Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CD45RA distinguishes CD4+CD25+CD127-/low TSDR demethylated regulatory T cell subpopulations with differential stability and susceptibility to tacrolimus mediated inhibition of suppression.

BACKGROUND Adoptive transfer of FOXP3 regulatory T cells (Treg) offers a promising strategy to reduce damage to an allograft by the recipient's immune system. Identification of cell surface markers sufficient to purify Treg expanded ex vivo to remove cellular contaminants requires optimisation. Furthermore, the expanded Treg must be able to survive, expand and suppress in allograft recipients exposed to immunosuppressants such as tacrolimus (TAC). Reduced CD127 expression enhances identification of Treg in the human CD4CD25 population. CD45RA expression identifies naive CD4CD25 Treg with an enhanced stability of Treg phenotype. METHODS We combine an analysis of CD45RA, CD25 and CD127 expression to identify subpopulations of CD4CD127CD25 cells. Treg were sorted according to expression of CD25 and CD45RA and expanded in the presence of a physiological relevant concentration of tacrolimus. TSDR demethylation, FOXP3 expression and suppression were analysed. RESULTS CD4CD127CD25CD45RA Treg had a stable TSDR demethylated FOXP3 phenotype following expansion whilst CD4CD127CD25CD45RA Treg lost the TSDR demethylated phenotype. CD45RA Treg had a greater capacity to suppress following expansion with tacrolimus. CONCLUSIONS Although CD45RA Treg retained a greater suppressive capacity when expanded with TAC, the marked loss of the TSDR demethylated status highlights the potential for loss of stability of these cells in transplant recipients treated with TAC based immunosuppression. We show that a population of CD4CD127CD45RA Treg may offer the best compromise between susceptibility to loss of suppression when exposed to TAC and maintenance of a TSDR demethylated phenotype following in vitro expansion.This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CCBY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
User interface design and evaluation for control room

User interface technology is an integral element of modern information and communications systems. This paper describes the outcomes of a field study that sought to design, develop, and evaluate a user interface suitable for an Incident Management System. Initially, the study comprised interviews and questionnaires used to examine how current systems are used, determine key issues facing current users, and identify the functions, features and behaviours a new system should exhibit. Subsequently, a mock-up was tested by potential end-users. All user feedback was incorporated into a set of design guidelines for the multimodal user interface of the new system. Preliminary analysis of the mock-up interface suggests that a 37% improvement in task time-to-completion could be achieved, together with 59% reduction in missed calls from a variety of contacts.
Amiodarone prophylaxis for atrial fibrillation of high-risk patients after coronary bypass grafting: a prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized study.

AIMS Atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs often in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and can result in increased morbidity and mortality. Previous studies using P-wave signal-averaged electrocardiogram (P-SAECG) have shown that patients with a longer filtered P-wave duration (FPD) have a high risk of AF after CABG. We have shown that patients with an FPD > or = 124 ms and a root-mean-square voltage of the last 20 ms of the P-wave 20 < or = 3.7 microV have an increased risk of AF after surgery. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate whether or not prophylactic peri-operative administration of amiodarone could reduce the incidence of AF in this high-risk group undergoing CABG identified by P-SAECG. METHODS AND RESULTS In this prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized study, 110 patients received either amiodarone (n = 55) or placebo (n = 55). During CABG, two patients of both groups died. Amiodarone was given as 600 mg oral single dose one day before and from days 2 through 7 after surgery. In addition, amiodarone was also administered intravenously during surgery in a 300-mg bolus for 1 h and as a total maintenance dose of 20 mg/kg weight over 24 h on the first day following surgery. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of AF after CABG. The secondary endpoint was the hospitalization length of stay after CABG. The baseline characteristics were similar in both treatment groups. The incidence of post-operative AF was significantly higher in the placebo group compared with the amiodarone group (85 vs. 34% of patients, P < 0.0001). The prophylactic therapy with amiodarone significantly reduced the intensive care (1.8 +/- 1.7 vs. 2.4 +/- 1.5 days, P = 0.001) and hospitalization length of stay (11.3 +/- 3.4 vs. 13.0 +/- 4.3 days, P = 0.03). In the amiodarone group, concentrations of amiodarone and desethylamiodarone differed significantly between patients with AF and sinus rhythm (amiodarone: 0.96 +/- 0.5 vs. 0.62 +/- 0.4 microg/mL, P = 0.02; desethylamiodarone: 0.65 +/- 0.2 vs. 0.48 +/- 0.1 microg/mL, P = 0.04). CONCLUSION The incidence of post-operative AF among high-risk patients was significantly reduced by a prophylactic amiodarone treatment resulting in a shorter time of intensive care unit and hospital stay. Our data supports the prophylactic use of amiodarone in peri-operative period in patients at high risk for AF after CABG.
PREPARATION OF MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TO HEPATOCELLULAR MEMBRANES AND ITS APPLICATION TO INDUCTION OF LIVER CELL MEMBRANE DAMAGE

Monoclonal antibody (MoAb) to rat liver plasma membranes was prepared by hybridization of mouse immune lymphocytes with mouse myeloma cells, and was identified by the immunodiffusion method in a fraction of IgM secreted from the hybridoma thus obtained. In indirect immunofluorescence tests, specific fluorescence was detected only on the surface of rat hepatocytes, but neither on the cells from other organs of the rat nor on the hepatocytes of other species of animals, suggesting that the antibody may be organ‐ and species‐specific. When the primary culture rat hepatocytes, labelled with isotopic cromium (51Cr), were treated with the MoAb together with complement, a specific release of 51Cr from the cells was found shortly after treatment, accompanied with bubbling of the cell membranes, and a significant release of 51Cr was observed at an MoAb concentration of 15μg/ml or more. Without complement, or with inactivated complement, these reactions were not observed. These facts suggest strongly that the cell surface of the hepatocytes was damaged by the MoAb in the presence of complement. ACTA PATHOL. JPN. 35: 1375–1383, 1985.
Protease-activated receptor stimulation activates a Ca 2-independent phospholipase A 2 in bladder microvascular endothelial cells

Rickard, Alice, Craig Portell, Pamela J. Kell, Suzanne M. Vinson, and Jane McHowat. Protease-activated receptor stimulation activates a Ca -independent phospholipase A2 in bladder microvascular endothelial cells. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 288: F714–F721, 2005. First published November 23, 2004; doi:10.1152/ajprenal. 00288.2004. —Increased mast cell numbers and mast cell activation represent one of the prevalent etiologic theories for interstitial cystitis, an inflammatory condition in the bladder. This study was designed primarily to determine whether increased mast cell tryptase in the bladder wall may play a role in activating bladder endothelial cell phospholipase A2 (PLA2), leading to increased inflammatory phospholipid metabolite accumulation, which may propagate the inflammatory process. We stimulated human bladder microvascular endothelial cells with thrombin or tryptase and measured the activation of PLA2 and the production of multiple membrane phospholipid-derived inflammatory mediators. Thrombin and tryptase stimulation resulted in activation of a Ca -independent PLA2, leading to increased release of arachidonic acid and prostacyclin and increased production of platelet-activating factor. These responses were blocked completely by pretreatment of human bladder microvascular endothelial cells with the Ca -independent PLA2-selective inhibitor bromoenol lactone. The combination of increased prostacyclin and platelet-activating factor in the bladder circulation may result in vasodilation and increased polymorphonuclear leukocyte adherence to the endothelium and may facilitate recruitment of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to the bladder wall of patients with interstitial cystitis.
No Longer Pregnant, Not Yet a Mother

In this article we present the findings of a qualitative examination of 30 mothers of very-low-birth-weight babies. Interviews conducted with the mothers when the babies were still in neonatal hospitalization show that virtually all the mothers described their delivery both as a traumatic event, and as a nonevent in which they felt that they barely participated. Most of them blamed themselves for not carrying full term, some blamed others, and some believed the premature delivery saved their baby’s life. Following their truncated pregnancies, their “nonparticipation” in the delivery, and their separation from their newborn immediately after the delivery, virtually all the women reported difficulty grasping that they were mothers. Many reported a sense of loss, emptiness, and frustration that the baby was no longer inside. The women took a variety of measures, including magical means and parenting behaviors, to safeguard their vulnerable babies and to become mothers within the constraints of the neonatal unit.
Parental Decision Making Regarding the Disclosure or Nondisclosure of a Mutation-Positive BRCA1/2 Test Result to Minors.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To gain insight into parental decision making regarding the disclosure or nondisclosure of a mutation-positive BRCA1/2 test result to minors. RESEARCH APPROACH A qualitative study based on Heidegger hermeneutic phenomenology was undertaken to explore the lived experience of parental decision making regarding high-risk BRCA1/2 disclosure. SETTING The study's recruitment site was a western Canadian hereditary breast and ovarian cancer clinic. PARTICIPANTS Fifteen female mutation-positive BRCA1/2 carriers who had at least one child aged 6-18 years. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH The use of a demographic questionnaire, semistructured interviews, and conversation summaries were employed to gain an understanding of participants' lived experience. van Manen's selective approach was used to conduct a thematic analysis. FINDINGS Collectively, parents wanted clinicians to discuss implications of disclosing and not disclosing a mutation-positive BRCA1/2 test result to minors in greater detail. The findings were categorized under the following emergent themes. CONCLUSIONS Participants' stories identified the need for auxiliary support pertaining to the decision-making process and suggested ways in which parental support may be coordinated. INTERPRETATION Oncology nurses with advanced genetics training should assist mutation-positive BRCA1/2 carriers in meeting their genetic risk information needs; this requires nurses to stay informed about a multitude of issues that affect this population of patients.
Accurate channel length extraction by split C-V measurements on short-channel MOSFETs

This paper investigates the extraction of channel length from split current-voltage (C-V) measurements of small gate length PMOS transistors. Using device simulations, including quantum-mechanical effects, scanning spreading resistance measurements, and process simulations, the authors correlate the variation of the overlap capacitance with the gate voltage, and the length of the lateral junction doping profile. It is suggested that an accurate extraction of the metallurgical and effective gate length can be obtained from C-V measurements subtracting the overlap capacitance at V/sub G/=V/sub FB/ and V/sub G/=V/sub FB/+0.8V.
Helicobacter pylori‐Associated Regulation of Forkhead Transcription Factors FoxO1/3a in Human Gastric Cells

Background: Interaction of Helicobacter pylori with gastric mucosa leads to marked cellular and humoral host immunologic responses. The signaling pathways initiated by bacteria–host interaction that result in perturbations in cell structure and function remain unclear. Forkhead transcription factors of class O (FoxO) are implicated in the regulation of apoptosis, cell survival, and pathogenesis. H. pylori infection of gastric epithelial cells induces phosphoinositide‐3 kinase (PI3K)‐dependent Akt activation and cell survival signaling. We investigated the role of H. pylori‐activated PI3K/Akt in the regulation of FoxO1/3a in gastric cells.
Noncoherent equalization of GMSK using complex receiver structures

In this letter, the performance of the HIPERLAN system in an indoor multipath fading channel is considered. Due to the high carrier frequency and high data rate, a simple noncoherent demodulator followed by a nonlinear equalizer, which includes a RAM and a Viterbi decoder, is proposed to cope with intersymbol interference. The novelty of the proposed equalizer is that a complex noncoherent signal is used. Although the complexity of the receiver is doubled, performance is greatly improved with respect to real receivers.
A system for gaze-contingent image analysis and multi-sensorial image display

A novel system for gaze-contingent im- age analysis and multi-sensorial image display is de- scribed. The observer's scanpaths are recorded while viewing and analysing 2-0 or 3-0 (volumetric) images. A region-of-interest (ROI) centred around the current fixation point is simultaneously subjected to real-time image analysis algorithms to compute various image features, e.g. edges, textures (2-0) or surfaces and vol- umetric texture (3-0). This feature information is fed back to the observer using multiple channels, i.e. in visual (replacing the ROI by a visually modified ROI), auditory (generating an auditory display of a computed feature) and tactile (generating a tactile representation of a computed feature) manner. Thus, the observer can use several of his senses to perceive information @om the image which may be otherwise hidden to his eyes, e.g. targets or patterns which are very dificult or im- possible to detect. The human brain then fuses all the information from the multi-sensorial display. The mo- ment the eyes make a saccade to a newjixation loca- tion, the same process is applied to the new ROI centred around it. In this way the observer receives informa- tion from the local real-time image analysis around the point of gaze, hence the term gaze-contingent image analysis. The new system is profiled and several exam- ple applications are discussed.
Systèmes de culture et dynamique de la matière organique

Les auteurs analysent les performances comparees des systemes de culture pratiques avec travail du sol et en semis direct sur couverture vegetale dans diverses grandes eco-regions du monde tropical. Ainsi: - si la destruction de la matiere organique (M.O.) en gestion conventionnelle avec travail du sol est tres rapide, sa reconstruction, meme en zone tropicale humide, peut aller aussi vite en semis direct. - la sequestration du carbone depend de la nature des systemes de culture crees; les plus performants sont ceux qui produisent un maximum de matiere seche, aussi bien a la surface du sol que dans le profil cultural, tout au long de la saison pluvieuse, mais aussi en saison seche, au moment ou les conditions de mineralisation de la M.O. sont ralenties. Le choix des plantes de couverture est de ce fait determinant. - Dans les meilleurs systemes en semis direct, les niveaux de M.O. peuvent rapidement rejoindre, ceux des ecosystemes naturels, meme en partant de conditions tres degradees au depart. - Les meilleurs systemes en semis direct produisent entre 26 et 32 t de residus de matiere seche par hectare et par an; l'evolution des performances agronomiques et technico-economiques des systemes de culture suit strictement celle de la matiere organique; les systemes en semis direct les plus faciles a pratiquer ont conquis plus de 6 millions d'hectares en moins de 10 ans dans les cerrados du Centre-Ouest Bresilien. (Resume d'auteur)
A unified particle system framework for multi-phase, multi-material visual simulations

We introduce a unified particle framework which integrates the phase-field method with multi-material simulation to allow modeling of both liquids and solids, as well as phase transitions between them. A simple elasto-plastic model is used to capture the behavior of various kinds of solids, including deformable bodies, granular materials, and cohesive soils. States of matter or phases, particularly liquids and solids, are modeled using the non-conservative Allen-Cahn equation. In contrast, materials---made of different substances---are advected by the conservative Cahn-Hilliard equation. The distributions of phases and materials are represented by a phase variable and a concentration variable, respectively, allowing us to represent commonly observed fluid-solid interactions. Our multi-phase, multi-material system is governed by a unified Helmholtz free energy density. This framework provides the first method in computer graphics capable of modeling a continuous interface between phases. It is versatile and can be readily used in many scenarios that are challenging to simulate. Examples are provided to demonstrate the capabilities and effectiveness of this approach.
Design improvement and performance analysis of 12Slot-10Pole permanent magnet flux switching machine with field excitation coils

Permanent magnet flux switching machine (PMFSM) with additional field excitation coil (FEC) has several attractive features compared to conventional permanent magnet (PM) machines because of its variable flux control capability and robust rotor structure suitable to apply for high speed applications. However, the original machine has a limitation of operating in high current condition due to nonessential magnetic saturation that prevents the machine from extracting the maximum performances. To overcome this problem, some design refinements are conducted by using deterministic optimization method to gain a better performance in the maximum torque and power production. The results simulated by finite element analysis (FEA) show that the machine with the improved design increases by 11.6% of the maximum torque and 16.3% of the maximum power compared to the original design.
Unofficial Development Assistance: A Dynamic Model of Charities' Donation Income

The empirical literature on the determinants of charities donation income, distinguishing the charitable cause, is small. We extend the literature in several ways. First, we focus on overseas development charities allowing us to give more consideration to the particular characteristics of this cause. Second, we look at the impact of macroeconomic change over a quarter century including changes in household income and in government spending on ODA, as well as 'charity level' variables that earlier authors have considered. Third, we use a general dynamic model and rigorous testing procedures to arrive at our specification. Using a newly assembled long panel of data, we find evidence of a strong, but diminishing fundraising effect. We find no evidence of crowding out by either grants made directly to charities or by changes in the public provision of development funding.
Influencia de los aspectos visuales en los cuestionarios autoadministrados

El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la influencia del diseno grafico (tamano del cuestionario, color del papel y existencia de portada y contraportada) en la tasa y en la calidad de la respuesta cuando se realizan encuestas postales. La calidad de la respuesta sera definida considerando el numero de preguntas no respondidas, la cantidad de respuestas en las preguntas multirrespuesta y la presencia del denominado «efecto primacia». Tras obtener una tasa de respuesta del 56,6% (RR1), a lo largo del trabajo, se demuestra que ninguno de los elementos considerados afecta a la tasa ni a la calidad de la respuesta.
NK Cell TRAIL Eliminates Immature Dendritic Cells In Vivo and Limits Dendritic Cell Vaccination Efficacy 1

Recent studies have implicated a possible role for NK cells in regulating dendritic cells (DC) in vitro. In the present study, we demonstrate that immature DC are rapidly eliminated by NK cells in vivo via a pathway dependent on the TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). Elimination of NK cells and/or neutralization of TRAIL function during immunization with immature DC loaded with nonself or tumor Ags significantly enhanced T cell responses to these Ags and Ag-specific tumor immunity. These data suggested that NK cell TRAIL might regulate responses to vaccination by controlling the survival of Ag-loaded DC.
Measuring the Effects of Technology Suppliers’ Characteristics on Degree of Inter-Firm Technology Transfer Based on Knowledge-Based View and Organizational Learning Perspective

The inter-firm technology transfers within collaborative joint ventures (JVs) have often involved close tradeoffs between the willingness of technology supplier to transfer a considerable amount of their technologies to technology recipient, degree of protection of the proprietary technology, knowledge and competencies as the source of the supplier’s competitive advantage, and motivation to transfer. While technology transfers through JVs, have been acknowledged by many studies as the most efficient formal mechanism in internalizing the partner’s technologies, knowledge and skills, the transfer process has frequently involved various facilitators, actors and complex relationship between partners which cause direct impact on degree of technology transfer. Based on the underlying knowledge-based view (KBV) and organizational learning (OL) perspectives, the main objective of this paper is to empirically examine the effects of two critical elements of technology supplier characteristics: partner protectiveness and transfer capacity on two dimensions of degree of technology transfer: degree of tacit and explicit knowledge. Using the quantitative analytical approach, the theoretical model and hypotheses in this study were tested based on empirical data gathered from 128 joint venture companies registered with the Registrar of Companies of Malaysia (ROC). Data obtained from the survey questionnaires were analyzed using the correlation coefficients and multiple linear regressions. The results revealed that partner protectiveness, as the critical element of technology recipient characteristics, had 1) a low significant effect on degree of tacit knowledge, and 2) no significant effect on degree of explicit knowledge. Nonetheless, transfer capacity showed strong significant effects on both degrees of tacit and explicit knowledge; where the effect on degree of explicit knowledge is slightly stronger than its effect on degree of tacit knowledge. The study has bridged the literature gaps in such that it offers empirical evidence on the effects of two generic technology supplier attributes: partner protectiveness and transfer capacity on degree of inter-firm technology transfer: degree of tacit and explicit knowledge in IJVs.
Corticopontine remodelling after cortical and/or cerebellar lesions in newborn rats

The distribution of corticopontine projections was studied, primarily with the Fink‐Heimer technique, in adult rats which at 2‐3 days of age had sustained unilateral sensorimotor (SMC) or occipital (OC) cortical lesions and in animals that had received neonatal hemicerebellar (HCb) lesions singly or in combination with the neonatal SMC or OC lesions.