Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tactile cues for orienting pilots during hover over moving targets.

INTRODUCTION Providing information via the tactile sensory system allows the pilot to increase awareness without further taxing the visual and auditory perceptual systems. In this study, tactile cues were presented to pilots for target orientation during a simulated helicopter extraction over a moving target. The efficacy of the cues provided by the tactile system was assessed under various conditions (rested vs. fatigued, clear vs. degraded visual environment). METHODS This study employed a mixed-model 2(4) factorial design, including one between-subjects variable (training amount: minimal, additional) and three within-subjects variables (state: rested, fatigued; visual environment: clear, degraded; tactile cue belt: active, inactive). Across 2 d under the 4 test conditions, 16 UH-60 rated, healthy aviators completed 8 sessions of 10-min stabilized hovering maneuvers over a moving target. All flights were conducted in a UH-60 flight simulator. RESULTS Subjects were able to stay closer to the target when the tactile cuing system was active (M = 31.14 ft, SE = 3.17 ft) vs. inactive (M = 36.33 ft, SE = 2.84 ft). Likewise, subjects rated their situation awareness as greater when the tactile system was active vs. inactive. DISCUSSION The results support the efficacy of the tactile system in providing directional cues for maintaining pilot performance during a hover maneuver over a moving target.
Characterization of the interaction between astrocytes and encephalitogenic lymphocytes during the development of experimental autoimmune encephalitomyelitis (EAE) in mice

The nature of pathogenic mechanisms associated with the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) have long been debated. However, limited research was conducted to define the interplay between infiltrating lymphocytes and resident cells of the central nervous system (CNS). Data presented in this report describe a novel role for astrocyte‐mediated alterations to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)35–55‐specific lymphocyte responses, elicited during the development of experimental autoimmune encephalitomyelitis (EAE). In‐vitro studies demonstrated that astrocytes inhibited the proliferation and interferon (IFN)‐γ, interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐17 and transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β secretion levels of MOG35–55‐specific lymphocytes, an effect that could be ameliorated by astrocyte IL‐27 neutralization. However, when astrocytes were pretreated with IFN‐γ, they could promote the proliferation and secretion levels of MOG35–55‐specific lymphocytes, coinciding with apparent expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)‐II on astrocytes themselves. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) demonstrated that production of IL‐27 in the spinal cord was at its highest during the initial phases. Conversely, production of IFN‐γ in the spinal cord was highest during the peak phase. Quantitative analysis of MHC‐II expression in the spinal cord showed that there was a positive correlation between MHC‐II expression and IFN‐γ production. In addition, astrocyte MHC‐II expression levels correlated positively with IFN‐γ production in the spinal cord. These findings suggested that astrocytes might function as both inhibitors and promoters of EAE. Astrocytes prevented MOG35–55‐specific lymphocyte function by secreting IL‐27 during the initial phases of EAE. Then, in the presence of higher IFN‐γ levels in the spinal cord, astrocytes were converted into antigen‐presenting cells. This conversion might promote the progression of pathological damage and result in a peak of EAE severity.
An Assessment of New Tests for Detecting Bilirubin in Urine

Recently asimple tablet test fordetecting bilirubin inurine hasbeenintroduced, andsince this test is claimed to haveconsiderable advantages over existing onesusedbyclinicians wehavecompared it withothers commonly usedtodetect bilirubinuria. A comparison hasbeenmadeofthetablet test ("ictotest ")withtheHarrison-Fouchet andiodine ringtests-selected because theyaresocommonly used-as well aswithamodified Fouchet test which will bereferred toasthematFouchet test. Thelast isverysimple andquick, andunlike thestandard Harrison-Fouchet test issuitable forroutine usein theconsulting room.Thesensitivity ofthetests has beencompared andtheeffect ofurobilinogen, drugs, andother interfering substances noted. Inthe"ictotest " bilirubin isconcentrated by adsorption ona cellulose asbestos matandthen allowed tocouple withadiazo compound, intablet form, togive acoloured complex. Ithasbeentried inAmericaby Klatskin andBungards(1953), Sobotka, Luisada-Opper, and Reiner(1953), Giordano andWinstead (1953), andbyFreeand Free(1953), andinthiscountry byTallack and Sherlock (1954). Allthese authors havecommented favourably on itssimplicity, sensitivity, and specificity. Aswealso consider that the. "ictotest " andthematFouchet test aresuperior tothecrude iodine teststill usedby many,we recordour findings inthehopethatwemayencourage their general adoption.
Glucocorticoid Enhances the Neurotoxic Actions of Quinolinic Acid in the Striatum in a Cell‐Specific Manner

This study demonstrates that corticosterone can exacerbate the damaging effects of infused quinolinic acid (QA) on the dorsal striatum. Adult adrenalectomised male rats were pretreated subcutaneously with graded doses of corticosterone (0, 0.5, 2, 5, 20 and 40 mg/kg/day) for 2 days and then received a unilateral infusion of QA (45 nmol) (under Isoflurane/N2O anaesthesia) into the dorsal striatum. A control infusion (vehicle) was made into the striatum on the other side. Corticosterone treatment was continued and they were killed 7 days later. Plasma corticosterone was measured by radioimmunoassay, and thymus weights were used as an integrated measure of glucocorticoid activity. Lesion volumes were measured on neuronal nuclei stained sections, dopamine and cyclic AMP‐regulated phosphoprotein 32 (DARRP‐32) was used to assess medium spiny neurone survival, NADPH‐diaphorase histochemistry to assess medium aspiny neurones and, finally, choline acetyltransferase to assess large aspiny neurones. Adrenalectomised rats showed smaller lesions than control (sham‐operated) rats, suggesting significant protection. Increasing doses of corticosterone resulted in larger lesions up to an apparent ceiling effect at higher doses; there was no evidence of a U‐shaped dose–response. There was a differential effect of both QA and corticosterone on the cell populations of the striatum. Medium spiny neurones were most vulnerable to the effects of QA and to the exacerbating actions of corticosterone. Medium aspiny neurones were equally vulnerable to QA but corticosterone had no additional effect. Large aspiny neurones were relatively less sensitive to QA and there was no additional action of administered corticosterone. These results show that corticosterone has a selective neuroendangering action within the striatum, but there is no evidence for a protective action of glucocorticoids at lower doses.
Introduced Canopy Tree Species Effect on the Soil Microbial Community in a Montane Tropical Forest

Abstract: Within a single site in the Kohala Forest Reserve, Hawai‘i, we examined composition and diversity of soil microbial communities under four introduced (Cryptomeria japonica, Casuarina equisetifolia, Araucaria columnaris, and Eucalyptus sp.) and one native (Metrosideros polymorpha) canopy tree species, as well as pasture. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of soil bacteria, fungi, and archaea indicated that soil under the native M. polymorpha had the highest richness and greatest number of unique terminal restriction fragments, whereas soil under Eucalyptus and in pasture sites had the lowest richness. The soil microbial community differed significantly between Eucalyptus and M. polymorpha but not between the other three introduced species and M. polymorpha. The Eucalyptus microbial community was more similar to that of an adjacent deforested pasture site than to those of other forested stands. Soil pH was the environmental variable that best correlated with the variation in soil microbial community composition between tree species.
A Joint Electrical and Thermodynamic Approach to HVAC Load Control

Building energy management (BEM) systems can shift the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) demand of buildings in summer using pre-cooling. The physical and operational constraints of buildings directly impact the operation of low voltage networks (LVNs). There is a gap in the literature on the extent of the electricity consumption and the voltage profiles of LVNs are influenced by different wall constructions of BEM-enabled buildings. In this paper, a joint electrical and thermodynamic model is used to control residential BEMs, taking into account the constraints of the LVN and the buildings. As a case study, the electricity demand of an IEEE LVN with 55 residential buildings are modeled using four common wall constructions: 1) timber clad; 2) brick veneer; 3) reverse brick veneer; and 4) double brick walls. The results show the buildings with higher access to thermal inertia from inside provide enough thermal storage capacity to shift the entire peak-time cooling demand to off-peak periods. Furthermore, the location of a building in LVN affects its HVAC load shifting, with houses farthest from the transformer starting pre-cooling earlier to avoid exceeding the voltage limit. This paper shows the advantage of the joint electrical and thermodynamic model in capturing both the dynamics of HVAC demand for buildings and the electrical dynamics of LVN.
Breathlessness induced by dissociation between ventilation and chemical drive.

Suppression of ventilation by tasks such as talking may produce breathlessness in normal individuals under conditions when a strong respiratory drive exists, e.g., during exercise, and in patients with severe lung disease. To investigate the nature of breathlessness produced by a dissociation between ventilation and chemical drive, we studied ten naive normal subjects who breathed at various levels of ventilation while end-tidal PCO2 (PETCO2) was held at 55 mm Hg. After a 10-min equilibration period of free breathing at PETCO2 = 55 mm Hg, subjects used a visual target to adjust ventilation to five different levels ranging from 50% below to 50% above the chemically driven ventilation (CDV). Ratings of breathlessness were made on a visual analogue scale relative to the intensity of breathlessness experience at CDV. As ventilation was targeted to levels below CDV, all subjects became increasingly breathless; the response was more variable when ventilation was targeted to levels above CDV. Overall, the relationship between ventilation and breathlessness was described by a hyperbolic function, for which the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.92. Ventilation was suppressed below CDV without recruitment of antagonistic muscles during inspiration. The intensity of breathlessness was not correlated with measures of respiratory effort. We conclude that suppressed ventilation is a useful model for the study of breathlessness not fully explained by measures of respiratory effort and we speculate that the dissociation between chemical drive and afferent signals produced by motion of the lung and chest wall is important in modulating the sensation of breathlessness.
Influence of Age on Isometric, Isotonic, and Isokinetic Force Production Characteristics in Men

Background and Purpose: Most previous studies have focused on the effects of age on muscle performance of a single type of contraction, usually isometric, and usually on only a single muscle group. Instead, we investigated the influence of age on isometric, isotonic, and isokinetic muscle performance in men aged 20‐83 years and determined relationships between regional lean body mass and muscle performance. Methods: Seventy‐five volunteers were placed into designated 10‐year age groups: 20‐29 (n=13), 30‐39 (n=14), 40‐49 (n=15), 50‐59 (n=10), 60‐69 (n=14), and 70+ years (n=9). Muscle performance was characterized by a number of parameters, including strength, time, and rate for maximal voluntary contractions using all 3 contraction types and 4 muscle groups (elbow extensors, elbow flexors, knee extensors, and knee flexors). Measures of lean body mass were obtained by dual energy x‐ray absorptiometry. Results: There were significant age group differences in maximal force (P < 0.05) for each type of muscle contraction, and in maximal rates of isometric force production (P < 0.05), with declines beginning around 60 years of age. Differences in muscle performance between age groups remained when body composition differences were controlled statistically. Conclusion: Chronological age affected performance of both upper and lower extremity muscles, independent of muscle mass, and regardless of contraction type; however, isometric performance was the least affected.
A modulation of the mechanism of the semiannual oscillation in the Southern Hemisphere

The local pressure changes associated with the twice-annual contraction/intensification andexpansion/weakening of the circumpolar trough of low pressure around Antarctica, termed thesemiannual oscillation (SAO), was the dominant signal in the annual cycle at mid and highsouthern latitudes before 1979. The mechanism, as shown by Van Loon (1967), arises fromdifferent response to the surface heat budget over the polar continent and the midlatitude ocean.It has subsequently been shown that in most years since 1979 the SAO has weakened considerably.Evidence is presented here from surface temperature data, 500 mb temperatures from astation pair and zonal mean 500 mb temperatures from the NCAR/NCEP reanalyses to showthat a warming trend since 1979 has not been evenly distributed through the year at eachlatitude. Thus an anomalous change in the temperature gradient between 50°S and 65°S, withpeaks in roughly May and November, has modulated the mechanism that produces the SAO,with its peaks in March and September. Consequently, the magnitude of the SAO has decreasedin the more recent period. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0870.1998. t01-3-00005.x
Phytochemical and Chemotaxonomic Investigation of Stelleropsis iranica.

Stelleropsis genus belongs to T hymelaeaceae and h as two species in Iran of which S. iranica Pobed. sub sp. Iranica Bonge (aerial parts) were collected from the N orth-East of Iran and extracted with AcOEt and M eOH, consequently. The main phenolic compounds were isolated by different chromatography methods and the structures identified by spectroscopic methods (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, HMBC, HMQC, H-H COSY, EI-MS) as syringin (1), gengkwanin 5-O-â-D-primeveroside (Yuankanin) ( 2), syr ingaresinol ( 3), syringinoside ( 4), â-Sitosterol ( 5) and gengkwanin ( 6).
Circulating calcium concentrations, vascular disease and mortality: a systematic review

Associations between serum calcium and vascular disease have been reported, but the consistency of these findings is unknown. We conducted a systematic review to determine whether circulating calcium concentrations are associated with risks of cardiovascular disease and death in normocalcaemic populations. We conducted PubMed searches up to 18 December 2014 and scrutinized reference lists of papers. Eligible studies related serum calcium to mortality or cardiovascular events in humans. A follow‐up of at least one year was required for longitudinal studies. Studies in populations selected on the basis of renal disease or abnormal serum calcium were excluded. Two investigators performed independent data extraction. The results were tabulated and, where possible, meta‐analysed. Five of 11 studies reported a statistically significant positive association between serum calcium and mortality. Meta‐analysis of eight of these studies showed a hazard ratio of death of 1.13 (1.09, 1.18) per standard deviation of serum calcium. Eight of 13 studies reported a statistically significant positive association between serum calcium and cardiovascular disease. Meta‐analysis of eight studies showed a hazard ratio of cardiovascular disease of 1.08 (1.04, 1.13) per standard deviation of serum calcium. For two studies reporting odds ratios, the pooled odds ratio per standard deviation was 1.22 (1.11, 1.32). When hazard ratios adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors were meta‐analysed, the pooled hazard ratio was 1.04 (1.01, 1.08). Other studies demonstrated associations between serum calcium and stroke and between serum calcium and direct measurements of arterial disease and calcification. These observational data indicate that serum calcium is associated with vascular disease and death, but they cannot determine causality.
Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae subserotype incompleta isolated from wildlife in Pennsylvania.

THE FIRST STRAIN of Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae recovered in Europe was isolated in 1915 from a man and identified by the initials RGA (1). Additional isolations of the serotype followed. The different strains of L. icterohaenorrhagiae were believed to be similar until 1938 when it was shown that two subtypes existed (2). Through cross absorption studies it was determined that strain RGA lacked an antigenic component possessed by the M20 strain of L. icterohaemrorrhawgiae. The word biotype was coined to cover this situation (3). The different strains were classified as belonging to the complete biotype, L. icterohaemorrhagiae AB, or to the incomplete biotype, L. icterohaemorrhagiae A. In 1958, the Joint World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization Expert Comnittee on Zoonoses recommended the adoption of a subserotype classification (4). The designation, L. icterohaemorrhagiae A for the incomplete biotype was changed to L. icterohaemorrhagiae subserotype incompleta. Numerous isolations of L. icterohaaemorrhagiae from various animal species have been reported in the literature with no differentiation made as to which subserotype was found (5-17). A notable exception was a survey made in Britain of the leptospiral infection rates of wild rats (18). From 219 rats trapped in English cities, 65 strains were isolated. Of the 50 strains which were typed, 20 were identified as belonging to the incomplete biotype, L. icterohaemorrhagiae A. The remaining 30 strains belonged to the complete biotype. During routine cross-agglutination studies performed on leptospiral strains submitted to the Animal Disease Eradication Diagnostic Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, for identification, five strains were found which reacted to high titers with L. icterohaemrorrhagiae M20 antiserum but produced unusual cross-reactions with other serotype antiserums. Agglutinin-absorption studies were performed to identify the cultures.
Predictors of Symptom Development in Intermediate Carotid Artery Stenosis

Platelets play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherothrombosis. Platelet activation is associated with increased mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW). In this study, we investigated the relation of MPV and PDW with the risk of stroke in patients with intermediate (50%-70%) carotid artery stenosis. A total of 254 patients (115 symptomatic and 139 asymptomatic) with intermediate carotid artery stenosis were enrolled in this study. Symptomatic and asymptomatic patients were compared in regard to MPV and PDW. Mean platelet volume was significantly greater in the symptomatic group compared with the asymptomatic group (11.1 and 9.4 fL, respectively; P < .001). Platelet distribution width was significantly greater in the symptomatic group compared with the asymptomatic group (15.0% and 11.9%, respectively; P < .001). Multivariate regression analysis showed that an MPV ≥10.2 fL and a PDW ≥14.3% were independent predictors of developing symptomatic carotid artery stenosis. Mean platelet volume and PDW are increased in the presence of symptomatic intermediate carotid artery stenosis. Increased MPV and PDW may be independent predictors of developing symptomatic carotid artery plaque.
Distinct Thresholds for CD8 T Cell Activation Lead to Functional Heterogeneity: CD8 T Cell Priming Can Occur Independently of Cell Division1

To examine the bases for CD8 T cell functional heterogeneity, we analyzed responses to partial vs full agonist Ag. An extended period of interaction with APCs was required to set the threshold required for cell division in response to partial as compared with full agonist Ag. Acquisition of cytolytic function was restricted to the divided T cell population. In contrast, the threshold for commitment to produce IFN-γ and express some activation markers appeared lower and independent of cell division. Indeed, we characterized a T cell population stimulated in response to the partial agonist that was committed to produce IFN-γ, but failed to divide or secrete IL-2. Importantly, this activated nondivided population behaved as “primed” rather than “anergized,” indicating 1) that priming of CD8 T cells may be induced by suboptimal stimulation independent of cell division and 2) that encounter with Ag does not always induce a complete differentiation program in naive CD8 T cells, as previously reported.
Can spatial patterns along climatic gradients predict ecosystem responses to climate change? Experimenting with reaction-diffusion simulations

Following a predicted decline in water resources in the Mediterranean Basin, we used reaction-diffusion equations to gain a better understanding of expected changes in properties of vegetation patterns that evolve along the rainfall transition between semi-arid and arid rainfall regions. Two types of scenarios were investigated: the first, a discrete scenario, where the potential consequences of climate change are represented by patterns evolving at discrete rainfall levels along a rainfall gradient. This scenario concerns space-for-time substitutions characteristic of the rainfall gradient hypothesis. The second, a continuous scenario, represents explicitly the effect of rainfall decline on patterns which evolved at different rainfall levels along the rainfall gradient prior to the climate change. The eccentricity of patterns that emerge through these two scenarios was found to decrease with decreasing rainfall, while their solidity increased. Due to their inverse modes of change, their ratio was found to be a highly sensitive indicator for pattern response to rainfall decline. An eccentricity ratio versus rainfall (ER:R) line was generalized from the results of the discrete experiment, where ERs above this line represent developed (recovered) patterns and ERs below this line represent degraded patterns. For the rainfall range of 1.2 to 0.8 mm/day, the continuous rainfall decline experiment with ERs that lie above the ER:R line, yielded patterns less affected by rainfall decline than would be expected according to the discrete representation of ecosystems’ response. Thus, for this range, space-for-time substitution represents an overestimation of the consequences of the expected rainfall decline. For rainfall levels below 0.8 mm/day, eccentricity ratios from the discrete and continuous experiments practically converge to the same trend of pattern change along the ER:R line. Thus, the rainfall gradient hypothesis may be valid for regions characterized by this important rainfall range, which typically include desert fringe ecosystems.
Sex differences in depression: do women always have higher rates?

Journal of Research in Personality 10:343-57. Sorrentino, R. M. , and R. G. Boutilier 1974 "Evaluation of a victim as a function of fate similarity/dissimilarity. " Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 10:84-93. Sudnow, D. 1967 "Dead-on-arrival. " Trans-Action, November, pp. 36-43. Sutherland, S. , and D. Scherl 1970 "Patterns of response among victims of rape. " American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 40:503-11.
Recognizing Human Facial Expressions From Long Image Sequences Using Optical Flow

Low-oil-content, fully lubricated leather is produced by (1) treatment of leather with water emulsions of mixtures of alkanolamine soaps, oils, surfactants having HLB values between 2 and 6, and coupling solvents; and (2) acidification of the leather.