Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Striatal Transplantation in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease

Striatal grafts have been proposed as a potential strategy for striatal repair in Huntington's disease, but it is unknown whether the diseased brain will compromise graft survival. A transgenic mouse line has recently been described in which hemizygotes with an expanded CAG repeat in exon 1 of the HD gene exhibit a progressive neurological phenotype similar to the motor symptoms of Huntington's disease. We have therefore evaluated the effects of the transgenic brain environment on the survival, differentiation, and function of intrastriatal striatal grafts and undertaken a preliminary analysis of the effects of the grafts on the development of neurological deficits in the host mice. Hemizygote transgenic and wild-type littermate female mice received striatal grafts at 10 weeks of age and were allowed to survive 6 weeks. Normal healthy grafts were seen to survive and differentiate within the striatum of transgenic mice in a manner comparable to that seen in control mice. The transgenic mice exhibited a progressive decline in body weight from 9 weeks of age and a progressive hypoactivity in an open field test of general locomotor behavior. Although striatal grafts exerted a statistically significant influence on several indices of this impairment, all behavioral effects were small and did not exert any clinically relevant effect on the profound neurological deficiency of the transgenic mice.
Observations on a magnesium-fluoride interrelationship in chicks.

The addition of high levels of both magnesium and fluoride to either practical or semipurified diets complete in all known nutrients produced the following results in young chicks: (1) greater reduction in growth than with either magnesium or fluoride alone; (2) the development of a characteristic leg weakness; (3) decreased calcification of the bone. Increasing the calcium level in the diets from 1.0 to 1.5% reduced but did not prevent the magnesium-fluoride relationship. The growth reduction, leg weakness and reduced bone ash caused by high dietary magnesium and fluoride were obtained only when one-day-old chicks were fed the experimental diets; these results were not observed when chicks at two weeks of age were fed the same diets, nor could the interaction be shown in weanling rats. Plasma alkaline phosphatase activity in chicks was elevated about twofold by added fluoride regardless of the dietary magnesium or calcium levels. The level of alkaline phosphatase in the plasma decreased with age in all groups at approximately the same rate. Dietary magnesium or fluoride levels did not influence the conversion of 3-phosphoglycerate to phosphoenolpyruvate by muscle homogenates. 11 references, 4 tables.
The Role of Color Contrast and Predominant Primary Color of Icons for Mobile Gaming Apps in Influencing User Reactions

In the past years a huge market for mobile applications has evolved and it is to be expected that this market will considerably grow in the future. Within this market mobile gaming apps are the most important category. Mobile games have accounted for 30.9% of the mobile content market in the U.S. in 2015. Given this enormous potential of mobile gaming apps it is interesting that little is known about the crucial success factors for mobile games. In this paper we investigate the impact of the icon color contrast (analogous contrast vs. complementary contrast, and of the predominant primary icon color (yellow vs. red vs. blue) on user-related outcome variables. The results reveal that an analogous color contrast positively influences the users’ experienced emotions, attitude towards the icon, icon personality, and download intention and that these variables are not affected by the predominant primary color of the icon.
Anti-αvβ3 Antibodies in Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Summary In chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), anti-GPIIb-IIIa (αIIbβ3) autoantibodies have been detected in serum and/or platelet-associated IgG (PAIgG) and considered as one of the major causes. We examined whether anti-αvβ3 antibodies might be present in ITP cases because of the similarity between αvβ3 and GPIIb-IIIa (αIIbβ3). Modified antigen capture ELISA (MACE) using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) showed the presence of serum anti-αvβ3 antibodies in 23 of 80 ITP patients (29%). Cross-adsorption studies between platelets and HUVEC demonstrated that most of anti-αvβ3 and anti-GPIIb-IIIa antibodies exclusively reacted with αvβ3 and GPIIb-IIIa, respectively. Platelet-associated anti-GPIIb-IIIa antibodies did not react with αvβ3, either. Interestingly, patients having anti-αvβ3 antibodies showed significantly lower platelet counts than negative patients. These results indicate the serum anti-αvβ3 antibodies are different ones from the classical anti-GPIIb-IIIa (αIIbβ3) antibodies and would provide a new insight into the pathophysiology of ITP as well as the autoantigenic epitopes on β3 integrins.
Redesigning the Israeli Psychology Master's Match

Prior to 2014, the admission to Master's and PhD programs in psychology in Israel was a mostly decentralized process. In 2013, in response to concerns about the existing procedure, we proposed to use a mechanism that is both stable and strategy-proof for applicants. The first part of this paper describes how we successfully centralized this market, and the critical role of recent advances in the theory of matching with contracts. In the second part of the paper we show empirically (using clearinghouse data) and theoretically that the regularity in preferences with respect to contractual terms leads to a large core. Our results stand in sharp contrast to findings of previous studies on two-sided matching markets without contracts [2, 10, 11, 13]. During the design of the Israeli Psychology Master's Match (IPMM), we met with the faculty of each of the participating programs and asked about the way they choose between applicants. We discovered that departments' choice functions cannot be summarized by a quota and a rank-ordered list (ROL) for each program. Some departments employ affirmative action through minority quotas. Others aim to equalize the number of advisees each faculty member receives. And finally, some departments are willing to admit a limited number of applicants with different contractual terms (e.g., funding). Since terms can alter preferences between programs, this last feature implies that in order to satisfy the aforementioned desiderata, the applicants' message space must be expressive enough to convey their preferences over program-terms pairs. This market is therefore a special case of the matching-with-contracts model [9].
Design and Implementation of Direct Torque Control Based on an Intelligent Technique of Induction Motor on FPGA

In this paper the hardware implementation of the direct torque control based on the fuzzy logic technique of induction motor on the Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is presented. Due to its complexity, the fuzzy logic technique implemented on a digital system like the DSP (Digital Signal Processor) and microcontroller is characterized by a calculating delay. This delay is due to the processing speed which depends on the system complexity. The limitation of these solutions is inevitable. To solve this problem, an alternative digital solution is used, based on the FPGA, which is characterized by a fast processing speed, to take the advantage of the performances of the fuzzy logic technique in spite of its complex computation. The Conventional Direct Torque Control (CDTC) of the induction machine faces problems, like the high stator flux, electromagnetic torque ripples, and stator current distortions. To overcome the CDTC problems many methods are used such as the space vector modulation which is sensitive to the parameters variations of the machine, the increase in the switches inverter number which increases the cost of the inverter, and the artificial intelligence. In this paper an intelligent technique based on the fuzzy logic is used because it is allows controlling the systems without knowing the mathematical model. Also, we use a new method based on the Xilinx system generator for the hardware implementation of Direct Torque Fuzzy Control (DTFC) on the FPGA. The simulation results of the DTFC are compared to those of the CDTC. The comparison results illustrate the reduction in the torque and stator flux ripples of the DTFC and show the Xilinx Virtex V FPGA performances in terms of execution time.
An anti-alias harmonic-reject phase modulation for digital outphasing transmitter

: This paper proposes a su ﬃ cient anti-alias and harmonic-reject phase modulation (PM) technique for digital outphasing transmitter. Instead of using complicated spectrum shaping modulation or power-hungry digital-to-analog (DAC) and high-order ﬁ lters, the proposed less-complex modulation employs cross point estimation (CPE) algorithm to improve the adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) performance and adopts harmonic rejection algorithm to achieve out-of-band (OOB) noise attenuation. When evaluated with a 10 dB peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) 16 QAM orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexing (OFDM) signal with a 30 MHz intermediate frequency (IF) carrier, the proposed modulation achieves an ACLR of − 65 dBc, providing 17 dB improvement compared with − 48 dBc for conventional modulation. Moreover, 56 dB and 57 dB extra attenuations for the 2rd and 3rd images are achieved, respectively.
Detecting regional patterns of changing CO2 flux in Alaska

Significance Dramatic warming in northern high latitudes has led to increased photosynthetic carbon uptake during the short, intense growing season; however, microbial decomposition of soil carbon and increased emissions during the long cold season may offset summer uptake and impart a positive feedback on the global climate system. We show that current airborne and satellite measurements of atmospheric CO2 can accurately quantify summer uptake but are insufficient to detect regional changes in cold season emissions. As the potential for Arctic carbon budgets to become impacted by permafrost thaw and cold season emissions increases, strategies focused on year-round vertical profiles and improved spatial sampling will be needed to track carbon balance changes. With rapid changes in climate and the seasonal amplitude of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Arctic, it is critical that we detect and quantify the underlying processes controlling the changing amplitude of CO2 to better predict carbon cycle feedbacks in the Arctic climate system. We use satellite and airborne observations of atmospheric CO2 with climatically forced CO2 flux simulations to assess the detectability of Alaskan carbon cycle signals as future warming evolves. We find that current satellite remote sensing technologies can detect changing uptake accurately during the growing season but lack sufficient cold season coverage and near-surface sensitivity to constrain annual carbon balance changes at regional scale. Airborne strategies that target regular vertical profile measurements within continental interiors are more sensitive to regional flux deeper into the cold season but currently lack sufficient spatial coverage throughout the entire cold season. Thus, the current CO2 observing network is unlikely to detect potentially large CO2 sources associated with deep permafrost thaw and cold season respiration expected over the next 50 y. Although continuity of current observations is vital, strategies and technologies focused on cold season measurements (active remote sensing, aircraft, and tall towers) and systematic sampling of vertical profiles across continental interiors over the full annual cycle are required to detect the onset of carbon release from thawing permafrost.
Architecture of Succinate Dehydrogenase and Reactive Oxygen Species Generation

The structure of Escherichia colisuccinate dehydrogenase (SQR), analogous to the mitochondrial respiratory complex II, has been determined, revealing the electron transport pathway from the electron donor, succinate, to the terminal electron acceptor, ubiquinone. It was found that the SQR redox centers are arranged in a manner that aids the prevention of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation at the flavin adenine dinucleotide. This is likely to be the main reason SQR is expressed during aerobic respiration rather than the related enzyme fumarate reductase, which produces high levels of ROS. Furthermore, symptoms of genetic disorders associated with mitochondrial SQR mutations may be a result of ROS formation resulting from impaired electron transport in the enzyme.
Localization of actin in mammalian spermatozoa: A comparison of eight species

The distribution of monomeric and polymeric actin in spermatozoa from the bull, boar, rabbit, human, rat, mouse, golden hamster, and guinea pig has been examined by using a monoclonal antiactin antibody and NBD‐phallacidin. Actin was present in sperm from each species. When the monoclonal antibody was used, there was a species‐specific distribution and intensity of fluorescence, but no generalized pattern. Specific fluorescence was noted in the neck and principal piece of human sperm; in the postacrosomal region, neck, and midpiece of bull and boar sperm; in the postacrosomal region, neck, and principal/equatorial segment border of rabbit sperm; in the neck region of hamster sperm; and in the neck, midpiece, and principal piece of rat, mouse, and guinea pig sperm. Sperm from all eight species displayed no specific fluorescence with NBD‐phallacidin, indicating that actin was present in a nonfliamentous form. SDS extracts of sperm were analyzed by SDS‐PAGE and Western blotting; in sperm from each species, a 42‐kD protein with specific affinity for the monoclonal antibody was present.
Mezlocillin: tentative interpretive standards for disk diffusion susceptibility testing

The susceptibility of 447 clinical bacterial isolates to mezlocillin and carbenicillin was tested by standardized agar disk diffusion and reference broth micro-dilution methods. Tentative interpretive criteria for disk susceptibility testing by using 75 micrograms mezlocillin disks are proposed: susceptible, greater than or equal to 16 mm; indeterminate, 13 to 15 mm; and resistant, less than or equal to 12 mm. These would be applicable to both Pseudomonas species and the Enterobacteriaceae, but not to Staphylococcus aureus. For S. aureus, the breakpoints for susceptible, greater than or equal to 29 mm, and resistant, less than or equal to 28 mm, hold for mezlocillin as well as for the other penicillinase-susceptible penicillins.
Induction of Vasoactive Substances Differs in LPS-Induced and TF-Induced DIC Models in Rats

Summary We have investigated the role of two vasoactive substances, nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET), in the pathophysiology of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), using two types of DIC models. Experimental DIC was induced by sustained infusion of 0.1, 1, 10, or 50 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or 3.75 U/kg thromboplastin (TF), for 4 h via the rat tail vein. Plasma levels of both NOX (metabolites of NO) and ET were significantly increased following infusion of 0.1 mg/kg or greater of LPS in the LPS-induced DIC rat model. In contrast, although a marked increase in the plasma levels of NOX was observed, only a slight increase in plasma ET levels was seen in the TF-induced DIC rat model. No significant differences in the plasma levels of platelets or thrombin-ATIII complex were observed among the TF-induced and LPS (50 mg/dl)-induced DIC models. However, plasma NOX levels rose significantly higher in the TF-induced model, relative to the LPS-induced model (p <0.01). Conversely, plasma ET levels were significantly greater after LPS-induction, compared to TF-induction, of DIC (p <0.01). Vasoconstriction, as well as depressed fibrinolytic activity, may be additional factors leading to severe organ dysfunction in the LPS-induced DIC rat model. Moreover, vasodilatation, as well as enhanced fibrinolytic activity, may help to prevent rats from severe organ dysfunction in the TF-induced DIC model. Our results suggest that modulator of vasoactive substances should be examined in the treatment of DIC.
Robotic thoracic surgery versus video-assisted thoracic surgery for lung cancer: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES There are two different minimally invasive approaches, robotic thoracic surgery (RTS) and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), which are performed for lung cancer resection. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the perioperative outcomes of RTS with those of VATS for patients with lung cancer. METHODS We searched articles indexed in the PubMed and ScienceDirect databases that met our predefined criteria, published up to January 2015. A meta-analysis was performed by combining the results of reported incidences of perioperative morbidity and mortality. The relative risk (RR) was used as a summary statistic. RESULTS Eight eligible articles with 3379 subjects were considered in the analysis (8 articles for morbidity, while 4 articles for mortality). Overall, pooled analysis indicated that perioperative morbidity and mortality were similar between RTS and VATS (morbidity: RR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.94-1.10; P = 0.605; mortality: RR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.06-1.25; P = 0.095). No evidence of publication bias was observed. CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis showed that RTS resulted in similar outcomes compared with VATS cases. RTS appears to be an appropriate alternative to VATS, which is associated with improved outcomes compared with open thoracotomy. RTS should be studied further in selected centres and compared with VATS in a randomized fashion to better define its potential advantages and disadvantages.
Adhesion Molecules, Altered Vasoreactivity, and Brain Atrophy in Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of inflammation on perfusion regulation and brain volumes in type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 147 subjects (71 diabetic and 76 nondiabetic, aged 65.2 ± 8 years) were studied using 3T anatomical and continuous arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging. Analysis focused on the relationship between serum soluble vascular and intercellular adhesion molecules (sVCAM and sICAM, respectively, both markers of endothelial integrity), regional vasoreactivity, and tissue volumes. RESULTS Diabetic subjects had greater vasoconstriction reactivity, more atrophy, depression, and slower walking. Adhesion molecules were specifically related to gray matter atrophy (P = 0.04) and altered vasoreactivity (P = 0.03) in the diabetic and control groups. Regionally, sVCAM and sICAM were linked to exaggerated vasoconstriction, blunted vasodilatation, and increased cortical atrophy in the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes (P = 0.04–0.003). sICAM correlated with worse functionality. CONCLUSIONS Diabetes is associated with cortical atrophy, vasoconstriction, and worse performance. Adhesion molecules, as markers of vascular health, have been indicated to contribute to altered vasoregulation and atrophy.
Population pharmacokinetics of intramuscular gentamicin administered to young infants with suspected severe sepsis in Kenya.

AIMS To determine the population pharmacokinetics of intramuscular (i.m.) gentamicin in African infants with suspected severe sepsis. METHODS Samples were withdrawn 1 h after a single i.m. injection of 8 mg x kg(-1) gentamicin and the next morning prior to any further dosing. Concentration-time data were analysed with the population pharmacokinetic package NONMEM. Data were fitted using a one-compartment model with a log-normal model for interindividual variability and an additive residual error model. The influence of a range of clinical characteristics was tested on the pharmacokinetics of intramuscular gentamicin and the effect of incorporating interindividual variability on bioavailability was examined. RESULTS The data set comprised 107 patients and 203 concentrations. Peak concentrations ranged from 3.0 mg x L(-1) to 19.8 mg x L(-1) (median 10.6 mg x L(-1)) and 'next day' samples from 0.3 mg x L(-1) to 6.2 mg x L(-1). The best models were clearance/bioavailability (CL) (L x h(-1)) = 0.0913 x weight (kg) x (age (days) + 1)/11)0.130 and volume of distribution/bioavailability (V) = 2.02 x (1 + 0.277 x (weight -3)). Therefore, an infant with the median weight of 3 kg and age 10 days would have a predicted CL of 0.274 L x h(-1) and V of 2.02 L. Interindividual variability in CL was 40% and in V was 42%. This model required a term for covariance between CL and V. When variability in bioavailability was introduced as an alternative model, interindividual variability in CL was 22%, in V 18% and in relative bioavailability 36%. CONCLUSIONS Intramuscular administration of 8 mg x kg(-1) gentamicin daily to infants gives mean 1 h peak concentration of 10.6 mg x L(-1) and a trough concentration of less than 2 mg x L(-1). Wide variability in the peak concentration may reflect variable absorption rate or bioavailability.
Electromagnetic Modeling of Third-Order Nonlinearities in Photonic Crystal Fibers Using a Vector Two-Dimensional FDTD Algorithm

An algorithm accounting for dispersive and third-order nonlinear effects in a vector two-dimensional FDTD method is developed and validated in this paper. Kerr and Raman phenomena are implemented in FDTD using a new approach, which combines the accuracy of a rigorous FDTD update scheme and the speed of an approximate solution. As it is shown in this paper, the proposed method is applicable to the mode analysis of waveguide structures, like photonic crystal fibers, where the appropriate balance between dispersion and nonlinear phenomena is essential for supercontinuum generation. Several computational examples discussed in this paper successfully validate the proposed method.
The Role of Childhood Trauma in Differences in Affective Instability in Those With Personality Disorders

ABSTRACT Background: This study examined the relationship of self-reported histories of childhood trauma to measures of affective instability in a sample of unmedicated outpatients with various personality disorders (n=174). Methods: Childhood trauma was measured by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Affective instability comprises at least two dimensions: affective lability, assessed using the Affective Lability Scale, and affective intensity, assessed using the Affective Intensity Measure. Results: A history of emotional abuse was the only trauma variable that significantly correlated with the affect measures in the total sample (r=.21–.30). More fine-grained analyses revealed that the relationship of emotional abuse and affective instability measures varied as a function of both gender and personality disorder type. In subjects with borderline personality disorder, the correlation for emotional abuse was greatly attenuated for both Affective Lability Scale (r=.10) and Affective Intensity Measure (r=.15) total scores. Conclusion: This suggests that nontrauma-related factors may be more predominant in affective dyscontrol in individuals with borderline personality disorder.