Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The influence of eye solutions on blinking and ocular comfort at rest and during work at video display terminals.

The aim of this work was to study blink frequency changes and levels of ocular discomfort during work at a video display terminal, and the effects on these parameters of augmented or reduced humidification of the ocular surface. Blink rate was measured from recordings of the electrical signal evoked by the contraction of the orbicularis oculi muscle. Blink rate and interblink intervals were analyzed at rest and during performance of a task with a computer (playing a card game) for 10 or 30 min in steady environmental conditions and during application of a continuous stream of air to the face. In two separate sessions, the effect of pretreatment with humidifying ocular solutions of different elastoviscosity (balanced salt solution or elastoviscous 0.1% Hylan A solution) was assayed. At the end of each experimental period, the subjects marked the level of ocular discomfort experienced on a 0-10 cm visual analogue scale. The blink frequency at rest (12.4+/-1.2 blinks min-1) was reduced significantly (to 10.3+/-1.1 blinks min-1) by pretreatment with elastoviscous eyedrops both with and without air applied to the face. This effect was not obtained with balanced salt solution. During performance of the visual task for 10 or 30 min, basal blink rate decreased significantly, to about 40% of the control value. Neither application of an air jet on the face nor application of eye solutions of different viscosity modified this reduced blink rate.A low degree of ocular discomfort developed after performance of the visual task that was enhanced by air application to the face. This discomfort was reduced by pretreatment with ocular solutions, the elastoviscous eye solution being more efficient than the balanced salt solution. Interblink interval duration was also more regular after treatment with the elastoviscous solution. These data suggest that blink rate at rest is maintained in part by activation of sensory receptors of the cornea and conjunctiva, which are stimulated by desiccation of the ocular surface. Reduction of eye blink frequency elicited by the performance of a visual task with a computer appears to depend on central neural mechanisms that are quite independent of peripheral sensory inputs. The reduction of blink frequency consecutive to computer use was associated with a sensation of discomfort that was attenuated more effectively by elastoviscous eyedrops than by regular balanced salt solution.
Semi-Supervised Haptic Material Recognition for Robots using Generative Adversarial Networks

Material recognition enables robots to incorporate knowledge of material properties into their interactions with everyday objects. For example, material recognition opens up opportunities for clearer communication with a robot, such as "bring me the metal coffee mug", and recognizing plastic versus metal is crucial when using a microwave or oven. However, collecting labeled training data with a robot is often more difficult than unlabeled data. We present a semi-supervised learning approach for material recognition that uses generative adversarial networks (GANs) with haptic features such as force, temperature, and vibration. Our approach achieves state-of-the-art results and enables a robot to estimate the material class of household objects with ~90% accuracy when 92% of the training data are unlabeled. We explore how well this approach can recognize the material of new objects and we discuss challenges facing generalization. To motivate learning from unlabeled training data, we also compare results against several common supervised learning classifiers. In addition, we have released the dataset used for this work which consists of time-series haptic measurements from a robot that conducted thousands of interactions with 72 household objects.
Neurogenesis during optic tectum regeneration in Xenopus laevis

The regenerative neurogenesis of the optic tectum of larval Xenopus laevis has been studied analyzing the proliferative and morphogenetic phases of the regeneration process after removal of one optic lobe. To this end, short‐term and long‐term pulses were carried out using the thymidine analog BrdU, selectively incorporated into cells during the S phase of the cell cycle. Results indicate that while in early larvae (stage 49/50, according to Nieuwkoop & Faber 1967 ) regeneration occurs mainly at the expense of the stem cells present in extensive proliferation zones (“matrix areas”) of the midbrain, in late larvae (stage 55/56) regeneration occurs at the expense of stem cells present in very limited matrix areas of the brain and of quiescent cells, which re‐enter the cell cycle following trauma. Moreover, in early larvae, morphogenesis of the optic tectum is carried out according to a precise spatio‐temporal order from rostro‐caudal to latero‐medial. By contrast, in late larvae, the topographical order of the regenerative morphogenesis of the optic lobe is completely altered. As a consequence, the regenerated optic tectum in early larvae has an apparently normal structure, while the regenerated optic tectum in late larvae lacks stratification.
Real-Time Updates of Meta-Analyses of HIV Treatments Supported by a Biomedical Ontology

Meta-analyses involve a systematic statistical explanation of available evidence and are a commonly used systematic reviewing strategy for addressing health related scientific research. Publication biases often delay reporting of meta-analyses and subsequent policy making. Ontologies have the capacity to provide real time meta-analyses that can reduce publication delay. The purpose of this study was to describe the meta-analytic process of a recently revised ontology. Three recently published meta-analyses were replicated using an ontology that extracts appropriate statistical “tags” from the originally reviewed published manuscripts. The ontology was able to closely represent the findings of the original meta-analysis including funnel, forest, and summary statistics. The use of an ontology could improve the speed in which meta-analytic publications occur as well as potentially standardizing the required elements within a randomized controlled trial. The findings in this study demonstrate similar ontological output as used in the Trial Bank Project with decreased time requirements of the manuscript author and the software programmers. The use of an ontology may improve the reporting of meta-analysis and, when combined with an open access website, should assist in timely policy-making decisions by healthcare providers.
Pleasure detection from the facial motor cortex by the brain-computer interface

One of the burning issues related to the intelligent systems are brain-computer interface (BCI), which is an interface between the brains electrical signals and a computer. Scientists are trying to gather more and more benefits from it. Today it is widely used in the assistive devices to help patients with motor control problems. But still BCI is not commonly used in the detection of the brain signal such as the emotions of the brain and different mind states. This paper explains the design and implementation of the neural signal amplification and detection system which is used in BCI. The system gets the signal from the facial motor cortex to detect that the rat is feeling pleasure or not. The result shows that the spike rate decreases in the motor cortex during the pleasure state and it increase when the rat is seeking for the pleasure. The pleasure detection experiment was conducted four times to acquire the mean values of the spike rates.
Fluorescence and bioluminescence procedures for functional proteomics

This review aims to provide an overview of current optical procedures used in functional proteomics, investigating protein localization, protein–protein interaction, intracellular signaling events, and second messenger generation in living cells. Reporter assays using proteins tagged with fluorescent or bioluminescent moieties are discussed. Recently, intracellular biosensor assays, flow cytometry‐based techniques (fluorescent cell barcoding), as well as transfected cell microarray assays involving RNA interference coupled with automated imaging were introduced and have been adopted as screening platforms for annotating small molecules, investigating signaling events, or in phenotype analysis. These novel methodological advances include improved image acquisition and processing techniques and help linking in vitro observations to in vivo processes. In addition, the acquired data are increasingly quantitative in nature and will therefore pave the way for modeling of signaling cascades and other complex cellular events, an important step toward systems biology.
Hypertensive Heart Disease and Endocardially Recorded Late Potentials

Thirteen patients with compensated (group 1) and six patients with decompensated hypertensive heart disease (group 2) were examined for ventricular late potentials using endocardial recording techniques. With endocardial catheter mapping, left ventricular late potentials could be recorded in six patients in group 2 (100%) but only in one patient from group 1 (8%); right ventricular late potentials could not be recorded in group 1 or in group 2 patients. The amplitudes of the late potentials were always in the microvolt range, with values ranging between 170 and 620 μV (with a mean of 349 ± 152 μV). The coupling intervals of the late potentials—measured from the beginning of the preceding QRS complex to the beginning of the late potential—were found to be between 110 and 440 ms (with a mean of 311 ± 122 ms). Late potentials could only be recorded in patients with reduced left ventricular pumping function—i.e., patients with an ejection fraction of <62% and a cardiac index of ≤2.9 L/min/m2, whereas patients with normal hemodynamic parameters had normal endocardial electrograms. Ventricular arrhythmias were recorded during 24-h, long-term electrocardiogram (ECG) in all patients in group 2 (100%) and in five patients from group 1 (38%). Ryan's class 2–4b malignant ventricular arrhythmias were only found in patients with demonstrable ventricular late potentials and reduced left ventricular pumping function. The present study shows that ventricular late potentials, and thus also ventricular arrhythmias, are found almost exclusively in patients with decompensated hypertensive heart disease. However, the prognostic value of ventricular late potentials for this disease must be tested further with a larger group of patients.
Related factors of postoperative gallstone formation after distal gastrectomy: A meta-analysis.

AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factor of gallstone occurrence after distal gastrectomy (DG) for gastric cancer. METHODS Relevant documents published from 2000 to 2016 were retrieved in PubMed, Web of Knowledge, and Ovid's database, and a metaanalysis was performed with RevMan 5.0 software for odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS Eight studies met the final inclusion criteria. From the pooled analyses, nonphysiological reconstruction (OR = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.10-2.08; P = 0.01) and vagus nerve resection (OR = 2.79; 95% CI = 1.57-4.96; P = 0.0005) were significantly associated with increased risk of gallstone after DG. CONCLUSION Our analysis indicated that digestive tract reconstruction and vagus nerve resection were strongly and consistently associated with gallstone formation after DG.
Differential evolution approaches applied to the Jiles-Atherton vector hysteresis parameters estimation

In this paper, the parameters set of the vector Jiles-Atherton hysteresis model is obtained with an approach based on a modified Differential Evolution (MDE), using generation variant control parameters. Classical DE is a simple and efficient global optimization algorithm. It has been successfully applied to solve a wide range of real-world optimization problems. Numerical comparisons with results using classical DE and genetic algorithms demonstrated that the performance of the MDE is promising in optimization of Jiles-Atherton vector hysteresis model.
Changes in PD-L1 expression according to tumor infiltrating lymphocytes of acquired EGFR-TKI resistant EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer

Backgrounds EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that developed acquired resistance to EGFR-tyrosine kinase (TKI) are potential candidates for programmed death 1 (PD1) inhibitor. Results TPS≥1% for PD-L1 and low CD8+ TIL in post-TKI tumor showed a trend for a lower PFS of EGFR-TKIs (14.2 vs 9.9 months; P = 0.060) (cohort A). Only 2 of 22 specimens (9.1%) with an acquired EGFR exon 20 T790M mutation exhibited in post-TKI TPS≥50% for PD-L1. The degree in post-TKI tumor of PD-L1 expression was varied in 19 patients (40.5%), with 10 (21.2%) showing higher levels in the resistant biopsy (cohort B). Among the post-TKI high TPS groups, median PFS with low post- TKI CD8+ TIL scores treated with EGFR-TKIs (6.6 months) was significantly lower than that for the other patients (14.2 months; P = 0.015). Conclusions The change of PD-L1 expression was accompanied by dynamic change in CD8+ TILs and might reflect diverse mechanism of resistance to EGFR-TKI therapy. Material and Methods We identified 69 patients (cohort A) with sufficient post-TKI tumor tissues and 47 patients (cohort B) with paired tumor tissues available. TPS for PD-L1 expression of tumor cells and CD8+ TILs score in tumor specimens were determined by immunohistochemistry.
Dual versus triple therapy of Helicobacter pylori infection: results of a multicentre trial

OBJECTIVE To compare dual therapy (omeprazole and amoxicillin) with triple therapy (omeprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin) in the treatment ofHelicobacter pylori infection. The efficacy of 1 mg/kg/day omeprazole was randomly compared with 2 mg/kg/day. STUDY DESIGN 252 patients (median age, 11.0 years; range, 3–18) presenting with chronic abdominal pain underwent endoscopy and a 13C-urea breath test. Gastric biopsy specimens were taken for histological examination and for the rapid urease test. Patients were treated for two weeks: group A (n = 63) received amoxicillin (50 mg/kg; maximum, 2 g/day), group B (n = 73) received amoxicillin and clarithromycin (20 mg/kg; maximum, 1 g/day). Both groups were randomly treated with either 1 or 2 mg/kg omeprazole (maximum, 80 mg/day). Diagnostic procedures were repeated four weeks after the end of treatment. RESULTS 11 patients were excluded; 136 patients were H pyloripositive (56%), 105 of whom were re-examined after treatment.Helicobacter pylori was eradicated in 52% of group A and 83% of group B. The dose of omeprazole had no influence on the eradication rate. Specificity and sensitivity of the rapid urease test were 94% and 93%, respectively. Specificity and sensitivity of the 13C-urea breath test were 93% and 95%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Dual therapy can no longer be recommended. Triple therapy is more effective than dual therapy in the eradication of H pylori infection. The lower dose of 1 mg/kg omeprazole was as effective as 2 mg/kg.
Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke: Selecting the Right Treatment for the Right Patient

At present, thrombolytic therapy is the only therapy approved for the treatment of acute brain injury among patients with ischemic stroke. While recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is efficacious, its usefulness is limited, largely because of the very limited time window for its administration. Other medications that have potential neuroprotective actions or that affect coagulation or flow have not been established as efficacious or have not been approved by regulatory authorities. Additional therapies are needed to reduce the neurological consequences of ischemic stroke. Although the number of options to treat the stroke itself is limited, physicians should remember that management is multifaceted. Even if a patient cannot be treated with rt-PA, there is much that can be done to improve outcomes. Therapies of proven value are available to prevent or control complications, to augment recovery and to forestall recurrent stroke. The choice of treatment will continue to be made on a case-by-case basis and will be influenced by a number of variables. The most important factors are the time interval from stroke, the severity of the neurological impairments, the results of the baseline brain imaging and the cause of stroke.
Wideband dual-polarized small tapered slot antenna for MIMO emulator

A wideband dual-polarized small antenna is proposed using a crossed tapered slot antenna. Antenna height is minimized by optimizing the antenna parameters and is lightweight not to use dielectric materials. Antenna geometry for easy fabrication is also provided by combining two TSAs with a slit and a large hole on each substrate. A MIMO emulator by this dual-polarized antenna is also demonstrated.
Brain geometry persistent homology marker for Parkinson's disease

The geometry of the human brain changes due to age and neurodegeneration. The brain geometry is expected to undergo a similar change in shape with a normal aging, however such change may differ in patients suffering from neurodegenerative disorders. In the novel framework proposed in this work, we model the brain geometry as a 3D point cloud and study the algebraic topology features of this point cloud. Specifically, we compute the persistence timelines of a simplicial complex in a multiscale simplicial homology of the underlying topology space. Further, persistence landscape summary features are obtained from the timelines and studied for their difference between the two groups. The statistical significance obtained in a permutation testing experiments highlights the ability of the persistence landscape features to differentiate between the PD and healthy control brain geometry.
Prostaglandin E-mediated mitogenic stimulation of mouse epidermis in vivo by divalent cation ionophore A 23187 and by tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate.

When applied to mouse skin in vivo, both the strong tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) (2 nmol) and the divalent cation ionophore A 23187 (200 nmol) caused the same responses, i.e., skin inflammation and prostaglandin E2-mediated epidermal hyperplasia. In both cases, these events were accompanied by certain biochemical reactions in the epidermis such as an increase in the biosynthesis of and sensitivity to prostaglandin E2, increase in ornithine decarboxylase and phosphodiesterase activities, and refractoriness of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate production to beta-adrenergic stimulation. In contrast to A 23187, TPA did not induce degranulation of mast cells; whereas, in contrast with TPA, A 23187 did not show tumor-promoting activity. These results indicate that the observed biological effects of TPA are no indication of tumor-promoting ability and that, on the other hand, the mitogenic effects of A 23187 are possibly not due to its properties as a calcium ionophore.
Dramatic intraspecific differences in migratory routes, stopover sites and wintering areas, revealed using light-level geolocators

Migratory divides are contact zones between breeding populations that use divergent migratory routes and have been described in a variety of species. These divides are of major importance to evolution, ecology and conservation but have been identified using limited band recovery data and/or indirect methods. Data from band recoveries and mitochondrial haplotypes suggested that inland and coastal Swainson's thrushes (Catharus ustulatus) form a migratory divide in western North America. We attached light-level geolocators to birds at the edges of this contact zone to provide, to our knowledge, the first direct test of a putative divide using data from individual birds over the entire annual cycle. Coastal thrushes migrated along the west coast to Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. Some of these birds used multiple wintering sites. Inland thrushes migrated across the Rocky Mountains, through central North America to Columbia and Venezuela. These birds migrated longer distances than coastal birds and performed a loop migration, navigating over the Gulf of Mexico in autumn and around this barrier in spring. These findings support the suggestion that divergent migratory behaviour could contribute to reproductive isolation between migrants, advance our understanding of their non-breeding ecology, and are integral to development of detailed conservation strategies for this group.
A method for studying the effects of ions and drugs on the resting and action potentials in smooth muscle with external electrodes

A number of papers have dealt with the effects of drugs on the rate and height of action potentials in smooth muscle (cf. Bozler, 1948; Biilbring, 1956), but there are relatively few descriptions of changes in the resting potential. This is probably because an external electrode technique has not been available and resting potential measurements with internal electrodes are difficult to make, owing to the small size and spontaneous motility of the smooth muscle fibres (Biilbring, 1955). A few years ago Staimpfli (1954) described a relatively simple method for measuring the full value of the resting potential with external electrodes. His method is based on the theoretical calculation that the full value of the membrane potential can be measured with external electrodes on a core conductor, when the short-circuiting is negligible (Hodgkin & Rushton, 1946). Staimpfli obtained this condition by increasing the outside resistance of the preparation in the interpolar region by replacing most of the ions in the interstitial fluid with a nearly ion-free sucrose solution. This method has so far been applied to bundles of myelinated nerve fibres (Stampfli & Straub, 1954), and to non-medullated fibres (Ritchie & Straub, 1956, 1957), where action potentials were also recorded. The present paper deals with the application of this technique to smooth muscle.
Synthetic peptide analogs of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) inhibit HIV-1 replication in MT-2 cells.

On the basis of reports demonstrating possible roles for leukocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), the ligand for LFA-1, in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, we have explored the involvement of the ICAM-1 molecule by using selected synthetic peptides derived from the protein sequence. Replication was assessed in MT-2 cells, highly susceptible to HIV infection, in the presence of four synthetic peptides derived from the ICAM-1 amino acid sequence. This cell type was chosen for the ability to form marked syncytia on infection with cell-free virus. Under the conditions used, minimal or no cytotoxicity was observed with the peptides up to concentrations of 50 micrograms/ml. A peptide corresponding to a unique region of ICAM-1, JF9 [ICAM-1(367-394, A-378)], had little effect on virus replication despite its ability to inhibit cell-cell adhesion. In contrast, an N-terminal peptide, JF7B [ICAM-1(1-23)], consistently inhibited virus replication in MT-2 cells in a dose-dependent manner, as measured by cell-free reverse transcriptase (RT) activity (up to 70% inhibition), soluble virus antigen production (up to 60% inhibition), and syncytium formation (virtually complete inhibition up to 6 days post infection). Testing of W-CAM-1 antibody, and anti-ICAM-1 antibody that inhibits cell-cell adhesion, revealed no significant inhibitory effects on RT activity, virus antigen production, and syncytium formation in HIV-1-infected MT-2 cells at a level that markedly inhibited cell-cell adhesion (10 micrograms/ml). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)