Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms underlie paired pulse depression at single GABAergic boutons in rat collicular cultures

Paired pulse depression (PPD) is a common form of short‐term synaptic plasticity. The aim of this study was to characterise PPD at the level of a single inhibitory bouton. Low‐density collicular cultures were loaded with the Ca2+ indicator Oregon Green‐1, active boutons were stained with RH414, and action potentials were blocked with TTX. Evoked IPSCs (eIPSCs) and presynaptic Ca2+ transients were recorded in response to direct presynaptic depolarisation of an individual bouton. The single bouton eIPSCs had a low failure rate (< 0.1), large average quantal content (3‐6) and slow decay (τ1= 15 ms, τ2= 81 ms). The PPD of eIPSCs had two distinct components: PPDfast and PPDslow (τ= 86 ms and 2 s). PPDslow showed no dependence on extracellular Ca2+ concentration, or on the first eIPSC's failure rate or amplitude. Most probably, it reflects a release‐independent inhibition of exocytosis. PPDfast was only observed in normal or elevated Ca2+. It decreased with the failure rate and increased with the amplitude of the first eIPSC. It coincided with paired pulse depression of the presynaptic Ca2+ transients (τ= 120 ms). The decay of the latter was accelerated by EGTA, which also reduced PPDfast. Therefore, a suppressive effect of residual presynaptic Ca2+ on subsequent Ca2+ influx is considered the most likely cause of PPDfast. PPDfast may also have a postsynaptic component, because exposure to a low‐affinity GABAA receptor antagonist (TPMPA; 300 μM) counteracted PPDfast, and asynchronous IPSC amplitudes were depressed for a short interval following an eIPSC. Thus, at these synapses, PPD is produced by at least two release‐independent presynaptic mechanisms and one release‐dependent postsynaptic mechanism.
High IgG4 antibody level is associated with failure of immunotherapy with inhalant allergens

We have analysed all available data on the relationship between IgG4 Ab level and clinical effect of immunotherapy (IT) with inhalant allergens. The data from three of the seven independent studies could, without reservations, be analysed by a joint statistical analysis. We found that late high IgG4 Ab level, measured at the end of IT, was strongly associated with treatment failure (P= 6.54 ± 105; n= 67). The ratio of risks for treatment success in the group with late low IgG4 Ab level was 1.82, whereas the ratio of risks for treatment failure in the group with late high IgG4 Ab level was 11.4. The data from a fourth, presumably comparable, study further supported the existence of an association between high IgG4 Ab level and treatment failure. In contrast, two other studies found that high mean IgG4 Ab level was associated with good clinical response. Possible reasons for this apparent discrepancy are discussed. We also found that early high IgG4 Ab level, measured within 3 months after initiation of IT, was strongly associated with treatment failure after 1–2 years of IT (P= 1.05 ± 10−4; n= 30). The sensitivity and specificity of early high IgG4 Ab level as indicator for treatment failure was 100% and 83%, respectively. At the prevalences found in the present study, the predictive value of early high IgG4 Ab level for treatment failure was 0.6, whereas the predictive value of early low IgG4 Ab level for treatment success was 1.00.
Protection for medication-induced hearing loss: the state of the science

Abstract Objective: This review will summarise the current state of development of pharmaceutical interventions (prevention or treatment) for medication-induced ototoxicity. Design: Currently published literature was reviewed using PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov to summarise the current state of the science. Details on the stage of development in the market pipeline are provided, along with evidence for clinical safety and efficacy reported. Study sample: This review includes reports from 44 articles and clinical trial reports regarding agents in clinical or preclinical trials, having reached approved Investigational New Drug status with the Federal Drug Administration. Results: Vitamins and antioxidants are the most common agents currently evaluated for drug-induced ototoxicity intervention by targeting the oxidative stress pathway that leads to cochlear cell death and hearing loss. However, other strategies, including steroid treatment and reduction of ototoxic properties of the primary drugs, are discussed. Conclusions: Retention of hearing during and after a life threatening illness is a major quality-of-life issue for patients receiving ototoxic drugs and their families. The agents discussed herein, while not mature enough at this point, offer great promise towards that goal. This review will provide a knowledge base for hearing providers to inquiries about such options from patients and interdisciplinary care teams alike.
Decoupling of antennas array using integrated closed chip loop structure

In this letter, we proposed a new method to reduce mutual coupling of antenna array without adding additional space for the added structures, such as modified ground structure, metamaterial, and parasitic elements on the surface of antenna substrate. As an example, a compact two-element antenna array working at 5 GHz is designed. Two closed chip loop structures (CCLSs) around the two radiation patches are designed and integrated in the substrate. Because the two CCLSs are copper, which can be regard as PEC and electromagnetic (EM) wave cannot be transmitted and is rebound back when incident onto it, the surface wave of radiated antenna cannot penetrate into the adjacent antenna and is blocked in the CCLSs around the active patch and adjacent patch. By locating antenna array mutual coupling power in the CCLSs integrated in the antenna substrate, the mutual coupling of antenna array is depressed and the isolation is enhanced in the operation regime. So the isolation is enhanced utilizing the technique of suppressing the surface wave on the shared substrate. This technique implemented on closely packed antenna suppresses surface waves in the operation band and can provide a high isolation of 63.4 dB mostly. In this case, the inter-antennas pacing (center to center) is about 0. 5λ and the most nearly gap between the two microstrip patch antennas is about 0. 1λ. Due to high integration and compactness, this method provides a meaningful alternative to the realization of high isolation, especially suitable for high-isolation, compact, and low-cost MIMO antenna design.
Selenium bioaccumulation in fish exposed to coal ash at the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston spill site

In December 2008, 4.1 million cubic meters of coal ash were released into the Emory and Clinch Rivers by the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Fossil Plant. Coal ash contains several contaminants, including the bioaccumulative metalloid selenium (Se). Because Se is predominantly accumulated in aquatic organisms through dietary rather than aqueous exposure, tissue‐based toxicity thresholds for Se are currently being considered. The proposed threshold concentrations range between 4 μg/g and 9 μg/g Se (dry wt.) in whole body fish, with a proposed fillet threshold of 11.8 μg/g. In the present study, the authors examined the spatial and temporal trends in Se bioaccumulation and examined the relationship between the Se content in fillets and in whole bodies of fish collected around the Kingston spill site to determine whether Se bioaccumulation was a significant concern at the ash spill site. Whereas Se concentrations in fish (whole bodies and fillets) were elevated at sampling locations affected by the Kingston ash spill relative to reference locations, concentrations do not appear to be above risk thresholds and have not been increasing over the 5‐yr period since the spill. These findings are not only relevant to guiding the human health and ecological risk assessments at the Kingston ash spill site, but because of current national discussions on appropriate guidelines for Se in fish as well for the disposal of coal combustion wastes, the results are also relevant to the general understanding of Se bioaccumulation in contaminated water bodies. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:2273–2279. © 2014 SETAC
Implication of Highly Cytotoxic Natural Killer Cells for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treatment

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an aggressive upper gastrointestinal cancer and effective treatments are limited. Previous studies reported that natural killer (NK) cells expanded by coculturing with K562-mb15-41BBL feeder cells, a genetically modified K562 leukemia cell line that expresses membrane-bound interleukin (IL)-15 and 41BBL ligand, were highly proliferative and highly cytotoxic. Here, we investigated the potential of expanded NK cells for ESCC treatment. We analyzed both genetic and surface expression levels of NKG2D ligands (NKG2DLs) in ESCC using publicly available microarray data sets and ESCC cell lines. The cytotoxicity of resting and of IL-2-activated NK cells against ESCC cell lines was compared with that of expanded NK cells. We then also investigated the effect of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) inducers, GSK3&bgr; inhibitor and epidermal growth factor, on NKG2DLs expressions. As a result, MICA and MICB were significantly overexpressed in ESCC compared with adjacent normal tissues and surface NKG2DLs were expressed in ESCC cell lines. Expanded NK cells were much potent than IL-2-activated and resting NK cells against ESCC cell lines. Blocking of NKG2D with anti-NKG2D monoclonal antibody dampened expanded NK cell cytotoxicity, suggesting that the NKG2DLs-NKG2D interaction is crucial for NK cells to eliminate ESCC cells. EMT inducers concurrently induced EMT and NKG2DLs expression in ESCC cell lines rendering transitioned cells more sensitive to expanded NK cells. In conclusion, expanded NK cells were highly cytotoxic against NKG2DLs-expressing ESCC cells, particularly the EMT phenotype. These results provide a strong rationale for clinical use of these NK cells in ESCC patients.
Correlation between HER2 gene amplification and protein overexpression through fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry in breast carcinoma patients.

BACKGROUND In India, the incidence of breast cancer has increased in the urban population, with 1 in every 22 women diagnosed with breast cancer. It is important to know the HER2/neu gene status for a better prognostication of these patients. AIM The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for determining HER2/neu alteration in breast carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 188 histologically proven breast carcinoma cases between the years 2007 and 2011 were retrospectively analyzed on the paraffin tissue sections by both IHC and FISH techniques. FISH for HER2/neu gene amplification was performed on cases where the IHC status was already known and the results were compared. RESULTS A total of 64 (30%) patients were found to be amplified and the remaining 124 (65.9%) cases were found to be unamplified through FISH. Patients observed with 3+ reading on IHC were later confirmed as unamplified in 29.5% cases through FISH. CONCLUSION It has been confirmed with the present study that IHC is a prudent first-step technique to screen tissue samples for HER2/neu gene status, but should be supplemented with the FISH technique especially in equivocal cases.
Early detection of bipolar disorder: a pilot familial high-risk study of parents with bipolar disorder and their adolescent children.

OBJECTIVES Disturbances in cognition, affect, sleep and activity have been identified in bipolar disorder (BD) but little is known about the possible role of these factors in the development of the condition. We studied these variables in a familial high-risk sample. METHODS Twenty-five children (13-19 years) of bipolar parents were compared with 22 similar aged children of age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Participants were assessed using Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Lifetime version (SADS-L) and completed self-report measures of dysfunctional attitudes, behavioural inhibition/activation, social rhythms, coping styles and subjective experience of sleep. Children completed a 7-day recording of actigraphy (sleep and activity) and a 7-day diary measuring self-esteem, positive and negative affect and reactions to positive and negative events. RESULTS Fifty-six per cent of children of bipolar parents (CBP) reported mood symptoms compared to 9% of children of control parents (CC). The CBP group had coping styles and instability of self-esteem consistent with abnormal strategies for regulating affect. Both groups also differed on sleep measures. The majority of differences observed were between CBP with a current or past mood diagnosis and CC. BD parents reported dysfunctional coping styles and (to a lesser extent) disrupted activity patterns. CONCLUSIONS A familial high-risk strategy for studying the role of psychological factors in BD is feasible and informative. This pilot study indicates that abnormal coping styles, instability of self-esteem and dysregulation of sleep may be early markers of bipolar illness. However, current findings need to be explored further in longitudinal studies to clarify which potential markers are truly predictive of BD.
Latex agglutination test for screening of Haemophilus influenzae type b carriers

Latex agglutination (LA) for the demonstration of Haemophilus influenzae type b capsular antigen in nasopharyngeal swabs was applied to the screening of H. influenzae type b carriers and compared with culturing by the antiserum agar method on Levinthal-bacitracin plates. Altogether, 51 (33%) of the 154 nasopharyngeal specimens collected from the close contacts of patients with invasive H. influenzae type b disease were positive in LA or the antiserum agar method or both. All 40 culture-positive samples were also positive in LA, and in 11 (9.6%) culture-negative samples, H. influenzae type b antigen was demonstrated by LA. LA as used in the present study is cheap, rapid, and easy to perform and is thus an ideal tool for the screening of H. influenzae type b carriers.
Effects of Parent-Adolescent Reported Family Functioning Discrepancy on Physical Activity and Diet Among Hispanic Youth

Research has shown that family functioning has been positively associated with physical activity and dietary intake, both of which are obesity-related risk factors. The most widely practiced methodological approach to assessing this construct in empirical studies relies on either parent or adolescent report. Yet, discrepancy in parent and adolescent report of family functioning may provide a fuller understanding of the effects of this construct on obesity-related health outcomes. This is especially important among Hispanics, a population that suffers from disproportionately high rates of obesity and its health-related consequences. The purpose of this study was to examine whether, and to what extent, parent-adolescent discrepancies in family functioning are associated with physical activity, and fruit and vegetable and added sugar intake. We estimated discrepancy scores between parents and adolescents (n = 280 dyads) in family functioning. Then, using structural equation modeling, we tested the effect of family functioning discrepancy on adolescent reports of physical activity, fruits and vegetables intake, and added sugar intake. After controlling for adolescent’s gender and BMI, family functioning discrepancy was significantly associated with reduced physical activity (&bgr; = −.14*, 95% CI ([−.26, −.05]) and fruits and vegetables intake (&bgr; = −.22*, 95% CI [−.38, −.09]) such that the larger the discrepancy between parent and youth reported family functioning, the fewer days of adolescent physical activity and the poorer the fruits and vegetables intake. Our findings provide insight for the role of the family in Hispanic adolescent health outcomes and rationale for capturing rich data to better understand that role.
Interaction Between Knowledge Management Practices, Innovation and Job Creation in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Nigeria

Knowledge and its management are essential tools for job creation, economic growth, and development. Despite its importance, not many organizations are making adequate use of their knowledge assets. The current study examined the influence of knowledge management practices and innovation on job creation in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Nigeria. The study adopted the survey research design. 440 out of the population of 879 employees of the commission was used for the study. Data analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistics such as percentage distribution, mean and standard deviation as well as regression analysis. The findings revealed an overall moderate extent of job creation in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, it indicates a high extent of knowledge management practices, it shows a high extent of innovation management practices. The study concluded that knowledge management processes were a significant predictor of job creation in the region (Adjusted R 2 =.413, F (1, 306) = 217.418, P < . 05). It was recommended that authority of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) should strive to maintain their level of knowledge and innovation management practices with a view to improving employment generation and general development of the area. Keywords : Knowledge management, Practices, Innovation, Job creation DOI : 10.7176/IKM/9-2-05
Medulloblastoma in very young children: outcome of definitive craniospinal irradiation following incomplete response to chemotherapy.

PURPOSE To evaluate survival and neurodevelopmental outcomes following radiation therapy in infants and young children with residual or progressive medulloblastoma after primary chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirteen young patients (< or = 36 months old) with medulloblastoma were treated with preirradiation multiagent chemotherapy and maximal surgical resection. Patients were scheduled to receive radiation therapy at the time of documented disease progression or upon completion of chemotherapy with residual disease. All patients underwent neurodevelopmental evaluation at the time of diagnosis, before receiving radiation therapy, and at yearly intervals posttreatment. RESULTS Two patients completed the scheduled chemotherapy with residual disease and received delayed radiation therapy. The remaining 11 patients had either local or leptomeningeal progression during chemotherapy (median time to progression, 5 months). Six patients had a complete response (CR) to radiation therapy, and three of these children are alive 48 to 104 months postdiagnosis. Of the five patients who had progressive disease (PD) during radiation therapy or residual imaging abnormalities after treatment, only one is alive (with stable enhancing leptomeningeal abnormalities) 48 months postirradiation. Two additional survivors were rendered disease-free by surgical resection before radiation therapy and are without evidence of disease at 91 and 107 months after diagnosis. Thus, six of 13 patients are alive at 48 to 107 months postdiagnosis. Neurodevelopmental scores tended to be below age norms at diagnosis; scores improved during chemotherapy, but then decreased during posttreatment follow-up evaluation. CONCLUSION Radiation therapy appears to produce long-term disease-free survival in a proportion of very young patients who have progressive or residual medulloblastoma during or after primary chemotherapy. However, neurodevelopmental deficits are frequent among long-term survivors.
The Impact of Aerators on Water Contamination by Emerging Gram-Negative Opportunists in At-Risk Hospital Departments

Objective. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of aerators on water microbiological contamination in at-risk hospital departments, with a view to quantifying the possible risk of patient exposure to waterborne microorganisms. Design. We analyzed the microbiological and chemical-physical characteristics of hot and cold water in some critical hospital departments. Setting. Two hospitals in northern Italy. Methods. We took 304 water samples over a 1-year period, at 3-month intervals, from taps used by healthcare personnel for handwashing, surgical washing, and the washing of medical equipment. We analyzed heterotrophic plate counts (HPCs) at 36°C and 22°C, nonfastidious gram-negative bacteria (GNB-NE), and Legionella pneumophila. Results. The percentages of positivity and mean values of HPCs at 22°C, HPCs at 36°C, and GNB-NE loads were significantly higher at outlet points than in the plumbing system. In particular, GNB-NE positivity was higher at outlet points than in the plumbing system in both the cold water (31.58% vs 6.58% of samples were positive) and hot water (21.05% vs 3.95%) supplies. Our results also revealed contamination by L. pneumophila both in the plumbing system and at outlet points, with percentages of positive samples varying according to the serogroup examined (serogroups 1 and 2-14). The mean concentrations displayed statistically significant (P < .001) differences between the outlet points (27,382.89 ± 42,245.33 colony-forming units [cfu]/L) and the plumbing system (19,461.84 ± 29,982.11 cfu/L). Conclusions. These results reveal a high level of contamination of aerators by various species of gram-negative opportunists that are potentially very dangerous for immunocompromised patients and, therefore, the need to improve the management of these devices.
The implementation of a high-speed 645-tap equivalent half-band FIR filter using the frequency response masking technique

This paper presents the implementation of a high speed, narrow transition band half-band FIR filter using application specific integrated circuits (ASIC) design methodology. The 645-tap equivalent FIR filter is able to operate at 400 MHz with the help of modified frequency response masking (FRM) technique (T. Saramaki, et al., 1995 and Y. Lian, 1995), which greatly reduces the hardware cost of the long filter. The half-band filter is successfully designed using Austria Micro Systems (AMS) 0.35 /spl mu/m 4-metal CMOS technology. The ASIC occupies an area of 5.27 mm by 5.27 mm.
Ambulance and aeromedical accident rates during emergency retrieval in Great Britain

The retrieval of critically ill patients is frequently done in difficult circumstances and often under considerable time pressures. These adverse conditions have a finite risk of serious injury or death. The level of risk is poorly described in the literature and reliable data on accident rates are hard to find. Most of the information comes from North America. There are no clear published statistics for the UK. We report for the first time data on accidents and casualties involving vehicles classified as having an ambulance body type and air ambulances within Great Britain between 1999 and 2004.
Soft switched multilevel unidirectional high frequency link DC/AC converter for medium voltage grid integration

This paper describes a cascaded multilevel converter topology for direct medium voltage grid integration of photovoltaic sources. The topology uses high frequency magnetic isolation and hence, reducing volume and cost of overall system. The topology is single stage and does not have any inter-stage bulky filter capacitor, thus improving reliability. The low voltage DC side converter active switches are high frequency switched. These active switches are zero voltage switched (ZVS) for most part of the line cycle. The soft-switching is achieved without additional snubber elements. The active switches interfacing the medium voltage grid are switched at line frequency incurring negligible switching loss. The converter has modular structure which also has added advantages of easy repair-replacement. Modulation strategy and soft-switching technique are analyzed in detail. Key simulation results are presented to verify the circuit operation.