Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of B 7 / CD 28 and CD 40 / CD 154 co-stimulation signal pathway blockage on immune function and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in sensitized mice

To investigate the influence of B7/CD28 and CD40/CD154 co-stimulation signal pathway blockage on immune function as well as the regeneration of hematopoietic stem cells in sensitized mouse recipients. The costimulation signal pathway was blocked by CTLA4Ig and/or anti-CD154 monoclonal antibody. The numbers of B and T cells were determined using flow cytometry. The immune status and hematopoietic reconstitution in sensitized recipients were also investigated. Flow cytometry results showed that the numbers of B cells, memory T cells, and effector T cells in sensitized mice were significantly higher than that in the normal control mice. CTLA4Ig and/or anti-CD154 monoclonal antibody significantly inhibited the activation of B and T cells with a synergistic effect. The number of fluorescence-labeled HSCs from the donors in the bone marrow in control group and the combinative treatment of CTLA4Ig and anti-CD154 group gradually increased after HSCT. In addition, the chimeric rate of H-2Db+ cells was over 90% after the HSCT, suggesting completed bone marrow reconstruction. Blocking the co-stimulation signal pathway induced immune tolerance in sensitized mice. CTLA4Ig and anti-CD154 promoted the homing and engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells, induced immune tolerance and hematopoietic reconstitution, and increased the survival of sensitized mouse recipients.
Spatial Content and Spatial Quantisation Effects in Face Recognition

It has recently become apparent that if face images are degraded by spatial quantisation, or block averaging, there is a nonlinear acceleration of the decline in accuracy of recognition as block size increases. This suggests recognition requires a critical minimum range of object spatial frequencies. Two experiments were performed to clarify the phenomenon. In experiment 1, the speed and accuracy of recognition for six frontoparallel photographs of faces were measured. After familiarisation training sessions, the images were shown for 100 ms with 11, 21, and 42 pixels per face, horizontally measured. Transformations calculated to remove the same range of spatial frequencies were performed by means of quantisation, a Fourier low-pass filter, and Gaussian blurring. Although accuracy declined and speed increased in a significant, nonlinear manner in all cases as the image quality was reduced, it did so at a faster rate for the quantised images. In experiment 2, faces rated as being typical were shown at 9, 12, 23, and 45 pixels per face and with appropriate Fourier low-pass versions. The nonlinear decline was confirmed and it was shown that it could not be attributed to a ceiling effect. A further condition allowed quantised and Fourier low-pass conditions to be compared with an unstructured-noise condition of equal strength to that of the quantised images. These gave comparable, but slightly less impaired, recognition than the quantised images. It can be inferred from these results that the removal of a critical range of at least 8–16 cycles per face of information explains the step decline in recognition seen with quantised images. However, the decline found with quantised images is reinforced by internal masking from pixelisation.
Identification of a novel bacterial sequence associated with Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Enteric microorganisms are implicated in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD), but no clear bacterial or viral species has been identified. In this study, representational difference analysis (RDA) was used to isolate DNA segments preferentially abundant in lamina propria mononuclear cells of lesional mucosa vs. adjacent uninvolved mucosa. METHODS Two RDA-derived microbial sequences were isolated (I1 and I2) and identified as novel homologues of the ptxR and tetR bacterial transcription-factor families. RESULTS Quantitative competitive polymerase chain reaction of paraffin-embedded intestinal specimens from 212 patients showed that I2 DNA was present in many CD colonic lesions (43%), but was infrequent in other colonic specimens (9% of ulcerative colitis lesions and 5% of non-inflammatory bowel disease diseases; P<0.0001). I2 was prevalent in ileal specimens, regardless of disease status (43%-54%). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis of 150 individuals with an I2 glutathione-S-transferase fusion protein showed frequent immunoglobulin A seroreactivity in CD (54% of patients), but infrequent seroreactivity in patients with ulcerative colitis, other inflammatory enteric diseases, or normals (10%, 19%, and 4%, respectively; P<0.001 to 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS These findings relate CD to a novel lesion-localized and immunologically associated bacterial sequence, suggesting that the microorganism expressing the I2 gene product may be related to CD pathogenesis.
Statistical analysis of microwave components through a 3-D stochastic-FDTD technique

The consistent modeling of microwave components with random fluctuations regarding their electromagnetic material parameters is performed in this paper via a 3-D stochastic finite-difference time-domain method. The featured formulation provides precise numerical results with a considerably smaller computational cost compared to the extensively resource-consuming Monte Carlo approach. Numerical simulations of microstrip transmission lines with media uncertainties are conducted in order to verify the accuracy of the proposed technique along with its effectiveness to investigate the operation of complicated microwave structures in a stochastic environment.
AxonSeg: Open Source Software for Axon and Myelin Segmentation and Morphometric Analysis

Segmenting axon and myelin from microscopic images is relevant for studying the peripheral and central nervous system and for validating new MRI techniques that aim at quantifying tissue microstructure. While several software packages have been proposed, their interface is sometimes limited and/or they are designed to work with a specific modality (e.g., scanning electron microscopy (SEM) only). Here we introduce AxonSeg, which allows to perform automatic axon and myelin segmentation on histology images, and to extract relevant morphometric information, such as axon diameter distribution, axon density and the myelin g-ratio. AxonSeg includes a simple and intuitive MATLAB-based graphical user interface (GUI) and can easily be adapted to a variety of imaging modalities. The main steps of AxonSeg consist of: (i) image pre-processing; (ii) pre-segmentation of axons over a cropped image and discriminant analysis (DA) to select the best parameters based on axon shape and intensity information; (iii) automatic axon and myelin segmentation over the full image; and (iv) atlas-based statistics to extract morphometric information. Segmentation results from standard optical microscopy (OM), SEM and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy are presented, along with validation against manual segmentations. Being fully-automatic after a quick manual intervention on a cropped image, we believe AxonSeg will be useful to researchers interested in large throughput histology. AxonSeg is open source and freely available at: https://github.com/neuropoly/axonseg.
In situ growth of epitaxial lead iodide films composed of hexagonal single crystals

Lead iodide (PbI2) films composed of single crystals with regular hexagonal microstructures have been in situ fabricated on lead foils through a one-step solution-phase chemical route under solvothermal conditions. X-Ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed to characterize the resulting PbI2 crystals. The orientation of the hexagonal planes can be controlled via the adjustment of the concentration of iodine and the types of solvents. It is expected to be a simple way for in situ fabricating PbI2 crystals/films for future utilizing in radiation detection.
Sequential effects in continued visual search: Using fixation-related potentials to compare distractor processing before and after target detection

To search for a target in a complex environment is an everyday behavior that ends with finding the target. When we search for two identical targets, however, we must continue the search after finding the first target and memorize its location. We used fixation-related potentials to investigate the neural correlates of different stages of the search, that is, before and after finding the first target. Having found the first target influenced subsequent distractor processing. Compared to distractor fixations before the first target fixation, a negative shift was observed for three subsequent distractor fixations. These results suggest that processing a target in continued search modulates the brain's response, either transiently by reflecting temporary working memory processes or permanently by reflecting working memory retention.
The Effects of Propofol on Local Field Potential Spectra, Action Potential Firing Rate, and Their Temporal Relationship in Humans and Felines

Propofol is an intravenous sedative hypnotic, which, acting as a GABAA agonist, results in neocortical inhibition. While propofol has been well studied at the molecular and clinical level, less is known about the effects of propofol at the level of individual neurons and local neocortical networks. We used Utah Electrode Arrays (UEAs) to investigate the effects of propofol anesthesia on action potentials (APs) and local field potentials (LFPs). UEAs were implanted into the neocortex of two humans and three felines. The two human patients and one feline received propofol by bolus injection, while the other two felines received target-controlled infusions. We examined the changes in LFP power spectra and AP firing at different levels of anesthesia. Increased propofol concentration correlated with decreased high-frequency power in LFP spectra and decreased AP firing rates, and the generation of large-amplitude spike-like LFP activity; however, the temporal relationship between APs and LFPs remained relatively consistent at all levels of propofol. The probability that an AP would fire at this local minimum of the LFP increased with propofol administration. The propofol-induced suppression of neocortical network activity allowed LFPs to be dominated by low-frequency spike-like activity, and correlated with sedation and unconsciousness. As the low-frequency spike-like activity increased and the AP–LFP relationship became more predictable firing rate encoding capacity is impaired. This suggests a mechanism for decreased information processing in the neocortex that accounts for propofol-induced unconsciousness.
Efficacy of antidepressants in treating the negative symptoms of chronic schizophrenia: meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Treatment of negative symptoms in chronic schizophrenia continues to be a major clinical issue. AIMS To analyse the efficacy of add-on antidepressants for the treatment of negative symptoms of chronic schizophrenia. METHOD Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials comparing the effect of antidepressants and placebo on the negative symptoms of chronic schizophrenia, measured through standardised rating scales. Outcome was measured as standardised mean difference between end-of-trial and baseline scores of negative symptoms. RESULTS There were 23 trials from 22 publications (n = 819). The antidepressants involved were selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, mirtazapine, reboxetine, mianserin, trazodone and ritanserin; trials on other antidepressants were not available. The overall standardised mean difference was moderate (-0.48) in favour of antidepressants and subgroup analysis revealed significant responses for fluoxetine, trazodone and ritanserin. CONCLUSIONS Antidepressants along with antipsychotics are more effective in treating the negative symptoms of schizophrenia than antipsychotics alone.
Release of arachidonic acid from human lymphocytes in response to mitogenic lectins

After exposure to mitogenic lectins in vitro, human mononuclear cells (95% lymphocytes) that had been prelabeled with [14C]arachidonic acid rapidly released a portion of their radioactivity in the medium. Most of the released radioactivity was demonstrated to be free arachidonic acid. Although other sources are not excluded, the most important source of cell-bound radioactivity in the release reaction appeared to be phosphatidylinositol, suggesting that at least part of the response is occurring through an increase in phospholipase A2 activity. By gas liquid chromatography, other fatty acids were also shown to be released, but there was considerable selectivity in the response for arachidonic acid. The response was dependent on the availability of free Ca++ in the medium and was enhanced by serum proteins and unlabeled arachidonic acid. Most of the response appeared to be from the the lymphocytes themselves rather than from contaminating cells. The rapid generation of free arachidonic acid in response to mitogenic lectins suggests a possible role for arachidonic acid metabolites in the activation process.
Symbiosis of executive and selective attention in working memory

The notion of working memory (WM) was introduced to account for the usage of short-term memory resources by other cognitive tasks such as reasoning, mental arithmetic, language comprehension, and many others. This collaboration between memory and other cognitive tasks can only be achieved by a dedicated WM system that controls task coordination. To that end, WM models include executive control. Nevertheless, other attention control systems may be involved in coordination of memory and cognitive tasks calling on memory resources. The present paper briefly reviews the evidence concerning the role of selective attention in WM activities. A model is proposed in which selective attention control is directly linked to the executive control part of the WM system. The model assumes that apart from storage of declarative information, the system also includes an executive WM module that represents the current task set. Control processes are automatically triggered when particular conditions in these modules are met. As each task set represents the parameter settings and the actions needed to achieve the task goal, it will depend on the specific settings and actions whether selective attention control will have to be shared among the active tasks. Only when such sharing is required, task performance will be affected by the capacity limits of the control system involved.
Neuromuscular blocking effect of fluoxetine and its interaction with rocuronium.

As selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have an inhibitory effect on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, they may affect the neuromuscular transmission and interact with neuromuscular blockers. This study was designed to observe the effect of fluoxetine on neuromuscular transmission and its interaction with rocuronium using the rat phrenic nerve hemidiaphragm and rabbit head drop methods. Rat phrenic nerve hemidiaphragms were mounted and stimulated using a train of four pulses (TOF). The effect of fluoxetine was studied on both indirectly and directly stimulated basal twitch responses by plotting cumulative dose response curves (DRCs). DRCs of rocuronium were obtained in the absence, and presence of 5 μm and 20 μm fluoxetine to study its interaction. ED5 , ED50 and ED95 values of rocuronium DRCs in absence and presence of fluoxetine were calculated. Fluoxetine significantly inhibited twitch responses in both indirect and directly stimulated preparations. Fluoxetine (20 μm) caused an increase in the potency of rocuronium such that the ED50 and ED95 values of rocuronium DRCs were significantly decreased. Partially inhibited twitch responses by fluoxetine (100 μm) were not reversed by neostigmine (3.3 μm) or 3,4 diaminopyridine (0.25 μm). Rabbits were given fluoxetine 0.25 mg kg(-1) and 1 mg kg(-1) orally for 15 days, and on 15th day, rocuronium infusion was given, and time for head drop was recorded. The time of head drop was significantly reduced in fluoxetine pretreated as compared to control group. Fluoxetine blocks the neuromuscular transmission and increases the potency of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block.
A BAM with increased information storage capacity

The commonly encountered version of B. Kosko's bidirectional associative memory (BAM) (1988) is generalized to include nonzero thresholds. This modified neural network is referred to as the nonhomogeneous BAM. It is shown that the nonhomogeneous BAM can have any number of stable states between 1 and 2/sup n/, where n is the lowest dimension of either layer of the BAM. Nonhomogeneous BAMs with 1,2, . , 2/sup n/-1, 2/sup n/ stable states are constructed. The storage capacity of the BAM is the number of stable states, selected by the user at random from some specified subset of stable states, that can be implemented by the BAM for some matrix selection and some set of thresholds. It is shown that the capacity of the nonhomogeneous BAM can greatly exceed the number of processing elements in the network. This is accomplished without violating information theory, because these stable states utilize a sparse code in which little information is stored in each state. <<ETX>>
Tumor necrosis factor‐alpha decreases neutrophil chemotaxis to N‐formyl‐1‐methionyl‐1‐leucyl‐1‐phenylalanine: analysis of single cell movement

Tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), a cytokine produced by mononuclear cells in response to endotoxin, inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis. We analyzed the effects of TNF‐α on the orientation and movement of individual neutrophils in a chemoattractant gradient. Neutrophils, treated or untreated with TNF‐α, were observed migrating in a gradient of the chemotactic peptide N‐formyl‐l‐methionyl‐l‐leucyl‐l‐phenylalanine (fMLP) on a specially constructed chamber (Zigmond bridge). The movement of these cells was videotaped, digitized, and then tracked using a newly designed computer algorithm. The data obtained from this algorithm were then utilized to calculate distance traveled, speed and ability to polarize and migrate in a directed manner for each individual cell. TNF‐a‐treated cells behaved like cells not exposed to fMLP in that they failed to orient in a chemotactic gradient and moved in a manner similar to randomly migrating cells. This study provides unique observations of the effect of TNF‐α on multiple parameters of PMN migration.
Resource Windfalls and Emerging Market Sovereign Bond Spreads: The Role of Political Institutions

The authors examine the effect that revenue windfalls from international commodity price booms have on sovereign bond spreads using panel data for 38 emerging market economies during the period 1997-2007. The main finding is that commodity price booms lead to a significant reduction in the sovereign bond spread in democracies, but to a significant increase in the spread in autocracies. To explain the finding, the authors show that, consistent with the political economy literature on the resource curse, revenue windfalls from international commodity price booms significantly increased real per capita gross domestic product (GDP) growth in democracies, while in autocracies GDP per capita growth decreased.
Abnormal Cytology in 2012: Management of Atypical Squamous Cells, Low-grade Intraepithelial Neoplasia, and High-grade Intraepithelial Neoplasia

Cervical cancer and human papillomavirus-related diseases continue to cause significant morbidity and mortality in the United States and worldwide. As we begin to understand the natural course of human papillomavirus infection, and the consequences of both its detection and treatment, changes have been made to our clinical approaches. The purpose of this review is to outline the management guidelines for the management of abnormal cytology. Successful triage of abnormal cytology in 2012 will allow for continued detection of precancerous lesions reducing the incidence of cervical cancer and increasing the detection of early stage disease.
Spontaneous reporting of suspected narcolepsy after vaccination against pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in Germany

We aimed at investigating whether, in Germany, the number of individual case safety reports (ICSR) of confirmed narcolepsy following Pandemrix® vaccination notified to the Paul‐Ehrlich‐Institut (PEI, German Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicines) was higher than expected when compared with the prepandemic background incidence rates.
Effects of Non-Negative Mean Stress on the Off-Axis Fatigue Behavior of Unidirectional Carbon/Epoxy Composites at Room Temperature

Influences of non-negative mean stress on the off-axis fatigue behavior of unidirectional composites are elucidated on the basis of a non-fragmentary set of data on the T800H/2500 carbon/epoxy laminate at room temperature. Constant amplitude fatigue tests under different stress ratios R= -1.0, 0.1, 0.5 are performed on plain coupon specimens with six kinds of fiber orientations. For all fiber orientations, the relative fatigue strength becomes lower with decreasing stress ratio. The off-axis fatigue data normalized with respect to the static tensile strength substantially fall on a single S–N relationship for each stress ratio. It is confirmed that the S–N relationships on logarithmic scales are almost linear over the range of fatigue life up to 106 cycles, regardless of the fiber orientations and stress ratios. A phenomenological fatigue damage mechanics model proposed by the authors is further developed to consider the effect of mean stress on the off-axis fatigue behavior. It is demonstrated that the modified fatigue model can describe adequately the stress ratio dependence as well as the fiber orientation dependence of the off-axis fatigue behavior under non-negative mean stresses.
Linking photosynthesis and leaf N allocation under future elevated CO2 and climate warming in Eucalyptus globulus

&NA; Leaf‐level photosynthetic processes and their environmental dependencies are critical for estimating CO2 uptake from the atmosphere. These estimates use biochemical‐based models of photosynthesis that require accurate Rubisco kinetics. We investigated the effects of canopy position, elevated atmospheric CO2 [eC; ambient CO2 (aC)+240 ppm] and elevated air temperature (eT; ambient temperature (aT)+3 °C) on Rubisco content and activity together with the relationship between leaf N and Vcmax (maximal Rubisco carboxylation rate) of 7 m tall, soil‐grown Eucalyptus globulus trees. The kinetics of E. globulus and tobacco Rubisco at 25 °C were similar. In vitro estimates of Vcmax derived from measures of E. globulus Rubisco content and kinetics were consistent, although slightly lower, than the in vivo rates extrapolated from gas exchange. In E. globulus, the fraction of N invested in Rubisco was substantially lower than for crop species and varied with treatments. Photosynthetic acclimation of E. globulus leaves to eC was underpinned by reduced leaf N and Rubisco contents; the opposite occurred in response to eT coinciding with growth resumption in spring. Our findings highlight the adaptive capacity of this key forest species to allocate leaf N flexibly to Rubisco and other photosynthetic proteins across differing canopy positions in response to future, warmer and elevated [CO2] climates.