Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Elastin Haploinsufficiency Results in Progressive Aortic Valve Malformation and Latent Valve Disease in a Mouse Model

Rationale: Elastin is a ubiquitous extracellular matrix protein that is highly organized in heart valves and arteries. Because elastic fiber abnormalities are a central feature of degenerative valve disease, we hypothesized that elastin-insufficient mice would manifest viable heart valve disease. Objective: To analyze valve structure and function in elastin-insufficient mice (Eln+/−) at neonatal, juvenile, adult, and aged adult stages. Methods and Results: At birth, histochemical analysis demonstrated normal extracellular matrix organization in contrast to the aorta. However, at juvenile and adult stages, thin elongated valves with extracellular matrix disorganization, including elastin fragment infiltration of the annulus, were observed. The valve phenotype worsened by the aged adult stage with overgrowth and proteoglycan replacement of the valve annulus. The progressive nature of elastin insufficiency was also shown by aortic mechanical testing that demonstrated incrementally abnormal tensile stiffness from juvenile to adult stages. Eln+/− mice demonstrated increased valve interstitial cell proliferation at the neonatal stage and varied valve interstitial cell activation at early and late stages. Gene expression profile analysis identified decreased transforming growth factor-&bgr;–mediated fibrogenesis signaling in Eln+/− valve tissue. Juvenile Eln+/− mice demonstrated normal valve function, but progressive valve disease (predominantly aortic regurgitation) was identified in 17% of adult and 70% of aged adult Eln+/− mice by echocardiography. Conclusions: These results identify the Eln+/− mouse as a model of latent aortic valve disease and establish a role for elastin dysregulation in valve pathogenesis.
RFID Support for Accurate 3D Localization

This paper pursues RFID support for localization, aiming to pinpoint an object in 3D space. Given a set of RFID tags and/or readers deployed as reference points at known locations in a hexahedron (like shipping container or storage room), a passive and an active localization schemes are considered in this paper. Being the very first range-free 3D localization, our schemes depend solely on RFID tags and readers without other devices or sensors, and it avoids the need of distance estimation according to received wireless signal strength or phase difference. Our passive scheme locates an RFID tag attached to the target object, with both tags and readers as reference points. The active scheme locates an RFID reader, by iteratively determining a 3D sphere best covering the activated reference tags, referred to as the decision boundary optimization scheme (DeB). Results by simulations and testbed experiments using Alien RFID kits have been obtained, and they reveal that DeB outperforms its passive counterpart and achieves the localization error of 0.07 ft. Additionally, DeB yields better location accuracy and yet is much faster than a previous counterpart. With enhanced DeB (EDeB), accuracy of an object located near a hexahedron side or corner is improved considerably.
New Media, Micromobilization, and Political Agenda Setting: Crossover Effects in Political Mobilization and Media Usage

In November 2007, Dutch secondary school students revolted against a requirement known as the “1040-hour norm. ” New Web technologies, like instant messaging, YouTube, and social networking sites, played an important role in the mobilization effort. In this article, the authors argue that these technologies facilitate a shift toward micromobilization by individuals and small groups. In this “1040-hour norm” case study, the authors analyze how the course of the political agenda-setting process is being transformed through the interplay between processes of meso- and micromobilization, and through new micro-to-mass media crossover effects. When supported by micromedia, the effects of micromobilization can create strategic surprises for traditional intermediary organizations and policymakers.
Photoemission of Bi2Se3 with circularly polarized light: Probe of spin polarization or means for spin manipulation?

Topological insulators are characterized by Dirac-cone surface states with electron spins locked perpendicular to their linear momenta. Recent theoretical and experimental work implied that this specific spin texture should enable control of photoelectron spins by circularly polarized light. However, these reports questioned the so far accepted interpretation of spin-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. We solve this puzzle and show that vacuum ultraviolet photons (50-70 eV) with linear or circular polarization indeed probe the initial-state spin texture of Bi2Se3 while circularly polarized 6-eV low-energy photons flip the electron spins out of plane and reverse their spin polarization, with its sign determined by the light helicity. Our photoemission calculations, taking into account the interplay between the varying probing depth, dipole-selection rules, and spin-dependent scattering effects involving initial and final states, explain these findings and reveal proper conditions for light-induced spin manipulation. Our results pave the way for future applications of topological insulators in optospintronic devices.
Should Business Groups Be Dismantled? The Equilibrium Costs of Efficient Internal Capital Markets

We analyze the relationship between conglomerates' internal capital markets and the efficiency of economy-wide capital allocation, and identify a novel cost of conglomeration that arises from an equilibrium framework. Because of financial market imperfections engendered by imperfect investor protection, conglomerates that engage in "winner-picking" (Stein, 1997) find it optimal to allocate scarce capital internally to mediocre projects, even when other firms in the economy have higher productivity projects that are in need of additional capital. This bias for internal capital allocation can decrease allocative efficiency even when conglomerates have efficient internal capital markets, because a substantial presence of conglomerates might make it harder for other firms in the economy to raise capital. We also argue that the negative externality associated with conglomeration is particularly costly for countries that are at intermediary levels of financial development. In such countries, a high degree of conglomeration, generated for example by the control of the corporate sector by family business groups, may decrease the efficiency of the capital market. Our theory generates novel empirical predictions that cannot be derived in models that ignore the equilibrium effects of conglomerates. These predictions are consistent with anecdotal evidence that the presence of business groups in developing countries inhibits the growth of new independent firms due to lack of finance.
The first South Atlantic hurricane: Unprecedented blocking, low shear and climate change

In March 2004 the first‐ever reported hurricane in the South Atlantic hit southern Brazil. Here we show that Catarina initiated as an extratropical cyclone in a frontal system, undergoing Tropical Transition two days later under persistent low vertical wind shear over near‐average water temperatures. The trajectory derived from an automatic tracking scheme showed a rare loop before the cyclone approached the coast for a second time. The vertical structure presented anticyclonic relative vorticity above and a small 300 hPa warm core embedded in a cold area. A mid‐to‐high latitude‐blocking index showed that the five days before the genesis were in the 0.6% first percentile of intensity considered over the last 25 years, followed by an unprecedented combination with low shear. The observed and predicted trends towards an increasingly positive phase of the Southern Annular Mode in global warming scenarios could favor similar conditions, increasing the probability of more Tropical Cyclones in the South Atlantic.
Biceps tissue bioimpedance changes from isotonic exercise-induced fatigue at different intensities

Electrical impedance measurements of biological tissues, also referred to as bioimpedance, quantify the passive electrical properties of these materials. The motivation behind collecting these measurements is to provide details regarding the electrochemical structures and processes within these tissues. Bioimpedance measures have recently been investigated as a method to monitor morphological and physiological changes that occur in skeletal muscle during contraction as well as result from fatigue. Objective: To investigate the effect of exercise intensity during a fatiguing protocol of the biceps brachii on the electrical impedance changes of biceps tissue due to an isotonic protocol. Approach: Resistance (R) and reactance (X) measurements were collected from the right and left biceps of 18 participants pre and post execution of a fatiguing protocol using an isotonic exercise to task failure at two intensities, either 60% (N = 10) or 75% (N = 8) of their assessed one-repetition maximum strength. Main Results: There were significant differences (p < 0.05) between the pre and post fatigue R and X within groups due to the exercise protocol. But no significant differences (p > 0.05) of the R and X between groups at different intensities and no significant differences (p > 0.05) of changes between the left and right biceps in both groups. Significance: These results show that the level of exercise intensity did not significantly impact the changes in electrical impedance of the biceps tissue between the two intensity groups in this study when the same fatigue criteria are used, which is an important consideration when using EIM to monitor changes as a result of fatigue and exercise related injury.
Area-Selective Growth of Aligned ZnO Nanorod Arrays for MEMS Device Applications

ZnO nanorods (NRs) arrays with good vertical alignment were selectively grown on microscale patterned surfaces by a MEMS-compatible, low-temperature chemical-bath deposition method (CBD). The direct-current (DC) sputtered and subsequently annealed ZnO seed-layer was found to have a crucial effect on the ZnO NRs growth. Depending on the pre-annealing temperature between 200 °C and 700 °C, which is compatible with our microcantilever fabrication process, diameters and area densities of the NRs of 60–99 nm and 17–27 µm−2 were observed, respectively, with the best alignment at 600 °C. A surface-area enlargement factor of 48 was achieved with respect to a ZnO layer indicating the potential of ZnO NRs arrays for MEMS applications, such as gas sensing.
[Doppler flowmetry measurements in testicular artery of aging men].

AIM Testicular artery Doppler flow measurements in aging males were performed for the evaluation of eventual disorders of vascular flow in vessels supplying the testes. MATERIAL AND METHODS 40 men aged between 51 and 80 years (studied group) and 40 healthy men aged below 40 (control group) were examined. The volume of testes and qualitative flow indices (S: D, PI, RI) in terminal section of testicular artery were measured. The difference between particular values obtained in both groups and the correlation of those parameters with testes volume and patients' age was determined. RESULTS PI and RI values were significantly higher in studied group when compared to the control one. The correlation coefficient between values of flow indices and testes volume as same as patients' age appeared to be unsignificant in all cases with the only exception in case of S: D and testes volume in studied group. CONCLUSION The values of qualitative flow indices indicate the increased vascular resistance in testicular artery of aging males.
Oxygen isotopes in tree rings are a good proxy for Amazon precipitation and El Niño-Southern Oscillation variability

We present a unique proxy for the reconstruction of variation in precipitation over the Amazon: oxygen isotope ratios in annual rings in tropical cedar (Cedrela odorata). A century-long record from northern Bolivia shows that tree rings preserve the signal of oxygen isotopes in precipitation during the wet season, with weaker influences of temperature and vapor pressure. Tree ring δ18O correlates strongly with δ18O in precipitation from distant stations in the center and west of the basin, and with Andean ice core δ18O showing that the signal is coherent over large areas. The signal correlates most strongly with basin-wide precipitation and Amazon river discharge. We attribute the strength of this (negative) correlation mainly to the cumulative rainout processes of oxygen isotopes (Rayleigh distillation) in air parcels during westward transport across the basin. We further find a clear signature of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the record, with strong ENSO influences over recent decades, but weaker influence from 1925 to 1975 indicating decadal scale variation in the controls on the hydrological cycle. The record exhibits a significant increase in δ18O over the 20th century consistent with increases in Andean δ18O ice core and lake records, which we tentatively attribute to increased water vapor transport into the basin. Taking these data together, our record reveals a fresh path to diagnose and improve our understanding of variation and trends of the hydrological cycle of the world’s largest river catchment.
Differential Effects Between a Calcium Channel Blocker and a Diuretic When Used in Combination With Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker on Central Aortic Pressure in Hypertensive Patients

The aim of this study was to compare the effects between calcium channel blockers and diuretics when used in combination with angiotensin II receptor blocker on aortic systolic blood pressure (BP) and brachial ambulatory systolic BP. We conducted a prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded end point study in 207 hypertensive patients (mean age: 68.4 years). Patients received olmesartan monotherapy for 12 weeks, followed by additional use of azelnidipine (n=103) or hydrochlorothiazide (n=104) for 24 weeks after randomization. The central BP by radial artery tonometry, aortic pulse wave velocity, and ambulatory BP were assessed at baseline and 24 weeks later. After adjustment for baseline covariates, the extent of the reduction in central systolic BP in the olmesartan/azelnidipine group was significantly greater than that in the olmesartan/hydrochlorothiazide group (the between-group difference was 5.2 mm Hg; 95% CI: 0.3 to 10.2 mm Hg; P=0.039), whereas the difference in the reduction in brachial systolic BP between the groups was not significant (2.6 mm Hg; 95% CI: −2.2 to 7.5 mm Hg; P=0.29). The aortic pulse wave velocity showed a significantly greater reduction for the olmesartan/azelnidipine combination than for the olmesartan/hydrochlorothiazide combination (0.8 m/s; 95% CI: 0.5 to 1.1 m/s; P<0.001) after adjustment for covariates. The extent of the reduction in brachial ambulatory systolic BP was similar between the groups. These data showed that the combination of olmesartan (20.0 mg) and azelnidipine (16.0 mg) had a more beneficial effect on central systolic BP and arterial stiffness than the combination of olmesartan (20.0 mg) and hydrochlorothiazide (12.5 mg), despite the lack of a significant difference in brachial systolic BP reduction between the 2 treatments.
The effect of global F0 contour shape on the perception of tonal timing contrasts in American English intonation

Results from an ABX perception task involving the contrast between defaultand late-timed pitch accents ((L+)H* and L*+H) in American English intonation demonstrate that pitch movement curvature, in addition to turning-point alignment, plays a role in determining listener categorization. A model based on Tonal Center of Gravity, effectively integrating both F0 turning-point and global contour-shape information, is shown to provide a better account of these results than can a model based on turning-points alone. Results suggest further that additional factors, such as scaling of the pitch accent in the frequency domain, may also play a role.
An Evaluation of Clustering and Classification Algorithms in Life-Logging Devices

Using life-logging devices and wearables is a growing trend in today’s society. These yield vast amounts of information, data that is not directly overseeable or graspable at a glance due to its size. Gathering a qualitative, comprehensible overview over this quantitative information is essential for life-logging services to serve its purpose.This thesis provides an overview comparison of CLARANS, DBSCAN and SLINK, representing different branches of clustering algorithm types, as tools for activity detection in geo-spatial data sets. These activities are then classified using a simple model with model parameters learned via Bayesian inference, as a demonstration of a different branch of clustering.Results are provided using Silhouettes as evaluation for geo-spatial clustering and a user study for the end classification. The results are promising as an outline for a framework of classification and activity detection, and shed lights on various pitfalls that might be encountered during implementation of such service.
New potential antiscarring approaches

Significant progress has been made in scar research in which an anti‐transforming growth factor‐β strategy has already been translated from an experimental study to a clinical trial. However, scar reduction and elimination remain an unmet medical need because of the difficulty in its treatment. The authors of this article would like to propose several new potential antiscarring approaches for scar prevention including anti‐transforming growth factor‐β, multifactor therapies, tissue regeneration, and tissue‐engineered skin. In addition, scar remodeling is also proposed as an alternative new potential approach for scar therapy. We hope that some of these potential approaches might be translated into clinical scar therapies in the near future.
N‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)retinamide induces apoptosis in human retinal pigment epithelial cells: Retinoic acid receptors regulate apoptosis, reactive oxygen species generation, and the expression of heme oxygenase‐1 and Gadd153

N‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4HPR, fenretinide), a retinoic acid (RA) derivative and a potential cancer preventive agent, is known to exert its chemotherapeutic effects in cancer cells through induction of apoptosis. Earlier work from our laboratory has shown that relatively low concentrations of 4HPR induce neuronal differentiation of cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE‐19) cells (Chen et al., 2003, J Neurochem 84:972–981). However, at higher concentrations of 4HPR, these cells showed morphological changes including cell shrinkage and cell death. Here we demonstrate that ARPE‐19 cells treated with 4HPR exhibit a dose‐ and time‐dependent induction of apoptosis as evidenced by morphological changes, mono‐ and oligonucleosome generation, and increased activity of caspases 2 and 3. The 4HPR‐induced apoptosis as well as the activation of caspases 2 and 3 were blocked by both retinoic acid receptors (RAR) pan‐antagonists, AGN193109 and AGN194310, and by an RARα‐specific antagonist AGN194301. 4HPR treatment also increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in ARPE‐19 cells in a time‐dependent manner as determined from the oxidation of 2′,7′‐dichlorofluorescin. In addition, the increase in the expression of heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1), a stress response protein, and the growth arrest and DNA damage‐inducible transcription factor 153 (Gadd153) in response to the ROS generation were also blocked by these receptor antagonists. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), a free‐radical scavenger, inhibited 4HPR‐induced ROS generation, the expression of its downstream mediator, Gadd153, and apoptosis in the pretreated cells. Therefore, our results, clearly demonstrate that 4HPR induces apoptosis in ARPE‐19 cells and that RARs mediate this process by regulating ROS generation as well as the expression of Gadd153 and HO‐1. J. Cell. Physiol. 209: 854–865, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Role of KIR 3 DS 1 in Human Diseases

The Harvard community has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters. The function of natural killer (NK) cells is controlled by several activating and inhibitory receptors, including the family of killer-immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs). One distinctive feature of KIRs is the extensive number of various haplotypes generated by the gene content within the KIR gene locus as well as by highly polymorphic members of the KIR gene family, namely KIR3DL1/S1. Within the KIR3DL1/S1 gene locus, KIR3DS1 represents a conserved allelic variant and displays other unique features in comparison to the highly polymorphic KIR3DL1 allele. KIR3DS1 is present in all human populations and belongs to the KIR haplotype group B. KIR3DS1 encodes for an activating receptor featuring the characteristic short cytoplasmic tail and a positively charged residue within the transmem-brane domain, which allows recruitment of the ITAM-bearing adaptor molecule DAP12. Although HLA class I molecules are thought to represent natural KIR ligands, and HLA-Bw4 molecules serve as ligands for KIR3DL1, the ligand for KIR3DS1 still needs to be identified. Despite the lack of formal evidence for an interaction of KIR3DS1 with HLA-Bw4-I80 or any other HLA class I subtype to date, a growing number of associations between the presence of KIR3DS1 and the outcome of viral infections have been described. Especially, the potential protective role of KIR3DS1 in combination with HLA-Bw4-I80 in the context of HIV-1 infection has been studied intensively. In addition, a number of recent studies have associated the presence or absence of KIR3DS1 with the occurrence and outcome of some malignancies, autoimmune diseases, and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). In this review, we summarize the present knowledge regarding the characteristics of KIRD3S1 and discuss its role in various human diseases.
Longitudinal Models of Growth and Survival Applied to the Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease

This article explores new statistical methodologies for using longitudinal data in the early prediction of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Specifically, the authors examine some new techniques that allow the joint or “shared” estimation of longitudinal components based on both duration (survival) and quantitative changes (growth curves). These new shared growth-survival parameter models may be used to characterize the declining functions that anticipate the onset of AD. The authors apply these models to data from the Kungsholmen Project, a longitudinal study of aging in Stockholm, Sweden. They examine age-based survival-frailty models for the onset of AD, latent growth-decline curve models for changes in cognition over age, and 3 alternative forms of models for the shared relationships of survival and early cognitive decline. The accuracy and reliability of this approach is considered for a better understanding of the developmental course of AD in these data, including the potential removal of biases due to subject selection.