Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation "in-car" countermeasures to sleepiness: cold air and radio.

The efficacy of putative "in-car" countermeasures to driver sleepiness is unknown. Sixteen young adult drivers within the normal range for the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), had their sleep restricted to 5 hours the night before, and drove an interactive car simulator in the afternoon for 2.5 hours, under monotonous conditions. After 30 minutes of driving they were exposed to: (1) cold air to the face (AIR) from the vehicle's air conditioning vents, (2) listening to the vehicle's radio/tape (RADIO) according to subjects' choice, or (3) NIL treatment. The active treatments typified those experienced under real driving conditions. Drifting over lane markings were "incidents. " EEGs were recorded and spectrally analyzed in the alpha and theta range. Subjects responded to the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) every 200 seconds. Overall, RADIO and AIR had no significant effects on incidents, although there was a trend for RADIO to reduce incidents, particularly during the first 30 minutes, when AIR also had some effect. KSS scores were significantly lower for RADIO for most of the drive, whereas AIR had only transient and non-significant effects. The EEG showed no significant effects of the active treatments. Compared with other countermeasures such as caffeine and a brief nap, which we have previously shown to be more effective (using the same equipment and protocols), AIR and RADIO are at best only temporary expedients to reduce driver sleepiness, perhaps enabling drivers to find a suitable place to stop, take a break and avail themselves of caffeine and a nap.
The Salmonella Pathogenicity Island (SPI)-2 and SPI-1 Type III Secretion Systems Allow Salmonella Serovar typhimurium to Trigger Colitis via MyD88-Dependent and MyD88-Independent Mechanisms1

Salmonella typhimurium can colonize the gut, invade intestinal tissues, and cause enterocolitis. In vitro studies suggest different mechanisms leading to mucosal inflammation, including 1) direct modulation of proinflammatory signaling by bacterial type III effector proteins and 2) disruption or penetration of the intestinal epithelium so that penetrating bacteria or bacterial products can trigger innate immunity (i.e., TLR signaling). We studied these mechanisms in vivo using streptomycin-pretreated wild-type and knockout mice including MyD88−/− animals lacking an adaptor molecule required for signaling via most TLRs. The Salmonella SPI-1 and the SPI-2 type III secretion systems (TTSS) contributed to inflammation. Mutants that retain only a functional SPI-1 (M556; sseD::aphT) or a SPI-2 TTSS (SB161; ΔinvG) caused attenuated colitis, which reflected distinct aspects of the colitis caused by wild-type S. typhimurium: M556 caused diffuse cecal inflammation that did not require MyD88 signaling. In contrast, SB161 induced focal mucosal inflammation requiring MyD88. M556 but not SB161 was found in intestinal epithelial cells. In the lamina propria, M556 and SB161 appeared to reside in different leukocyte cell populations as indicated by differential CD11c staining. Only the SPI-2-dependent inflammatory pathway required aroA-dependent intracellular growth. Thus, S. typhimurium can use two independent mechanisms to elicit colitis in vivo: SPI-1-dependent and MyD88-independent signaling to epithelial cells and SPI-2-dependent intracellular proliferation in the lamina propria triggering MyD88-dependent innate immune responses.
A Brachypodium UDP-Glycosyltransferase Confers Root Tolerance to Deoxynivalenol and Resistance to Fusarium Infection1

The UDP-glucosyltransferase Bradi5g03300 conjugates the Fusarium mycotoxin deoxynivalenol into deoxynivalenol-3-O-glucose and confers resistance to primary infection by Fusarium graminearum. Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a cereal disease caused by Fusarium graminearum, a fungus able to produce type B trichothecenes on cereals, including deoxynivalenol (DON), which is harmful for humans and animals. Resistance to FHB is quantitative, and the mechanisms underlying resistance are poorly understood. Resistance has been related to the ability to conjugate DON into a glucosylated form, deoxynivalenol-3-O-glucose (D3G), by secondary metabolism UDP-glucosyltransferases (UGTs). However, functional analyses have never been performed within a single host species. Here, using the model cereal species Brachypodium distachyon, we show that the Bradi5g03300 UGT converts DON into D3G in planta. We present evidence that a mutation in Bradi5g03300 increases root sensitivity to DON and the susceptibility of spikes to F. graminearum, while overexpression confers increased root tolerance to the mycotoxin and spike resistance to the fungus. The dynamics of expression and conjugation suggest that the speed of DON conjugation rather than the increase of D3G per se is a critical factor explaining the higher resistance of the overexpressing lines. A detached glumes assay showed that overexpression but not mutation of the Bradi5g03300 gene alters primary infection by F. graminearum, highlighting the involvement of DON in early steps of infection. Together, these results indicate that early and efficient UGT-mediated conjugation of DON is necessary and sufficient to establish resistance to primary infection by F. graminearum and highlight a novel strategy to promote FHB resistance in cereals.
Aortic flow propagation velocity, epicardial fat thickness, and osteoprotegerin level to predict subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Objective: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common cause of liver dysfunction in Western countries and an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic heart disease. Appropriate noninvasive parameters are lacking for optimal risk stratification of cardiovascular disease in these patients. We evaluated several recently discovered noninvasive parameters for atherosclerosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: epicardial fat thickness, aortic flow propagation velocity, and osteoprotegerin level. Methods: Forty-one patients (27 men and 14 women; mean age, 37.9±8.9 years) with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and 37 control subjects (17 men and 20 women; mean age, 34.5±8.6 years) were enrolled in this observational case-control study. Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease diagnosed at a gastroenterology outpatient clinic were included. Patients with cardiac pathology other than hypertension were excluded. Epicardial fat thickness and aortic flow propagation velocity were measured by echocardiography. The serum concentration of osteoprotegerin was measured using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients exhibited a significantly lower aortic flow propagation velocity (155.17±30.00 vs. 179.00±18.14 cm/s, p=0.000) and significantly higher epicardial fat thickness (0.51±0.25 vs. 0.29±0.09 cm, p=0.000) than control subjects. Osteoprotegerin levels were higher, but not significant, in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (28.0±13.0 vs. 25.2±10.8 pg/mL, p=0.244). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that aortic flow propagation velocity (OR, –0.973; 95% CI, 0.947–0.999) and waist circumference (OR, –1.191; 95% CI, 1.088–1.303) were independent predictors of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusion: In this study, epicardial fat thickness and osteoprotegerin level were higher and aortic flow propagation velocity was lower in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Early detection of abnormal epicardial fat thickness and aortic flow propagation velocity may warrant a search for undetected cardiovascular disease in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. (Anatol J Cardiol 2016; 16: 974-9)
Symptom profile of DSM-IV major and minor depressive disorders in first-ever stroke patients.

OBJECTIVE Depressive disorders are very common in stroke patients. However, vegetative and cognitive symptoms primarily derived from brain damage could hypothetically be indistinguishable from those directly derived from neuropsychiatric disorders, and this could invalidate the diagnostic assessment. Thus, authors aimed to detect the frequency of clinically-rated DSM-IV depressive symptoms and the diagnostic validity of depressive disorders in stroke patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD), minor depressive disorder (MIND), and those free of any neuropsychiatric disorders (NODEP). METHODS First-ever stroke patients (N=200) were approached within 3 months of the acute stroke and were interviewed with the SCID-P and administered the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (Ham-D), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Barthel Index, and the Mini-Mental State Exam. RESULTS Fifty patients (25%) had MDD, 62 (31%) had MIND, and 88 (44%) had NODEP. Global cognitive level, functional impairment, total scores, and psychic and somatic subscores of the Ham-D and the BDI were different among the three groups. The only symptom that did not differ among patients with MDD, MIND, and NODEP was Feelings of Guilt; all the other eight DSM-IV symptoms were significantly different. In particular, the frequency of Depressed Mood, Diminished Interest or Pleasure, Fatigue or Loss of Energy, Insomnia, and Psychomotor Agitation/Retardation was higher in MIND patients than in NODEP patients. CONCLUSIONS During the diagnostic procedure for depressive disorders in stroke patients, clinicians should consider equally important vegetative, cognitive, and psychological depressive symptoms, despite their nature.
Combined two‐photon luminescence microscopy and OCT for macrophage detection in the hypercholesterolemic rabbit aorta using plasmonic gold nanorose

The macrophage is an important early cellular marker related to risk of future rupture of atherosclerotic plaques. Two‐channel two‐photon luminescence (TPL) microscopy combined with optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to detect, and further characterize the distribution of aorta‐based macrophages using plasmonic gold nanorose as an imaging contrast agent.
Enhanced Cancer Therapy with the Combination of EGFR and VEGFR-2 Targeting in an Orthotopic Glioblastoma Model

Abstract Using an orthotopic glioblastoma model, we investigated the activity of the combination of monoclonal antibody DC101 against vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and monoclonal antibody C225 against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Nude mice bearing intracerebral glioblastoma xenografts were administered either DC101 or C225, or the combination via intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. Histopathological analysis of solid tumor volume, microvessel density, tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis were performed. In the DC101-treated group, solid tumor volume and microvessel density were reduced by 59.7% and 64%, respectively. The tumor cell proliferation level was reduced by 53.2% and tumor cell apoptosis was increased by 66.7% but there was enhanced tumor cell invasiveness. C225 alone reduced the invasiveness of tumor tissue, but had no effect on solid tumor growth, microvessel density, tumor cell proliferation or apoptosis. The combination cancer therapy with C225 and DC101 enhanced tumor treatment with reduced tumor volume, microvessel density, tumor cell proliferation level, and increased cancer cell apoptosis, while decreasing tumor cell invasiveness.
Radiosurgical salvage therapy for patients presenting with recurrence of metastatic disease to the brain.

OBJECTIVE Radiosurgery has emerged as an important modality in the management of metastatic disease to the brain. A number of groups have published results suggesting that high local control rates can be achieved, with improvements in overall survival that rival the results of open surgical treatment. Typically, however, whole-brain radiotherapy has been used in the salvage therapy of patients who have undergone previous craniotomy or radiosurgery. We describe our experience with radiosurgical salvage in this group of patients. METHODS From August 1994 to February 1999, 190 patients with brain metastasis were treated with gamma unit radiosurgery at our institution. A subset of 45 patients, who underwent radiosurgical salvage for new tumors in a region remote from an initially treated tumor, form the population base for this study. The usual criteria for repeat treatment were recurrence with five or fewer discrete lesions outside of the previously treated radiosurgical volume and Karnofsky Performance Scale score of at least 70. Survival and freedom from progression were measured from the time of radiosurgical treatment and were computed by the Kaplan-Meier product-limit method. Two or more curves were compared using the log-rank method. RESULTS In this subgroup of patients, a total of 176 tumors were treated. The median time from first radiosurgical procedure to first salvage was 17.4 weeks. Median survival from the second radiosurgical intervention was 28 weeks. Of the 45 study patients, 34 patients underwent a single salvage procedure, 10 patients underwent two salvage procedures, and 1 patient had three salvage procedures. The actuarial freedom from progression for treated tumors at 52 weeks was 92.4%. Patients undergoing upfront whole-brain irradiation were less likely to require salvage therapy (P = 0.008). There were 33 deaths after salvage radiosurgery during the reporting period. Central nervous system causes accounted for 13 deaths, whereas 19 deaths resulted from systemic disease. The cause of death in one patient could not be determined. No statistically significant advantage in overall survival could be demonstrated in patients treated with whole-brain irradiation. CONCLUSION Radiosurgical salvage represents a valuable means of treatment for central nervous system recurrence for patients who have undergone previous treatment for metastatic disease to the brain. Whole-brain irradiation may reduce the need for salvage therapy, but no advantage in overall survival could be demonstrated in this subgroup.
Food allergy: what do we learn from animal models?

Purpose of reviewThis review summarizes selected articles on animal models of food allergy published in 2003. The research areas that are covered include mechanistic studies, the search for new therapies, as well as screening models for hazard identification of potential allergens. Recent findingsNovel treatment options of both prevention and therapeutic strategies have been reported with promising results. The induction of de-sensitization to food proteins was achieved by exposure to a mixture of recombinant food allergens and T helper 1 (Th1)-skewing bacterial components. Furthermore, research in animal models has provided new insights into the role of protein structure, digestion, and gut permeability in sensitization and tolerance induction to food proteins. The Th2 hypothesis of food allergy was tested in mouse strains, linking genetic susceptibility to sensitization with differential Th1-Th2 responses. In this context, the role of the liver in development of food antigen-specific Th2 cells, and the importance of costimulatory molecules in Th2 skewing were demonstrated. Finally, rodent models to predict potential allergenicity of novel foods have been further developed using different routes of sensitization. SummaryCurrently, several animal models of food allergy are used, including mouse, rat, swine, and dog. Continuing research in these models may elucidate the immunological mechanisms that underlie the sensitization and challenge phase of food allergy and may result in improved therapeutic options. Furthermore, the development of animal models to predict relative allergenicity of novel foods remains an important topic.
Issues for the Next Generation of Health Care Cost Analyses

Background:Given the characteristics of health care expenditure/cost data–a mass of observations at zero, and skewed positive expenditures, various alternative estimators have been developed that can address the analytical issues these characteristics raise. The field continues to develop new approaches and to evaluate the performance of the existing ones. Objectives:We discuss the strengths and limitations in existing methods for estimation and for model specification and checking. We suggest some areas that need fuller development or a better understanding of how the estimation approach performs when the outcome exhibits the skewness and heavy right tails that are typical of health care data. We also address various other aspects of cost analysis that include dealing with induced censoring, estimating casual effects, and generating reliable predictions that may apply to many studies. Results:No current method is optimal or dominant for all cost applications. Many of the diagnostics used in choosing among alternatives have limitations that need more careful study. Several avenues in modeling cost data remain unexplored. Conclusions:Taken together, we hope that this essay would serve as a guide to the choice among methods and to the next generation of methodological research in this field.
Numerical and Experimental Characterization of Through-the-Body UHF-RFID Links for Passive Tags Implanted Into Human Limbs

Radio frequency identification (RFID) in the UHF band has been recently proposed as enabling technology to develop implanted radio-sensors to be integrated into orthopedic prosthesis because of the power autonomy and standardized communication protocols. This paper investigates the feasibility of direct and forward links for UHF-RFID (860-960 MHz) tags implanted into human limbs, that are interrogated by a noncontacting reader's antenna, with the purpose to label and, in a near future, to collect data about the health status of an implanted orthopedic prosthesis. Performance gain indicators of the through-the-body RFID channel are estimated by electromagnetic simulations over an anthropomorphic phantom as well as by means of experimentation with a real RFID communication link involving a simplified in vitro setup. The achieved results suggest that, by exploiting the current potentialities of RFID technology, and for the specific tag (loop antenna) and reader antenna (SPIFA) herein considered, a stable communication link with tags implanted inside limbs might be already feasible up to 10-35 cm from the body in full compliance with the constrains over electromagnetic exposure. In the particular case of implanted tag into an elbow, the estimated power margin in the direct and inverse links could be even suitable to set up sensing-oriented systems based onto turn-on and backscattered power modulation.
Competencies Needed by Agricultural Communication Undergraduates: A Focus Group Study of Alumni

A focus group study was conducted with agricultural communication program alumni to determine the competencies needed in current graduates of the University of Georgia program. Of the 12 alumni invited to contribute, four participated in the study, which represented a breadth from a recent graduate to a seasoned vice president in a global advertising agency. The competency receiving the greatest level of importance was the ability to write well; other competencies included having a familiarity with all types and styles of writing, in particular magazine or feature style. Possessing a broad spectrum of communication skills was also important, including public speaking, audience identification, conveying written thoughts well, using proper style, identifying a story, and strategic writing. In addition, understanding how new media is changing the industry and how to use that media effectively was expressed. Although agricultural knowledge and skills are a large part of the degree, participants stressed communication skills are the foundation. General employment skills, in the form of a good work ethic and willingness to take on basic tasks, were also emphasized. Recommendations included conducting research to determine faculty perspectives of competencies needed by program graduates, which forms of new media should be taught in programs, and what agricultural knowledge is most important for graduates to possess.
Solid-state NMR measurements of asymmetric dipolar couplings provide insight into protein side-chain motion.

Understanding conformational flexibility is of critical importance for understanding protein function, folding, and interactions with other proteins and ligands. NMR spectroscopy is an important tool for such investigations in solution and increasingly also in the solid state since it allows siteresolved studies of dynamic processes. An experimental characterization of all motional modes of a protein is a great challenge and simplified models are necessary. In NMR studies of dynamics, motional amplitudes are generally expressed in terms of a single order parameter, discarding the details of the motion, such as the motional asymmetry. Herein, we show a significant extension of this description, by detecting asymmetric motion of side chains in a protein in the solid state. Dipolar couplings are particularly powerful probes of local molecular dynamics in the solid state. In the absence of motion, the tensor describing the dipolar interaction between two nuclei is a traceless axially symmetric second-rank tensor. It can be characterized by a single parameter, namely its anisotropy dD,rigid which depends only on the internuclear distance and isotope type of the nuclei involved (for the definition see the Supporting Information). In the presence of “fast” motional processes, in other words, processes with a correlation time shorter than approximately 1/dD,rigid, (typically 10–100 ms), the dipolar coupling tensor becomes partially averaged. In the case of a motional process with threefold (C3) or higher symmetry, for example, an isotropic motion within a cone, the averaged tensor remains axially symmetric and is fully characterized by the effective anisotropy dD which has a reduced value compared to dD,rigid. In this case, the motional amplitude can be expressed by a single order parameter S= dD/dD,rigid. However, in the case of a general fast motion, the characterization solely by S is incomplete because the averaged dipolar tensor is no longer axially symmetric and one additional tensor parameter, the asymmetry hD, is needed for a complete description (for the definition, see the Supporting Information). The asymmetry hD varies between zero (symmetric tensor) and one. [5a]