Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brownian web in the scaling limit of supercritical oriented percolation in dimension 1 + 1

We prove that, after centering and diffusively rescaling space and time, the collection of rightmost infinite open paths in a supercritical oriented percolation configuration on the space-time lattice Z^2_{even}:={(x,i) in Z^2: x+i is even} converges in distribution to the Brownian web. This proves a conjecture of Wu and Zhang. Our key observation is that each rightmost infinite open path can be approximated by a percolation exploration cluster, and different exploration clusters evolve independently before they intersect.
Dancers with patellar tendinopathy exhibit higher vertical and braking ground reaction forces during landing

Abstract Dancers are exposed to the effects of repetitive jumping and leaping as are other athletes that tend to develop patellar tendinopathy. Greater vertical ground reaction forces occur during landing from a dance leap than during takeoff and during other common athletic activities. The purposes of this study were: (1) to compare the landing ground reaction force profiles of participants with and without clinically diagnosed patellar tendinopathy, and (2) to determine the strength of the relationship between landing angle, and braking impulse. Eighteen elite pre-professional dancers (12 healthy, 6 with patellar tendinopathy; both groups 50% male) performed sauts de chat for kinetic and kinematic analysis. Dancers with patellar tendinopathy demonstrated greater peak vertical ground reaction force and impulse (36% and 15% greater, respectively). Dancers with patellar tendinopathy demonstrated greater peak braking ground reaction force and impulse (82% and 126% greater, respectively). Landing angle explained 67% of the braking impulse. Dancers with patellar tendinopathy exhibited greater vertical and braking impulses than healthy dancers. Braking impulse was strongly correlated with landing angle. While there was no difference between groups in landing angle, dancers with patellar tendinopathy exhibited greater braking impulse than their non-tendinopathic counterparts, even at similar landing angles.
Degenerate Variance Control of a One-Dimensional Diffusion

Consider an Ito equation for a scalar-valued process that is controlled through a dynamic and adaptive choice of its diffusion coefficient. Such a control is called a variance control and is said to degenerate when it becomes zero. We consider the problem of choosing a control to minimize a discounted, infinite-horizon cost that penalizes state values close to an equilibrium point of the drift and also imposes a control cost. Admissible controls are required to take values in the closed, bounded interval $[0,\sigma_0]$, where $\sigma_0>0$; in particular, the control can be degenerate. In general, there will be a bang-bang optimal control that takes the value $\sigma_0$ in some open set and is zero otherwise. We discuss the existence and properties of solutions to stochastic differential equations with such controls and characterize the value function and optimal control in more detail, in the case of both linear and nonlinear drift. Employing the Hamilton--Jacobi--Bellman equation and results of [N. V. Krylov, Theory Probab. Appl. , 17 (1973), pp. 114--131] and [P.-L. Lions, Comm. Pure Appl. Math., 34 (1981), pp. 121--147], we derive sufficient conditions for the existence of single-region optimal controls, construct examples of multiple-region controls, and provide bounds on the number and size of the regions in which the optimal control is positive.
Disseminated histoplasmosis with conjunctival involvement in an immunocompromised patient

We report a case of disseminated histoplasmosis in a 37-year-old male acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patient from south India. The patient presented with high-grade fever, cough, conjunctival nodule and papulonodular hyperpigmented skin lesions. Histology of skin lesions and conjunctival nodule showed numerous intracellular Periodic Acid Schiff-positive rounded yeast cells within macrophages. Bone marrow aspirate confirmed disseminated histoplasmosis. The patient showed dramatic response after starting treatment with Amphotercin B.
Effect of Masked, White-Coat, and Sustained Hypertension on Coronary Flow Reserve and Peripheral Endothelial Functions

In this study, we have measured coronary flow reserve (CFR) using transthoracic echocardiography and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation using vascular ultrasound in 36 subjects with masked hypertension (MH), 62 patients with sustained hypertension (SH), 40 patients with white-coat hypertension (WCH), and 39 healthy volunteers. CFR was significantly lower in the MH and SH groups (2.30 ± 0.39 and 2.28 ± 0.52, respectively) than in the control and WCH groups (2.85 ± 0.39 and 2.77 ± 0.41, respectively; P < .05). CFR was significantly impaired in patients with MH and SH compared with WCH and normotensive subjects. MH and SH groups are comparable with regard to cardiovascular risks and target organ damage.
Differences between nanoscale structural and electrical properties of AZO:N and AZO used in polymer light‐emitting diodes

Conducting atomic force microscopy and scanning surface potential microscopy were adopted to investigate the nanoscale surface electrical properties of N‐doped aluminum zinc oxide (AZO:N) films that were prepared by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) at various substrate temperatures. Experimental results demonstrated that when the substrate temperature is 150°C and the N2O background pressure is 150 mTorr, the N‐dopant concentration on the surface is optimal. In addition, the root‐mean‐square roughness value of the film surface, the low contact current (<400 nA) conducting region as a percentage of the total area, and the mean work function value are 1.43 nm, 96.9%, and 4.88 eV, respectively, all of which are better than those of the optimal AZO film made by PLD. This result indicates that N‐doped AZO films are better for use as window materials in polymer light‐emitting diodes. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gastrointestinal , Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Pathology Exacerbation of Oxazolone Colitis by Infection with the Helminth Hymenolepis diminuta Involvement of IL-5 and Eosinophils

Substantial data show that infection with helminth parasites ameliorates colitis; however, oxazolone-induced colitis is exaggerated in mice infected with the tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta. We tested the hypothesis that the IL-5 response to helminth infection enhances the severity of oxazolone-induced colitis. Mice were infected with H. diminuta and 8 days later were treated with oxazolone anti–IL-5 antibodies. Colitis was assessed 72 hours postoxazolone treatment by disease activity scores , myeloperoxidase activity , and histopathology. Other mice received injections of a replication-deficient adenovirus that carried the IL-5 (Ad.IL-5) gene or a control adenovirus (Ad.delete) oxazolone. The effect of H. diminuta oxazolone in CCL11/CCL22 (eotaxin-1 and 2) knockout (KO) mice was determined. Helminth infection and Ad.IL-5 treatment increased IL-5 and eosinophil numbers. In vivo neutralization of IL-5 significantly reduced the severity of colitis in H. diminuta oxazolone-treated mice , and H. diminuta did not exaggerate oxazolone-induced colitis in CCL11/CCL22 KO mice. Mice receiving Ad.IL-5 only had no colitis , while oxazolone-induced colitis was more severe in animals cotreated with Ad.IL-5 (Ad.delete oxazolone was not significantly different from oxazolone only). Thus, while there is much to be gleaned about antiinflammatory mechanisms from rodent-helminth model systems, these data illustrate the caveat that infection with helminth parasites as a therapy could be contraindicated in patients with eosinophilia or elevated IL-5 unless coupled to appropriate measures to block IL-5 and/or eosinophil activity. (Am J Pathol 2010, 177:2850–2859; DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2010.100537)
Deposition of amyloid in the gastrointestinal tract.

Amyloid maycausewidespread damagetothe gastrointestinal tract. Affection ofblood vessels may leadtoinfarction andperforation ofthebowel (Brody, Wertlake, andLaster, 1964; Akbarian and Fenton, 1964) aswellastobleeding orlossof protein into thelumenofthegut(Jarnum, 1965); damage tothemusculature ornervous elements may causemarkedalterations inmotility (Gilat and Spiro, tobepublished); andmucosal destruction mayleadtoimpaired absorption (Beddow and Tilden, 1960). Thepresence ofamyloid inatissue doesnotevoke aninflammatory response anddamageisapparently caused bylocal replacement of tissue. Knowledge oftheanatomo-histological site ofamyloid deposition may,therefore, help inunderstanding andanticipating theclinical manifestations. Perusal ofreported cases ofamyloidosis withgastrointestinal manifestations failed toreveal anypattern ortrend: thedeposition ofamyloid appeared tobe quite haphazard andunpredictable. Thepresent study was,therefore, initiated tostudy systematically thesite ofamyloid deposition inthedigestive tract inalarge number ofcases. Amyloid isanextracellular scleroprotein witha characteristic fibrillar structure asseenbyelectron microscopy (CohenandCalkins, 1959;Gafni, Merker, Shibolet, Sohar, andHeller, 1966). The weight ofrecent evidence favours thethesis oflocal production (Cchen, Gross, andShirahama, 1965; Gafni etal,1966) apparently byreticuloendothelial cells (Cohen, 1967). Thedetection andlocalization ofamyloid inhistological sections hasbeenmuch facilitated bytheuseofpolarized light. WhenCongo red-stained sections areviewed withthepolarizing microscope amyloid exhibits a typical greenbirefringence whichallows ofthedetection ofeven minute amountsofamyloid aswellasitsexact localization invarious histological structures (Ravid, Gafni, Sohar, andMissmahl, 1967).
Biomarkers for bacteremia and severe sepsis in hematological patients with neutropenic fever: multivariate logistic regression analysis and factor analysis

Abstract We compared biomarkers and their changes as predictors for bacteremia and severe sepsis during neutropenic fever after intensive chemotherapy in hematological patients. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP), semi-quantative procalcitonin, aminoterminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), cortisol, lactate, plasma antithrombin and fibrinogen were measured daily from day 0 to day 3/day 4 in 89 neutropenic fever episodes of 65 hematological patients. The best predictors for bacteremia and gram-negative bacteremia were procalcitonin and its change, with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals of 2.63 (1.56–4.44) and 3.20 (1.77–5.80) for bacteremia and 4.14 (2.00–8.58) and 5.04 (2.18–11.63) for gram-negative bacteremia, respectively. For severe sepsis, the best predictors were CRP and fibrinogen, with ORs of 1.94 (1.07–3.52) and 1.92 (1.05–3.54). Factor analysis provided two predictive factors: procalcitonin–NT-proBNP–antithrombin factor predicted gram-negative bacteremia and CRP–fibrinogen predicted severe sepsis. Applying a combination of markers reflecting different aspects of infection might improve the recognition of risk for complications in patients with neutropenic fever.
Androgen Receptor Splice Variants Activate Androgen Receptor Target Genes and Support Aberrant Prostate Cancer Cell Growth Independent of Canonical Androgen Receptor Nuclear Localization Signal*

Background: Truncated AR splice variants support castration-resistant prostate cancer. Results: The AR NTD/DBD core is sufficient for AR variants to access the nucleus, activate AR target genes, and support androgen-independent prostate cancer cell growth. Conclusion: Diverse truncated AR variants are constitutively active transcription factors. Significance: These novel biochemical properties could lead to the development of new prostate cancer therapies. Synthesis of truncated androgen receptor (AR) splice variants has emerged as an important mechanism of prostate cancer (PCa) resistance to AR-targeted therapy and progression to a lethal castration-resistant phenotype. However, the precise role of these factors at this stage of the disease is not clear due to loss of multiple COOH-terminal AR protein domains, including the canonical nuclear localization signal (NLS) in the AR hinge region. Despite loss of this NLS, we show that diverse truncated AR variant species have a basal level of nuclear localization sufficient for ligand-independent transcriptional activity. Whereas full-length AR requires Hsp90 and importin-β for active nuclear translocation, basal nuclear localization of truncated AR variants is independent of these classical signals. For a subset of truncated AR variants, this basal level of nuclear import can be augmented by unique COOH-terminal sequences that reconstitute classical AR NLS activity. However, this property is separable from ligand-independent transcriptional activity. Therefore, the AR splice variant core consisting of the AR NH2-terminal domain and DNA binding domain is sufficient for nuclear localization and androgen-independent transcriptional activation of endogenous AR target genes. Indeed, we show that truncated AR variants with nuclear as well as nuclear/cytoplasmic localization patterns can drive androgen-independent growth of PCa cells. Together, our data demonstrate that diverse truncated AR species with varying efficiencies of nuclear localization can contribute to castration-resistant PCa pathology by driving persistent ligand-independent AR transcriptional activity.
hat are the true values of the bending modulus of simple ipid bilayers ?

Values of the bending modulus KC are reviewed, and possible causes for the considerable differences are discussed. One possible cause is the use of glucose and sucrose in the classical micromechanical manipulation and shape analysis methods. New data, using the more recent low angle X-ray method, are presented that do not support an effect of glucose or sucrose on KC. Another possible cause is using an incomplete theory to interpret the data. Adding a tilt term to the theory clearly does not affect the value obtained from the shape analysis method. It is shown that a tilt term, using a value of the modulus K indicated by simulations, theory, and estimated from order parameters obtained from NMR and
Vitamin D status and gestational diabetes mellitus

Context: Vitamin D (Vit D) deficiency and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are increasingly being seen in Indian women. The role of Vit D in causing GDM is not clear. Aims: (1) To compare Vit D status in pregnant women with or without GDM. (2) Frequency of GDM in women with Vit D insufficiency and deficiency. (3) To reassess glucose tolerance after replacement of Vit D in those women with Vit D deficiency and GDM. Settings and Design: Tertiary Care Hospital, Antenatal Care Department based prospective, controlled study. Subjects and Methods: Seventy-eight consecutive women (<28 weeks gestational period) were screened for GDM by glucose tolerance test (GTT) (75 g 2 h). Fifty-nine of these women were confirmed to have GDM (2 h postglucose > 140 mg/dl). Eight of these women were excluded as per laid exclusion criteria. Remaining 19 women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) were included as controls. Serum 25-OH Vit D level was estimated by radioimmuno assay. Standard advice regarding diet, sunlight exposure, and exercise was given to all by the same dietician. Women with Vit D levels below 20 ng/ml were prescribed 60,000 IU of oral cholecalciferol to be administered twice weekly for 4 weeks. GTT was repeated after 6 weeks. Frequency of glucose intolerance was compared between Vit D sufficient and deficient groups. Women with GDM and Vit D deficiency who revert to NGT after supplementation with cholecalciferol were evaluated. Statistical Analysis used: Paired t-test for comparing means, and Fisher's test for comparing proportions. Results: Baseline characteristics of GDM and NGT with respect to their age, prepregnancy body mass index, and gestational period were comparable. Serum 25-OH Vit D levels were significantly lower in GDM 24.7 (±17.6) ng/ml versus NGT (45.8 ± 28) group (P = 0.0004). Frequency of GDM was similar irrespective of Vit D status 67% versus 42% (P = 0.09). Standard advice on diet and exercise with or without Vit D supplementation did not significantly differ in the conversion of GDM to NGT (P = 0.63). Conclusion: Although Vit D deficiency is associated with GDM however its replacement does not reverse the glucose intolerance. There is no justification at present for routine screening for Vit D deficiency or its replacement in the management of GDM.
TWIK-1 and TREK-1 Are Potassium Channels Contributing Significantly to Astrocyte Passive Conductance in Rat Hippocampal Slices

Expression of a linear current–voltage (I–V) relationship (passive) K+ membrane conductance is a hallmark of mature hippocampal astrocytes. However, the molecular identifications of the K+ channels underlying this passive conductance remain unknown. We provide the following evidence supporting significant contribution of the two-pore domain K+ channel (K2P) isoforms, TWIK-1 and TREK-1, to this conductance. First, both passive astrocytes and the cloned rat TWIK-1 and TREK-1 channels expressed in CHO cells conduct significant amounts of Cs+ currents, but vary in their relative PCs/PK permeability, 0.43, 0.10, and 0.05, respectively. Second, quinine, which potently inhibited TWIK-1 (IC50 = 85 μm) and TREK-1 (IC50 = 41 μm) currents, also inhibited astrocytic passive conductance by 58% at a concentration of 200 μm. Third, a moderate sensitivity of passive conductance to low extracellular pH (6.0) supports a combined expression of acid-insensitive TREK-1, and to a lesser extent, acid-sensitive TWIK-1. Fourth, the astrocyte passive conductance showed low sensitivity to extracellular Ba2+, and extracellular Ba2+ blocked TWIK-1 channels at an IC50 of 960 μm and had no effect on TREK-1 channels. Finally, an immunocytochemical study showed colocalization of TWIK-1 and TREK-1 proteins with the astrocytic markers GLAST and GFAP in rat hippocampal stratum radiatum. In contrast, another K2P isoform TASK-1 was mainly colocalized with the neuronal marker NeuN in hippocampal pyramidal neurons and was expressed at a much lower level in astrocytes. These results support TWIK-1 and TREK-1 as being the major components of the long-sought K+ channels underlying the passive conductance of mature hippocampal astrocytes.
Simian immunodeficiency virus-infected macaques treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy have reduced central nervous system viral replication and inflammation but persistence of viral DNA.

BACKGROUND During the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the prevalence of HIV-associated central nervous system (CNS) disease has increased despite suppression of plasma viremia. METHODS In a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) model system in which all animals develop AIDS and 90% develop CNS disease by 3 months after inoculation, pigtailed macaques were treated with a regimen of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, saquinavir, atazanavir, and an integrase inhibitor starting at 12 days after inoculation and were euthanized at approximately 175 days after inoculation. RESULTS Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) viral loads declined rapidly after the initiation of HAART. Brain viral RNA was undetectable at necropsy, but viral DNA levels were not different from those in untreated SIV-infected macaques. CNS inflammation was significantly reduced, with decreased brain expression of major histocompatibility complex class II and glial fibrillary acidic protein and reduced levels of CSF CCL2 and interleukin 6. Brain from treated macaques had significantly lower levels of interferon beta, type 1 interferon-inducible gene myxovirus (influenza) resistance A, and indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase messenger RNA, suggesting that immune hyperactivation was suppressed, and fewer CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, suggesting that trafficking of T cells from peripheral blood was reduced. Brain levels of CD68 protein and tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma RNA were reduced but were not significantly lower, indicating continued CNS inflammation. CONCLUSIONS These data, generated in a rigorous, high-viral-load SIV-infected macaque model, showed that HAART provided benefits with respect to CNS viral replication and inflammation but that no change in the level of viral DNA and continued CNS inflammation occurred in some macaques.
A Proxy-Based Collaboration System to Minimize Content Download Time and Energy Consumption

Mobile collaborative community (MCC) is an emerging technology that allows multiple mobile nodes (MNs) to perform a resource intensive task, such as large content download, in a cooperative manner. In this paper, we introduce a proxy-based collaboration system for the MCC where a content proxy (CProxy) determines the amount of chunks and the sharing order scheduled to each MN, and the received chunks are shared among MNs via Wi-Fi Direct. We formulate a multi-objective optimization problem to minimize both the collaborative content download time and the energy consumption in an MCC, and propose a heuristic algorithm for solving the optimization problem. Extensive simulations are carried out to evaluate the effects of the number of MNs, the wireless bandwidth, the content size, and dynamic channel conditions on the content download time and the energy consumption. Our results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can achieve near-optimal performance and significantly reduce the content download time and has an energy consumption comparable to that of other algorithms.
Effects of solution and soil chemistry on the distribution of oil residual in patagonian soil

The distribution coefficient of oil re- siduals between water and the soil under equilibrium conditions is, in the case of Patagonian soils, strongly dependent on the clay contents and humidity of the soil. Other variables such as, the soil salinity and the environmental exposure conditions, also affect the interactions between the phases. The oil residuals are generally accompanied by water spills, that are ex- tracted together with the oil and which, frequently, have high salinity. These salts stay on soils during long times and finally they became part of the soil. The resulting oil aqueous concentrations and the soil-water distribution ratio (Kd) may be strongly influenced by these factors. Based on experimental data of several parameters determined in different regional field samplings, a semi-empiric model was developed that allows prediction of the Kd depend- ence with the exposure time, the salinity of the equi- librium aqueous concentration and the clay contents of the soil. The Monte Carlo simulation was used in this work. Distribution values of soil conductivity, clays content, and assumed fixed values of the age of the oil spill were used in the model. A set of calcu- lated values of Kd was obtained and the results show a distribution that was probabilistically analyzed. The Kd values increase with increasing age of spill and soil salinity and decrease when the salinity of the initial aqueous concentration is greater than the soil salinity. The determined parameters are useful for modeling of the environmental impact on polluted soils and for the design of remediation techniques.