Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reliability of brain volumes from multicenter MRI acquisition: A calibration study

Multicenter studies can provide additional information over single center studies because of their increased statistical power. Because similar acquisition protocols are being used internationally for structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of the human brain, volumetric MRI data studies seem suitable for this purpose. Possible systematic differences between sites should be avoided, however, particularly when subtle differences in tissue volume are being searched for, such as in neuropsychiatric diseases. In this calibration study, the brains of six healthy volunteers were (re)scanned with MR scanners from four different manufacturers at five different sites, using the local acquisition protocols. The images were segmented at a central reference site. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was determined for the whole brain, gray and white matter, cerebellum, and lateral and third ventricle volumes. When required, the processing algorithms were calibrated for each site. Calibration of the histogram analysis was needed for segmentation of total brain volume at one site and for gray and white matter volume at all sites. No (additional) calibration was needed for cerebellum and ventricle volumes. The ICCs were ≥0.96 for total brain, ≥0.92 for cerebellum, ≥0.96 for lateral ventricle, ≥0.21 for third ventricle, ≥0.84 for gray matter, and ≥0.78 for white matter volume. Calibration of segmentation procedures allows morphologic MRI data acquired at different research sites to be combined reliably in multicenter studies. Hum. Brain Mapping 22:312–320, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Distribution of vasopressin and oxytocin cells and fibres in the hypothalamus of the domestic pig (Sus scrofa)

The distribution of vasopressin and oxytocin cells and fibres was studied in the pig hypothalamus by means of monoclonal antibodies, in order to prevent the non‐specific staining that is characteristic for the pig. The nucleus circularis is described for the first time in the pig hypothalamus and consists of both oxytocin and vasopressin containing cell bodies. A cell group, characteristic for the pig and horse, lateral and caudal from the vascular organ of the lamina terminals, was found to be continuous with the supraoptic nucleus. It contained only oxytocin and it is proposed that this group be called pars dorsomedialis of the supraoptic nucleus. In this study, vasopressin has been demonstrated for the first time in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the pig. The discussion focusses on how our findings in the pig differ from vasopressin and oxytocin systems identified in other mammalian species.
Duocarmycins binding to DNA investigated by molecular simulation.

Duocarmycins are a potent class of antitumor agents, whose activity arises through their covalent binding to adenine nucleobases of DNA. (1-3) Here, we perform molecular dynamics (MD) and hybrid Car-Parinello QM/MM simulations to investigate aspects of duocarmycin binding to the d(pGpApCpTpApApTpTpGpApC) oligonucleotide. We focus on the derivatives (+)-duocarmycin SA (DSA) and (+)-duocarmycin SI (DSI), for which structural information of the covalent complex with the oligonucleotide is available, as well as on the related, but less reactive, NBOC-duocarmycin SA (NBOC-DSA), interacting with the same oligonucleotide. Comparison is made with adenine alkylation reaction in water performed by the smallest of these compounds (NBOC-DSA). The MD calculations suggest that, in noncovalent complexes, (i) drug binding causes a partial dehydration of the minor groove, without inducing a significant conformational changes, and (ii) DSA and DSI occupy a more favorable position for nucleophilic attack than NBOC-DSA, consistently with the lower reactivity of the latter. The QM/MM calculations, which are used to investigate the first step of the alkylation reaction, turn out to provide strongly underestimated free energy barriers. Within these approximations, our calculations suggest that an important ingredient for the experimentally observed DNA catalytic power is the polarization of the drug by the biomolecular scaffold.
INFLUENCE OF DRYING ON RICE FISSURE FORMATION RATES AND MECHANICAL STRENGTH DISTRIBUTIONS

Tests were conducted to determine the effects of drying conditions on the rate of fissure formation after drying and the resultant mechanical strength distributions of individual rice kernels. Long-grain varieties Cypress, Drew, and Wells at 21% harvest moisture content (HMC) were dried at 40°C, 45°C, 50°C, 55°C, and 60°C and constant 17% relative humidity (RH) to 12% MC. Immediately after drying, the samples were placed in sealed plastic bags at 21°C. Fissure enumeration, milling tests, and individual kernel breaking force measurements were made at 1, 24, 48, and 120 h after drying ceased. Head rice yields (HRYs) decreased as drying temperature increased. Very few fissures were visible immediately after drying. Most fissures appeared within 24 h of drying cessation and corresponded to HRY reductions. There was no difference in the kernel thickness distributions of fissured and non-fissured kernels taken from the dried samples. The drying treatments produced samples having greater variation in kernel breaking forces than that of control samples. Thus, the breaking force distributions (BFDs) were affected by drying treatment, but were also affected by post-drying durations. The percentage of strong kernels in a sample, defined as those brown rice kernels withstanding a 20 N force in a three-point bending test, was strongly correlated with HRY (R2 = 0.804, 0.835, and 0.915 for Cypress, Drew, and Wells, respectively).
The Excess Heat Factor: A Metric for Heatwave Intensity and Its Use in Classifying Heatwave Severity

Heatwaves represent a significant natural hazard in Australia, arguably more hazardous to human life than bushfires, tropical cyclones and floods. In the 2008/2009 summer, for example, many more lives were lost to heatwaves than to that summer’s bushfires which were among the worst in the history of the Australian nation. For many years, these other forms of natural disaster have received much greater public attention than heatwaves, although there are some signs of change. We propose a new index, called the excess heat factor (EHF) for use in Australian heatwave monitoring and forecasting. The index is based on a three-day-averaged daily mean temperature (DMT), and is intended to capture heatwave intensity as it applies to human health outcomes, although its usefulness is likely to be much broader and with potential for international applicability. The index is described and placed in a climatological context in order to derive heatwave severity. Heatwave severity, as characterised by the climatological distribution of heatwave intensity, has been used to normalise the climatological variation in heatwave intensity range across Australia. This methodology was used to introduce a pilot national heatwave forecasting service for Australia during the 2013/2014 summer. Some results on the performance of the service are presented.
Estimation of sound direction for improved interaction of entertainment dolphin robots

In this paper, in order to improve the entertainment dolphin robotpsilas ability to interact with people, a pair of microphones as the ears of a dolphin robot is used to estimate the peak sound directions from surrounding viewers. Dolphin robots should turn towards people who want to interact with them, while swimming autonomously. A pair of left and right microphones is located to form the binaural ears of a dolphin robot. Since the magnitudes of the measured microphone signals decrease as the difference between directions of the microphone and sounds increases, the magnitudes of the left and right signals of microphones are compared to find the sound direction relative to the robotpsilas body line. The same rule applies to the second pair of microphones to determine the sound direction relative to the front.
Diabetes and associated cardiovascular risk factors in the State of Kuwait: the first national survey

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of mortality worldwide as well as in Kuwait. People with diabetes have two to five times greater risk of developing CVD as compared with non‐diabetic individuals. To date, little information exists on the prevalence and characteristics of cardiovascular risk factors in Kuwait. The objective of this survey was to address the growing burden of diabetes and related cardiovascular risk factors, and to estimate, for the first time, the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the State of Kuwait.
Control of Metal Nanocrystal Size Reveals Metal-Support Interface Role for Ceria Catalysts

A Measure of Metal-Oxide Interfaces The rate of a catalytic reaction can sometimes be enhanced by using a different metal oxide as the support for adsorbed metal nanoparticles. Such enhancement is often attributed to more active sites at the metal-oxide interface, but it can be difficult to quantify this effect. Cargnello et al. (p. 771, published online 18 July) synthesized monodisperse nanoparticles of nickel, platinum, and palladium and dispersed them on high-surface-area ceria or alumina supports. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy enabled a detailed analysis of interfacial site structure, which showed that the rate of CO oxidation on ceria was indeed enhanced greatly at interface sites. Comparing nanocrystals of different sizes on different oxides shows that ceria-metal interface sites enhance carbon monoxide oxidation. Interactions between ceria (CeO2) and supported metals greatly enhance rates for a number of important reactions. However, direct relationships between structure and function in these catalysts have been difficult to extract because the samples studied either were heterogeneous or were model systems dissimilar to working catalysts. We report rate measurements on samples in which the length of the ceria-metal interface was tailored by the use of monodisperse nickel, palladium, and platinum nanocrystals. We found that carbon monoxide oxidation in ceria-based catalysts is greatly enhanced at the ceria-metal interface sites for a range of group VIII metal catalysts, clarifying the pivotal role played by the support.
Combat-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Report Using Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy with Physiological Monitoring

The current report summarizes a case study from an Office of Naval Research (ONR) funded project to compare the effects of virtual reality graded exposure therapy (VRGET) with cognitive behavioral group therapy in active-duty corpsmen. Details of the collaborative program between the Virtual Reality Medical Center (VRMC) and Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) will be discussed.
An adaptive strategy via reinforcement learning for the prisoner U+02BC s dilemma game

The iterated prisoner U+02BC s dilemma U+0028 IPD U+0029 is an ideal model for analyzing interactions between agents in complex networks. It has attracted wide interest in the development of novel strategies since the success of tit-for-tat in Axelrod U+02BC s tournament. This paper studies a new adaptive strategy of IPD in different complex networks, where agents can learn and adapt their strategies through reinforcement learning method. A temporal difference learning method is applied for designing the adaptive strategy to optimize the decision making process of the agents. Previous studies indicated that mutual cooperation is hard to emerge in the IPD. Therefore, three examples which based on square lattice network and scale-free network are provided to show two features of the adaptive strategy. First, the mutual cooperation can be achieved by the group with adaptive agents under scale-free network, and once evolution has converged mutual cooperation, it is unlikely to shift. Secondly, the adaptive strategy can earn a better payoff compared with other strategies in the square network. The analytical properties are discussed for verifying evolutionary stability of the adaptive strategy.
ATP and phosphocreatine utilization in single human muscle fibres during the development of maximal power output at elevated muscle temperatures

Abstract In this study, we examined the effect of muscle temperature (T m) on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and phosphocreatine utilization in single muscle fibres during the development of maximal power output in humans. Six male participants performed a 6-s maximal sprint on a friction-braked cycle ergometer under both normal (T m = 34.3°C, s = 0.6) and elevated (T m = 37.3°C, s = 0.2) muscle temperature conditions. During the elevated condition, muscle temperature of the legs was raised, passively, by hot water immersion followed by wrapping in electrically heated blankets. Muscle biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis before and immediately after exercise. Freeze-dried single fibres were dissected, characterized according to myosin heavy chain composition, and analysed for ATP and phosphocreatine content. Single fibres were classified as: type I, IIA, IIAX25 (1 – 25% IIX isoform), IIAX50 (26 – 50% IIX), IIAX75 (51 – 75% IIX), or IIAX100 (76 – 100% IIX). Maximal power output and pedal rate were both greater (P < 0.05) during the elevated condition by 258 W (s = 110) and 22 rev · min−1 (s = 6), respectively. In both conditions, phosphocreatine content decreased significantly in all fibre types, with a greater decrease during the elevated condition in type IIA fibres (P < 0.01). Adenosine triphosphate content was also reduced to a greater (P < 0.01) extent in type IIA fibres during the elevated condition. The results of the present study indicate that after passive elevation of muscle temperature, there was a greater decrease in ATP and phosphocreatine content in type IIA fibres than in the normal trial, which contributed to the higher maximal power output.
Perception of God and Paranoia among Iranian University Students

This study examined the correlation between types of perception of God and paranoid thoughts among 312 randomly sampled students—175 female and 137 male—in the Azad Islamic University of Tehran in Iran. Two survey questionnaires were administered to the participants through the University’s website—one assessing their perception of God (Lawrence, 1997), and the other to assess the occurrence of paranoid thoughts among them (Derogatis, Lipman, & Covi, 1973). Data were analyzed using correlation coefficients and regression methods. The results show that only the negative perception of God correlates with paranoia in both males and females, while the perception of God’s blessings in one’s life correlates with paranoid thoughts only among male students. Students with a positive perception of God experience less paranoia than students with negative perception of God—a finding that may actually suggest that positive spirituality/religiosity holds positive and therapeutic benefits for the paranoid.
Chromosomal aberrations are shared by malignant plasma cells and a small fraction of circulating CD19+ cells in patients with myeloma and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance

Summary. In the present study, we aimed to identify distinct structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood B cells of patients with myeloma and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), which reflect changes thought to occur at different stages of the disease process. Peripheral blood from 12 patients with multiple myeloma and three patients with MGUS was investigated for the occurrence of retinoblastoma‐1 gene deletions, p53 gene deletions and numerical aberrations demonstrated previously to be present in the patients' bone marrow CD138+ cells. By combining immunocytochemical staining for light chains and interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), aberrant light‐chain +ve cells were detected in the circulating CD19+ cell fraction. Each kind of chromosomal change present in the myeloma tumour cells was found to be shared by a small fraction of CD19+ cells (0·1–1·8%; median 0·36%, n = 6). In one MGUS patient, aberrant cells could be identified with a frequency of 0·34% within the CD19‐sorted cell fraction. Clonotypic cells were detected with a frequency of 0·01–0·07% of peripheral blood nucleated cells by m‐RNA in situ hybridization with patient‐specific probes in three investigated patients. These results provide evidence that the circulating clonotypic B cells are closely related to the malignant plasma cells in myeloma and MGUS.
Resist diabetes: A randomized clinical trial for resistance training maintenance in adults with prediabetes

Objective To determine whether a social cognitive theory (SCT)-based intervention improves resistance training (RT) maintenance and strength, and reduces prediabetes prevalence. Research design and methods Sedentary, overweight/obese (BMI: 25–39.9 kg/m2) adults aged 50–69 (N = 170) with prediabetes participated in the 15-month trial. Participants completed a supervised 3-month RT (2×/wk) phase and were randomly assigned (N = 159) to one of two 6-month maintenance conditions: SCT or standard care. Participants continued RT at a self-selected facility. The final 6-month period involved no contact. Assessments occurred at baseline and months 3, 9, and 15. The SCT faded-contact intervention consisted of nine tailored transition (i.e., supervised training to training alone) and nine follow-up sessions. Standard care involved six generic follow-up sessions. Primary outcomes were prevalence of normoglycemia and muscular strength. Results The retention rate was 76%. Four serious adverse events were reported. After 3 months of RT, 34% of participants were no longer prediabetic. This prevalence of normoglycemia was maintained through month 15 (30%), with no group difference. There was an 18% increase in the odds of being normoglycemic for each % increase in fat-free mass. Increases in muscular strength were evident at month 3 and maintained through month 15 (P<0.001), which represented improvements of 21% and 14% for chest and leg press, respectively. Results did not demonstrate a greater reduction in prediabetes prevalence in the SCT condition. Conclusions Resistance training is an effective, maintainable strategy for reducing prediabetes prevalence and increasing muscular strength. Future research which promotes RT initiation and maintenance in clinical and community settings is warranted. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01112709.
Effects of a holmium-166 incorporated covered stent placement in normal canine common bile ducts.

PURPOSE A specially designed self-expandable covered metallic stent incorporated with beta-emitting radioisotope, Holmium-166 (Ho-166), was developed for delivering intraluminal brachytherapy as well as for internal bile drainage in malignant biliary stricture. The purpose of the study was to demonstrate the safety and tissue response of the radioactive metallic stent on the normal canine common bile duct (CBD) prior to the clinical application. MATERIALS AND METHODS Nitinol self-expandable stents (diameter; 4 mm, length; 20 mm) were covered with polyurethane membrane (50 microm thick) containing 21 to 135 muCi of Ho-166 (mean, 77.9 microCi). To prevent migration of stent, the membrane covered only the middle 1 cm of the stent and the ends of the stent were left uncovered. The stents were placed in the CBD of 20 healthy beagle dogs. For control, non-radioactive covered stents were placed in another three dogs. The dogs were killed 3 to 6 months after stent insertion and histopathologic examination of CBD was performed. RESULTS There was no stent migration in all cases. Varying degrees of papillary mucosal hyperplasia leading to significant narrowing of the lumen was observed within the lumen of the bare portion and under the mucosal surface of the non-radioactive covered stents. However, fibrosis was noted in Ho-166 coated area, instead of mucosal hyperplasia. Severity of fibrosis was correlated with estimated radiation dose. Despite high dose, there was no perforation of CBD wall. The membrane of Ho-166 coat was disrupted in some cases of 6 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Holmium-166 incorporated covered stents demonstrated fibrosis of CBD wall and inhibition of ingrowth of mucosal hyperplasia without serious complication such as perforation, while control group showed severe mucosal hyperplasia.
Gα12/13- and Reactive Oxygen Species-dependent Activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal Kinase and p38 Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase by Angiotensin Receptor Stimulation in Rat Neonatal Cardiomyocytes*

In the present study, we examined signal transduction mechanism of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the role of ROS in angiotensin II-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in rat neonatal cardiomyocytes. Among three MAPKs, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK required ROS production for activation, as an NADPH oxidase inhibitor, diphenyleneiodonium, inhibited the activation. The angiotensin II-induced activation of JNK and p38 MAPK was also inhibited by the expression of the Gα12/13-specific regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) domain, a specific inhibitor of Gα12/13, but not by an RGS domain specific for Gαq. Constitutively active Gα12- or Gα13-induced activation of JNK and p38 MAPK, but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), was inhibited by diphenyleneiodonium. Angiotensin II receptor stimulation rapidly activated Gα13, which was completely inhibited by the Gα12/13-specific RGS domain. Furthermore, the Gα12/13-specific but not the Gαq-specific RGS domain inhibited angiotensin II-induced ROS production. Dominant negative Rac inhibited angiotensin II-stimulated ROS production, JNK activation, and p38 MAPK activation but did not affect ERK activation. Rac activation was mediated by Rho and Rho kinase, because Rac activation was inhibited by C3 toxin and a Rho kinase inhibitor, Y27632. Furthermore, angiotensin II-induced Rho activation was inhibited by Gα12/13-specific RGS domain but not dominant negative Rac. An inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor kinase AG1478 did not affect angiotensin II-induced JNK activation cascade. These results suggest that Gα12/13-mediated ROS production through Rho and Rac is essential for JNK and p38 MAPK activation.
Spatially resolved Spitzer-IRS spectral maps of the superwind in M82

We have mapped the superwind/halo region of the nearby starburst galaxy M82 in the mid-infrared with Spitzer − IRS. The spectral regions covered include the H_2 S(1)–S(3), [Ne II], [Ne III] emission lines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) features. We estimate the total warm H2 mass and the kinetic energy of the outflowing warm molecular gas to be between M_(warm) ∼ 5 and 17 × 10^6 M_⊙ and E_K ∼ 6 and 20 × 10^(53) erg. Using the ratios of the 6.2, 7.7 and 11.3 μm PAH features in the IRS spectra, we are able to estimate the average size and ionization state of the small grains in the superwind. There are large variations in the PAH flux ratios throughout the outflow. The 11.3/7.7 and the 6.2/7.7 PAH ratios both vary by more than a factor of 5 across the wind region. The northern part of the wind has a significant population of PAH's with smaller 6.2/7.7 ratios than either the starburst disc or the southern wind, indicating that on average, PAH emitters are larger and more ionized. The warm molecular gas to PAH flux ratios (H_2/PAH) are enhanced in the outflow by factors of 10–100 as compared to the starburst disc. This enhancement in the H_2/PAH ratio does not seem to follow the ionization of the atomic gas (as measured with the [Ne III]/[Ne II] line flux ratio) in the outflow. This suggests that much of the warm H_2 in the outflow is excited by shocks. The observed H_2 line intensities can be reproduced with low-velocity shocks (v < 40 km s^(−1)) driven into moderately dense molecular gas (10^2 < n_H < 10^4 cm^(−3)) entrained in the outflow.