Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cholinergic Modulation of Amyloid Processing and Dementia in Animal Models of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) regional cerebral pathology is partially characterized by diffuse and dense-core amyloid deposition, neurofibrillary tangles, and loss of afferent cortical input from subcortical cholinergic and monoaminergic neurons. The potential interactions between these separate neuropathological findings in the evolution of AD dementia and brain damage have not been fully elucidated. For example, correlations of dementia with postmortem amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are generally unreliable, unless strictly defined to stage of disease or anatomical subregions. Evidence of cerebrocortical and hippocampal dysfunction (such as atrophy or metabolic dysfunction), possibly resulting from neuronal damage and the loss of afferent synaptic control, are considered a better correlate with signs of dementia. The severe loss of cholinergic function in AD1 and the profound effect on memory function of the CNS cholinergic system2–4 suggest that cognitive deficits in AD may be due in part to that specific pathology. More recent in vivo observations imply that neuronal degeneration of the cholinergic system and amyloid pathology may be interrelated.5–7 Loss of cholinergic input to the neocortex and hippocampus increases amyloid precursor protein (APP) levels and reduces nonamyloidogeneic processing of APP. Linking these systems are studies showing how Aβ can interfere with cholinergic neurotransmission, implying Aβ not only in plaque formation, but also in cholinergic dysfunction. Interactions between the cholinergic system and Aβrelated systems may therefore be central to AD pathogenesis. These data also imply that drugs or cell repair designed to enhance cholinergic synaptic function, ACh synthesis, release, receptor-activations, or increase the effects of ACh neurotransmission may inhibit AD pathology by reducing the Aβ burden as well as improving cognitive function.
Vision-aided object manipulation by a multifingered hand with soft fingertips

Soft fingertips can easily achieve high friction contacts but their frictional moment around the contact normals makes manipulation control difficult. We propose a control scheme to manipulate an object by a multifingered hand with soft fingertips. The proposed scheme cancels the frictional moment according to the direction of the relative rotation between the fingertip and the object. Whatever the fingertip contact type is, accurate pose measurement is very important for the object manipulation. We also propose a systematic method to estimate the object pose with a complementary use of camera images and finger joint information. The proposed control scheme and the pose estimation method were combined and implemented in an experimental system. Results of the experiment show the effectiveness of the proposed pose estimation method and the overall control system for manipulating an object by a soft-fingered hand.
VLSI Implementation of a Low-Power Antilogarithmic Converter

This paper presents a VLSI implementation of a unique 32-bit antilogarithmic converter, which generates data for some digital-signal-processing (DSP) applications. Novel antilogarithm correcting algorithms are developed and implemented with low-power and hardware-efficient correcting circuits. The VLSI implementations of these algorithms are much smaller than other hardware intensive algorithms found in the literature. The converter is implemented using 0.6 /spl mu/m CMOS technology, and its combinational logic implementation requires 1500/spl lambda//spl times/2800/spl lambda/ of chip area. The 32-bit antilogarithmic converter computes the antilogarithm in a single clock cycle and runs at 100 MHz and consumes 81 mW.
Increased neuronal expression of neurokinin‐1 receptor and stimulus‐evoked internalization of the receptor in the rostral ventromedial medulla of the rat after peripheral inflammatory injury

This study examined possible mechanisms by which Substance P (Sub P) assumes a pronociceptive role in the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) under conditions of peripheral inflammatory injury, in this case produced by intraplantar (ipl) injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). In saline‐ and CFA‐treated rats, neurokinin‐1 receptor (NK1R) immunoreactivity was localized to neurons in the RVM. Four days after ipl injection of CFA, the number of NK1R‐immunoreactive neurons in the RVM was increased by 30%, and there was a concomitant increase in NK1R‐immunoreactive processes in CFA‐treated rats. Although NK1R immunoreactivity was increased, tachykinin‐1 receptor (Tacr1) mRNA was not increased in the RVM of CFA‐treated rats. To assess changes in Sub P release, the number of RVM neurons that exhibited NK1R internalization was examined in saline‐ and CFA‐treated rats following noxious heat stimulation of the hind paws. Only CFA‐treated rats that experienced noxious heat stimulation exhibited a significant increase in the number of neurons showing NK1R internalization. These data suggest that tonic Sub P release is not increased as a simple consequence of peripheral inflammation, but that phasic or evoked release of Sub P in the RVM is increased in response to noxious peripheral stimulation in a persistent inflammatory state. These data support the proposal that an upregulation of the NK1R in the RVM, as well as enhanced release of Sub P following noxious stimulation, underlie the pronociceptive role of Sub P under conditions of persistent inflammatory injury. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:3037–3051, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Therapy‐related leukaemia cutis: A review

Leukaemia cutis following chemotherapy for a malignancy is a multifactorial process that is dependent on the chemotherapeutic agent used, the dosing regimen, and the cumulative dose as well as potential contributing therapies such as radiation and possibly even haematopoeitic support from granulocyte colony stimulating factor. In the right combination and in a patient with a conducive milieu of epigenetic factors, leukaemia can develop as a treatment complication. Leukaemia cutis is the specific infiltration of the skin by leukaemic cells and occurs most commonly when the underlying leukaemia is an acute myeloid leukaemia. Although it is well reviewed in the literature as a result of primary leukaemia, leukaemia cutis has only very rarely been reported in association with therapy‐induced leukaemia. This article reviews the factors that contribute to therapy‐related leukaemia and the development of leukaemia cutis.
pT1 clear cell renal cell carcinoma

The majority of patients with pT1 clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are cured with nephrectomy. However, a few patients will die of RCC. In several studies, MIB‐1 proliferative activity was identified as an independent predictor of survival in patients with RCC. The objective of the current study was to examine MIB‐1 proliferative activity in a large series of patients with pT1 clear cell RCC who were treated uniformly with radical nephrectomy, and to examine the association between proliferative activity and cancer specific survival in a multivariate model incorporating tumor size, nuclear grade, and tumor necrosis.
GENETIC STUDY: No association of dopamine receptor sensitivity in vivo with genetic predisposition for alcoholism and DRD2/DRD3 gene polymorphisms in alcohol dependence

This study sought to examine dopamine receptor sensitivity among alcoholics in vivo and to explore whether this sensitivity might be associated with functional variations of dopamine D2 (DRD2) and D3 (DRD3) receptor genes along with a genetic predisposition for alcoholism as reflected by an alcohol‐dependent first‐degree relative. We analyzed the −141C Ins/Del polymorphism in the promoter region of the DRD2 gene and the Ser9Gly (BalI) polymorphism in exon 1 of the DRD3 gene in 74 alcohol‐dependent Caucasian men with or without genetic predisposition for alcoholism. In vivo dopamine receptor sensitivity was assessed by measuring apomorphine‐induced growth hormone release. A three‐way analysis of variance revealed no significant effects of DRD2, DRD3 genotypes and genetic predisposition on dopamine receptor sensitivity. Given the explorative and preliminary character of this investigation, we cannot provide evidence that in alcohol‐dependent Caucasian men a genetic predisposition for alcoholism along with functional variants of the DRD2 and DRD3 genes are associated with differences in dopamine receptor sensitivity.
Reliability, Validity, and Injury Predictive Value of the Functional Movement Screen: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background: The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is utilized by professional and collegiate sports teams and the military for the prevention of musculoskeletal injuries. Hypothesis: The FMS demonstrates good interrater and intrarater reliability and validity and has predictive value for musculoskeletal injuries. Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using a computerized search of the electronic databases MEDLINE and ScienceDirect in adherence with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Extracted relevant data from each included study were recorded on a standardized form. The Cochran Q statistic was utilized to evaluate study heterogeneity. Pooled quantitative synthesis was performed to measure the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for interrater and intrarater reliability, along with 95% CIs, and odds ratios with 95% CIs for the injury predictive value for a score of ≤14. Results: Eleven studies for reliability, 5 studies for validity, and 9 studies for the injury predictive value were identified that met inclusion and exclusion criteria; of these, 6 studies for reliability and 9 studies for the injury predictive value were pooled for quantitative synthesis. The ICC for intrarater reliability was 0.81 (95% CI, 0.69-0.92) and for interrater reliability was 0.81 (95% CI, 0.70-0.92). The odds of sustaining an injury were 2.74 times with an FMS score of ≤14 (95% CI, 1.70-4.43). Studies for validity demonstrated flaws in both internal and external validity of the FMS. Conclusion: The FMS has excellent interrater and intrarater reliability. Participants with composite scores of ≤14 had a significantly higher likelihood of an injury compared with those with higher scores, demonstrating the injury predictive value of the test. Significant concerns remain regarding the validity of the FMS.
Les interactions lors d’activités d’écriture collaborative au premier cycle du primaire : la contribution de l’étayage de l’enseignant

Cet article traite d’une recherche dont l’objectif est de mesurer l’effet de l’etayage de l’enseignant sur le nombre d’interactions et sur le niveau d’elaboration des interactions entre eleves du premier cycle du primaire dans des tâches d’ecriture. L’echantillon est constitue de 16 classes (8 classes experimentales et 8 classes temoins) pour un total de 262 eleves regroupes en dyades. Le niveau d’elaboration des interactions de meme que nombre d’interactions sont mesures avant et apres l’experimentation. Pendant l’experimentation, les enseignants des groupes experimentaux sont entraines a etayer les interactions des eleves et un suivi leur est apporte. De la mi-octobre a la mi-mai, chaque enseignant du groupe experimental fait realiser hebdomadairement une tâche d’ecriture a ses eleves regroupes en dyades, alors que les enseignants du groupe temoin realisent les activites d’ecriture avec les eleves selon leurs pratiques habituelles. Les resultats revelent notamment que l’etayage des interactions contribue a augmenter le niveau d’elaboration des interactions ainsi que leur nombre.
Plasmaspheric dynamics resulting from the Hallowe'en 2003 geomagnetic storms

Cross-phase-derived plasma mass density trends during the Hallowe'en 2003 geomagnetic storms are presented for 38° magnetic latitude 63° (1.61 ≤ L ≤ 5.10), using data from the SAMNET (Subauroral Magnetometer Network), BGS (British Geological Survey), and SEGMA (South European Geomagnetic Array), ground-based magnetometer arrays in Europe. At all latitudes monitored, a rapid increase of total mass density is observed immediately following the initial storm sudden commencement at 0611 UT on 29 October, believed to be due to rapid ionospheric O+ outflow. Plasmaspheric density depletion to at least 50° magnetic latitude (L ∼ 2.4) took place over the next 3 days. Poststorm refilling began on 2 November. Following the sudden commencement of another storm on 4 November, a density enhancement was monitored at 2.79 ≤ L ≤ 3.84, with subsequent plasmaspheric depletion occurring by 6 November. Plasma mass density values are compared to empirical plasmapause location model predictions, with reasonable agreement for most days, but density depletion and refilling were monitored 1 day after they are predicted. During poststorm plasmaspheric refilling, some extremely low early morning resonance frequencies are monitored and appear be due to quarter mode standing waves. This study also highlights that care must be taken in the choice of assumed geomagnetic field geometry when deriving plasma mass densities from observed field line resonances during severe geomagnetic storms.
Rifabutin-based Triple Therapy After Failure of Helicobacter pylori Eradication Treatment: Preliminary Experience

Despite continuous improvement of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication therapy, new treatment regimens are necessary if established first-line treatments fail. In the present pilot study, a recently described rifabutin-based triple therapy was evaluated after preceding failure of triple therapy. Rifabutin (150 mg), amoxicillin (1 g), and lansoprazole (30 mg) were administered twice daily for 1 week to 25 patients infected with Hp who had previously failed to respond to eradication treatment and/or who had developed resistance to macrolides and nitroimidazoles. Four patients were lost to follow-up. Eradication rate of rifabutin-based triple therapy was 86% (18/21; per-protocol) and 72% (18/25; intention-to-treat). Side effects were minimal. It is concluded that this new drug combination is an effective therapy for Hp strains resistant to clarithromycin or metronidazole; however, rifabutin-based treatment regimens for Hp eradication should be restricted to patients infected with resistant strains.
Summation in predictive learning in children

Considerable research has examined the contrasting predictions of configural and elemental associative accounts of learning. One of the simplest methods to distinguish between these approaches is the summation test, in which the associative strength of a novel compound (AB) made of two separatelytrained cues (A+ and B+) is examined . The configural view predicts that the strength of the compound will approximate the average strength of its components, whereas the elemental approach predicts that the strength of the compound will be greater than the strength of either component. The summation test has lead to contradictory evidence in experiments with animals as well as with human adults. The purpose of this research was to examine summation in predictive learning of 5� 9 years old children. The results provided evidence of summation (i.e., AB greater than A and B) after training with a "simple summation" procedure (A+ B+ test with AB; Experiment 1, n=26); but no summation following a "preserved conditioned inhibition" procedure (i.e., A+ BABfollowed by B+; and test with AB; Experiment 2, n=26). In Experiment 3, both effects were simultaneously observed (n=14). These results are consistent with reported findings in both Pavlovian conditioning with animals and predictive learning with adult humans. Theoretical alternatives within the elemental and configural approaches are discussed.
Polynomial law of sensation.

A new theory proposes that sensation grows as a polynomial function of physical intensity. The theory reproduces all of the published data perfectly without error. The degree of the polynomial is independent of whether category ratings or magnitude estimations are used as the dependent variable; it is independent of stimulus range, number of categories, value of the standard, first stimulus, modulus, stimulus spacing, and all other contextual features of the experiment except the number of stimuli. Because the polynomial law always provides a superior fit to the data, it should supersede the logarithmic and power laws of sensation. Judgments of the sensory magnitude of stimuli varying in one dimension of physical intensity have often been fit by functions of the form:
CCL2/CCR2 Regulates the Tumor Microenvironment in HER-2/neu-Driven Mammary Carcinomas in Mice

Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of cancer. Inflammatory chemokines, such as C-C chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), are often present in tumors but their roles in cancer initiation and maintenance are not clear. Here we report that CCL2 promotes mammary carcinoma development in a clinically relevant murine model of breast cancer. Targeted disruption of Ccl2 slowed the growth of activated Her2/neu-driven mammary tumors and prolonged host survival. Disruption of Ccl2 was associated with a decrease in the development and mobilization of endothelial precursor cells (EPCs) which can contribute to tumor neovascularization. In contrast, disruption of Ccr2, which encodes CCL2’s sole signaling receptor, accelerated tumor development, shortened host survival, and mobilized EPCs. However, pharmacological inhibition of CCR2 phenocopied Ccl2 disruption rather than Ccr2 disruption, suggesting that the Ccr2-/- phenotype is a consequence of unanticipated alterations not linked to intact CCL2/CCR2 signaling. Consistent with this explanation, Ccr2-/- monocytes are more divergent from wild type monocytes than Ccl2-/- monocytes in their expression of genes involved in key developmental and functional pathways. Taken together, our data suggest a tumor-promoting role for CCL2 acting through CCR2 on the tumor microenvironment and support the targeting of this chemokine/receptor pair in breast cancer.
Seasonality and wildlife disease: how seasonal birth, aggregation and variation in immunity affect the dynamics of Mycoplasma gallisepticum in house finches

We examine the role of host seasonal breeding, host seasonal social aggregation and partial immunity in affecting wildlife disease dynamics, focusing on the dynamics of house finch conjunctivitis (Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) in Carpodacus mexicanus). This case study of an unmanaged emerging infectious disease provides useful insight into the important role of seasonal factors in driving ongoing disease dynamics. Seasonal breeding can force recurrent epidemics through the input of fresh susceptibles, which will clearly affect a wide variety of wildlife disease dynamics. Seasonal patterns of social aggregation and foraging behaviour could change transmission dynamics. We use latitudinal variation in the timing of breeding, and social systems to model seasonal dynamics of house finch conjunctivitis across eastern North America. We quantify the patterns of seasonal breeding, and social aggregation across a latitudinal gradient in the eastern range of the house finch, supplemented with known field and laboratory information on immunity to MG in finches. We then examine the interactions of these factors in a theoretical model of disease dynamics. We find that both forms of seasonality could explain the dynamics of the house finch–MG system, and that these factors could have important effects on the dynamics of wildlife diseases generally. In particular, while either alone is sufficient to create recurrent cycles of prevalence in a population with an endemic disease, both are required to produce the specific semi–annual pattern of disease prevalence seen in the house finch conjunctivitis system.
Parameter Estimation of BSSRDF for Heterogeneous Materials

Rendering of highly scattering media is computationally expensive in general. While existing BSSRDF models can accurately and efficiently approximate light scattering in homogeneous media, we still have to resort to costly Monte Carlo simulation for heterogeneous media. We propose a simple parameter estimation method which enables homogeneous BSSRDF models to approximate the appearance of heterogeneous media. The main idea is to estimate the input optical parameters of a given homogeneous BSSRDF model such that the output well approximates light transport within heterogeneous media. Our method takes spatially varying optical coefficients into account by taking averages of the coefficients around the incident and exitant points. This approach is motivated by the path integral theory which predicts how wide the beam of light will spread in heterogeneous media. Since our method provides parameters for homogeneous BSSRDF models, it is applicable to many existing BSSRDF models and easy to integrate into existing rendering systems. We show that our modification produces more accurate results than the existing heuristics with the same goal.
The role of transforming growth factor‐β in PEG‐rHuMGDF‐induced reversible myelofibrosis in rats

Pegylated recombinant human megakaryocyte growth and development factor (PEG‐rHuMGDF) injected at a suprapharmacologic dose (100 μg/kg) daily for 5 d in normal rats caused marked increases in marrow megakaryocytes and platelet counts at 6–8 d followed by gradual decreases to control levels at 10–20 d. Interestingly, in addition to the expected thrombopoiesis, PEG‐rHuMGDF was associated with myelofibrosis with a predominance of reticulin fibres at day 10 followed by complete normalization by day 20. At 6–8 d, the levels of transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) in the extracellular fluid of the marrow, the platelet poor plasma, and the platelet extract were increased 23‐, 7‐ and 2‐fold, respectively. The elevated levels of TGF‐β1 were gradually reduced to baseline levels at 13–20 d in accordance with the normalization of myelofibrosis and thrombopoiesis. An ultrastructural analysis showed that large fragments of megakaryocytes were deposited in the marrow parenchyma of PEG‐rHuMGDF‐treated rats at day 6. PEG‐rHuMGDF administration at pharmacologic doses (1 and 10 μg/kg) did not induce the deposition of reticulin fibres in the marrow. These findings suggest that TGF‐β1 leaked from megakaryocytes is involved in the development of the PEG‐rHuMGDF‐induced myelofibrosis and that this is a reversible process related to the regulation of the excess production of platelets.