Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Echocardiographic Predictors of Reverse Remodeling After Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy and Subsequent Events

Background—Studies of echocardiographic predictors of response after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) have largely involved single parameters. We hypothesized that combining parameters would be more robust and sought to develop a multiparametric echocardiographic score for predicting CRT response. Methods and Results—Global longitudinal strain of left ventricle was added to standard echocardiographic measurements in 334 consecutive patients (224 men; mean, 65±12 years) who underwent baseline echocardiography before CRT and underwent follow-up echocardiograms at 1 year. Regression analysis was performed to create an echocardiographic score for prediction of LV reverse remodeling (defined as ≥15% reduction in the LV end-systolic volume). Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify the association of the score with death, transplantation or LV assist device implantation, and heart failure hospitalization during 57±22 months of follow-up. LV reverse remodeling (n=161; 48%) was associated with pre-CRT LV end-diastolic dimension index <3.1 cm/m2, global longitudinal strain of left ventricle <–7%, left atrial area <26 cm2, right ventricular end-diastolic area index <10.0 cm2/m2, right atrial area <20 cm2, and right ventricular fractional area change ≥35%. Combination of these into an echocardiographic score allowed prediction of LV reverse remodeling with a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 79%. During follow-up, there were 134 deaths, 18 heart transplantations/LV assist device implantations, and 93 heart failure admissions. The score was associated with heart failure admission, heart transplantation/LV assist device, or death (hazard ratio, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0.95–0.98; P<0.001) and all-cause death (hazard ratio, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0.96–0.98; P<0.001), independent of age, sex, ischemic cause, and initial functional class. Conclusions—A multiparametric echocardiographic score is helpful in selecting patients likely to undergo reverse remodeling after CRT and predicts clinical outcomes.
Cell cycle‐dependent regulation of extra‐adrenal glucocorticoid synthesis in murine intestinal epithelial cells

Glucocorticoids are anti‐inflammatory steroids with important applications in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Endogenous glucocorticoids are mainly produced by the adrenal glands, although there is increasing evidence for extra‐adrenal sources. Recent findings show that intestinal crypt cells produce glucocorticoids, which contribute to the maintenance of intestinal immune homeostasis. Intestinal glucocorticoid synthesis is critically regulated by the transcription factor liver receptor homologue‐1 (LRH‐1). As expression of steroidogenic enzymes and LRH‐1 is restricted to the proliferating cells of the crypts, we aimed to investigate the role of the cell cycle in the regulation of LRH‐1 activity and intestinal glucocorticoid synthesis. We here show that either pharmacological or molecular modulation of cell cycle progression significantly inhibited expression of steroidogenic enzymes and synthesis of glucocorticoids in intestinal epithelial cells. Synchronization of intestinal epithelial cells in the cell cycle revealed that expression of steroidogenic enzymes is preferentially induced at the G1/S stage. Differentiation of immature intestinal epithelial cells to mature nonproliferating cells also resulted in reduced expresion of steroidogenic enzymes. This cell cycle‐related effect on intestinal steroidogenesis was found to be mediated through the regulation of LRH‐1 transcriptional activity. This mechanism may restrict intestinal glucocorticoid synthesis to the proliferating cells of the crypts. — Atanasov, A. G. , Leiser, D. , Roesselet, C. , Noti, M. , Corazza, N. , Schoonjans, C. , Brunner, T. Cell cycle‐dependent regulation of extra‐adrenal glucocorticoid synthesis in murine intestinal epithelial cells. FASEB J. 22, 4117–4125 (2008)
Safety and Effectiveness of Bone Marrow Cell Concentrate in the Treatment of Chronic Critical Limb Ischemia Utilizing a Rapid Point-of-Care System

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is the end stage of lower extremity peripheral vascular disease (PVD) in which severe obstruction of blood flow results in ischemic rest pain, ulcers and/or gangrene, and a significant risk of limb loss. This open-label, single-arm feasibility study evaluated the safety and therapeutic effectiveness of autologous bone marrow cell (aBMC) concentrate in revascularization of CLI patients utilizing a rapid point-of-care device. Seventeen (17) no-option CLI patients with ischemic rest pain were enrolled in the study. Single dose of aBMC, prepared utilizing an intraoperative point-of-care device, the Res-Q™ 60 BMC system, was injected intramuscularly into the afflicted limb and patients were followed up at regular intervals for 12 months. A statistically significant improvement in Ankle Brachial Index (ABI), Transcutaneous Oxygen Pressure (TcPO2), mean rest pain and intermittent claudication pain scores, wound/ ulcer healing, and 6-minute walking distance was observed following aBMC treatment. Major amputation-free survival (mAFS) rate and amputation-free rates (AFR) at 12 months were 70.6% and 82.3%, respectively. In conclusion, aBMC injections were well tolerated with improved tissue perfusion, confirming the safety, feasibility, and preliminary effectiveness of aBMC treatment in CLI patients.
Air Pollution and Health Studies in China—Policy Implications

ABSTRACT During the rapid economic development in China, ambient air pollutants in major cities, including PM10 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm) and SO2 have been reduced due to various measures taken to reduce or control sources of emissions, whereas NO2 is stable or slightly increased. However, air pollution levels in China are still at the higher end of the world level. Less information is available regarding changes in national levels of other pollutants such as PM2.5 and ozone. The Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection (MOEP) set an index for “controlling/reducing total SO2 emissions” to evaluate the efficacy of air pollution control strategy in the country. Total SO2 emissions declined for the first time in 2007. Chinese epidemiologic studies evidenced adverse health effects of ambient air pollution similar to those reported from developed countries, though risk estimates on mortality/morbidity per unit increase of air pollutant are somewhat smaller than those reported in developed countries. Disease burden on health attributable to air pollution is relatively greater in China because of higher pollution levels. Improving ambient air quality has substantial and measurable public health benefits in China. It is recommended that the current Chinese air quality standards be updated/revised and the target for “controlling/reducing total SO2 emissions” be maintained and another target for “reducing total NO2 emissions” be added in view of rapid increase in motor vehicles. Continuous and persistent efforts should be taken to improve ambient air quality. IMPLICATIONS Two recommendations are made to policy-makers based on the analysis of Chinese air pollution in cities and its adverse health effects: (1) Revise and update the current Chinese air quality standards. (2) Maintain the current “controlling/reducing total SO2 emissions” as an index for reflecting the efficacy of air pollution control strategy and to add another index for “reducing total NO2 emissions”.
Transverse Magnetic ENZ Resonators: Robustness and Optimal Shape Design

We study certain ``geometric-invariant resonant cavities'' introduced by Liberal et. al in a 2016 Nature Comm. paper, modeled using the transverse magnetic reduction of Maxwell's equations. The cross-section consists of a dielectric inclusion surrounded by an ``epsilon-near-zero'' (ENZ) shell. When the shell has the right area, its interaction with the inclusion produces a resonance. Mathematically, the resonance is a nontrivial solution of a 2D divergence-form Helmoltz equation $\nabla \cdot \left(\varepsilon^{-1}(x,\omega) \nabla u \right) + \omega^2 \mu u = 0$, where $\varepsilon(x,\omega)$ is the (complex-valued) dielectric permittivity, $\omega$ is the frequency, $\mu$ is the magnetic permeability, and a homogeneous Neumann condition is imposed at the outer boundary of the shell. This is a nonlinear eigenvalue problem, since $\varepsilon$ depends on $\omega$. Use of an ENZ material in the shell means that $\varepsilon(x,\omega)$ is nearly zero there, so the PDE is rather singular. Working with a Lorentz model for the dispersion of the ENZ material, we put the discussion of Liberal et. ~al.~on a sound foundation by proving the existence of the anticipated resonance when the loss is sufficiently small. Our analysis is perturbative in character despite the apparently singular form of the PDE. While the existence of the resonance depends only on the area of the ENZ shell, the rate at which it decays depends on the shape of the shell. We consider an associated optimal design problem: what shape shell gives the slowest-decaying resonance? We prove that if the dielectric inclusion is a ball then the optimal shell is a concentric annulus. For an inclusion of any shape, we study a convex relaxation of the design problem using tools from convex duality, and discuss the conjecture that our relaxed problem amounts to considering homogenization-like limits of nearly optimal designs.
Inhibitory leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors: Immune checkpoint proteins and tumor sustaining factors

ABSTRACT Inhibitory leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors (LILRBs 1-5) transduce signals via intracellular immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIMs) that recruit protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 6 (PTPN6 or SHP-1), protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 11 (PTPN11 or SHP-2), or Src homology 2 domain-containing inositol phosphatase (SHIP), leading to negative regulation of immune cell activation. Certain of these receptors also play regulatory roles in neuronal activity and osteoclast development. The activation of LILRBs on immune cells by their ligands may contribute to immune evasion by tumors. Recent studies found that several members of LILRB family are expressed by tumor cells, notably hematopoietic cancer cells, and may directly regulate cancer development and relapse as well as the activity of cancer stem cells. LILRBs thus have dual concordant roles in tumor biology – as immune checkpoint molecules and as tumor-sustaining factors. Importantly, the study of knockout mice indicated that LILRBs do not affect hematopoiesis and normal development. Therefore LILRBs may represent ideal targets for tumor treatment. This review aims to summarize current knowledge on expression patterns, ligands, signaling, and functions of LILRB family members in the context of cancer development.
Research news and Comment: Confessions of a Quantitative Educational Researcher Trying to Teach Qualitative Research

T idea for this article grew from a chart with Alan Peshkin at the 1993 AERA Annual Meeting. As I was walking through the exhibit area, I noticed Professor Peshkin, clean shaven, sitting at the Longman booth. Because Professor Peshkin is a former colleague and because I use his textbook (Glesne & Peshkin, 1992), I thought I might pick up some hints on teaching qualitative research. Parenthetically, for over 25 years I have taught measurement and statistics. In describing my professional training to Professor Peshkin, I mentioned also that I have an AB and MAT in sociology and that, as an undergraduate, I had taken several courses in anthropology. Professor Peshkin responded that my background was better than most of the "first generation" of professors of qualitative research. Fve been chewing on that "first generation" label since last year. This article is the result. Although I have no formal training in qualitative research, for the past 2 years I have taught a graduate course entitled "Ethnography in School and Community Settings. " Because of the terminal illness of one faculty member and the failure of a formal search, I have become the "little Dutch boy with his thumb in the dike. " Through this article I can share my successes (some) and can ask for help in those areas that need improvement (many). Most of all, I wish to initiate a dialogue with those of the "first generation" who, although not trained formally in the area, nevertheless teach qualitative research methods, either as a unit in the introductory educational research course or as a "stand-alone" ethnography or qualitative research course. Following Van Maanen (1988) the perspective of this article is that of a "confessional tale," a tale whose "concern [is] how the fieldworker's life was lived upriver among the natives" (p. 75). Obviously, the natives are my ethnography students. A secondary perspective, in a pedagogical if not philosophical sense, is constructivism, as used in science and mathematics education. In the language of realtors I am having an open house so that others can examine my construction of qualitative research and its instruction, and perhaps suggest some additions and improvements.
Modulations of NeuroD Activity Contribute to the Differential Effects of Morphine and Fentanyl on Dendritic Spine Stability

The cellular level of neurogenic differentiation 1 (NeuroD) is modulated differentially by μ-opioid receptor agonists; fentanyl increases NeuroD level by reducing the amount of microRNA-190 (miR-190), an inhibitor of NeuroD expression, whereas morphine does not alter NeuroD level. In the current study, NeuroD activity was demonstrated to be also under agonist-dependent regulation. After 3 d of treatment, morphine and fentanyl decreased the activity of the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II α (CaMKIIα), which phosphorylates and activates NeuroD. Because NeuroD activity is determined by both the CaMKIIα activity and the cellular NeuroD level, the overall NeuroD activity was reduced by morphine, but maintained during fentanyl treatment. The differential effects of agonists on NeuroD activity were further confirmed by measuring the mRNA levels of four NeuroD downstream targets: doublecortin, Notch1, neurogenic differentiation 4, and Roundabout 1. Decreased dendritic spine stability and μ-opioid receptor signaling capability were also observed when NeuroD activity was attenuated by miR-190 overexpression or treatment with KN93, a CaMKIIα inhibitor. The decrease could be rescued by NeuroD overexpression, which restored NeuroD activity to the basal level. Furthermore, elevating NeuroD activity attenuated the morphine-induced decrease in dendritic spine stability. Therefore, by regulating NeuroD activity, μ-opioid receptor agonists modulate the stability of dendritic spines.
Are business academics in Australia experiencing emotional labour? A call for empirical research

Abstract The concept of ‘emotional labour’ is concerned with occasions when feelings are managed to create publically observable emotions in organizational settings in ways that involve them being ‘sold for a wage’ and therefore taking on an ‘exchange value’ (Hochschild (1983: 7). Drawing on an in-depth literature review, this paper explore grounds for arguing that business academics in Australia are experiencing emotional labor. The authors consider the application of findings concerned with emotional labor in a variety of occupations in relation to the context of university business schools. More specifically, they discuss how two decades of increasing marketisation, commercialisation and service orientated university practices may have contributed to emotional labor in Australian university business schools. The paper draws two conclusions. Firstly, educational managers need to be better informed about the positive and negative implications of emotional labor so that they can develop appropriate strategies, guidelines and workplace environments at the organizational level. Secondly, that a review of the literature suggests that empirical research is warranted in order to address the question posed in the title of the paper.
Multi-Objective Evolutionary Neural Architecture Search for Recurrent Neural Networks

Artificial neural network (NN) architecture design is a nontrivial and time-consuming task that often requires a high level of human expertise. Neural architecture search (NAS) serves to automate the design of NN architectures and has proven to be successful in automatically finding NN architectures that outperform those manually designed by human experts. NN architecture performance can be quantified based on multiple objectives, which include model accuracy and some NN architecture complexity objectives, among others. The majority of modern NAS methods that consider multiple objectives for NN architecture performance evaluation are concerned with automated feed forward NN architecture design, which leaves multi-objective automated recurrent neural network (RNN) architecture design unexplored. RNNs are important for modeling sequential datasets, and prominent within the natural language processing domain. It is often the case in real world implementations of machine learning and NNs that a reasonable trade-off is accepted for marginally reduced model accuracy in favour of lower computational resources demanded by the model. This paper proposes a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm-based RNN architecture search method. The proposed method relies on approximate network morphisms for RNN architecture complexity optimisation during evolution. The results show that the proposed method is capable of finding novel RNN architectures with comparable performance to state-of-the-art manually designed RNN architectures, but with reduced computational demand.
Zippo: Zipping Color and Transparency Distributions into a Single Diffusion Model

Beyond the superiority of the text-to-image diffusion model in generating high-quality images, recent studies have attempted to uncover its potential for adapting the learned semantic knowledge to visual perception tasks. In this work, instead of translating a generative diffusion model into a visual perception model, we explore to retain the generative ability with the perceptive adaptation. To accomplish this, we present Zippo, a unified framework for zipping the color and transparency distributions into a single diffusion model by expanding the diffusion latent into a joint representation of RGB images and alpha mattes. By alternatively selecting one modality as the condition and then applying the diffusion process to the counterpart modality, Zippo is capable of generating RGB images from alpha mattes and predicting transparency from input images. In addition to single-modality prediction, we propose a modality-aware noise reassignment strategy to further empower Zippo with jointly generating RGB images and its corresponding alpha mattes under the text guidance. Our experiments showcase Zippo's ability of efficient text-conditioned transparent image generation and present plausible results of Matte-to-RGB and RGB-to-Matte translation.
Disruption of axoplasmic transport induces mechanical sensitivity in intact rat C‐fibre nociceptor axons

Peripheral nerve inflammation can cause axons conducting through the inflamed site to become mechanically sensitive. Axonal mechanical sensitivity (AMS) of intact axons may explain symptoms in a diverse number of conditions characterized by radiating pain evoked by movements of the affected nerve. Because nerve inflammation also disrupts axoplasmic transport, we hypothesized that the disruption of axoplasmic transport by nerve inflammation could cause the cellular components responsible for mechanical transduction to accumulate and become inserted at the inflamed site, causing AMS. This was tested by examining AMS in C‐fibre nociceptors following the application of axoplasmic transport blockers (colchicine and vinblastine) to the sciatic nerve. Both 10 mm colchicine and 0.1 mm vinblastine caused AMS to develop in 30.6% and 33.3% of intact axons, respectively (P < 0.05 compared to sham treatment). Since high doses of colchicine (> 50 mm) can damage axons, and inflammation is involved in the removal of axonal debris, experiments were performed to assess conduction across the treatment site as well as signs of inflammation. Results indicated minimal axonal loss (95% of A‐ and C‐fibres conducting), consistent with the normal microscopic appearance of the colchicine treatment site and absence of ED1‐positive (recruited) macrophages. In a separate series of experiments, the block of axoplasmic transport proximal to a localized neuritis significantly reduced inflammation‐induced AMS (15.6% compared to 55.6%; P < 0.05), further supporting that the components necessary for AMS are moved by anterograde transport. In summary, nerve inflammation that causes the disruption of axoplasmic transport in patients with painful conditions may result in the accumulation and insertion of mechanosensitive elements at the inflamed site.
Off-the-Grid Recovery of Piecewise Constant Images from Few Fourier Samples

We introduce a method to recover a continuous domain representation of a piecewise constant two-dimensional image from few low-pass Fourier samples. Assuming the edge set of the image is localized to the zero set of a trigonometric polynomial, we show the Fourier coefficients of the partial derivatives of the image satisfy a linear annihilation relation. We present necessary and sufficient conditions for unique recovery of the image from finite low-pass Fourier samples using the annihilation relation. We also propose a practical two-stage recovery algorithm which is robust to model-mismatch and noise. In the first stage we estimate a continuous domain representation of the edge set of the image. In the second stage we perform an extrapolation in Fourier domain by a least squares two-dimensional linear prediction, which recovers the exact Fourier coefficients of the underlying image. We demonstrate our algorithm on the super-resolution recovery of MRI phantoms and real MRI data from low-pass Fourier samples, which shows benefits over standard approaches for single-image super-resolution MRI.
A comparison of equating/linking using the Stocking-Lord method and concurrent calibration with mixed-format tests in the non-equivalent groups common-item design under IRT

A comparison of equating/linking using the Stocking-Lord method and concurrent calibration with mixed-format tests in the non-equivalent groups common-item design under IRT By Feng Tian Larry Ludlow Ph.D., Chair There has been a steady increase in the use of mixed-format tests, that is, tests consisting of both multiple-choice items and constructed-response items in both classroom and large-scale assessments. This calls for appropriate equating methods for such tests. As Item Response Theory (IRT) has rapidly become mainstream as the theoretical basis for measurement, different equating methods under IRT have also been developed. This study investigated the performances of two IRT equating methods using simulated data: linking following separate calibration (the Stocking-Lord method) and the concurrent calibration. The findings from this study show that the concurrent calibration method generally performs better in recovering the item parameters and more importantly, the concurrent calibration method produces more accurate estimated scores than linking following separate calibration. Limitations and directions for future research are