Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shallow Low‐Frequency Tremor in the Northern Japan Trench Subduction Zone

We found offshore shallow low‐frequency tremor in the northern Japan Trench subduction zone, using records from the Seafloor Observation Network for Earthquakes and Tsunamis along the Japan Trench. The tremor aligned with a narrow zone, which follows the 10‐ to 25‐km depth contours of the plate interface and occurred in two distinct areas, off Tokachi and Sanriku, separated by a gap. In the 1.75 years examined, two episodes lasting for a few weeks were identified off Tokachi. During these episodes, tremor occurred concurrently with swarms of very low frequency earthquakes and migrated laterally about 120 km along the trench strike. In contrast, tremor off Sanriku lasted shorter (half a day to 5 days) and repeated at shorter intervals (1–4 months). The variation in tremor behavior such as duration, recurrence, migration, and the association with very low frequency earthquakes suggests along‐strike heterogeneities in frictional properties at the shallow plate interface.
Human cytomegalovirus and Herpes Simplex type I virus can engage RNA polymerase I for transcription of immediate early genes

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) utilizes RNA polymerase II to transcribe viral genes and produce viral mRNAs. It can specifically target the nucleolus to facilitate viral transcription and translation. As RNA polymerase I (Pol I)-mediated transcription is active in the nucleolus, we investigated the role of Pol I, along with relative contributions of the human Pol II and Pol III, to early phases of viral transcription in HCMV infected cells, compared with Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1) and Murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV). Inhibition of Pol I with siRNA or the Pol I inhibitors CX-5461 or Actinomycin D (5nM) resulted in significantly decreased IE and pp65 mRNA and protein levels in human fibroblasts at early times post infection. This initially delayed replication was compensated for later during the replication process, at which stage it didn’t significantly affect virus production. Pol I inhibition also reduced HSV-1 ICP0 and gB transcripts, suggesting that some herpesviruses engage Pol I for their early transcription. In contrast, inhibition of Pol I failed to affect MCMV transcription. Collectively, our results contribute to better understanding of the functional interplay between RNA Pol I-mediated nucleolar events and the Herpes viruses, particularly HCMV whose pathogenic impact ranges from congenital malformations and potentially deadly infections among immunosuppressed patients, up to HCMV’s emerging oncomodulatory role in human tumors.
Relationships among Sensory Responsiveness, Anxiety, and Ritual Behaviors in Children with and without Atypical Sensory Responsiveness

ABSTRACT Aim: To explore relationships between sensory responsiveness, anxiety, and ritual behaviors in boys with typical and atypical sensory responsiveness. Method: Forty-eight boys, ages 5–9 participated in the study (28 boys with atypical sensory responsiveness and 20 controls). Atypical sensory responsiveness was defined as a score of ≤154 on the Short Sensory Profile. Parents completed the Sensory Profile, the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders, and the Childhood Routines Inventory. Results: Children with atypical sensory responsiveness had significantly higher levels of anxiety and a higher frequency of ritual behaviors than controls. Atypical sensory responsiveness was significantly related to both anxiety and ritual behaviors, with anxiety mediating the relationship between sensory modulation and ritual behaviors. Conclusions: The findings elucidate the potential consequences of atypical sensory responsiveness and could support the notion that ritual behaviors develop as a coping mechanism in response to anxiety stemming from primary difficulty in modulating sensory input.
The Application of the Haddon Matrix to Public Health Readiness and Response Planning

State and local health departments continue to face unprecedented challenges in preparing for, recognizing, and responding to threats to the public’s health. The attacks of 11 September 2001 and the ensuing anthrax mailings of 2001 highlighted the public health readiness and response hurdles posed by intentionally caused injury and illness. At the same time, recent natural disasters have highlighted the need for comparable public health readiness and response capabilities. Public health readiness and response activities can be conceptualized similarly for intentional attacks, natural disasters, and human-caused accidents. Consistent with this view, the federal government has adopted the all-hazards response model as its fundamental paradigm. Adoption of this paradigm provides powerful improvements in efficiency and efficacy, because it reduces the need to create a complex family of situation-specific preparedness and response activities. However, in practice, public health preparedness requires additional models and tools to provide a framework to better understand and prioritize emergency readiness and response needs, as well as to facilitate solutions; this is particularly true at the local health department level. Here, we propose to extend the use of the Haddon matrix—a conceptual model used for more than two decades in injury prevention and response strategies—for this purpose.
Autoinhibition of Arf GTPase-activating Protein Activity by the BAR Domain in ASAP1*

ASAP1 is an Arf GTPase-activating protein (GAP) that functions on membrane surfaces to catalyze the hydrolysis of GTP bound to Arf. ASAP1 contains a tandem of BAR, pleckstrin homology (PH), and Arf GAP domains and contributes to the formation of invadopodia and podosomes. The PH domain interacts with the catalytic domain influencing both the catalytic and Michaelis constants. Tandem BAR-PH domains have been found to fold into a functional unit. The results of sedimentation velocity studies were consistent with predictions from homology models in which the BAR and PH domains of ASAP1 fold together. We set out to test the hypothesis that the BAR domain of ASAP1 affects GAP activity by interacting with the PH and/or Arf GAP domains. Recombinant proteins composed of the BAR, PH, Arf GAP, and Ankyrin repeat domains (called BAR-PZA) and the PH, Arf GAP, and Ankyrin repeat domains (PZA) were compared. Catalytic power for the two proteins was determined using large unilamellar vesicles as a reaction surface. The catalytic power of PZA was greater than that of BAR-PZA. The effect of the BAR domain was dependent on the N-terminal loop of the BAR domain and was not the consequence of differential membrane association or changes in large unilamellar vesicle curvature. The Km for BAR-PZA was greater and the kcat was smaller than for PZA determined by saturation kinetics. Analysis of single turnover kinetics revealed a transition state intermediate that was affected by the BAR domain. We conclude that BAR domains can affect enzymatic activity through intraprotein interactions.
Pixel scratching algorithm for edge detection of monochrome image objects

In this paper, we propose a simple and new technique called as 'pixel scratching algorithm'. This method finds edges of objects in any black and white image by scratching out all those pixels that show abrupt changes in grey levels and making all other pixels as background. These scratched out pixels then form a sketch of the edge of the objects that are present in the image. In contrast to existing edge detection techniques like Laplacian operators, Sobel operators, Prewitt operators, the proposed technique gives finer edges with much less computation without the need of any mask operator, finding second derivatives or applying weight for smoothing. In this approach, edge pixels are determined by scanning the image line by line from top to bottom and finding out differences between successive pixel values, followed by thresholding. Experimental results show that the proposed method provides more promising result than the methods being compared here.
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography–Associated AmpC Escherichia coli Outbreak

BACKGROUND We identified an outbreak of AmpC–producing Escherichia coli infections resistant to third-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems (CR) among 7 patients who had undergone endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography at hospital A during November 2012–August 2013. Gene sequencing revealed a shared novel mutation in a bla CMY gene and a distinctive fumC/ fimH typing profile. OBJECTIVE To determine the extent and epidemiologic characteristics of the outbreak, identify potential sources of transmission, design and implement infection control measures, and determine the association between the CR E. coli and AmpC E. coli circulating at hospital A. METHODS We reviewed laboratory, medical, and endoscopy reports, and endoscope reprocessing procedures. We obtained cultures from endoscopes after reprocessing as well as environmental samples and conducted pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and gene sequencing on phenotypic AmpC isolates from patients and endoscopes. Cases were those infected with phenotypic AmpC isolates (both carbapenem-susceptible and CR) and identical bla CMY-2, fumC, and fimH alleles or related pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns. RESULTS Thirty-five of 49 AmpC E. coli tested met the case definition, including all CR isolates. All cases had complicated biliary disease and had undergone at least 1 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography at hospital A. Mortality at 30 days was 16% for all patients and 56% for CR patients. Two of 8 reprocessed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography scopes harbored AmpC that matched case isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Environmental cultures were negative. No breaches in infection control were identified. Endoscopic reprocessing exceeded manufacturer’s recommended cleaning guidelines. CONCLUSION Recommended reprocessing guidelines are not sufficient. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2015;00(0): 1–9
Polypeptide Elongation Factors of the Developing Chick Brain

Abstract: The polypeptide elongation factors (EF‐1L, EF‐1H, and EF‐2) of the developing chick brain were separated and purified by means of a combination of gel chromatographic methods. The molecular weight of EF‐1H of the chick brain ranged from 5 to 10 × 105, and was different from that of the chick liver (about 7 × 105). The molecular weight of other purified factors was about 5 × 104 for EF‐1L. and 9.4 × 104 for EF‐2. High activities of polyphenylalanine (poly‐Phe) synthesis per mg protein in the developing chick brain were observed between the 3rd embryonic week and the 1st post‐hatch week and declined afterwards. On the other hand, the levels of both EF‐1 and EF‐2 per mg protein in the brain were observed to be high in an early embryonic stage, gradually declining afterwards to the adult level. The brain EF‐1L was a major component of EF‐1 in an early embryonic stage, while EF‐1H became recognizable in the 3rd embryonic week. Moreover, the EF‐1H activities were found to be more than double with regard to the binding reaction and to be more than 10‐fold as active in respect to poly‐Phe synthesis in comparison with the activities of EF‐1L. It is proposed that the brain EF‐1H could be due to aggregates consisting of EF‐1L, a stimulatory factor, and other components.
The human cytomegalovirus nuclear egress complex unites multiple functions: Recruitment of effectors, nuclear envelope rearrangement, and docking to nuclear capsids

Nuclear replication represents a common hallmark of herpesviruses achieved by a number of sequentially unrolled regulatory processes. A rate‐limiting step is provided by nucleo‐cytoplasmic capsid export, for which a defined multiregulatory protein complex, namely, the nuclear egress complex (NEC), is assembled comprising both viral and cellular components. The NEC regulates at least 3 aspects of herpesviral nuclear replication: (1) multimeric recruitment of NEC‐associated effector proteins, (2) reorganization of the nuclear lamina and membranes, and (3) the docking to nuclear capsids. Here, we review published data and own experimental work that characterizes the NEC of HCMV and other herpesviruses.
Dysfunctional Cognitions and their Emotional, Behavioral, and Functional Correlates in Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Objective: To investigate the presence of dysfunctional cognitions in adults with ADHD and to determine whether these cognitions are associated with emotional symptoms, maladaptive coping, and functional impairment, as predicted by the cognitive-behavioral model. Method: A total of 35 adult participants with ADHD, 20 nonclinical controls, and 20 non-ADHD clinical controls were assessed with measures of ADHD symptoms, dysfunctional cognitions, depression and anxiety symptoms, coping strategies, and quality of life. Results: ADHD group showed elevated scores of dysfunctional cognitions relative to nonclinical control group and comparable with clinical control group. Dysfunctional cognitions were strongly associated with emotional symptoms. ADHD group also showed elevated scores in maladaptive coping strategies of the escape-avoidance type. Life impairment was satisfactorily predicted in data analysis when ADHD symptoms, dysfunctional cognitions, and emotional symptoms were fitted into a regression model. Conclusion: Cognitive-behavioral therapy model appears to be a valid complementary model for understanding emotional and life impairment in adults with ADHD.
Fluid‐structure interaction including volumetric coupling with homogenised subdomains for modeling respiratory mechanics

In this article, a novel approach is presented for combining standard fluid‐structure interaction with additional volumetric constraints to model fluid flow into and from homogenised solid domains. The proposed algorithm is particularly interesting for investigations in the field of respiratory mechanics as it enables the mutual coupling of airflow in the conducting part and local tissue deformation in the respiratory part of the lung by means of a volume constraint. In combination with a classical monolithic fluid‐structure interaction approach, a comprehensive model of the human lung can be established that will be useful to gain new insights into respiratory mechanics in health and disease. To illustrate the validity and versatility of the novel approach, three numerical examples including a patient‐specific lung model are presented. The proposed algorithm proves its capability of computing clinically relevant airflow distribution and tissue strain data at a level of detail that is not yet achievable, neither with current imaging techniques nor with existing computational models. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bis[2-amino-6-methylpyrimidin-4(1H)-one-κ2 N 3,O]dichloridocadmium(II)

In the title compound, [CdCl2(C5H7N3O)2], the CdII atom is six-coordinated by two heterocyclic N atoms [Cd—N = 2.261 (2) and 2.286 (2) Å] and two O atoms [Cd—O = 2.624 (2) and 2.692 (2) Å] from two bidentate chelate 2-amino-6-methylpyrimidin-4(1H)-one ligands and two chloride ions [Cd—Cl = 2.4674 (6) and 2.4893 (7) Å]. The crystal packing is characterized by an open-framework architecture with the crystal packing stabilized by intermolecular N—H⋯Cl and N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds.
A genetic association study of dopamine metabolism‐related genes and chronic headache with drug abuse

To assess the role of dopamine metabolism‐related genes in the genetic liability to chronic headache with drug abuse (DA). We performed a genetic association study using four functional polymorphisms of the dopamine receptor 4 (DRD4), dopamine transporter (DAT), mono‐amino‐oxidase A (MAOA) and cathecol‐O‐methyl‐transferase (COMT) genes in 103 patients with chronic daily headache associated with DA (CDHDA). Control samples were 117 individuals without headache or DA (controls) and 101 patients with episodic migraine without aura and without DA (MO). No differences were found at the COMT and MAOA genes among the three groups investigated. Allele 4 of DRD4 was significantly overrepresented in patients with MO compared with both controls and CDHDA. Allele 10 of the DAT gene was significantly underrepresented in patients with CDHDA when compared with the MO group. Genetic variability at the DRD4 gene is involved in the predisposition to episodic MO but not to DA, while liability to CDHDA may involve genetic variability at the DAT gene in comparison with episodic MO.
Multigrid methods for two‐player zero‐sum stochastic games

We present a fast numerical algorithm for large scale zero‐sum stochastic games with perfect information, which combines policy iteration and algebraic multigrid methods. This algorithm can be applied either to a true finite state space zero‐sum two‐player game or to the discretization of an Isaacs equation. We present numerical tests on discretizations of Isaacs equations or variational inequalities. We also present a full multilevel policy iteration, similar to full multigrid algorithm (FMG), which allows one to improve substantially the computation time for solving some variational inequalities. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exploring perceptions of psychological services in a children's hospice in the United Kingdom

Abstract Background: The provision of emotional and psychological support for all family members who need it is an essential element of holistic palliative care. Within East Anglia's Children's Hospice, teams of professionally trained and experienced workers offer psychosocial support to all family members at all times during the child's and family's journey. However, the effectiveness and appropriateness of current psychosocial provision is unclear, as is the requirement for any additional psychological services. Objective: The purpose of this study was to elicit perceptions about current psychological support within the hospice from a group of stakeholders (parents, hospice staff, and external professionals). Method: Forty-five parents participated in family focus groups, telephone interviews, individual interviews in their home, or a web-based survey. Ninety-five hospice staff (including nurses, carers, play specialists, therapists, and family support practitioners) and 28 external staff (including physicians, nurses, and commissioning managers) were seen using a mixture of focus group and individual meetings. Focus groups and meetings were held at the hospice building or at an external venue. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic coding. Results: Two main themes addressing perceptions of current psychological provision emerged: “understanding psychological support” and “unmet psychological need. ” Subthemes linked to support included choice, staff roles and labels, communication, and flexibility, whereas the themes within unmet need had a stronger focus on people and problems. Significance of results: Understanding different user perspectives is an important first step in enhancing current psychological provision; operationalizing the findings will be challenging.
Volume and Asymmetry Abnormalities of Insula in Antipsychotic-Naive Schizophrenia: A 3-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Context: Insula, which is a vital brain region for self-awareness, empathy, and sensory stimuli processing, is critically implicated in schizophrenia pathogenesis. Existing studies on insula volume abnormalities report inconsistent findings potentially due to the evaluation of ‘antipsychotic-treated’ schizophrenia patients as well as suboptimal methodology. Aim: To understand the role of insula in schizophrenia. Materials and Methods: In this first-time 3-T magnetic resonance imaging study, we examined antipsychotic-naive schizophrenic patients (N=30) and age-, sex-, handedness- and education-matched healthy controls (N=28). Positive and negative symptoms were scored with good interrater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)>0.9) by using the scales for negative and positive symptoms. Gray matter volume of insula and its anterior/posterior subregions were measured by using a three-dimensional, interactive, semiautomated software based on the valid method with good interrater reliability (ICC>0.85). Intracranial volume was automatically measured by using the FreeSurfer software. Results: Patients had significantly deficient gray matter volumes of left (F=33.4; P<0.00001) and right (F=11.9; P=0.001) insula after controlling for the effects of age, sex, and intracranial volume. Patients with predominantly negative symptoms had a significantly deficient right posterior insula volume than those with predominantly positive symptoms (F=6.3; P=0.02). Asymmetry index analysis revealed anterior insular asymmetry to be significantly reversed (right>left) in male patients in comparison with male controls (left>right) (t=2.7; P=0.01). Conclusions: Robust insular volume deficits in antipsychotic-naive schizophrenia support intrinsic role for insula in pathogenesis of this disorder. The first-time demonstration of a relationship between right posterior insular deficit and negative symptoms is in tune with the background neurobiological literature. Another novel observation of sex-specific anterior insular asymmetry reversal in patients supports evolutionary postulates of schizophrenia pathogenesis.
Downlink Soft Handover Mechanism Performance in WCDMA System

An in depth study of the soft handover effects on the downlink direction of WCDMA network is carried out. The link level study begins with the downlink interference analysis and power allocations for each downlink dedicated channels. Downlink soft handover gain is used in the system level simulation as a main parameter to evaluate the effects of cell selection and power control mechanisms on the downlink soft handover performance. Simulation result has shown that by using 2-way soft handover mechanism, the required dedicated transmission power can be reduced up to 3 dB. Besides that, the cell selection scheme based on distance and Ec/10 value gives better SHO gain (1.3dB) to the system with SHO overhead equals to 30%. Simulation also has shown that the system can benefit from the soft handover process at 20% to 30% of the SHO overhead. However, power control mechanism does not give significant impact to the SHO gain.
p57kip2 is dynamically regulated in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and interferes with oligodendroglial maturation

The mechanisms preventing efficient remyelination in the adult mammalian central nervous system after demyelinating inflammatory diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, are largely unknown. Partial remyelination occurs in early disease stages, but repair capacity diminishes over time and with disease progression. We describe a potent candidate for the negative regulation of oligodendroglial differentiation that may underlie failure to remyelinate. The p57kip2 gene is dynamically regulated in the spinal cord during MOG-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Transient down-regulation indicated that it is a negative regulator of post-mitotic oligodendroglial differentiation. We then applied short hairpin RNA-mediated gene suppression to cultured oligodendroglial precursor cells and demonstrated that down-regulation of p57kip2 accelerates morphological maturation and promotes myelin expression. We also provide evidence that p57kip2 interacts with LIMK-1, implying that p57kip2 affects cytoskeletal dynamics during oligodendroglial maturation. These data suggest that sustained down-regulation of p57kip2 is important for oligodendroglial maturation and open perspectives for future therapeutic approaches to overcome the endogenous remyelination blockade in multiple sclerosis.