Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Advanced Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques of the Human Spinal Cord

Abstract Unlike those of the brain, advances in diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the human spinal cord have been challenged by the more complicated and inhomogeneous anatomy of the spine, the differences in magnetic susceptibility between adjacent air and fluid-filled structures and the surrounding soft tissues, and the inherent limitations of the initially used echo-planar imaging techniques used to image the spine. Interval advances in DWI techniques for imaging the human spinal cord, with the specific aims of improving the diagnostic quality of the images, and the simultaneous reduction in unwanted artifacts have resulted in higher-quality images that are now able to more accurately portray the complicated underlying anatomy and depict pathologic abnormality with improved sensitivity and specificity. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has benefited from the advances in DWI techniques, as DWI images form the foundation for all tractography and DTI. This review provides a synopsis of the many recent advances in DWI of the human spinal cord, as well as some of the more common clinical uses for these techniques, including DTI and tractography.
High-Sensitivity Temperature Sensor Based on a Selectively-Polymer-Filled Two-Core Photonic Crystal Fiber In-Line Interferometer

A highly sensitive temperature sensor based on an all-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer using a selectively polymer-filled two-core photonic crystal fiber is experimentally demonstrated. The sensor fiber was made by the manual gluing and subsequent infiltration of polymer; the cladding air holes surrounding one core were selectively filled with a polymer material with a high thermo-optic (TO) coefficient while leaving those of the other core unfilled, and this led to the large TO mismatch between two cores. It was found from measurements that a very high temperature sensitivity of 1.595 nm/°C could be achieved, which was more than two orders of magnitude higher than that of the sensor fiber before the selective filling process.
Comprehensive Analysis of Frequency and Phenotype of T Regulatory Cells in HIV Infection: CD39 Expression of FoxP3+ T Regulatory Cells Correlates with Progressive Disease

ABSTRACT There are conflicting data about the frequency and role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) during the course of HIV infection. Peripheral blood of a large cohort of HIV-infected patients (n = 131) at different stages of disease, including 15 long-term nonprogressors and 21 elite controllers, was analyzed to determine the frequency and phenotype of Tregs, defined as CD4+, CD25high, CD127low, FoxP3high cells. A significantly increased relative frequency of Tregs within the CD4+ compartment of HIV+ patients compared to that of healthy controls (P < 0.0001) was observed. Additionally, the relative frequency of Tregs directly correlated with HIV viral load and inversely with CD4+ counts. However, the absolute Treg number was reduced in HIV-infected patients versus healthy controls (P < 0.0001), with the exception of elite controllers (P > 0.05). The loss of absolute Treg numbers coincided with rising markers of immune activation (P < 0.0006). The initiation of antiviral therapy significantly increased absolute Treg numbers (P < 0.0031). We find that the expression of CD39, a newly defined ectonucleotidase with immunomodulatory functions on Tregs, correlated with progressive HIV disease, HIV viral load, and immune activation. Of note, when tested in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy volunteers, the in vitro capacity to suppress T-cell proliferation was limited to CD4+, CD25high, CD39+ T cells. Interestingly, Tregs of elite controllers exhibited not only the highest expression of CCR5, CTLA-4, and ICOS but also the lowest level of CD39. The data presented here reconcile the seemingly contradictory results of previous studies looking at Tregs in HIV and highlight the complexity of Treg-mediated immunoregulation during human viral infections.
Glueball states in a constituent gluon model

In a model with a dynamical gluon mass, we investigate the bound states of two and three gluons via a Schroedinger equation. The short distance potential is approximated by one-gluon exchange while the long distance part is assumed to be of a breakable string. We estimate the masses and in particular the sizes of low-lying bound states with no orbital angular momentum. By considering quantum-mechanical smearing of the gluon fields and normalizing to lattice results on M{sub 0{sup ++}} and M{sub 2{sup ++}}, we find that the 0{sup ++} glueball is rather small in size compared with the others. The fitted gluon mass is of order 600 to 700 MeV, which is reasonable. The 0{sup {minus}+}, 1{sup {minus}{minus}}, and 3{sup {minus}{minus}} three gluon glueball states are nearly degenerate, and their mass ratio with 2{sup ++} is largely independent of all the parameters and consistent with lattice calculations. We estimate the mass of the 1{sup {minus}{minus}} glueball to be around 3.1{endash}3.7 GeV, which is close to the mass of J/{psi} and {psi}{prime}.
Recognising heart disease in children with Down syndrome

There is an increased incidence of congenital heart disease among children with Down syndrome. The most common lesion is complete atrioventricular septal defect (cAVSD). Failure to recognise this defect early in life can have very serious consequences. Hence, in this paper, we have chosen to focus more on this lesion than on others. Children with cAVSD and already irreversible pulmonary vascular disease continue to present in paediatric cardiology clinics too late for corrective surgery to be carried out. The child's future health, and indeed survival, may be severely compromised by late diagnosis. This suggests that the importance of diagnosis in the first few weeks of life is not universally recognised. The early recognition of cAVSD and other major shunt lesions is of paramount importance, but despite this, we explain that urgent indiscriminate referral to paediatric cardiologists of all newborns with the syndrome is not necessary. We will outline surveillance principles that should allow child health teams to develop effective screening protocols appropriate to local service provision and level of clinical experience and specialist interest available. In a population not affected by prenatal diagnosis, between 40% and 60% of babies born with Down syndrome have congenital heart defects. Of these, 30%–40% are cAVSDs.1,–,3 Conversely, approximately 80% of all cAVSDs occur in children with Down syndrome.4,–,6 With regard to the prevalence of other cardiac anomalies, we have not found any contemporary studies that describe, in samples of reasonable size, the frequency and range of lesions identified by echocardiography. There are several earlier studies from which we have chosen, as an illustration, two population-based studies.1 2 (table 1). View this table: Table 1 Cardiac lesions in children with Down syndrome In these two studies, because very few lesions were identified by echocardiography, findings from clinical examination, …
Network Management Challenges in Software-Defined Networks

Software-Defined Networking currently appears to be a major evolution towards network programmability. In this paper, we first analyze the network management capabilities of OpenFlow in order to identify the main challenges that are raised for SDN management. We address current deficiencies of SDN management and suggest solutions that incur research directions to be carried out for the management of enhanced SDN.
Comparison of Two von Willebrand Factor Collagen-Binding Assays with Different Binding Affinities for Low, Medium, and High Multimers of von Willebrand Factor

The use of von Willebrand factor collagen-binding assay (vWF:CBA) as an alternative method for the quantification of the physiological activity of vWF in plasma from patients with von Willebrand disease (vWD) and in blood clotting factor (F) VIII concentrates (FVIII/vWF concentrates) for the therapy of vWD is currently being discussed. We compared two vWF:CBAs that are distinctive with regard to the type and structure of collagen and the coating principle used. After analyzing samples of a plasma pool from normal donors, we received results that were in very good compliance with both methods. However, significantly different results (p < or =0.005) were obtained when FVIII/vWF concentrates were tested. In an attempt to elucidate these discrepancies, vWF multimers were separated by heparin affinity chromatography and analyzed by vWF antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), ristocetin cofactor activity test, both vWF:CBAs, and a multimer analysis. From our data we conclude that the assay with pepsin-digested collagen (human, type III) that was covalently linked to preactivated microtiter plates (vWF:CBAPDC) revealed a higher affinity for low and medium vWF multimers, whereas the assay with collagen fibrils (equine, type I) that were adsorbed to microtiter plates (vWF:CBACF) predominantly bound high vWF multimers. Based on results reported by others, we assume that the discrepancies between both vWF:CBAs were not related to the type and species of collagen used. Taken together our results imply rather that fragmentation of collagen by pepsin digestion or subsequent covalent linkage to the microtiter plate, or both, increased the affinity for low and medium vWF multimers, whereas the fibrillar structure of collagen was required for the binding of high vWF multimers, which exhibit the highest physiological activity in primary hemostasis.
Israeli youth in the Second Intifada: PTSD and future orientation.

OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between exposure to political violence and posttraumatic symptoms, future orientation, and attitudes toward peace. METHOD A total of 740 boys and girls aged 11.5-15 years from Jerusalem, Gilo, and the Jewish settlements in the disputed territories were assessed in the summer of 2001 using an exposure to terror questionnaire, Child Posttraumatic Stress Reaction Index, Children's Future Orientation Scale, and a question regarding the future of peace talks. RESULTS A substantially higher percentage of youths in the settlements (27.6%) than in Jerusalem (12.4%) or Gilo (11.2%) reported moderate to very severe levels of posttraumatic symptoms. Children's Future Orientation responses were moderately optimistic. About two thirds of the adolescents in the settlements rejected the idea of peace talks at any time, whereas around half of the youths in Jerusalem and Gilo supported the continuation of peace talks. Exposure was related to both PTSD symptoms and attitudes toward peace but not to future orientation. CONCLUSIONS Our findings present the complex interrelationship of political violence, posttraumatic stress disorder, and attitudes toward peace and raise the need for a combined mental health and peace education intervention to prevent the often overlooked vicious cycle of violence and traumatization.
Diet, Overfeeding, and Moderate Dietary Restriction in Control Sprague-Dawley Rats: I. Effects on Spontaneous Neoplasms

This study was designed to compare the effects of ad libitum (AL) overfeeding and moderate dietary restriction (DR) of two different diets on Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat 2-yr survival and the development of spontaneous neoplasms. SD rats were fed Purina Rodent Chow 5002 or a modified Rodent Chow 5002-9 containing lower protein, fat, metabolizable energy and increased fiber by AL or by DR at 65% of the AL amount by measurement or time (6.5 hr). At 106 wk, rats fed the 5002-9 diet AL did not have significantly improved survival over rats fed the 5002 diet AL. The 5002 diet fed DR by time (6.5 hr) improved survival for males but not females. Only DR by measurement of both diets resulted in lower mortality for both sexes. The most common cause of death in rats of both sexes fed either diet AL was pituitary tumors followed by mammary gland tumors in females and renal and cardiovascular disease in males. The overall tumor incidence by 106 wk was remarkably similar between AL and DR groups. However, compared to the 5002 AL group, a decrease in the age-adjusted (Peto analysis) incidence of pituitary adenoma was observed in all other male groups. This effect was noted in the female DR by measurement groups only. For males, compared to the 5002 AL group, a decrease in the age-adjusted incidence of pancreatic islet carcinoma was observed in the DR by measurement groups only. In females, compared to the 5002 AL group, the only other difference in tumor incidence was the mammary gland tumors, which showed a significant decrease in the age-adjusted tumor incidence or multiplicity in the 5002-9 AL, 5002-9 DR, and 5002 DR groups. Additional analyses of mammary gland tumors showed growth time (time from initial palpation until death), tumor doubling time, and tumor volume were generally not statistically significantly different between AL and DR groups, although AL females could sustain larger tumor volumes. Compared to the 5002 AL group, there were no other significant differences in the age-adjusted incidence of any other tumor site in animals fed a modified diet or subjected to moderate DR of either diet. The conclusion from this study is that moderate DR delays death due to fatal cardiovascular or renal degenerative disease and spontaneous tumors, particularly those of the pituitary and mammary gland. However, moderate DR appears only to delay the time of onset, but not the progression, of these spontaneous tumors whether measured by age-adjusted incidence, growth time, tumor doubling time, or the time between initial detection and death.
A parent-child relations questionnaire.

The Parent-Child Relations Questionnaire (PCR) was devised to obtain a measure of the characteristic behavior of parents towards their young children, as experienced by the child. It has been used in studies of late adolescents and of adults who have filled it out with reference to their own childhood. A form with slightly modified wording is now in use with children. There are separate questionnaires for Father and Mother. There are Io subtests, six of 15 items each, for behavior characterized as Loving, Protecting, Demanding, Rejecting, Neglecting, and Casual, and four of Io items each for Symbolic-Love Reward, Direct-Object Reward, Symbolic-Love Punishment, and Direct-Object Punishment. The first six of these categories fit a theoretical model suggested by Roe (4) and were conceived as being related in a circular continuum as shown in Figure I.
In Vivo Aging Characteristics of Silicone Gel Breast Implants Compared to Lot‐Matched Controls

&NA; A study was conducted to investigate the effect of in vivo aging on the physical, mechanical, and chemical properties of Silastic II gel‐filled breast implants. In the study, the properties of 16 Silastic II gel‐filled explants (retrieved from eight patients), with in vivo duration times ranging from 4 months to 13 years, were compared with lot‐matched control (unimplanted) samples. Tensile and tear strength properties were measured for both explant and control shells by using identical testing protocols. The tensile strength properties of shells, which were extracted with hexane to remove noncross‐linked silicones, were also measured. Swelling measurements were used to determine the average molecular weight between cross‐links (or entanglements). In addition, scanning electron microscopy was applied in the comparison of the morphological features of the explants and their lotmatched controls. The results of the study suggest that the silicone polymer used to fabricate the shells does not undergo appreciable degradation for up to 13 years in vivo. The study represents an investigation of the world's largest known inventory of explanted breast implants with lot‐matched controls. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 109: 1927, 2002.)
Determinação da área foliar de macadâmia a partir de dimensões lineares do limbo foliar

A mensuracao da area foliar e requerida em varios estudos agronomicos por ser uma das principais medidas para avaliar o crescimento das plantas. Nesse sentido, objetivou-se com o presente trabalho determinar os modelos estatisticos que melhor descrevem a area foliar de macadâmia (Macadamia integrifolia) cv. HAES 344, a partir de dimensoes lineares de comprimento e largura do limbo. Um experimento foi realizado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com cinco repeticoes. A parcelaconsistiu dos pontos cardeais (norte, sul, leste e oeste) de uma planta, e as subparcelas foram as tres posicoes na planta (tercos inferior, medio e superior). A area foliar foi medida com o auxilio do software ImageJ®, de dominio publico, por analise de imagens digitalizadas das folhas. Foram estimadas equacoes por meio de modelos de regressao linear e nao linear, a partir de 600 folhas. As equacoes obtidas, juntamente com outras quatro equacoes citadas na literatura para outras cultivares, foram validadas a partir de amostra de 200 folhas. A modelagem estatistica de area foliar de plantas adultas de macadâmia - cv. HAES 344 pode ser feita com uso de folhas amostradas de quaisquer dos quatro pontos cardeais e posicoes de altura nas plantas. A determinacao da area foliar e representada com uso do produto do comprimento (C) pela maxima largura (L) das folhas como variavel independente. A equacao de determinacao de area foliar indicada para folhas de plantas adultas de macadâmia - cv. HAES 344 e Ŷi = 1,6635+0,6968 LC.
Widowhood and Other Demographic Associations of Pain in Independent Older People

Objectives: To determine if psychosocial factors, as suggested by the demographic variables of widowhood and living alone, are associated with pain, particularly severe pain, in a representative sample of independent older people. Design: One thousand older people (65+) randomly selected from independent residents living in a major city were surveyed about their health status (Health Status of Older People Study). Demographic characteristics, including age, gender, education, income, living alone, widowhood, and childlessness, were analyzed by logistic regression for their association with pain report of differing severity. Path analysis was used to confirm the association with pain severity and further define the role of mood disturbance in mediating this relationship. Results: The prevalence of any pain report for the preceding 12 months was 56.3%. This was reduced when using more restrictive criteria, such that moderate‐to‐severe pain “at worst” and “at present” was found in 48.7% and 4.1% of the sample, respectively. After adjusting for type 1 error rate, the status of living alone was primarily associated with moderate‐to‐severe pain at worst, and being a widow(er) was associated with moderate‐to‐severe pain at present. The latter association had an estimated odds ratio greater than 3 and was characterized by more recent bereavement. Using path analysis, the model that severe pain was secondary to mood disturbance of widowhood, particularly recent bereavement, was tested and confirmed. The model explained 17% of the variance of pain severity in widow(er)s. Conclusion: The mood disturbance related to spousal bereavement aggravates pain in older people. This lends support to the biopsychosocial model of pain.
H‐NS‐mediated repression of CRISPR‐based immunity in Escherichia coli K12 can be relieved by the transcription activator LeuO

The recently discovered prokaryotic CRISPR/Cas defence system provides immunity against viral infections and plasmid conjugation. It has been demonstrated that in Escherichia coli transcription of the Cascade genes (casABCDE) and to some extent the CRISPR array is repressed by heat‐stable nucleoid‐structuring (H‐NS) protein, a global transcriptional repressor. Here we elaborate on the control of the E. coli CRISPR/Cas system, and study the effect on CRISPR‐based anti‐viral immunity. Transformation of wild‐type E. coli K12 with CRISPR spacers that are complementary to phage Lambda does not lead to detectable protection against Lambda infection. However, when an H‐NS mutant of E. coli K12 is transformed with the same anti‐Lambda CRISPR, this does result in reduced sensitivity to phage infection. In addition, it is demonstrated that LeuO, a LysR‐type transcription factor, binds to two sites flanking the casA promoter and the H‐NS nucleation site, resulting in derepression of casABCDE12 transcription. Overexpression of LeuO in E. coli K12 containing an anti‐Lambda CRISPR leads to an enhanced protection against phage infection. This study demonstrates that in E. coli H‐NS and LeuO are antagonistic regulators of CRISPR‐based immunity.
Interactions between stereotype threat, subjective aging, and memory in older adults

ABSTRACT This study examined whether the effects of stereotype threat on memory and subjective age were moderated by positive age stereotypes and self-perceptions of aging among older adults. Perceived threat as a mechanism underlying these effects was also explored. Results showed that stereotype threat (high vs. low threat) did not affect the dependent variables. Moreover, self-perceptions of aging did not moderate the effect of stereotype threat on the dependent variables. However, for people with more positive age stereotypes, older people under highthreat perceived more threat than people under low threat. This could be explained by an effect of age stereotypes in the high-threat group: the more positive age stereotypes held by participants, the more they perceived threat, which in turn decreased their memory performance and made them feel mentally older. We hypothesized that age group identity is stronger in people with more positive age stereotypes, which increase perceived threat.
Susceptibility of North American big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) to infection with European bat lyssavirus type 1.

The aim of this study was to determine the susceptibility of insectivorous bats (using the big brown bat as a model) to infection with European bat lyssavirus type 1a (EBLV-1a), to assess the dynamics of host immune responses and to evaluate the opportunity for horizontal viral transmission within colonies. Two isolates of EBLV-1a, originating from Slovakia (EBLV-1aSK) and Germany (EBLV-1aGE), were tested. Four different routes of inoculation were used with isolate EBLV-1aSK [10(4.8) mouse intracerebral median lethal dose (MICLD(50)) in 50 mul]: intramuscular (i.m.) in the deltoid area or masseter region, per os (p.o.) and intradermal (i.d.) scratches. Isolate EBLV-1aGE (10(3.2) and 10(2.2) MICLD(50) in 20 mul) was inoculated via the intranasal (i.n.), i.m. (low- and high-dose groups, into pectoral muscles); p.o. and intracerebral (i.c.) routes. None of the bats infected by the i.n. , p.o. or i.d. route with either virus isolate developed disease during the experiments (91 or 120 days, respectively). Incubation periods were 9-12 days for i.c. -inoculated bats (66 % mortality), 12-33 days for bats inoculated i.m. with the higher dose (23-50 % mortality) and 21-58 days in bats inoculated i.m. with the lower dose of virus (57 % mortality). Virus or viral RNA in bat saliva was detected occasionally, as early as 37 days before death. All i.d. -inoculated and the majority of i.m. -inoculated bats seroconverted within 7-10 days of inoculation. These observations suggest that exposure of bats to varying doses of EBLV-1 from rabid conspecifics via natural (i.d.) routes could lead to an abortive infection and serve as a natural mode of immunization resulting in the presence of virus-neutralizing antibodies in free-ranging bats.
Stochastic Compounding and Uncertain Valuation

Exploring long-term implications of valuation leads us to recover and use a distorted probability measure that reflects the long-term implications for risk pricing. Formally, we apply a generalized version of Perron-Frobenius theory to construct this probability measure. We discuss methods for recovering this distribution from financial market data; we apply this distribution to characterize the impact of model misspeciffcation; and we apply it to study Kreps-Porteus style utility recursions for infinite horizon economies.