Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of dermatologic changes in geriatric rhesus macaques

Abstract: Nonhuman primates are frequently used for aging studies. We observed a high prevalence of skin disease among a group of geriatric rhesus monkeys (mean age ? 25 years; n ? 9) used in aging behavioral studies. Gross and histopathologic changes in the skin of these geriatric rhesus were compared with skin from control adult monkeys (mean age ? 10; n ? 4) and sun‐exposed monkeys (mean age ? 11; n = 4) to characterize age‐related skin changes. Biopsy specimens were taken from four specified skin locations (lateral to bridge of nose, ventral midline, dorsal midline, perineal area) and from additional areas where skin lesions were present. Samples were routinely processed and evaluated by light microscopy. Blood samples were collected and tested for estrogen, thyroid‐stimulating hormone, triiodothyronine, thyroxine, and Cortisol levels. The axilla was swabbed and samples were obtained for bacterial culturing. All nine of the geriatric monkeys had notable dermal lesions, while one of the control monkeys and one of the sun‐exposed monkeys had abnormal findings. Major gross findings included increased areas of erythematous skin, wrinkling, focal skin scaling, thinning of hair, foot calluses, and exudative lesions. Histologic skin changes included subacute dermatitis, acanthotic dermatitis, and a lesion resembling an early solar lentigo in the sun‐exposed animal. These changes were not associated with hormonal abnormalities or bacterial pathogens. Histologic changes are compatible with nonspecific skin changes observed in elderly humans. This study establishes a baseline of dermatologic changes of the aging rhesus macaque.
Pricing in a Duopoly with a Lead Time Advantage

We analyze the price competition between two suppliers offering two different lead times and two different prices to a buyer. The buyer chooses its inventory replenishment policy in order to minimize its infinite-horizon average cost. In essence, the fast and expensive supplier is used only in emergencies, while the slow and cheap supplier receives the bulk of the orders. Thus, despite a higher price, the fast supplier is able to capture a part of the buyer's orders. We analyze the price competition between the asymmetric suppliers, where the market share of each supplier is derived from the buyer's inventory problem. We find equilibria that differ significantly from the Bertrand price-only competition. In particular, for some cost parameters, the fast supplier is able to charge a premium for faster delivery, and stay in business even with a higher production cost. We obtain in some cases closed-form formulas for the price difference in equilibrium. Hence, our results show that high cost suppliers may not be driven out of business if they can offer fast delivery.
Corticosterone regulates multiple colour traits in Lacerta [Zootoca] vivipara males

Ornamental colours usually evolve as honest signals of quality, which is supported by the fact that they frequently depend on individual condition. It has generally been suggested that some, but not all types of ornamental colours are condition dependent, indicating that different evolutionary mechanisms underlie the evolution of multiple types of ornamental colours even when these are exhibited by the same species. Stress hormones, which negatively affect condition, have been shown to affect colour traits based on different pigments and structures, suggesting that they mediate condition dependence of multiple ornament types both among and within individuals. However, studies investigating effects of stress hormones on different ornament types within individuals are lacking, and thus, evidence for this hypothesis is scant. Here, we investigated whether corticosterone mediates condition dependence of multiple ornaments by manipulating corticosterone levels and body condition (via food availability) using a two‐factorial design and by assessing their effect on multiple colour traits in male common lizards. Corticosterone negatively affected ventral melanin‐ and carotenoid‐based coloration, whereas food availability did not affect coloration, despite its significant effect on body condition. The corticosterone effect on melanin‐ and carotenoid‐based coloration demonstrates the condition dependence of both ornaments. Moreover, corticosterone affected ventral coloration and had no effect on the nonsexually selected dorsal coloration, showing specific effects of corticosterone on ornamental ventral colours. This suggests that corticosterone simultaneously mediates condition dependence of multiple colour traits and that it therefore accounts for covariation among them, which may influence their evolution via correlational selection.
Antigen-based prediction and prevention of type 1 diabetes.

2. INTRODUCTION Type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetes develops as the result of a cumulative autoimmune-mediated destruction of the pancreatic beta cells mainly in genetically predisposed individuals. The disease becomes clinically manifest when 50-90% of the beta cells are destroyed (1) following a long prodromal period (months to years) during which autoimmune phenomena are often present, including mononuclear cell infiltration in the islets of Langerhans and circulation of islet cell autoantibodies. This review will provide a brief introduction to type 1 diabetes followed by an in-depth discussion of the current knowledge of antigen-based prediction and prevention/intervention of autoimmune diabetes focusing on glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 kDa (GAD65), one of the main autoantigens.
Role of Cdk 1 in the p 53-Independent Abrogation of the Postmitotic Checkpoint by Human Papillomavirus E 6

Specific types of human papillomavirus (HPV) are strongly associated with the development of cervical carcinoma. The HPV E6 oncoprotein from HPV degrades p53 and abrogates cell cycle checkpoints. Nonetheless, functional p53 has been observed in cervical cancer. We have previously identified a p53-independent function of E6 in attenuating the postmitotic G1-like checkpoint that can lead to polyploidy, an early event during cervical carcinogenesis that predisposes cells to aneuploidy. How E6 promotes cell cycle progression in the presence of p53 and its target, p21, remains a mystery. In this study, we examined the expression of cell cycle-related genes in cells expressing wild-type E6 and the mutant that is defective in p53 degradation but competent in abrogating the postmitotic checkpoint. Our results demonstrated an increase in the steady-state levels of G1and G2-related cyclins/Cdks in E6-expressing keratinocytes. Interestingly, only Cdk1 remained active in E6 mutant-expressing cells while bypassing the postmitotic checkpoint. Furthermore, the downregulation of Cdk1 impaired the ability of both wild-type and mutant E6 to induce polyploidy. Our study thus demonstrated an important role for Cdk1, which binds p21 with lower affinity than Cdk2, in abrogating the postmitotic checkpoint in E6-expressing cells. We further show that E2F1 is important for E6 to upregulate Cdk1. Moreover, reduced nuclear p21 localization was observed in the E6 mutant-expressing cells. These findings shed light on the mechanisms by which HPV induces genomic instability and hold promise for the identification of drug targets.
A Pilot Study of the Pharmacogenetics of Ketamine-Induced Emergence Phenomena: A Dissertation

iv DISSERTATION PROPOSAL . 1 Purpose . 2 Background and Significance . 4 Conceptual Framework . 9 Research Approach . 13 Protection of Human Subjects . 24 References . 26 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . 37 DISSERTATION DEFENSE SLIDES . 40 DISSEMINATION PLAN . 56 APPENDIX . 57 Demographic Sheet . 57 Data Collection Sheet . 59 Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS) . 60 Study Flyer . 68 Running Head: PHARMACOGENETICS OF KETAMINE Pharmacogenetics of Ketamine Induced Emergence Phenomena: Dissertation Proposal
Pathogenesis and Current Approaches to Control of Varicella-Zoster Virus Infections

SUMMARY Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was once thought to be a fairly innocuous pathogen. That view is no longer tenable. The morbidity and mortality due to the primary and secondary diseases that VZV causes, varicella and herpes zoster (HZ), are significant. Fortunately, modern advances, including an available vaccine to prevent varicella, a therapeutic vaccine to diminish the incidence and ameliorate sequelae of HZ, effective antiviral drugs, a better understanding of VZV pathogenesis, and advances in diagnostic virology have made it possible to control VZV in the United States. Occult forms of VZV-induced disease have been recognized, including zoster sine herpete and enteric zoster, which have expanded the field. Future progress should include development of more effective vaccines to prevent HZ and a more complete understanding of the consequences of VZV latency in the enteric nervous system.
QX: A high-performance quantum computer simulation platform

Quantum computing is rapidly evolving especially after the discovery of several efficient quantum algorithms solving intractable classical problems such as Shor's factoring algorithm. However the realization of a large-scale physical quantum computer is very challenging and the number of qubits that are currently under development is still very low, namely less than 15. In the absence of large size platforms, quantum computer simulation is critical for developing and testing quantum algorithms and investigating the different challenges facing the design of quantum computer hardware. What makes quantum computer simulation on classical computers particularly challenging are the memory and computational resource requirements. In this paper, we introduce a universal quantum computer simulator, called QX, that takes as input a specially designed quantum assembly language, called QASM, and provides, through agressive optimisations, high simulation speeds and large number of qubits. QX allows the simulation of up to 34 fully entangled qubits on a single node using less than 270 GB of memory. Our experiments using different quantum algorithms show that QX achieves significant simulation speedup over similar state-of-the-art simulation environment.
Equity of skilled birth attendant utilization in developing countries: financing and policy determinants.

OBJECTIVES Developing countries with higher health care spending have greater overall utilization of maternal health services than do countries with lower spending. However, the rich tend to disproportionately use these services. We assessed whether redistributive government policies in the context of higher levels of health spending were associated with more-equitable use of skilled birth attendants (doctors, nurses, or midwives) between rich and poor. METHODS We used data from Demographic and Health Surveys of 45 developing countries and disaggregated by wealth quintile. Multivariable regression analyses were used to assess the joint effect of higher health care expenditures, the wealth distribution of women's fifth-grade education (a proxy for redistributive policy environment within the central government) and the overall proportion of women with fifth-grade education (a proxy for female literacy and an indicator of governments' commitment to girls' education). RESULTS We found that utilization of skilled birth attendants was more equitable when higher health expenditures were accompanied by redistributive education policies. CONCLUSIONS Higher health care expenditures should be accompanied by redistributive policies to reduce the gap in utilization of skilled birth attendants between poorer and richer women in developing countries.
Trends in the Treatment of Dupuytren Disease in the United States Between 2007 and 2014

Background: Dupuytren disease is a common fibroproliferative disorder. Multiple procedural treatment options are available, with Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum (CCH) injection being introduced in 2010. The purpose of this study was to investigate trends in the treatment of Dupuytren disease in the United States between 2007 and 2014. Methods: The PearlDiver Humana database was queried using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for patients with Dupuytren disease that received percutaneous needle aponeurotomy (PNA), fasciotomy, fasciectomy, and CCH injection. Patients were filtered by age, number of comorbidities, and gender. Change in composition of treatments over time was analyzed for each demographic group between 2007 and 2014. Results: Patients presenting to clinic for Dupuytren disease increased from 1118 to 3280, with unchanging treatment percentage of 41. Percent fasciotomies and fasciectomies decreased from 5% to 3% and 33% to 21%, while CCH injection increased to 11% by 2012 to 2014. Percent fasciotomies decreased (P < .05) in younger healthier (age <65, 0-1 comorbidities) and older less healthy (age 65-74, 4+ comorbidities) populations. Percent fasciectomies decreased significantly in nearly all age and comorbidity groups, but by greater amounts in patients with 2+ comorbidities with increasing age. Percent CCH injections increased in all groups, at rates similar to the losses seen in open procedures. Conclusions: CCH injections have risen to substantial levels, with corresponding decreases in the percentage of patients receiving fasciotomies and fasciectomies. Patient age, comorbidities, and gender appear to have influence on the treatment chosen, likely due to their effects on surgical risk and the importance of timely return to activity.
The Role of Ultrahigh-Frequency Audiometry in the Early Detection of Systemic Drug-Induced Hearing Loss

In monitoring patients for drug-induced hearing loss, most audiometric evaluations are limited to the range of frequencies from 0.25 to 8 kHz. However, such testing would fail to detect ototoxicity in patients who have already experienced hearing loss in the ultrahigh frequencies from 10 to 20 kHz. Awareness of ultrahigh-frequency ototoxicity could lead to changes in a drug regimen to prevent further damage. We conducted a prospective study of 105 patients who were receiving a potentially ototoxic drug—either gentamicin, amikacin, or cisplatin—to assess the value of ultrahigh-frequency audiometry in detecting systemic drug-induced hearing loss. We found that expanding audiometry into the ultrahigh-frequency range led to the detection of a substantial number of cases of hearing loss that would have otherwise been missed.
Use of preventive health behaviors by lesbian, bisexual, and heterosexual women: questionnaire survey.

OBJECTIVES To determine whether lesbians and bisexual women are less likely than heterosexual women to use preventive health measures. DESIGN Written, anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. SETTING 33 physicians' offices and community clinics mainly in urban areas of 13 states. PARTICIPANTS 524 lesbians, 143 bisexual women, and 637 heterosexual women. RESULTS Bisexual women were less likely than heterosexual women to have had appropriate cholesterol screening (odds ratio 0.29, 95% confidence interval 0.11 to 0.73) or appropriate mammography (0.33, 0.13 to 0.84). Human immunodeficiency virus testing was more common in lesbians (2.38, 1. 51 to 3.74) and bisexual women (1.99, 1.17 to 3.38) than in heterosexual women. Illicit drug use was higher in lesbians (2.04, 1. 14 to 3.70) and bisexual women (1.96, 1.07 to 3.57) than in heterosexual women. Lesbians were more likely than heterosexual women to practice safer sex (2.60, 1.23 to 5.49) and less likely to have ever been infected with human papillomavirus (0.48, 0.25 to 0. 89). CONCLUSION There were important differences in the preventive health measures taken by lesbians and bisexual women and those taken by heterosexual women. All patients should receive standard health tests, such as cholesterol screening and mammography, regardless of their sexual orientation. Lesbians and bisexual women who report illicit drug use should receive counseling, as appropriate.
Intravenous Therapies in the Management of Neuropathic Pain: A Review on the Use of Ketamine and Lidocaine in Chronic Pain Management

Neuropathic Pain is a term referred to “pain arising as a direct consequence of a lesion affecting the somatosensory system”. As a first line option, oral medications are mostly used, as they are easily available, relatively safe, and do not need much resources. They include antidepressants in the form of tricyclics, newer selective reuptake inhibitors of serotonin and norepinephrine, gabapentin, pregabalin etc. Although neuropathic pain conditions do share some common clinical features, they are quite diverse when considered individually according to their etiology and pathogenesis. Hence not all patients and not all types of neuropathic pain respond to such oral therapy. In practice patients are given a form of such neuropathic pain medication along with or without an opioid, depending upon the extent of pain that the patient suffers. Opioids are potent analgesics but are not a good choice for neuropathic pain conditions. With time the clinician is left with fewer alternatives and furthermore, with the the increasing knowledge that escalation of opioid therapy will perhaps lead to hyperalgesia and tolerance, it becomes necessary to explore other options. Among the other options one can always consider to explore treatment with intravenous medication such as Ketamine, Lidocaine, and Magnesium etc. This chapter would highlight the use of ketamine and lidocaine in the form of drug profile, the pharmacological basis behind its use, strategies to use, important side effects and limitations and available evidence base, including a review of randomised controlled studies. Both are considered separately in two different parts. References for both the parts are given at the end, in separate sections.
Leishmania, Babesia and Ehrlichia in urban pet dogs: co-infection or cross-reaction in serological methods?

INTRODUCTION The present study was designed to assess the occurrence of co-infection or cross-reaction in the serological techniques used for detecting the anti-Leishmania spp. , -Babesia canis vogeli and -Ehrlichia canis antibodies in urban dogs from an area endemic to these parasites. METHODS The serum samples from dogs were tested for the Babesia canis vogeli strain Belo Horizonte antigen and Ehrlichia canis strain São Paulo by immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and by anti-Leishmania immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody detection to assess Leishmania infection. We used the following four commercial kits for canine visceral leishmaniasis: ELISA, IFAT, Dual Path Platform (DPP) (Bio Manguinhos(r)/FIOCRUZ/MS) and a rK39 RDT (Kalazar Detect Canine Rapid Test; Inbios). RESULTS Of 96 serum samples submitted to serological assays, 4 (4.2%) were positive for Leishmania as determined by ELISA; 12 (12.5%), by IFAT; 14 (14.6%) by rK39 RDT; and 20 (20.8%), by DPP. Antibodies against Ehrlichia and Babesia were detected in 23/96 (23.9%) and 30/96 (31.2%) samples, respectively. No significant association was identified between the results of tests for detecting Babesia or Ehrlichia and those for detecting Leishmania (p-value>0.05). CONCLUSIONS In the present study, we demonstrated co-infection with Ehrlichia or Babesia and Leishmania in dogs from Minas Gerais (Brazil); we also found that the serological tests that were used did not cross-react.
Realization of a Multiple Object Rearrangement Task with Two Multi-Task Functional Robots

A rearrangement task of multiple objects is discussed here. In this paper, robots that carry more than one object simultaneously are referred to as multi-task functional, whereas a standard single-task robot carries one object at a time. With multi-task functional robots, the total length of transfer paths is shortened and the processing time is reduced. We propose a planning algorithm that consists of simulated annealing and a scheduling method using prioritization rules for a group of multi-task functional robots. We also propose a planning methodology on synchronization timing between the robots. Experiments involving two robots were conducted in real and simulated environments to show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.
Label‐free imaging and analysis of the effects of lipolysis products on primary hepatocytes

The increased accumulation of intracellular lipid droplets within hepatocytes is a pathologic hallmark of liver injury of various etiologies, especially non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The dynamics, subcellular origin, and chemical composition of lipid droplets under various pathophysiologic conditions, however, remain poorly understood. We used coherent Raman microscopy and spontaneous Raman spectroscopy to monitor and analyze the formation of lipid droplets in living primary rat hepatocytes exposed to triglyceride‐rich lipoprotein (TGRL) lipolysis products. After exposure to the complex fatty acid mixture released during the lipolysis process for 30 minutes, new lipid droplets rapidly appeared within hepatocytes and increased in size and number over the total observation period of 205 minutes. Raman spectroscopic analysis of individual intracellular lipid droplets before and after exposure to lipolysis products reveals that the major components of these droplets are esterified unsaturated fatty acids. We find that the fatty acid unsaturation ratio increases with droplet size. Control experiments with defined fatty acid mixtures reveal the complexity of the cellular response to assault by combinations of lipids. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Risk of seizures in children with tectal gliomas

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of seizures in children with tectal gliomas and to determine if there are common clinical, electroencephalography (EEG), or radiologic findings that predict risk of seizures in these patients. We conducted a retrospective review of all patients with tectal gliomas over a 22‐year period at a single institution. Data extraction included sex, age at presentation of tectal glioma and age of presentation with seizures, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, seizure frequency and semiology, and EEG findings. We identified 79 patients, 66 of whom had adequate imaging and clinical data for further analysis. Eight patients (12.1%) had a history of seizures. Three patients had a clear symptomatic cause of seizures. Three patients were diagnosed with a tectal glioma as an incidental finding after a first seizure. One patient had a history of febrile convulsions. One patient had a generalized seizure 5 years after presenting with macrocephaly. Although the risk of seizure in children with known tectal glioma was relatively high, we did not identify specific clinical, radiologic, EEG, or MRI features that are predictive of increased risk. Thus, in children with tectal gliomas who have seizures, alternative causes for the seizures must be sought.
Metagenomic Analyses of Drinking Water Receiving Different Disinfection Treatments

ABSTRACT A metagenome-based approach was used to assess the taxonomic affiliation and function potential of microbial populations in free-chlorine-treated (CHL) and monochloramine-treated (CHM) drinking water (DW). In all, 362,640 (averaging 544 bp) and 155,593 (averaging 554 bp) pyrosequencing reads were analyzed for the CHL and CHM samples, respectively. Most annotated proteins were found to be of bacterial origin, although eukaryotic, archaeal, and viral proteins were also identified. Differences in community structure and function were noted. Most notably, Legionella-like genes were more abundant in the CHL samples while mycobacterial genes were more abundant in CHM samples. Genes associated with multiple disinfectant mechanisms were identified in both communities. Moreover, sequences linked to virulence factors, such as antibiotic resistance mechanisms, were observed in both microbial communities. This study provides new insights into the genetic network and potential biological processes associated with the molecular microbial ecology of DW microbial communities.