Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Control of Experimental Trypanosoma brucei Infections Occurs Independently of Lymphotoxin-α Induction

ABSTRACT Trypanosome infections are marked by severe pathological features, including anemia, splenomegaly, and suppression of T-cell proliferation. We have used lymphotoxin-α-deficient (LT-α−/−) mice, as well as LT-α-tumor necrosis factor-double-deficient (LT-α−/− TNF−/−) mice, to analyze the contributions of these related cytokines in both induction of trypanosomosis-associated immunopathology and infection control. Moreover, as the cytokine-deficient mice used have no detectable lymph nodes and lack germinal-center formation upon immune stimulation, we have analyzed the functional importance of both the lymph nodes and spleen during experimental Trypanosoma brucei infections. First, we show that the absence of LT-α does not significantly alter early trypanosomosis development or pathology but does result in better control of late-stage parasitemia levels and slightly prolonged survival. This increased survival of infected LT-α−/− mice coincides with the appearance of increased chronic-stage anti-trypanosome immunoglobulin M (IgM)-IgG2a serum titers that are generated in the absence of functional peripheral lymphoid tissue and do not require germinal-center formation. Second, we show that splenectomized mice control their parasitemia to the same extent as fully immune-competent littermates. Finally, using LT-α−/− TNF−/− double-deficient mice, we show that in these mice T. brucei infections are very well controlled during the chronic infection stage and that infection-induced pathology is minimized. Together, these findings indicate that while increased IgM-IgG2a anti-trypanosome antibody titers (generated in the absence of LT-α, peripheral lymph nodes, and germinal-center formation) coincide with improved parasitemia control, it is TNF that has a major impact on trypanosomosis-associated immunopathology.
La mortalité et les causes de décès des Marocains en France 1979 à 1991. II. Les causes de décès

Résumé Khlat (Myriam), Courbage (Youssef). - La mortalité et les causes de décès des Marocains en France de 1979 à 1991. II. - Les causes de décès Les causes de décès des immigrés marocains en France ont été examinées entre 1979 et 1991, en redressant le sous-enregistrement des décès à l'aide d'une méthode indirecte basée sur leur distribution par âge. Comparés à la France entière, Marocains et Marocaines partagent une sous-mortalité par maladies du système nerveux et des organes des sens, et une sous-mortalité cancéreuse. Cette dernière se vérifie chez les premiers pour la plupart des localisations, chez les secondes pour l'intestin et le sein uniquement, avec à l'opposé des décès plus fréquents par tumeurs du poumon et de l'utérus. Seuls les hommes bénéficient d'une sous-mortalité pour les maladies de l'appareil circulatoire, alors que les femmes au contraire subissent une légère surmortalité pour l'ensemble des causes relevant de ce chapitre, de même qu'elles subissent une surmortalité par diabète, par maladies des organes génito-urinaires, et une forte surmortalité maternelle. Avant 25 ans, les décès par accidents de la circulation sont moins fréquents dans les deux sexes, mais au-delà les hommes présentent une surmortalité pour cette cause de décès. Les suicides sont moins fréquents chez les hommes, alors que les Marocaines âgées de 10 à 24 ans présentent une surmortalité par suicide ; on observe également dans les deux sexes une surmortalité par autres morts violentes. Ces résultats sont discutés à la lumière des connaissances sur le mode de vie et la consommation médicale des Marocains en France.
Response of convection to relative sea surface temperature: Cloud‐resolving simulations in two and three dimensions

[1] The properties of equilibrated tropical convection are studied using a cloud‐resolving model with large‐scale dynamics parameterized by the weak temperature gradient (WTG) approximation. Model integrations are performed in both 2‐D and 3‐D geometries. The target profile toward which horizontal mean free tropospheric temperature is relaxed is held fixed, while sea surface temperature (SST) is varied. Consistent with previous studies, large‐scale ascent and precipitation increase under WTG as the SST is increased, but more rapidly in two dimensions than in three dimensions. This is related to greater extremes of near‐surface buoyancy in two dimensions as well as a lower gross moist stability, and perhaps also to weaker entrainment. In both two and three dimensions, the vertical profiles of large‐scale vertical velocity are top heavy and remarkably self‐similar in shape as SST is increased. When all integrations are analyzed together, precipitation increases with column‐integrated relative humidity once the latter reaches a threshold, as in observations and other models. However, within each integration, the two quantities are correlated negatively, albeit over a very narrow range.
A generalized transition network representation for interactive systems

A general method for describing the behavior of an interactive system is presented which is based on transition networks generalized enough to describe even very complex systems easily, as shown by an example description of a word processor. The key feature is the ability to easily describe hierarchies of modes or states of the system. The representation system is especially valuable as a design tool when used in a simulation of a proposed user interface. In order to characterize the interaction between a user and a system, an explicit and formal representation of the behavior of the system itself is needed. To be of value in the design of user interfaces, the representation should be independent of the actual implementation of the system, but also reflect the structural properties of the system's behavior, such as its hierarchical form, the possible modes, and the consistent patterns of interaction. At the same time, the representation must be easy to define and understand. This paper presents a representation notation with these properties.
The Ambivalent Consumer: A Sequential Investigation of Response Amplification in Buyer-Seller Encounters

Consumers have become increasingly skeptical about salespeople’s persuasion attempts. Nonetheless, during the decision-making process, consumers depend on the aid of salespeople because of their knowledge. This dependence can result in consumer ambivalence toward the sales encounter—consumers may feel torn between their distrust and suspicion toward salespeople, and yet they need their help and expertise to make an informed decision. Using both qualitative and sequential experimental methods, we investigate how ambivalence manifests itself in the buyer-seller encounter, how and when it can be reduced, and its effect on attitudes and intent to purchase. Our results demonstrate that positive message amplification can be a potential help but also a hindrance in the initial buyer-seller encounter. Specifically, we found that ambivalent consumers responded more favorably to positive information provided by the salesperson after the interaction. This result may have emerged because consumers are more skeptical of salespeople and their guard is up when interacting with such individuals.
Option Pricing Using the Fractional FFT

This paper shows how the recently developed fractional FFT algorithm (FRFT) can be used to retrieve option prices from the corresponding characteristic functions. The FRFT algorithm has the advantage of using the characteristic function information in a more efficient way than the straight FFT. Typically, therefore, fewer function evaluations are needed and substantial savings in computational time can be made. Two experiments, based on the stochastic volatility and the variance-gamma models, illustrate the benefits of using the fractional version of the FFT and show that option prices can be delivered up to 45 times faster without substantial loss of accuracy in the results.
Multiple factors may influence the performance of a visual prosthesis based on intracortical microstimulation: nonhuman primate behavioural experimentation

We hypothesize that a visual prosthesis capable of evoking high-resolution visual perceptions can be produced using high-electrode-count arrays of penetrating microelectrodes implanted into the primary visual cortex of a blind human subject. To explore this hypothesis, and as a prelude to human psychophysical experiments, we have conducted a set of experiments in primary visual cortex (V1) of non-human primates using chronically implanted Utah Electrode Arrays (UEAs). The electrical and recording properties of implanted electrodes, the high-resolution visuotopic organization of V1, and the stimulation levels required to evoke behavioural responses were measured. The impedances of stimulated electrodes were found to drop significantly immediately following stimulation sessions, but these post-stimulation impedances returned to pre-stimulation values by the next experimental session. Two months of periodic microstimulation at currents of up to 96 µA did not impair the mapping of receptive fields from local field potentials or multi-unit activity, or impact behavioural visual thresholds of light stimuli that excited regions of V1 that were implanted with UEAs. These results demonstrate that microstimulation at the levels used did not cause functional impairment of the electrode array or the neural tissue. However, microstimulation with current levels ranging from 18 to 76 µA (46 ± 19 µA, mean ± std) was able to elicit behavioural responses on eight out of 82 systematically stimulated electrodes. We suggest that the ability of microstimulation to evoke phosphenes and elicit a subsequent behavioural response may depend on several factors: the location of the electrode tips within the cortical layers of V1, distance of the electrode tips to neuronal somata, and the inability of nonhuman primates to recognize and respond to a generalized set of evoked percepts.
Social Movement Participation in the Digital Age

Motives to participate in online versus offline collective action were investigated among environmental activists in the Netherlands. A sample (N = 738) consisting of activists, sympathizers, and nonactivists, reported past and intended participation in online and offline activism. Using structural equation modeling, it was examined whether online activism was predicted by different factors than offline activism. A wide range of predictors was derived from central theories about mobilization and collective action, including identification, relative deprivation, attitudes, subjective norm, perceived efficacy of action, and self-efficacy. Results show that when compared with offline actions, participation in online actions was slightly more motivated by cognitive calculations (efficacy) and less by affective factors (identification). Moreover, results reflect the popularity and potential of the Internet for activities that surpass the individual. This research gives an empirical insight in the influence of Internet on motives for collective action and on the participation of peripheral members.
Antibacterial efficacy of Mangifera indica L. kernel and Ocimum sanctum L. leaves against Enterococcus faecalis dentinal biofilm

Introduction: The Enterococcus faecalis biofilm in the root canal makes it difficult to be eradicated by the conventional irrigants with no toxicity to the tissues. Hence, plant products with least side effects are explored for their use as irrigants in the root canal therapy. Aim: To evaluate and compare the antibacterial efficacy of Mangifera indica L. kernel (mango kernel) and Ocimum sanctum L. leaves (tulsi) extracts with conventional irrigants (5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and 2% chlorhexidine) against E. faecalis dentinal biofilm. Materials and Methods: Agar diffusion and broth microdilution assay was performed with the herbal extracts and conventional irrigants (2% chlorhexidine and 5% NaOCl) against E. faecalis planktonic cells. The assay was extended onto 3 week E. faecalis dentinal biofilm. Results: Significant reduction of colony forming units (CFU)/mL was observed for the herbal groups and the antibacterial activity of the herbal groups was at par with 5% NaOCl. Conclusions: The antibacterial activity of these herbal extracts is found to be comparable with that of conventional irrigants both on the biofilm and planktonic counterparts.
SISO and SIMO Accompaniment Cancellation for Live Solo Recordings Based on Short-Time ERB-Band Wiener Filtering and Spectral Subtraction

Research in collaborative music learning is subject to unresolved problems demanding new technological solutions. One such problem poses the suppression of the accompaniment in a live recording of a performance during practice, which can be for the purposes of self-assessment or further machine-aided analysis. Being able to separate a solo from the accompaniment allows to create learning agents that may act as personal tutors and help the apprentice improve his or her technique. First, we start from the classical adaptive noise cancelling approach, and adjust it to the problem at hand. In a second step, we compare some adaptive and Wiener filtering approaches and assess their performances on the task. Our findings underpin that adaptive filtering is inapt of dealing with music signals and that Wiener filtering in the short-time Fourier transform domain is a much more effective approach. In addition, it is very cheap if carried out in the frequency bands of auditory filters. A double-output extension based on maximal-ratio combining is also proposed.
Directed and Systematic Differentiation of Cardiovascular Cells From Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Background— Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are a novel stem cell population induced from mouse and human adult somatic cells through reprogramming by transduction of defined transcription factors. However, detailed differentiation properties and the directional differentiation system of iPS cells have not been demonstrated. Methods and Results— Previously, we established a novel mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell differentiation system that can reproduce the early differentiation processes of cardiovascular cells. We applied our ES cell system to iPS cells and examined directional differentiation of mouse iPS cells to cardiovascular cells. Flk1 (also designated as vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2)-expressing mesoderm cells were induced from iPS cells after ≈4-day culture for differentiation. Purified Flk1+ cells gave rise to endothelial cells and mural cells by addition of vascular endothelial growth factor and serum. Arterial, venous, and lymphatic endothelial cells were also successfully induced. Self-beating cardiomyocytes could be induced from Flk1+ cells by culture on OP9 stroma cells. Time course and efficiency of the differentiation were comparable to those of mouse ES cells. Occasionally, reexpression of transgene mRNAs, including c-myc, was observed in long-term differentiation cultures. Conclusions— Various cardiovascular cells can be systematically induced from iPS cells. The differentiation properties of iPS cells are almost completely identical to those of ES cells. This system would greatly contribute to a novel understanding of iPS cell biology and the development of novel cardiovascular regenerative medicine.
Delayed postprandial gastric emptying and impaired gallbladder contraction together with elevated cholecystokinin and peptide YY serum levels sustain satiety and inhibit hunger in healthy elderly persons.

BACKGROUND Altered gastric and cholecystic motility are risk factors for malnutrition in elderly persons, mainly through impaired satiety-appetite rhythm. Contrasting data have been published about this topic. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in healthy elderly participant, postprandial gastric and cholecystic emptying in relation to serum CCK (cholecystokinin) and PYY (peptide YY), as well as satiety and hunger sensations. METHODS We studied 10 community-dwelling elderly persons, (77 +/- 3 years old) and 9 younger adult persons (32 +/- 8 years old). Using ultrasonography, we measured gastric antrum area and cholecystic volume in fasting condition and after an 800-kcal mixed meal. Time for gastric and cholecystic emptying, and percentage of cholecystic emptying were calculated. Satiety and hunger were evaluated every 30 minutes using visual analogue scales. CCK and PYY serum levels were assayed 30 minutes before and at times 0, 30, 60, 120, and 240 minutes after the meal. RESULTS Elderly participants showed a longer gastric emptying time compared to younger participants (448 +/- 104 vs 306 +/- 57 minutes, p <.002). Postprandial cholecystic emptying was significantly reduced in the older group (maximum contraction, 69% vs 84%; p <.05). After the meal, CCK and PYY levels showed higher, persistent elevation in elderly participants. In this group, postprandial satiety lasted significantly longer than in younger participants, and hunger was suppressed throughout the postprandial period. Antral area directly correlated with satiety and inversely with hunger. Gallbladder volume inversely correlated to satiety. CONCLUSIONS This study showed, in a group of healthy elderly people, delayed gastric emptying associated to reduced cholecystic contractility together with higher CCK and PYY serum levels. These modifications facilitated long-lasting satiety and hunger suppression after a meal. This condition may lead to caloric restriction and finally to malnutrition at older ages.
Systematic review of definitions and methods of measuring falls in randomised controlled fall prevention trials.

OBJECTIVE to review systematically the range of case definitions and methods used to measure falls in randomised controlled trials. DESIGN/METHODS a Cochrane review of fall prevention interventions was used to identify fall definitions in published trials. Secondary searches of various databases were used to identify additional methodological or theoretical papers. Two independent reviewers undertook data extraction, with adjudication by a third reviewer in cases of disagreement. SETTINGS community-dwelling and institutionalised older persons. RESULTS 90 publications met the predefined inclusion criteria. Of these, 44 provided no definition of the term fall. In the remainder, there were substantial variations in the definition and methods of measuring falls. Reporting periods ranged from 1 week to 4 years with only 41% using prospective data collection methods. CONCLUSION the standard of reporting falls in published trials is poor and significantly impedes comparison between studies. The review has been used to inform an international consensus exercise to make recommendations for a core set of outcome measures for fall prevention trials.
Epithelial Cell Polarity Determinant CRB3 in Cancer Development

Cell polarity, which is defined as asymmetry in cell shape, organelle distribution and cell function, is essential in numerous biological processes, including cell growth, cell migration and invasion, molecular transport, and cell fate. Epithelial cell polarity is mainly regulated by three conserved polarity protein complexes, the Crumbs (CRB) complex, partitioning defective (PAR) complex and Scribble (SCRIB) complex. Research evidence has indicated that dysregulation of cell polarity proteins may play an important role in cancer development. Crumbs homolog 3 (CRB3), a member of the CRB complex, may act as a cancer suppressor in mouse kidney epithelium and mouse mammary epithelium. In this review, we focus on the current data available on the roles of CRB3 in cancer development.
The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence

Gavin de Becker, the nation's leading expert on predicting violent behavior, proves that we are all qualified to answer life's highest-stakes questions. "True fear is a gift, " he says, because it is a survival signal that sounds only in the presence of danger; yet unwarranted fear has assumed a power over us that it holds over no other creature on earth. It need not be this way. In this book, de Becker shows that you can already predict violent behavior. Through dozens of compelling stories from his own career, he lays out the pieces of the human violence puzzle and shows how you can solve it by paying attention to the subtle - and sometimes blatant - signals of intuition. As he says, "You can refuse to be a victim. " Filled with unique and surprising insights into human behavior, "The Gift of Fear" will help you separate real from imagined danger, give you confidence in a sometimes threatening world, and make your life measurably safer.
Photofriend: creating visual ethnography with refugee children

The political, social and economic context that circumscribes refugees' lives in Thailand has created the need for research that serves the programmatic demands of nongovernmental organisations and multilateral organisations providing services to children in camps along the border. Thus, research has focused on health indicators and schooling, rather than children's everyday lives. As a result, there are few studies that document their lives as told in their own voices. This paper examines the use of visual ethnography as a participatory method that places children's experience of the everyday at the centre of research. It presents the strengths and limitations of the method as a way of eliciting the thoughts, feelings and memories of children who have encountered armed conflict and displacement.
Immunohistochemical Expression of Estrogen and Progesterone Receptors Identifies a Subset of NSCLCs and Correlates with EGFR Mutation

Purpose: To determine the frequency of estrogen receptor α and β and progesterone receptor protein immunohistochemical expression in a large set of non–small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) specimens and to compare our results with those for some of the same antibodies that have provided inconsistent results in previously published reports. Experimental Design: Using multiple antibodies, we investigated the immunohistochemical expression of estrogen receptors α and β and progesterone receptor in 317 NSCLCs placed in tissue microarrays and correlated their expression with patients' clinicopathologic characteristics and in adenocarcinomas with EGFR mutation status. Results: Estrogen receptors α and β were detected in the nucleus and cytoplasm of NSCLC cells; however, the frequency of expression (nucleus, 5-36% for α and 42-56% for β; cytoplasm: <1-42% for α and 20-98% for β) varied among the different antibodies tested. Progesterone receptor was expressed in the nuclei of malignant cells in 63% of the tumors. Estrogen receptor α nuclear expression significantly correlated with adenocarcinoma histology, female gender, and history of never smoking (P = 0.0048 to <0.0001). In NSCLC, higher cytoplasmic estrogen receptor α expression significantly correlated with worse recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio, 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.12, 2.82; P = 0.015) in multivariate analysis. In adenocarcinomas, estrogen receptor α expression correlated with EGFR mutation (P = 0.0029 to <0.0001). Estrogen receptor β and progesterone receptor but not estrogen receptor α expressed in the normal epithelium adjacent to lung adenocarcinomas. Conclusions: Estrogen receptor α and β expression distinguishes a subset of NSCLC that has defined clinicopathologic and genetic features. In lung adenocarcinoma, estrogen receptor α expression correlates with EGFR mutations. (Clin Cancer Res 2009;15(17):5359–68)