Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Three‐dimensional inversion recovery manganese‐enhanced MRI of mouse brain using super‐resolution reconstruction to visualize nuclei involved in higher brain function

The visualization of activity in mouse brain using inversion recovery spin echo (IR‐SE) manganese‐enhanced MRI (MEMRI) provides unique contrast, but suffers from poor resolution in the slice‐encoding direction. Super‐resolution reconstruction (SRR) is a resolution‐enhancing post‐processing technique in which multiple low‐resolution slice stacks are combined into a single volume of high isotropic resolution using computational methods. In this study, we investigated, first, whether SRR can improve the three‐dimensional resolution of IR‐SE MEMRI in the slice selection direction, whilst maintaining or improving the contrast‐to‐noise ratio of the two‐dimensional slice stacks. Second, the contrast‐to‐noise ratio of SRR IR‐SE MEMRI was compared with a conventional three‐dimensional gradient echo (GE) acquisition. Quantitative experiments were performed on a phantom containing compartments of various manganese concentrations. The results showed that, with comparable scan times, the signal‐to‐noise ratio of three‐dimensional GE acquisition is higher than that of SRR IR‐SE MEMRI. However, the contrast‐to‐noise ratio between different compartments can be superior with SRR IR‐SE MEMRI, depending on the chosen inversion time. In vivo experiments were performed in mice receiving manganese using an implanted osmotic pump. The results showed that SRR works well as a resolution‐enhancing technique in IR‐SE MEMRI experiments. In addition, the SRR image also shows a number of brain structures that are more clearly discernible from the surrounding tissues than in three‐dimensional GE acquisition, including a number of nuclei with specific higher brain functions, such as memory, stress, anxiety and reward behavior. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sinusoidal-Input Describing Function of a Simple Biomolecular Signaling System

Understanding biomolecular systems is important both for the analysis of naturally occurring systems as well as for the design of new ones. However, mathematical tools for analysis of such complex systems are generally lacking. Here, we present an application of the method of sinusoidal-input describing function for the analysis of such a system. Using this technique, we approximate the input-output response of a simple biomolecular signaling system both computationally and analytically. We systematically investigate the dependence of this approximation on system parameters. Finally, we estimate the error involved in this approximation. These results can help in establishing a framework for analysis of biomolecular systems through the use of simplified models.
Caffeine consumption and menstrual function.

The relation between caffeine intake and menstrual function was examined in 403 healthy premenopausal women who belonged to Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in 1990-1991. A telephone interview collected information about caffeinated beverage intake as well as other lifestyle, demographic, occupational, and environmental factors. Subjects collected daily urine samples and completed a daily diary for an average of five menstrual cycles. Metabolites of estrogen and progesterone were measured in the urine, each cycle was characterized as anovulatory or ovulatory, and a probable day of ovulation was selected when appropriate. Logistic regression and repeated measures analyses were performed on menstrual parameters. Women whose caffeine consumption was heavy (>300 mg of caffeine per day) had less than a third of the risk for long menses (> or =8 days) compared with women who did not consume caffeine (adjusted odds ratio = 0.30, 95% confidence interval 0.14-0.66). Those whose caffeine consumption was heavy also had a doubled risk for short cycle length (< or =24 days) (adjusted odds ratio = 2.00, 95% confidence interval 0.98-4.06); this association was also evident in those whose caffeine consumption was heavy who did not smoke (adjusted odds ratio = 2.11, 95% confidence interval 1.03-4.33). Caffeine intake was not strongly related to an increased risk for anovulation, short luteal phase (< or =10 days), long follicular phase (> or =24 days), long cycle (> or =36 days), or measures of within-woman cycle variability.
Characterization of noise and carbon monoxide exposures among professional firefighters in British Columbia.

OBJECTIVES To characterize exposures to noise and carbon monoxide (CO) among firefighters in British Columbia, Canada. METHODS Subjects were recruited from 13 fire halls across three municipalities in Metro Vancouver. Personal full-shift noise and CO samples were collected using datalogging noise dosimeters and CO monitors on both day and night shifts. Determinants of exposure (DoE) information were recorded by trained research staff and hygienists through direct observation during the measurement period. RESULTS In total, 113 noise and 156 CO samples were collected from 45 male firefighters, aged 41.0 ± 7.2 years with 14.2 ± 9.0 years of experience. Mean L(eq) and peak noise levels were 81.1 ± 4.8 dBA and 137.1 ± 5.2 dB, respectively; 45% of samples exceeded occupational limits. Noise levels were significantly greater on day shifts, among firefighters in non-supervisory jobs, for those working on engine and rescue trucks, by number of emergency calls they attended and in particular for motor vehicle accident (MVA) and building alarms calls, if subjects worked near or used fire equipment, or if they participated in active firefighting training activities. Full-shift and peak CO levels were 1.0 ppm [geometric mean (GM) = 0.7, geometric standard deviation (GSD) = 1.8] and 42.9 ppm (GM = 9.95, GSD = 5.6), respectively; 1% of CO samples exceeded occupational limits. Both full-shift and peak CO levels were significantly correlated by number of MVAs and building alarms calls. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that firefighters may be at an increased risk of exposure to high noise levels, but CO exposures were lower than anticipated. Additional exposure studies are needed to confirm our results and to better understand the DoE to noise and CO among this occupational group.
A Porcine Adenovirus with Low Human Seroprevalence Is a Promising Alternative Vaccine Vector to Human Adenovirus 5 in an H5N1 Virus Disease Model

Human adenovirus 5 (AdHu5) vectors are robust vaccine platforms however the presence of naturally-acquired neutralizing antibodies may reduce vector efficacy and potential for re-administration. This study evaluates immune responses and protection following vaccination with a replication-incompetent porcine adenovirus 3 (PAV3) vector as an alternative vaccine to AdHu5 using an avian influenza H5N1 disease model. Vaccine efficacy was evaluated in BALB/c mice following vaccination with different doses of the PAV3 vector expressing an optimized A/Hanoi/30408/2005 H5N1 hemagglutinin antigen (PAV3-HA) and compared with an AdHu5-HA control. PAV3-HA rapidly generated antibody responses, with significant neutralizing antibody titers on day 21, and stronger cellular immune responses detected on day 8, compared to AdHu5-HA. The PAV3-HA vaccine, administered 8 days before challenge, demonstrated improved survival and lower virus load. Evaluation of long-term vaccine efficacy at 12 months post-vaccination showed better protection with the PAV3-HA than with the AdHu5-HA vaccine. Importantly, as opposed to AdHu5, PAV3 vector was not significantly neutralized by human antibodies pooled from over 10,000 individuals. Overall, PAV3-based vector is capable of mediating swift, strong immune responses and offer a promising alternative to AdHu5.
NIR Observations of the QSO 3C 48 Host Galaxy

In this paper we present new near infrared (NIR) imaging and spectroscopic data of the quasar 3C 48 and its host galaxy. The data were obtained with the ESO-VLT camera ISAAC. We report the first detection of the apparent second nucleus 3C 48A about 1 '' NE of the bright QSO nucleus in the NIR bands J, H, and K s. 3C 48A is highly reddened with respect to the host, which could be due to warm dust, heated by enhanced star formation or by interstellar material intercepting the rad io jet. In fact, all colors on the host galaxy are reddened by several magnitudes of visual extinction. Imaging and initial spect roscopy also reveal a stellar content of about 30% to the overall QSO-light in the NIR. These results are important input parameters for future models of the stellar populations by taking extincti on into account.
When May a Child who is Visually Impaired Recognize a Face?

The ability of school-age children who were visually impaired and their sighted peers to recognize faces was compared over seven tasks that were designed to detect both qualitative and quantitative differences between the two groups in this regard. Although no differences were found in the two groups’ ability to identify entire faces, the visually impaired children were at a disadvantage when part of the face, especially the eyes, was not visible. In addition, whereas children with better visual acuity seem to discriminate faces on the basis of internal features, children with worse visual acuity seem to be dependent on hair and the contour of faces.
Differences in Friendship Networks and Experiences of Cyberbullying Among Korean and Australian Adolescents

ABSTRACT Cyberbullying is one of the negative consequences of online social interaction. The digital environment enables adolescents to engage in online social interaction beyond the traditional physical boundaries of families, neighborhoods, and schools. The authors examined connections to friendship networks in both online and offline settings are related to their experiences as victims, perpetrators, and bystanders of cyberbullying. A comparative face-to-face survey of adolescents (12–15-year-olds) was conducted in Korea (n = 520) and Australia (n = 401). The results reveal that online networks are partially related to cyberbullying in both countries, showing the size of social network sites was significantly correlated with experience cyberbullying among adolescents in both countries. However there were cultural differences in the impact of friendship networks on cyberbullying. The size of the online and offline networks has a stronger impact on the cyberbullying experiences in Korea than it does in Australia. In particular, the number of friends in cliques was positively related to both bullying and victimization in Korea.
An accessory mental foramen: a case report.

AIM The aim of this article is to present a case of an accessory mental foramen (AMF). BACKGROUND The mental foramen is an important anatomical structure of particular importance in local anesthesia and surgical procedures in terms of achieving effective mandibular nerve blocks and avoiding injuries to the neurovascular bundles. Although rare, multiple mental foramina have been described in humans. In these cases one foramen is termed the mental foramen and the others are referred to as an AMF. REPORT A 62-year-old woman presented for a routine dental examination. In addition to the normal radiographic image of the mental foramen, periapical radiographs of the left mandibular premolar and molar region revealed a round-shaped radiolucency with distinct borders along with an inferior extension below the apex of the mesial root of the first molar. This image was considered to be an AMF. SUMMARY Although no surgical operation was planned, the patient was informed about the existence and importance of the anatomical variation with regard to the need for local anesthesia, diagnosis of periapical disease, and the prevention of nerve damage during surgery in that area of the mandible.
Extremum-Seeking in Singularly Perturbed Hybrid Systems

This technical note considers the stability of a class of singularly perturbed hybrid systems with a continuous slow subsystem. This type of system encompasses many slowly-varying adaptation schemes, such as extremum-seeking, acting on hybrid systems, such as urban traffic control and switching control. Conditions are given for semi-global practical asymptotic stability of the closed-loop system when the dynamics of the reduced system are also semi-globally practically asymptotically stable. This extends previous results which require global asymptotic stability of the reduced system. Furthermore, the stability result is used to show convergence of an extremum seeking scheme acting upon a hybrid system.
Influenza emergence in the face of evolutionary constraints

Different influenza subtypes can evolve at very different rates, but the causes are not well understood. In this paper, we explore whether differences in transmissibility between subtypes can play a role if there are fitness constraints on antigenic evolution. We investigate the problem using a mathematical model that separates the interaction of strains through cross-immunity from the process of emergence for new antigenic variants. Evolutionary constraints are also included with antigenic mutation incurring a fitness cost. We show that the transmissibility of a strain can become disproportionately important in dictating the rate of antigenic drift: strains that spread only slightly more easily can have a much higher rate of emergence. Further, we see that the effect continues when vaccination is considered; a small increase in the rate of transmission can make it much harder to control the frequency at which new strains emerge. Our results not only highlight the importance of considering both transmission and fitness constraints when modelling influenza evolution, but may also help in understanding the differences between the emergence of H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes.
HIV-1 Nef disrupts MHC-I trafficking by recruiting AP-1 to the MHC-I cytoplasmic tail

To avoid immune recognition by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 Nef disrupts the transport of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules (MHC-I) to the cell surface in HIV-infected T cells. However, the mechanism by which Nef does this is unknown. We report that Nef disrupts MHC-I trafficking by rerouting newly synthesized MHC-I from the trans-Golgi network (TGN) to lysosomal compartments for degradation. The ability of Nef to target MHC-I from the TGN to lysosomes is dependent on expression of the μ1 subunit of adaptor protein (AP) AP-1A, a cellular protein complex implicated in TGN to endolysosomal pathways. We demonstrate that in HIV-infected primary T cells, Nef promotes a physical interaction between endogenous AP-1 and MHC-I. Moreover, we present data that this interaction uses a novel AP-1 binding site that requires amino acids in the MHC-I cytoplasmic tail. In sum, our evidence suggests that binding of AP-1 to the Nef–MHC-I complex is an important step required for inhibition of antigen presentation by HIV.
Is caries equally distributed in adults? A population-based cross-sectional study in Norway – the TOHNN-study

Abstract Objectives: The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence and distribution of dental caries in an adult population and identify factors associated with being caries free. Material and methods: Data were collected from a randomized population sample in Northern Norway (N = 1932; 988 women; mean age 47.0 years, SD 15.3). The study included a structured questionnaire and a clinical examination. The sum of enamel and dentine caries, DS1-5, formed the main outcome measures for caries prevalence. Results: Mean DMFT was 15.1 (95% CI 14.8, 15.4), mean DFT was 12.0 (CI 11.7, 12.2), and mean DT was 1.1 (CI 1.0, 1.2). The mean value for dentine caries (DS3–5) was 0.8 (CI 0.7, 0.9), and mean DS1–5 was 3.8 (CI 3.6, 4.1). Mean DS1–5 was highest in the youngest age group (mean 6.9, 95% CI 6.3, 7.6) and in rural areas (mean 5.0, CI 4.4, 5.6). The most caries-prone 20% in the youngest age group had 52% of the total number of carious lesions compared with 80% in the two oldest age groups. Tooth brushing twice daily (p = .005), drinking sugar containing soft drink (p =.029), and attending dental services every year (p < .001), were associated with being caries free. Conclusion: Dental caries is still a common condition, particularly in the youngest age group. Living in a rural area, low socioeconomic status, less frequent tooth cleaning and sugar containing soft drinks were associated with a higher prevalence of dental caries. The different caries distribution among adults calls for different preventive strategies at both population and individual levels.
Thermal performance of stress grading systems for converter-fed motors

The present paper concentrates on the performance of the stress grading materials as the temperature changes. There have been a number of recent publications on stress grading systems applied to end-windings of stators but little has been published on the effect of temperature on their electrical properties, either in the short term or as a long term aging effect. In particular, the effect these property changes have on the control of electrical stress, when the machine is subjected to converter voltages, has not been published. We describe here a method to categorize the properties of these materials and report on how simple thermal aging can have a dramatic influence on their performance
SARI RANTALA A Population-based Study of Beta-hemolytic Streptococcal Bacteremia

In this population-based study, all 314 episodes of b-haemolytic streptococcal bacteraemia in adult patients in the Pirkanmaa area, Finland, during the 10-year period 1995–2004 were retrospectively reviewed. Altogether, 92 cases of bacteraemia caused by Lancefield group A b-haemolytic streptococci (GAS), 76 caused by group B b-haemolytic streptococci (GBS), 18 caused by group C b-haemolytic streptococci (GCS) and 128 caused by group G b-haemolytic streptococci (GGS) were identified. The most important finding was that the incidence of GGS increased during the study period. Disruption of the cutaneous barrier was a very common predisposing factor in GAS and GGS bacteraemias. Skin infections were the presenting clinical manifestations in two-thirds of GAS and GGS
Optimizing Description Logics Reasoning for the Semantic-Based Grid Repositories

The Semantic Grid is a recent initiative to expose se- mantically rich information associated with Grid resources to build more intelligent Grid services. Recently, several projects have embraced this vision and there are several successful applications that combine the strengths of the Grid and of semantic technologies. However, Semantic Grid still lacks a technology, which would provide the needed scalability and integration with existing infrastructure. In this paper we present our on-going work on a semantic grid repository, which is capable of addressing complex schemas and answer queries over ontologies with large number of instances. We present the details of our approach and describe the underlying architecture of the system. We conclude with a performance evaluation, which compares the current state-of-the-art reasoners with our system.
Permissiveness of kupffer cells for simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and morphological changes in the liver of rhesus monkeys at different periods of SIV infection

The pathogenesis of liver injury, which remains unclear in the course of human immunodeficiency virus infection, can be investigated in simian immunodeficiency virus—infected macaques, which develop an immunodeficiency disease resembling human acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). We studied the livers of 21 monkeys infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVmac251) for 4 days to 39 months and detected viral antigens in Kupffer cells, macrophages, and lymphocytes in 65% of the livers tested. Virus‐containing cells were present in 5 out of 9 livers tested as early as 4 days postinoculation. The number of positive cells as well as their content in viral proteins substantially increased in sinusoidal cells with the progression of the disease. Morphological features and double immuno‐labeling indicated that Kupffer cells constituted the predominant cell type containing viral antigens. The presence of multinucleated giant cells displaying the ultrastructural features of resident liver macrophages was another sign of the productive infection of Kupffer cells in vivo, which was attested by the observation of budding, immature, and mature SIV particles. Kupffer cell hyperplasia and hypertrophy were evident and appeared to be related to the development of SIV infection, because a close correlation was found between antigenemia and the surface area occupied by these cells. The Kupffer cells contained apoptotic lymphocytes, indicating that resident liver macrophages could play a role in the uptake of such cells from the blood. The production of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and, possibly, interferon‐α by Kupffer cells, the expression of vascular adhesion molecule‐1, (VCAM‐1), intralobular and periportal inflammation, and the proliferation and expansion of bile duct cells were other signs of liver involvement in SIV infection.
Dynamic Resource Assignment and Cooperative Relaying in Cellular Networks: Concept and Performance Assessment

Relays are a cost-efficient way to extend or distribute high data rate coverage more evenly in next generation cellular networks. This paper introduces a radio resource management solution based on dynamic and flexible resource assignment and cooperative relaying as key technologies to enhance the downlink performance of relay-based OFDMA cellular networks. It is illustrated how the dynamic resource assignment is combined with beamforming in a macrocellular deployment and with soft-frequency reuse in a metropolitan area deployment. The cooperative relaying solution allows multiple radio access points to cooperatively serve mobile stations by combining their antennas and using the multiantenna techniques available in the system. The proposed schemes are compared to BS only deployments in test scenarios, which have been defined in the WINNER project to be representative for next generation networks. The test scenarios are well defined and motivated and can serve as reference scenarios in standardisation and research. The results show that the proposed schemes increase the average cell throughput and more importantly the number of users with low throughput is greatly reduced.
Diagnosed but Not Undiagnosed Diabetes Is Associated with Depression in Rural Areas

Background: There is a lack of study on the relation between undiagnosed diabetes and depression in the general population. Methods: A total of 11,531 adults were examined using a multistage cluster sampling method to select a representative sample of individuals who were at least 35 years old. Subjects were classified into three groups: no diabetes (ND), diagnosed diabetes (DD), and undiagnosed diabetes (UD). The participants were surveyed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Results: Of all the 11,531 participants, the prevalence of depression was higher in the DD group than in the other two groups. Multi variable logistic regression analyses show that the DD group had significantly higher odds for depression compared with the ND group (p < 0.01), while the UD group showed no significant differences compared to the ND group. Subgroup analyses show that diagnosed diabetes in subjects with a lower educational level, compared with subjects with an educational level of high school or above, had higher odds for a PHQ-9 score ≥5 (p < 0.01). Conclusion: In this general population, diagnosed but not undiagnosed diabetes was significantly associated with depression. Much higher odds for depression were found among diagnosed diabetic individuals with a lower level of education.