Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Host-parasite relationship in murine leishmaniasis: pathophysiological and immunological changes

The host-parasite relationship in human visceral leishmaniasis remains poorly understood. In the present study, pathophysiological and immunological changes were examined in BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania donovani. These animals developed chronic infection with massive hepatosplenomegaly and hypergammaglobulinemia. In contrast to mice inoculated with 0.8 X 10(6) or 4 X 10(6) amastigotes, mice infected with 20 X 10(6) amastigotes failed to reduce liver parasite loads during 2 to 8 weeks of observation. At 8 weeks, liver size was increased by 26, 63, and 94%, respectively, in groups infected with 0.8 X 10(6), 4 X 10(6), or 20 X 10(6) amastigotes. Serum immunoglobulin G and M levels at 8 weeks in animals with the heaviest infection were increased by 53 and 80%, respectively, compared with controls. Specific antileishmanial antibodies were detected in the absence of antigen-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity or in vitro lymphocyte responses. Infection did not suppress the in vivo responses of mice to the non-parasite-related antigens sperm whale myoglobin or pneumococcal polysaccharide. Splenic mononuclear cell responses to phytohemagglutinin were suppressed as early as 2 weeks, and by 8 weeks, mice infected with 0.8 X 10(6), 4 X 10(6), or 20 X 10(6) amastigotes had phytohemagglutinin responses which were, respectively, 27.7, 13.9, and 15.8% of controls. Decreased phytohemagglutinin responses could not be related to reductions in splenic T cells; however, splenic B cells and macrophages were increased at 8 weeks of infection. The course of L. donovani infection and disease in BALB/c mice resembles events occurring in humans and should prove useful in defining mechanisms of immune alterations in visceral leishmaniasis.
Numerical Properties of a Gaussian Translation Operator for the 2D FMM

A diagonal Gaussian translation operator for the time-harmonic fast multipole method (FMM) in two dimensions is examined numerically. The Gaussian translation operator depends on a beam parameter that determines its sharpness. When the beam parameter is set to zero, the Gaussian translation operator reduces to the standard FMM translation operator. The sampling rate can be determined straightforwardly to achieve any desired accuracy. The directionality of the Gaussian translation operator makes it possible to reduce the number of plane waves required to achieve a given accuracy. The required number of plane waves depends strongly on the actual source-receiver locations, not just on the diameter of the source and receiver regions.
Decoding User Interaction Dynamics on Facebook Fan Page: A Sentiment Mining Approach

Increased presence of firms on social media like Facebook has enabled users to interact directly with the firms. As this platform is used for brand promotions, it is important for firms to understand the dynamics of user interaction that happens on the brand’s fan page. This study investigates the influence of marketer-generated content (MGC) and the recursive effect of sentiments on user interaction with the help of sentiment mining approach and negative binomial regression. The analysis is done over 2,121 marketers’ content and 22 million user content across the top five Facebook brand pages in India. The results show that an increase in positive comment sentiment triggers increased liking and sharing behaviour by the users on the marketers’ content. Moreover, users are more inclined to like and share on marketers’ contents that are informative posts. Posts containing images garner higher likes and comments, but videos have higher shares. The results are useful for the brands to understand user behaviour on a brand’s social media fan page.
Intraoperative Awareness in Fast‐track Cardiac Anesthesia

Background Fast‐track cardiac anesthesia, using low‐dose narcotics combined with short‐acting anesthetic and sedative agents, facilitates early tracheal extubation after cardiac surgery. The incidence of awareness with this anesthetic technique has not been investigated previously. The purpose of this study was to prospectively investigate the incidence of intraoperative awareness with explicit memory of events during fast‐track cardiac anesthesia. Methods Data were collected prospectively over a 4‐month period from 617 consecutive adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery at a university hospital. All patients received a fast‐track cardiac anesthetic regimen. Patients underwent a structured interview by a research nurse 18 h after extubation. A standard set of questions was asked during this interview to determine if the patient had explicit memory of any event from induction of anesthesia to recovery of consciousness. Results Nine patients did not complete a postoperative interview because of death (n = 7) or postoperative confusion (n = 2). The last memory before surgery reported in 420 (69.1%) patients was waiting in the holding area at the operating suite, and in the remaining 188 (30.9%) patients it was lying on the operating Table beforeinduction of anesthesia. Two patients (0.3%) had explicit memory of intraoperative events. One of the two patients also had explicit memory of pain. Neither patient reported adverse psychological sequelae. Conclusions The authors report an incidence of awareness in fast‐track cardiac anesthesia of 0.3%. This is the lowest incidence of awareness currently reported during cardiac surgery. This low incidence of awareness may be related to the use of a balanced anesthetic technique involving the continuous administration of volatile (isoflurane) or intravenous (propofol) anesthetic agents before, during, and after cardiopulmonary bypass.
Sibling Thumb Sucking

In this study, removal of a transitional object (pillow)was applied as the sole intervention for one of two siblings who sucked their thumbs. The intervention was applied only to the older sibling, whereas data were collected on the thumb sucking of both participants. Results indicated that removal of the transitional object for the older sibling reduced thumb sucking in both siblings and increased thumb sucking when the pillow was reintroduced. Discussion focuses on possible explanations for the effects of the intervention across both participants and the limitations of this study.
Molecular and Kinetic Characterization of Planktonic Nitrospira spp. Selectively Enriched from Activated Sludge.

Nitrospira spp. are chemolithoautotrophic nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB), which are ubiquitous in natural and engineered environments. However, there exist few independent biokinetic studies on Nitrospira spp. , likely because their isolation and selective enrichment from environmental consortia such as activated sludge can be challenging. Herein, planktonic Nitrospira spp. cultures closely related to Candidatus Nitrospira defluvii (Nitrospira lineage I) were successfully enriched from activated sludge in a sequencing batch reactor by maintaining sustained limiting extant nitrite and dissolved oxygen concentrations. Morphologically, the enrichment consisted largely of planktonic cells with an average characteristic diameter of 1.3 ± 0.6 μm. On the basis of respirometric assays, estimated maximum specific growth rate (μmax), nitrite half saturation coefficient (KS), oxygen half saturation coefficient (KO), and biomass yield coefficient (Y) of the enriched cultures were 0.69 ± 0.10 d-1, 0.52 ± 0.14 mg-N/L, 0.33 ± 0.14 mg-O2/L, and 0.14 ± 0.02 mg-COD/mg-N, respectively. These parameters collectively reflect not just higher affinities of this enrichment for nitrite and oxygen, respectively, but also a higher biomass yield and energy transfer efficiency relative to Nitrobacter spp. Used in combination, these kinetic and thermodynamic parameters can help toward the development and application of energy-efficient biological nutrient removal processes through effective Nitrospira out-selection.
Alcohol-induced performance impairment in heavy episodic and light social drinkers.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine performance effects of alcohol in young adult heavy drinkers (HDs) and light drinkers (LDs). Prior research has shown that HDs have alterations in subjective alcohol response in comparison with LDs, with greater reported stimulant-like effects and reduced sedative-like effects. It is unclear whether these quantitative differences extend to performance and objective effects. METHOD Thirty-four subjects participated (20 HDs and 14 LDs) in three early evening individual alcohol challenge sessions. Subjects were examined on eye movement and psychomotor performance tasks before and several times after consuming either 0.8 g/kg or 0.4 g/kg ethanol or placebo beverage. RESULTS Alcohol produced similar impairment for the groups in psychomotor performance and saccadic velocity measures, with blood alcohol concentration dependent group differences on the smooth pursuit task and a marginally lower threshold for impairment for HDs on the saccadic latency task. Covarying for personality differences (i.e., disinhibition and boredom susceptibility traits) and family history of alcoholism did not significantly alter the findings. CONCLUSIONS Despite prior findings of differential subjective response to alcohol in HDs and LDs, alcohol-induced performance impairment was comparable between the groups. Our findings suggest HDs may be particularly at risk for alcohol-related consequences because their greater sensitivity to positive alcohol effects and/or tolerance to sedative effects may not be accompanied by a lesser degree of alcohol-induced performance impairment.
A 60 GHz SIW-based Vivaldi antenna with improved radiation patterns

A 60 GHz substrate integrated waveguide (SIW)-based Vivaldi antenna with low cross-polarization and side lobe levels is presented. The feed system is implemented using microstrip-to-SIW transition, SIW, and SIW-to-slot-line transition. The simulated and measured results show a nearly flat gain of 15 ±0.4 dB over the frequency range of 55-65 GHz. In addition, a good impedance matching and symmetric radiation pattern is observed over the band of interest. A good agreement between Ansys HFSS and measured results is obtained. The proposed antenna is suitable for high data rate wireless applications.
Toward recognizing the vulnerable asymptomatic atheromatous plaque from B-mode ultrasound: the importance of the morphology of the plaque shoulder

Efficient management of the asymptomatic carotid disease remains a crucial challenge in clinical practice, because the ultrasonographically estimated degree of stenosis, which is currently used to determine treatment decisions, has been shown to be inadequate. In this study, texture (morphological) characteristics were investigated in a sample of asymptomatic male subjects, at the atheromatous plaque, the adjacent arterial wall and the plaque shoulder, i.e. the boundary between plaque and adjacent wall. A total of 25 arteries were interrogated, 11 with low (50-69%) and 14 with high (70-100%) degrees of stenosis. The two groups had similar ages. Texture characteristics were estimated from systolic and diastolic B-mode ultrasound images, and included four second-order statistical parameters (contrast, correlation, energy and homogeneity), each calculated at four different image directions (0°, 45°, 90°, 135°), yielding a total of 16 characteristics. Between high and low stenosis groups, 8 out of 16 characteristics were statistically different at the plaque shoulder at systole and 6 at diastole. No differences were observed between the two groups for any of the texture characteristics at the plaque nor at the adjacent wall. Differences in morphology along the arterial wall (wall - shoulder - plaque) were more pronounced in cases of high stenosis. The findings indicated that (a) the plaque shoulder is a particular area, requiring additional investigation so as to better understand the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, (b) the phase of the cardiac cycle (systole or diastole) is important in texture analysis, and (c) the variability of morphology along the arterial wall, which is indicative of areas of tissue discontinuities, and therefore more vulnerable to rupture, can be characterized quantitatively with texture indices, toward an improved assessment of cardiovascular risk. It can be concluded that ultrasound-based texture indices may reveal novel markers for early detection and monitoring of subjects at high risk of cerebrovascular events, in the context of individualized, noninvasive and affordable diagnosis.
Stress Events Detection of Driver by Wearable Glove System

This paper is focused to develop a wearable glove system to detect driver stress events in real time. The driver's stress is estimated by the use of physiological signals and steering wheel motion analysis. The steering wheel motion is analyzed by driver's hand moving characteristic. Principally, the sensors on the glove gathered the photoplethysmogram signal via fingertip, and hand motion signal via inertial motion unit. The sensor module readings are transmitted to an end terminal application via a Bluetooth low energy transmission module to compute the driver stress index. The studies are carried out in a simulated driving, which is composed of three distinct driving scenarios to study the subjects' behaviors that correlate with stress. Twenty-eight subjects are requested to perform three different driving sessions with random scenarios generated while performing various driving maneuvers to assess the dynamic of mental workloads. The stress assessments of driving test subjects are self-reported at pre- and post-stimulus as well as observed through facial expression recorded throughout the whole experiments. Moreover, this paper also aimed to investigate the correlation of stress events with different driving tasks. Stress index is computed by a support vector machine pattern classifier with extracted features from sensors reading. Notably, stress index differences were found among three driving scenarios and driving maneuvers. Results revealed the true accuracy of stress detection is greater than 95% in average.
Panic disorder subtypes: further clinical differences

Panic disorder (PD) is a heterogeneous phenomenon with respect to symptom profile. Most studies agree that a group of patients with prominent respiratory symptoms emerged as a distinct PD subtype. In this study we compared a range of clinical features associated with PD and agoraphobia in patients with respiratory (RS) and nonrespiratory (NRS) subtypes of PD. The participants were 124 patients with PD (79 women and 45 men), with or without agoraphobia, diagnosed by DSM‐IV criteria. Following the observer‐rated Panic Disorder Severity Scale assessment, subjects completed self‐report measures, including the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), Panic–Agoraphobia Scale; the Beck Anxiety Inventory; and the Panic–Agoraphobic Spectrum Scale (PAS‐SR). Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) showed significant group differences [Pillai's trace=0.95, F (5, 118)=2.48, P=. 036]. Patients in RS group had higher mean total scores on the ASI (F=5.00, df=1, P=.027) and PAS‐SR (F=11.23, df=1, P=.001) than patients in NRS group. Also, patients with RS attained higher scores than patients with NRS on four domains of PAS‐SR (panic‐like symptoms, agoraphobia, separation sensitivity, and reassurance seeking). A descriptive discriminant analysis of the data correctly identified 69.4% of the patient group in general and 86.1% of RS group (Wilks's λ=0.87, df=8, P=.048). The significant discriminating factors of the RS and NRS groups were domains of panic‐like symptoms, agoraphobia, separation sensitivity, and reassurance seeking. Our findings suggest that anxiety sensitivity and panic–agoraphobic spectrum symptoms might be particularly relevant to understanding subtypes of PD. Depression and Anxiety 24:479–486, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mutational inactivation of TGFBR2 in microsatellite unstable colon cancer arises from the cooperation of genomic instability and the clonal outgrowth of transforming growth factor β resistant cells

The mutational inactivation of transforming growth factor β receptor type II (TGFBR2) occurs in ∼30% of colon cancers and promotes the formation of colon cancer by inhibiting the tumor suppressor activity of the TGFB signaling pathway. TGFBR2 mutations occur in >90% of microsatellite unstable (MSI) colon cancers and affect a polyadenine tract in exon 3 of TGFBR2, called BAT‐RII, which is vulnerable to mutation in the setting of DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system deficiency. In light of the vulnerable nature of the BAT‐RII tract in the setting of MMR inactivation and the favorable effects of TGFBR2 inactivation in colon cancer, analysis of TGFBR2 inactivation provides an opportunity to assess the roles of genomic instability vs. clonal selection in cells acquiring TGFBR2 BAT‐RII tract mutations in MSI colon cancer formation. The contribution of genomic instability and/or clonal evolution to the mutational inactivation of TGBFR2 in MSI colon cancers has not been studied in a systematic way that would allow a determination of the relative contribution of these two mechanisms in the formation of MSI colon cancer. It has not been demonstrated whether the BAT‐RII tract mutations are strictly a consequence of the BAT‐RII region being hypermutable in the setting of MMR deficiency or if the mutations are rather a consequence of clonal selection pressure against the TGFB receptor. Through the use of defined cell line systems, we show that both genomic instability and clonal selection of TGFB resistant cells contribute to the high frequency of TGFBR2 mutations in MSI colon cancer. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Regulation of T Cell Activation and Tolerance by Phospholipase Cγ-1-Dependent Integrin Avidity Modulation1

Ag receptor engagement without costimulation induces a tolerant state in CD4+ T cells termed anergy. Anergic CD4+ T cells are primarily characterized by the inability to produce IL-2, but the biochemical basis for this functional defect is not completely understood. We demonstrate that primary CD4+ T cells anergized by costimulatory blockade exhibit impaired TCR-coupled phospholipase C (PLC)γ-1 activation. This defect is associated with the marked reduction of multiple downstream signaling events required for IL-2 transcription, including mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ and activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade. We also found that primary anergic CD4+ T cells fail entirely to modulate their integrin binding avidity in response to TCR stimulation. Integrin avidity modulation is required for full T cell activation and effector function, and as we show in this study, is completely dependent upon PLCγ-1 activity. Finally, analogs that mimic the actions of diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate, the immediate products of PLCγ-1 activity, restored integrin avidity modulation and IL-2 production by anergic T cells. Thus, deficient coupling of PLCγ-1 to the TCR appears to be a central biochemical defect that could potentially account for the failure of multiple functional responses in primary anergic CD4+ T cells.
Validation of the new Vancouver Chest Pain Rule in Asian chest pain patients presenting at the emergency department.

OBJECTIVES The new Vancouver Chest Pain (VCP) Rule recommends early discharge for chest pain patients who are at low risk of developing acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and thus can be discharged within 2 hours of arrival at the emergency department (ED). This study aimed to assess the performance of the new VCP Rule for Asian patients presenting with chest pain at the ED. METHODS This prospective cohort study involved patients attended to at the ED of a large urban centre. Patients of at least 25 years old, presenting with stable chest pain and a non-diagnostic ECG, and with no history of active coronary artery disease were included in the study. The main outcome measures were cardiac events, angioplasty, or coronary artery bypass within 30 days of enrolment. RESULTS The study included 1690 patients from 27 August 2000 to 1 May 2002, with 661 patients fulfilling the VCP criteria. Of those for early discharge, 24 had cardiac events and 13 had angioplasty or bypass at 30 days, compared to 91 and 41, respectively, for those unsuitable for discharge. This gave the rule a sensitivity of 78.1% for cardiac events, including angioplasty and bypass. Specificity was 41.0%, and negative predictive value (NPV) was 94.4%. CONCLUSION We found the new VCP Rule to have moderate sensitivity and poor specificity for adverse cardiac events in our population. With an NPV of less than 100%, this means that a small proportion of patients sent home with early discharge would still have adverse cardiac events.
Financial Reforms and Corruption: Evidence Using GMM Estimation

Abstract This paper assesses the impact of financial reforms on corruption using a panel of 87 countries for 1984–2005. To account for the dynamic nature and high persistence of corruption, the paper employs the difference and system generalized method of moments (GMM) estimators. It finds that policy reforms targeted towards financial liberalization reduce corruption. This result is robust to the inclusion of a number of control variables and the choice of the GMM estimator. Interestingly, the financial liberalization index is found to be positively correlated with corruption though this relationship is not robust. The findings also indicate that legal origins do not impose a binding constraint on the effectiveness of financial reforms in reducing corruption.
Fine frequency grid calibration and the experiment for NVNA based on squared crystal

This paper studies on the low phase resolution of the phase calibration of a mixer-based two-port coaxial Nonlinear Vector Network Analyzer (NVNA), especially the absolute calibration techniques. A new method of fine frequency grid calibration based on squared crystal detector has been made. The narrowband calibration principle of the way to calibrate the NVNA by using the squared crystal detector is deduced, and the calibration process is given. Simulation results of ADS and the experiment prove the effectiveness of the proposed method, and its phase calibration resolution achieves 100KHz.