Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunohistochemical Analysis of Osteoblasts in Zygapophyseal Joints of Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis Reveal Repair Mechanisms Similar to Osteoarthritis

Objective. New bone formation of the spine is a typical feature of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). It is unknown whether new bone formation is part of a physiological repair process or a unique pathological entity of the disease. Methods. We analyzed zygapophyseal joints from patients with AS and osteoarthritis (OA) undergoing spinal surgery for rigid hyperkyphosis (AS) or radiculopathy caused by severe OA. In 17 patients with AS, 11 with OA, and 5 controls we performed immunohistochemical analysis of osteoprotegerin (OPG), nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), and osteocalcin (OC) expression in osteoblasts and determined the trabecular thickness in AS and OA patients and controls. Osteoclasts were detected by tartrate-resistant alkaline phosphatase (TRAP) staining. Results. Trabecular thickness was significantly lower in patients with AS compared to OA (p = 0.01). The absolute number of CD56+ osteoblasts (p < 0.001) and OC+ (p = 0.002), OPG+ (p = 0.003), and RANKL+ osteoblasts (p = 0.03) in AS patients was also significantly lower than in OA patients. The percentages of OC+, OPG+, and RANKL+ osteoblasts did not differ between AS and OA (p > 0.05 in all cases). In controls, the percentages of OPG+ (p = 0.013) and OC+ (p = 0.034) but not RANKL+ (p > 0.05) osteoblasts were significantly lower compared to AS patients. The frequency of TRAP+ osteoclasts in AS patients was significantly lower compared to OA (p < 0.001), but higher compared to controls. Conclusion. Immunohistochemical analysis of zygapophyseal joints suggested that osteoblast activity is similar in AS and OA, indicating that new bone formation is possibly a physiological function of repair in both diseases.
Enterovirus 71 Protease 2Apro Targets MAVS to Inhibit Anti-Viral Type I Interferon Responses

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the major causative pathogen of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). Its pathogenicity is not fully understood, but innate immune evasion is likely a key factor. Strategies to circumvent the initiation and effector phases of anti-viral innate immunity are well known; less well known is whether EV71 evades the signal transduction phase regulated by a sophisticated interplay of cellular and viral proteins. Here, we show that EV71 inhibits anti-viral type I interferon (IFN) responses by targeting the mitochondrial anti-viral signaling (MAVS) protein—a unique adaptor molecule activated upon retinoic acid induced gene-I (RIG-I) and melanoma differentiation associated gene (MDA-5) viral recognition receptor signaling—upstream of type I interferon production. MAVS was cleaved and released from mitochondria during EV71 infection. An in vitro cleavage assay demonstrated that the viral 2A protease (2Apro), but not the mutant 2Apro (2Apro-110) containing an inactivated catalytic site, cleaved MAVS. The Protease-Glo assay revealed that MAVS was cleaved at 3 residues between the proline-rich and transmembrane domains, and the resulting fragmentation effectively inactivated downstream signaling. In addition to MAVS cleavage, we found that EV71 infection also induced morphologic and functional changes to the mitochondria. The EV71 structural protein VP1 was detected on purified mitochondria, suggesting not only a novel role for mitochondria in the EV71 replication cycle but also an explanation of how EV71-derived 2Apro could approach MAVS. Taken together, our findings reveal a novel strategy employed by EV71 to escape host anti-viral innate immunity that complements the known EV71-mediated immune-evasion mechanisms.
Bridging the Gap between Detection and Tracking for 3D Monocular Video-Based Motion Capture

We combine detection and tracking techniques to achieve robust 3-D motion recovery of people seen from arbitrary viewpoints by a single and potentially moving camera. We rely on detecting key postures, which can be done reliably, using a motion model to infer 3-D poses between consecutive detections, and finally refining them over the whole sequence using a generative model. We demonstrate our approach in the case of people walking against cluttered backgrounds and filmed using a moving camera, which precludes the use of simple background subtraction techniques. In this case, the easy-to-detect posture is the one that occurs at the end of each step when people have their legs furthest apart.
Zero-voltage-switching SPWM method for three-phase four-wire inverter

A Zero-Voltage-Switching (ZVS) SPWM method for three-phase four-wire inverter is proposed. Stage analysis of the ZVS SPWM inverter is given. The ZVS condition under unbalanced load is derived and ZVS can be achieved of all switches in the three-phase four-wire inverter, which include both the main switches and the auxiliary switch. Finally the proposed ZVS SPWM scheme is verified by the experiment.
Hyperoxia Decreases Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 and Increases Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 Protein in the Newborn Rat Lung: Association with Arrested Alveolarization

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are likely effectors of normal lung development, especially branching morphogenesis, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix degradation. Because hyperoxia exposure (>95% O2) from d 4 to 14 in newborn rat pups leads to arrest of alveolarization and mimics newborn chronic lung disease, we tested whether hyperoxia altered MMP-2 and -9 mRNA, protein, and enzymatic activity, and the mRNA and protein expression of the endogenous tissue inhibitor of MMP, TIMP-1. No changes due to hyperoxia exposure were observed in MMP-2 mRNA or pro-enzyme (72 kD) protein levels between d 6 and 14, although the overall protein mass and zymographic activity of the active (68 kD) enzyme were diminished (p < 0.05, ANOVA). However, hyperoxia significantly decreased levels of MMP-9 mRNA and pro-MMP-9 protein and diminished overall MMP-9 pro-enzyme activity. TIMP-1 mRNA was not elevated by hyperoxia until d 14, but protein levels were significantly (p < 0.001) elevated by hyperoxia from d 9 to 14. To estimate the potential of MMP inhibition to arrest alveolarization, administration of doxycycline (20 mg/ kg, twice daily by gavage), a pan-MMP proteolysis inhibitor, arrested lung alveolarization. We conclude that hyperoxia decreases MMP-9 mRNA, protein, and activity and elevates TIMP-1 protein, and these changes have the potential to contribute to the arrest of normal lung development.
Vulnerability of ecosystems to climate change moderated by habitat intactness

The combined effects of climate change and habitat loss represent a major threat to species and ecosystems around the world. Here, we analyse the vulnerability of ecosystems to climate change based on current levels of habitat intactness and vulnerability to biome shifts, using multiple measures of habitat intactness at two spatial scales. We show that the global extent of refugia depends highly on the definition of habitat intactness and spatial scale of the analysis of intactness. Globally, 28% of terrestrial vegetated area can be considered refugia if all natural vegetated land cover is considered. This, however, drops to 17% if only areas that are at least 50% wilderness at a scale of 48 × 48 km are considered and to 10% if only areas that are at least 50% wilderness at a scale of 4.8 × 4.8 km are considered. Our results suggest that, in regions where relatively large, intact wilderness areas remain (e.g. Africa, Australia, boreal regions, South America), conservation of the remaining large‐scale refugia is the priority. In human‐dominated landscapes, (e.g. most of Europe, much of North America and Southeast Asia), focusing on finer scale refugia is a priority because large‐scale wilderness refugia simply no longer exist. Action to conserve such refugia is particularly urgent since only 1 to 2% of global terrestrial vegetated area is classified as refugia and at least 50% covered by the global protected area network.
Violent Men: Investigating Mental Disorder, Substance Use and PTSD

Due to third party copyright restrictions the following extracts have been removed from the appendix of the electronic version of this thesis: Appendix 9 - Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) by Leonard R. Derogatis, PhD Appendix 10 - Structured Interview for Disorders of Extreme Distress (SIDES) by David Pelcovitz et al. Appendix 11 - Detailed Assessment of Posttraumatic Stress (DAPS) - Item Booklet developed by John Briere, PhD and PAR Staff The unabridged version can be consulted, on request, at the University of Leicester’s David Wilson Library.
Robustness Analysis of Stochastic Biochemical Systems

We propose a new framework for rigorous robustness analysis of stochastic biochemical systems that is based on probabilistic model checking techniques. We adapt the general definition of robustness introduced by Kitano to the class of stochastic systems modelled as continuous time Markov Chains in order to extensively analyse and compare robustness of biological models with uncertain parameters. The framework utilises novel computational methods that enable to effectively evaluate the robustness of models with respect to quantitative temporal properties and parameters such as reaction rate constants and initial conditions. We have applied the framework to gene regulation as an example of a central biological mechanism where intrinsic and extrinsic stochasticity plays crucial role due to low numbers of DNA and RNA molecules. Using our methods we have obtained a comprehensive and precise analysis of stochastic dynamics under parameter uncertainty. Furthermore, we apply our framework to compare several variants of two-component signalling networks from the perspective of robustness with respect to intrinsic noise caused by low populations of signalling components. We have successfully extended previous studies performed on deterministic models (ODE) and showed that stochasticity may significantly affect obtained predictions. Our case studies demonstrate that the framework can provide deeper insight into the role of key parameters in maintaining the system functionality and thus it significantly contributes to formal methods in computational systems biology.
Vitamin A supplementation has divergent effects on norovirus infections and clinical symptoms among Mexican children.

BACKGROUND The effect of vitamin A supplementation on viral gastrointestinal infections among young children living in developing countries remains unclear. METHODS The effect of vitamin A supplementation on norovirus (NoV) infection among 127 Mexican children 5-15 months of age was studied in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial during June-August 1998. Stool samples collected every 2 weeks and after diarrheal episodes were screened for NoV and characterized at the genogroup level (GI and GII). RESULTS Of the stool samples collected, 29.9% were positive for NoV, and NoV GI and NoV GII were found in 55.4% and 46.4% of the positive samples, respectively. Vitamin A supplementation reduced the prevalence of NoV GII infections (rate ratio [RR], 0.60 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.20-0.82]), increased the length of both NoV GI and GII shedding, and decreased the prevalence of NoV-associated diarrhea (RR, 0.51 [95% CI, 0.26-0.97]). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that NoV is an important cause of pediatric diarrhea in this study population and that vitamin A supplementation has divergent effects on specific outcomes of NoV infection.
Stability of impulsive systems driven by renewal processes

Necessary and sufficient conditions are provided for stochastic stability and mean exponential stability of impulsive systems with jumps triggered by a renewal process, that is, the intervals between jumps are independent and identically distributed. The conditions for stochastic stability can be efficiently tested in terms of the feasibility of a set of LMIs or in terms of an algebraic test. The relation between the different stability notions for this class of systems is also discussed. The results are illustrated through their application to the stability analysis of networked control systems. We present two benchmark examples for which one can guarantee stability for inter-sampling times roughly twice as large as in a previous paper.
Superior Ethnocentrism, Avoidance, and TOEIC Score : A Case of the Japanese Learning English at the Collegiate Level

The globalization of the Japanese economy has required many Japanese business organizations to enhance the English proficiency of their employees. The English proficiency necessary for Japanese business persons is now measured by TOEIC (Test of English as International Communication) because this test is particularly designed to assess the general English proficiency of non-native English speakers who work in the global workplace. Thus, the English education of the Japanese business world has narrowed its focus to instructing learners to achieve higher TOEIC scores. In fact, a growing number of Japanese companies (e.g., NISSAN, IBM Japan, Yanmer Diesel) have requested their employees to achieve higher TOEIC scores. Japanese workers who want to engage in international business also know that 730 on TOEIC is a crucial number that qualifies them to become functional in actual international management, domestically or abroad. These market forces have finally triggered Japan's educational institutions to reform their English programs. In an attempt to respond to these market forces, an increasing number of Japanese colleges and universities have created TOEIC preparation courses to enhance the TOEIC scores of their students. In conjunction with the effort to create TOEIC preparation courses, some efforts are underway to examine which elements affect learners' TOEIC scores at the collegiate level. However, few empirical studies have been completed in a large scale, and no comprehensive answers have been found by any study in a convincing manner. Consequently, little is known about which elements affect TOEIC scores. These lacks of knowledge have induced this study to pose the general research question: What elements affect TOEIe scores of Japanese students learning English at the collegiate level? In an attempt to answer this question, this study examines the degree to which two elements of intercultural sensitivity affect learners' TOEIC scores. Intercultural sensitivity is defined as an individual's sensitivity to the importance of cultural differences and to the viewpoints of culturally different others (e.g., Hammer & Bennet, 1998). Intercultural sensitivity has been recognized by many researchers as an important attribute of those who actually engage in international business because effective international business requires managers to become sensitive to intercultural communication needed for handling possible cultural diversity of workplaces (e.g., Fatehi, 1996). It is, therefore, routine for researchers of
The Use of Color in Multidimensional Graphical Information Display

The performance in judging values in a univariate map encoded using five different color scales was tested in eleven subjects. Digital elevation maps (DEMs) were encoded using: 1) an RGB gray scale (RGB), 2) a gray scale based on CIELAB L* (L*), 3) a L* scale with an added red hue component (Red L*), 4) an L* scale with continuous hue change (Spectral L*), and 5) a gray scale based on luminance (Luminance). Performance was tested using an Evaluation task and a Production task. For both tasks judgments were made both with and without legends for all five encoding schemes. The results show a significant effect of choice of encoding scheme, the presence or absence of a legend, and an interaction between these two factors. Performance with a legend was significantly better than without one. The Spectral L* scale led to the best performance while Luminance encoding was the worst. This experiment is a first step in using quantifiable psychophysical procedures to evaluate the effectiveness of different color encoding schemes on the interpretability of multidimensional graphical images.
Increased Amyloid Precursor Protein and Tau Expression Manifests as Key Secondary Cell Death in Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury

In testing the hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD)‐like pathology in late stage traumatic brain injury (TBI), we evaluated AD pathological markers in late stage TBI model. Sprague–Dawley male rats were subjected to moderate controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury, and 6 months later euthanized and brain tissues harvested. Results from H&E staining revealed significant 33% and 10% reduction in the ipsilateral and contralateral hippocampal CA3 interneurons, increased MHCII‐activated inflammatory cells in many gray matter (8–20‐fold increase) and white matter (6–30‐fold increased) regions of both the ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres, decreased cell cycle regulating protein marker by 1.6‐ and 1‐fold in the SVZ and a 2.3‐ and 1.5‐fold reductions in the ipsilateral and contralateral dentate gyrus, diminution of immature neuronal marker by two‐ and onefold in both the ipsilateral and contralateral SVZ and dentate gyrus, and amplified amyloid precursor protein (APP) distribution volumes in white matter including corpus callosum, fornix, and internal capsule (4–38‐fold increase), as well as in the cortical gray matter, such as the striatum hilus, SVZ, and dentate gyrus (6–40‐fold increase) in TBI animals compared to controls (P's < 0.001). Surrogate AD‐like phenotypic markers revealed a significant accumulation of phosphorylated tau (AT8) and oligomeric tau (T22) within the neuronal cell bodies in ipsilateral and contralateral cortex, and dentate gyrus relative to sham control, further supporting the rampant neurodegenerative pathology in TBI secondary cell death. These findings indicate that AD‐like pathological features may prove to be valuable markers and therapeutic targets for late stage TBI. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 665–677, 2017. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Cellular Physiology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Maturation of metabolic connectivity of the adolescent rat brain

Neuroimaging has been used to examine developmental changes of the brain. While PET studies revealed maturation-related changes, maturation of metabolic connectivity of the brain is not yet understood. Here, we show that rat brain metabolism is reconfigured to achieve long-distance connections with higher energy efficiency during maturation. Metabolism increased in anterior cerebrum and decreased in thalamus and cerebellum during maturation. When functional covariance patterns of PET images were examined, metabolic networks including default mode network (DMN) were extracted. Connectivity increased between the anterior and posterior parts of DMN and sensory-motor cortices during maturation. Energy efficiency, a ratio of connectivity strength to metabolism of a region, increased in medial prefrontal and retrosplenial cortices. Our data revealed that metabolic networks mature to increase metabolic connections and establish its efficiency between large-scale spatial components from childhood to early adulthood. Neurodevelopmental diseases might be understood by abnormal reconfiguration of metabolic connectivity and efficiency. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.11571. 001
Autophagy Protects against Oxaliplatin-Induced Cell Death via ER Stress and ROS in Caco-2 Cells

Oxaliplatin is included in a number of effective combination regimens used as first and subsequent lines of therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer. Accumulating evidence indicates that autophagy plays a significant role in response to cancer therapy. However, the role of autophagy in oxaliplatin-induced cell death remains to be clarified. In this study, we showed that oxaliplatin induced cell death and autophagy in Caco-2 colorectal cancer cells. The suppression of autophagy using either pharmacologic inhibitors (3-methyladenine, bafilomycin A1) or RNA interference in essential autophagy genes (ATG5 or Beclin1) enhanced the cell death and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by oxaliplatin in Caco-2 cells. Blocking oxaliplatin-induced ROS production by using ROS scavengers (NAC or Tiron) decreased autophagy. Furthermore, numerous dilated endoplasmic reticula (ER) were present in oxaliplatin-treated Caco-2 cells, and blocking ER stress by RNA interference against candidate of metastasis-1 (P8) and C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP) decreased autophagy and ROS production. Taken together, these data indicate that oxaliplatin activates autophagy as a cytoprotective response via ER stress and ROS in human colorectal cancer cells.
Distributed and QoS-driven cell association in HetNets to minimize global outage probability

This paper addresses the cell association problem in the downlink of a multi-tier heterogeneous network (HetNet), where base stations (BSs) have finite number of resource blocks (RBs) available to distribute among their associated users. We define the global outage probability as the event where at least one user in the network experiences outage. An optimization problem is defined to minimize this global outage probability while maintaining quality of service (QoS) through two phases: Cell association phase followed by the optional RB distribution phase. The cell association problem is an NP-hard problem. We transform the cell association problem into a linear program, for which we propose a distributed cell association algorithm by using Lagrange dual decomposition method. An admission control scheme is also proposed to address the infeasibility problem and achieve load balancing. Finally, the effectiveness of our proposed distributed algorithm is examined through numerical simulations.
Excessive force, civil liability, and the Taser in the nation's courts: Implications for law enforcement policy and practice

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to help inform the ongoing policy and training debates over use of the Taser and its proper role in the use of force continuum.Design/methodology/approach – This paper qualitatively analyzes all reported court decisions (n=53 as of January 31, 2007) in which a Taser was used by a law enforcement officer.Findings – The majority of reported cases have resulted in the dismissal of claims against officers and municipalities for alleged Taser‐related excessive force violations. In most cases, plaintiffs were unable to show the existence of an unconstitutional policy or custom to support municipal liability. As for the liability of individual officers, most cases were decided in the officer's favor on summary judgment, particularly when the suspect was exhibiting physical resistance. In a few cases, summary judgment was denied to officers when the plaintiff alleged that he or she was fully compliant when the Tasering occurred.Research limitations/implications – This analys.