Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sleep-related arousal versus general cognitive arousal in primary insomnia.

STUDY OBJECTIVES The present study aimed at further investigating trait aspects of sleep-related cognitive arousal and general cognitive arousal and their association with both objective and subjective sleep parameters in primary insomnia patients. METHODS A clinical sample of 182 primary insomnia patients and 54 healthy controls was investigated using 2 nights of polysomnography, subjective sleep variables, and a questionnaire on sleep-related and general cognitive arousal. RESULTS Compared to healthy controls, primary insomnia patients showed both more sleep-related and general cognitive arousal. Furthermore, sleep-related cognitive arousal was closely associated with measures of sleep-onset and sleep-maintenance problems, while general cognitive arousal was not. CONCLUSIONS Cognitive-behavioral treatment for insomnia might benefit from dedicating more effort to psychological interventions that are able to reduce sleep-related cognitive arousal.
New approaches to overcoming the limitations of clinical assays in rapid ultrasensitive identification of bacterial pathogens

The increased incidence of emerging and re-emerging bacterial diseases, spread of antibiotic resistance and other virulence factors by horizontal gene transfer, threat of bioterrorism and the risk of food-borne infections transmitted worldwide by global logistics all challenge the applicability of classic diagnostic tools and call for new and improved strategies of pathogen detection. There is an urgent need for new techniques capable of identifying pathogens and enabling patient management before the onset of disease. An increase in sensitivity would not compromise the assays’ robustness and would ease their introduction into available clinical settings. This mini-review is focused on advanced PCR-based technologies and their derivatives for detecting a range of bacterial pathogens at the whole-cell and molecular levels, and outlines the unique benefits of aptameric molecules compared to conventionally used molecular binders, such as antibodies. The availability of new tests will lead to improvements in clinical outcomes for patients, tracking of disease outbreaks and investigation of unknown pathogens.
Tolcapone, an inhibitor of catechol: O‐methyltransferase, counteracts memory deficits caused by bilateral cholinotoxin lesions of the basal nuclei of Meynert

&NA; Repeated administration of tolcapone, an inhibitor of catechol‐O‐methyltransferase, was able to partially restore the memory deficits caused by bilateral cholinotoxin (AF64A) lesions in the basal magnocellular nuclei of Meynert. The 2‐week tolcapone treatment (3 mg kg‐1, once a day) was started 24 h before toxin infusion and the last injection was given 24 h before the first avoidance test. The beneficial action of tolcapone may be related to antioxidant properties of nitrocatechols.
Supralinear dendritic Ca2+ signalling in young developing CA1 pyramidal cells

Because intracellular Ca2+ is important for activity‐dependent growth and development, we studied action potential (AP)‐evoked dendritic Ca2+ influx and Ca2+ buffering in developing rat CA1 pyramidal cells during the first 1–4 weeks after birth. We show for the first time that active dendritic backpropagation of APs generates large Ca2+ transients in pyramidal cell dendrites even after the first postnatal week. The amplitude of Ca2+ transients at 1 week is similar to that at 4 weeks because a four‐fold upregulation of calcium influx per AP is balanced by a similar increase in endogenous Ca2+ buffer capacity during this period. The calcium extrusion after APs was about five times slower at 1 week than at 4 weeks, resulting in a slower decay in young cells and a more effective temporal summation during brief bursts of APs. During continuous theta‐burst firing, dendritic calcium concentration was up to three‐fold larger in animals aged 1 week than in those aged 4 weeks, generated via an activity‐dependent slow‐down of Ca2+ extrusion, which may allow Ca2+‐dependent control of growth and development with a large dynamic range.
Neutralization of P blood group antibodies by synthetic solid‐phase antigens

P blood group system antibodies are encountered frequently in clinical transfusion practice. The authors describe an improved method for removing P antibodies from patient specimens without dilution. Solid‐ phase synthetic P antigens were used to neutralize serums containing P blood group system antibodies; 26 alloantibodies with specificity other than P were not inhibited. The synthetic P antigens are also used to characterize the heterogeneous immunochemical fine specificity of antibodies to P1 and P + P1 + Pk.
Traumatismes hépatiques : épidémiologie lors des accidents de la route et physiopathologie : étude biomécanique du comportement du foie en décélération

Une lesion du foie est une cause potentielle de mortalite lors d’un accident de la route. D’une part, les consequences corporelles des accidents de la route ont ete colligees dans le departement de la Cote d’Or, avec un interet specifique pour les lesions hepatiques. Une lesion abdominale etait presente chez 14 % des blesses hospitalises. Dix-sept pour cent des lesions abdominales interessaient le foie. La presence d’une lesion abdominale etait un facteur de gravite des blessures. D’autre part, un protocole experimental etait elabore afin de connaitre le comportement du foie lors d’un choc. Des corps donnes a la science ont ete soumis a des decelerations brutales frontales et laterales. Nous avons mis en evidence des caracteristiques non connus du comportement du foie en cas de choc et nous proposons des modeles de comportement. Une meilleur connaissance de l’epidemiologie et de la biomecanique des lesions hepatique est indispensable afin d’ameliorer leur prevention.
Ocular Surface Alterations and In Vivo Confocal Microscopic Features of Corneas in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Graves' Disease

Purpose: To evaluate the ocular surface characteristics and corneal microstructure in patients with newly diagnosed Graves disease (GD) with no evidence of active thyroid eye disease (TED). Methods: Eighty eyes of 40 patients with newly diagnosed GD and 40 age-matched control subjects were recruited in this cross-sectional study. All participants underwent ocular surface tests in the order of tear break-up time (BUT), lissamine green (LG) staining, Schirmer I test with anesthesia, and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire. Basal epithelial cell, keratocyte, and endothelial cell densities and subbasal nerves were evaluated using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM). Independent sample t test, &khgr;2 test, and Mann–Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Patients with GD had higher OSDI (5.9 ± 6.6 vs. 1.7 ± 2.4, respectively, P ⩽ 0.001) and LG staining scores (0.5 ± 0.6 vs. 0.2 ± 0.4, respectively, P = 0.003), and lower BUT scores (7.3 ± 2.5 vs. 9.9 ± 1.7, respectively, P < 0.001) compared with those of control subjects. Patients with GD had lower mean basal epithelial cell density (3928 ± 657 cells/mm² vs. 4771 ± 622 cells/mm², respectively) and total subbasal nerve density (958 ± 394 cells/mm² vs. 1416 ± 744 cells/mm², respectively) and higher subbasal nerve tortuosity (2.7 ± 0.8 vs. 1.6 ± 0.6, respectively) compared with those of control subjects (P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the duration of symptoms of hyperthyroidism and BUT (rho = −0.273, P = 0.014) and a positive correlation between LG staining scores (rho = 0.329, P = 0.003). A significant reduction in BUT (rho = −0.238, P = 0.003) and epithelial cell density (rho = −0.174, P = 0.029) and an increase in OSDI scores (rho = 0.328, P = 0.003) were found with increasing exophthalmometry measurements. Conclusions: Ocular surface alterations begin early in the course of Graves disease before the onset of overt TED.
CPG-based adaptable control of a snake-like robot

In this paper, we realized CPG-based controller of a snake-like robot that is adaptable to changing ground fricitonal condition. In the proposed method, the controller is based on Ekeberg's CPG model and sensory input from frictional force sensors are fed back to CPG. Using parameter optimization by GA, adaptation of meandering locomotion is realized.
[Preparation and property of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 loaded hydrogel nanospheres and their biological effects on the proliferation and differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells].

PURPOSE To prepare and study the recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 loaded dextran-based hydrogel nanospheres (rhBMP(2)-dex-NPs) sustained release system, and to evaluate its biological effects on cultured rabbit bone mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs). METHODS The rhBMP(2)-dex-NPs were prepared by improved emulsion polymerization method. Their morphology, size and size distribution, encapsulated ratio and stability were assessed by routine procedure. Dynamic dialysis method was used to determine the release characteristics of rhBMP(2)-dex-NPs in vitro. Cell culture technique and MTT colorimetric assay were used to evaluate the proliferation and differentiation of the BMSCs, ALP kit was used to evaluate the ALP activity of the BMSCs so as to show the differentiation of the cells by adding the rhBMP(2)-dex-NPs to the DMEM culture medium (B group) or rhBMP2 only (A group). Adding dex-NPs without rhBMP2 (C group) and adding nothing (D group) were taken as the controls. The results were analyzed by statistical analysis software (SPSS10.0). RESULTS The shape of rhBMP(2)-dex-NPs was spherical, with a size distribution of 20 nm. The encapsulated ratio was 83% and rhBMP(2)-dex-NPs could be kept more than 6 months under 4 degrees C without decomposition , destruction or deposition. The release profile in vitro was in accordance with two phases kinetics law, and more than 80% of the encapsulated rhBMP(2) can be released during 12 days. Statistical analysis showed that rhBMP(2)-dex-NPs had biological activity, and could enhance both proliferation and differentiation of rabbit BMSCs significantly, the effect of the rhBMP(2)-dex-NPs was significantly higher than that of rhBMP(2) (P<0.01). During the first 3 days, the proliferation and differentiation of BMSCs between group A and B had no significance (P>0.05), but much faster than group C and D. After 5 to 7 days, rhBMP(2)-dex-NPs could enhance BMSCs proliferation and differentiation continually, but rhBMP2 had no enhancement any more. 7 days later, the difference between group A and B become much more significant (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The rhBMP(2)-dex-NPs can release rhBMP2 more than 12 days and have long-drawn biological effects. To encapsulate rhBMP2 into dextran-based hydrogel nanospheres may be an effective way of growth factor controlled release in tissue engineering.
Brain SPECT imaging of amphetamine-induced dopamine release in euthymic bipolar disorder patients.

OBJECTIVE Increased dopaminergic neurotransmission has been implicated in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. However, it remains unclear whether the abnormality is due to increased dopamine release or enhanced postsynaptic receptor sensitivity. In this study, dopamine receptor imaging combined with a pharmacological challenge of amphetamine was used to assess both pre- and postsynaptic aspects of dopamine neurotransmission in euthymic bipolar disorder patients. METHOD Thirteen patients with bipolar disorder (seven medication free and six receiving mood stabilizer therapy) who had been euthymic for more than 4 weeks and 13 age- and gender-matched healthy comparison subjects were included in the study. Single photon emission computed tomography scans were obtained with the striatal dopamine (D(2)/D(3)) receptor radiotracer iodobenzamide ([(123)I]IBZM) before and after an intravenous amphetamine challenge (0.3 mg/kg). Reduction in striatal [(123)I]IBZM binding potential from the first scan to the second scan was used as an indirect measure of the amount of dopamine released. Behavioral response to amphetamine was measured with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Young Mania Rating Scale, and visual analogue scales. RESULTS Bipolar patients and healthy subjects did not differ in terms of mood state or striatal D(2) receptor binding at baseline. Amphetamine challenge led to a significantly greater behavioral response in bipolar patients than in healthy subjects. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the amphetamine-induced decrease in striatal [(123)I]IBZM binding. CONCLUSIONS In a group of euthymic patients with bipolar disorder, this study did not find evidence for increased striatal dopamine release. Instead, these data are consistent with enhanced postsynaptic dopamine responsivity in patients with bipolar disorder.
Optical immunoassay for streptococcal pharyngitis: evaluation of accuracy with routine and mucoid strains associated with acute rheumatic fever outbreak in the intermountain area of the United States

The Strep A OIA (BioStar, Inc., Boulder, Colo.) rapid detection system is an intriguing technology that utilizes an immunoassay relying on changes in reflected light to directly detect group A streptococcal antigen from specimens. In this evaluation, 424 routine pediatric throat specimens and 20 simulated oropharyngeal specimens with added mucoid (M type 3, 18) strains were cultured and tested by the Strep A OIA. The respective sensitivities and specificities were as follows: Strep A OIA versus enhanced broth culturing, 84.2 and 95.7%; and streptococcus-SXT agar (BBL Microbiology Systems, Cockeysville, Md.) culturing versus enhanced broth culturing, 82.9 and 98.6%. The Strep A OIA is an 8-min, technologist-friendly, accurate technique with an 89.4% agreement with traditional culturing.
Quantification of the Effects on Viral DNA Synthesis of Reverse Transcriptase Mutations Conferring Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Resistance to Nucleoside Analogues

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) resistance mutations reduce the susceptibility of the virus to nucleoside analogues but may also impair viral DNA synthesis. To further characterize the effect of nucleoside analogue resistance mutations on the efficiency and kinetics of HIV-1 DNA synthesis and to evaluate the impact of the depletion of deoxynucleoside triphosphates (dNTP) on this process, DNA synthesis was evaluated by allowing DNA synthesis to proceed with natural HIV-1 templates and primers, either within permeabilized viral particles or in newly infected cells, and quantifying the products by real-time PCR. Three recombinant viruses derived from three pNL4-3 molecular clones expressing mutations associated with resistance to zidovudine: a clone expressing RT mutation M184V, a clone expressing mutations M41L plus T215Y (M41L+T215Y), and clinical isolate BV34 (carrying seven resistance mutations). Following infection of P4 cells, the BV34 mutant, but not viruses expressing the M184V mutation or M41L+T215Y, exhibited a defect in DNA synthesis. Importantly, however, for mutants carrying the M184V mutation or M41L+T215Y mutations, a defect could be detected by using target cells in which dATP pools had been reduced by pretreatment with hydroxyurea. Based on these observations, we developed a recombinant-virus assay to assess the effects of hydroxyurea pretreatment on infectivity of viruses carrying plasma-derived RT sequences from patients with nucleoside resistance. Using this assay, we found that many, but not all, viruses carrying RT resistance mutations display an increased sensitivity to hydroxyurea, suggesting that the impact of RT resistance mutations on viral replication may be more profound in cell populations characterized by smaller dNTP pools.
Crowd-11: A Dataset for Fine Grained Crowd Behaviour Analysis

Crowd behaviour analysis is a challenging task in computer vision, mainly due to the high complexity of the interactions between groups and individuals. This task is particularly crucial given the magnitude of manual monitoring required for effective crowd management. Within this context, a key challenge is to conceive a highly generic, fine and context-independent characterisation of crowd behaviours. Since current datasets answer only partially to this problem, a new dataset is generated, with a total of 11 crowd motion patterns and over 6000 video clips with an average length of 100 frames per sequence. We establish the first baseline of crowd characterisation with an extensive evaluation on shallow and deep methods. This characterisation is expected to be useful in multiple crowd analysis circumstances, we present a new deep architecture for crowd characterisation and demonstrate its application in the context of anomaly classification.
La prise en compte de la dimension culturelle de la couleur en marketing international

Sur un plan general, le domaine de la couleur est tres largement defriche. Il est d'autant plus surprenant de constater que les couleurs n'ont fait l'objet que de tres peu d'investigations dans le domaine du marketing et plus specifiquement dans celui du marketing international. On observe que la couleur est souvent simplement evoquee au travers d'une ou de quelques anecdotes concernant des echecs a l'international du fait d'un choix de couleur(s) errone. Pourtant les enjeux lies a une maitrise convenable des couleurs dans une perspective d'acces a des marches etrangers ne sauraient etre tenus pour negligeables. Dans leur quete de l'efficacite globale, les gens de marketing semblent de fait largement guides par la presomption implicite que les couleurs des produits, des emballages et des supports de communication ont peu d'effet sur les resultats en termes de ventes. Des lors qu'elle satisfait quelques exigences minimales, qu'elle attire l'attention, procure une bonne visibilite et satisfait leurs exigences esthetiques, la couleur effectivement retenue semble de peu d'importance (Jacobs et al., 1991). Si cette assertion est recevable lorsque la firme propose un produit incontestablement superieur, se trouve en situation de monopole ou opere sur un marche ou la demande est superieure a l'offre, il va de soi que les firmes qui introduisent leurs produits sur des marches hautement competitifs ne beneficient pas en general de ce type d'avantages. Tenter de persuader les acheteurs d'acquerir un produit dont les couleurs sont connotees negativement, jugees peu attrayantes ou en decalage complet avec les codes couleurs utilises localement peut des lors devenir un obstacle majeur (exactement comme cela est le cas avec un nom de marque ou un slogan inapproprie) (Jacobs et al., 1991). Cet article a pour but de tenter de combler en partie cette lacune en faisant un bilan des recherches d'ordre interculturel qui ont porte sur la couleur, en relation avec les preoccupations de marketing international, et en en deduisant des pistes de recherche.
A Study on Content and Interaction Types on Smart-phone

This study includes literature investigation on interactions and information perception of users in order to clarify interaction types for different contents. It turned out that information perception of users was in close relation with content types. UI factors for different contents and those for different interaction types were examined, and it turned out that UIs most frequently used for contents were navigations and table lists, and that Tab, Drag, and Flick interaction types were most commonly utilized.
A PI sliding mode tracking controller with application to a 3 DOF direct-drive robot manipulator

This paper deals with the tracking control of direct-drive (DD) robot manipulators. A robust proportional-integral (PI) sliding mode control law is derived for accurate tracking despite the highly nonlinear and coupled dynamics. It is shown mathematically that the proposed controller is capable of withstanding the expected variations and uncertainties present in the system. The performance of the proposed control law is evaluated by means of computer simulation studies on a 3 DOF revolute DD robot manipulator actuated with BLDCM motors.
Attitudes toward forest diversity and forest ecosystem services—a cross-cultural comparison between China and Switzerland

Aims Despite the current interest in services provided by ecosystems and the role of biodiversity, the relationship among human attitudes, biodiversity and ecosystem services has hardly been investigated. Moreover, few studies have examined attitudes toward nature in cross-cultural comparisons. This study investigates the attitudes of Chinese and Swiss people, both environmental experts and layper sons, toward forest biodiversity and ecosystem services. Methods Overall, 640 people in China and Switzerland were interviewed with the help of a standardized questionnaire. In each country, the study population was equally divided into an urban (80 city dwellers and 80 environmental science students) and a rural (80 forest visitors and 80 farmers) study group. The 15-minute interviews took place in the cities of Beijing and Zurich and in the rural forested areas of Dujiangyan, Sichuan Province and Lake Sempach, canton Lucerne. Attitudes toward forest biodiversity were investigated with the help of color photographs that depicted both monocultures and speciesrich forests typical for China and Switzerland. Attitudes toward ecosystem services were investigated with the help of 13 statements on provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting services of forests.
Hemostasis and Thrombosis in Critically Ill Children

Patients in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) often suffer from a variety of pathophysiologic conditions that are associated with abnormal hemostasis. Bleeding is a major complication of any surgery or trauma, thus patients with inherited or acquired coagulopathies or those experiencing massive trauma or undergoing major (especially cardiac) operations present a special challenge to the ICU experts as well as to the hematologist. Awareness of thromboembolic events in the pediatric population has been increasing in the past few years mainly due to improvement in diagnostic tools, advances in new therapy and procedures, together with an increased index of suspicion. Young infants are at greater risk for either bleeding or thromboembolic events, due to lower concentration of vitamin K-dependent procoagulant clotting factors, reduced thrombin potential, and altered fibrinolytic pathway with low levels of the coagulation inhibitors. The combination of infection, hypotension, acidosis, and release of activated substances, such as tumor necrosis factor, is common after severe trauma or in seriously ill ICU patients and often leads to disseminated intravascular coagulation, which may be complicated either by bleeding or thrombosis. The conditions, risk factors, and therapeutic options available for critically ill PICU patients are discussed in this review.