Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interleukin 3-dependent and -independent mast cells stimulated with IgE and antigen express multiple cytokines

In response to IgE and specific multivalent antigen, mast cell lines (both growth factor-dependent and -independent) induce the transcription and/or secretion of a number of cytokines having a wide spectrum of activities. We have identified IL-1, IL-3, IL-5, IL-6, IFN- gamma, GM-CSF, JE, MIP1 alpha, MIP1 beta, and TCA3 RNA in at least two of four mast cell clones. The production of these products (except JE) is activation-associated and can be induced by IgE plus antigen. In selected instances cytokine expression can also be induced by activation with Con A or phorbol ester plus ionophore, albeit to levels less than those observed with IgE plus antigen. In addition, long-term mast cell clones and primary cultures of bone marrow-derived mast cells specifically release IL-1, IL-4, and/or IL-6 bioactivity after activation. These findings suggest that in addition to their inflammatory effector function mast cells may serve as a source of growth and regulatory factors. The relationship of mast cells to cells of the T lymphocyte lineage is discussed.
Dependent Hierarchical Beta Process for Image Interpolation and Denoising

A dependent hierarchical beta process (dHBP) is developed as a prior for data that may be represented in terms of a sparse set of latent features, with covariate-dependent feature usage. The dHBP is applicable to general covariates and data models, imposing that signals with similar covariates are likely to be manifested in terms of similar features. Coupling the dHBP with the Bernoulli process, and upon marginalizing out the dHBP, the model may be interpreted as a covariatedependent hierarchical Indian buffet process. As applications, we consider interpolation and denoising of an image, with covariates defined by the location of image patches within an image. Two types of noise models are considered: (i) typical white Gaussian noise; and (ii) spiky noise of arbitrary amplitude, distributed uniformly at random. In these examples, the features correspond to the atoms of a dictionary, learned based upon the data under test (without a priori training data). State-of-the-art performance is demonstrated, with efficient inference using hybrid Gibbs, Metropolis-Hastings and slice sampling.
Hamstring Eccentric Strengthening Program: Does Training Volume Matter?

AIM To compare the effect of low- vs. high-volume of eccentric-biased hamstring training programs on knee-flexor strength and fascicle length changes in elite soccer players. METHODS Nineteen elite youth soccer players took part in this study and were randomly assigned into two subgroups. For 6 weeks in-season, groups performed either a low (1 set per exercise; 10 reps in total) or a high (4 sets; 40 reps) volume eccentric training of their knee flexors. After 6 weeks (MID), players cross-overed and performed the alternate training regimen. Each training set consisted in 4 repetitions of the Nordic hamstring exercise and 6 repetitions of the bilateral stiff-leg deadlift. Eccentric knee-flexor strength (Nordbord) as well as biceps femoris long head (BFlh) and semimembranosus (SM) fascicle length (scanned with ultrasound scanner) were assessed during PRE, MID- and POST-training tests. RESULTS Knee-flexor eccentric strength very likely increased from PRE to MID (+11.3±7.8% [low-volume] and 11.4±5.3% [high-volume]), with a possibly-to-likely increase in BFlh (+4.5±5.0% and 4.8±2.5%) and SM (+4.3±4.7% and 6.3±6.3%) fascicle length in both groups. There was no substantial changes between MID and POST. Overall, there was no clear between-group difference in the changes from PRE to MID and MID to POST for neither knee-flexor eccentric strength, BFlH nor SM fascicle length. CONCLUSION Low-volume knee-flexor eccentric training is as effective as a greater training dose to substantially improve knee-flexor strength and fascicle length in-season in young elite soccer players. Low-volume is however likely more appropriate to be used in an elite team facing congested schedules.
Cost-Effectiveness of Adding Bedaquiline to Drug Regimens for the Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis in the UK

Objective To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of adding bedaquiline to a background regimen (BR) of drugs for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in the United Kingdom (UK). Methods A cohort-based Markov model was developed to estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of bedaquiline plus BR (BBR) versus BR alone (BR) in the treatment of MDR-TB, over a 10-year time horizon. A National Health Service (NHS) and personal social services perspective was considered. Cost-effectiveness was evaluated in terms of Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Data were sourced from a phase II, placebo-controlled trial, NHS reference costs, and the literature; the US list price of bedaquiline was used and converted to pounds (£18,800). Costs and effectiveness were discounted at a rate of 3.5% per annum. Probabilistic and deterministic sensitivity analysis was conducted. Results The total discounted cost per patient (pp) on BBR was £106,487, compared with £117,922 for BR. The total discounted QALYs pp were 5.16 for BBR and 4.01 for BR. The addition of bedaquiline to a BR resulted in a cost-saving of £11,434 and an additional 1.14 QALYs pp over a 10-year period, and is therefore considered to be the dominant (less costly and more effective) strategy over BR. BBR remained dominant in the majority of sensitivity analyses, with a 81% probability of being dominant versus BR in the probabilistic analysis. Conclusions In the UK, bedaquiline is likely to be cost-effective and cost-saving, compared with the current MDR-TB standard of care under a range of scenarios. Cost-savings over a 10-year period were realized from reductions in length of hospitalization, which offset the bedaquiline drug costs. The cost-benefit conclusions held after several sensitivity analyses, thus validating assumptions made, and suggesting that the results would hold even if the actual price of bedaquiline in the UK were higher than in the US.
Segregation of short-wavelength-sensitive (S) cone signals in the macaque dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus

An important problem in the study of the mammalian visual system is whether functionally different retinal ganglion cell types are anatomically segregated further up along the central visual pathway. It was previously demonstrated that, in a New World diurnal monkey (marmoset), the neurones carrying signals from the short‐wavelength‐sensitive (S) cones [blue–yellow (B/Y)‐opponent cells] are predominantly located in the koniocellular layers of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), whereas the red–green (R/G)‐opponent cells carrying signals from the medium‐ and long‐wavelength‐sensitive cones are segregated in the parvocellular layers. Here, we used extracellular single‐unit recordings followed by histological reconstruction to investigate the distribution of color‐selective cells in the LGN of the macaque, an Old World diurnal monkey. Cells were classified using cone‐isolating stimuli to identify their cone inputs. Our results indicate that the majority of cells carrying signals from S‐cones are located either in the koniocellular layers or in the ‘koniocellular bridges’ that fully or partially span the parvocellular layers. By contrast, the R/G‐opponent cells are located in the parvocellular layers. We conclude that anatomical segregation of B/Y‐ and R/G‐opponent afferent signals for color vision is common to the LGNs of New World and Old World diurnal monkeys.
Individual Differences in EEG Spectral Power Reflect Genetic Variance in Gray and White Matter Volumes

The human electroencephalogram (EEG) consists of oscillations that reflect the summation of postsynaptic potentials at the dendritic tree of cortical neurons. The strength of the oscillations (EEG power) is a highly genetic trait that has been related to individual differences in many phenotypes, including intelligence and liability for psychopathology. Here, we investigated whether brain anatomy underlies these EEG power differences by correlating it to gray and white matter volumes (GMV, WMV), and additionally investigated whether this association can be attributed to genes or environmental factors. EEG was measured in a sample of 405 young adult twins and their siblings, and power in the theta (~4 Hz), alpha (~10 Hz), and beta (~20 Hz) frequency bands determined. A subset of 121 subjects were also scanned in a 1.5 T MRI scanner, and gray and white matter volumes defined as the total of cortical and subcortical volumes, excluding cerebellum. Both MRI-based volumes and EEG power spectra were highly heritable. GMV and WMV correlated . 25 to . 29 with EEG power for the slower oscillations (theta, alpha). Moreover, these phenotypic correlations largely reflected genetic covariation, irrespective of oscillation frequency and volume type. Genetic correlations (.31 < rA < .43) revealed that only moderate proportions of the heritable variance overlapped between MRI volumes and EEG power. The results suggest that MRI volumes and EEG power share genetic sources of variation, which may reflect such processes as myelination, synaptic density, and dendritic outgrowth.
Investigation of InGaAsP Quantum-Well EAM Based Pump-Probe Configuration for Ultrafast Optical Signal Processing

A comprehensive theoretical model for analyzing both static and dynamic properties of arbitrary composition In<sub>1</sub><sub>-</sub><sub>x</sub>Ga<sub>x</sub>As<sub>y</sub>P<sub>1</sub><sub>-</sub><sub>y</sub> quantum-well (QW) electro-absorption modulator (EAM) is proposed. Optical absorption spectra of the QW-EAM considering both excitonic transitions and continuum conduction-band to valence-band transitions are included to evaluate the QW-EAM static performance. The dynamic absorption recovery of EAM is calculated as a function of electric field and pump power. Then, based on the theory of the carrier and absorption dynamics, a 40 Gb/s pump-probe configuration for optical signal processing using In<sub>0.53</sub>Ga<sub>0.47</sub> As/InP QW-EAM as nonlinear element is thoroughly investigated. Influence of various parameters including pulse width, optical wavelength, optical power, and QW structure on the intensity and phase variation of the output probe signal through nonlinear interactions between pump and probe signals are investigated. The presented model and investigation are suitable for optimizing the device design and describing the properties of In<sub>1</sub><sub>-</sub><sub>x</sub>Ga<sub>x</sub>As<sub>y</sub>P<sub>1</sub><sub>-</sub><sub>y</sub> QW-EAM used in ultrafast optical signal processing applications.
The chemical identity of intervessel pit membranes in Acer challenges hydrogel control of xylem hydraulic conductivity

Long-distance water transport in wood is well known to be affected by the ionic concentration of xylem sap. Based on immunocytochemistry, we demonstrate that pectic polysaccharides and glycoproteins are not associated with vessel-vessel pit membranes. Therefore, we challenge the hypothesis that the ion-mediated enhancement of hydraulic conductance is caused by a swelling or shrinking of pectins surrounding pit membrane pores. Our findings reinforce the need for an alternative hypothesis besides the pit membrane chemistry to understand this so-called “ionic effect”.
Effect of saffron on thymocyte proliferation, intracellular glutathione levels and its antitumor activity.

Liposome encapsulation of saffron effectively enhanced its antitumor activity towards Sarcoma-180 (S-180) and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma solid tumors in mice. Significant inhibition (P < 0.001) in the growth of these tumors was observed as compared with vehicle (control) mice. In the presence of phytohemagglutinin (PHA), a T cell mitogen, saffron stimulated non-specific proliferation of lymphocytes in vitro. The intracellular reduced glutathione and related enzymes, i.e. glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase, of S-180 tumor cells were significantly elevated when incubated with saffron, possibly acting to maintain functional levels of other antioxidants. Our studies indicate the antioxidant activity of saffron.
Creativity Analysis for Smart Specialist of the Ubiquitous Era

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships among creativity, intrinsic/extrinsic motivation and creative home environment. For this study there were 127 young children subjects under age five from 10 kindergarten classes. Data gathered were analyzed for the verification of the hypothesis of this subject for using SPSS 18.0 program. The results of this study were as follows: First, there were significant positive relationships between the intrinsic motivation and the creative personality of the young children but there were no statistically significant relations between the intrinsic/extrinsic motivation and the creative thinking ability. Second, the intrinsic-high/extrinsic-high motivation group was higher than any other types of motivation groups in creative personality. Third, there were significant relationships between the creative thinking ability and creative personality with the creative home environment.
Polyomavirus large T mutants affected in retinoblastoma protein binding are defective in immortalization

To clarify the relationship between the various activities of the polyomavirus large T antigen and the contribution of this oncogene to neoplastic transformation, we constructed a series of mutants with small deletions or single-amino-acid substitutions in two separate regions of the protein. These sequences were targeted because they showed considerable similarity to conserved regions 1 and 2 of adenovirus E1A which are thought to be binding sites for the retinoblastoma gene product (pRB). The pRB-binding properties of the large T mutants were assessed with an in vitro coimmunoprecipitation assay. pRB binding was readily detected with wild-type large T, but coprecipitation was completely abolished by as little as a single amino acid substitution (Asp-141----Glu or Glu-146----Asp) in region 2 of the polyomavirus large T antigen. Mutants defective in pRB binding were unable to immortalize primary rat embryo fibroblasts, suggesting that association with pRB is an important component of immortalization mediated by polyomavirus large T. The mutations in region 1 affected pRB binding only marginally, yet some of them severely impaired immortalization, indicating that pRB binding may be essential but not sufficient for immortalization.
Nucleic acid drug for inducing skipping of variant exon of cd44 gene and increasing expression of normal type cd44 mrna

Cancer is treated by inhibiting the insertion of a variant exon into mRNA of CD44 gene in a cancer stem cell to thereby dissipate the characteristics of the cancer stem cell and convert the same into an anticancer drug- or radiation-sensitive cell. A cancer treating drug that comprises an antisense oligonucleotide, said antisense oligonucleotide being capable of inducing skipping of a variant exon of CD44 gene and increasing the expression of normal type CD44 mRNA, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a solvate or prodrug of the same. An oligonucleotide consisting of 20-23 bases that has all or a part of any of the base sequences represented by SEQ ID NOS:1-19, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a solvate or prodrug of the same. A drug for inducing skipping of at least one variant exon selected from the group consisting of variants 8, 9 and 10 of CD44 gene, said drug comprising the aforesaid oligonucleotide, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a solvate or prodrug of the same.
Spatial biases during mental arithmetic: evidence from eye movements on a blank screen

While the influence of spatial-numerical associations in number categorization tasks has been well established, their role in mental arithmetic is less clear. It has been hypothesized that mental addition leads to rightward and upward shifts of spatial attention (along the “mental number line”), whereas subtraction leads to leftward and downward shifts. We addressed this hypothesis by analyzing spontaneous eye movements during mental arithmetic. Participants solved verbally presented arithmetic problems (e.g., 2 + 7, 8–3) aloud while looking at a blank screen. We found that eye movements reflected spatial biases in the ongoing mental operation: Gaze position shifted more upward when participants solved addition compared to subtraction problems, and the horizontal gaze position was partly determined by the magnitude of the operands. Interestingly, the difference between addition and subtraction trials was driven by the operator (plus vs. minus) but was not influenced by the computational process. Thus, our results do not support the idea of a mental movement toward the solution during arithmetic but indicate a semantic association between operation and space.
Detection of B19 Parvovirus in Human Fetal Tissues by Electron Microscopy

We present the electron microscopy observations on samples from 38 pregnancies that were investigated for B19 parvovirus infection. Thirty‐four had resulted in fetal loss thought to be due to a virus infection and 22 of the 38 were positive for B19 parvovirus in one or more of the tissues. Twenty‐one placentas and 75 fetal tissue samples were examined. Fresh samples were investigated by immune electron microscopy while formalin‐fixed tissues were examined as thin sections and by negative staining of tissue extracts with direct electron microscopy. Electron microscopy was more sensitive on fresh than on fixed samples. The ultrastructural observations on thin sections of fixed tissues yielded new information locating B19 parvovirus particles in both nucleus and cytoplasm of infected fetal cells. The diagnostic results of the range of electron microscopy assays were compared with those of two hybridization methods. The fresh samples yielded comparable results from electron microscopy and hybridisation assays but on formalin‐fixed materials hybridisation was more sensitive.
Risk factors for death and injuries in earthquake: cross-sectional study from Afyon, Turkey.

AIM To assess the risk factors for deaths and injuries caused by earthquakes in a high-risk earthquake zone. METHODS A cross-sectional study was carried out in Eber town, Cay County, following the earthquake of February 3, 2002 in Afyon, Turkey. This area was particularly affected by the earthquake, with high number of casualties, including many fatalities. The study included 812 persons living in Eber at the time of the earthquake. The study population was interviewed at their homes to obtain information on the deaths and non-fatal injuries, along with potential risk factors for death and injuries. These included the type and degree of the damage to the building, precise location and the initial actions of victims at the moment of the earthquake, and socio-demographic data. RESULTS Earthquake-related mortality rate was 16 per 1,000 people, injury rate was 22 per 1,000 people, and death/injury ratio was 1:1.4. During the earthquake, 60% of the buildings collapsed or were heavily damaged. Risk factors for death and injury were higher among those who lived in collapsed or heavily damaged buildings, wooden type buildings, or those who were near the outer walls during the earthquake. CONCLUSION The most important risk factor for earthquake-induced mortality and morbidity was the degree of damage to the building. Another important risk factor was the location of the individual inside the room at the time of the quake.
An improved SVD-based wall clutter mitigation method for through-the-wall radar imaging

This paper presents an improved SVD-based method for wall clutter mitigation in through-the-wall radar imaging. The dominant wall singular components are identified from the singular value spectrum. A subspace projection method is then applied to remove the strong wall clutter, residing in the dominant singular components, and separate the target signal from noise. The remaining wall clutter residual, which is mixed with the target signal, is suppressed by segmenting the range profile of the signal residing in the subspace orthogonal to the wall and noise subspaces. A Gaussian mixture is used to model the range profile, and the optimum segmentation threshold is found by minimizing the Bayes error. Experiments results show that the proposed method is more effective at reducing wall clutter and preserving the targets than some of the existing wall clutter mitigation methods.
Simultaneous determination of mass and thermal accommodation coefficients from temporal evolution of an evaporating water microdroplet

Scattering of coherent light by an evaporating droplet of pure water several micrometres in size was investigated. The droplet was levitated in an electrodynamic trap placed in a small climatic chamber. The evolution of the droplet radius and the evolution dynamics were investigated by means of analysing the scattering patterns with the aid of Mie theory. A numerical model of droplet evolution, incorporating the kinetic effects near the droplet surface, was constructed. Application of this model to the experimental data allowed us to determine the mass and thermal accommodation coefficients to be αC = 0.12 ± 0.02 and αT = 0.65 ± 0.09, respectively. This model enabled us to determine with high precision the temperature evolution of the droplet and the relative humidity in the droplet vicinity.
Challenges with localized plasma rotation and momentum transport analysis under heating and current drive conditions

Investigation of the localized effects of ICRH (Ion Cyclotron Resonance Heating), LHCD (Lower Hybrid Current Drive), and ECRH (Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating) to plasma rotation and momentum transport in magnetically confined plasmas poses inherent difficulties due to the lack of understanding on the actual torque amount being locally deposited. There are no proven analytic models to simulate such effects in fusion plasmas and diagnostics must provide a sufficient accuracy in the affected local area measurements as well. Given reliable velocity profile measurements, there are possibilities of investigating their localized effects to plasma rotation and momentum transport. In this work, a forward and a backward calculation schemes to predict the localized torque density are presented and discussed.