Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Resistance to Rituximab Therapy and Local BAFF Overexpression in Sjögren’s Syndrome-Related Myoepithelial Sialadenitis and Low-Grade Parotid B-Cell Lymphoma

Objective B-cell expansion is a key feature of Sjögren’s syndrome (SS). Accordingly, several studies have reported the benefits of B-cell depletion with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (Rituximab) in the treatment of glandular and extraglandular manifestations of SS. Patients with SS are at increased risk of lymphoma development. B-lymphocyte stimulator (BAFF) is an essential cytokine for the control of B-cell maturation and survival, and high levels of BAFF were described in the serum and salivary glands of SS patients, strongly suggesting a crucial role in the proliferation of B cells in SS. Patient and Methods We describe the treatments employed, with particular regards to rituximab therapy, and the histopathologic and biologic studies, in particular BAFF levels in serum and in pathologic tissues before and after B-cell depletion therapy, and the characterization of the cultured epithelial cells obtained by the parotid gland MALT-lymphoma, in a case of a 51-year old woman with primary SS and mixed cryoglobulinaemia type II with features of systemic vasculitis, who developed a bilateral parotid MALT-type lymphoma. Rheumatoid factor (RF), cryoglobulins, BAFF levels were assessed monthly up to month +6, then at the end of follow-up (month +12), as well as peripheral blood CD19-positive B-cell level Results A significant systemic effect of rituximab on B-cell biomarkers was documented, however, the cryoglobulinemic syndrome did not improve and the parotid enlargement did not decrease confirming the failure of B-cell depletion to affect the parotid lymphoma. BAFF levels decreased only under B-cell depletion associated with high-dose steroids. Tissue studies further documented the persistent overexpression of BAFF in the salivary gland pathologic tissue during the disease course. Conclusion Tissue and systemic overexpression of BAFF may have contributed to resistance to rituximab therapy, in MALT lymphoproliferation associated with SS. Thus, alternative treatment strategies should be then considered, possibly including BAFF-targeted approaches.
Familial Accumulation of Social Anxiety Symptoms and Maladaptive Emotion Regulation

Background Social anxiety is thought to be strongly related to maladaptive emotion regulation (ER). As social anxiety symptoms accumulate in families, we hypothesize that maladaptive ER is also more prevalent in families with anxious children. Thus, we analyze differences in emotion regulation of both child and mother in relation to social anxiety, as well as both their ER strategies in dealing with anxiety. Further, a positive relation between child and maternal ER strategies is assumed. Method Children (aged 9 to 13 years) with social, anxiety disorder (SAD; n = 25) and healthy controls (HC, n = 26) as well as their mothers completed several measures of social anxiety and trait ER strategies towards anxiety. As ER of children is still in development, age is considered as covariate. Results SAD children and their mothers reported more maladaptive ER strategies than HC dyads. Maternal maladaptive ER was related negatively to child adaptive ER which was further moderated by the child’s age. Discussion Maladaptive ER strategies seem to contribute to the exacerbation of social anxiety in both mother and child. Mothers reporting maladaptive ER may have difficulties supporting their child in coping with social anxiety while simultaneously also experiencing heightened levels of anxiety. Deeper understanding of interactional processes between mothers and children during development can assist the comprehension of factors maintaining SAD. Implications for future research and possible consequences for interventions are discussed.
An insight into torque production and power factor in transverse-flux machines

Despite transverse flux machines (TFMs) being intrinsically three-dimensional, it is still possible to model them analytically using relatively simple models. This paper aims to provide an insight into the behaviour of TFMs using a compact equation, which relates torque to the electric and magnetic loadings of the machine and a flux factor. The flux factor is also used to estimate the flux linkage and therefore the power factor of this kind of machines. It is shown that the low power factor of TFMs is not only due to leakage but also due to the nature of the electromagnetic interaction that takes place. The TFM developed at the University of Southampton is used as the basis of a case study to illustrate the trade-off between torque density and power factor, and to provide some design guidelines. The analytical results are verified using finite elements analysis and experimental data.
Kepemimpinan Transformasi : Hubungannya Dengan Kepuasan Kerja Dan Motivasi Guru

The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between principal transformation leadership behavior and the teachers' job satisfaction and motivation. The transformation leadership behavior is determined using Bass' s Muttifactor Leadership Questionnaire Form 5X-Rater (1992). While both the teachers' job satisfaction and the teacher's motivation are determined wing Speed's teachers job satisfaction questionnaire and Atkinson (1964) respectively. The survey is also given to the principal of each school to obtain the information on gender, age, principal's service duration and the school grade. This study involved 242 teachers from seven secondary school in the district of Yan under the administration of Kuala Muda/Yan District Education Office. Kedah Darul Aman. The data has been analysed using the descriptive statistics method to find out the frequency, percentage, mean, and the irrelevant factors. The inference statistics method is used to test the hypothesis through the test and Pearson correlation. The result of the study has shown that, as a whole, there is a moderate transformational leadership behavior among the principals. It also concluded that gender, age, service duration and school grade did not affected the principal leadership behavior. On the other hand, there is a significant relationship between the principal leadership behavior and teachers' job satisfaction and motivation and also between the job satisfaction and motivation.
Repeatability of DTI‐based skeletal muscle fiber tracking

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)‐based muscle fiber tracking enables the measurement of muscle architectural parameters, such as pennation angle (θ) and fiber tract length (Lft), throughout the entire muscle. Little is known, however, about the repeatability of either the muscle architectural measures or the underlying diffusion measures. Therefore, the goal of this study was to investigate the repeatability of DTI fiber tracking‐based measurements and θ and Lft. Four DTI acquisitions were performed on two days that allowed for between acquisition, within day, and between day analyses. The eigenvalues and fractional anisotropy were calculated at the maximum cross‐sectional area of, and fiber tracking was performed in, the tibialis anterior muscle of nine healthy subjects. The between acquisitions condition had the highest repeatability for the DTI indices and the architectural parameters. The overall inter class correlation coefficients (ICC's) were greater than 0.6 for both θ and Lft and the repeatability coefficients were θ < 10.2° and Lft < 50 mm. In conclusion, under the experimental and data analysis conditions used, the repeatability of the diffusion measures is very good and repeatability of the architectural measurements is acceptable. Therefore, this study demonstrates the feasibility for longitudinal studies of alterations in muscle architecture using DTI‐based fiber tracking, under similar noise conditions and with similar diffusion characteristics. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nitrogen requirement for maintenance in Yangzhou goslings

1. Experiments were conducted to determine the nitrogen (N) requirement for maintenance (Nm) in Yangzhou goslings. 2. At 56 d old, 18 birds were divided into three equal groups and fed on diets with equal metabolisable energy (ME) and different contents of crude protein (CP; low, medium and high) in an N balance test. Nm was estimated from the relationship between N output (NE) and N intake (NI). Following the above N balance test, 16 goslings at the same age were used in a N balance test with an N-free diet. The birds were divided into 4 equal groups and offered an N-free diet at intakes of 90, 70, 50 and 0 g per d, respectively. 3. The estimated Nm was 240 mg/kg BW0·75 per d in the N balance test. The result from the N-free diet trial gave a value of 244 mg/kg BW0·75 per d, confirming the result of the N balance test. The lower intake of N-free diet resulted in more NE, suggesting that protein catabolism may occur in the body of birds to meet Nm when dietary NI was very low. 4. It was concluded that the Nm of Yangzhou goslings was about 240 mg/kg BW0·75.
The influence of dopamine on prediction, action and learning

In this thesis I explore functions of the neuromodulator dopamine in the context of autonomous learning and behaviour. I first investigate dopaminergic influence within a simulated agent-based model, demonstrating how modulation of synaptic plasticity can enable reward-mediated learning that is both adaptive and self-limiting. I describe how this mechanism is driven by the dynamics of agentenvironment interaction and consequently suggest roles for both complex spontaneous neuronal activity and specific neuroanatomy in the expression of early, exploratory behaviour. I then show how the observed response of dopamine neurons in the mammalian basal ganglia may also be modelled by similar processes involving dopaminergic neuromodulation and cortical spike-pattern representation within an architecture of counteracting excitatory and inhibitory neural pathways, reflecting gross mammalian neuroanatomy. Significantly, I demonstrate how combined modulation of synaptic plasticity and neuronal excitability enables specific (timely) spike-patterns to be recognised and selectively responded to by efferent neural populations, therefore providing a novel spike-timing based implementation of the hypothetical ‘serial-compound’ representation suggested by temporal difference learning. I subsequently discuss more recent work, focused upon modelling those complex spike-patterns observed in cortex. Here, I describe neural features likely to contribute to the expression of such activity and subsequently present novel simulation software allowing for interactive exploration of these factors, in a more comprehensive neural model that implements both dynamical synapses and dopaminergic neuromodulation. I conclude by describing how the work presented ultimately suggests an integrated theory of autonomous learning, in which direct coupling of agent and environment supports a predictive coding mechanism, bootstrapped in early development by a more fundamental process of trial-and-error learning.
Incremental Validity of the Typical Intellectual Engagement Scale As Predictor of Different Academic Performance Measures

The incremental validity of the Typical Intellectual Engagement (TIE) scale (Goff & Ackerman, 1992) as a predictor of academic performance (AP) was tested over and above other established determinants of AP, namely, psychometric g (as extracted from 5 cognitive ability tests) and the Big Five personality traits, assessed by the Neuroticism–Extraversion–Openness Five Factor Inventory (Costa & McCrae, 1992). One hundred four British students were tested on arrival to university, and AP measures were collected longitudinally throughout a 3-year period. TIE, g, and Conscientiousness were the highest correlates of AP. A series of multiple-hierarchical regressions showed that TIE had significant incremental validity (over and above g and the Big Five) in the prediction of AP. Implications are discussed in light of the investment theory of intellectual competence and the utility of self-report inventories as predictors of academic achievement.
The Movement Kinematics and Learning Strategies Associated with Adopting Different Foci of Attention during Both Acquisition and Anxious Performance

Research suggests that implicit strategies adopted during learning help prevent breakdown of automatic processes and subsequent performance decrements associated with the presence of pressure. According to the Constrained Action Hypothesis, automaticity of movement is promoted when adopting an external focus of attention. The purpose of the current experiment was to investigate if learning with an external focus of attention can enhance performance under subsequent pressure situations through promoting implicit learning and automaticity. Since previous research has generally used outcome measures of performance, the current study adopted measures of movement production. Specifically, we calculated within-subject variability in trajectory velocity and distance traveled every 10% of movement time. This detailed kinematic analysis allowed investigation into some of the previously unexplored mechanisms responsible for the benefits of adopting an external focus of attention. Novice participants performed a 2.5 m golf putt. Following a pre-test, participants were randomly assigned to one of three focus groups (internal, external, control). Participants then completed 400 acquisition trials over two consecutive days before being subjected to both a low anxiety and high anxiety (HA) transfer test. Dependent variables included variability, number of successful putts and mean radial error. Results revealed that variability was greater in the internal compared to the external and control groups. Putting performance revealed that all groups increased performance following acquisition. However, only the control group demonstrated a decrement in performance in the HA transfer test. These findings suggest that adopting an appropriate focus of attention during learning can prevent choking; with an external focus inhibiting the breakdown of automatic processes and an internal focus acting as a self-focus learning strategy and thus desensitizing individuals to anxiety effects.
Induction and recursion on the partial real line via biquotients of bifree algebras

The partial real line is the continuous domain of compact real intervals ordered by reverse inclusion. The idea is that singleton intervals represent total real numbers, and that the remaining intervals represent partial real numbers. The partial real line has been used to model exact real number computation in the framework of the programming language Real PCF. We introduce induction principles and recursion schemes for the partial unit interval, which allows us to verify that Real PCF programs meet their specification. The theory is based on a domain-equation-like presentation of the partial unit interval, which we refer to as a biquotient of a bifree algebra.
Virtual Reality Feedback Cues for Improvement of Gait in Patients with Parkinson's Disease

Background Our aim was to study the effects of visual feedback cues, responding dynamically to patient's self-motion and provided through a portable see-through virtual reality apparatus, on the walking abilities of patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods Twenty patients participated. On-line and residual effects on walking speed and stride length were measured. Results Attaching the visual feedback device to the patient with the display turned off showed a negligible effect of about 2%. With the display turned on, 56% of the patients improved either their walking speed, or their stride length, or both, by over 20%. After device removal, and waiting for 15 minutes, the patients were instructed to walk again: 68% of the patients showed over 20% improvement in either walking speed or stride length or both. One week after participating in the first test, 36% of the patients showed over 20% improvement in baseline performance with respect to the previous test. Some of the patients reported that they still walked on the tiles in their minds. Discussion Improvements in walking abilities were measured in patients with Parkinson's disease using virtual reality visual feedback cues. Residual effects suggest the examination of this approach in a comprehensive therapy program.
Evaluation of HepaRG Cells as an in Vitro Model for Human Drug Metabolism Studies

HepaRG cells, a newly developed human hepatoma cell line, differentiate into hepatocyte-like morphology by treatment with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The expression of cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes, transporter proteins, and transcription factors was stable in differentiated HepaRG cells over a period of 6 weeks when cultured with DMSO. Compared with human hepatocytes, expression of P450 in HepaRG cells was in general lower with the exception for a considerably higher expression of CYP3A4 and CYP7A1. The expression of P450s generally decreased when DMSO was removed from the medium, whereas transporters and liver-specific factors were unaffected. The relative mRNA content of drug-metabolizing P450s displayed the highest resemblance between human hepatocytes and differentiated HepaRG cells 1 day after removal of DMSO from the medium. The metabolism of midazolam, naloxone, and clozapine in HepaRG cells was similar to human hepatocytes, indicating the function of CYP3A4, CYP1A2, and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase enzymes. However, the metabolism of 7-ethoxycoumarin and dextromethorphan was low, confirming low levels of CYP2E1 and CYP2D6 in HepaRG cells. The P450 probe substrates indicate a decrease in CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, and CYP3A4 activities in HepaRG cells 1 day after removal of DMSO from the medium. The activities were then relatively stable in DMSO-free medium for up to 14 days. Based on the stable expression of liver-specific functions over a long period in culture, the relative mRNA content of drug-metabolizing P450s, and metabolic properties, HepaRG cells provide a valuable in vitro model for human drug metabolism studies.
A Caenorhabditis elegans model to study dopamine transporter deficiency syndrome

Dopamine transporter deficiency syndrome (DTDS) is a novel autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the dopamine transporter (DAT), which leads to the partial or total loss of function of the protein. DTDS is a pharmacoresistant syndrome and very little is known about its neurobiology, in part due to the lack of relevant animal models. The objective of this study was to establish the first animal model for DTDS with strong construct validity, using Caenorhabditis elegans, and to investigate the in vivo role played by DTDS‐related mutations found in human DAT (hDAT). We took advantage of a C. elegans knockout for the hDAT orthologue, cedat‐1, to obtain genetically humanized animals bearing hDAT, in the wild type and in two mutated forms (399delG and 941C>T), in a null background. In C. elegans transgenic animals expressing the human wild‐type form, we observed a rescue of the knockout phenotype, as assessed using two well‐established paradigms, known to be regulated by the endogenous uptake of dopamine or 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) by DAT. The less severe mutation (941C>T) was able to partially rescue only one of the knockout phenotypes, whereas the 399delG mutation impaired DAT function in both phenotypic paradigms. Our in vivo phenotypic findings demonstrate a functional conservation between human and nematode DAT and validate previous in vitro indications of the loss of function of hDAT in carriers of DTDS‐related mutations. Taken together, these observations establish C. elegans as a novel animal model for fast and inexpensive screening of hDAT mutations in functional and in vivo tests.
OBSERVATIONS OF HIERARCHICAL SOLAR-TYPE MULTIPLE STAR SYSTEMS

Twenty multiple stellar systems with solar-type primaries were observed at high angular resolution using the PALM-3000 adaptive optics system at the 5 m Hale telescope. The goal was to complement the knowledge of hierarchical multiplicity in the solar neighborhood by confirming recent discoveries by the visible Robo-AO system with new near-infrared observations with PALM-3000. The physical status of most, but not all, of the new pairs is confirmed by photometry in the Ks band and new positional measurements. In addition, we resolved for the first time five close sub-systems: the known astrometric binary in HIP 17129AB, companions to the primaries of HIP 33555, and HIP 118213, and the companions to the secondaries in HIP 25300 and HIP 101430. We place the components on a color–magnitude diagram and discuss each multiple system individually.
Contribution of vasodilator prostanoids and nitric oxide to resting flow, metabolic vasodilation, and flow-mediated dilation in human coronary circulation.

BACKGROUND Endothelial dysfunction is associated with atherosclerosis and may contribute to ischemic syndromes. We assessed the contribution of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) and vasodilator prostanoids to resting blood flow, metabolic vasodilation, and flow reserve in the human coronary circulation. METHODS AND RESULTS Coronary hemodynamics were assessed before and after inhibition of vasodilator prostanoids and NO with intracoronary aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid [ASA]) and N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), respectively. Angiographically smooth or mildly irregular vessels, with normal adenosine-induced coronary flow reserve, were studied in 25 patients undergoing clinically indicated procedures. Coronary blood velocity was measured by Doppler flow wire, and coronary blood flow (CBF) was calculated. ASA reduced resting conduit vessel diameter by 11% (P = 0.003) and CBF by 27% (P = 0.008) and increased coronary vascular resistance (CVR) by 24% (P<0.0001). ASA attenuated pacing-induced hyperemia by 28% (45.0+/-4.6 versus 32.6+/-3.4 mL/min, P = 0.005) and increased minimum CVR by 39% (2.8+/-0.3 versus 3.9+/-0.5 mm Hg x mL(-1) x min(-1), P = 0.007). L-NMMA reduced resting conduit vessel diameter by 9% (P = 0.05) and CBF by 20% (P = 0.08) and increased CVR by 19% (P = 0.03). L-NMMA attenuated pacing-induced hyperemia by 20% (42.4+/-5.1 versus 34.1+/-3.4 mL/min, P = 0.04) and increased minimum CVR by 33% (2.9+/-0.4 versus 3.8+/-0.5 mm Hg x mL(-1) x min(-1), P = 0.02). ASA (7.7+/-2.3% versus -1.6+/-3.2%, P = 0.06) and L-NMMA (12.1+/-3.9% versus 0.0+/-2.9%, P = 0.02) abolished pacing-induced conduit vessel flow-mediated dilation. Conclusions-Tonic release of vasodilator prostanoids and NO contributes to resting conduit and resistance vessel tone and to peak functional hyperemia and flow-mediated dilation after metabolic stimulation. This underscores the importance of normal endothelial function for metabolic vasodilation and suggests that it may be a key mechanism for preventing myocardial ischemia in coronary artery disease.