Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Beneficial effect of a multimerized immunoglobulin Fc in an animal model of inflammatory neuropathy (experimental autoimmune neuritis)

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is one of the first‐line therapies for inflammatory neuropathies. Clinical use of IVIg for these disorders is limited by expense and availability. Here, we investigated a synthetic product alternative to IVIg. The aim of this study was to test the therapeutic efficacy of a novel recombinant polyvalent murine IgG2a Fc compound (stradomer™) in experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN). Seventy‐four Lewis rats were immunized with myelin, randomized into three groups, and were treated with albumin, IVIg, or stradomer at 1% of IVIg dose. Rats were assessed clinically, electrophysiologically, and histologically. The clinical disease severity was evaluated by clinical grading and weight changes. The electrophysiological studies recorded motor conduction velocity (MCV), amplitudes, and latencies of the evoked compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and spinal somatosensory evoked potential. The treatment efficacy of the IVIg and stradomer groups was compared to the albumin (control) group. We demonstrate that stradomer has a similar therapeutic efficacy to human IVIg in EAN. Rats receiving stradomer or IVIg showed significantly lower clinical scores and less prominent weight loss compared with controls. A statistically significant improvement in both MCV and the amplitudes of distal and proximal evoked CMAP was observed in the stradomer and IVIg groups. Finally, treatment with both IVIg and stradomer resulted in statistically less inflammation and demyelinating changes in the sciatic nerve as evidenced by lower histological grade. These results reveal the potential of using fully recombinant multimerized immunoglobulin Fc instead of IVIg for treating inflammatory neuropathies.
Editorial commentary: fighting ebola and advancing knowledge on the front lines in a capital city.

Critics might dismiss the report by Barry and colleagues from Guinea, in this issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases [1]. Nonspecific terminology, such as “difficulty breathing” and “hemorrhage,” dampen enthusiasm, as do the unknown time to presentation, duration of each symptom, lengths of stay, and treatment details. However, we need to keep in mind several things when appraising this work: (1) the setting, (2) the number of patients, (3) the usefulness of the findings, and (4) the wisdom of indigenous healthcare workers and collaborative engagement. Barry et al provide clinical predictors of death in patients with Ebola virus disease (EVD) from the world’s first EVD outbreak in a major metropolitan area, Conakry, the capital of Guinea [1]. This is commendable for several reasons, not the least of which was the environment. Second, opportunities for longitudinal observation of patients with EVD, however brief, in resource-constrained outbreak settings have been rare [2, 3]. Third, all of the fatalities were laboratory-confirmed EVD, making it one of the largest cohorts reported. Finally, their findings can inform rapid triage protocols in the event that an overwhelming outbreak occurs.
Channels of aqueous outflow and related blood vessels. I. Macaca mulatta (rhesus).

Colored room-temperature vulcanizing liquid silicone compound was used to delineate blood vessels and aqueous vessels and their interconnections in the anterior segment of the rhesus-monkey eye. Blood vessels were injected via the anterior and posterior ciliary arteries and the aqueous vessels via the anterior chamber, Schlemm's canal, and the aqueous veins. Following injection, the globes were cleared and the topographical relationships and connections between the blood vessels and the aqueous outflow channels were examined under magnification. Schlemm's canal was found to be drained by large and fine intrascleral vessels which emptied into the anterior ciliary veins. No arterial communications with the canal were seen. Intrascleral aqueous outflow channels and anterior ciliary veins had no connections with the uveal vasculature. In the episclera, however, many direct arteriovenous shunts were demonstrated.
Magnetic-resonance exchange scattering at the iron LII and LIII edges.

Specular reflectivity of {ital p}-polarized light near the iron {ital L}{sub II} and {ital L}{sub III} absorption edges was measured from a single-crystal iron film with an external magnetic field perpendicular to the scattering plane. Large changes in reflectivity were observed upon reversal of the direction of the magnetic field. We attribute this resonant magnetization-sensitive effect to the interference between magnetic and nonmagnetic contribution to the resonant scattering. Similar effects can be expected in other ferromagnetic and ferrimagnetic systems.
On the Pricing of American Options in Exponential Lévy Markets

In this paper, we discuss the problem of the pricing of American-style options in the exponential Lévy security market model. This model is typically incomplete, and we derive the explicit bounds of the interval of no arbitrage prices and the related optimal stopping moments for American put options and American call options in both finite and infinite horizon time. We consider a large class of Lévy processes.
Defensive Behavior of Free-Ranging Pygmy Rattlesnakes (Sistrurus miliarius)

Abstract Sistrurus miliarius frequently bites humans in the southeastern United States. We used a large population of S. miliarius in central Florida to investigate the importance of several factors on the defensive behavior of this species. Upon detection of a snake, we tapped the snout of the snake with a gloved hand. We recorded whether the snake struck or fled. Our large sample size (N = 336) allowed us to make strong conclusions regarding the defensive behavior of this rattlesnake species. Overall, only 27 snakes (8%) bit the glove indicating that this species is rather nonaggressive. Initial posture was the only factor that influenced striking behavior; uncoiled snakes struck significantly more than coiled snakes. Fleeing behavior was affected by three variables: sex; whether the snake was about to shed; and initial posture. Females fled more often than males, as did snakes about to shed. Initial posture is the only factor that affected both response variables, and uncoiled individuals were more likely to flee than coiled snakes.
Brain Iron: Persistent Deficiency following Short‐term Iron Deprivation in the Young Rat

This study was designed to determine the content of non‐haem iron in the brain as iron deficiency develops in the rapidly growing rat. Rats were provided with either an iron‐deficient diet or an identical control diet with added ferrous sulphate starting at 10 d of age and continuing after weaning at 21 d. At 28 or 48 d of age the deficient animals received 5 mg of iron (iron dextran) i.m. and were placed on the control diet regimen. The deficient animals had a concentration of non‐haem iron in the brain that was 27% below the control value at 28 d and 22% below at 48 d. After 14–45 d of iron treatment, the non‐haem iron remained depressed, 19–29% below the control means (P<0.05 to 0.001). Ferritin iron in brain also remained depressed, 33–42% below the control means (P<0.01). In contrast, haematocrit, liver non‐haem iron, and liver ferritin iron, although they were more profoundly depressed in the iron‐deficient animals, promptly returned to control values after treatment with iron. Thus, a brief period of severe iron deficiency in the young rat resulted in a deficit of brain iron that persisted in the adult animal despite an adequate intake of iron.
Music therapy and pain management in pediatric patients undergoing painful procedures : A review of the literature and a call for research

Helping pediatric patients cope with painful procedures is a critical element in providing comprehensive medical care. Although pharmacologic agents such as analgesics, sedatives, and amnesiacs can be and often are used, they do not address all the elements of a painful experience and can have undesirable side effects. Because of this, there has been a concerted effort to find non-pharmacologic therapies that can be used to reduce reliance on pharmacologic agents. The use of music to help children and adolescents cope with pain has been the subject of considerable research. In this paper, we discuss the different ways in which music is used in the clinical setting and highlight the unique aspects of music therapy, as contrasted with other music/sound-based interventions, that make it a particularly powerful modality in the care of pediatric patients.
Performance enhancement of IEEE 802.1 le WLAN by dynamic adaptive contention window

The service differentiation and adaptation are the important mechanisms for enhancing the performance of IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networks (WLANs). However, all these mechanisms will have limitations for dealing high bandwidth streaming applications. The service differentiation technique proposed in IEEE 802.11e [4] mainly considers the signal with higher priority values to access the wireless channel. Signals with lower priority values have to wait in the queue for a longer time to get an access to the channel. Also as the number of high priority frames in the access categories (ACs) increases, results internal collisions. This degrades the performance of 802.11 WLAN. In this research paper we developed an approach to improve the quality of service (QoS) of WLAN by maximizing the channel throughput and minimizing the internal collision, by adaptively changing the contention window (CW) size based on their priority values and the service requirements of the signals in the queue. The proposed algorithm enables the ACs to share the channel and maximize the channel performance and minimize the collision.
Assessment of wireless power transfer technology for emergency power response

The impact of the natural disaster is devastating. Wireless power transfer technology is very promising to reduce this impact by providing power backup for communication devices. This paper presents the assessment of the wireless power transfer technologies for long distance energy transfer. The review of several wireless power transfer technologies (WPTT), namely inductive, capacitive, acoustic, and optical, are presented. The WPTTs are evaluated in the context of several criteria, specifically, propagation area, power level, and efficiency. From the evaluation, it is evident that, optical WPTT is highly suitable for long distance power transfer. It can cover a large area with considerable power. Moreover, it can be merged with the PV technology on the receiving end, which proves its superiority over other technologies in the context of application compatibility.
Characteristics and causes of malnutrition across Indian states: A cluster analysis based on Indian demographic and health survey data

Good nutrition is an essential component of life. Undernutrition is the root cause of death of over 3.5 million children under the age of five in India. To address this issue of malnutrition, though overarching national policy is desirable, it may not be effective if the root cause of malnutrition varies across regions of the country. In this context, the attempt made in this paper is two-fold. First, weather the Indian States can be clustered on four anthropometric parameters of malnutrition. Second, whether the clusters formed thus, exhibit different explaining factors for malnutrition. The Indian-DHS (Demographic Health Survey) Data is used for the analysis. The results thus arrived would help policy-makers to have a targeted approach to malnutrition in different clusters of states.
Neighborhood characteristics, adherence to walking, and depressive symptoms in midlife African American women.

BACKGROUND African American women have more symptoms of depressed mood than white women. Adverse neighborhood conditions may contribute to these symptoms. Although reductions in depressive symptoms with physical activity have been demonstrated in white adults, little research has examined the mental health benefits of physical activity in African American women. Further, it is unknown whether physical activity can offset the effects of living in disadvantaged neighborhoods on depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among neighborhood characteristics, adherence to a physical activity intervention, and change over time in depressive symptoms in midlife African American women. METHODS Two hundred seventy-eight women participated in a home-based, 24-week moderate-intensity walking intervention. Either a minimal treatment (MT) or enhanced treatment (ET) version of the intervention was randomly assigned to one of the two community health centers. Walking adherence was measured as the percentage of prescribed walks completed. Objective and perceived measures of neighborhood deterioration and crime were included. RESULTS Adjusting for demographics, body mass index (BMI), and depressive symptoms at baseline, walking adherence and objective neighborhood deterioration were associated with significantly lower depressive symptoms, whereas perceived neighborhood deterioration was associated with significantly higher depressive symptoms at 24 weeks. CONCLUSIONS Adherence to walking as well as aspects of the environment may influence depressive symptoms in African American women. In addition to supporting active lifestyles, improving neighborhood conditions may also promote mental health among African American women.
Epidermal Growth Factor – Independent Transformation of Ba / F 3 Cells with Cancer-Derived Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutants Induces Gefitinib-Sensitive Cell Cycle Progression

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays critical roles in many biological processes and in tumorigenesis. Here, we show that two mutated EGFRs found in lung and other malignancies, EGFR-G719S and EGFR-L858R, could transform Ba/F3 cells to interleukin-3 (IL-3)–independent growth, in a ligand-independent manner, an activity associated with the transforming function of other mutated tyrosine kinases. The mutated receptors are autophosphorylated in the absence of IL-3 without EGF stimulation, and their expression led to the constitutive activation of signal transducers and activators of transcription 5, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), ERK5, and AKT. In wild-type EGFRexpressing Ba/F3 cells, the major EGF-mediated signaling pathways were still intact. Gefitinib inhibited the growth of mutant EGFR-transformed Ba/F3 cells. Strikingly, the gefitinib sensitivity of cells expressing the L858R mutant was significantly greater than that of cells expressing the G719S mutant form, suggesting that distinct EGFR mutations may be differentially sensitive to small-molecule inhibitors. Furthermore, our data showed an antiproliferative effect of gefitinib on the EGFR-transformed Ba/F3 cells. Our results provide a model system to study the function of mutated EGFR and the differential effects of pharmacologic EGFR inhibition on the distinct mutant forms of this tyrosine kinase. (Cancer Res 2005; 65(19): 8968-74)
Potential impact of global climate change on benthic deep-sea microbes

Benthic deep-sea environments are the largest ecosystem on Earth, covering ∼65% of the Earth surface. Microbes inhabiting this huge biome at all water depths represent the most abundant biological components and a relevant portion of the biomass of the biosphere, and play a crucial role in global biogeochemical cycles. Increasing evidence suggests that global climate changes are affecting also deep-sea ecosystems, both directly (causing shifts in bottom-water temperature, oxygen concentration and pH) and indirectly (through changes in surface oceans' productivity and in the consequent export of organic matter to the seafloor). However, the responses of the benthic deep-sea biota to such shifts remain largely unknown. This applies particularly to deep-sea microbes, which include bacteria, archaea, microeukaryotes and their viruses. Understanding the potential impacts of global change on the benthic deep-sea microbial assemblages and the consequences on the functioning of the ocean interior is a priority to better forecast the potential consequences at global scale. Here we explore the potential changes in the benthic deep-sea microbiology expected in the coming decades using case studies on specific systems used as test models.
Chryseobacterium arachidiradicis sp. nov., isolated from the geocarposphere (soil around the peanut) of very immature peanuts (Arachis hypogaea).

A yellow-pigmented bacterial strain, 91A-612(T), isolated from the geocarposphere (soil around the peanut) of very immature peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) in Alabama, USA, was studied for its taxonomic position. Cells of the isolate were rod-shaped and stained Gram-negative. A comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequence with the sequences of the type strains of the most closely related species showed that the strain belongs to the genus Chryseobacterium, showing the highest sequence similarities to the type strains of Chryseobacterium molle (98.4%), C. pallidum (98.3%) and C. hominis (97.8%). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to the type strains of all other species of the genus Chryseobacterium were below 97.0%. The fatty acid profile of strain 91A-612(T) consisted of the major fatty acids iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH/C16 : 1ω7c) and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. Major compounds in the polar lipid profile were phosphatidylethanolamine and several unidentified lipids, including two lipids that did not contain a sugar moiety, an amino group or a phosphate group (L3, L8), and an aminolipid (AL1). The quinone system was composed mainly of MK-6. The polyamine pattern contained sym-homospermidine as the major compound and moderate amounts of spermidine and spermine. DNA-DNA hybridizations between strain 91A-612(T) and the type strains of C. molle, C. pallidum and C. hominis resulted in relatedness values well below 70%. These data and the differentiating biochemical and chemotaxonomic properties showed that isolate 91A-612(T) represents a novel species of the genus Chryseobacterium, for which we propose the name Chryseobacterium arachidiradicis sp. nov. (type strain 91A-612(T) = LMG 27814(T)= CCM 8490(T) = CIP 110647(T)).
False hopes and best data: consent to research and the therapeutic misconception.

Using examples from psychiatric research, the authors explore the ethical dilemma of the "therapeutic misconception," where, despite explanation, patient-subjects believe that research protocols are designed to benefit them directly rather than to test or compare treatment methods. Even potential subjects who demonstrate an understanding of randomization, double-blinded studies, and the use of placebos frequently persist in a belief that they purposely will receive the treatment most likely to benefit them. They expect the standards of personal care that characterize the therapeutic relationship to carry over to the clinical trial, failing to understand that the need for valid research results makes this impossible. Appelbaum et al. suggest ways in which patients can be made to understand the differences between treatment and research, and the disadvantages and advantages of participation in the latter.
Electronics, energy, and the environment

Technologypsilas impact on human health has been a concern for at least 200 years. These concerns range from the waste and pollution due to mining and heavy manufacturing to emissions from the automobile and fossil fuel power plants. Now the proliferation of electronic products and their manufacture can pose additional threats to the now fragile balance in the Earthpsilas eco systems. While posing threats, electronics can be the solution to many of our current and future environmental and energy related problems. The environmental threats from electronics can be significantly reduced or eliminated through environmentally responsible design manufacture, distribution, usage, and end-of-life disposal. In a similar way the systematic use of photovoltaic power generation, electric and hybrid automobiles and solid-state lighting can significantly reduce our carbon footprint and improve our environment. A systematic discussion of environmentally conscious life-cycle product engineering and manufacturing of ldquogreenrdquo electronics is presented along with the potential impact on the environment of the widespread deployment of photovoltaic devices, solid state lighting and nanotechnology.
Low back pain in relation to lumbar disc degeneration.

STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. OBJECTIVES To study the relation of low back pain (LBP) to disc degeneration in the lumbar spine. BACKGROUND DATA Controversy still prevails about the relationship between disc degeneration and LBP. Classification of disc degeneration and symptoms varies, hampering comparison of study results. METHODS Subjects comprised 164 men aged 40-45 years-53 machine drivers, 51 construction carpenters, and 60 office workers. The data of different types of LBP, individual characteristics, and lifestyle factors were obtained from a questionnaire and a structured interview. Degeneration of discs L2/L3-L5/S1 (dark nucleus pulposus and posterior and anterior bulge) was assessed with MRI. RESULTS An increased risk of LBP (including all types) was found in relation to all signs of disc degeneration. An increased risk of sciatic pain was found in relation to posterior bulges, but local LBP was not related to disc degeneration. The risks of LBP and sciatic pain were strongly affected by occupation. CONCLUSIONS Low back pain is associated with signs of disc degeneration and sciatic pain with posterior disc bulges. Low back pain is strongly associated with occupation.
Music in intervention for children and adolescents with autism: a meta-analysis.

This meta-analysis of 12 dependent variables from 9 quantitative studies comparing music to no-music conditions during treatment of children and adolescents with autism resulted in an overall effect size of d =. 77 and a mean weighted correlation of r =. 36 (p =.00). Since the confidence interval did not include 0, results were considered to be significant. All effects were in a positive direction, indicating benefits of the use of music in intervention. The homogeneity Q value was not significant (p =.83); therefore, results of included studies are considered to be homogeneous and explained by the overall effect size. The significant effect size, combined with the homogeneity of the studies, leads to the conclusion that all music intervention, regardless of purpose or implementation, has been effective for children and adolescents with autism. Included studies are described in terms of type of dependent variables measured; theoretical approach; number of subjects in treatment sessions; participation in and use, selection, and presentation of music; researcher discipline; published or unpublished source; and subject age. Clinical implications as well as recommendations for future research are discussed.
Knowledge and Power in the Mechanical Firm: Planning for Profit in Austrian Perspective

This essay draws on the transaction costs model of the firm and an Austrian perspective on the knowledge problem in centrally planned orders to propose an empirically useful Austrian theory of central planning. After an initial review of existing theories of the firm, part two develops insights from the calculation debate to sketch a theory of planning centered on the interrelated problems of purpose, information and control in both individual and central planning. Part three joins this theory to the basic framework of the transaction cost model to produce an Austrian theory of the private firm that addresses the relation between knowledge and power in planned orders, and illustrates its principal themes through a discussion of the historical development of American manufacturing in the fifty years prior to World War I.