Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interactions between Limb and Environmental Mechanics 3 Influence Stretch Reflex Sensitivity in the Human Arm 4 5 6

34 Stretch reflexes contribute to arm impedance and longer latency stretch reflexes exhibit 35 increased sensitivity during interactions with compliant or unstable environments. This 36 increased sensitivity is consistent with a regulation of arm impedance to compensate for 37 decreased stability of the environment, but the specificity of this modulation has yet to be 38 investigated. Many tasks, such as tool use, compromise arm stability along specific directions 39 and stretch reflexes tuned to those directions could present an efficient mechanism for 40 regulating arm impedance in a task appropriate manner. To be effective, such tuning should 41 adapt not only to the mechanical properties of the environment but to those properties in 42 relation to the arm, which also has directionally-specific mechanical properties. The purpose of 43 this study was to investigate the specificity of stretch reflex modulation during interactions with 44 mechanical environments that challenge arm stability. The tested environments were unstable, 45 having the characteristics of a negative stiffness spring. These were either aligned or orthogonal 46 to the direction of maximal endpoint stiffness for each subject. Our results demonstrate 47 preferential increases in reflexes, elicited within 50-100ms of perturbation onset, to 48 perturbations applied specifically along the direction of the destabilizing environments. This 49 increase occurred only when the magnitude of the environmental instability exceeded endpoint 50 stiffness along the same direction. These results are consistent with task-specific reflex 51 modulation tuned to the mechanical properties of the environment relative to those of the 52 human arm. They demonstrate a highly adaptable, involuntary mechanism that may be used to 53 modulate limb impedance along specific directions. 54
Cognitive Component of Componential Model of Reading Applied to Different Orthographies

Whether the simple view of reading (SVR) as incorporated in the componential model of reading (CMR) is applicable to other orthographies than English was explored in this study. Spanish, with transparent orthography and Chinese, with opaque orthography were selected because of their diverse characteristics. The first part reports a study of students from grades 2 and 3, whose home language and medium of instruction was Spanish, and were administered tests of decoding, listening, and reading comprehension. A comparison group of 49 children from Grade 2, 54 children from Grade 3, and 55 children from Grade 4, whose home language and instruction was English, were also administered tests of decoding, listening, and reading comprehension. Multiple regression analysis showed that approximately 60% of the variance in reading comprehension of Spanish participants and 50% of the variance in reading comprehension of English participants were explained by decoding and listening comprehension. Furthermore, the performance of third grade Spanish participants resembled that of fourth grade English-speaking participants. In the second study, 102 Chinese students from Grade 2 and 106 students from Grade 4 were administered tasks of Chinese character recognition, reading fluency, listening, and reading comprehension. Multiple regression analyses showed character recognition and listening comprehension accounted for 25% and 42% of the variance in Chinese reading comprehension at Grades 2 and 4 respectively. These results indicate that the simple view of reading is applicable to writing systems other than that of English.
Influence of the glutathione s-transferase gene polymorphisms on the susceptibility to basal cell skin carcinoma.

BACKGROUND The identification of groups at high risk is fundamental to determine preventive strategies for skin cancer. Destructive reactive oxygen species produced by UVA or chemical carcinogens are metabolized by a series of enzymes. Polymorphisms of genes encoding for these enzymes may produce defective proteins with a diminished ability to detoxify a wide range of carcinogens. AIMS To ascertain the influence and potential interactions of several polymorphisms of genes encoding four important antioxidant GST enzymes in the susceptibility to cancer among Brazilians. MATERIAL AND METHODS We compared the genotypes of Glutathione S-Transferase mu, theta, pi and omega (GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1 and GSTO2) in a group of 102 patients with skin lesions and 124 controls. RESULTS Patients with Basal Cell Skin Carcinoma (BCC) presented the combined GSTM1-GSTT1+ genotype more frequently (49.1%) than controls (29.8%) (Fisher test; p=0.04), conferring a 2.273 (Odds Ratio; 95% CI=1.199-4.308) higher risk for BCC. We were not able to find any other association between genotypes or between any genotype and the patients' clinical features. CONCLUSIONS The GST profile may help identify Brazilian individuals at higher risk for BCC.
Understanding the mechanism behind social tuning of automatic prejudice: Attitudinal alignment or social norms?

iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the individuals who helped me through the thesis process. I would like to thank Dr. Jeff Huntsinger, my mentor here at Loyola University Chicago, who helped make the inception and conclusion of this project possible. I would like to thank my other committee member, Dr. Victor Ottati, for his feedback and perspective throughout this process as well. I would also like to thank the Mallett-Huntsinger lab for their help with data collection and giving me the space to carry out my experiment. In addition, a special thank you to my family and friends who supported me along the way. Thank you for your encouragement.
T Cell‐Replacing Factor (TRF)/Interleukin 5 (IL‐5): Molecular and Functional Properties

TRF has originally been defined as a T-cell-derived lymphokine that triggers activated B cells for a terminal differentiation into Ig-secreting cells. HPLC-purified TRF from Sup of a murine TRF-producing B151 cell is an acidic glycoprotein, exerts BCGF II activity and induces expression of IL-2 receptors. It does not show IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, BSF-1/IL-4, or IFN gamma activity. We prepared monoclonal TB13 and NC17 antibodies against HPLC-purified B151-TRF which are specific for and can inhibit TRF as well as BCFG II activity of B151-TRF. Moreover, TB13 as well as NC17 antibody can immunoprecipitate the 46 Kd molecule from B151 Sup which exerts TRF as well as BCGF II activity. Complementary DNA (pSP6K-mTRF23) encoding for murine TRF/IL-5 was cloned and its entire nucleotide sequences were determined. The murine TRF/IL-5 cDNA encodes 133 amino acids including N-terminal strongly hydrophobic regions. Secreted recombinant TRF/IL-5 (apparent m.w. of 46 Kd) has 113 amino acid residues and also comprises homodimers of a molecule with an apparent m.w. of 25 to 30 Kd. TRF/IL-5 mRNA is constitutively expressed in constitutively TRF-producing B151 and is inducible in some T cell lines upon stimulation with PMA or Con A. TRF/IL-5 mRNA is also expressed in Tbc-primed T cells upon the stimulation with PPD, whereas its expression is not effectively induced in non-primed spleen cells by stimulation with Con A or PMA plus calcium ionophore. The translation product of murine TRF/IL-5 cDNA triggers resting as well as activated (DNP-primed or LPS-stimulated) murine B cells for terminal differentiation into Ig-secreting cells (IgM, IgG1, or IgA) accompanied by increased mRNA expression for secreted forms of relevant Ig heavy chain (mu, gamma, or alpha). Among these, increases in the level of mu, and alpha-specific mRNA for the secreted form of IgM and IgA, respectively, are prominent. Moreover, TRF/IL-5 induces maturation of resting B cells into IgM-secreting cells. TRF/IL-5 promotes growth of activated B cells as well as BCL1 cells. TRF/IL-5 is, therefore, a growth as well as a differentiation inducing factor for B cells. Moreover, it induces functional IL-2 receptors on resting as well as activated B cells, besides TRF and BCGF II activities. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Mismatch between BDNF mRNA and protein expression in the developing visual cortex: the role of visual experience

Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in the rat visual cortex of young and postnatal day 90 (P90) animals is developmentally regulated and influenced by visual experience. In the present paper we compared the expression of BDNF mRNA to the actual changes of BDNF protein occurring during postnatal development and verified whether BDNF protein distribution is controlled by visual activity. To achieve this aim we analysed BDNF mRNA and/or BDNF protein cellular distribution in the rat visual cortex at different postnatal ages by using immunohistochemistry and highly sensitive in situ hybridization. We found that before eye opening (P13), in all cortical layers a large number of visual cortical neurons contain BDNF mRNA with no detectable amount of BDNF protein. At later ages (P23 and P90), the number of BDNF‐immunostained cells increases; most neurons are double labelled for BDNF mRNA and protein, and a small group of neurons is labelled only for BDNF protein. The cellular increase of BDNF immunolabelling is blocked in animals deprived of visual experience from birth (dark rearing), with a large population of neurons containing BDNF mRNA but not BDNF protein. This is similar to what is observed before eye opening. Exposure of dark‐reared rats to a brief period (2 h) of light restores a good match between BDNF mRNA and BDNF protein cellular expression. We propose that visual experience controls the neuronal content of BDNF mRNA and BDNF protein in developing visual cortex.
Memory of myself: Autobiographical memory and identity in Alzheimer's disease

A number of theories posit a relationship between autobiographical memory and identity. To test this we assessed the status of autobiographical memory and identity in 20 individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 20 age‐matched controls, and investigated whether degree of autobiographical memory impairment was associated with changes in identity. Two tests of autobiographical memory (Autobiographical Memory Interview, autobiographical fluency) and two measures of identity (Twenty Statements Test, identity items of the Tennessee Self Concept Scale) were administered. AD participants exhibited significant impairments on both memory tests, and changes in the strength, quality, and direction of identity relative to controls. Impairments of some components of autobiographical memory, particularly autobiographical memory for childhood and early adulthood, were related to changes in the strength and quality of identity. These findings support the critical role of early adulthood autobiographical memories (16–25 years) in identity, and suggest autobiographical memory loss affects identity.
Novel brain ischemic change on MRI. Delayed ischemic hyperintensity on T1-weighted images and selective neuronal death in the caudoputamen of rats after brief focal ischemia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Specific change of persistent hyperintensity/hypointensity on T1-weighted (T1W) and T2-weighted (T2W) MRI, respectively, has been reported to develop in the human basal ganglia after brief hemispheric ischemia. We investigated whether this ischemic change observed in humans could be reproduced experimentally in rats after brief middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion (MCAO), and if so, what the neuroradiological change represented histologically. METHODS The origin of the right MCA of male Wistar rats (n=25) was occluded for 15 minutes by inserting a silicon-coated nylon thread from the external carotid artery into the internal carotid artery. After 15 minutes' MCAO, coronal MR images (T1W, T2W, and T1W with fat saturation pulse) were obtained once at 3-day reperfusion (n=5) and twice at 3- and 7-day reperfusion (n=20). Brain specimens were examined histologically immediately after the last MRI study in all rats. RESULTS Neither T1W nor T2W MRI showed marked signal changes 3 days after reperfusion following 15-minute MCAO. However, the ischemic change of hyperintensity and hypointensity on T1W and T2W MRI, respectively, appeared in the striatum following 7-day reperfusion after 15-minute MCAO (n=19/20). Histological examination revealed that the specific lesion in the rat striatum on MRI corresponded to selective neuronal death and proliferation of reactive astrocytes and microglia without infarct, hemorrhage, lipid accumulation, or calcification. CONCLUSIONS Brief MCAO with reperfusion induces the delayed ischemic changes of hyperintensity and hypointensity on T1W and T2W MRI, respectively, in the rat striatum with high reproducibility. This specific ischemic change on MRI histologically corresponded to selective neuronal death and gliosis with preservation of the macroscopic structure of the brain. A similar MRI pattern reported in patients who have sustained brief ischemia may represent similar histology. We speculate that the ischemic change reflects some biochemical changes affecting the magnetic field as the brain tissue undergoes subtle structural changes.
Evaluation of Dosing Time-Related Anti-Hypertensive Efficacy of Valsartan in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

The aim of this study was to evaluate which administration timing of valsartan provides satisfactory blood pressure (BP) control, once daily in the morning, once daily in the evening, or twice daily in total 160 mg. Hypertensive patients with mild-to-moderate diabetic nephropathy were enrolled, but those with more than three anti-hypertensive agents, renal insufficiency (serum creatinine ≥ 3 mg/ dL), or hepatic insufficiency were excluded. They were randomized to receive valsartan 160mg once daily in the morning, valsartan 160 mg once daily in the evening, or valsartan 80 mg twice daily for 12 weeks according to a three-period crossover design. Office blood pressure (OBP), home blood pressure (HBP) self-measured by patients, and urinary albumin excretion adjusted by creatinine excretion (UAE) were measured every 12 weeks. In 34 patients, (male: 18, mean age: 57.5 ± 10.3), valsartan with ether all administration timing demonstrated significant reductions in OBP and HBP compared to baseline: valsartan 160 mg once daily in the morning: −12.2/−9.5 mmHg (p < 0.01); valsartan 160 mg once daily in the evening: −14.2/−10.3 mmHg (p < 0.01); valsartan 80 mg twice daily: −15.0/−10.2 mmHg (p < 0.01) There was no statistically significant differences in a decrease in OBP and HBP, and reduction of UAE among three administration timing. In conclusion, these data indicate that the efficacy on BP-lowering does not depend on administration timing of valsartan in patients with diabetic nephropathy.
Recent Advances in Obesity-Induced Inflammation and Insulin Resistance

It has been demonstrated in rodents and humans that chronic inflammation characterized by macrophage infiltration occurs mainly in adipose tissue or liver during obesity, in which activation of immune cells is closely associated with insulin sensitivity. Macrophages can be classified as classically activated (M1) macrophages that support microbicidal activity or alternatively activated (M2) macrophages that support allergic and antiparasitic responses. In the context of insulin action, M2 macrophages sustain insulin sensitivity by secreting IL-4 and IL-10, while M1 macrophages induce insulin resistance through the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNFα. Polarization of M1/M2 is controlled by various dynamic functions of other immune cells. It has been demonstrated that, in a lean state, TH2 cells, Treg cells, natural killer T cells, or eosinophils contribute to the M2 activation of macrophages by secreting IL-4 or IL-10. In contrast, obesity causes alteration of the constituent immune cells, in which TH1 cells, B cells, neutrophils, or mast cells induce M1 activation of macrophages by the elevated secretion of TNFα and IFNγ. Increased secretion of TNFα and free fatty acids from hypertrophied adipocytes also contributes to the M1 activation of macrophages. Since obesity-induced insulin resistance is established by macrophage infiltration and the activation of immune cells inside tissues, identification of the factors that regulate accumulation and the intracellular signaling cascades that define polarization of M1/M2 would be indispensable. Regulation of these factors would lead to the pharmacological inhibition of obesity-induced insulin resistance. In this review, we introduce molecular mechanisms relevant to the pathophysiology and review the most recent studies of clinical applications targeting chronic inflammation.
Pretend play of children with acquired brain injury: An exploratory study

Objective: This exploratory study aimed to describe the self-initiated pretend play of three children who had sustained an acquired brain injury (ABI). No previous research was found. Methods: Three children aged 3.0–6.0 years were recruited through purposive sampling. Pretend play ability was assessed using the Child-Initiated Pretend Play Assessment. Results: Two of the three children scored below the range expected for children their age and one child scored above the range, indicating a wide range of pretend play ability for the children. None of the children could sustain their engagement in pretend play to complete the time of the assessment. Conclusion: Complex pretend play ability is a functional assessment of cognitive ability involving sequential planning, problem-solving, language and social understanding. Cognitive fatigue is argued to explain the children's limited ability to engage in play for the time expected for their ages. More research is required.
Perm-seq: Mapping Protein-DNA Interactions in Segmental Duplication and Highly Repetitive Regions of Genomes with Prior-Enhanced Read Mapping

Segmental duplications and other highly repetitive regions of genomes contribute significantly to cells’ regulatory programs. Advancements in next generation sequencing enabled genome-wide profiling of protein-DNA interactions by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high throughput sequencing (ChIP-seq). However, interactions in highly repetitive regions of genomes have proven difficult to map since short reads of 50–100 base pairs (bps) from these regions map to multiple locations in reference genomes. Standard analytical methods discard such multi-mapping reads and the few that can accommodate them are prone to large false positive and negative rates. We developed Perm-seq, a prior-enhanced read allocation method for ChIP-seq experiments, that can allocate multi-mapping reads in highly repetitive regions of the genomes with high accuracy. We comprehensively evaluated Perm-seq, and found that our prior-enhanced approach significantly improves multi-read allocation accuracy over approaches that do not utilize additional data types. The statistical formalism underlying our approach facilitates supervising of multi-read allocation with a variety of data sources including histone ChIP-seq. We applied Perm-seq to 64 ENCODE ChIP-seq datasets from GM12878 and K562 cells and identified many novel protein-DNA interactions in segmental duplication regions. Our analysis reveals that although the protein-DNA interactions sites are evolutionarily less conserved in repetitive regions, they share the overall sequence characteristics of the protein-DNA interactions in non-repetitive regions.
Estimating variance components in natural populations using inferred relationships

Until recently, the estimation of the heritability of a trait has required knowledge of the pedigree within a population. In natural populations such knowledge is often unknown. Two techniques have been developed which use marker information to estimate heritabilities without reference to the exact nature of the relationships: a regression-based estimator that regresses phenotypic similarity for a pair of individuals against an estimate of their relationship and a likelihood-based estimator that maximizes the probability of the genotypic and phenotypic data given a known population structure. Computer simulation was used to compare the behaviour of these estimators. Bias in estimates of heritability decreased with increasing marker information, decreasing simulated heritability, increasing relatedness and increasing sample size. The techniques displayed reasonable tolerance to the percentage of missing data. The regression-based technique shows least average bias, but largest variance over simulations. Likelihood-based techniques show larger average bias, but smaller variances over estimates. A modified form of the likelihood technique, requiring fewer initial assumptions about population parameters, is presented. The modified form shows less bias in its estimates of heritability than the likelihood technique originally proposed.
ID-based multi-proxy multi-signature scheme from bilinear pairing

Identity-based (ID-based) public key settings are very good alternatives for the certificate based public key settings. Proxy signatures are good tools to delegate the signing capability by original signer to any other parties. The concept of bilinear pairing is very useful in many signature protocols for the ease of computation. Here, we propose an ID-based multi-proxy multi-signature scheme using bilinear pairing and replacing the certificate generation of Li and Chen scheme [5], by delegation generation. Our scheme is more efficient than the multi-proxy multi-signature scheme given by Li and Chen [5]. Moreover, our scheme satisfies all the security requirements of a proxy signature given in [6].
Dynamic Tire Force Control By Semi-Active Suspensions

This paper presents a semi-active suspension control algorithm to reduce dynamic tire forces including the development and application of observers for bilinear systems with unknown disturbances. The peak dynamic tire forces, which are greatly in excess of static tire forces, are highly dependent on the dynamic characteristics of vehicle suspensions. One way to reduce dynamic tire forces is to use advanced suspension systems such as semi-active suspensions. Semi-active control laws to reduce dynamic tire forces are investigated and a bilinear observer structure for bilinear systems with unknown disturbances is formulated such that the estimation error is independent of the unknown external disturbances and the error dynamics are stable for bounded inputs. The motivation for the development of a disturbance decoupled bilinear observer comes from the state estimation problem in semi-active suspensions. An experimental study on the performance of a semi-active suspension to reduce the dynamic tire forces is made via a laboratory vehicle test rig. The semi-active suspension has been implemented by the use of a modulable damper, accelerometers and a personal computer. Experimental studies using the laboratory test rig show that the performance of the semi-active suspension is close to that of the best passive suspension for all frequency ranges in the sense of minimizing the dynamic tire forces and that the dynamic tire force can be replaced by the estimated one. The dynamic tire forces for both passive and semi-active control test cases are compared to show the potential of a semi-active suspension to reduce the dynamic tire forces.