Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RETENTION OF MOVEMENT TECHNIQUE: IMPLICATIONS FOR PRIMARY PREVENTION OF ACL INJURIES.

Background Retention of movement technique is crucial in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury prevention programs. It is unknown if specific instructions or video instructions result in changes in kinematic and kinetic measures during a relatively short training session, and in a retention test one week later. Hypothesis/Purpose The purpose was to determine the effects of verbal external focus (EF), verbal internal focus (IF) and video instructions (VI) on landing technique (i.e. kinematics and kinetics) during training and retention. Study Design Randomized Controlled Trial. Methods This study compared verbal EF, verbal IF, VI and CTRL group. Forty healthy athletes were assigned to the IF (n=10), EF (n=10), VI (n=10) or CTRL group (n=10). A jump-landing task was performed as a baseline, followed by two training blocks (TR1 and TR2) and a post test. Group specific instructions were offered in TR1 and TR2. In addition, subjects in the IF, EF and VI groups were free to ask for feedback after every jump in TR1 and TR2. One week later, a retention test was conducted without specific instructions or feedback. Kinematics and kinetics were captured using an 8-camera motion analysis system. Results Males and females in the EF and VI instruction group showed beneficial results during and after the training session, in terms of improved landing technique. Retention was achieved after only a short training session. Conclusion ACL injury prevention programs should include EF and/or VI instructions to improve kinematics and kinetics and achieve retention. Level of Evidence 3b.
Presence of severe neuroinflammation does not intensify neurofibrillary degeneration in human brain

This study investigated the allegedly causal relationship between microglial activation and neurofibrillary degeneration (NFD) typical of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by determining if presence of extreme microglial activation coincides with intensified NFD. We performed comparative histopathological analyses of NFD and microglial reactivity in 18 primary subjects ranging from 4 to 51 years of age. Ten of these subjects (median age 34) died from infectious disease (HIV, sepsis) and CNS trauma, while eight subjects (median age 32.5) died from non‐infectious conditions (controls). Second, we also examined two 52‐year‐old subjects with Down syndrome where one had comorbid sepsis and the other one did not. We found that all 10 subjects with infectious/traumatic diagnoses showed severe neuroinflammation, while the 8 control subjects completely lacked neuroinflammatory changes. However, all 18 primary subjects were found to show the same early‐stage, pretangle neuropathology of Braak stage 1a and 1b, that is, they exhibited primarily subcortical NFD in the locus coeruleus and sporadic lesions in the transentorhinal cortex. Similarly, the two subjects with Down syndrome showed the same high levels of NFD (Braak stage VI) irrespective of the comorbid sepsis‐related neuroinflammation present in one of these individuals. Collectively, our findings show that despite rampant microglial activation in all subjects with neuroinflammatory conditions the extent of NFD is at the same level as seen in non‐inflamed controls. These findings demonstrate that microglial activation does not initiate or exacerbate NFD, and we conclude that CNS inflammation is unlikely to be causally involved in the development of NFD characteristic of AD dementia. GLIA 2013;62:96–105
How Cost-Effective Are Land Retirement Auctions? Estimating the Difference between Payments and Willingness to Accept in the Conservation Reserve Program

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), established by the Food Security Act of 1985, offers annual rental payments to farm operators who voluntarily retire environmentally sensitive cropland under ten- to fifteen-year contracts. The CRP is notable for the size of both its budget and its environmental benefits. The CRP currently pays about $1.7 billion per year to retire about 34 million acres (equal to about 8% of U.S. cropland, or the size of Iowa). For comparison, Congressional appropriations for toxic waste cleanups under the Superfund program, one of the nation’s highest profile environmental initiatives, totaled $1.3 billion in 2003. To date, the CRP has disbursed over $26 billion in direct payments. Researchers have estimated that the environmental benefits exceed the program’s costs (Feather, Hellerstein, and Hansen; Ribaudo et al.).
Impact of lateral charge migration on the retention performance of planar and 3D SONOS devices

This paper investigates the impact of lateral charge migration on the retention performance of charge-trap memories whose storage layer is not patterned self-aligned with the channel area of each cell. Experimental results on planar SONOS devices, revealing an important contribution of lateral charge migration at 150 °C, are used to calibrate a new numerical model accounting for both the vertical and the lateral charge loss from the silicon nitride. Modeling results allow a detailed analysis of the retention transients of both planar and 3D SONOS arrays, evaluating, for the latter, the minimum dimensions needed to fulfill the retention requirements at 85 °C.
General Solutions to the problems of Utilizing Internet Information Resources : A technological analysis

[Abstract] This paper discusses emerging interest among ODL researchers in creating an integrated information environment, so that ODL research and learning activities can be facilitated effectively through the utilization of the vast amount of Internet information resources. Starting with an analytical review of problems with the utilization of distributed resources, this paper first investigates technological solutions applicable to the identified problems, then follows with a proposition for a knowledgeable system framework that can serve as a conceptual model for the development of ODL research-oriented information environments. A number of critical elements composing the model, such as partnership, knowledge management, intelligent agents, personalized information services and standards application, are further described.
Unconventional screening approaches for antibiotic discovery

The dramatic rise in microbial drug resistance in recent years has led to ongoing searches for novel drugs to add to the armory against infectious disease. Nevertheless, a paucity of new antibacterial drugs in discovery and development pipelines using traditional approaches has prompted a variety of unconventional and disruptive strategies for antibacterial drug discovery. Herein, we review recent nontraditional approaches that have been piloted for early drug discovery efforts. These unique methodologies open new avenues for finding the next generation of antimicrobials.
Selective Agenesis of Mesencephalic Dopaminergic Neurons in Nurr1-Deficient Mice

Nurr1, a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of transcription factors, has been found to be essential for the development of ventral midbrain dopamine (DA)ergic neurons. To study the regional selectivity and phenotypic specificity of regulation by Nurr1 of the genesis of DAergic neurons, we examined DAergic, serotonin (5-HT)ergic, norepinephrine (NE)ergic, cholinergic, glutamate (GLU)ergic, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons in the brains of Nurr1-deficient mice by immunohistochemistry and biochemistry. We demonstrated that in homozygous Nurr1-deficient mice (Nurr1-/-), DAergic neurons were totally absent in substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area, but preserved in other regions including diencephalon and hypothalamus, olfactory bulb (OB). Levels of DA in Nurr1-/- mice were decreased by 98% in striatum (Str) and 65% in OB. NEergic neurons in locus ceruleus, 5-HTergic neurons in raphe nuclei, and cholinergic neurons in basal forebrain and other regions were not changed. A 30% reduction of NE was found in the Str of Nurr1-/- mice. The levels of GLU and GABA and the activity of choline acetyl transferase in the brains of Nurr1-/- mice were not significantly altered. Our results demonstrate a selective and specific deficit of DA and absence of DAergic neurons in the mesencephalic structures of Nurr1-deficient mice, which resembles the pattern similar to that seen in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). This model may contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms influencing DAergic cell survival in PD.
A Relaxation of Steinberg's Conjecture

A graph is $(c_1, c_2, \ldots, c_k)$-colorable if the vertex set can be partitioned into $k$ sets $V_1,V_2, \ldots, V_k$, such that for every $i: 1\leq i\leq k$ the subgraph $G[V_i]$ has maximum degree at most $c_i$. We show that every planar graph without $4$- and $5$-cycles is $(1, 1, 0)$-colorable. This is a relaxation of the Steinberg conjecture that every planar graph without $4$- and $5$-cycles are properly $3$-colorable (i.e., $(0,0,0)$-colorable).
Residual expression of functional MHC class II molecules in twin brothers with MHC class II deficiency is cell type specific

We examined major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II expression in B cells, peripheral blood monocytes, activated T cells, epidermal Langerhans cells, monocyte‐derived dendritic cells, dermal microvascular endothelial cells (DMEC) and fibroblasts of twin brothers with MHC class II deficiency. Although residual human leucocyte antigen (HLA)‐DR expression was found on a subpopulation of epidermal Langerhans cells and a subset of peripheral blood monocyte‐derived dendritic cells, the patients' B cells, monocytes and activated T cells were HLA‐DR negative. After treatment with interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), the patients' DMEC expressed HLA‐DR but not ‐DP and ‐DQ at the protein and mRNA level, whereas IFN‐γ failed to induce HLA‐DR expression on dermal fibroblasts. The patients' monocyte‐derived dendritic cells were capable of processing and presenting tetanus toxoid to autologous T cells, and patient‐derived DMEC induced the proliferation of allogeneic CD4+ T cells in an MHC class II‐restricted fashion, indicating that the observed residual MHC class II surface expression was functional. The findings reported show that the defect encountered in these patients is not necessarily expressed to the same extent in different cell lineages, which is relevant for the understanding of the patients' phenotype and also illustrates that only small amounts of MHC class II are needed to mount a functional cellular immune response in vivo.
Early Endovascular Coiling of Posterior Communicating Artery Saccular Aneurysm in the Setting of Staphylococcus Bacteremia: Case Report and Review of the Literature

OBJECTIVEAlthough infectious complications of endovascular aneurysm treatment are in general rare, platinum coil therapy for patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms and active bacteremia could be expected to carry increased risk. The literature on the timing and safety of endovascular treatment in this setting, however, is limited. In this report, the authors present a case of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and active bacteremia in which intravenous antibiotics and early endovascular therapy were successfully used. A review of the literature is also provided. CLINICAL PRESENTATIONA 79-year-old woman presented with Hunt-Hess grade 4, Fisher grade 3 + 4 subarachnoid hemorrhage. Blood cultures obtained on admission revealed gram-positive cocci, which later proved to be coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. INTERVENTIONIntravenous cefepime and vancomycin were begun soon after admission. A right posterior communicating artery saccular aneurysm was identified on diagnostic cerebral angiography and was treated with bare platinum coils 28 hours after antibiotic therapy was initiated. An extended course of vancomycin was completed. No intracranial infectious complications were noted at 34-month clinical and radiographic follow-up. CONCLUSIONThis is the first case report to document the efficacy and safety of early endovascular coil embolization of a ruptured saccular cerebral aneurysm presenting in the context of active bacteremia. Review of the available literature suggests that a similar strategy for ruptured infectious aneurysms may also be safe. Further validation of this approach for both saccular and infectious aneurysms, however, is required.
Exploring the Mechanisms of the Reductase Activity of Neuroglobin by Site-Directed Mutagenesis of the Heme Distal Pocket

Neuroglobin (Ngb) is a six-coordinate globin that can catalyze the reduction of nitrite to nitric oxide. Although this reaction is common to heme proteins, the molecular interactions in the heme pocket that regulate this reaction are largely unknown. We have shown that the H64L Ngb mutation increases the rate of nitrite reduction by 2000-fold compared to that of wild-type Ngb [Tiso, M. , et al. (2011) J. Biol. Chem. 286, 18277–18289]. Here we explore the effect of distal heme pocket mutations on nitrite reduction. For this purpose, we have generated mutations of Ngb residues Phe28(B10), His64(E7), and Val68(E11). Our results indicate a dichotomy in the reactivity of deoxy five- and six-coordinate globins toward nitrite. In hemoglobin and myoglobin, there is a correlation between faster rates and more negative potentials. However, in Ngb, reaction rates are apparently related to the distal pocket volume, and redox potential shows a poor relationship with the rate constants. This suggests a relationship between the nitrite reduction rate and heme accessibility in Ngb, particularly marked for His64(E7) mutants. In five-coordinate globins, His(E7) facilitates nitrite reduction, likely through proton donation. Conversely, in Ngb, the reduction mechanism does not rely on the delivery of a proton from the histidine side chain, as His64 mutants show the fastest reduction rates. In fact, the rate observed for H64A Ngb (1120 M–1 s–1) is to the best of our knowledge the fastest reported for a heme nitrite reductase. These differences may be related to a differential stabilization of the iron–nitrite complexes in five- and six-coordinate globins.
Frequency and Species Distribution of Gliotoxin-Producing Aspergillus Isolates Recovered from Patients at a Tertiary-Care Cancer Center

ABSTRACT Aspergillus isolates (n = 103) collected from cancer patients were screened to determine the taxonomic distribution and quantity of gliotoxin production. Gliotoxin was detected in 93% of Aspergillus fumigatus, 75% of A. niger, 25% of A. terreus, and 4% of A. flavus cultures. Gliotoxin concentrations were highest in cultures of A. fumigatus.
Multilayered Knowledge Base for Triage Task in Mass Casualty Situations

Use of portable ultrasound becomes common practice in mass casualty situations. The obtained information helps emergency crews to make decisions regarding on-site triage, helping in determination of adequate diagnostics in proper time for saving lives of patients. In this article a design of multilayered knowledge base in domain of the abdominal region ultrasound examination for the case of mass casualty situations is described. Layers 1-2 correspond to casualty’s severity state, and layer 3 – to pathologies when the free fluid is present in the abdominal cavity, that is not the consequence of an abdominal injury.
Physiological properties of primary sensory neurons appropriately and inappropriately innervating skeletal muscle in adult rats.

1. We have studied the physiology of primary sensory neurons innervating rat hindlimb muscle in the following: 1) normal control animals; 2) animals in which the gastrocnemius nerve (Gn) had regenerated to its original muscle target; and 3) animals in which the cutaneous sural nerve (Sn) had regenerated to a foreign target, muscle. 2. Single-unit recordings were made from 115 afferents in normal, intact animals. They had conduction velocities of 0.8-67.2 m/s, which were distributed with peaks at approximately 1.25, 17.5, and 47.5 m/s. Of the myelinated fibers, 88% had low-threshold mechanosensitive receptive fields and responded to ramp-and-hold stretches of the muscle. The large majority of these fibers (85%) gave slowly adapting responses to ramp-and-hold stretches or direct muscle probing. Stretch-sensitive afferents could be divided (on the basis of their responses to active muscle contraction) into in-parallel or in-series receptors (presumed muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs, respectively). The in-parallel receptors outnumbered the in-series receptors by approximately 3:2. The 12% of fibers that were insensitive to stretches of the muscle in the physiological range could be divided into roughly equal groups of totally insensitive fibers and high-threshold fibers, which required excessive stretching of the muscle. 3. In the animals with regrown Gn, 94 single fibers with conduction velocities ranging from 11 to 60.6 m/s were studied. The myelinated conduction velocity distribution exhibited only one peak, at approximately 37.5 m/s. Only 67% of the afferents were stretch sensitive (vs. 88% in normal animals), and only about two-thirds of these (vs. 85% in normal animals) gave slowly adapting responses to ramp-and-hold stretches or muscle probing. The incidence of in-series receptors was also increased among regenerated gastrocnemius afferents. The 33% of fibers that were stretch insensitive were mostly unresponsive to even extreme forms of mechanical stimuli. This group presumably represents afferents that failed to make appropriate endings. 4. In the animals with Sn directed to muscle, 460 single afferents were recorded. Their conduction velocities ranged from 0.7 to 67.9 m/s, and the distribution exhibited only a single peak for myelinated fibers at approximately 22.5 m/s, significantly lower than for intact or regrown Gn. Only 41% of the myelinated fibers were stretch sensitive. Nearly all of these (98%) were rapidly adapting to ramp-and-hold stretches or muscle probing, in marked contrast to the other groups. Also, unlike other groups, nearly all stretch-sensitive afferents appeared to be in-series. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Fatigue Detection Based on Infrared Video Pupillography

Detection of drowsiness can be used in many fields to prevent accidents caused by human errors in machine and vehicle operations. The pupil which is innervated by the autonomic nervous system was found to change in parallel with the level of alertness. In this paper, we introduce a fatigue detection system based on infrared video pupillography. A subject's level of vigilance was distinguished by comparing the waveform of the varying pupile diameter of an alter person with a drowsy person's. The design of the system is illustrated in this paper, as well as the correct way to calculate the pupil size when the pupile boundary is occluded by eyelids or eyelashes. The results show that significant differences can be found in drowsy and alert groups: in the drowsy group, pupil diameter fluctuates with large amplitude at low frequencies; while in the alert group pupil size remains stable for a long time and oscillating with amplitudes rarely exceeding ±±5%(about 0.3mm).
Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Behavioral and/or Psychological Symptoms in Dementia

Background: Recently, interest in nonpharmaceutical interventions in dementia care has increased. Animal-assisted therapy has been shown to be one promising intervention but more knowledge is needed. The present article reports on a pilot study involving an 84-year-old woman with vascular dementia who was systematically trained with a therapy dog team for 8 weeks. Methods: A quasi-experimental longitudinal interventional design with pre-post measures was used. Data were collected on 3 occasions. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Results: Some effects on the woman’s ability to walk and move were identified. In addition, some effects in the woman’s cognitive state were observed. Conclusions: Physical, psychological, and/or social training with certified therapy dog teams can have effects on behavioral and psychological symptoms in people living with dementia. Further research is needed.
Prevalence of Malnutrition of Pupils in Primary Schools in Ado Local Government Area of Ekiti State , Nigeria

The study investigated the prevalence of malnutrition of pupils in selected primary schools in Ado local government area of Ekiti state, Nigeria . The study population was drawn from Public Primary School (PPS), Private Primary School (PRPS) and State Pilot Primary School (SPPS) in the Ado local government area of Ekiti State. Purposive Sampling techniques were used for the selection of respondents. A total 200 primary school student comprising of 120(60%) females and 80 (40%) males participated in the study. Well tested and validated questionnaires were used to elicit information from the respondents. Two research questions were raised and tested. The result revealed a high prevalence of malnutrition among the selected pupils in primary schools, using Body Mass Index (BMI). Prevalence of malnutrition was significantly higher in Public primary school (PPS under weight: 18.5% and overweight 10.5%) followed by Private primary school (PRPS under weight :10.5% and over weight :15.5%) and State Pilot primary school (SPPS under weight: 9.0% and over weight :111.0%). Hence, it is recommended that activities to reduce the prevalence of malnutrition should be encouraged.
Further studies on seed transmission in the ecology of some aphid-transmitted viruses.

SUMMARY A small proportion (1–4%) of the seeds of Stellaria media extracted from fallow soil from three widely separated areas contained cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). S. media seeds buried for 21 months produced 5 % infected seedlings. S. media plants from Britain, N. America and Australia were least severely affected by the CMV strain obtained from their country of origin and showed more severe reactions when infected with two alien strains. Several weed species were experimentally infected with lettuce mosaic, turnip mosaic and cauliflower mosaic viruses but, although virus was detected in the seeds of some species, it was not transmitted to any of their seedlings.