Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of four murine Eimeria species in immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice.

Factors associated with immune-mediated protection against coccidial parasites were examined in a series of experiments utilizing immunocompromised scid/scid(SCID) and scid/scid.beige/beige(SCID/Bg) mice, as well as immunocompetent BALB/c mice. Number of oocysts produced per g feces each day and prepatent and patent periods were assessed for 4 eimerian parasites (Eimeria papillata, Eimeria vermiformis, Eimeria falciformis, and Eimeria ferrisi) using the 3 murine strains. The number of infections required to elicit a protective immune response was also determined for each coccidial species in BALB/c mice. We report the first description of patent infections in inbred immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice infected with E. papillata. Results indicate that during primary infections, parasite replication is under partial immunological control for all Eimeria species. However, the control is mechanistically different for E. papillata because the adaptive immune response does not contribute to the control of primary infections. Both coccidial species infecting intestinal villar epithelial cells (E. papillata and E. ferrisi) were affected by the beige mutation using parasite output as an indicator, whereas E. falciformis, which infects intestinal crypt cells, is not. BALB/c mice were more resistant to challenge infections with upper intestinal parasites (E. papillata and E. vermiformis) in comparison to challenge infections with lower intestinal and cecal parasites (E. falciformis and E. ferrisi).
Impairments of emotion and real-world complex behavior following childhood- or adult-onset damage to ventromedial prefrontal cortex

The behavioral syndrome resulting from damage to the ventromedial prefrontal (VM) region presents major challenges for clinical assessment and management, stemming from the absence of reliable neurologic or psychometric markers, coupled with often debilitating impairments of decision-making and behavior regulation. Damage to this region disrupts neural circuitry critical for emotion, which in turn may contribute to impairments in real-world competencies. Here we present findings from patients with focal lesions in the VM region acquired either in childhood or adulthood, and show that there is a relationship between emotional dysfunction and impairments in real-world behavioral competencies. Emotion was rated by participants' relatives on dimensions including frustration tolerance, lability, anxiety, and blunted affect. Real-world competencies were rated by the relatives on dimensions including judgment, planning, and initiation, and were evaluated by clinician ratings in areas including social, financial, and occupational function. VM damage resulted in severe disruption of emotion, and this emotional dysfunction accounted for a significant portion of impaired real-world competencies. The long-term impairments associated with childhood-onset lesions were at least as severe as those resulting from adult-onset damage. Greater focus on the contribution of emotional dysfunction to the real-world competencies of patients with damage in the VM region may sharpen their neuropsychological assessment and facilitate rehabilitation efforts. (JINS, 2006, 12, 224–235.)
Near Infrared Photoimmunotherapy in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Spontaneous Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-expressing Lung Cancer

Near infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a new cancer treatment that combines the specificity of antibodies for targeting tumors with the toxicity induced by a sensitive photoabsorber following exposure to NIR light. Most studies of NIR-PIT have been performed in xenograft models of cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of NIR-PIT in a transgenic model of spontaneous lung cancer expressing human EGFR (hEGFR-TL). Mice were separated into 3 groups for the following treatments: (1) no treatment (control); (2) 150 μg of photoabsorber, IR700, conjugated to panitumumab, an antibody targeting EGFR [antibody–photoabsorber conjugate (APC)] intravenously (i.v.) only; (3) 150 μg of APC i.v. with NIR light administration. Each treatment was performed every week up to three weeks. MRI was performed 1 day before and 3, 6, 13, 20, 27, and 34 days after first NIR-PIT. The relative volume of lung tumors was calculated from the tumor volume at each MRI time point divided by the initial volume. Steel test for multiple comparisons was used to compare the tumor volume ratio with that of control. Tumor volume ratio was inhibited significantly in the NIR-PIT group compared with control group (P < 0.01 at all time points). In conclusion, NIR-PIT effectively treated a spontaneous lung cancer in a hEGFR-TL transgenic mouse model. MRI successfully monitored the therapeutic effects of NIR-PIT. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(2); 408–14. ©2016 AACR.
Exploiting the Kinematic of the Trajectories of the Local Descriptors to Improve Human Action Recognition

This paper presents a video representation that exploits the properties of the trajectories of local descriptors in human action videos. We use spatial-temporal information, which is led by trajectories to extract kinematic properties: tangent vector, normal vector, bi-normal vector and curvature. The results show that the proposed method provides comparable results compared to the state-of-the-art methods. In turn, it outperforms compared methods in terms of time complexity.
Improved Relational Feature Model for People Detection Using Histogram Similarity Functions

In this paper, we propose a new approach for people detection using a relational feature model (RFM) in combination with histogram similarity functions such as the bhattacharyya distance, histogram intersection, histogram correlation and the chi-square χ2 histogram similarity function. The relational features are computed for all combinations of extracted features from a feature detection algorithm such as the Histograms of Oriented Gradients (HOG) feature descriptor. Our experiments show, that the information of spatial histogram similarities reduces the number of false positives while preserving true positive detections. The detection algorithm is done, using a multi-scale overlapping sliding window approach. In our experiments, we show results for different sizes of the cell size from the HOG descriptor due to the large size of the resulting relational feature vector as well as different results from the mentioned histogram similarity functions. Additionally our results show, that in addition to less false positives, true positive responses in regions near people are much more accurate using the relational features compared to non-relational feature models.
Blood pressure and other metabolic syndrome factors and risk of brain tumour in the large population-based Me-Can cohort study

Objectives: Brain tumour has few established determinants. We assessed to which extent risk of brain tumour was related to metabolic syndrome factors in adults. Methods: In the Me-Can project, 580 000 individuals from Sweden, Austria, and Norway were followed for a median of 10 years after baseline measurement. Data on brain tumours were obtained from national cancer registries. The factors of metabolic syndrome (BMI, SBP and DBP, and blood levels of glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides), separately and combined, were analysed in quintiles and for transformed z-scores (mean transformed to 0 and standard deviation to 1). Cox proportional hazards multivariate regression models were used, with corrections for measurement error. Results: During follow-up, 1312 primary brain tumours were diagnosed, predominantly meningioma (n = 348) and high-grade glioma (n = 436). For meningioma, the hazard ratio was increased for z-scores of SBP [hazard ratio = 1.27 per unit standard deviation, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.57], of DBP (hazard ratio = 1.29, 95% CI 1.04–1.58), and of the combined metabolic syndrome score (hazard ratio = 1.31, 95% CI 1.11–1.54). An increased risk of high-grade glioma was found for DBP (hazard ratio = 1.23, 95% CI 1.01–1.50) and triglycerides (hazard ratio = 1.35, 95% CI 1.05–1.72). For both meningioma and high-grade glioma, the risk was more than double in the fifth quintiles of DBP compared to the lowest quintile. For meningioma this risk was even larger for SBP. Conclusion: Increased blood pressure was associated with risk of brain tumours, especially of meningiomas.
Expansion of the polyQ repeats in THAP11 forms intranuclear aggregation and causes cell G0/G1 arrest

Polyglutamine diseases are a group of neurodegenerative disorders caused by expansion of a CAG repeat that encodes polyglutamine in each respective disease gene. The transcription factor THAP11, a member of THAP family, is involved in cell growth, ES cell pluripotency and embryogenesis. Previous studies suggest that THAP11 protein contains a 29‐residue repeat polyglutamine motif and the number of polyglutamine ranges from 20 to 41 in Indian population. We have investigated the CAG numbers at the THAP11 locus in normal individuals and neurodegenerative disease patients of Chinese Han population and a 38Q expansion (THAP11(38Q)) was found in patients. Using fluorescence confocal‐based cell imaging, THAP11(38Q) protein formed intranuclear inclusions easier than THAP11(29Q) in PC12 cells. Enhanced toxicity was investigated in THAP11(38Q)‐expressing cells by growth inhibition and G0/G1 arrest. CREB‐mediated transcription activity was inhibited by THAP11(38Q). The transcription factor, TBP, coactivator CBP, and chaperon protein, HSP70, could be recruited to THAP11(38Q). These results indicate that expansion of the polyglutamine in THAP11 forms intracellular aggregation and is toxic in PC12 cells, suggesting a putative role of THAP11 in polyglutamine disease.
Analysis of order-statistic CFAR threshold estimators for improved ultrasonic flaw detection

In the pulse-echo method using broadband transducers, flaw detection can be improved by using optimal bandpass filtering to resolve flaw echoes surrounded by grain scatterers. Optimal bandpass filtering is achieved by examining spectral information of the flaw and grain echoes where frequency differences have been experimentally shown to be predictable in the Rayleigh scattering region. Using optimal frequency band information, flaw echoes can then be discriminated by applying adaptive thresholding techniques based on surrounding range cells. The authors present order-statistic (OS) processors, ranked and trimmed mean (TM), to robustly estimate the threshold while censoring outliers. The design of these OS processors is accomplished analytically based on constant false-alarm rate (CFAR) detection. It is shown that OS-CFAR and TM-CFAR processors can detect flaw echoes robustly with the CFAR of 10/sup -4/ where the range cell used for the threshold estimate contains outliers. <<ETX>>
Understanding self-harm in older people: a systematic review of qualitative studies

ABSTRACT Objective: Rates of suicide in older adults are generally higher than other age groups. Although risk factors for suicide attempts, and self-harm more generally, in this population are well-characterised, many of these vulnerabilities are common to older people and individual motivations are less well understood. Qualitative research may reveal more about the underlying thought processes, meaning and experiences of older people who self-harm. Methods: A systematic review of qualitative studies examining the reasons why older people have self-harmed was undertaken by searching databases and screening the reference lists of articles. The quality of studies was critically appraised. A content analysis was performed to identify themes. Results: The search yielded eight studies of variable quality which met the inclusion criteria; three pertained to indirect self-harm (refusal to eat or take medications and self-neglect) and five related to suicidal behaviour. Themes emerging from the analysis of studies of people who had self-neglected included control, impaired decision-making and coping skills and threats to self-identity and continuity. In those who had suicidal behaviour, themes related to loss of and regaining control; alienation, disconnectedness and invisibility; meaningless and raison d'etre; and accumulated suffering and a ‘painful life’. Conclusions: There is scant literature evaluating self-harm in older people using qualitative methods. Nonetheless, this review suggests that active and passive self-harm should be considered as distinct entities as the underlying motivations and intents differ. Understanding individual perceptions and experiences which lead to self-harm may guide clinicians in delivering more sensitive, holistic interventions and counter ageism.
Efficient Test Pattern Compression Techniques Based on Complementary Huffman Coding

In this paper, complementary Huffman encoding techniques are proposed for test data compression of complex SOC designs during manufacturing testing. The correlations of blocks of bits in a test data set are exploited such that more blocks can share the same codeword. Therefore, beside the compatible blocks used in previous works, the complementary property betweens blocks can also be used. Based on this property, two methods are proposed for Huffman encoding. According to this technique, more blocks will share the same codeword and the size of the Huffman tree can be reduced. This will not only reduce the area overhead of the decoding circuitry but also substantially increase the compression ratio. In order to facilitate the proposed complementary encoding techniques, a don't-care assignment algorithm is also proposed. According to experimental results, the area overhead of the decompression circuit is lower than that of the full Huffman coding technique. Moreover, the compression ratio is higher that that of the selective and optimal selective Huffman coding techniques.
Evaluation of Fan-out Wafer Level Package strength by three-point bending testing

The Fan-out Wafer Level Package (FOWLP) becomes more attractive because of its flexibility for integration of diverse devices in a very small form factor. As the FOWLP is composed of various materials, the proper structural and material designs are important to meet reliability requirements. In this study, mechanical properties of FOWLPs with different structures were evaluated by a three-point-bending test method. It aims to understand the effect of structural factors on package strength and its reliability.
The Empirical Study on the Relationship between Entrepreneurial Orientation and Firm's Performance:based on the Moderating Effect of Environmental Dynamism

More and more organizations begin to adopt the entrepreneurial orientation strategy in the dynamic and complicated uncertainty environment,but from the entrepreneurial orientation strategy to organizational performance,it should be some transitional paths and experiences effects of other variables.And also,the focus point of relevant research changes from whether it should be build the entrepreneurial orientation strategy to the mechanism of how to construct the entrepreneurial orientation and possible difficulties in this process.Based on previous studies,this paper makes all explorative study of the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and organizational performance.Then the moderating effects of environmental dynamism on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and organizational performance of the organization is discussed and examined empirically by developing structural equation models using partial least squares method with evidence from Chinese's firms.
Resveratrol alleviates heat stress‐induced impairment of intestinal morphology, microflora, and barrier integrity in broilers

&NA; This study was to investigate the effect of resveratrol on intestinal morphology, microfloras, and barrier integrity of broilers subjected to heat stress. Two‐hundred‐seventy 21‐day‐old Cobb male broilers were randomly allocated to 3 treatment groups, each of which included 6 replicates with 15 birds per replicate. The 3 treatment groups were as follows: the control group, in which birds were exposed to thermoneutral condition (22 ± 1°C), and the heat stress group and heat stress + resveratrol (400 mg/kg) group, in which birds were exposed to cyclic heat stress (33 ± 1°C for 10 h/d from 0800 to 1800 h and 22 ± 1°C for the remaining time. Compared with birds in the control group, birds in the heat stress group exhibited decreased (P < 0.05) final body weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, villus height, villus height to crypt depth ratio, goblet cells numbers, populations of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and mRNA levels of mucin‐2, claudin‐1, occludin, zona occludens‐1, and E‐cadherin, and increased (P < 0.05) crypt depth, serum D‐lactic acid and fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran contents and diamine oxidase activity, and populations of Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Clostridium. Compared with birds in the heat stress group, birds in the heat stress + resveratrol group exhibited decreased (P < 0.05) crypt depth, serum D‐lactic acid and fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran contents, and populations of Escherichia coli, and increased (P < 0.05) final body weight, villus height, villus height to crypt depth ratio, goblet cells numbers, populations of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and mRNA levels of mucin‐2, claudin‐1, occludin, and E‐cadherin. Taken together, these results indicated for the first time that dietary addition of resveratrol was effective in partially ameliorating the adverse effects of heat stress on intestinal barrier function in broilers by restoring the impaired villus‐crypt structure, modifying the profiles of intestinal microfloras, and altering the mRNA expression of intestinal tight junctions‐ and adherence junctions‐related genes.
Regulation of Insulin-Like Growth Factor Signaling by Yap Governs Cardiomyocyte Proliferation and Embryonic Heart Size

A transcriptional coactivator in the Hippo pathway promotes cardiac growth. Growing a Heart Understanding the signaling pathways that regulate heart growth during development provides possible avenues for regenerative therapies. In the fruit fly, the Hippo signaling pathway acts to limit organ size during development, and recent evidence indicates that this pathway also restricts cardiac growth in embryonic mice. Among other targets, activation of Hippo inhibits the transcriptional coactivator Yap. Mice generated by Xin et al. with a cardiomyocyte-specific deficiency of Yap developed smaller hearts and died in utero. In contrast, mice expressing a constitutively active form of Yap in the heart had larger hearts because of increased cell proliferation. In cardiomyocytes, expression of the constitutively active form of Yap increased the activity of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) pathway, which resulted in stabilization of β-catenin, a transcriptional effector of the Wnt signaling pathway that promotes cardiomyocyte proliferation. Thus, alleviating the Hippo pathway–mediated inhibition of Yap increases the activity of signaling pathways that increase the growth of the heart during development. The Hippo signaling pathway regulates growth of the heart and other tissues. Hippo pathway kinases influence the activity of various targets, including the transcriptional coactivator Yap, but the specific role of Yap in heart growth has not been investigated. We show that Yap is necessary and sufficient for embryonic cardiac growth in mice. Deletion of Yap in the embryonic mouse heart impeded cardiomyocyte proliferation, causing myocardial hypoplasia and lethality at embryonic stage 10.5. Conversely, forced expression of a constitutively active form of Yap in the embryonic heart increased cardiomyocyte number and heart size. Yap activated the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling pathway in cardiomyocytes, resulting in inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β, which led to increased abundance of β-catenin, a positive regulator of cardiac growth. Our results point to Yap as a critical downstream effector of the Hippo pathway in the control of cardiomyocyte proliferation and a nexus for coupling the IGF, Wnt, and Hippo signaling pathways with the developmental program for heart growth.
Development of a Benzopyran‐Containing Androgen Receptor Antagonist to Treat Antiandrogen‐Resistant Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a major cause of death in men worldwide, especially in the USA. Key molecular targets in prostate cancer therapy are the androgen receptor (AR) and its endogenous ligands, such as dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The AR is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of ligand-dependent transcription factors, and the identification of AR antagonists is an important step in the development of therapeutic agents for the treatment of prostate cancer. Currently, AR antagonists such as flutamide and bicalutamide are used as
Effects of job rotation on musculoskeletal complaints and related work exposures: a systematic literature review

The aim of this systematic review was to summarise evidence on the effects of job rotation on musculoskeletal complaints, exposures related to musculoskeletal complaints and sustainable working life parameters. A total of 16 studies were included. No studies on sustainable working life parameters were found. The quality of the studies was assessed using a checklist; eight field studies and three laboratory studies of sufficient quality were used to summarise the following evidence: one field study showed positive results and one field study showed negative results for musculoskeletal complaints, two field studies showed positive results and two field studies showed inconsistent results for exposures, and two field studies showed inconsistent results for musculoskeletal complaints and exposures. Two laboratory studies showed inconsistent results and one laboratory study showed no changes for exposures. In conclusion, there is currently inconsistent evidence for positive or negative effects of job rotation on musculoskeletal complaints and exposures related to musculoskeletal complaints. Practitioner's Summary: Currently, there is inconsistent evidence for recommending job rotation as a strategy for preventing musculoskeletal complaints. Exposures from all involved work activities and body regions should be identified and assessed first, to determine if job rotation provides increased exposure variation and/or beneficial changes in mean exposures related to musculoskeletal complaints.
Recruitment and Retention Across Cultures

The flow of human capital into and out of organizations is a crucial aspect of organizational functioning. Recruitment is the primary mechanism for attracting human capital to the organization, whereas retention involves keeping desired employees in the fold once they are employed. Although extensive research explores and informs recruitment and retention, the bulk of the theory and research in major organizational psychology and organizational behavior journals adopts a US-centric perspective. This narrow perspective may be misleading, particularly in an increasingly globalized work context. We systematically analyze studies on the flow of people into and out of organizations in a variety of cultural contexts and especially in organizations managing talent across national borders. In so doing, we seek to create a coherent platform for future research by identifying key themes in the literature and using these themes to summarize what we know and indicate where we need to go in studying recruitment and retention across cultures.