analyzing embryos prior to implantation, improving the chance of conception for patients at high risk of transmitting specific inherited disorders. This method has been widely used for a large number of genetic disorders since the first successful application in the early 1990s. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) are the two main methods in PGD, but there are some inevitable shortcomings limiting the scope of genetic diagnosis. Fortunately, different whole genome amplification (WGA) techniques have been developed to overcome these problems. Sufficient DNA can be amplified and multiple tasks which need abundant DNA can be performed. Moreover, WGA products can be analyzed as a template for multi-loci and multi-gene during the subsequent DNA analysis. In this review, we will focus on the currently available WGA techniques and their applications, as well as the new technical trends from WGA products.
EPA-coated titanium implants promote osteoconduction in white New Zealand rabbits.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-coated Ti implants on osteoconduction in white New Zealand rabbit mandibles. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sandblasted and cleansed planar titanium specimens with a size of 5 × 5 × 1 mm were coated on one side with 0.25 vol% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The other side of the specimens was kept highly polished (the control side). These specimens were inserted in rabbit mandibles. Twelve rabbits were randomly assigned into three study groups (n = 4). The rabbits were sacrificed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The harvested specimens with the implants were assessed for new bone formation on both sides of the implant using CBCT, conventional radiographs, and the biaxial pullout test. The results were statistically analyzed by a nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test and Friedman's test as multiple comparisons and by Brunner-Langer nonparametric mixed model approach (R Software). RESULTS A significant osteoconductive bone formation was found on the EPA-coated Ti implant surface (P < 0.05) at 8 weeks when compared to the polished surface (control). Biaxial pullout test results showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) after 8 and 12 weeks with a maximum force of 243.8 N, compared to 143.25 N after 4 week. CONCLUSION EPA implant coating promoted osteoconduction on the Ti implant surfaces, enhancing the anchorage of the implant to the surrounding bone in white New Zealand rabbits.
FLIPPIN': Exploring a Paper-based Book UI Design in a Public Space

Digital information systems are increasingly being used in public spaces such as museums. Such systems should be easily accessible, arouse interest and offer useful information, and be easy to use. We present FLIPPIN' user interface (UI) system, which mimics the look, feel, and usability of traditional books. We explored how the paper-based book UI is designed to improve the usability problems in a public space while creating the prototypes with the aim of introducing Japanese cultural assets and conducting a field evaluation to compare the proposed system to a touch panel UI. The results of evaluation indicated the positive effects of the system, especially in terms of the usability and user's active appreciation derived from a physical book interaction. In addition, we present design guidelines derived from our findings. The suggested design guidelines are expected to facilitate the future development of effective interactive digital information systems in public spaces.
Specific changes in somatosensory evoked magnetic fields during recovery from sensorimotor stroke

We studied recovery‐induced changes in the responsiveness of the primary somatosensory cortex in stroke patients with sensory and/or motor symptoms. Somatosensory evoked magnetic fields, in response to median nerve stimulation, were recorded in 14 patients with their first symptomatic unilateral stroke 1 to 15 days from the first symptoms and again 2 to 3 months later. Neuronal activity at the contralateral primary somatosensory cortex was modeled with equivalent current dipoles at the peak latencies of the first two cortical deflections at about 20 msec (N1m) and at 28 to 91 msec (P1m). Twenty‐three age‐matched healthy volunteers, 9 of whom were tested also in serial recordings, served as control subjects. At follow‐up, 6 patients showed a significant increase of P1m amplitude, whereas N1m increased only in 1. Clinical improvement of two‐point discrimination ability, but not of other basic somatosensory skills, was significantly correlated with the increase of P1m. We conclude that the recovery of discriminative touch after stroke is paralleled by the growth of the P1m somatosensory evoked magnetic field deflection, and we propose that this may reflect re‐establishment of lateral inhibitory functions at the primary somatosensory cortex. Ann Neurol 2000;47:353–360
Center-surround visual motion processing in migraine.

PURPOSE It has been proposed that reduced cortical inhibition might be a key feature of migraine. Here the authors compared migraine and control group performance for two visual motion tasks in which performance was considered to reflect center-surround inhibitory processes. These tasks use the observations that healthy young observers require longer stimulus durations to detect the direction of motion of larger higher contrast stimuli, and these stimuli also elicit weaker motion aftereffect (MAE) strength. Both observations are considered to arise from center-surround inhibition. METHODS The authors measured stimulus duration thresholds for detecting the direction of motion of stimuli of different sizes and contrasts, and also examined motion aftereffect strength for similar stimuli presented for longer durations in 20 control participants and 30 people with migraine (15 with aura). The migraine group was assessed between migraines while they were asymptomatic. RESULTS For the motion direction task, a significant interaction existed between experimental group and contrast for large stimuli (F((3.96, 190.01)) = 2.95; P < 0.05); however, the interaction was in the opposite direction from that expected from reduced inhibition. Similarly, the MAE data demonstrated a significant interaction between stimulus size and group, but it was in the opposite direction from that predicted (F((1, 48)) = 4.13; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Consistent with previous studies, the migraine group in this study demonstrated abnormal visual motion processing. However, the data from both the motion direction detection and the motion aftereffect tasks do not support a theory of reduced cortical inhibition.
Biomechanical and metabolic effects of varying backpack loading on simulated marching

Twelve healthy, male Army recruits performed three, 40-min treadmill marches at 6 km/h, under three load carriage conditions: 0%-body weight (BW) backpack load, 15%-BW load and 30%-BW load. Kinematic and kinetic data were obtained, immediately before and after each treadmill march, for computing ankle, knee and hip joint rotations and moments. Metabolic data (oxygen uptake ([Vdot]O2), expired ventilation ([Vdot]E), respiratory exchange ratio (RER)), heart rate (HR) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were collected continuously during marching. Significant differences (p⩽0.05) were observed between each load for [Vdot]O2, HR and [Vdot]E throughout the marches. At 40 min, relative energy costs for 0%-BW, 15%-BW and 30%-BW loads were 30, 36 and 41% [Vdot]O2max, respectively. RPE responses during marching significantly differed for only the 30%-BW load and were greater than responses at 0%-BW and 15%-BW loads. During load carriage trials prior to treadmill marches (pre-march), peaks in internal, hip extension, knee extension and ankle plantar flexion moments increased with increasing backpack load. Relative to 0%-BW load, percentage increases in knee moments, due to 15%-BW and 30%-BW loads, pre-march, were substantially larger than the percentage increases for hip extension and plantar flexion moments, pre-march. Pre-march and post-march peaks in hip extension and ankle plantar flexion moments were similar with all loads, while notable premarch to post-march declines were observed for knee extension moment peaks, at 15%-BW and 30%-BW load. Pre-march joint loading data suggests that the knee may be effecting substantial compensations during backpack loaded marching, perhaps to attenuate shock or reduce load elsewhere. Post-march kinetic data (particularly at 15%-BW and 30%-BW load), however, indicates that such knee mechanics were not sustained and suggests that excessive knee extensor fatigue may occur prior to march end, even though overall metabolic responses, at 15%BW and 30%-BW load, remained within generally recommended limits to prevent fatigue during prolonged work.
The Calibration of IEC Standard Flickermeters Using Complex Modulated Signals

Flickermeter calibrations currently rely on the predicted response of a standard flickermeter to basic waveforms. A description is given of an interpretation and implementation of the IEC standard flickermeter, developed at the national physical laboratory (NPL), to assess the response of commercial flickermeters to more complex waveforms, which are representative of signals that occur in practice. A description of the incorporation of the resulting model into a calibration system for flickermeters under complex-waveform conditions is given.
Fasting guidelines for diabetic children and adolescents

Fasting during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of Islamic lunar calendar, is obligatory for all healthy adult and adolescent Muslims from the age of 12 years. Fasting starts from early dawn (Sohur/Sehri) till sunset (Iftar). During this period one has to abstain from eating and drinking. Islam has allowed many categories of people to be exempted from fasting, for example, young children, travelers, the sick, the elderly, pregnant, and lactating women. According to expert opinion, patients with type 1 diabetes (type 1 DM) who fast during Ramadan are at a very high risk to develop adverse events. However, some experienced physicians are of the opinion that fasting during Ramadan is safe for type 1 DM patients, including adolescents and older children, with good glycemic control who do regular self-monitoring and are under close professional supervision. The strategies to ensure safety of type 1 diabetic adolescents who are planning to fast include the following: Ramadan-focused medical education, pre-Ramadan medical assessment, following a healthy diet and physical activity pattern, modification in insulin regimen, and blood glucose monitoring as advised by the physician.
A heuristic method to use ice andwater probabilities from SAR imagery to improve ice concentration estimates

Accurate and detailed information of sea ice is crucial for navigation in ice-covered waters. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) has been used as an effective tool in remote sensing to collect information for estimating the sea ice state. Image analysis experts produce manual image analysis charts based on their interpretation of the SAR imagery. Since the manual analysis is very time-consuming automatic methods can be used to discriminate ice-ocean and accelerate the task. Image texture features from Grey Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) are used as a source of information for ice-water discrimination. In this work an ice-concentration from RIPS is used as the background state which is updated using probabilities of ice and water calculated using GLCM texture features from the SAR image.
Differentiation of motoneurones and skeletal muscles in kittens.

1. Isometric contractions of the medial gastrocnemius (fast switch) and soleus (slow twitch) muscles were recorded in kittens ranging in age from 3 to 112 days, as well as in adult cats. 2. It was confirmed that the speed of contraction of the gastrocnemius muscle becomes progressively faster during the first few weeks after birth, whereas contraction times of the soleus muscle show little changes or a slight prolongation during the period of post‐natal development. 3. The properties of gastrocnemius (fast alpha) and soleus (slow alpha) motoneurons were examined with intracellular electrodes in kittens at three different stages; 16‐20, 61‐71 and 100‐112 days in age. 4. The axonal conduction velocities of both gastrocnemius and soleus motoneurones increased monotonically throughout the period of development and showed no correlation with post‐natal changes in contraction times of the innervated muscles. 5. The duration of after‐hyperpolarization in soleus motoneurones became progressively longer with age, while that in gastrocnemius motoneurones remained virtually unchanged during development. 6. The relation between the duration of after‐hyperpolarization and the axonal conduction velocity in kitten motoneurones was similar to that observed in axotomized motoneurones of adult cats. 7. It is suggested that fast and slow alpha motoneurones show postnatal differentiation in terms of the duration of after‐hyperpolarization and that axotomy leads to 'dedifferentiation' of the motoneurone properties. 8. Post‐natal changes in the contractile properties of skeletal muscles were independent of the changes in the duration of after‐hyperpolarization of the innervating motoneurones. However, it remains uncertain whether muscle differentiation is independent of the discharge pattern of the innervating motoneurones.
Nitride engineering and the effect of interfaces on Charge Trap Flash performance and reliability

The performance and reliability of charge trap flash with single and bi-layer Si-rich and N-rich nitride as the storage node is studied. Single layer devices show lower memory window and poor cycling endurance, and the underlying physical mechanisms for these issues are explained. An engineered trap layer consisting of Si-rich and N-rich nitride interfaced by a SiON barrier layer is proposed. The effect of varying the SiON interfacial layer position on memory window and reliability is investigated. Optimum bi-layer device shows higher memory window and negligible degradation due to cycling (at higher memory window) compared to single layer films. The role of SiON interface in improving the performance and reliability of bi-layer stacks is explained.
Comparison of an Established Antibody Sandwich Method with an Inhibition Method of Histoplasma capsulatumAntigen Detection

ABSTRACT The Histoplasma antigen immunoassay utilizes an antibody sandwich method that provides a rapid and reliable means of diagnosing the more severe forms of histoplasmosis. Inhibition assays have been developed for antigen detection and offer at least one potential advantage, namely, reduced antibody requirements. We have developed an inhibition assay using the polyclonal antibody employed in our standard sandwich assay. Urine and serum specimens from patients with culture-proven histoplasmosis and controls were tested using both methods. The two methods had similar sensitivities for detection of antigen in urine (antibody sandwich = 92.5% versus inhibition = 87.5%, P = 0.500) and serum (82.5% versus 80.0%, P = 1.000). With serum, the specificities of both methods were similar (antibody sandwich assay = 95.0% versus inhibition assay = 92.5%,P = 1.000), and with urine, the specificity of the antibody sandwich method was superior (97.5% versus 80.0%,P = 0.039). While the overall reproducibility of both methods was excellent (with urine, antibody sandwich assay intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.9975 and with serum = 0.9949; correlation coefficient of the inhibition assay with urine = 0.9736 and with serum = 0.9850), that of the inhibition method was only fair to poor for the controls: urine = −0.0152, serum = 0.5595. Reproducibility was good for the controls using the sandwich method: urine = 0.7717, serum = 0.9470. Cross-reactivity was observed in specimens from patients infected with Blastomyces dermatitidis,Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, and Penicillium marneffei. In conclusion, the decreased specificity and inferior reproducibility with control specimens suggest that the inhibition assay has poorer precision toward the lower end of the detection range.