Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cerebral ß-amyloid angiopathy in aged squirrel monkeys

age-related disorder of the brain vasculature that is involved in up to 20% of non-traumatic cerebral hemorrhage in humans. CAA is a risk factor for cognitive decline, and may exacerbate the dementia of Alzheimer's disease. Progress in discovering the cause and potential therapies for this disorder has been hindered by the paucity of animal models, particularly models of idiopathic CAA. The squirrel monkey (Saimiri spp) develops significant CAA in the natural course of aging. To evaluate the suitability of Saimiri as a model of human CAA, we studied the distribution and composition of Aß subtypes in CAA and parenchymal (senile plaque) deposits in the brains of aged squirrel monkeys, as well as the relationship between vascular ßamyloid deposition and comorbid vasculopathies that occur in aged humans. Our findings show that: 1) CAA consists ultrastructurally of classical amyloid fibrils and is the principal type of cerebral ß-amyloidosis in squirrel monkeys; 2) The two primary isoforms of Aß (Aß40 and Aß42) coexist in most microvascular and parenchymal lesions of Saimiri, although Aß40 tends to predominate in larger arterioles; 3) CAA and parenchymal plaques overlap to a considerable degree in most affected brain areas, and are distributed symmetrically in the two hemispheres; 4) Both CAA and plaques are particularly abundant in rostral regions and comparatively sparse in the occipital lobe; 5) Capillaries are especially vulnerable to CAA in squirrel monkeys; and 6) When CAA is severe, it is associated with a small, but significant, increase in other vasculopathies, including microhemorrhage, fibrinoid extravasation and focal gliosis. These findings, in the context of genetic, vascular and immunologic similarities between squirrel monkeys and humans, support the squirrel monkey as a biologically advantageous model for studying the basic biology of idiopathic, age-related CAA, and for testing emerging therapies for human ß-amyloidoses such as Alzheimer's disease.
Absence of Epstein-Barr virus in the brain and CSF of patients with multiple sclerosis

Objective: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous human herpesvirus that becomes latent in B-lymphocytes and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). We searched for latent and active EBV infection in MS brain and CSF. Methods: Nested and non-nested real-time PCR were used to detect cell-specific and EBV-specific transcripts in 15 fresh-frozen and 5 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded MS plaques and in single MS CSF B-lymphocytes and plasma cells. Intrathecal anti-EBV antibody synthesis was measured by ELISA. Immunocytochemistry was used to detect binding of MS CSF and recombinant antibodies (rAbs) generated from clonally expanded plasma cells in MS CSF to EBV-infected cells. Results: No EBV RNA was found in MS CSF B-lymphocytes or plasma cells. In active MS plaques, EBV-encoded RNA (EBER)-1 was the only and rarely detected transcript. The frequency of detected intrathecal anti-EBV antibody synthesis in patients with MS did not differ from that in non-MS inflammatory CNS disease control patients. Anti-EBV antibodies were detected in the CSF of patients with MS, but MS rAbs did not react with EBV. Conclusions: Application of real-time PCR to multiple sclerosis brain and single B-lymphocytes in CSF did not reveal any evidence of active Epstein-Barr virus infection.
Force-based control scheme for stable contact motion in time-delayed teleoperation

In this paper, force-based control scheme for stable contact motion is proposed. In recent days, haptics is one of major topics in robotics field. Especially teleoperation with haptic feedback has been studied for long years, but problem of time delay still exists. Time delay causes three problems : operational force, oscillating motion, and degrading of contact stability. Some conventional approaches tried to compensate delay of position by using compensator, however degrading of contact stability is not mentioned sufficiently. And conventional approach using some compensator degrade adaptability for target object. From this point of view, this paper aims to keep adaptability and improve contact stability in time delayed teleoperation.
Signalling through TLR2/MyD88 induces differentiation of murine bone marrow stem and progenitor cells to functional phagocytes in response to Candida albicans

We have previously demonstrated that inactivated yeasts and hyphae of Candida albicans induce in vitro the proliferation of murine haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs, sorted as LKS cells: Lin‐ c‐Kit+ Sca‐1+) as well as their differentiation to lineage‐positive cells, through a MyD88‐dependent pathway. In this work, we have found that this process is mainly mediated by TLR2, and that expanding cells express myeloid and not lymphoid markers. Incubation of long‐term repopulating HSCs (Lin‐ CD105+ and Sca‐1+) with C. albicans yeasts resulted in their proliferation and up regulation of the common myeloid progenitors (CMPs) markers, CD34 and FcγRII/III, by a TLR2/MyD88‐dependent signalling pathway. In addition, this TLR2/MyD88 signalling promotes the differentiation of CMPs and granulocyte and macrophage progenitors (GMPs) into cells with the morphology of macrophages and neutrophils, characterized by an increase in the expression of CD11b, F4/80 and Ly6G, independently of the presence of growth and differentiation factors. These differentiated cells were able to phagocytose C. albicans yeasts and to produce proinflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, C. albicans may be sensed by TLRs on haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells to promote the host capability for rapidly replenishing myeloid cells that constitute the first line of defence against C. albicans.
A multinational study of espoused national cultural and review characteristics in the formation of trust in online product reviews

Recent changes in web technologies have given a voice to consumers in online discussions of products and services. While the web has long been a source of information about products and services, web content was controlled by those who could develop for the web. Web software that permits novice users to contribute to conversations about products has been embraced by online retailers, who facilitate and encourage online user reviews of products. Researchers are just starting to understand the relationship between online reviews and purchase intention. In this study, we report the results of a simulation-based web purchase experiment that included subjects in three countries. We find that information quality, a social component and espoused uncertainty avoidance influence trust in the review. We were not able to support an interaction effect between information quality and uncertainty avoidance, nor an interaction effect between the social component and collectivism.
Leptin increase is associated with markers of the hemostatic system in obese healthy women

Summary. Background: Leptin, a hormone secreted by the adipose tissue, might be a link between obesity and increased morbidity for cardiovascular disease. Leptin exerts proinflammatory, pro‐angiogenic actions by activating a specific receptor (Ob‐Rb) which is expressed in human endothelial cells. Thus, a link may exist between leptin expression and endothelial dysfunction. Objectives: We sought to determine whether in obese women there is a correlation between leptin levels, endothelial perturbation and coagulative activation. Methods: Circulating levels of leptin, von Willebrand Factor (VWF), factor (F)VIIa, prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F1+2), were measured in 51 non‐diabetic, obese women and in 51 normal‐weight subjects, using immunoenzymatic assays. Results: Obese women had significantly higher levels of leptin, VWF, FVIIa, F1+2 compared with healthy women. Simple correlation coefficients showed significant correlation between leptin and either VWF, FVIIa, or F1+2 concentrations. A multiple linear regression analysis, performed to quantify further the relationship between leptin levels and the above‐mentioned variables as well as the inflammatory marker C‐reactive protein (CRP) and including age, body mass index (BMI), waist–hip ratio (WHR) and lipid parameters as potential confounders, revealed that only FVIIa and VWF were independently related to leptin levels. Reduction in adipose tissue after weight loss resulted in a decrease in both circulating leptin and endothelial and coagulative activation markers. Conclusions: We suggest that leptin might have pro‐atherogenic effects in vivo, with a mechanism involving endothelial cell activation.
Fuzzy set covering as a new paradigm for the induction of fuzzy classification rules

In 1965 Lofti A. Zadeh proposed fuzzy sets as a generalization of crisp (or classic) sets to address the incapability of crisp sets to model uncertainty and vagueness inherent in the real world. Initially, fuzzy sets did not receive a very warm welcome as many academics stood skeptical towards a theory of imprecise'' mathematics. In the middle to late 1980's the success of fuzzy controllers brought fuzzy sets into the limelight, and many applications using fuzzy sets started appearing. In the early 1970's the first machine learning algorithms started appearing. The AQ family of algorithms pioneered by Ryszard S. Michalski is a good example of the family of set covering algorithms. This class of learning algorithm induces concept descriptions by a greedy construction of rules that describe (or cover) positive training examples but not negative training examples. The learning process is iterative, and in each iteration one rule is induced and the positive examples covered by the rule removed from the set of positive training examples. Because positive instances are separated from negative instances, the term separate-and-conquer has been used to contrast the learning strategy against decision tree induction that use a divide-and-conquer learning strategy. This dissertation proposes fuzzy set covering as a powerful rule induction strategy. We survey existing fuzzy learning algorithms, and conclude that very few fuzzy learning algorithms follow a greedy rule construction strategy and no publications to date made the link between fuzzy sets and set covering explicit. We first develop the theoretical aspects of fuzzy set covering, and then apply these in proposing the first fuzzy learning algorithm that apply set covering and make explicit use of a partial order for fuzzy classification rule induction. We also investigate several strategies to improve upon the basic algorithm, such as better search heuristics and different rule evaluation metrics. We then continue by proposing a general unifying framework for fuzzy set covering algorithms. We demonstrate the benefits of the framework and propose several further fuzzy set covering algorithms that fit within the framework. We compare fuzzy and crisp rule induction, and provide arguments in favour of fuzzy set covering as a rule induction strategy. We also show that our learning algorithms outperform other fuzzy rule learners on real world data. We further explore the idea of simultaneous concept learning in the fuzzy case, and continue to propose the first fuzzy decision list induction algorithm. Finally, we propose a first strategy for encoding the rule sets generated by our fuzzy set covering algorithms inside an equivalent neural network.
Solid Propellant Microthrusters on Silicon: Design, Modeling, Fabrication, and Testing

The design, modeling, fabrication, and characterization of solid propellant microthrusters for space application is presented. The operational concept of solid propellant thruster is simply based on the combustion of a solid energetic material stored in a micromachined chamber. Each thruster contains four main parts (nozzle, heater, chamber, seal). Thrusters presented in this paper have a chamber area of 2.25 mm2. Throat diameters (160, 250, and 500 mum) have been calculated to generate thrusts in the range from 0.3 to 30 mN that meets station keeping requirements for micro satellites. Fabrication processes for each part of the thruster are presented as well as the assembling procedure and the electronic module implementation. Characterizations give ignition power between 80 and 150 mW depending on the energetic material contained in the igniter's cavity. The ignition success is of 100% when using a Zirconium Potassium Perchlorate propellant. Thrust balance is presented as well as the thrust measurements that validate our model
American Marriage in the Early Twenty-First Century

During the past century the U.S. family system has seen vast changes—in marriage and divorce rates, cohabitation, childbearing, sexual behavior, and women's work outside the home. Andrew Cherlin reviews these historic changes, noting that marriage remains the most common living arrangement for raising children, but that children, especially poor and minority children, are increasingly likely to grow up in single-parent families and to experience family instability.
Clinical translation of stem cell transplantation in Parkinson's disease

In Parkinson's disease (PD), the main pathology underlying the motor symptoms is a loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. Clinical trials of intrastriatal transplantation of human foetal mesencephalic tissue have shown that the grafted dopaminergic neurons re‐innervate the striatum, restore striatal dopamine release and, in some cases, induce major, long‐lasting improvement of motor function. However, nonmotor symptoms originating from degeneration outside the striatum or in nondopaminergic systems are not alleviated by intrastriatal implantation of dopaminergic neurons. Stem cells and reprogrammed cells could potentially be used to produce dopaminergic neurons for transplantation in patients with PD. Recent studies demonstrate that standardized preparations of dopaminergic neurons of the correct substantia nigra phenotype can be generated from human embryonic stem cells in large numbers, and they will soon be available for patient application. In addition, dopaminergic neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells are being considered for clinical translation. Important challenges include the demonstration of potency (growth capacity and functional efficacy) and safety of the generated dopaminergic neurons in preclinical animal models. The dopaminergic neurons should subsequently be tested, using optimal patient selection and cell preparation and transplantation procedures, in controlled clinical studies.
Effects of long-term low-level solvent exposure on cognitive function.

PURPOSE The effects of long-term low-level exposures to solvents on cognitive function were investigated. METHODS A total of 389 workers at a gun factory, those exposed to solvents (n = 193) and those that were not exposed to solvents during work (n = 196), were included. All the workers were given a questionnaire. Cognitive function was evaluated by Mini-mental Status Examination (MMSE) and psychological status was assessed by Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) Scale. RESULTS No differences were found in the MMSE and HAD scores between solvent-exposed workers and control workers (p > 0.05). In the workers who had used a mask for a longer time, orientation scores were lower. Daytime sleepiness was related to lower recall scores. Left-handed workers had higher total HAD scores than right-handed workers. CONCLUSIONS Long-term low-level exposure to solvents did not affect cognitive function in the workers, according to their MMSE scores. Duration of solvent exposure was also not related to MMSE Scores. Short sleep duration and daytime sleepiness may negatively affect cognitive function.
Endurance exercise performance: the physiology of champions

Efforts to understand human physiology through the study of champion athletes and record performances have been ongoing for about a century. For endurance sports three main factors – maximal oxygen consumption , the so‐called ‘lactate threshold’ and efficiency (i.e. the oxygen cost to generate a give running speed or cycling power output) – appear to play key roles in endurance performance. and lactate threshold interact to determine the ‘performance ‘ which is the oxygen consumption that can be sustained for a given period of time. Efficiency interacts with the performance to establish the speed or power that can be generated at this oxygen consumption. This review focuses on what is currently known about how these factors interact, their utility as predictors of elite performance, and areas where there is relatively less information to guide current thinking. In this context, definitive ideas about the physiological determinants of running and cycling efficiency is relatively lacking in comparison with and the lactate threshold, and there is surprisingly limited and clear information about the genetic factors that might pre‐dispose for elite performance. It should also be cautioned that complex motivational and sociological factors also play important roles in who does or does not become a champion and these factors go far beyond simple physiological explanations. Therefore, the performance of elite athletes is likely to defy the types of easy explanations sought by scientific reductionism and remain an important puzzle for those interested in physiological integration well into the future.
ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSION CONSIDERATIONS IN THE URBAN PLANNING PROCESS IN MALAYSIA

In handling global wanning issues, among the most important measures are to reduce energy consumptions and carbon dioxide emissions. While many countries have recognized the importance of the role of urban planning in energy conservation and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, spatial planning framework in Malaysia is still lacking in this aspect. Although there are some spatial planning policies indirectly favoring energy conservation, there is still no measure that directly emphasizes on promoting energy conservation and capping carbon dioxide emissions. Energy and carbon dioxide issues should thus be taken as one of the core parts in the urban planning process. It is necessary to develop and incorporate a decision making tool to assess the overall impact of development plans on energy consumptions and carbon dioxide emissions. While achieving the desired economic and social developments, it is necessary to create a low energy-consuming, carbon dioxide-emitting sustainable society.
Measuring Patient Mobility in the ICU Using a Novel Noninvasive Sensor

Objectives: To develop and validate a noninvasive mobility sensor to automatically and continuously detect and measure patient mobility in the ICU. Design: Prospective, observational study. Setting: Surgical ICU at an academic hospital. Patients: Three hundred sixty-two hours of sensor color and depth image data were recorded and curated into 109 segments, each containing 1,000 images, from eight patients. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Three Microsoft Kinect sensors (Microsoft, Beijing, China) were deployed in one ICU room to collect continuous patient mobility data. We developed software that automatically analyzes the sensor data to measure mobility and assign the highest level within a time period. To characterize the highest mobility level, a validated 11-point mobility scale was collapsed into four categories: nothing in bed, in-bed activity, out-of-bed activity, and walking. Of the 109 sensor segments, the noninvasive mobility sensor was developed using 26 of these from three ICU patients and validated on 83 remaining segments from five different patients. Three physicians annotated each segment for the highest mobility level. The weighted Kappa (&kgr;) statistic for agreement between automated noninvasive mobility sensor output versus manual physician annotation was 0.86 (95% CI, 0.72–1.00). Disagreement primarily occurred in the “nothing in bed” versus “in-bed activity” categories because “the sensor assessed movement continuously,” which was significantly more sensitive to motion than physician annotations using a discrete manual scale. Conclusions: Noninvasive mobility sensor is a novel and feasible method for automating evaluation of ICU patient mobility.
Uplink Channel Estimation for Bandlimited MC-DS-CDMA Systems Relying on Long Spreading Codes

This paper considers pilot-based parameter estimation for bandlimited MC-DS-CDMA systems relying on long spreading codes. Three different schemes are proposed and compared. The two so-called unstructured algorithms, namely the Least Squares Estimator (LS-E) and the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator Estimator (LASSOE) first estimate the composite channel impulse response, and then extract the propagation delay, amplitude and phase. By contrast, the third algorithm namely the Structured LS Search Estimator (SLSS-E) exploits the a priori knowledge of the chip waveform and directly estimates the channel parameters. Parallel interference cancelation (PIC) is incorporated in the SLSS-E for the sake of mitigating the effect of multiple access interference and hence to further improve the performance. The complexity of PIC assisted SLSS-E and LS-E only increases linearly with the number of users, with the number of subcarriers and with the length of the pilot sequence. Simulation results indicate that the PIC assisted structured estimator outperforms its unstructured counterparts.
Zinc and Regulation of Inflammatory Cytokines: Implications for Cardiometabolic Disease

In atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus, the concomitant presence of low-grade systemic inflammation and mild zinc deficiency highlights a role for zinc nutrition in the management of chronic disease. This review aims to evaluate the literature that reports on the interactions of zinc and cytokines. In humans, inflammatory cytokines have been shown both to up- and down-regulate the expression of specific cellular zinc transporters in response to an increased demand for zinc in inflammatory conditions. The acute phase response includes a rapid decline in the plasma zinc concentration as a result of the redistribution of zinc into cellular compartments. Zinc deficiency influences the generation of cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α, and in response to zinc supplementation plasma cytokines exhibit a dose-dependent response. The mechanism of action may reflect the ability of zinc to either induce or inhibit the activation of NF-κB. Confounders in understanding the zinc-cytokine relationship on the basis of in vitro experimentation include methodological issues such as the cell type and the means of activating cells in culture. Impaired zinc homeostasis and chronic inflammation feature prominently in a number of cardiometabolic diseases. Given the high prevalence of zinc deficiency and chronic disease globally, the interplay of zinc and inflammation warrants further examination.