Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Foxp3-transduced polyclonal regulatory T cells suppress NK cell functions in a TGF-β dependent manner

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) are a unique population of T cells that maintain immune tolerance and are essential in host suppression of autoimmune diseases. Natural killer (NK) cells are an important component of the innate immune system and respond to insults. Recent studies demonstrate that NK cells may play a vital role during the onset and progression of certain autoimmune diseases. The decreased or abolished regulation by Treg cells on NK cells may lead to the abnormal autoimmune response. The purpose of this study was to investigate the suppressive effect of Foxp3-transduced CD4+ T cells on NK cell functions, and thus to present a possible method for managing NK cell-related autoimmune abnormalities. This study showed that forced Foxp3 expression in polyclonal CD4+ T cells could obtain Treg cells phenotype, including specifically expressing CD25, transforming growth factor (TGF-β) and CTLA-4. Since NK cells have two major immunological properties—cytotoxicity and cytokine production, we observed that transduction-induced Treg cells decreased NK cell cytotoxicity obviously, and dramatically downregulated the interferon-γ secretion of NK cell responding to IL-12 stimulation. Moreover, it was found that cell–cell interaction was essential for suppression of NK cell functions, and TGF-β played a vital role in the inhibition process. These results indicate that the forced Foxp3 expression in polyclonal CD4+ T cells could induce Treg cells and potentially inhibit NK cell functions.
Molecular Basis for High Virulence of Hong Kong H5N1 Influenza A Viruses

In 1997, an H5N1 influenza A virus was transmitted from birds to humans in Hong Kong, killing 6 of the 18 people infected. When mice were infected with the human isolates, two virulence groups became apparent. Using reverse genetics, we showed that a mutation at position 627 in the PB2 protein influenced the outcome of infection in mice. Moreover, high cleavability of the hemagglutinin glycoprotein was an essential requirement for lethal infection.
Steady flows of a laterally heated ferrofluid layer: Influence of inclined strong magnetic field and gravity level

A horizontal ferrofluid layer is submitted to a lateral heating and to a strong oblique magnetic field. The problem, combining the momentum and heat balance equations with the Maxwell equations, introduces two Rayleigh numbers, Ra the gravitational one and Ram the magnetic one, to represent the buoyancy and the Kelvin forces, which induce motion, versus the momentum viscous diffusion and heat diffusion. Whatever the inclination of the magnetic field, the steady solution of the problem is presented as a power series of a small parameter ϵH measuring the ratio of variation of the magnetization across the layer divided by the magnitude of the external imposed field. For cases of physical relevance, comparisons between analytical and numerical studies have lead to a major statement: in the strong field region (ϵH≪1) the zero order solution is the product of the Birikh solution that corresponds to the usual Newtonian fluid submitted to a lateral gradient, multiplied by a modulating factor accounting for inclin.
Effects of Temperature on Growth and Dry Matter Accumulation of Peas.

Photochemical activity of lyophilized Swiss chard and pokeweed chloroplasts, measured by reduction of 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol during illumination of aqueous suspensions, can be largely removed by petroleum ether extraction. The extracted plastids are readily reactivated by /3-carotene, and to a lesser extent by a-carotene, cryptoxanthin, and lutein. Substitution of 15 % methanol for 0.5 M sucrose during isolation of the chloroplasts facilitated lyophilization and permitted virtually complete removal of activity by brief treatment with low-boiling petroleum ether. Reactivation effects were more clear-cut with methanol-prepared chloroplasts. Buffered 15 % methanol solution also markedly inhibits the rapid loss of photochemical activity found when chloroplasts are suspended in a buffered sucrose-containing medium. Absorbance spectra of aqueous suspensions of petroleum ether extracted chloroplasts in the visible range, as well as of various petroleum ether extracts, (1o not explain the loss of activity of chloroplasts by extraction, except for the involvement of ,/-carotene. In every case of reactivation by /3-carotene the effect was modest in comparison with the activity of unextracted plastids, as well as with the activation produiced by adding back even small amounts of the petroleum ether extract. For this reason it is inferred that substances other than /3-carotene also contribute to the reactivation. Of the substances tested, a-carotene, lutein, cryptoxanthin, and sometimes cholesterol had an activating effect. Fat-soluble substances that inhibited the residual activity of extracted chloroplasts were corn oil, white mineral oil, mixed tocopherols, paraffin, wheat germ extract, ergosterol, stigmasterol, phytol, ethyl oleate, and lecithin. The results suggest that the reactivation may be due in part to a molecular fragment common to carotenoids and to some non-carotenoid fat-soluble compounds as well.
Predicting climate‐induced range shifts: model differences and model reliability

Predicted changes in the global climate are likely to cause large shifts in the geographic ranges of many plant and animal species. To date, predictions of future range shifts have relied on a variety of modeling approaches with different levels of model accuracy. Using a common data set, we investigated the potential implications of alternative modeling approaches for conclusions about future range shifts and extinctions. Our common data set entailed the current ranges of 100 randomly selected mammal species found in the western hemisphere. Using these range maps, we compared six methods for modeling predicted future ranges. Predicted future distributions differed markedly across the alternative modeling approaches, which in turn resulted in estimates of extinction rates that ranged between 0% and 7%, depending on which model was used. Random forest predictors, a model‐averaging approach, consistently outperformed the other techniques (correctly predicting >99% of current absences and 86% of current presences). We conclude that the types of models used in a study can have dramatic effects on predicted range shifts and extinction rates; and that model‐averaging approaches appear to have the greatest potential for predicting range shifts in the face of climate change.
Supporting Smart School Teachers' Continuing Professional Development in and through ICT: A model for change

The general assumption that once the hardware is introduced in schools, ICT integration will automatically follow is not necessary true. Teachers need to be supported and factors responsible for teachers’ failure to integrate ICT into the classrooms identified and rectified. The paper proposes an online model based on the Improvement Quality Education for All (IQEA) action research framework for school improvement (Hopkins et al 1996). The ultimate goal is to bring together the school-based cadres to share emerging issues, themes and evaluation and eventually develop expertise in managing change in their own institutions and beyond through the use of ICT. This concept paper provides the background, rationale, framework and the methodology of this research project.
Cellular basis of temporal synaptic signalling: an in vitro electrophysiological study in rat auditory thalamus.

1. The cellular mechanisms underlying temporal synaptic signalling of tectothalamic pathways were investigated in rat medial geniculate body (MGB) maintained in vitro. Stimulation of the brachium of the inferior colliculus elicited either a short latency, single‐ (or dual‐) spike or a long latency (10‐80 ms) burst in MGB neurones. The delayed burst response was found in most non‐lemniscal or caudodorsal MGB (MGd) neurones, whereas single‐spike units were mainly seen in the lemniscal ventral MGB (MGv). Population latency analysis revealed that the overall relay time of tectothalamic transmission is approximately 50 ms, with at least two excitation peaks occurring around 8 and 15 ms, respectively. 2. Intracellular recordings showed that the delayed burst responses in MGd neurones were mediated by an EPSP‐triggered low threshold spike (LTS). Small variations in either the membrane voltage or in EPSP amplitude induced significant shifts of LTS latency. 3. Compared with MGv cells, MGd neurones exhibited a more negative resting membrane potential and a prolonged EPSP; they lacked an apparent hyperpolarization‐activated inward rectifier (Ih). These factors seem to lead collectively to a dominant occurrence of long latency burst response in the MGd. In the majority of single‐spiking MGv cells that expressed a clear Ih, application of Cs+ consistently hyperpolarized the cell, which transformed a single‐spike synaptic response into an EPSP‐LTS burst or a subthreshold EPSP. 4. Taken together, these data suggest that the monosynaptic tectothalamic pathways are capable of introducing a ventrodorsal gradient in auditory response time. This synaptic activity pattern is probably dominantly regulated by a set of membrane conductances expressed endogenously in thalamocortical neurones.
Counterfactuals and Context: A Response to Brogaard and Salerno

Karsiolgusal onermelerin Lewis tarafindan gelistirilen standart yorumuna gore, normal sartli onermeler kullanildiginda gecerli olan bazi cikarsama kurallari karsiolgusal onermeler kullanildiginda gecersiz olmaktadir. Bu cikarsama kurallarindan one cikanlar sunlardir: tersevirme,onbilesen guclendirme ve varsayimsal kiyas. Brogaard ve Salerno (2008), literaturde genel kabul goren standart yorumun aksine, bu bahsi gecen cikarsama kurallarinin karsiolgusal onermeler kullanildiginda dahi gecerli oldugunu iddia etmektedirler. Brogaard ve Salerno’ya gore bu cikarsama kurallarinin kullanildigi argumanlari degerlendirirken eger baglama dair ozellikler sabit tutulur ise bu durum acikca gorulecektir. Yani Brogaard ve Salerno'ya gore bahsi gecen cikarsama kurallarinin karsiolgusal onermeler icin gecerli olmadiginin dusunulmesi, argumanlarin degerlendirilmesinde baglam ozelliklerinin farkinda olmadan degistirilmesinden kaynaklanmaktadir. Brogaard ve Salerno’nun bu iddiasi, eger dogru ise, cok onemlidir. Cunku karsiolgusal onermeler uzerine olan literaturun tumu standard yoruma ve onun dogurdugu sonuclarin kabulune dayanmaktadir.Brogaard ve Salerno’nun iddiasi dogru ise bu literaturun tumu anlamsizlasacaktir. Bu makalede Brogaard ve Salerno’nun iddiasi detayli olarak incelenmektedir. Brogaard ve Salerno’nun belirttigi gibi argumanlar degerlendirilirken baglama dair ozellikler sabit tutulmalidir. Ancak baglama dair ozellikler sabit tutuldugunda dahi karsiolgusal onermeler bahsi gecen cikarsama kurallarini gecersiz kilmaktadir. Yani, Brogaard ve Salerno’nun ana iddiasi yanlistir. Bu makalede bu yanlislik gosterilmektedir.
New formulations for price and ticket availability decisions in choice-based network revenue management

We consider the network revenue management (RM) problem under a MultiNomial Logit (MNL) discrete choice model. We present two mathematical formulations that build on previous research, focusing on reducing the size and complexity of the problem while maintaining an accurate representation of passenger choice and industry practices. The first formulation addresses the computational issues of traditional network revenue management by introducing a Mixed Integer Program (MIP) that reduces the number of variables needed to consider while maintaining revenue performance versus other models. The second formulation eliminates the need for static pricing of fare classes, as seen in most RM literature, and considers a continuous pricing decision linked with ticket availability, directly incorporating passenger sensitivities to price and other attributes. Both models perform well in example test cases, improving on popular legand network-based RM methods used in practice.
Correlation between the outcome of extracorporeal shockwave therapy and pretreatment MRI findings for chronic plantar fasciitis

Abstract Background. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings before extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and the treatment outcome of ESWT. Methods. This study examined 50 feet with chronic plantar fasciitis. The scores before ESWT and after a six-month follow-up were investigated using the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot (JSSF) Ankle-Hindfoot Scale and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). MRI before ESWT was used for image evaluation. MRI revealed thickening of the plantar fascia (PF), and an investigation was conducted regarding the findings of a high-signal-intensity area (HSIA) inside the PF, edema near the PF, and bone marrow edema (BME) of the calcaneus. Results. The average JSSF score and VAS score improved significantly at follow-up. In total, 44 feet were noted in the improved group. MRI revealed that the average amounts of PF thickening did not significantly differ between the improved group and the non-improved group. HSIA, edema near the PF, and BME were observed in 36, 41, and 11 feet in the improved group, respectively; and 2, 4, and 2 feet in the non-improved group, respectively. Conclusions. An HSIA in the PF predicted symptom improvement more easily than other MRI findings. Level of Evidence: IV
The isolation of defective tobacco mosaic virus strains.

This paper describes a method for the isolation of strains of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) which consist of infective particles that are labile under conditions where ordinary TMV is extremely stable. Two such strains have been isolated, PML and PM2, which are distinctly different in their properties. Evidence will be presented to demonstrate that tobacco plants infected with strain PM1 fail to synthesize viral protein and that plants infected with the PM2 strain synthesize a virus-like protein which fails to aggregate in vivo with the viral nucleic acid to form complete virus particles. The possibility that defective strains of TMV could be recovered was suggested by the results of studies dealing with the induction of mutations with nitrous acid. " 2 It was noted that a class of survivors of nitrous acid treatment existed that would induce necrotic lesions on a local lesion host but from which infectivity could not be recovered. We postulated that perhaps some of these nontransferable lesions contained a labile infectious entity which was destroyed during transfer manipulation. Such defective strains have now been isolated by the direct inoculation of systemic-type host seedlings with nitrous acid-treated TMV preparations at limit dilution. Isolation of the Defective Strains. -A preparation of the U1 strain' of TMV was treated with nitrous acid according to the technique of Mundry and Giererl to three levels of survival: 4.2%, 0.28%, and 0.015%. The treated preparations were inoculated to tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. var. Samsun) seedlings at a concentration estimated to infect half or fewer of the seedlings with the expectation that many of the infections would result from a single infective particle. The infection present in those seedlings appearing diseased was tested for ease of transfer by macerating a small piece of leaf tissue and applying the macerate to a leaf of the local lesion host Xanthi (Nicotiana tabacum L. var. Xanthi-nc). Those seedlings yielding few or no lesions were set aside and allowed to grow for about a month in 6 in. pots before being retested. They were then tested for the presence of labile infectious material in the following manner: A mature leaf exhibiting symptoms symmetrically on each side of the midrib was divided along the midrib. One of the half-leaves was ground in a mortar with the addition of an approximately equal weight of 11/15, pH 7, phosphate buffer, and the grindate was allowed to incubate for two hr at room temperature. The other half-leaf was extracted with phenol according to the method of Schlegel.4 The two leaf extracts were then applied to opposite halves of 6 Xanthi leaves. In a typical experiment, many (at least 40) lesions were induced on each of the Xanthi half-leaves rubbed with the phenol extract and an average of only 2.5 on the half-leaves rubbed with the buffer extract. An attempt was made to demonstrate infectivity in the above lesions by cutting them out and macerating them between two ground glass spatulas with a drop of 11/15, pH 7, phosphate buffer containing celite. The macerate was then rubbed
The prognostic significance of histopathologic angioinvasion in stage I non-small cell lung cancer Evre I küçük hücreli dişi akciğer kanserinde histopatolojik damar invazyonun prognostik önemi

Amaç: Çalışmamızda akciğer kanserinde prognozu etkileyen histopatolojik bulgulardan vasküler invazyonun, lenfatik yayılım yapmamış erken evre akciğer kanserindeki prognostik önemi araştırıldı. Ça­lış­ma­ pla­nı:­Aralık 1997-Ocak 2004 yılları arasında küratif mediastinal lenf nodu rezeksiyonu uygulanmış erken evre (T1-2N0M0) küçük hücreli dışı akciğer kanserli 40 hasta (32 erkek, 8 kadın; ort. yaş 53.8±8.7 yıl; dağılım 35-69 yıl) geriye yönelik olarak değerlendirildi. Tümör histolojisi, grade, vasküler invazyon ve rezeksiyon büyüklüğü çalışılan kriterlerdendi. Patoloji kesitleri yeniden incelendi ve en az iki vasküler yapının invazyonu ve/veya damar lümeninde tumoral tromboz bulunması vasküler invazyon olarak tanımlandı. Bul gu lar: Üç yıllık hastalıksız sağkalım %67.2±7.5, beş yıllık sağkalım ise %64.5±7.6 olarak hesaplandı. Vasküler invazyonun olup olmamasına göre değerlendirme yapıldığında genel sağkalım süreleri arasında anlamlı farklılık saptanmadı (Log rank: 0.85; p:0.357; p>0.05). Bununla birlikte, adenokarsinomlu olguların lokal nüks veya uzak metastaz nedeni ile kötü prognoz gösterdiği tespit edildi (p<0.01). So­nuç:­Olgu sayımız sınırlı olsa da, geriye yönelik çalışmamızda, erken evre akciğer kanserinde histolojik tipin, sağkalım açısından histolojik vasküler invazyondan daha etkin olduğu görüldü.
Altered potassium channel function in the superficial dorsal horn of the spastic mouse

The spastic mouse has a naturally occurring glycine receptor (GlyR) mutation that disrupts synaptic input in both motor and sensory pathways. Here we use the spastic mouse to examine how this altered inhibitory drive affects neuronal intrinsic membrane properties and signal processing in the superficial dorsal horn (SDH), where GlyRs contribute to pain processing mechanisms. We first used in vitro patch clamp recording in spinal cord slices (L3–L5 segments) to examine intrinsic membrane properties of SDH neurones in spastic and age‐matched wildtype controls (∼P23). Apart from a modest reduction (∼3 mV) in resting membrane potential (RMP), neurones in spastic mice have membrane and action potential (AP) properties identical to wildtype controls. There was, however, a substantial reorganization of AP discharge properties in neurones from spastic mice, with a significant increase (14%) in the proportion of delayed firing neurones. This was accompanied by a change in the voltage sensitivity of rapid A‐currents, a possible mechanism for increased delayed firing. To assess the functional consequences of these changes, we made in vivo patch‐clamp recordings from SDH neurones in urethane anaesthetized (2.2 g kg−1, i.p.) spastic and wildtype mice (∼P37), and examined responses to innocuous and noxious mechanical stimulation of the hindpaw. Overall, responses recorded in wildtype and spastic mice were similar; however, in spastic mice a small population of spontaneously active neurones (∼10%) exhibited elevated spontaneous discharge frequency and post‐pinch discharge rates. Together, these results are consistent with the altered intrinsic membrane properties of SDH neurones observed in vitro having functional consequences for pain processing mechanisms in the spastic mouse in vivo. We propose that alterations in potassium channel function in the spastic mouse compensate, in part, for reduced glycinergic inhibition and thus maintain normal signal processing in the SDH.
Angular measurements in orthopantomography.

There are many situations in clinical dental practice when it is of importance to determine the inclination of a certain tooth in relation to neighbouring teeth. This is especially true con­ sidering orthodontics and oral surgery. The degree of inclination of an impacted tooth may be significant in selection of the ideal thera­ peutic alternative, orthodontic or surgical.
Learning novel views to a single face image

A new technique is described for synthesizing images of faces from new viewpoints, when only a single 2D image from a known viewpoint is available. A novel 2D image of a face can be computed without knowledge about the 3D structure of the head. The technique draws on prior knowledge of faces based on example images of other faces seen in different poses and on a single generic 3D model of a human head. The example images are used to learn a pose-invariant shape and texture description of a new face. The 3D model is used to solve the correspondence problem between images showing faces in different poses. Examples of synthetic "rotations" over 24/spl deg/ based on a training set of 100 faces are shown.
A large-stroke deformable mirror by gear shaped IPMC design

Ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) is a promising electro-actuated polymer which can be used in MEMS devices because of large deformation with low applied voltage. We propose a convenient grey box model based on known mechanical properties of metal and Nafion® including Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio. 3D structural solid element type (solid 45 in Ansys®) is used in finite element method (FEM). We separate the Nafion® into two virtual layers, one is expansive and another is contractive caused by opposite constant surface force, or pressure, on each surface of elements. By simulations, the relation of surface force with tip displacement could be derived. After the experiment of voltage to tip displacement, we can determine the relation between voltage and surface force. Therefore, the deformation for different pattern or shapes can be predicted more easily. Finally, the gear shaped IPMC actuator is designed as a deformable mirror by simulation and the experiment result is presented.
State of the Art Pulmonary Complications of Solid Organ and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

The ability to successfully transplant solid organs and hematopoietic stem cells represents one of the landmark medical achievements of the twentieth century. Solid organ transplantation has emerged as the standard of care for select patients with severe vital organ dysfunction and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has become an important treatment option for patients with a wide spectrum of nonmalignant and malignant hematologic disorders, genetic disorders, and solid tumors. Although advances in surgical techniques, immunosuppressive management, and prophylaxis and treatment of infectious diseases have made long-term survival an achievable goal, transplant recipients remain at high risk for developing a myriad of serious and often life-threatening complications. Paramount among these are pulmonary complications, which arise as a consequence of the immunosuppressed status of the recipient as well as from such factors as the initial surgical insult of organ transplantation, the chemotherapy and radiation conditioning regimens that precede hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and alloimmune mechanisms mediating host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host responses. As the population of transplant recipients continues to grow and as their care progressively shifts from the university hospital to the community setting, knowledge of the pulmonary complications of transplantation is increasingly germane to the contemporary practice of pulmonary medicine.