Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Blood–brain barrier disruption highly induces aquaporin‐4 mRNA and protein in perivascular and parenchymal astrocytes: Protective effect by estradiol treatment in ovariectomized animals

Strong evidence involves aquaporin‐4 (AQP4) in the physiopathology of brain edema. Two major points remain unsolved: (1) the capacity of perivascular glial cells to regulate AQP4 in response to disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB); and (2) the potential beneficial role of AQP4 in the clearance of brain edema. We used intraparenchymal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as an efficient model to induce BBB disruption. This was monitored by IgG extravasation and AQP4 was studied at the mRNA and protein level. The first signs of BBB disruption coincided with strong induction of AQP4 mRNA in perivascular glial cells. At the early phase, estradiol treatment highly prevented the LPS‐induced disruption of the BBB and the induction of AQP4. Efficient clearance of vasogenic edema is supposed to occur once BBB is restored. This phase coincided with high induction of AQP4 mRNA in parenchymal reactive astrocytes and perivascular glial processes. High levels of AQP4 mRNA may be beneficial under these conditions. Our data may clarify why estradiol treatment reduces mortality in conditions typically associated with edema formation, like stroke. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Experimental robustness of FxLMS and disturbance-observer algorithms for active vibration control in

Abstract The paper deals with two fundamentally different approaches for active control of engine-induced vibrations in automotive vehicles. On the one hand the well-known adaptive feedforward approach with a reference sensor is presented. On the other hand the use of feedback structures is also discussed. Both approaches for active vibration control have been simulated and tested intensively in a passenger car equipped with an active absorber system using electromagnetic actuators. On the basis of the obtained results some properties such as stability and robustness have been investigated and reported here.
When Epilepsy Interferes With Word Comprehension: Findings in Landau-Kleffner Syndrome

Landau-Kleffner syndrome is characterized by a regression in receptive language. The factors that affect the clinical expression of this syndrome remain unclear. This study presents neuroimaging findings in 2 patients showing different clinical evolutions. Linguistic regression persisted in 1 patient and evolved positively in the other. In patient A (with severe linguistic regression) there was an overlap between areas engaged during word recognition and those involved in generating the epileptiform activity; in patient B (with better linguistic evolution), receptive language was predominantly represented in the right hemisphere (unaffected). Patient A underwent multiple subpial transections. The 2-year follow-up indicated linguistic improvement, absence of epileptiform activity, and activation of the left temporal cortex during word comprehension. These results suggest that the resolution of the linguistic deficit in Landau-Kleffner syndrome may be modulated by the language-specific cortex freed from interfering epileptiform activity or by reorganization of the receptive language cortex triggered by the epileptic activity.
Individualised therapy is more cost-effective than dose intensification in patients with Crohn’s disease who lose response to anti-TNF treatment: a randomised, controlled trial

Objective Although the reasons for secondary loss of response to infliximab (IFX) maintenance therapy in Crohn’s disease vary, dose intensification is usually recommended. This study investigated the cost-effectiveness of interventions defined by an algorithm designed to identify specific reasons for therapeutic failure. Design Randomised, controlled, single-blind, multicentre study. 69 patients with secondary IFX failure were randomised to IFX dose intensification (5 mg/kg every 4 weeks) (n=36) or interventions based on serum IFX and IFX antibody levels using the proposed algorithm (n=33). Predefined co-primary end points at week 12 were proportion of patients responding (Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) decrease ≥70, or ≥50% reduction in active fistulas) and accumulated costs related to treatment of Crohn’s disease, expressed as mean cost per patient, based on the Danish National Patient Registry for all hospitalisation and outpatient costs in the Danish healthcare sector. Results Costs for intention-to-treat patients were substantially lower (34%) for those treated in accordance with the algorithm than by IFX dose intensification: €6038 vs €9178, p<0.001. However, disease control, as judged by response rates, was similar: 58% and 53%, respectively, p=0.81; difference 5% (−19% to 28%). For per-protocol patients, treatment costs were even lower (56%) in the algorithm-treated group (€4062 vs €9178, p<0.001) and with similar response rates (47% vs 53%, p=0.78; difference −5% (−33% to 22%)). Conclusions Treatment of secondary IFX failure using an algorithm based on combined IFX and IFX antibody measurements significantly reduces average treatment costs per patient compared with routine IFX dose escalation and without any apparent negative effect on clinical efficacy. Trial Registration No NCT00851565.
PERSONALITY PROCESSES AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES Attending Holistically Versus Analytically: Comparing the Context Sensitivity of Japanese and Americans

Much research indicates that East Asians, more than Americans, explain events with reference to the context. The authors examined whether East Asians also attend to the context more than Americans do. In Study 1, Japanese and Americans watched animated vignettes of underwater scenes and reported the contents. In a subsequent recognition test, they were shown previously seen objects as well as new objects, either in their original setting or in novel settings
Preliminary validation of the Michigan Body Map

Abstract We developed the Michigan Body Map (MBM) as a self-report measure to assess body areas where chronic pain is experienced and to specifically quantify the degree of widespread body pain when assessing for centralized pain features (eg, fibromyalgia-like presentation). A total of 402 patients completed the measure in 5 distinct studies to support the validation of the original and a revised version of the MBM. Administration is rapid 39 to 44 seconds, and errors for the original MBM were detected in only 7.2% of the possible body areas. Most errors underestimated the number of painful areas or represented confusion in determining the right vs left side. The MBM was preferred (P = 0.013) and felt to better depict pain location (P = 0.001) when compared with the Widespread Pain Index checklist of the 2011 Fibromyalgia Survey Criteria, but participants did not express any preference between the MBM and Brief Pain Inventory body map. Based on the data from the first 3 studies, a revised version of the MBM was created including a front and back body image and improved guidance on right-sidedness vs left. The revised MBM was preferred when compared with the original and was more accurate in depicting painful body areas (P = 0.004). Furthermore, the revised MBM showed convergent and discriminant validity with other self-report measures of pain, mood, and function. In conclusion, the MBM demonstrated utility, reliability, and construct validity. This new measure can be used to accurately assess the distribution of pain or widespread bodily pain as an element of the fibromyalgia survey score.
Gamma-Ray Burst Polarization: Limits from RHESSI Measurements

Using the RHESSI satellite as a Compton polarimeter, a recent study claimed that the prompt emission of GRB 021206 was almost fully linearly polarized. This was challenged by a subsequent reanalysis. We present a novel approach, applying our method to the same data. We identify Compton scattering candidates by carefully filtering events in energy, time, and scattering geometry. Our polarization search is based on time-dependent scattering rates in perpendicular directions, thus optimally excluding systematic errors. We perform simulations to obtain the instrument's polarimetric sensitivity, and these simulations include photon polarization. For GRB 021206, we formally find a linear polarization degree of ΠGRB = 41%, concluding that the data quality is insufficient to constrain the polarization degree in this case. We further applied our analysis to GRB 030519B and again found a null result.
Interactive dynamics among therapist interventions, therapeutic alliance and metacognition in the early stages of the psychotherapeutic process†

Abstract Objective: Several authors have identified a bidirectional link between patient metacognitive functioning and the therapeutic alliance. Specifically, metacognition might be enhanced by a positive alliance with the clinician, whereas metacognitive deficits might impede the alliance. Interestingly, the therapist’s technical interventions might influence both therapeutic alliance and metacognitive functioning. However, little is known about the interactions between these dimensions. The aim of the present study is to explore these interactions more fully in the earliest phase of the therapeutic process. Method: Participants included 24 patients and 12 therapists in training. The Metacognition Assessment Scale-Revised, Collaborative Interaction Scale, and Psychodynamic Intervention Rating Scale were employed in the first three sessions of psychotherapy. Results: Sequential analyses revealed that different therapist interventions co-occurred with three different levels of the therapeutic alliance: A first level characterized by a positive collaboration, a second characterized by a neutral collaboration, and a third characterized by ruptures. Importantly, the patient’s metacognitive functioning was found to mediate the relationship between the therapeutic intervention and the therapeutic alliance in the positive and neutral levels of collaboration but not in the ruptures one. Conclusions: These findings suggest that a specific interdependence exists among the therapeutic alliance, technical intervention, and metacognitive functioning.
Specular Highlight Removal in Facial Images

We present a method for removing specular highlight reflections in facial images that may contain varying illumination colors. This is accurately achieved through the use of physical and statistical properties of human skin and faces. We employ a melanin and hemoglobin based model to represent the diffuse color variations in facial skin, and utilize this model to constrain the highlight removal solution in a manner that is effective even for partially saturated pixels. The removal of highlights is further facilitated through estimation of directionally variant illumination colors over the face, which is done while taking advantage of a statistically-based approximation of facial geometry. An important practical feature of the proposed method is that the skin color model is utilized in a way that does not require color calibration of the camera. Moreover, this approach does not require assumptions commonly needed in previous highlight removal techniques, such as uniform illumination color or piecewise-constant surface colors. We validate this technique through comparisons to existing methods for removing specular highlights.
Effects of Different In-Stream Structure Representations in Computational Fluid Dynamics Models—Taking Engineered Log Jams (ELJ) as an Example

In-streamstructurescontributegreatlytothebiodiversityinstreamsandplayanimportant role in restoring and protecting rivers. They usually have complex geometries. To evaluate their impact and effectiveness, computational models are increasingly used. However, how to faithfully represent them in computer models remains a challenge. Often, simpliﬁcations have to be made. This work evaluated the effects of geometric simpliﬁcation of an example in-stream structure, an engineered log jam (ELJ), in computational models. Three different representations were considered, namely full resolution, the porous media model and the solid barrier model. The turbulent ﬂow was resolved with large eddy simulation (LES). First, the simulations were validated with a physical experiment in a ﬂume. Then, the results from the three models were comparedandanalyzedonvariousaspectsrelatedtothestabilityandfunctionalitiesofthestructures. Unsurprisingly, it is found that the porous media model and the solid barrier model, which are computationally economic, can describe the ﬂow dynamics only to some extent. From the calibration ofdragforceandwakelength,wefoundthattheequivalentgrainsized50 intheporositymodelshould scale as the key element diameter for the simulated ELJ. A wake length scale analysis was performed for the semi-bounded ﬂow around this in-stream structure near the bank. The length estimator in the literature for unbounded vegetation patches can be used with modiﬁcations. The results also show that the ﬂow passing through the porous in-stream structure has a signiﬁcant impact on mean velocity, turbulence kinetic energy, sediment transport capacity and integral wake length. Since geometrically-fully-resolved simulations are not currently feasible for engineering practices, the following suggestions are made based on this study. If the near-ﬁeld and wake are important for the purpose of the structure, the well-calibrated porosity model seems to perform better than the solid barrier model. However, care needs to be taken when interpreting the results because this work also identiﬁed substantial loss of physical information with the porosity model. When the emphasis is the far ﬁeld away from the structure, both the porosity model and the solid barrier model give comparable results
Cascade processes in picture identification

Abstract The naming of pictures is typically thought to require sequential access to stored structural knowledge about objects, to semantic knowledge, and to a stored phonological description. Access to these different types of knowledge may constitute discrete processing stages; alternatively, it may be that information is transmitted continuously (in cascade) from one type of description to the next. The discrete stage and the cascade accounts make different predictions about the effects of structural and semantic similarity between objects on picture naming. The discrete stage account maintains that the effects of structural similarity should be confined to the process of accessing an object's structural description, and the effects of semantic similarity should be confined to the process of accessing semantic knowledge. The cascade account predicts that the effect of both variables may be passed on to subsequent processing stages. We present evidence drawn from both normal observers and from a patient.
Distant Metastases from Salivary Glands Cancer

Patients who present with malignant salivary glands should at their initial assessment have an X-ray of the chest to exclude the possibility of distant metastases. Patients who have other symptoms, bone pain etc., should be appropriately investigated. The likelihood of patients developing distant metastases is associated with high-grade tumors, most commonly adenoid cystic carcinoma, high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma, salivary duct carcinoma and tumors sited in the submandibular gland, posterior tongue and pharyngeal tumors. Patients who have had a high-grade tumor treated and survived without locoregional recurrence have the same risk of developing distant metastases as those patients who have locoregional recurrence. Other histological types of salivary tumors are associated with a lower risk of developing distant metastases but a real risk remains lifelong. It is recommended that all patients who have a malignant salivary gland tumor treated, any histology, should be followed up and clinically assessed at least once every 12 months for life.
Motor Training Increases the Stability of Activation Patterns in the Primary Motor Cortex

Learning to be skillful is an endowed talent of humans, but neural mechanisms underlying behavioral improvement remain largely unknown. Some studies have reported that the mean magnitude of neural activation is increased after learning, whereas others have instead shown decreased activation. In this study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate learning-induced changes in the neural activation in the human brain with a classic motor training task. Specifically, instead of comparing the mean magnitudes of activation before and after training, we analyzed the learning-induced changes in multi-voxel spatial patterns of neural activation. We observed that the stability of the activation patterns, or the similarity of the activation patterns between the even and odd runs of the fMRI scans, was significantly increased in the primary motor cortex (M1) after training. By contrast, the mean magnitude of neural activation remained unchanged. Therefore, our study suggests that learning shapes the brain by increasing the stability of the activation patterns, therefore providing a new perspective in understanding the neural mechanisms underlying learning.
Acetonic Extract of Buxus sempervirens Induces Cell Cycle Arrest, Apoptosis and Autophagy in Breast Cancer Cells

Plants are an invaluable source of potential new anti-cancer drugs. Here, we investigated the cytotoxic activity of the acetonic extract of Buxus sempervirens on five breast cancer cell lines, MCF7, MCF10CA1a and T47D, three aggressive triple positive breast cancer cell lines, and BT-20 and MDA-MB-435, which are triple negative breast cancer cell lines. As a control, MCF10A, a spontaneously immortalized but non-tumoral cell line has been used. The acetonic extract of Buxus sempervirens showed cytotoxic activity towards all the five studied breast cancer cell lines with an IC50 ranging from 7.74 µg/ml to 12.5 µg/ml. Most importantly, the plant extract was less toxic towards MCF10A with an IC50 of 19.24 µg/ml. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis showed that the plant extract induced cell death and cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase in MCF7, T47D, MCF10CA1a and BT-20 cell lines, concomitant to cyclin D1 downregulation. Application of MCF7 and MCF10CA1a respective IC50 did not show such effects on the control cell line MCF10A. Propidium iodide/Annexin V double staining revealed a pre-apoptotic cell population with extract-treated MCF10CA1a, T47D and BT-20 cells. Transmission electron microscopy analyses indicated the occurrence of autophagy in MCF7 and MCF10CA1a cell lines. Immunofluorescence and Western blot assays confirmed the processing of microtubule-associated protein LC3 in the treated cancer cells. Moreover, we have demonstrated the upregulation of Beclin-1 in these cell lines and downregulation of Survivin and p21. Also, Caspase-3 detection in treated BT-20 and T47D confirmed the occurrence of apoptosis in these cells. Our findings indicate that Buxus sempervirens extract exhibit promising anti-cancer activity by triggering both autophagic cell death and apoptosis, suggesting that this plant may contain potential anti-cancer agents for single or combinatory cancer therapy against breast cancer.
Modality preference and learning style theories: rethinking the role of sensory modality in learning

Learning styles have been widely accepted in pedagogical practice but suffer from a distinct lack of empirical support. While a diverse range of learning styles have been proposed, modality preference has received the most attention within educational research and practice. Supporters of this theory posit that each individual has a dominant sense and that when new material is presented in this preferred modality, learning is improved. For the most part this theory has been debunked, however, it leaves open the question of exactly how sensory modality influences learning. This critical review identifies methodological limitations in previous research and provides a perspective from psychological science, which supports the implausibility of modality preference as a basis for instructional design. To extend on the existing literature, an alternative position is presented suggesting that modality effects are task dependent, hence modality matters, but it matters for everyone in the same way depending on the nature of the learning activity.
Annual survey of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), 2010

ESR conducts annual surveys of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Each year, all hospital and community microbiology laboratories in New Zealand are asked to refer all MRSA isolated during a one-month period to ESR. Laboratories provide epidemiological information with each isolate referred. At ESR, MRSA are typed to identify MRSA strains. The purpose of these annual surveys is to provide information on the epidemiology of MRSA in New Zealand and to monitor changes over time.
Effects of starting score-line, game location, and quality of opposition in basketball quarter score

Abstract In several team sports, the game starting score-line may be understood as a measure of performance accomplishment and hence might have an effect on players' subsequent efforts. The aim of this study was to identify the effect of the starting score-line, game location, and quality of opposition on basketball game quarter final score. The sample comprised 504 game quarters from the Spanish Basketball Professional League and these were classified as balanced (difference in scores equal of 8 points or less, n=194) and unbalanced (difference in scores of more than 8 points, n=310) using k-means cluster procedures. The effects of the predictor variables on game quarter outcome (difference between points scored and points received) in the whole game and in the second, third, and fourth game quarters were analysed using linear regression analysis. The starting game quarter score-line was only significant in unbalanced situations with very similar effects among different game quarters. The greater the difference in accumulated score at the beginning of each quarter, the more points recovered by the teams who were losing. A small effect from the quality of the opponent was found in the second and third quarters, whereas game location only had an effect when analysing the whole game and second quarter using balanced and unbalanced game quarters combined.
Morphological Zerotree Compression Coding Based on Integer Wavelet Transform for Iris Image

After comparing features of the EZW and the MRWD which are famous wavelet image compression code algorithm, we present an algorithm in view of iris texture characteristic. This algorithm is based on integer wavelet transformation while it has less bit planes, and wavelet coefficients do not need to be quantified, so the image can be completely recovered. Under the condition, we utilize the wavelet coefficient zerotree structure and the important wavelet coefficient clustering with similar statistical property which is based on bit plane decomposing, applying zerotree structure to express non-important wavelet coefficient effectively, using morphology cluster operation to simulate iris texture growth characteristic of important wavelet coefficient, realizing morphological zerotree compression. The experimental results indicate this algorithm has the higher compression rate and the better restoration effect and it can be applied effectively in iris identification.