Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Weighted QFD-Based Usability Evaluation Method for Elderly in Smart Cars

The aim of this research is to develop a quantitative usability evaluation method (UEM) for elderly drivers, which has different weight values on each factor concerning physical and cognitive context of elderly drivers. An analysis of the relationship between universal design guidelines for elderly drivers and usability principles was conducted by using the quality function deployment method. In addition, developmental priorities are derived from analysis results of difficulty in achieving performance improvement, max relationship values, and relative weight. Furthermore, n and positive relationships among the universal design guidelines are defined by means of relationship analysis. Combining these results, a quantitative evaluation guideline for elderly drivers is derived, and based on the context and developmental goals of the developer, selective design is facilitated. The proposed UEM is compared with existing UEM in terms of thoroughness, validity, and effectiveness.
Physiological and Histological Studies on Glucan as Modulator of Hazardous Effects in Rats Treated with Cyclophosphamide and Exposed to γ –Radiation

Aim of the work: -glucan which is known as biological response modifiers and immunostimulator was investigated in this study to minimize the toxicity of chemo-and radiotherapy induced by cyclophosphamide (CYP) and radiation exposure in rats. Materials and methods: -glucan was orally administered in a dose of 10 mg/kg b.wt. daily against the hazardous impacts of -irradiation (1 Gy daily up to 10 Gy) and/or CYP (50 mg/kg b.wt. every other day for 2 weeks). Determination of some biochemical analysis was carried out including calcium, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase. Hematological analysis was performed on leucocytes and platelets counts. Additionally, histological study was also done on both lung and testis tissues. The experimental rats being sacrificed 1, 7 and 21 days post-treatment. Results: Treatment with CYP induced significant decrease in WBCs, platelets counts and alkaline phosphatase activity and significant increase of creatine kinase and LDH activities accompanied by a significant increase in Ca level only at the end of experimental period. Similar results were recorded with irradiated group accompanied with a non significant change in Ca level allover the experimental periods. Combined treatment with both -radiation and CYP intensified the effect of each other on most of the investigated parameters. Microscopic examination of the lung revealed that both γ-irradiation and CYP showed disturbed structure of bronchioles, thickened alveolar walls together with scattered haemorrhagic areas. Signs of pneumonia and compensatory emphysema were also seen. Meanwhile, in testis, irregular seminiferous tubules with reduction in their sizes were observed. Besides, the intertubular spaces were fibrotic and devoid of Leyding cells. Bizarre-shaped spermatogenic cells were also prominent. In combined treatment, these lesions became much more progressed. However, glucan administration prior to treatment with CYP or γ-radiation led to an improvement in most of biochemical, hematological and histological parameters under investigation. Conclusion: -glucan has a good protective role against the toxic effects associated with chemo-and radiotherapy.
Fatty aspirin: a new perspective in the prevention of dementia of Alzheimer's type?

Alzheimer's disease (AD) leads to a dramatic decline in cognitive abilities and memory. A more modest disruption of memory often occurs in normal aging and the same circuits that are devastated through degeneration in AD are vulnerable to sub-lethal age-related changes that alter synaptic transmission. There are numerous indications that aberrant plasticity is critically involved in Alzheimer's. Is ageing itself the major risk factor for AD? Is AD an acceleration of normal ageing? We assume that the ability of the brain is to modify its own structural organization and functioning which is liable to become impaired in ageing until it becomes dramatically impaired in Alzheimer's. Moreover, ageing can compromise the conversion of dietary alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA regulates synaptogenesis and affects the synaptic structure, and synapse density is reduced in ageing. DHA and newly identified DHA-derived messenger, neuroprotecting D1 (NPD1), protect synapses and decrease the number of activated microglia in the hippocampal system. Delaying AD onset by a few years would reduce the number of the cases of dementia in the community. DHA (and NPD1? ) and aspirin induce brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein expression and this protein has a crucial role in neuronal survival. The authors--in view of the increased neuroinflammatory reaction frequently observed during normal brain ageing--suggest the long-term use of "fatty aspirin", an association of DHA and/or NPD1 and aspirin (or nitroaspirin), to postpone, or prevent, the structural neurodegeneration of the brain.
Ultrasound imaging of median and ulnar nerves after carpal tunnel surgery: healing or else?

A 33-yr-old female patient was seen for hypoesthesia of the fourth and fifth fingers in her left hand 3 mos after an open surgery for ipsilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The medical history was otherwise noncontributory. The findings from the physical examination revealed weakness in the abduction and the adduction of the second, third, fourth, and fifth digits and weakness in the adduction of the first digit. The findings from nerve conduction studies of the ulnar and median nerves were normal bilaterally. The result of the needle electromyography of the first dorsal interosseosus muscle was consistent with partial axonal injury and regeneration of the left ulnar nerve (a few fibrillations, increased polyphasia, and decreased recruitment were observed). Thereafter, ultrasound imaging of the median and ulnar nerves was performed. The operated median nerve was still edematous and accompanied by a persistent median artery (Figs. 1AYB, 2AYB). Further, the left ulnar nerve also seemed to be injured (Figs. 3AYB). The patient was diagnosed with a mild iatrogenic ulnar neuropathy and a healing median nerve after carpal tunnel surgery. Median neuropathy at the wrist is the most common entrapment neuropathy, and decompression surgery can be performed for its treatment. However, there may be certain early postoperative complications such as injury to the median nerve (and its branches), the ulnar nerve/Guyon canal, the superficial palmar arch, and the ulnar artery and incomplete release of the transverse carpal ligament. Complications associated with the ulnar nerve are relatively rare, and the relevant literature comprises only anectodal cases. Moreover, the diagnosis is generally based on clinical and electromyographic findings. The authors know of only one case report whereby ultrasound was used for such a diagnosis. The diagnostic value of ultrasound in peripheral nerve lesions is well established. Particularly in entrapment syndromes, it can confirm the diagnosis morphologically and it may be used to guide an onward intervention/surgery or assist with close follow-up thereafter. In the described subject, the ultrasound detected the postoperative edema in the ulnar nerve and, additionally, it depicted the persistent median artery as the likely cause of the carpal tunnel
C. Elegans Exhibits Coordinated Oscillation in Gene Expression During Development

The advent of automated cell lineaging and the ability to track gene expression at single-cell resolution in vivo in C. elegans has yielded a dramatically more complete view into developmental processes. We present a novel meta-analysis of the EPIC single-cell-resolution gene expression dataset of Bao, Murray, Waterston et al., and show that a linear combination of the expression levels of the developmental genes in that dataset is strongly correlated with the wall-clock developmental age of the organism during early development, irrespective of the cell division rate of different cell lineages. We uncover a pattern of collective sinusoidal oscillation in gene expression, with multiple dominant sinusoidal frequencies, pointing to the existence of a global coordinated mechanism governing the timing of gene expression during development. We furthermore present a new method derived from Fisher9s Discriminant Analysis that can be used to produce sinusoidal oscillations of any frequency and phase using just a linear weighting of the expression patterns of the genes in this dataset, strengthening the view that oscillatory timing mechanisms play an important role in development. The Fisher9s Discriminant Analysis method also constitutes a generally useful tool for identifying the differential gene expression patterns that most strongly separate two distinct phenotypic or developmental traits.
Psychobiology of maternal behavior: contribution to the clinical understanding of maternal behavior among humans

Psychobiological studies of maternal behavior among non‐primate mammals have arrived at several general conclusions that may aid in our understanding of human maternal behavior and in the clinical treatment of parenting disorders. The hormonal basis of maternal behavior arises during pregnancy and consists of a hormonal priming phase, extending over most of pregnancy, and a hormonal triggering phase at the end of pregnancy. Hormonal priming in several species depends upon estrogen, progesterone and prolactin, and hormonal triggering depends upon a decline in progesterone and an increase in estrogen, prolactin and oxytocin in different species. The onset of maternal behavior is hormonally based but postpartum maternal behavior in several species is based upon the stimulation that the mother receives from her young (i.e. is non‐hormonally based). There is a transition period between these two phases soon after parturition during which contact with the young plays a crucial role in the maintenance of maternal behavior. The onset of maternal behavior may be viewed as the resolution of conflict between approach and withdrawal responses of females to their offspring.
Composite Glandular‐Carcinoid Tumors of the Colon and Rectum Report of Two Cases

Composite glandular-carcinoid tumors of the large bowel are rare. We describe two cases that appeared to be at a relatively early stage in their development. Each of these cases was a composite colorectal adenoma-carcinoid—an entity that has not previously been described. There was no evidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in either of these cases; and a review of the literature on composite adenocarcinoma-carcinoid neoplasms of the colon and rectum revealed only two cases that arose in a background of IBD. Thus, despite the association of IBD, especially long-standing ulcerative colitis, with epithelial dysplasia and mucosal endocrine cell hyperplasia, respectively, we believe that other factors more significant than IBD may be operative in the genesis of composite glandular-carcinoid tumors of the large bowel. Further documentation of these tumors is needed in order to better appreciate their clinicopathologic manifestations and associations.
Mate choice copying in the sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna, in the wild

Mate choice copying has been documented extensively in the laboratory with almost no supporting data available from studies in the wild. We investigated male and female mate choice copying in a wild population of the sailfin molly, a species that shows copying in the laboratory. We set up two upside-down plastic tanks in a river, with two jars of water on each tank. In male mate choice trials we placed a female in one jar and a male in the other on one tank and a female in one jar on the other tank, leaving the last jar empty. In female mate choice trials we presented a male and a female on one tank and a male and an empty jar on the other. Males preferred to associate with a female adjacent to a male rather than a lone female and females preferred to associate with a male adjacent to a female rather than a lone male. In two controls for shoaling behaviour we presented two males on one side of the set-up and one male on the other or two females versus one female. These controls showed that shoaling behaviour could not explain the male and female preference. Thus both sexes of the sailfin molly show mate choice copying in the wild, much as they do in laboratory studies. At least in this species, mate choice copying is not a laboratory artefact.
Restitution Dynamics During Pacing and Arrhythmias in Isolated Pig Hearts

Introduction: The dependence of action potential duration (APD) on the preceding diastolic interval (DI), i.e., restitution, has been purported to predict the development of alternans and reentrant arrhythmias. However, restitution depends on the history of activation (i.e., memory), and its relevance to arrhythmia induction and maintenance is unknown.
Keratosis obturans and external auditory canal cholesteatoma

Keratosis obturans and external auditory canal cholesteatoma (EACC) have previously been considered to represent the same disease process. However, review of the literature and our cases reveal these to be two different clinical and pathological processes. Keratosis obturans presents as hearing loss and usually acute, severe pain secondary to the accumulation of large plugs of desquamated keratin in the ear canal. External auditory canal cholesteatoma presents as otorrhea with a chronic, dull pain secondary to an invasion of squamous tissue into a localized area of periosteitis in the canal wall.
Vitamin A: Too Much of a Good Thing?

&NA; Vitamin A has the unique distinction of being readily available over the counter, yet conferring significant toxic and teratogenic potential. Although vitamin A deficiency is relatively rare in the United States, globally it is the most common cause of blindness. The following is a review of the various forms and derivatives of vitamin A and their associations with potential adverse perinatal outcomes. Target Audience: Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Family Physicians Learning Objectives: After participating in this CME activity, physicians should be better able to identify sources of Vitamin A, distinguish between toxic and non toxic forms of Vitamin A and counsel patients regarding the dosages of Vitamin A that are tolerable during pregnancy.
Effect of Probiotics on Broilers Performance

A probiotic is a live microbial feed supplement, which beneficially affects the host animal by improving its intestinal balance. It has been used as a substitute of antibiotics that is being used in considerable amounts as growth promoters in broilers production and is, associated with incalculable risks for human health resulting from the use of particular feed additives. This article reviews the scientific data showing that probiotics may positively affect various physiologic functions in ways that will permit them now or in the future to be classified as functional foods for which health claims (of enhanced production or reduction in disease risk) will be authorized. The article has been prepared under various subheadings including introduction into probiotics, mode of action including immune enhancement, growth stimulation, feed conversion ratio, competition for adhesion receptors, digestion and absorption and health management of diseased animals. The authors own results have been reviewed including: i) poultry growth is promoted with the increasing doses of probiotics up to a certain limit. The growth pattern increased relative to the control, up to 1.0 gram per 10 kg feed but beyond that the pattern was reversed; ii) no difference could be detected in feed conversion ratio of broilers as compared to control; iii) crypt cells proliferation of small intestine increased with the use of probiotics as compared to control. Present/future aspect of probiotics, is the last component of the article including; discovery of more probiotic organisms through genetic engineering.
Evaluation of Recombinant Serine‐rich 45‐kDa Antigen (ML0411) for Detection of Antibodies in Leprosy Patients

The potential of the recombinant serine‐rich 45‐kDa antigen (ML0411) of Mycobacterium leprae to aid in detecting M. leprae‐specific serum antibodies was assessed by an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in leprosy patients and controls comprising of tuberculosis patients, other unrelated skin‐diseased patients and healthy individuals from India. All 18 multibacillary (MB) and 18/38 (47.4%) of the paucibacillary (PB) leprosy patients were found positive. None of the controls was positive, yielding complete (0/49) specificity in the series tested here. On the other hand, an anti‐phenolic glycolipid‐1 (PGL‐I) antibody‐detecting assay yielded detectable responses in 94.4% (17/18) of MB and 36.8% (14/38) of PB leprosy patients. Only two of 49 (4.1%) controls were positive, giving a specificity of 95.9%. Further, there was a good concordance (agreement of 83.8%; χ2 = 40.3, P < 0.001; κ = 0.63) between the two assays. Thus, the 45‐kDa‐based assay was slightly better than anti‐PGL‐I antibody‐detecting assay. Interestingly, when combining the results of both the assays together for all leprosy patients (MB + PB), the combined sensitivity was significantly higher than that of the anti‐PGL‐I antibody‐detecting ELISA alone (73.2% versus 55.4%; P < 0.05), but not (P > 0.05) compared with the 45‐kDa antigen‐based assay alone. Similarly, in case of PB patients, using both assays in combination, the sensitivity was significantly higher compared with anti‐PGL‐I antibody‐detecting assay alone (60.5% versus 36.8%; P < 0.05). While adopting the combinatorial approach, the specificity remained invariably high (>95%). In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that the M. leprae 45‐kDa protein is a potent B‐cell antigen and may be a useful serodiagnostic reagent.
Interaction of the Bacillus subtilis phage phi 105 repressor DNA: a genetic analysis.

The Bacillus subtilis phage phi 105 repressor specifically recognizes a 14‐bp operator sequence which does not exhibit 2‐fold rotational symmetry. To facilitate a genetic analysis of this sequence‐dependent DNA binding a B. subtilis strain was constructed in which mutations affecting the phi 105 repressor‐operator interaction cause a selectable phenotype, chloramphenicol resistance. After in vivo mutagenesis, we isolated and mapped 22 different mutations in the repressor coding sequence, 15 of which are missense substitutions. These are exclusively located in the N‐terminal part (positions 1‐43) of the 144 residue long polypeptide. Two nonsense mutants, at positions 70 and 89, respectively, still show partial repressor activity. These data suggest that the phi 105 repressor consists of at least two independently folding structural domains, of which the N‐terminal is involved in operator binding. Twelve missense mutations are clustered in a region extending from Gln‐18 to Arg‐37, which we propose to be the DNA‐binding alpha‐helix–beta‐turn–alpha‐helix motif, common to all lambda Cro‐like repressors. The second (‘recognition’) helix shows significant homology with the corresponding sequence in Tn3 resolvase, and there is also a striking similarity between the phi 105 operator and the consensus sequence for a Tn3 res half‐site. Based on these observations, and on the previously isolated phi 105 0c mutants, we tentatively assign some specific contacts between base pairs from the first half of a phi 105 operator site and amino acids from the repressor's ‘recognition helix’.
Power Spectrum Analysis of Compound Muscle Action Potential in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Patients

The objective of using wave-form analysis to assess compound muscle action potential (CMAP) in entrapment neuropathy had not been fully developed. We applied the power spectrum analysis to patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) for this purpose. 24 patients with CTS were divided into three stages according to Mackinnon's classification, and 50 normal volunteers were examined. CMAP was obtained from the abductor pollicis brevis with supramaximal stimulation to median nerve. Mean and peak frequencies were measured by power spectrum analysis. The distal latencies of CMAP and the sensory nerve conduction velocities showed some prolongation in CTS patients. Integral values of CMAP were also decreased in CTS patients. Mean and peak frequencies of power spectrum of CMAP in volunteers were 134Hz and 98 Hz, respectively. These values shifted into lower frequencies in CTS patients, namely 102Hz and 61Hz. Regardless of clinical stage, distal latency of CTS patients correlated with mean frequency.
Epigenetic Silencing of HIV-1 by the Histone H3 Lysine 27 Methyltransferase Enhancer of Zeste 2

ABSTRACT Latent HIV proviruses are silenced as the result of deacetylation and methylation of histones located at the viral long terminal repeat (LTR). Inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDACs) leads to the reemergence of HIV-1 from latency, but the contribution of histone lysine methyltransferases (HKMTs) to maintaining HIV latency remains uncertain. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments using latently infected Jurkat T-cell lines demonstrated that the HKMT enhancer of Zeste 2 (EZH2) was present at high levels at the LTR of silenced HIV proviruses and was rapidly displaced following proviral reactivation. Knockdown of EZH2, a key component of the Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) silencing machinery, and the enzyme which is required for trimethyl histone lysine 27 (H3K27me3) synthesis induced up to 40% of the latent HIV proviruses. In contrast, there was less than 5% induction of latent proviruses following knockdown of SUV39H1, which is required for H3K9me3 synthesis. Knockdown of EZH2 also sensitized latent proviruses to external stimuli, such as T-cell receptor stimulation, and slowed the reversion of reactivated proviruses to latency. Similarly, cell populations that responded poorly to external stimuli carried HIV proviruses that were enriched in H3K27me3 and relatively depleted in H3K9me3. Treating latently infected cells with the HKMT inhibitor 3-deazaneplanocin A, which targets EZH2, led to the reactivation of silenced proviruses, whereas chaetocin and BIX01294 showed only minimal reactivation activities. These findings suggest that PRC2-mediated silencing is an important feature of HIV latency and that inhibitors of histone methylation may play a useful role in induction strategies designed to eradicate latent HIV pools.
Non-animal sensitization testing: State-of-the-art

Predictive tests to identify the sensitizing properties of chemicals are carried out using animals. In the European Union timelines for phasing out many standard animal tests were established for cosmetics. Following this policy, the new European Chemicals Legislation (REACH) favors alternative methods, if validated and appropriate. In this review the authors aim to provide a state-of-the art overview of alternative methods (in silico, in chemico, and in vitro) to identify contact and respiratory sensitizing capacity and in some occasions give a measure of potency. The past few years have seen major advances in QSAR (quantitative structure-activity relationship) models where especially mechanism-based models have great potential, peptide reactivity assays where multiple parameters can be measured simultaneously, providing a more complete reactivity profile, and cell-based assays. Several cell-based assays are in development, not only using different cell types, but also several specifically developed assays such as three-dimenionally (3D)-reconstituted skin models, an antioxidant response reporter assay, determination of signaling pathways, and gene profiling. Some of these assays show relatively high sensitivity and specificity for a large number of sensitizers and should enter validation (or are indeed entering this process). Integrating multiple assays in a decision tree or integrated testing system is a next step, but has yet to be developed. Adequate risk assessment, however, is likely to require significantly more time and efforts.