Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and Acceptability of Orthokeratology for Slowing Myopic Progression in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. To evaluate the efficacy and acceptability of orthokeratology for slowing myopic progression in children with a well conducted evidence-based analysis. Design. Meta-analysis. Participants. Children from previously reported comparative studies were treated by orthokeratology versus control. Methods. A systematic literature retrieval was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and ClinicalTrials.gov. The included studies were subjected to meta-analysis using Stata version 10.1. Main Outcome Measures. Axial length change (efficacy) and dropout rates (acceptability) during 2-year follow-up. Results. Eight studies involving 769 subjects were included. At 2-year follow-up, a statistically significant difference was observed in axial length change between the orthokeratology and control groups, with a weighted mean difference (WMD) of −0.25 mm (95% CI, −0.30 to −0.21). The pooled myopic control rate declined with time, with 55, 51, 51, and 41% obtained after 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of treatment, respectively. No statistically significant difference was obtained for dropout rates between the orthokeratology and control groups at 2-year follow-up (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.52 to 1.22). Conclusions. Orthokeratology is effective and acceptable for slowing myopic progression in children with careful education and monitoring.
Experimental comparison of decentralized controllers for industrial robots

In this paper we present an experimental comparison between different decentralized controllers for industrial robot manipulators. In spite of the fact that robot manipulators are highly nonlinear and coupled multivariable systems, decentralized controllers have been widely adopted in industrial environments for trajectory tracking, because of their simplicity and their fault tolerance feature. Different kinds of controllers have been investigated: the typical PID-based controller, a nonlinear three-term controller devised by Tarokh, and a variable structure control law, a discontinuous integral control, both in the continuous and in the discretised version. Allowances are made for the tuning of the parameters in order to obtain low tracking errors. Results show that better performances are obtained by controllers other than PID, especially by the discontinuous integral control, so that they appear to be particularly appropriate for the use in industrial robots.
Molecular characterization of the 50-kD subunit of dynactin reveals function for the complex in chromosome alignment and spindle organization during mitosis

Dynactin is a multi-subunit complex which has been implicated in cytoplasmic dynein function, though its mechanism of action is unknown. In this study, we have characterized the 50-kD subunit of dynactin, and analyzed the effects of its overexpression on mitosis in living cells. Rat and human cDNA clones revealed p50 to be novel and highly conserved, containing three predicted coiled-coil domains. Immunofluorescence staining of dynactin and cytoplasmic dynein components in cultured vertebrate cells showed that both complexes are recruited to kinetochores during prometaphase, and concentrate near spindle poles thereafter. Overexpression of p50 in COS-7 cells disrupted mitosis, causing cells to accumulate in a prometaphase-like state. Chromosomes were condensed but unaligned, and spindles, while still bipolar, were dramatically distorted. Sedimentation analysis revealed the dynactin complex to be dissociated in the transfected cultures. Furthermore, both dynactin and cytoplasmic dynein staining at prometaphase kinetochores was markedly diminished in cells expressing high levels of p50. These findings represent clear evidence for dynactin and cytoplasmic dynein codistribution within cells, and for the presence of dynactin at kinetochores. The data also provide direct in vivo evidence for a role for vertebrate dynactin in modulating cytoplasmic dynein binding to an organelle, and implicate both dynactin and dynein in chromosome alignment and spindle organization.
Observational coding systems applied to study interactions between couples where one spouse has a chronic condition

This thesis comprises a systematic literature review and empirical paper investigating observational coding systems that have been applied to study interactions between couples where one spouse has a diagnosis of a chronic condition. The literature review offers a critical evaluation of nine coding systems that have been used by 14 papers. A description of each coding system is provided, as well as its theoretical development, evaluation of its application, reliability, validity, generalizability, and utility with a chronic condition population. The review concludes that tailored coding systems need to be developed that focus on specific behaviours that would inform care of someone with a chronic condition.The empirical paper presents the development and psychometric evaluation of an observational coding system for person-centred spousal care. Eleven couples, where one spouse had a diagnosis of dementia, were video-taped completing an everyday task. These videos were coded by three trained raters. Care-giving spouses also completed the Birmingham Relationship Continuity Measure as a measure of relationship continuity. Results suggested that the coding system had good inter-rater reliability, although validity needs to be evaluated. The hypothesis, that spouses scoring high on relationship continuity would relate using a more person-centred approach, was not supported.
Glycated and oxidized protein degradation products are indicators of fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetes.

OBJECTIVE To assess the relative importance of fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia to vascular dysfunction in diabetes, we have measured indicators of glycation, oxidative and nitrosative stress in subjects with type 1 diabetes, and different postprandial glucose patterns. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Plasma and urinary levels of specific arginine- and lysine-derived advanced glycation end products, as well as oxidative and nitrosative products, were measured by liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometric detection (LC-MS/MS) after 2 months of treatment with insulin lispro or human regular insulin in 21 subjects participating in a cross-over study. Hb-bound early glycation (Amadori) products were also measured after each treatment period by high-performance liquid chromatography (fructosyl-valine Hb or HbA1c [A1C]:Diamat) and fructosyl-lysine Hb by LC-MS/MS (A1C:fructosyl-lysine). RESULTS In diabetic patients, the concentrations of protein glycation and oxidation-free adducts increased up to 10-fold, while urinary excretion increased up to 15-fold. Decreasing postprandial hyperglycemia with lispro gave 10-20% decreases of the major free glycation adducts, hydroimidazolones derived from methylglyoxal and 3-deoxyglucosone, and glyoxal-derived Nepsilon-carboxymethyl-lysine. No differences were observed in A1C:Diamat or A1C:fructosyl-lysine with lispro or regular insulin therapy in spite of significant decreases in postprandial glycemia with lispro. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the profound increases in proteolytic products of proteins modified by advanced glycation endproducts in diabetic patients are responsive to changes in mean hyperglycemia and also show responses to changes in postprandial hyperglycemia.
Multifunctional nanoparticles of Fe3O4@SiO2(FITC)/PAH conjugated the recombinant plasmid of pIRSE2-EGFP/VEGF165 with dual functions for gene delivery and cellular imaging

Objectives: Technologies to increase tissue vascularity are critically important to the fields of tissue engineering and cardiovascular medicine. Angiogenic factors, like VEGF, have been widely investigated to induce vascular endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis for establishing a vascular network. However, effective transport of VEGF gene to target cells with minimal side effects remains a challenge despite the use of unique viral and non-viral delivery approaches. Methods: This study presents a novel gene delivery system of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) doped and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) grafted Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles, which allows efficient loading of pVEGF to form Fe3O4@SiO2(FITC)/PAH/pVEGF nanocomplexes for VEGF gene delivery and cellular imaging. Results: The nanocomplexes maintain their superparamagnetic property in the silica composites at room temperature, reaching a saturation magnetization value of 5.19 emu/g of material, and no appreciable change in magnetism even after PAH modification. The quantitative analysis of cellular internalization into the living human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) demonstrated that the Fe3O4@SiO2(FITC)/PAH/pVEGF nanocomplexes could be entirely internalized by HUVECs, and exhibit high VEGF gene expression and an innocuous toxic profile. The magnetic resonance (MR) images showed that the superparamagnetic iron oxide core of Fe3O4@SiO2(FITC)/PAH/pVEGF nanocomplexes could also act as a contrast agent for MR imaging. This property provides a benefit for monitoring gene delivery. Conclusion: These data highlight multifunctional Fe3O4@SiO2(FITC)/PAH/pVEGF nanocomplexes as an attractive platform for gene delivery of angiogenesis, and also making it a potential candidate of nanoprobes for cellular fluorescent imaging or MR imaging.
Human CMV infection of endothelial cells induces an angiogenic response through viral binding to EGF receptor and β1 and β3 integrins

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is associated with atherosclerosis, transplant vascular sclerosis, and coronary restenosis. A common theme in these vascular diseases is an increased rate of angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is a complex biological process mediated by endothelial cell (EC) proliferation, migration, and morphogenesis. Although angiogenesis is a normal process in the host, its dysregulation, after viral infection or injury to the vessel wall, is associated with plaque development in atherosclerotic patients. We now document that HCMV infection results in increased EC proliferation, motility, and capillary tube formation. The observed HCMV-induced angiogenic response depended on viral binding to and signaling through the β1 and β3 integrins and the epidermal growth factor receptor, via their ability to activate the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. Because a proangiogenic response drives the neovascularization observed in atherosclerotic disease, our findings identify a possible mechanism for how HCMV infection contributes to vascular disease.
Assessment of Condom Use in Men and Women

Abstract Self-reported condom use is a key variable in surveys of sexual behavior and in studies evaluating interventions to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections. This article provides a review of how male condom use has been assessed in research. We critically review a number of methodological issues, including the length of the recall period, terminology, specification of partner variables, validity and reliability of condom use, and use of newer data collection methods such as daily diaries and computer-assisted and online technologies. Assessment of condom use errors and problems, and the role of women in condom use are discussed. Finally, we offer recommendations for improving assessment of condom use in future research.
The child''s discovery of mind

Warpwise and weftwise stretchable seamless tubular knitted openwork mesh fabric comprising a series of individual lengthwise extending warp strings arranged in circumferentially spaced parallel aray interknitted at equally spaced points along the lengths thereof with the spaced convolutions of a weftwise extending helically arranged strand of elastic yarn, each of the strings consisting solely of successive groups of a like number of crochet knitted chain stitches formed solely of non-elastic yarn and of single stitches formed solely of elastic yarn, the elastic yarn stitches being disposed between and being interknit with the proximate chain stitches of the successive groups thereof whereby each warp string is formed of warpwise spaced single elastic stitches arranged in alternating relation with respect to the successive groups of chain stitches, the non-elastic yarn extending warpwise in non-knitted condition as a float of yarn between the proximate chain stitches of the successive groups thereof, the elastic yarn stitches being in unknit linear formation when the fabric is in relaxed condition and being formable into knit confromation by the force exerted upon the warp strings when the fabric is in warpwise stretched condition, in which latter condition the interaction between the proximate chain stitches of non-elastic yarn stitches is such as to inhibit weftwise displacement of the warp strings.
Adaptive Response of Group B Streptococcus to High Glucose Conditions: New Insights on the CovRS Regulation Network

Although the contribution of carbohydrate catabolism to bacterial colonization and infection is well recognized, the transcriptional changes during these processes are still unknown. In this study, we have performed comparative global gene expression analysis of GBS in sugar-free versus high glucose milieu. The analysis revealed a differential expression of genes involved in metabolism, transport and host-pathogen interaction. Many of them appeared to be among the genes previously reported to be controlled by the CovRS two-component system. Indeed, the transcription profile of a ΔcovRS strain grown in high-glucose conditions was profoundly affected. In particular, of the total genes described to be regulated by glucose, ∼27% were under CovRS control with a functional role in protein synthesis, transport, energy metabolism and regulation. Among the CovRS dependent genes, we found bibA, a recently characterized adhesin involved in bacterial serum resistance and here reported to be down-regulated by glucose. ChIP analysis revealed that in the presence of glucose, CovR binds bibA promoter in vivo, suggesting that CovR may act as a negative regulator or a repressor. We also demonstrated that, as for other target promoters, chemical phosphorylation of CovR in aspartic acid increases its affinity for the bibA promoter region. The data reported in this study contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms modulating the adaptation of GBS to glucose.
Continuous-Time Average-Preserving Opinion Dynamics with Opinion-Dependent Communications

We study a simple continuous-time multiagent system related to Krause's model of opinion dynamics: each agent holds a real value, and this value is continuously attracted by every other value differing from it by less than 1, with an intensity proportional to the difference. We prove convergence to a set of clusters, with the agents in each cluster sharing a common value, and provide a lower bound on the distance between clusters at a stable equilibrium, under a suitable notion of multiagent system stability. To better understand the behavior of the system for a large number of agents, we introduce a variant involving a continuum of agents. We prove, under some conditions, the existence of a solution to the system dynamics, convergence to clusters, and a nontrivial lower bound on the distance between clusters. Finally, we establish that the continuum model accurately represents the asymptotic behavior of a system with a finite but large number of agents.
Internet Access and Use among Homeless and Indigent Drug Users in Long Beach, California

There has been a growing interest in using the Internet to access a variety of populations for prevention education and health care. It is not clear that this is viable for homeless and other marginalized populations. The purpose of this study was to describe Internet access and use among a sample of homeless and indigent drug users. A brief questionnaire was developed to assess computer ownership, use, email, and Internet access and use. Participants were recruited through a community-based human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention program. 265 participants completed the questionnaire. While 55% had ever used a computer in their lifetime, only 25% had ever owned a computer, 24% had ever had their own email account, 33% had access to a working computer in the last 30 days, 10% had sent or received email in the last 30 days, and 19% had surfed or accessed information on the Internet in the last 30 days. Logistic regression predicting lifetime use of a computer showed predictive factors of having completed high school (Odds Ratio [OR] = 4.5; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 2.41, 8.38) and number of days used amphetamines in the last 30 days, per 5 days of use (OR = 1.64; 95% CI = 1.18, 2.27). Inversely related were age, per 5 years of age (OR = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.65, 0.93) and number of days used marijuana in the last 30 days, per 5 days of use (OR = 0.97; 95% CI = 0.76, 0.99). Very low access and usage suggest that Internet-based public health education models be reexamined for this population. The association with amphetamine use may indicate a facilitating effect of amphetamine by heightening awareness and increasing wakefulness.
Ab initiomolecular dynamics of the reactivity of vitaminC toward hydroxyl and HO 2 = O − 2 radicals

Vitamin C is one of the most abundant exogenous antioxidants in the cell, and it is of the utmost importance to elucidate its mechanism of action against radicals. In this study, the reactivity of vitamin C toward OH and HO2=O2 radicals in aqueous medium was analyzed by ab initio molecular dynamics using CPMD code. The simulations led to results similar to those of static studies or experiments for the pair of HO2=O2 radicals but bring new insights for the reactivity with hydroxyl radical: the reaction takes place before the formation of an adduct and consists of two steps: first an electron is transferred to hydroxyl radical and then the ascorbyl radical loses a proton.
New histone deacetylase inhibitors improve cisplatin antitumor properties against thoracic cancer cells

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) have shown promising antitumor effects on numerous cancer cells including malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and lung adenocarcinoma (ADCA) cells. However, clinical trials using these compounds alone have shown limited efficacy against solid tumors. Therefore, new molecules are being developed and combinations with classical chemotherapeutic drugs are being tested. Here, we have evaluated on three MPM and three lung ADCA cell lines the antitumor potential of four new HDACi compounds, either alone or in combination with cisplatin. These effects were compared with those of vorinostat, an HDACi approved for cancer treatments. First, we characterized the HDAC mRNA expression profiles of tumor cells and showed an increase of the classI/classII HDAC ratio. We then treated cancer cells with these new HDACi and observed a cell-death induction and an increase of HDACi target genes and proteins expression. This was particularly evident for NODH compound (pan-HDACi) which had similar effects at nanomolar concentrations as micromolar concentrations of vorinostat. Interestingly, we observed that the HDACi/cisplatin combination strongly increased cell-death and limited resistance-phenotype emergence as compared with results obtained when the drugs were used alone. These results could be exploited to develop MPM and lung ADCA treatments combining chemotherapeutic approaches.
Latent-Class Hough Forests for 6 DoF Object Pose Estimation

In this paper we present Latent-Class Hough Forests, a method for object detection and 6 DoF pose estimation in heavily cluttered and occluded scenarios. We adapt a state of the art template matching feature into a scale-invariant patch descriptor and integrate it into a regression forest using a novel template-based split function. We train with positive samples only and we treat class distributions at the leaf nodes as latent variables. During testing we infer by iteratively updating these distributions, providing accurate estimation of background clutter and foreground occlusions and, thus, better detection rate. Furthermore, as a by-product, our Latent-Class Hough Forests can provide accurate occlusion aware segmentation masks, even in the multi-instance scenario. In addition to an existing public dataset, which contains only single-instance sequences with large amounts of clutter, we have collected two, more challenging, datasets for multiple-instance detection containing heavy 2D and 3D clutter as well as foreground occlusions. We provide extensive experiments on the various parameters of the framework such as patch size, number of trees and number of iterations to infer class distributions at test time. We also evaluate the Latent-Class Hough Forests on all datasets where we outperform state of the art methods.
Spatial Language Processing in the Blind: Evidence for a Supramodal Representation and Cortical Reorganization

Neuropsychological and imaging studies have shown that the left supramarginal gyrus (SMG) is specifically involved in processing spatial terms (e.g. above, left of), which locate places and objects in the world. The current fMRI study focused on the nature and specificity of representing spatial language in the left SMG by combining behavioral and neuronal activation data in blind and sighted individuals. Data from the blind provide an elegant way to test the supramodal representation hypothesis, i.e. abstract codes representing spatial relations yielding no activation differences between blind and sighted. Indeed, the left SMG was activated during spatial language processing in both blind and sighted individuals implying a supramodal representation of spatial and other dimensional relations which does not require visual experience to develop. However, in the absence of vision functional reorganization of the visual cortex is known to take place. An important consideration with respect to our finding is the amount of functional reorganization during language processing in our blind participants. Therefore, the participants also performed a verb generation task. We observed that only in the blind occipital areas were activated during covert language generation. Additionally, in the first task there was functional reorganization observed for processing language with a high linguistic load. As the visual cortex was not specifically active for spatial contents in the first task, and no reorganization was observed in the SMG, the latter finding further supports the notion that the left SMG is the main node for a supramodal representation of verbal spatial relations.
Prosody Conversion for Emotional Mandarin Speech Synthesis Using the Tone Nucleus Model

In this paper, tone nucleus model is employed to represent and convert F 0 contour for synthesizing an emotional Mandarin speech from a neutral speech. Compared with previous prosody transforming methods, the proposed method 1) only converts the tone nucleus part of each syllable rather than the whole F 0 contour to avoid the data sparseness problems; 2) builds mapping functions for well-chosen tone nucleus model parameters to better capture Mandarin tonal information. Using only a modest amount of training data, the perceptual accuracy achieved by our method was shown to be comparable to that obtained by a professional speaker.
A new wide-band amplifier technique

Precision dc-coupled amplifiers having risetimes of less than a nanosecond have recently been fabricated using the monolithic planar process. The design is based on a simple technique that has a broad range of applications and is characterized by a stage-gain- bandwidth product essentially equal to that of the transistors, and a very linear transfer characteristic, free from temperature dependence.