Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Upregulation of NLRP3 Inflammasome in the Tears and Ocular Surface of Dry Eye Patients

Purpose To evaluate the mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3 inflammasome and its downstream inflammatory factors in human dry eye. Methods We recruited 54 patients with Sjögren’s syndrome dry eye (SSDE), 50 patients with non-Sjögren’s syndrome dry eye (NSSDE), and 46 healthy controls. Tear film breakup time (TBUT), Schirmer I test, and fluorescein staining (FL) were performed on all subjects. Tear samples were obtained to analyze the inflammatory cytokine levels of IL-1β and IL-18 via enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA). Conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) specimens were collected to detect the mRNA expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 using quantitative RT-PCR, and the protein expression of NLRP3 and caspase-1 by Western blotting. Results NLRP3 mRNA expression showed higher levels in both dry eye groups compared with controls, with a comparably significant elevation in the SSDE group (relative 2.47-fold upregulation, p<0.05). NLRP3 protein expression was also increased in SSDE group (relative1.94-fold upregulation) compared with the controls. mRNA expression of caspase-1 was significantly upregulated in both SSDE (relative 1.44-fold upregulation, p<0.05) and NSSDE (relative 1.32-fold upregulation, p<0.05). Procaspase-1 protein level was increased in SSDE (relative 1.84-fold upregulation) and NSSDE (relative 1.12-fold upregulation) versus controls; and caspase-1 protein expression was also increased in SSDE (relative 1.49-fold upregulation) and NSSDE (relative 1.17-fold upregulation) compared with the controls. The patients with SSDE and NSSDE had higher IL-1β and IL-18 mRNA values and protein expressions than the controls did. The relative mRNA expression of IL-1β upregulated 3.59-fold (p<0.001) in SSDE and 2.13-fold (p<0.01) in NSSDE compared with the controls. IL-1β protein level also showed significant upregulation in SSDE (p=0.01; vs. controls groups). IL-18 mRNA expression levels were significantly upregulated in the SSDE (relative 2.97-fold upregulation, p=0.001) and NSSDE (relative 2.05-fold upregulation, p=0.001) groups compared with the controls; tear IL-18 concentrations were also significantly increased in the SSDE (p<0.001) and NSSDE (p<0.05) groups. Conclusions In the current study, we found that mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3 inflammasome were upregulated in human dry eyes, especially in SSDE; the downstream inflammatory factors caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 were also elevated in dry eye patients. These observations suggest the involvement of NLRP3 inflammasome in the onset and development of the inflammation in dry eye.
Culturally Responsive Experimental Intervention Studies

Neither legislative demand for evidence-based practices nor a focus on experimental designs for educational interventions has ameliorated the disparate educational opportunities and outcomes for youth from nondominant cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Recent initiatives to increase the rigor of intervention research in special education have largely ignored the implications of culture and its role in experimental research. The extent to which the experimental intervention studies are culturally responsive remains unexplored. We developed a rubric, modeled after prior rubrics for quality indicators of special education research, identifying criteria for culturally responsive research. Rubric items were created following a systematic review of literature and gathering feedback from experts. The 15-item rubric uses culture as a generative concept that mediates each aspect of experimental intervention research. Implications include expanding the field’s dominant empirical paradigm and increasing reflexivity and responsivity in knowledge production that may contribute to a paradigm expansion in special education research.
Theoretical ionization and capture cross sections for DNA nucleobases impacted by light ions

Abstract Purpose: Although DNA lesions are considered of prime importance for describing the post-irradiation cellular survival, they still remain rarely studied on both experimental and theoretical sides. Under these conditions, we here propose different theoretical models for predicting the single ionization and single capture total cross sections for DNA bases impacted by protons. Material and methods: Three theoretical approaches are developed: a first classical one based on a classical trajectory Monte Carlo (CTMC) model and two quantum mechanical ones, namely, a Coulomb Born (CB1) and a continuum-distorted wave eikonal-initial-state (CDW-EIS) model. Results: Ionization and capture processes induced by protons on DNA bases (adenine, cytosine, thymine and guanine) are here studied in terms of total cross sections. Conclusions: A very good agreement is obtained between the different models at high enough impact velocities but discrepancies are observed between them at low impact energies (Ei ≤ 100 keV). Furthermore, it is shown that the theoretical cross sections underestimate the rare existing experimental data in particular for adenine and thymine whereas a reasonable agreement is found for cytosine.
Composer-Specific Aspects of Musical Performance: An Evaluation of Clynes's Theory of Pulse for Performances of Mozart and Beethoven

This report examines Clynes’s theory of “pulse” for performances of music by Mozart and Beethoven (e.g., Clynes, 1983, 1987). In three experiments that used a total of seven different compositions, an analysis-bysynthesis approach was used to examine the repetitive patterns of timing and loudness thought to be associated with performances of Mozart and Beethoven. Across performances, judgments by trained musicians provided support for some of the basic claims made by Clynes. However, judgments of individual performances were not always consistent with predictions. In Experiment 1, melodies were judged to be more musical if they were played with the pulse than if they were played with an altered version of the pulse or if they were played without expression. In Experiment 2, listeners were asked to judge whether performances of Mozart were “Mozartian” and whether performances of Beethoven were “Beethovenian. ” Ratings were highest if the pulse of the composer was implemented, and significantly lower if the pulse of another composer was implemented (e.g., the Mozart pulse in the Beethoven piece) in all or part of each piece. In Experiment 3, a Beethoven piece was played with each of three pulses: Beethoven, Haydn, and Schubert. Listeners judged the version with the Beethoven pulse as most Beethovenian, but the version with the Haydn pulse as most “musical. ” Although the overall results were encouraging, it is suggested that there are significant difficulties in evaluating Clynes’s theory and that much more research is needed before his ideas can be assessed adequately. The need for clarification of some theoretical issues surrounding the concept of pulse is emphasized.
Risk of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in a Cohort of New Users of Low-Dose ASA for Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Outcomes

The Health Improvement Network UK primary care database was used to identify a cohort of 38 077 individuals aged 50–84 years with a first prescription of low-dose acetylsalicylic acid (ASA; 75–300 mg/day) for secondary prevention of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events during 2000–2007. From this cohort, 169 incident cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) were identified. Controls with no UGIB (n = 2000) were frequency-matched to the cases by age, sex, and follow-up time. A nested case–control analysis was performed to determine risk factors associated with UGIB. The incidence of UGIB was 1.1 per 1000 person-years (95% CI, 1.0–1.3). Low-dose ASA users with a history of peptic ulcer disease had an increased risk of UGIB compared with those without (Relative Risk [RR], 4.59; 95% CI, 2.87–7.33). Concomitant use of ASA and clopidogrel (RR, 1.61; 95% CI, 0.85–3.05) or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; RR, 2.92; 95% CI, 1.77–4.82) conferred an increased risk of UGIB compared with ASA monotherapy. Discontinuation of ASA therapy (RR: 0.71, 95% CI, 0.42–1.20) and PPI co-treatment given since the start of ASA therapy (RR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.33–0.96) were associated with a reduced risk of UGIB. In conclusion, in a cohort of individuals receiving low-dose ASA for secondary prevention of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events, patients with a history of peptic ulcer disease, or who were receiving clopidogrel or NSAIDs had an increased risk of UGIB. The prescription of PPI therapy at the initiation of low-dose ASA reduced the risk of UGIB by almost half.
Hubungan antara Tingkat Penalaran Formal dan Tingkat Perkembangan Konsep Geometri Siswa

This study examined the level of students' logical thinking ability and the level of students' understanding in geometry, and also the relationship between the students' level of logical thinking and students' level of understanding in geometry. The tests of logical thinking and geometry concept development level were administered to 387 students of the third year science classes selected from 10 State Senior High Schools in Jember, East Java. The results indicated that 8.01%, 24.81%, 29.97%, 37.21% students were respectively at concrete, transition, early formal, and formal levels; and 14.47%, 31.52%, 40.05%, 13.44%, 0.52%, 0% were at previsualization, visualization, analysis, informal deduction, deduction, and rigor respectively. There was a significant relationship between students' level of logical thinking ability and their level of understanding in geometry
The chromosome constitution of human marrow in various developmental and blood disorders.

IMPROVED SPREADING TECHNIQUES for mammalian chromosomes have enlivened cytogenetic investigation of karyotype anomalies in developmental defects and nuclear variability in neoplasia. Recent controversy about the correct human somatic chromosome number (Tjio in favor of 46 (Chu, meiotic data on Japanese individuals to rule out somatic elimination of Kodani's supernumeraries The diploid human idiogram has been elaborated in detail; it permits identification of the X and Y chromosomes with a fair degree of certainty Giles, 1959), and has served as the norm for the unravel-ling of apparent inconsistencies between the interphase sex-chromatin and phenotype (Barr, 1959 a and b).
Expression pattern of aquaporins in patients with primary nephrotic syndrome with edema

The association between the expression of aquaporins (AQPs) in kidney tissues and the occurrence of edema in nephrotic syndrome (NS) remains unclear. The current study aimed to investigate this association. A total of 54 patients with primary glomerular disease, diagnosed by renal biopsy, were divided into three groups: Control, NS without edema and NS with edema. The expression of AQP1, AQP2, AQP3 and AQP4 in kidney tissues from these patients was assessed using immunohistochemistry, and urinary AQP concentrations were quantified by ELISA. Comparison of the three groups was conducted using one way analysis of variance, independent samples t-test or the Chi-square test. AQP1 was strongly expressed in the proximal tubules. The proportion of the AQP1-positive area in kidney tissues from patients with NS with edema was significantly reduced, in comparison with the other two groups. By contrast, the proportion of the AQP2-positive area in the NS with edema group was significantly higher than that of the other two groups; significant differences were also observed between the control and NS without edema groups for this parameter. Urinary AQP2 concentrations in patients with NS (with and without edema) were significantly higher than that of the control group, and exhibited a significant positive correlation with kidney tissue AQP2 concentrations. The present study demonstrated the abnormal expression pattern of AQP1-AQP4 in the kidney tissues of patients with NS, providing a basis for an improved understanding of the role of AQP in the pathogenesis of NS.
Density matrices for finite segments of Heisenberg chains of arbitrary length

We derive a multiple integral representing the ground-state density matrix of a segment of length m of the XXZ spin chain on L lattice sites, which depends on L only parametrically. This allows us to treat chains of arbitrary finite length. Specializing to the isotropic limit of the XXX chain we show for small m that the multiple integrals factorize. We conjecture that this property holds for arbitrary m and suggest an exponential formula for the density matrix which involves only a double Cauchy type integral in the exponent. We demonstrate the efficiency of our formula by computing the next-to-nearest neighbour zz-correlation function for chain lengths ranging from two to macroscopic numbers.
Apparent stereo: the Cornsweet illusion can enhance perceived depth

It is both a technical and an artistic challenge to depict three-dimensional content using stereo equipment and a flat two-dimensional screen. On the one hand, the content needs to fit within the limits of a given display technology and at the same time achieve a comfortable viewing experience. Given the technological advances of 3D equipment, especially the latter increases in importance. Modifications to stereo content become necessary that aim at flattening or even removing binocular disparity to adjust the 3D content to match the comfort zone in which the clash between accommodation and vergence stays acceptable. However, applying such modifications can lead to a reduction of crucial depth details. One promising direction is backwardcompatible stereo, for which the disparity is low enough that overlaid stereo pairs seem almost identical. It builds upon the Craik-O'Brien-Cornsweet effect, a visual illusion, which uses so-called Cornsweet profiles to produce a local contrast that leads to a perceived brightness increase. Similarly, Cornsweet profiles in disparity can lead to an illusion of depth. Applying them skilfully at depth discontinuities allows for a reduction of the overall disparity range to ensure a comfortable yet convincing stereo experience. The present work extends the previous idea by showing that Cornsweet profiles can also be used to enhance the 3D impression. This operation can help in regions where the disparity range was compressed, but also to emphasize parts of a scene. A user study measures the performance of backward-compatible stereo and our disparity enhancement.
Program structuring algorithms for dynamically reconfigurable parallel systems based on redundant connection switches

A new program graph structuring algorithm for dynamically reconfigurable multi-processor systems based on the look-ahead dynamic connection reconfiguration is presented. This architectural model enables elimination of connection reconfiguration time overheads. It consists in preparing link connections in advance in redundant connection switches in parallel with program execution. An application program is partitioned into sections, which are executed using such connections. Parallel program scheduling in this environment incorporates graph partitioning problem. The new algorithm is based on list scheduling and a new iterative clustering heuristics for graph partitioning. The experimental results are presented, which compare performance of several graph partitioning heuristics for such environment.
The impact of visual training on the perception and production of a non-native phonetic contrast

Many studies have shown that the perception of ‘difficult’ non-native phonetic contrasts can be improved through auditory training. More recently, studies comparing the effectiveness of auditory and audiovisual training have shown an advantage for audiovisual training at least for contrasts that are sufficiently visually-salient. Audiovisual training also led to improvements in the pronunciation of the trained consonants. The current study, which trained the /l/-/r/ contrast with Japanese learners of English, investigated training effectiveness using visual stimuli alone, i.e. with trainees seeing but not hearing the speakers. Fifteen Japanese students participated in the seven-session training programme and there were eleven controls. Pre/post tests were carried out in auditory (A), visual (V) and audiovisual (AV) test conditions and participants were also recorded before and after the training reading a list of words which included the sounds /l/ and /r/. Visual training was successful in significantly increasing the discriminability of the /l/-/r/ contrast in trainees in V and AV test conditions but there was no carry-over to the A condition. There was generalisation to nonsense words by unknown speakers. Visual influence was also tested by comparing performance in A and AV test conditions, and in a simple McGurk task. AV benefit increased to a greater extent for trainees. In the McGurk test, visual influence in the identification of discrepant (A /ba/- V /ga/) stimuli increased significantly in the post-test but this also occurred for controls, so might be due to a ‘foreignlanguage’ effect as most participants were attending a phonetics summer school in a foreign country. Results of an identification and rating test evaluating the participants’ pronunciation of /l/ and /r/ pre- and post- training showed no evidence of any improvements in pronunciation following visual training. Index Terms: Audiovisual perception, L2 speech perception, training, McGurk effect
In Vivo Platelet Activation Following Myocardial Infarction and Acute Coronary Ischaemia

Summary Forty-seven patients presenting with acute chest pain had in vivo platelet activity assessed by measuring plasma levels of the platelet-specific protein beta thromboglobulin (BTG), and by screening for the presence of circulating platelet aggregates. Nineteen patients with transmural myocardial infarction (MI), 21 patients with acute coronary ischaemia (CI), and 7 patients with non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) were investigated in a serial study and compared with a normal control group. The means of all BTG determinations in the MI (34, ± SD = 21-57) and CI (33, ± SD = 19-57) groups were significantly higher than those in the NCCP group (24, ± SD = 17-34; p Ã0.01) and normal subjects (22,5, ± SD = 14-37; p Ã0.001). There was no difference in BTG between those with MI or CI, nor between the NCCP group and normal subjects. Raised numbers of circulating platelet aggregates could not be detected in either MI or CI. The mean BTG levels in both MI and CI patients were significantly raised, compared to normal subjects, on the first day of admission to hospital and remained so on each of the subsequent nine days. Neither heparin plus warfarin nor sulphinpyrazone had any significant effect in lowering BTG levels. 15/40 patients (37.5%) following MI and CI had repeatedly raised BTG levels throughout the study period, and it is suggested that these patients represent an “at risk” group that may benefit from anti-platelet therapy in secondary prevention studies.
Long-term partners' relationship satisfaction and their perceptions of each other's attachment insecurities

In this research, we examined actors' and partners' perceptions of each other's attachment insecurities and the associations of these perceptions with relationship satisfaction. A sample of 148 heterosexual couples completed measures of self and partner attachment insecurities and relationship satisfaction. Results indicate that partners agree in their perceptions of their own and each other's attachment insecurities (anxiety and avoidance). Based on the actor–partner interdependence model (APIM), we also found that both actors' scores on avoidance and their perceptions of their partner's degree of avoidanc are associated with lower relationship satisfaction. Finally, we found that the way an actor perceives his or her partner's avoidance plays a mediational role in the association between partner's self-reported avoidance and actor's relationship satisfaction.
Investigating the impact of social-emotional interventions : an evaluation of the "Welcome To My Life" program

The transition from elementary school to high school is challenging for many students. High school introduces a more complex social framework, larger student populations, and often higher risk activities. This transition occurs during a developmental period when self-esteem is the lowest for girls, which can make them susceptible to a variety of risk factors (e.g., tobacco, alcohol, and drug use, unsafe sexual practices). The Young Women Christian Association (YWCA), in collaboration with the Vancouver School Board (VSB), developed a 6-8 week, after-school program called Welcome To M y Life (WTML) to prepare Grade 7 girls for this transition. The goal of this thesis was to work in partnership with program developers to conduct an evaluation of the W T M L program, informed by research on program evaluation within the area of social and emotional learning. To this end, 42 Grade 7 girls at two program sites, 12 who participated in the W T M L program and 30 who did not, completed self-report surveys tapping self-concept/self-esteem (Self Description Questionnaire-II) as well as perceived developmental assets (Developmental Assets Profile) both before and after the program. Results of analyses comparing the self-reports of students who did participate in the W T M L program with those who did not indicated no significant program effects. Changes in reported self-esteem/self-concept and perceived positive assets were in the expected direction, but were not significant. The general failure to demonstrate treatment effects may be attributed to a number of limitations of the current evaluation project, including the small sample size and the limited time frame considered. Nevertheless, evaluations of participant satisfaction, based on surveys obtained from 8 program facilitators and 22 participants indicated that program facilitators felt appropriately trained and that the program was positively received by students. As well, evaluations of implementation integrity, based on surveys completed by 8 program facilitators indicated that the program was well-implemented. Thus, the W T M L program holds promise as a means of preparing Grade 7 girls for the transition to secondary school, and should be further evaluated with a larger and more representative sample. Suggestions for further development of the program and effective collaboration efforts are provided.
Interleukin-10 in Human Milk

ABSTRACT: The concentrations of immunoreactive IL-10 in the aqueous fraction of 20 specimens of human milk obtained during the first 80 h of lactation and stored at –60°C ranged from 66 to 9301 pg/mL (mean ± SD, 3304 ± 3127 pg/mL). IL-10 was present also in the lipid layer of milk. Gel filtration revealed that IL-10 was located in a high molecular weight fraction, where certain other cytokines in human milk have been found. In addition, immunoreactive IL-10 in milk increased after treatment with sodium taurocholate. Bioactive IL-10 was demonstrated by the finding that human milk inhibited [3H]thymidine uptake by human blood lymphocytes and that inhibition was partly overcome by concomitant incubation with antibodies to human IL-10. IL-10 mRNA but no protein product was found in cultured human mammary epithelial cells. Some IL-10 was associated with preparations of human milk leukocytes, but the data did not suggest that the cells were producing the cytokine. Bioactive IL-10 in a possible protected compartment suggests that IL-10 in human milk may have immunomodulating, antiinflammatory effects on the alimentary tract of the recipient infant.