Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diffusion tensor imaging and voxel based morphometry study in early progressive supranuclear palsy

Background: A comprehensive characterisation of grey and white matter changes in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), the second most common extrapyramidal syndrome after Parkinson disease, is still not available. Objective: To evaluate grey and white matter changes in mild PSP patients by voxel based morphometry (VBM) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), respectively. Methods: 14 mild PSP patients and 14 healthy controls entered the study and underwent a clinical and neuropsychological evaluation according with a standardised assessment. Each subject had a structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. Processing analysis of MRI data was carried out according to optimised VBM and fractional anisotropy was determined. Results: Compared with the controls, in PSP patients VBM analysis showed a significant clusters of reduced grey matter in premotor cortex, frontal operculum, anterior insula, hippocampus, and parahippocampal gyrus, bilaterally. With regard to subcortical brain regions, the pulvinar, dorsomedial and anterior nuclei of the thalamus, and superior and inferior culliculum were affected bilaterally. A bilateral decrease in fractional anisotropy in superior longitudinal fasciculus, anterior part of corpus callosum, arcuate fascicolus, posterior thalamic radiations, and internal capsule, probably involving the cortico-bulbar tracts, was present in PSP patients. Conclusions: These data provide evidence for both grey and white matter degeneration in PSP from the early disease stage. These structural changes suggest that atrophy of cortical and subcortical structures and neurodegeneration of specific fibre tracts contribute to neurological deficits in PSP.
Water wave packets

This paper presents a method for simulating water surface waves as a displacement field on a 2D domain. Our method relies on Lagrangian particles that carry packets of water wave energy; each packet carries information about an entire group of wave trains, as opposed to only a single wave crest. Our approach is unconditionally stable and can simulate high resolution geometric details. This approach also presents a straightforward interface for artistic control, because it is essentially a particle system with intuitive parameters like wavelength and amplitude. Our implementation parallelizes well and runs in real time for moderately challenging scenarios.
Calculating Asymptotic Significance Levels of the Constrained Likelihood Ratio Test with Application to Multivariate Genetic Linkage Analysis

The asymptotic distribution of the multivariate variance component linkage analysis likelihood ratio test has provoked some contradictory accounts in the literature. In this paper we confirm that some previous results are not correct by deriving the asymptotic distribution in one special case. It is shown that this special case is a good approximation to the distribution in many situations. We also introduce a new approach to simulating from the asymptotic distribution of the likelihood ratio test statistic in constrained testing problems. It is shown that this method is very efficient for small p-values, and is applicable even when the constraints are not convex. The method is related to a multivariate integration problem. We illustrate how the approach can be applied to multivariate linkage analysis in a simulation study. Some more philosophical issues relating to one-sided tests in variance components linkage analysis are discussed.
Millimeter- and submillimeter-wave monolithic integrated circuits based on metamorphic HEMT technology for sensors and communication

For the next generation of sensors and communication systems operating at frequencies up to 600 GHz and above, the Fraunhofer IAF is developing a broad variety of millimeter- and submillimeter-wave monolithic integrated circuits (MMICs and S-MMICs) and modules. The monolithic integrated circuits are realized using the advanced metamorphic high electron mobility transistor (mHEMT) technology in the InGaAs/InAlAs material system on 4” GaAs substrates. This paper presents a 600 GHz amplifier S-MMIC and a chip set of MMICs developed for a 300 GHz radar.
A Novel Multi-oriented Chinese Text Extraction Approach from Videos

Video texts contain useful high level information which contributes to video indexing and retrieval. This paper proposed a novel video text extraction method for Chinese text of any orientation. Firstly, candidate text regions are detected by a wavelet based algorithm. Secondly, horizontal, vertical, slant, curve or arc text lines are merged by color and space relationship based on arrangement structures of multi-oriented text lines in these candidate regions. And then character segmentation will automatically choose best fit strategies based on structure analysis, due to the complex structures (single, up-down, left-right, encircling) of Chinese characters. Finally, a SVM classifier eliminates false positives. The experimental results show the proposed approach is robust for Chinese texts of any orientation in videos.
Specific recruitment of CD 4 CD 25 regulatory T cells into the allograft in heart transplant recipients

Schmidt-Lucke C, Aicher A, Romagnani P, Gareis B, Romagnani S, Zeiher AM, Dimmeler S. Specific recruitment of CD4 CD25 regulatory T cells into the allograft in heart transplant recipients. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 292: H2425–H2431, 2007. First published January 19, 2007; doi:10.1152/ajpheart.01197. 2006. —Regulatory T cells (Treg) migrate into allografts and induce tolerance of the graft. Immunosuppressive Treg are found among CD4 CD25 T cells and specifically express the forkhead/winged transcription factor FOXP3. We hypothesized that activated T cells and Treg might modulate the ongoing inflammation of the cardiac allograft (CA) and that the chronic inflammatory environment might influence the balance between these distinct cell types. We therefore quantified levels of activated T cells and CD4 CD25 Treg in the cardiac and systemic circulation in heart transplant recipients. To determine the influence of the allograft passage on these cells, transcardiac gradients were evaluated in CA recipients (n 22) compared with controls (n 18). Systemic levels of circulating Treg were significantly lower in CA recipients (8.9 1.3 l) compared with controls (15.8 1.6 l; P 0.002). Similarly, the proportion of Treg related to the total leukocyte number was significantly lower in CA recipients (P 0.01). In contrast, systemic levels of circulating activated CD4 T cells and of circulating plasmacytoid dendritic cells were similar in both groups. In transplant patients, numbers of Treg significantly decreased during transcardiac passage (3.0 0.3 to 2.4 0.3% of CD4 T cells, P 0.01), and FOXP3 T cells invaded into the allograft. In contrast, numbers of activated CD4 T cells increased during passage through the allograft, even in the presence of effective immunosuppression. In conclusion, numbers of circulating immunosuppressive Treg are reduced in transplant recipients. Recruitment of Treg into the cardiac allograft during transcoronary passage may induce graft tolerance during subclinical inflammation potentially influencing allograft vasculopathy.
Motion generator approach to translating human motion from video to animation

This paper purpose a motion generator approach to translating human motion from video image sequences to computer animations in real-time. In the motion generator approach, a motion generator makes inferences on the current human motion and posture from the data obtained by processing the source video source, and then generates and sends a set of joint angles to the target human body model. Compared with the existing motion capture approach, our approach is more robust, and tolerant of broader environmental and postural conditions. Experiments on a prototype system show that an animated virtual human can walk, sit, and lie as the real human performs without special illuminations control.
Aging of the human neuromuscular system

Loss of cells from the motor system occurs during the normal aging process, leading to reduction in the complement of motor neurons and muscle fibers. The latter age‐related decrease in muscle mass has been termed “sarcopenia” and is often combined with the detrimental effects of a sedentary lifestyle in older adults, leading to a significant reduction in reserve capacity of the neuromuscular system, which is the primary subject of this review. Clear evidence of this aging effect is seen when voluntary or stimulated muscle strength is compared across the adult lifespan, with a steady decline of ∼1–2% per year occurring after the sixth decade. Interestingly, when compared with isometric contractions, the effect of aging is more pronounced for concentric movements and less for eccentric movements (i.e., muscle shortening versus lengthening). This phenomenon appears to be linked to the stiffer muscle structures and prolonged myosin crossbridge cycles of aged muscles. It is encouraging that the capability of physiological adaptations in the motor pathways remains into very old age — when an appropriate exercise stimulus is given — and long‐term prevention strategies are advocated to avoid excessive physical impairments and activity restrictions in this age group. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 25: 17–25, 2002
Tn5 Transposase-Mediated Mouse Transgenesis1

Abstract We have developed a novel method for mouse transgenesis. The procedure relies on a hyperactive Tn5 transposase to insert a transgene into mouse chromosomes during intracytoplasmic sperm injection. This procedure integrates foreign DNA into the mouse genome with dramatically increased effectiveness as compared to conventional methods such as pronuclear microinjection and traditional sperm injection-mediated transgenesis. Our data indicate that with this method, transgenic mice, both hybrids and inbreds, can be produced more consistently and with lower numbers of manipulated oocytes required for traditional microinjection methods. The transposase-mediated transgenesis technique is also effective with round spermatids, offering the potential for rescuing the fertility of azoospermic animals using sperm precursor cells.
Test quality of asynchronous circuits: a defect-oriented evaluation

This paper investigates the test quality of asynchronous circuits using fault models that are grounded in realistic defect probabilities. As for synchronous designs, I/sub DDQ/ testing plays a prominent role in detecting CMOS manufacturing defects for asynchronous designs, too. However, for asynchronous circuits, I/sub DDQ/ testing is usually less effective because fewer states are quiescent, and our analysis shows that the test quality can only be improved by creating more quiescent states. We present a new Design-for-Test (DfT) method that provides good test quality in that all defects are detected that are likely to occur given the IC layout and process technology and that pose quality or reliability problems. Our DfT method is evaluated on three in-house manufactured designs.
Content Analysis in an Era of Big Data: A Hybrid Approach to Computational and Manual Methods

Massive datasets of communication are challenging traditional, human-driven approaches to content analysis. Computational methods present enticing solutions to these problems but in many cases are insufficient on their own. We argue that an approach blending computational and manual methods throughout the content analysis process may yield more fruitful results, and draw on a case study of news sourcing on Twitter to illustrate this hybrid approach in action. Careful combinations of computational and manual techniques can preserve the strengths of traditional content analysis, with its systematic rigor and contextual sensitivity, while also maximizing the large-scale capacity of Big Data and the algorithmic accuracy of computational methods.
Selective control of gene expression by CDK9 in human cells

CDK9 associates with T‐type cyclins and positively regulates transcriptional elongation by phosphorylating RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) and negative elongation factors. However, it is unclear whether CDK9 is required for transcription of most genes by RNAPII or alternatively plays a role regulating the expression of restricted subsets of genes. We have investigated the direct effects of inhibiting cellular CDK9 activity in global gene expression in human cells by using a dominant‐negative form of CDK9 (dnCDK9). We have also compared direct inhibition of cellular CDK9 activity to pharmacological inhibition with flavopiridol (FVP), a CDK inhibitor that potently inhibits CDK9 and cellular transcription. Because of its presumed selectivity for CDK9, FVP has been previously used as a tool to infer the role of CDK9 on global gene expression. DNA microarray analyses described here show that inhibition of gene expression by FVP is consistent with global inhibition of transcription. However, specific inhibition of CDK9 activity with dnCDK9 leads to a distinctive pattern of changes in gene expression, with more genes being specifically upregulated (122) than downregulated (84). Indeed, the expression of many short‐lived transcripts downregulated by FVP is not modulated by dnCDK9. Nevertheless, consistently with FVP inhibiting CDK9 activity, a significant number of the genes downregulated/upregulated by dnCDK9 are modulated with a similar trend by FVP. Our data suggests that the potent effects of FVP on transcription are likely to involve inhibition of CTD kinases in addition to CDK9. Our data also suggest complex and gene‐specific modulation of gene expression by CDK9. J. Cell. Physiol. 222:200–208, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Selection in dioecious populations

Weak selection at a single mutiallelic locus in a dioecious population is analysed under the assumptions of panmixia and discrete non-overlapping generations. The results hold for both autosomal and X-linked loci after several generations have elapsed. With an error of the order of s (i.e. O(s)), where s is the selection intensity, the population evolves as if it were monoecious. The equivalent monoecious fitnesses must be calculated by weighting each sex by the number of genes carried by an individual at the locus under consideration. Provided the explicit time dependence (if any) of the genotypic fitnesses in each sex is O(s2), the rate of change of the male--female allelic frequency differences is O(s2). If the change per generation of the genotypic fitnesses is smaller than second order in s (i.e. o(s2)), then to O(s2) the rate of change of the unweighted average of the male and female mean fitnesses is equal to the genic variance. Hence, as long as there is significant gene frequency change, this measure of the mean fitness of the population will increase.
James Clerk Maxwell's Scottish chair

This account of Maxwell as professor of natural philosophy at Marischal College, Aberdeen, fills in many details that have been left out of Maxwell's biographies. It discusses the degree programme that Maxwell taught on, the nature of his colleagues, the type of student he had in his classes and the range of activities involved in his teaching. Evidence is cited that Maxwell was an enthusiastic and effective teacher, contrary to the often repeated but thinly supported view to the contrary. Following a brief summary of Maxwell's research interests while at Aberdeen, the myth that Maxwell was sacked from the University of Aberdeen is exploded and the detail of why he moved on is spelt out.
Current developments and controversies: does the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) modulate the association between stress and depression?

Purpose of review Human observational studies have shown that, in interaction with life stress, the short or S-allele of the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) is associated with an enhanced risk for depression. However, this gene-by-environment interaction (G × E) has recently been questioned by two meta-analyses. We aim to provide an overview and appraisal of recent developments and controversies. Recent findings The statistical approach of the meta-analyses aimed at a very strict replication of the initial finding and, accordingly, included only a minority of all available studies. Furthermore, the negative results of the meta-analyses appear to be predominantly driven by a few large studies that used retrospective, self-report measures of life stress. In contrast, among 19 studies using interview-based or more objective measures of stress, there were 13 replications, five part-replications and only one nonreplication. Finally, a broader approach based on evidence from different research fields and methodologies supports a 5-HTTLPR by stress interaction. Summary Whereas there is no doubt that the meta-analyses are methodologically sound, it appears that this technique is only in part suitable for appraising all of the available evidence. Furthermore, convergent evidence is accumulating from different research fields that 5-HTTLPR is indeed closely associated with different biological pathways associated with stress regulation and depression.
Enhanced inverse synthetic aperture radar imagery using 2-D spectral estimation

approved: _____________________________________________________ S. Lawrence Marple Jr. This research focused on the use of classical and modern two-dimensional spectral estimation techniques for enhancing inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imagery. 2-D Classical spectral estimation methods and 2-D modern parametric and non-parametric spectral estimation methods are applied to simulated and real data sets in order to achieve both range and cross-range resolution enhancement. After a basic introduction of radar fundamentals the concepts of image formation for ISAR imagery is developed from a 2-D matched filter method into 2-D Fourier based methods. The concepts of Zero-Doppler clutter subtraction and polar-to-cartesian interpolation are introduced and applied. 2-D Classical and modern spectral estimation methods are presented and integrated into image formation algorithms. A quantitative and qualitative assessment of the imagery product from each is made based on resolution, variance, and dynamic range. A Matlab toolbox for ISAR image formation of both simulated and measured ISAR data is developed. Alternative image formation techniques such as Hybrid algorithms and Time-Frequency Analysis are introduced. ©Copyright by David R. Ohm October 26, 2004 All Rights Reserved Enhanced Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar Imagery Using 2-D Spectral Estimation
Validation of the FRAIL Scale in a Cohort of Older Australian Women

To the Editor: Assessment of frailty has generally been operationalized in one of three ways. Using the phenotypicbased approach, individuals are considered to be frail if they meet a number of specific criteria. One approach used by Fried and colleagues defined frailty according to the occurrence of at least three of the following five deficits: unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, measured grip strength, slow walking speed, and low level of physical activity. A second approach used a method of counting an individual’s illnesses and disabilities and is highly reproducible and predictive of mortality and other deleterious outcomes. As a third approach, frailty may be based on the clinician’s subjective opinion from clinical examination and history taking. The first approach is simple but relies on a small set of criteria that may not be relevant to every case, the second has good predictive ability but is time consuming and not practical in a clinical setting, and the third approach is not feasible in large-scale epidemiological studies. The Geriatric Advisory Panel of the International Academy of Nutrition, Health, and Aging task force on frailty assessment of older people in clinical practice proposed a simple screening tool, the FRAIL scale, based on elements in both of the first two approaches. The FRAIL scale is a simple five-point scale based on items from the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Survey (SF36) and questions about illnesses and loss of weight. This scale was recently validated in a cohort of older Australian men. The aims of the current study were to validate the FRAIL scale in a cohort of older Australian women and to determine whether a score of greater than 2 on the FRAIL scale is predictive of frailty.
Repeatability of gingival crevicular fluid collection and quantification, as determined through its alkaline phosphatase activity: implications for diagnostic use.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE In spite of four decades of studies on gingival crevicular fluid, no data have been reported on the repeatability of gingival crevicular fluid collection and the subsequent quantification procedures. The present study reports, for the first time, on the repeatability and method error of gingival crevicular fluid collection and quantification, as determined through its alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Diagnostic considerations are then explored. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty-seven healthy subjects (17 women and 10 men; mean age ± SD, 21.2 ± 4.8 years) with optimal periodontal status were enrolled according to a blind prospective design. The gingival crevicular fluid was collected at baseline, and after 1 d, 1 wk and 3 mo. At each clinical session, two consecutive rounds of gingival crevicular fluid collection were made from each of the four maxillary incisors, allowing the recovery of resting and flow gingival crevicular fluid. The total ALP activities were determined spectrophotometrically, and repeatability and method errors for the resting, flow and overall (resting + flow) gingival crevicular fluid ALP activities were calculated, relative to the corresponding baseline levels. RESULTS No significant differences were seen over time, although the flow gingival crevicular fluid ALP activity was generally lower than that for the resting gingival crevicular fluid. The method errors ranged from 40 to 58%, with the flow and overall gingival crevicular fluid activities showing the highest and lowest errors, respectively. CONCLUSION Reliable use of the gingival crevicular fluid ALP collection and quantification, both in research and diagnosis on an individual basis, should take into account relevant errors, and variations are to be considered as true only above relevant thresholds.
Translation of a testis-specific Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) mRNA is regulated by a 65-kilodalton protein which binds to its 5' untranslated region

Mouse testes contain two distinct superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) transcripts which differ by 114 nucleotides in their 5' untranslated regions (UTRs) (W. Gu, C. Morales, and N. B. Hecht, J. Biol. Chem. 270:236-243, 1995). The shorter SOD-1 mRNA, a somatic type SOD-I mRNA (SSOD-1), is ubiquitously expressed in all somatic tissues as well as in testes. The larger SOD-1 mRNA, a testis-specific SOD-1 mRNA (TSOD-1), derived from an alternative upstream start site, is transcribed solely in postmeiotic germ cells and is translationally regulated during spermiogenesis. Since the two mRNAs have identical nucleotides except that TSOD-1 has an additional sequence at its 5' terminus, we have proposed that the extra 5' UTR sequence may be involved in the translational control of the TSOD-1 mRNA during spermiogenesis. Here we show that, when assayed in a cell-free system, TSOD-1 is translated only slightly less efficiently than SSOD-1. RNA gel retardation and UV cross-linking assays reveal that a testicular cytoplasmic protein (Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase RNA-binding protein [SOD-RBP]) of about 65 kDa specifically binds to the extended 5' UTR of TSOD-1. After purification of SOD-RBP by RNA affinity chromatography, we demonstrate that SOD-RBP can repress the in vitro translation of TSOD-1 mRNA but not SSOD-1 mRNA or cotranslated luciferase mRNA. We conclude that SOD-RBP serves as a repressor in the translation of TSOD-1 mRNA during spermiogenesis and thereby fine-tunes the level of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase produced in maturing germ cells.