Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inflammation in Parkinson’s Disease: Causes and Consequences

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s disease (AD) with a prevalence of 0.5-1% among persons older than 65 years of age (Toulouse & Sullivan, 2008). The incidence increases to 2.6% in persons aged 85 and older, and has a mean age of onset of 55 years. Statistics released in 1990 from a unique global study carried out by the World Health Organisation, suggest that there are approximately 4 million PD patients worldwide. However, despite intensive research, the aetiology of this neurodegenerative disease still remains unclear and despite substantial efforts, a cure remains elusive. This, coupled with the increasing aging demographics, makes the importance of research into PD imperative, and the development of novel drug treatments a primary aim, both for economic and humanitarian purposes. The disease is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative motor disorder, resulting in the selective loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons within the substantia nigra (SN) pars compacta (pc) of the midbrain. As the disease progresses there is gradual circuitry degeneration within the nigrostriatal pathway, producing motor, cognitive and psychiatric symptoms (Braak et al., 2003). Lewy bodies are classified as the focal pathological hallmark of PD and their presence is necessary for the post-mortem diagnosis of the disease. They are not unique to PD however and are also found in other diseases such as dementia with Lewy Bodies and diffuse Lewy Body disease (Braak et al., 2003). PD can be further characterised by the presence of an accumulation of activated microglia within the SNpc (McGeer et al., 1988). PD exists in many forms and can be classified into both familial and idiopathic (also referred to as sporadic) forms, with epidemiological studies indicating approximately 5-10% of cases as being familial, and 90-95% as idiopathic (Tomiyama et al., 2008). Familial PD can be transmitted in an autosomal dominant (AD-PD) or recessive fashion (AR-PD). The study of genetic forms of PD has led to a better understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms occurring during the disease progression. To date, six genes (SNCA, LRRK2, PRKN, DJ-1, PINK1 and ATP13A2) have been implicated in familial forms of PD (Bekris et al., 2010). In contrast to idiopathic PD, the genetic forms of this disease display a significantly younger age of onset and a shorter disease duration (Pankratz & Foroud, 2007). Despite this, patients with the autosomal dominant form of the disease have similar clinical and pathological features to those with idiopathic PD. In idiopathic PD, environmental factors such as toxins, free radicals and inflammation have been considered the most likely
Detection of synovitis by ultrasonography in clinically inactive juvenile idiopathic arthritis on and off medication.

OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of abnormalities detected by ultrasonography (US) in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) showing clinically inactive disease (ID) on medication and off medication. METHODS INCLUSION CRITERIA 1) JIA patients, 2) clinician-determined ID, 3) JIA drugs withdrawal or stably dosed modified anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) therapy for at least 6 months prior to inclusion, 4) biologics naïve patients. Clinical and US assessments were performed on 44 joints, which were scored for grey-scale (GS) synovitis and Power Doppler (PD) signal. PD signal inside intra-articular synovium or tendon sheath was considered as inflammatory activity. RESULTS Thirty-four patients were included, of whom 23 patients were labelled as ID on medication and 11 patients without medication. The duration of the current episode of ID at the inclusion time was 9.5 months. Although it was longer for the group off medication there was no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.06). Thirteen patients presented US findings. Number of US-detected synovial abnormalities was higher in patients on medication, but there were no significant differences between both groups in the detection of GS synovitis (p=0.86), GS tenosynovitis (p=0.78) and PD signal (p=0.38). Out of 37 joints presenting US-determined GS-synovitis, 18 joints showed PD signal. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides evidence of synovitis and tenosynovitis on B-mode US in JIA patients with clinical inactivity. In addition, inflammatory activity upheld by power-Doppler has been shown in a few joints from patients on medication.
Lesions of area 17 in newborn kittens cause selective changes in the development of area 18

In the cat, areas 17 and 18 interconnect soon after birth. To test the hypothesis that the normal development of area 18 depends on interactions with area 17, unilateral lesions of area 17 were created in newborn kittens, and the animals allowed to mature. Horseradish peroxidase was then injected into both lateral geniculate nuclei. The major abnormalities of area 18 in the lesioned hemispheres were a thinning of specifically layers 2 and 3 and abnormally faint geniculocortical labelling of layer 4. Cell densities in layers 2 and 3 of the lesioned hemispheres were similar to or lower than normal. Neonatal destruction of area 17 therefore produced a selective loss of cells in layers 2 and 3 in area 18 (the layers that normally interconnect with area 17), and may have reduced thalamic innervation of layer 4.
In vivo titration of araC protein

The requirement for araC protein in the induction of the araBAD operon was investigated. Strains of Escherichia coli carrying an araC(Am) mutation and temperature-sensitive amber suppressors were used to vary the intracellular level of araC protein. The levels of araC protein studied ranged from 0.007 to 1.8 times the normal amount. The results indicate that the normal level of araC protein is just sufficient to provide maximal expression of the araBAD operon.
Neuro Þ bromatosis presenting as generalized nerve thickening

are well documented but uncommon. [2,4] The lesions of SCAP measure between 1 and 3 cm in diameter[3] and all published cases of nodular SCAP have to date measured <4 cm in diameter. [4] A vast majority of SCAPs are solitary lesions, and linear arrangement of these lesions is particularly rare. [5] In 2001, Patterson et al., described that there had been only eight previous cases of linear SCAP. Five of these most recently reported cases occurred on the chest, left arm, neck and right thigh. [5] In contrast to the diverse clinical appearances, the histology of SCAP is uniform and characteristic, offering a reliable tool for the diagnosis. [2]
Diurnal and nocturnal variations in aqueous humor dynamics of patients with ocular hypertension undergoing medical therapy.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the interaction of intraocular pressure(IOP)–lowering medications with physiologic day and night changes in aqueous humor dynamics in participants with ocular hypertension. METHODS Thirty participants were enrolled in thisdouble-masked, randomized, crossover study. Each participant underwent aqueous humor dynamics measurements at baseline and at 2 weeks of dosing in random order with latanoprost in the evening and placebo in the morning, timolol maleate twice daily, and dorzolamide hydrochloride twice daily. Measurements included central corneal thickness by ultrasound pachymetry, anterior chamber depth by A-scan, seated and habitual IOP by pneumatonometry, blood pressure by sphygmomanometry,episcleral venous pressure by venomanometry,and aqueous flow by fluorophotometry. Outflow facility was assessed by fluorophotometry and by tonography. Uveoscleral outflow was mathematically calculated using the Goldmann equation. RESULTS Latanoprost use significantly decreased IOP during the day and night. It increased daytime uveoscleral outflow by a mean (SD) of 0.90 (1.46) μL/min (P=.048), but a nighttime increase of 0.26 (1.10) μL/min (P=.47)did not reach statistical significance. Timolol use decreased IOP during the day by reducing aqueous flow by 25%. Dorzolamide use lowered IOP only at the noon measurement and reduced daytime aqueous flow by 16%. Neither dorzolamide nor timolol use added to the physiologic 47% reduction in nighttime aqueous flow. CONCLUSIONS The daytime IOP-lowering effects of latanoprost are mediated by an increase in uveoscleral outflow,and those of timolol and dorzolamide are mediated by aqueous flow suppression. Nighttime physiologic changes in uveoscleral outflow limit the nighttime pharmacodynamic efficacy of latanoprost. Aqueous flow suppression with timolol and dorzolamide was ineffective in obtaining IOP lowering at night.
Promoter region of interleukin-2 gene undergoes chromatin structure changes and confers inducibility on chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene during activation of T cells

The chromatin structure of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene was probed by DNase I treatment of isolated nuclei. The 5' region of the IL-2 gene contains three regions of hypersensitivity to DNase I. When peripheral blood T cells or Jurkat T cells are stimulated with mitogens, IL-2 message is induced, and the promoter region of the IL-2 gene develops an additional hypersensitive site. This suggests that a DNA sequence close to the transcriptional start site is involved in the transduction of the extracellular signal. Such a conclusion is further supported by DNA transfection experiments. A short segment of DNA, which includes the region of induced hypersensitivity, confers inducibility on the linked chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene in transiently transfected Jurkat cells. In addition, cells of nonhematopoietic origins exhibit a strikingly different chromatin pattern of IL-2, suggesting a role during differentiation for some of the hypersensitive sites.
STRINGHALT IN HORSES: A DISTAL AXONOPATHY

A detailed investigation of the neuropathology of a horse affected with stringhalt was performed. Qualitative and quantitative light and electron microscopy, and single teased fibre preparations of peripheral nerve demonstrated predominantly axonal degeneration, the stage of which was appropriate for the duration of clinical signs. There was selective involvement of large myelinated nerve fibres. A proximal to distal increase in the severity of pathological changes was present in the peripheral nerves. The long left recurrent laryngeal nerve was the most severely affected, followed in order by its right counterpart, the hindlimb and forelimb nerves. Neurogenic atrophy of muscles innervated by affected peripheral nerves also showed a distally graded increase in severity. No lesions were observed in the central nervous system. It was concluded that this disease should be classified as a distal axonopathy.
Olfactory-Based Orientation in Artificially Imprinted Sea Turtles

Sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempi) are being artificially imprinted to Padre Island, Texas, in an effort to establish a new nesting population. These turtles spent more time per exposure in solutions made of Padre Island sand and seawater than in control solutions in a multiple-choice test. This is evidence that sea turtles may detect differences in natural water samples and remember olfactory cues to which they were exposed neonatally and that these differences may affect their orientation behavior. This suggests that imprinting could be used as a conservation technique for establishing new breeding populations of endangered sea turtles.
Effect of Variable Energy Served on 24-Hour Energy Intake in 16 Preschools, Chicago, Illinois, 2007

Introduction The effect of varying portion size in a natural environment on the self-regulation of 24-hour energy intake has not been evaluated. We studied students at 16 preschools in Chicago to determine the effect of meals with variable energy and macronutrients on the amount consumed over a 24-hour period (ie, at preschool and outside of preschool). Methods The food items and portion sizes served at 16 preschools in the Chicago Public Schools early childhood education programs were observed for 3 to 8 days. Children were assessed for total energy and selected macronutrients consumed at preschool and outside of preschool for a 24-hour period; their data were pooled and reported by school. Results The students were predominantly African American (96%); on average, 32 students (range, 21-38) participated at each of the 16 preschools, and the age range of students was 4.0 to 4.5 years. The energy served at preschools ranged from 48% to 90% of the daily recommended energy allowance (REA). The mean energy intake at school was significantly higher (39% of REA) at 2 preschools, including 1 that served 90% of the REA. Mean energy consumption outside of preschool and total 24-hour energy consumption did not differ by preschool, adjusting for body mass index z score and sex. Conclusion The preschools served meals that widely varied by portion size and energy; however, this variation did not result in differences in mean 24-hour nutrient intakes for the students attending these schools.
Efficacy of a Single Educative Intervention in Patients with Chronic Plaque Psoriasis

Background: An effective patient-physician relationship is important in the management of psoriatic patients. Objective: Our purpose was to investigate the efficacy of an educational intervention for patients with psoriasis in improving disease knowledge and attitude towards physicians and systemic treatments. Methods: The intervention consisted of a single, 2-hour educational programme conducted either by a dermatologist or by a dermatologist and a psychologist. Information on psoriasis and its treatment was given. A questionnaire concerning knowledge about psoriasis was administered before and after the programme, and after 6 months. Results: 123 patients were enrolled. They reported a high degree of satisfaction with the intervention, improvement in knowledge about the disease and a better attitude towards therapy. After 6 months a better knowledge about the disease and a higher attitude to treatment were retained. Conclusions: A single educational intervention may be helpful in improving psoriasis knowledge and give psychological relief to patients.
Improving the Generalization Performance of Multi-class SVM via Angular Regularization

In multi-class support vector machine (MSVM) for classiﬁcation, one core issue is to regularize the co-efﬁcient vectors to reduce overﬁtting. Various regu-larizers have been proposed such as ‘ 2 , ‘ 1 , and trace norm. In this paper, we introduce a new type of regularization approach – angular regularization, that encourages the coefﬁcient vectors to have larger angles such that class regions can be widen to ﬂexi-bly accommodate unseen samples. We propose a novel angular regularizer based on the singular values of the coefﬁcient matrix, where the uniformity of singular values reduces the correlation among different classes and drives the angles between co-efﬁcient vectors to increase. In generalization error analysis, we show that decreasing this regularizer effectively reduces generalization error bound. On various datasets, we demonstrate the efﬁcacy of the regularizer in reducing overﬁtting.
Non-invasive EMI-based fault injection attack against cryptographic modules

In this paper, we introduce a new type of intentional electromagnetic interference (IEMI) which causes information leakage in electrical devices without disrupting their operation or damaging their physical structure. Such IEMI could pose a severe threat to a large number of electrical devices with cryptographic modules since it can be used for performing fault injection attacks, which in turn allows for obtaining faulty outputs (i.e., ciphertexts) from cryptographic modules and exploiting them to reveal information about secret keys. Such faulty outputs are usually generated by inducing faults into target modules through modification or invasion of the modules themselves. In contrast, IEMI-based fault injection can be performed on the target modules from a distance by using an off-the-shelf injection probe without leaving any hard evidence of the attack. We demonstrate fault injection attacks based on the above IEMI through experiments using an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) module implemented on a standard evaluation board (SASEBO). The experimental results indicate that generating effective faults is feasible and, therefore, such IEMI presents a tangible threat to many existing electrical devices and systems that use cryptographic modules for secure communication and transactions.
RF-Spectrum Opportunities for Cognitive Radio Networks Operating Over GSM Channels

In this paper, we characterize the radio frequency spectrum opportunities available in a common global system for mobile communications (GSM) channel to support the operation of a cognitive radio network (CRN). In a first step, we describe the technical details involved to sample the channel using a software defined radio device. Adopting a simple energy-based detector, we identify the two energy regions where the GSM system is active or inactive and evaluate the spectrum sensing accuracy. Based on the output of the detector, we show that the distribution of the durations of busy and idle periods are approximated by geometric distributions. Finally, we validate a theoretical model for the distribution of the service time. The validation results indicate that the service time can be successfully represented by a discrete generalized Pareto distribution, which is confirmed by the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. Because the throughput of the CRN is represented by the inverse of the service time, the proposed analysis provides an upper bound for the networks’ throughput, indicating the maximum throughput that can be attained when a single secondary user transmits over a GSM cellular channel. The results presented in this paper are validated with real data, confirming the accuracy of the proposed service time model.
Rehabilitation of intimacy and sexual dysfunction in couples with multiple sclerosis

Sexual dysfunction is a highly prevalent symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS), with little published research on effective treatments. This pilot study tested the efficacy of a counseling intervention in nine couples utilizing a quasi-experimental research design. The intervention consisted of 12 counseling sessions, communication with the MS medical treatment team, education, and tailoring symptomatic treatments so they interfere less with sexual function. Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated significant improvements in affective and problem-solving communication, marital satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction during the treatment vs. the waiting list phase of the study (F=1.7, P5.001). MS patients and their spouses reported similar levels of improvement.
New prototype selection rule integrated condensing with editing process for the nearest neighbor rules

A new prototype selection method was proposed to reduce the training set for the nearest neighbor rule. The method aimed to integrate the advantage of editing and condensing method, and it only selects the points in class boundary into prototype set. It used information contained in internal points to `clean' or edit overlapping and noise of training set, then condensing process which only keeps border points was used to obtain prototype set. Computational results show that it can obtain satisfactory performance and higher condensing rate than popular instance reduction algorithm
Newborn urimary cyclic. AMP and developmental renal responsiveness to parathyroid hormone

Since the renal action of parathyroid hormone (PTH) is known to be mediated via 3′, 5′-adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP), urinary cyclic AMP studies were used to determine proximal tubular maturation. Ten formula fed full-term male infants showed a 30 to 60 fold increase in phosphate clearance and excretion with a 3–4 fold increase in urinary cyclic AMP comparing their first and third day 24-hour urines.This 3–4 fold increase in cyclic AMP could reflect increasing pTH renal responsiveness and/or increasing secretion of PTH. One and 3 day old infants and adults were given a one hour PTH infusion (5 μ/kg/hr) measuring urinary cyclic AMP in time periods before and after the infusions. Peak increases in responses from baseline of cyclic AMP were 1.64 ± 0.34, 7.15 ± 1.15 and 36.30 ± 0.73 μmoles/gm creatinine mean ± range on first day, third day and adults respectively with similar relationships of increasing phosphate excretion and decreasing % TRP. Thus, the development of newborn renal responsiveness to parathyroid hormone is on the cellular cyclic AMP level suggesting increasing maturation of the enzyme adenyl cyclase which forms cyclic AMP from ATP.
Plasma levels of PCSK9 and phenotypic variability in familial hypercholesterolemia[S]

The extent of hypercholesterolemia varies considerably in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). We hypothesized that the variability of the FH phenotype might be partly explained by variation in proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) activity. Individuals between 18 and 53 years of age who had been tested for a pathogenic LDLR or APOB mutation were eligible. Mutation carriers with a LDL-C level below the 75th percentile (called “FH low”) were selected, as well as those with LDL-C above the 90th percentile (called “FH high”). Relatives who tested negative for the mutation were the “controls. ” PCSK9 plasma levels were assessed in 267 individuals who did not receive cholesterol-lowering treatment at the time of the study. Mean PCSK9 plasma levels (95% CI) were lower in the FH-low group compared with the FH-high group [152 (137–167) ng/ml vs. 186 (165–207) ng/ml, P = 0.010] and the control group [177 (164–190) ng/ml, P = 0.013]. Mean PCSK9 levels did not statistically differ between the FH-high and control groups (P = 0.50). Plasma PCSK9 levels are positively associated with LDL-C levels in FH patients and might contribute to the phenotypic severity in this disorder. Therefore, the results of pharmaceutical inhibition of PCSK9 in FH patients are eagerly awaited.
Mechanisms of progression and regression of coronary artery disease by PET related to treatment intensity and clinical events at long-term follow-up.

UNLABELLED Changes in regional myocardial perfusion throughout the entire coronary vascular tree, as opposed to changes in the worst regional perfusion defect, have not been described during long-term regression or progression of coronary artery disease (CAD) or related to clinical outcomes. METHODS Four-hundred nine patients with CAD undergoing dipyridamole PET at baseline and after 2.6 +/- 1.4 y were followed over 5 more years for coronary events. PET images were objectively quantified by automated software for changes in severity of the (i) baseline worst quadrant, indicating the worst flow-limiting stenosis at baseline PET; (ii) follow-up worst quadrant, indicating the worst stenosis on follow-up PET; and (iii) maximal change quadrant, indicating the largest change of any same quadrant pair from baseline-to-follow-up images. RESULTS At follow-up PET, new regional perfusion defects were seen in 40% of patients. In 77% of patients, the greatest change was in a quadrant different from the worst baseline defect. The maximal change quadrant improved in 70% of patients on intense lifestyle and pharmacologic lipid treatment, in 48% on moderate treatment, and in 39% on poor treatment (P < 0.0001). Combined quadrant changes integrated throughout the heart independently predicted cardiovascular events at long-term follow-up. In contrast, changes of any single baseline-to-follow-up quadrant pair did not. CONCLUSION By PET, 77% of patients with CAD had the greatest perfusion changes in areas different from the baseline worst perfusion defect and 40% had new perfusion defects. Changes in perfusion defects throughout the entire coronary vascular tree predicted coronary events, whereas changes in the worst flow-limiting stenosis at baseline or in any one segment of myocardium did not. To our knowledge, these data provide the first direct evidence on mechanisms for disproportionately greater reduction in cardiac events than changes in single stenosis severity with lipid treatment.