Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Hyaluronic Acid on Phagocytosis of Opsonized Latex Particles

In an in vitro model system using isolated human granulocytes high molecular weight hyaluronic acid stimulated the initial rate of phagocytosis of complement‐opsonized latex particles. This specific quality was dependent on the molecular size and occurred at low concentrations (1–10 mg/1 of hyaluronic acid. However, at high concentrations (> 100 mg/1) hyaluronic acid inhibited the initial rate of phagocytosis of both IgC‐ and complement‐opsonized particles. The latter effect was shared with chrondoitin sulphate, heparan sulphate and heparin. The results suggest that hyaluronic acid may be instrumental in controlling inflammatory processes.
Multidimensional Striping Noise Compensation in Hyperspectral Imaging: Exploiting Hypercubes’ Spatial, Spectral, and Temporal Redundancy

In this paper, two novel multidimensional striping noise compensation (SNC) algorithms for push-broom hyperspectral cameras (PBHCs) have been developed. The SNC algorithms employ a novel pixelwise, affine image-degradation model, which assumes that the striping noise (SN) parameters are spatially uncorrelated, spectrally independent, and decoupled from the camera's spectral response. Algorithms simultaneously exploit the spatial and temporal information contained in an image as well as the spectral information contained at adjacent spectral images. The multidimensional SNC algorithms were successfully tested on real hyperspectral data from both a commercial PBHC operating in the spectral range of 400-1000 nm, at a resolution of 1.04 nm, and the ESA earth-observing CHRIS/PROBA sensor.
Stasis Promotes Erythrocyte Adhesion to von Willebrand Factor

Objective— Venous thromboembolism is a major contributor to global disease burden. Leukocytes and platelets initiate thrombogenesis on blood stasis and initiate the formation of a fibrin, VWF (von Willebrand factor), and neutrophil extracellular trap scaffold for erythrocytes. However, there is little knowledge on how erythrocytes become stably incorporated into this scaffold. Recently, we described the adhesion of calcium-loaded erythrocytes to endothelial-derived VWF strings. Because VWF is part of the scaffold of venous thrombi, we questioned whether reduced flow or stasis promotes the adhesion of normal erythrocytes to VWF and whether venous thrombi show evidence of erythrocyte–VWF interactions. Approach and Results— In the present work, we perfused, under controlled shear conditions, washed, normal erythrocytes over surface-immobilized plasma and extracellular matrix proteins and showed that normal erythrocytes specifically bind to VWF. The interaction between erythrocytes and VWF significantly increased when the wall shear stress was reduced. Next, we investigated whether erythrocyte–VWF interactions support the structure of venous thrombi. High-resolution immunofluorescence imaging of human venous thrombi showed a striking pattern between erythrocytes, VWF, and fibrin, which suggests that VWF plays a supporting role, linking erythrocytes to fibrin in the thrombus. Conclusions— Our data suggest that erythrocyte retention in venous thrombi is mediated by erythrocyte–VWF or erythrocyte–VWF–fibrin interactions. Targeting erythrocyte retention could be a new strategy in the treatment or prevention of venous thrombosis.
Characterization of TROY‐expressing cells in the developing and postnatal CNS: the possible role in neuronal and glial cell development

A member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, TROY, is expressed in the CNS of embryonic and adult mice. In the present study, we characterized TROY‐expressing cells in the embryonic and postnatal forebrain. In the early embryonic forebrain, TROY was highly expressed in nestin‐positive neuroepithelial cells and radial glial cells, but not in microtubule‐associated protein 2‐positive postmitotic neurons. During the late embryonic and postnatal development, expression of TROY was observed in radial glial cells and astrocytes, whereas its expression was not detected in neuronal lineage cells. In addition, TROY was exclusively expressed in Musashi‐1‐positive multipotent/glial progenitors in the postnatal subventricular zone. To investigate the functions of TROY in neural development, we overexpressed TROY in PC12 cells and established stably expressing cell clones. As expected, the signals from overexpressed TROY were constitutively transduced via the activation of the nuclear factor‐κB and the c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase pathways in such clones. In addition, upregulation of negative basic helix–loop–helix transcription factors, HES‐5 and Id2 proteins, was observed in the TROY‐overexpressing clones. Interestingly, the overexpression of TROY in PC12 cells strongly inhibited nerve growth factor‐induced neurite outgrowth with reduction of some markers of differentiated neurons, such as neurofilament 150 kDa and neuron‐specific β‐tubulin. These findings suggest that the signaling from TROY regulates neuronal differentiation at least in part.
Progressive muscle relaxation in persons with schizophrenia: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation on psychological distress and anxiety symptoms and on response/remission for people with schizophrenia. Methods: Randomized controlled trials were considered if they investigated progressive muscle relaxation in patients with schizophrenia. EMBASE, PsycINFO, PubMed, ISI Web of Science, CINAHL, PEDro and Cochrane Library were searched. The selection of studies, data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers. Results: Three randomized controlled trials involving 146 patients met the inclusion criteria. Progressive muscle relaxation can acutely reduce state anxiety and psychological distress and improve subjective well-being. No studies investigated the evidence for progressive muscle relaxation as an add-on treatment for general psychopathology and for positive or negative symptoms. Also, no studies assessed the value of progressive muscle relaxation in longer-term treatment and for relapse prevention. There were no data to draw any conclusions about progressive muscle relaxation in comparison with other treatment modalities. None of the studies encountered adverse events. Dose-response relationships could not be determined. Conclusion: Progressive muscle relaxation might be a useful add-on treatment to reduce state anxiety and psychological distress and improve subjective well-being in persons with schizophrenia.
Analysis of LCC Model of High-Voltage Transmission Line

As costs of the equipments operation and maintenance shares great proportion in the construction of the whole power grid, it seems extremely urgent to do researches about Life Cycle Cost (LCC) of power transmission line. At present, whole process cost management is adopted by most of the domestic power enterprises. But costs of the power loss, maintenance and fault loss are not considered; so to some extent, whole process cost management is narrow and limited. On the basis of LCC management, this dissertation discussed the whole process which includes planning, design, construction, purchase, operation, maintenance and disposal. Transmission line usually shares large percentage of whole project costs. What's more, changes of wire scheme will bring changes to tower and foundation design. Thus whole project costs are greatly impacted. The changes directly influence construction costs of the whole transmission line project, technical feature after construction and operation costs. Thus, this dissertation resolved the LCC of the whole power transmission line, at the mean time; transmission line wire type selection model and algorithm which based on LCC are the key point of the research. In this dissertation, basic principles of transmission lines wire selection are integrated into LCC theory. Objective function of wire type selection, which is on the basis of investment cost, operation wastage cost, maintenance cost, fault loss cost and retirement cost, is constructed.
Comparison of Response to Fluvoxamine in Nondemented Elderly Compared to Younger Patients Affected by Major Depression

Although it is well established that the diagnosis and treatment of depression in the elderly are major health care problems, the relative efficacy of antidepressant treatment in the elderly compared with younger adults has not been definitively established. In this study, we analyzed antidepressant response in 528 nondemented consecutive inpatients affected by a major depressive episode. The sample was divided based on a cut-off of 60 years (≤ 60 n = 354; mean age 46.6 ± 10.4 years; > 60 n = 174; mean age 66.1 ± 4.2 years); all the patients were treated with fluvoxamine for at least 6 weeks and they were assessed weekly by using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Fluvoxamine proved to be effective in our elderly sample, even if antidepressant response was lower in the elderly compared with that of younger subjects (χ2 = 6.27, P = 0.01). Moreover, when compared with younger subjects, the older ones showed significantly slower reduction of depressive symptoms (P = 0.0006). This difference between the 2 age groups was evident since the 2nd week of treatment, and it appeared to be independent of other clinical variables.
Sexually Dimorphic Effects of Alcohol Exposure in Utero on Neuroendocrine and Immune Functions in Chronic Alcohol-Exposed Adult Rats

Maternal ethanol consumption has deleterious effects on the offspring's neuroendocrine and T-cell-dependent functions. Chronic alcohol consumption in adulthood has also been associated with activated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) function and immunosuppression which is demonstrable at the T-cell level. Our aim was to establish whether prenatal alcohol exposure alters the neuroendocrine and immune responses to chronic alcohol challenge in adult male and female offspring. Adult male rats placed on a liquid alcohol diet for 5 weeks had significantly decreased thymus weight, hypertrophied adrenals, and elevated plasma ACTH and corticosterone levels. Splenic lymphocyte Concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated proliferation in the ethanol-treated rats was decreased compared to that in pair-fed controls. Thus, prolonged alcohol exposure activated the HPA axis and suppressed T-cell function. The effects of prenatal alcohol exposure, as a predispositional factor, on the HPA axis and on the T-cell functions of adult chronic alcohol-exposed rats were examined in the offspring of dams fed ethanol (FAE) or an isocaloric liquid (PF) diet during the last 2 weeks of gestation. The adult offspring of both sexes and prenatal treatment groups were then placed on an alcohol-containing liquid diet for 5 weeks. Fetal alcohol exposure decreased anterior pituitary proopiomelanocortin mRNA levels and increased glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mRNA levels in males and decreased GR mRNA levels in females. There were no differences in hypothalamic CRF mRNA and GR mRNA levels between the prenatal treatment groups. There was no significant difference in Con A-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation between FAE and PF males. However, FAE females showed Con A-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation significantly higher than those of all other groups, including pair-fed females. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) suppressed lymphocyte proliferation to a lesser degree in FAE males than in any other group. Furthermore, T-cell response to Con A was enhanced by indomethacin, a prostaglandin biosynthesis inhibitor, in FAE males suggesting that increased prostaglandin synthesis may occur in FAE males after chronic alcohol exposure. Increased levels of endogenous PGE(2) could also be inferred from the enhanced levels of interleukin-2 receptor alpha (IL-2Ralpha) mRNA in activated lymphocytes of male but not of female FAE offspring compared to PF. In summary, the results of this study demonstrate that prenatal alcohol exposure leads to a specific HPA-related vulnerability in males to the deleterious effects of ethanol in adulthood. Although prenatal alcohol did not further aggravate the effects of chronic alcohol exposure on lymphocyte proliferation response to Con A in adult male offspring, altered T-cell responses could be unmasked.
Efficacy and safety of monoclonal antibody to human tumor necrosis factor alpha in patients with sepsis syndrome. A randomized, controlled, double-blind, multicenter clinical trial. TNF-alpha MAb Sepsis Study Group.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha monoclonal antibody (TNF-alpha MAb) in the treatment of patients with sepsis syndrome. DESIGN Randomized, prospective, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. SETTING A total of 31 hospitals in the United States and Canada. PATIENTS There were 994 patients with sepsis syndrome enrolled in this clinical trial, and 971 patients were infused with the study drug. INTERVENTION Patients were prospectively stratified into shock or nonshock groups and then randomized to receive a single infusion of 15 mg/kg of TNF-alpha MAb, 7.5 mg/kg of TNF-alpha MAb, or placebo. Patients received standard aggressive medical and surgical care during the 28-day postinfusion period. OUTCOME MEASURE Twenty-eight-day all-cause mortality. RESULTS The distribution of variables describing demographics, organ system dysfunction or failure, preinfusion Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, number of organs failing at baseline, initial sites of infection, infecting microorganisms, antimicrobials used, and initial invasive procedures was similar among patients in the TNF-alpha MAb and placebo treatment arms. Among all infused patients, there was no difference in all-cause mortality in patients who received placebo as compared with those who received TNF-alpha MAb. In septic patients with shock (n = 478), there was a trend toward a reduction in all-cause mortality, which was most evident 3 days after infusion: 25 of 162 patients treated with 15 mg/kg of TNF-alpha MAb died, 22 of 156 patients treated with 7.5 mg/kg of TNF-alpha MAb died, and 44 of 160 patients in the placebo group died (15 mg/kg: 44% reduction vs placebo, P = .01; 7.5 mg/kg: 48.7% reduction vs placebo, P = .004). At day 28, the reduction in mortality for shock patients was not significant for either dose of TNF-alpha MAb relative to placebo (15 mg/kg, 61 deaths among 162 patients [37.7% mortality]; 7.5 mg/kg, 59 deaths among 156 patients [37.8% mortality]; placebo, 73 deaths among 160 patients [45.6% mortality]; P = .20 for 7.5 mg/kg and P = .15 for 15 mg/kg). Serious adverse events were reported in 4.6% of all infused patients. No immediate hypersensitivity allergic reactions due to TNF-alpha MAb were reported. Serum sickness-like reactions were seen in 2.5% of patients receiving TNF-alpha MAb. CONCLUSIONS There was no decrease in mortality between placebo and TNF-alpha MAb in all infused patients. In septic shock patients who received TNF-alpha MAb, a significant reduction in mortality was present 3 days after infusion. Although a trend toward reduced mortality continued at 28 days following treatment with TNF-alpha MAb, the difference in mortality among shock patients treated with placebo or TNF-alpha MAb was not significant.
Platelet Profile in Patients with Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections Receiving Tedizolid or Linezolid: Findings from the Phase 3 ESTABLISH Clinical Trials

ABSTRACT Tedizolid, the active moiety of tedizolid phosphate, is a recently approved oxazolidinone antibacterial with activity against a wide range of Gram-positive pathogens, including resistant strains such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. To date, 6 days of 200 mg tedizolid once daily has been shown to be noninferior to 10 days of 600 mg linezolid twice daily in two randomized, double-blind phase 3 trials (ESTABLISH-1 and ESTABLISH-2) for the treatment of patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs). The intent of this study was to characterize the platelet profiles of patients receiving tedizolid relative to linezolid over the course of treatment using pooled data from these two trials. The occurrences of clinically defined and statistical analysis plan–specified reduced platelet counts were assessed at the study days 7 to 9 visit, the study days 11 to 13 visit, and the posttherapy evaluation (PTE) visit. At the study days 7 to 9 visit, incidences of reduced platelet counts were low and largely similar between the groups. The only notable difference was a lower incidence of thrombocytopenia (platelet counts, <150,000 cells/mm3) among patients who received tedizolid (3.2%) relative to those who received linezolid (5.6%). At the study days 11 to 13 visit, patients who received tedizolid had lower incidences of platelet counts of <150,000 cells/mm3 (−5.9%), <112,500 cells/mm3 (−2.4%), and <100,000 cells/mm3 (−1.9%) than patients in the linezolid group. Similar differences were noted at the PTE visit. Findings across the two phase 3 ABSSSI trials suggest that 6 days of 200 mg tedizolid daily confers a low potential for reduced platelet counts among patients with ABSSSIs. (The ESTABLISH-1 and ESTABLISH-2 trials have been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration numbers NCT01170221 and NCT01421511, respectively.)
Heterogeneity of fracture pathogenesis in urban South African children: The birth to twenty cohort

South African black children fracture less than white children. Differences in bone mass, body composition, and physical activity may be contributing risk factors. This study aimed to investigate the association between fracture prevalence, bone mass, and physical activity in South African children. Using the Bone Health cohort of the Birth to Twenty longitudinal study, we retrospectively obtained information of lifetime fractures until age 15 years in 533 subjects. Whole‐body bone mineral content (BMC), bone area (BA), fat mass (FM), and lean mass (LM) (measured by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry [DXA]), anthropometric data, physical activity scores, and skeletal maturity were obtained at ages 10 and 15 years. Nonfracturing black females were used as the control group and comparisons were made between those who did and did not fracture within the same sex and ethnic groups. Of the 533 subjects, 130 (24%) reported a fracture (black, 15%; white, 41.5%; p < 0.001). White males who fractured were significantly taller (10 years, p < 0.01), more physically active (15 years, p < 0.05) and had higher LM (10 years, p = 0.01; 15 years, p < 0.001), whereas white females who fractured were fatter (10 and 15 years, p = 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively), than their nonfracturing peers. White males who fractured had greater BA and BMC at all sites at 10 and 15 years compared to their nonfracturing peers after adjusting for differences in height and weight; BA and BMC were similar in each of the other sex and ethnic groups. No anthropometric or bone mass differences were found between black children with and without fractures. The factor associated with fractures in white males appears to be participation in sports activities, while in white females obesity appears to play a role. No contributing factors in black males and females were found, and needs further elucidation. © 2011 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
A high aspect ratio 2D gimbaled microscanner with large static rotation

Introduces an isolation method for SOI MEMS technologies, and demonstrates a high aspect ratio 2D gimbaled microscanner with large static rotation using the method. The proposed isolation method, termed backside island process, provides electrical isolation and mechanical coupling of SOI structures through deep reactive ion etching of the backside substrate. The fabricated 2D mirrors perform large static optical deflection from -20.3/spl deg/ to 15.6/spl deg/ by outer gimbal and from 0/spl deg/ to -11.9/spl deg/ by inner mirror.
Escitalopram in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: a double blind placebo control trial.

BACKGROUND The tolerability and efficacy for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in a large, sample on Escitalopram was studied. METHODS A total of 100 adults with a confirmed diagnosis of OCD were included. The percentage of patients with an adequate drug trial, defined as 42 days of continuous treatment with a serotonin- reuptake inhibitor or placebo at dosages at or above established minimal effective dosages. RESULTS Ninety-six percent of the adults who were newly diagnosed with OCD in the index year had an adequate trial of medication after their first visit for OCD. By the second half of 42 days the patient who were responding to the treatment were randomly allocated to two groups. One group received the same drug and other group was given placebo. The results were complied at the end of three months of each patient treatment. No additional psychotherapy was offered to these patients during this time period. CONCLUSIONS Despite the typically chronic course of OCD, many patients with OCD responded to the Esciatolpram at the dosage of twenty milligram per day.
Potential role of mitogen-activated protein kinase in pronuclear envelope assembly and disassembly following fertilization of mouse eggs.

Changes in the activities of the p34cdc2/cyclin B complex and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase were analyzed after insemination of mouse eggs in vitro. Whereas histone H1 kinase activity (p34cdc2/cyclin B) fell to negligible levels by 90 min postinsemination, a decrease to negligible levels of myelin basic protein kinase activity (i.e., MAP kinase) was not observed until about 7 h postinsemination. The decrease in MAP kinase activity appeared to be linked to the prior decline in p34cdc2/cyclin B kinase activity, since inhibiting the fertilization-induced destruction of cyclin B by treating eggs with the microtubule inhibitor nocodazole prevented the decrease in each of these protein kinases; an intact spindle is required for cyclin destruction. Moreover, experimental elevation of MAP kinase activity by okadaic acid treatment under conditions that maintain negligible levels of p34cdc2/cyclin B kinase activity suggested that MAP kinase could be involved in pronuclear envelope dynamics. Specifically, preventing the fertilization-induced decrease in MAP kinase activity was correlated with inhibiting pronucleus formation, and elevating MAP kinase activity subsequent to pronucleus formation resulted in precocious pronuclear envelope breakdown prior to entry into M phase.
A direct calibration method for structured light

We propose a new and practical direct calibration method for structured light. It need not calibrate the camera intrinsic, extrinsic parameters and structured light systematic parameters. The correspondence between image points and their coordinates in space can be built by taking the image of the calibration board which is coplanar with the structured light. The coordinates of any point in space can be obtained by interpolation according to the known points. By using this method it is easy and direct to realize the real-time calibration of the system on the spot, and the result of measurement is not sensitive to the middle calibration parameters. In this paper, the direct linear and nonlinear interpolation methods are used for interpolation. The experiment shows that the relative errors are less than 1%. At last, a brief analysis of systematic errors is given.