Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Systemic inflammatory changes after pulmonary vein radiofrequency ablation do not alter stem cell mobilization.

AIMS Aim of this study was to investigate the number of circulating progenitor cells, systemic inflammatory mediators, and myocardial necrosis in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing pulmonary vein (PV) isolation by radiofrequency (RF) ablation. Radiofrequency ablation generates a localized myocardial necrosis that might result in a release of inflammatory mediators enhancing progenitor cell mobilization and improving tissue repair. METHODS AND RESULTS Blood samples were collected in patients with paroxysmal AF before and after PV isolation. Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-12, and stromal derived factor (SDF)-1 were measured by immunoassay. CD34+CD133+, CD117+, and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were analysed by flow cytometry and culture assay. After ablation procedure, a rise in creatine kinase and troponin T levels indicated myocardial necrosis. Leukocyte counts and C-reactive protein and IL-6 levels increased significantly. Myocardial necrosis and inflammatory response correlated with an increase in IL-6 (P = 0.007). In contrast, SDF-1 levels decreased after RF ablation (P = 0.004). Yet, no significant changes were observed in IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-8, IL 10, and IL-12 plasma levels or in the number of circulating CD34+CD133+ and CD117+ progenitor cells, whereas EPCs decreased by trend. CONCLUSION Although PV isolation by RF ablation in patients with paroxysmal AF induces a systemic inflammatory response associated with myocardial necrosis, no alterations in circulating progenitor cells were observed. Thus, isolated myocardial necrosis may not be sufficient to account for progenitor cell mobilization.
Design of human likeness in HRI from uncanny valley to minimal design

Human likeness of social agents is crucial for human partners to interact with the agents intuitively because it makes the partners unconsciously respond to the agents in the same manner as what they show to other people. Although many studies suggest that an agent's human likeness plays an important role in human-robot interaction, it remains unclear how to design humanlike form that evokes interpersonal behavior from human partners. One approach is to make a copy of an existing person. Although this extreme helps us explore how we recognize another person, the Uncanny Valley effect must be taken into account. Basic questions, including why we experience the uncanny valley and how we overcome it should be addressed to give new insights into an underlying mechanism in our perception of human likeness. Another approach is to extract crucial elements that represent human appearance and behavior, as addressed in design of computer-animated human characters. The exploration of minimal requirement to evoke interpersonal behavior from human partners provides more effective and simpler way to design social agents that facilitate communication with human.
Semantic knowledge fractionations: verbal propositions vs. perceptual input? Evidence from a child with Klinefelter syndrome

This paper addresses the relative independence of different types of lexical- and factually-based semantic knowledge in JM, a 9-year-old boy with Klinefelter syndrome (KS). JM was matched to typically developing (TD) controls on the basis of chronological age. Lexical-semantic knowledge was investigated for common noun (CN) and mathematical vocabulary items (MV). Factually-based semantic knowledge was investigated for general and number facts. For CN items, JM's lexical stores were of a normal size but the volume of correct ‘sensory feature’ semantic knowledge he generated within verbal item descriptions was significantly reduced. He was also significantly impaired at naming item descriptions and pictures, particularly for fruit and vegetables. There was also weak object decision for fruit and vegetables. In contrast, for MV items, JM's lexical stores were elevated, with no significant difference in the amount and type of correct semantic knowledge generated within verbal item descriptions and normal naming. JM's fact retrieval accuracy was normal for all types of factual knowledge. JM's performance indicated a dissociation between the representation of CN and MV vocabulary items during development. JM's preserved semantic knowledge of facts in the face of impaired semantic knowledge of vocabulary also suggests that factually-based semantic knowledge representation is not dependent on normal lexical-semantic knowledge during development. These findings are discussed in relation to the emergence of distinct semantic knowledge representations during development, due to differing degrees of dependency upon the acquisition and representation of semantic knowledge from verbal propositions and perceptual input.
Prevalence and Persistence of Chlamydia pneumoniae Antibodies in Healthy Laboratory Personnel in Finland

ABSTRACT The rates of Chlamydia pneumoniae seroconversions suggesting acute primary infections or reinfections and the prevalences of antibodies were followed up among healthy laboratory workers. Annual serum samples were collected from 47 persons in Helsinki from 1958 to 1990 and from 40 persons in Oulu from 1994 to 1999. C. pneumoniae species-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgA, and IgM antibodies were measured by microimmunofluorescence (MIF) in 407 sera from Helsinki. The 185 sera collected in Oulu were tested both by MIF and by commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA). During the follow-up periods of 31 years in Helsinki and 6 years in Oulu, seroconversions were demonstrated by MIF in 45% and 15% of the study groups, respectively. In Helsinki 9% of the persons seroconverted twice during the follow-up period. By MIF, the total incidence rate per 100 person-years at risk was 6.9 in Helsinki and 4.9 in Oulu, and annual incidence rates varied from 0 to 15.4. By EIA, annual incidence rates in Oulu varied from 0 to 10.8. The seroconversions by MIF were usually not confirmed by EIA and vice versa. Prevalence and persistence rates, respectively, of IgA antibodies were higher in EIA (62% and 26%) than in MIF (26% and 17%), whereas the figures for IgG were quite similar. The prevalence of IgG and IgA antibodies was higher in older persons than in younger ones. The presence of antibodies did not offer protection from reinfection.
Volumetric ultrasound imaging using 2-D CMUT arrays

Recently, capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) have emerged as a candidate to overcome the difficulties in the realization of 2-D arrays for real-time 3-D imaging. In this paper, we present the first volumetric images obtained using a 2-D CMUT array. We have fabricated a 128/spl times/128-element 2-D CMUT array with through-wafer via interconnects and a 420-/spl mu/m element pitch. As an experimental prototype, a 32/spl times/64-element portion of the 128/spl times/128-element array was diced and flip-chip bonded onto a glass fanout chip. This chip provides individual leads from a central 16/spl times/16-element portion of the array to surrounding bondpads. An 8/spl times/16-element portion of the array was used in the experiments along with a 128-channel data acquisition system. For imaging phantoms, we used a 2.37-mm diameter steel sphere located 10 mm from the array center and two 12-mm-thick Plexiglas plates located 20 mm and 60 mm from the array. A 4/spl times/4 group of elements in the middle of the 8/spl times/16-element array was used in transmit, and the remaining elements were used to receive the echo signals. The echo signal obtained from the spherical target presented a frequency spectrum centered at 4.37 MHz with a 100% fractional bandwidth, whereas the frequency spectrum for the echo signal from the parallel plate phantom was centered at 3.44 MHz with a 91% fractional bandwidth. The images were reconstructed by using RF beamforming and synthetic phased array approaches and visualized by surface rendering and multiplanar slicing techniques. The image of the spherical target has been used to approximate the point spread function of the system and is compared with theoretical expectations. This study experimentally demonstrates that 2-D CMUT arrays can be fabricated with high yield using silicon IC-fabrication processes, individual electrical connections can be provided using through-wafer vias, and flip-chip bonding can be used to integrate these dense 2-D arrays with electronic circuits for practical 3-D imaging applications.
Common Genetic Variation of the Low‐Density Lipoprotein Receptor‐Related Protein 5 and 6 Genes Determines Fracture Risk in Elderly White Men

Both LRP5 and LRP6 genes have been implicated to play a role in bone metabolism. In a large population‐based study, we related common variation in both genes to bone parameters and fractures. LRP5 variation was associated to both BMD and frame size, whereas both LRP5 and 6 variations were associated with an increased fracture risk in males.
Identification of Dictyocaulus spp. in ruminants by morphological and molecular analyses

Lungworms of the genus Dictyocaulus from cattle, roe deer, and moose in Sweden were subjected to morphological and molecular analyses. The objectives of the study were to investigate whether mixed or monospecific Dictyocaulus infections occur in Swedish cattle and whether wild cervids may act as reservoirs. The morphological characters examined were thickness and shape of the buccal capsule wall (BCW) and total spicular length (TSL). Morphometry was also done on the total body length, and BCW thickness and length. In the molecular identification, we used a PCR-linked hybridization assay to probe worm DNA with species-specific oligonucleotide probes to the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2). The results showed that the BCW shape was the most reliable morphological character for identification. Significant differences were observed in this character, but an overlap occurred between lungworms from each of the host species. With the hybridization assay, all lungworms from cattle were identified as D. viviparus, whereas those from roe deer represented a novel Dictyocaulus species demonstrating that each host had a monospecific lungworm infection. In moose, 61 (78·2%) worms belonged to the new species and 17 (21·8%) were D. eckerti. This study shows the usefulness of hybridization assay as an epidemiological tool for the specific identification of lungworms of cattle and wild cervids.
CEMPL: A new domain-specific language for rapid modeling of cross-energy systems

The extensive involvement of energy conversion and storage technologies is becoming increasingly important in the context of energy transition. A sufficient modeling and simulation of large-scale and coherent cross-energy systems is essential to enable decision makers to put the right course. This process implies growing complexity in terms of physical and market economy modeling on the device-level, and more important, the ensemble playing and actual integration into energy networks. Currently, the underlying process of software development with general-purpose programming languages is very time consuming and inherents subtasks that recur in multiple industry and research projects. Based on the concepts of Language-Oriented Programming (LOP), we provide a high-level Domain-Specific Language (DSL) for energy experts. The Cross Energy Management Programming Language (CEMPL) acts as a well-defined communication interface between experts in the fields of renewable energy and computer science and provides a simple and clear syntax. An intrinsic language support for modularization and hierarchically component design promotes reusability and favors automatic device instantiation. The requirement to define manifold objectives is achieved by the paradigm of declarative programming. This paper describes CEMPL, its embedding in a simulation environment and exemplary fields of application.
Mobility Modeling and Its Extraction Technique for Manufacturing Strained-Si MOSFETs

A new mobility model, together with its extraction method for manufacturing strained-Si MOSFETs, is presented. An accurate mobility extraction is obtained from the linear drain current by excluding the parasitic source/drain resistance and the parasitic gate capacitance. In addition to universal curves, the Coulomb mobility is dependent on whether devices have compressive or tensile stress. The dependences of Coulomb scattering on different stress conditions can be decoupled from the effective channel mobility in Matthiessen's form. From the extracted results, the tensile-stress N-channel MOSFETs have less Coulomb scattering effect, while the compressive counterparts suffer the worse Coulomb mobility degradation. By including the Coulomb scattering corrections, our model can properly predict mobility enhancements for various strained-Si technologies and dimensions.
Validity of Laser Doppler Flowmetry in Predicting Outcome in Murine Intraluminal Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Stroke.

BACKGROUND Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) can reliably reflect brain perfusion in experimental stroke by monitoring both the degree and the duration of relative regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). Variation in rCBF was continuously monitored in 68 mice undergoing middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and 25 mice undergoing sham-operation and documented as LDF (%). Transcranial LDF changes in the territory of right middle cerebral artery during MCAO procedure were correlated with corrected infarct volume (CIV) and neurological deficit score (NDS). METHODS Ninety-three C57BL/6 mice (Harlan Laboratories, Indianapolis, IN) between 9 and 11 weeks old were randomly selected and assigned to either MCAO for 45 minutes (n = 68) or sham group (n = 25). Ischemia was induced using the transient intraluminal filament model of MCAO based on Koizumi's method and transcranial LDF was used to measure CBF during the procedure. Neurological deficits were measured at 2 and 23 hours after MCA reperfusion with NDS and 2% triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining of carefully dissected brains was performed at 23 hours after reperfusion to determine infarct area. RESULTS After common carotid artery occlusion (CCAO), there was a negative association between LDF drop from base line and NDS at 2 hours (r = -0.43, P = 0.038) and 23 hours (r = -0.61, P = 0.003). Also, a negative correlation was noted between MCA reperfusion LDF and NDS at 23 hours (r = -0.53, P = 0.001). Moreover, post-MCA reperfusion LDF had a positive association with initial CCAO LDF (r = 0.761, P = 0.000) and MCA occlusion LDF (r = 0.31, P = 0.036) in predicting neurological outcome. NDS at 23 hours corresponded well with the infarct volume (r = 0.31, P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS Greater augmentation of rCBF after MCA reperfusion was associated with improved neurological deficit scoring. Interestingly, greater reduction of regional cerebral blood flow after CCAO was also associated with improved neurological outcomes. The favorable neurological outcome is possibly due to interplay of factors such as vascular reserve, collaterals, and autoregulation mechanisms. We propose LDF changes as an additional noninvasive prognosticator of stroke outcome in the setting of experimental brain ischemia.
The Effectiveness of hCG and LHRH in Boys with Cryptorchidism: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract To systematically review the efficacy of hCG and LHRH on testicular descent in boys with cryptorchidism, comprehensive search was performed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Wanfang Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) up to March 2014. Outcomes included testicular complete descent rate (TCDR) and cure rate of patients. Study quality was evaluated using the Jadad scale. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager software. Finally, 13 studies were included. hCG and LHRH increased TCDR comparing with control group. The success rate of hCG and LHRH was 24 and 19%, respectively. Further, hCG and LHRH had signiﬁcant effect on bilateral cryptorchidism, but not on unilateral cryptorchidism. All side effects were transitory and not severe, but if they have long-term harms were not clear. hCG and LHRH can effectively increase TCDR and there was no significant difference between them. However, the hormones cannot be recommended for everyone because of their low success rates and potential long-term harms. Further studies are needed to determine the efficacy of hormonal treatment for subtypes of cryptorchidism.
Cognitive Pharmacotherapy of Alzheimer's Disease and other Dementias

Objective: The objective of this paper is to review the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the pharmacotherapy of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias and to provide evidence-based recommendations for treatment of the cognitive impairment associated with these disorders. Method: A Medline search was conducted for RCTs, using the following key words: Alzheimer's disease, dementia, therapy, cholinesterase inhibitor, donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine. Studies were critically appraised, followed by a review of published major clinical practice guidelines. Recommendations for treatment were made based on best available evidence. Results: The pharmacotherapy of Alzheimer's disease should include the meticulous management of vascular risk factors (for example, hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, and stroke prophylaxis) and consideration for supplementation with folate, vitamin B complex, and vitamin E. Patients should be offered at least 1 trial of a cholinesterase inhibitor, with the possibility of another trial if the first is poorly tolerated or ineffective. Patients with vascular dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies should also be offered treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors. At this time, we lack sufficient data to recommend the use of hormone replacement or antiinflammatory therapy for treatment of dementia as the primary indication. Conclusion: Reasonable evidence exists to provide recommendations for the pharmacotherapy of dementia. Treatment will likely result in modest but important benefits to patients, caregivers, and society.
Combined Costimulatory and Leukocyte Functional Antigen-1 Blockade Prevents Transplant Rejection Mediated by Heterologous Immune Memory Alloresponses

Background Recent evidence suggests that alloreactive memory T cells are generated by the process of heterologous immunity, whereby memory T cells arising in response to pathogen infection crossreact with donor antigens. Because of their diminished requirements for costimulation during recall, these pathogen-elicited allocrossreactive memory T cells are of particular clinical importance, especially given the emergence of costimulatory blockade as a transplant immunosuppression strategy. Methods We used an established model of heterologous immunity involving sequential infection of a naïve C57BL/6 recipient with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus and vaccinia virus, followed by combined skin and bone marrow transplant from a BALB/c donor. Results We demonstrate that coupling the integrin antagonist anti-leukocyte functional antigen (LFA)-1 with costimulatory blockade could surmount the barrier posed by heterologous immunity in a fully allogeneic murine transplant system. The combined costimulatory and integrin blockade regimen suppressed proliferation of alloreactive memory T cells and attenuated their cytokine effector responses. This combined blockade regimen also promoted the retention of FoxP3+ Tregs in draining lymph nodes. Finally, we show that in an in vitro mixed lymphocyte reaction system using human T cells, the combination of belatacept and anti-LFA-1 was able to suppress cytokine production by alloreactive memory T cells that was resistant to belatacept alone. Conclusions As an antagonist against human LFA-1 exists and has been used clinically to treat psoriasis, these findings have significant translational potential for future clinical transplant trials.
PERMANENT GENETIC RESOURCES: Polymorphic microsatellite loci for Diachasma alloeum (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Here, we report the isolation of 21 novel primers for amplification of microsatellite loci in Diachasma alloeum (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Diachasma alloeum is a larval parasitoid of the apple maggot fly (Rhagoletis pomonella), which is an economically significant agricultural pest species and a textbook example of sympatric speciation via host‐plant shifting. These microsatellite markers will prove useful both for assessing genetic relationships between different host‐associated populations of D. alloeum, as well as for future R. pomonella biological control programmes. We also report the cross‐species amplification of several loci for Diachasmimorpha mellea and Diachasma ferrugineum, parasitoids of R. pomonella and R. cingulata, respectively.
Strategic Planning and Management of a Brazilian City: Many Words and Few Accomplishments

Planning and strategic management are instruments of unquestionable importance in cities, city hall, municipality, public organizations and government agencies. Legislations and social actors pressure cities to achieve an adequate level of service delivery and utilization of resources. These pressures can be minimized with the development of strategic planning and effective management of the city in a participatory manner, with the collective involvement of citizens, their desires and also decentralizing and sharing the decisions of local public managers. The objective is to present the projects of the strategic plan and management without effective realization, for three different mayors. The city studied is located in the southern region of Brazil. The methodology emphasizes longitudinal case study for 9 years (3 different governmental mandates). Forms of strategic planning with the city and the various difficulties in deployment and strategic management are described. The results and contributions are targeted to the city research planning and management and to other cities that can draw analogies, whether Brazilian or foreign cities. The conclusion documents the relevance of the three projects and the importance of civil society participation in the management and daily management of cities, city halls, municipalities, public organizations and government agencies. However, it highlights the inadequate strategic management of these projects, showing an excess of spoken words and few actual accomplishments in nine years and three different governmental mandates. Keywords: Bubu City Strategic Planning, City Hall Strategic Management, Citizen Participation, Public Administration, Information Technology Management.