Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pseudo‐dynamics model of a cantilever beam for animating flexible leaves and branches in wind field

We present a pseudo‐dynamics model of a cantilever beam to visually simulate motions of leaves and branches in a wind field by considering the influence of natural frequency (f0) and damping ratio (e). Our pseudo‐dynamics model consists of a static equilibrium model, which can handle the bending of a curved beam loaded by an arbitrary force in three‐dimensions, and a dynamic motion model that describes the dynamic response of the beam subjected to turbulence. Using the static equilibrium model, we can apply it to controlling the free bending of petioles and branches. Furthermore, we extend it to a surface deformation model that can deform some flexible laminae. Based on a mass spring system, we analyze the property of dynamic response of a cantilever beam in turbulence with various combinations of f0 and e, and we give some guidelines to determine the combination types of branches and leaves according to their shapes and stiffness. The main advantage of our techniques is that we are able to deform curved branches and some flexible leaves dynamically by taking account of their structures. Finally, we demonstrate that our proposed method is effective by showing various motions of leaves and branches with different model parameters. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pathogenesis of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, an autoimmune subepidermal bullous disease

Autoimmune bullous diseases (ABDs) are organ‐specific autoimmune diseases, in which blisters on the skin and mucous membranes develop through binding of pathogenic autoantibodies to target antigens. There are two major ABD groups: the pemphigus group, showing autoantibodies to desmosomal components; and the subepidermal ABD group, showing autoantibodies to hemidesmosomal components in the epidermal basement membrane zone. Recent immunological, biochemical and molecular biological studies revealed many new autoantigens, including desmocollins, various plakin family proteins and integrins. A revised ABD classification includes new disease entities such as paraneoplastic pemphigus, IgA pemphigus and anti‐laminin γ1 pemphigoid. In addition to systemic corticosteroids and various immunosuppressive agents, various adjuvant therapies for ABDs have developed. Among them, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is a promising therapy, although the therapeutic mechanisms are still unknown. Various disease models for ABDs have developed, particularly for pemphigus vulgaris, bullous pemphigoid and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA), and these have provided insights into the pathogenesis of various ADBs that suggest possible new treatment strategies. However, the fundamental mechanisms in disruption of immune‐tolerance are still unknown. EBA shows autoimmunity to type VII collagen, the major component of anchoring fibrils, and EBA pathogenesis has been studied in various disease models. Previous studies suggested that, following binding of autoantibodies to type VII collagen, activation of complement, cytokine release, neutrophil migration, Fcγ receptors (FcgRs) and metalloproteinases play important roles in induction of subepidermal blisters. In this issue of the Journal of Pathology, Kasperkiewicz and colleagues reveal important roles of activating FcgRIV and inhibitory FcgRIIB in EBA pathogenesis that were recognized by conducting elegant studies using both genetic analysis and functional animal model methods. The expression equilibrium of the activating and inhibitory FcgRs can be modulated towards the inhibitory FcgRIIB by IVIG therapy, resulting in beneficial clinical effects of IVIG in EBA and other autoimmune skin‐blistering diseases. Copyright © 2012 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Executive Function Following Child Stroke: The Impact of Lesion Size

Childhood stroke is increasingly recognized as a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality; however, limited information exists regarding neurobehavioral sequelae. Executive function (EF), important for problem solving, reasoning, social awareness, and adaptive behavior, may be particularly vulnerable to early brain lesions such as stroke, due to its protracted development. This study investigated: (i) the impact of childhood stroke on EF; and (ii) the impact of lesion size on EF outcome. Twenty-eight children diagnosed with stroke at least 12 months prior to assessment were recruited. Neurobehavioral assessment focused on cognitive and behavioral aspects of EF. Lesion volume was determined from standard ratings of brain pathology based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Deficits in cognitive aspects of EF were detected in attentional control, cognitive flexibility and information processing. Difficulties in behavioral aspects of EF were most striking, with problems identified across a wide range of behaviors. Lesion size impacted on EF, with large lesions (greater than 25% of brain volume) proving the most detrimental.
Expression of ABCB5 gene in hematological malignances and its significance

Abstract We examined ABCB5 gene expression using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in leukemia cells from 29 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 24 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), 42 with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 22 with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), 17 with lymphoma and 10 with multiple myeloma (MM). It was confirmed that expression of the ABCB5 gene is highly increased in B-precursor ALL and French–American–British (FAB) M1 and M2 types of AML and lymphoma. The ABCB5 gene is expressed more highly in patients with relapsed or refractory disease than in patients with drug sensitive acute leukemia. Furthermore, there was an evident positive correlation between ABCB5 mRNA expression and MDR1 mRNA expression, but no correlation with MRP mRNA expression or BCRP mRNA expression. Quantification of the ABCB5 gene by real-time PCR offers particular promise as a prognostic marker and a marker for drug resistance in acute leukemia. Our findings raise the possibility that ABCB5 may be responsible for both the progression and chemotherapeutic refractoriness of advanced acute leukemia, and that ABCB5-targeted approaches might therefore represent novel and translationally relevant therapeutic strategies for drug resistance in leukemia.
Perceived submaximal force production in young adult males and females.

UNLABELLED Clinical treatment in physical rehabilitation routinely uses perceived relative forces. PURPOSE This study used psychophysical methods to quantify subjects' errors during submaximal muscular force production. METHODS A sample of young adult (aged 23 +/- 3 yr) females (N = 60, 62 +/- 14 kg) and males (N = 50, 72 +/- 13 kg) performed a chest press on a hydraulic dynamometer with which they were unfamiliar. In four consecutive presses with a 2-min rest interval between each press, the subjects were asked to produce a force in the order of 25%, 50%, 75% of their maximal force, and a final maximal press. Pilot data (N = 10) indicated good reliability (r(xx) > 0.80) for the protocol. RESULTS The rs between perceived force production and the desired production were 0.76 (P < 0.001) for males and 0.75 (P < 0.001) for females. The exponent for the power function between the perceived and desired forces was 1.12 for males and 1.03 for females. The total error ranged from 2.82 kg x m (males) to 1.22 kg x m (females). The rs and the logarithmic matching of perceived and desired force indicated a linear relationship that is consistent with Borg's range model, which has proposed that perceptual intensities of force for different people are approximately set equal at a subjective maximum. CONCLUSION Many young healthy subjects can produce relative muscular forces with good accuracy. However, some subjects will provide very inaccurate forces that might affect outcomes in rehabilitation or physical training.
Nuclear Lamins a and B1

At the end of mitosis, the nuclear lamins assemble to form the nuclear lamina during nuclear envelope formation in daughter cells. We have fused A- and B-type nuclear lamins to the green fluorescent protein to study this process in living cells. The results reveal that the A- and B-type lamins exhibit different pathways of assembly. In the early stages of mitosis, both lamins are distributed throughout the cytoplasm in a diffusible (nonpolymerized) state, as demonstrated by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). During the anaphase-telophase transition, lamin B1 begins to become concentrated at the surface of the chromosomes. As the chromosomes reach the spindle poles, virtually all of the detectable lamin B1 has accumulated at their surfaces. Subsequently, this lamin rapidly encloses the entire perimeter of the region containing decondensing chromosomes in each daughter cell. By this time, lamin B1 has assembled into a relatively stable polymer, as indicated by FRAP analyses and insolubility in detergent/high ionic strength solutions. In contrast, the association of lamin A with the nucleus begins only after the major components of the nuclear envelope including pore complexes are assembled in daughter cells. Initially, lamin A is found in an unpolymerized state throughout the nucleoplasm of daughter cell nuclei in early G1 and only gradually becomes incorporated into the peripheral lamina during the first few hours of this stage of the cell cycle. In later stages of G1, FRAP analyses suggest that both green fluorescent protein lamins A and B1 form higher order polymers throughout interphase nuclei.
On the Preprocessing of Atrial Electrograms in Atrial Fibrillation: Understanding Botteron's Approach

The dominant atrial frequency is a key parameter for the analysis of atrial fibrillation (AF) from intracardiac recordings. The preprocessing approach employed by Botteron et al. in an early work is able to retrieve this frequency. The preprocessing steps are: (1) 40–250‐Hz band‐pass filtering, (2) rectification, and (3) 20 Hz low‐pass filtering.
Robust output regulation of switched nonlinear systems with stabilizable and unstabilizable subsystems

This paper studies the global robust output regulation problem for a class of switched nonlinear systems with stabilizable and unstabilizable subsystems. First, a switched internal model concept is proposed, which provides a tool for solving the output regulation problem of switched nonlinear systems. Also, we show that the problem of output regulation boils down to a global robust regulation problem of a proper switched augmented system via a switched internal model. Then, based on the average dwell time method, the global robust regulation problem under a class of switching signals with average dwell time is solved, which leads to the solution of the problem of global robust output regulation.
Hyperthermia modifies the nonthermal contribution to postexercise heat loss responses.

PURPOSE This study investigated the nonthermoregulatory control of cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) and sweating during recovery from exercise-induced hyperthermia as well as possible sex-related differences in these responses. Two hypotheses were tested in this study: 1) active and passive recovery would be more effective in attenuating the fall in mean arterial pressure (MAP) than inactive recovery, but CVC and sweat rate responses would be similar between all recovery modes; and 2) the magnitude of the change in postexercise heat loss and hemodynamic responses between recovery modes would be similar between sexes. METHODS Nine males and nine females were rendered hyperthermic (esophageal temperature = 39.5 degrees C) by exercise, followed by 60 min of 1) active, 2) inactive, and 3) passive recovery. CVC, sweat rate, and MAP were recorded at baseline, after 2, 5, 12, and 20 min, and at every 10 min until the end of recovery. RESULTS MAP was elevated above inactive recovery by 6 +/- 2 and 4 +/- 1 mm Hg for active and passive recovery, respectively (P < 0.001). No differences were observed between modes during the initial 10 min of recovery for CVC and 50 min of recovery for sweat rate. However, relative to inactive recovery CVC and sweat rate were subsequently greater by 16.2 +/- 5.8% of CVCpeak and 0.28 +/- 0.04 mg.min.cm, respectively, during active recovery, and by 11.6 +/- 2.9% of CVCpeak and 0.23 +/- 0.03 mg.min.cm, respectively, during passive recovery. CONCLUSION We conclude that in the presence of a greater thermal drive associated with hyperthermia, the influence of nonthermal input on postexercise heat loss responses is still observed. However, thermal control predominates over nonthermal factors in the first 10 min of recovery for CVC and for up to 50 min postexercise for sweating. Sex did not influence the effect of recovery mode on any variable.
Radiometric Calibrations of Portable Sources in the Vacuum Ultraviolet

The radiometric calibration program carried out by the vacuum ultraviolet radiometry group in the Atomic and Plasma Radiation Division of the National Bureau of Standards is presented in brief. Descriptions are given of the primary standards, which are the hydrogen arc and the blackbody line arc, and the secondary standards, which are the argon mini- and maxi-arcs and the deuterium arc lamp. The calibration methods involving both spectral radiance and irradiance are then discussed along with their uncertainties. Finally, the calibration services are delineated in an appendix.
Human plasma pharmacokinetics of thiotepa following administration of high-dose thiotepa and cyclophosphamide.

Thiotepa is an established alkylating agent whose pharmacokinetics in standard doses are well defined. In order to ascertain whether dose-dependent variations in pharmacokinetics occur, we have undertaken an analysis of plasma thiotepa levels in 16 patients entered on a phase I-II study of bialkylator chemotherapy. High-dose thiotepa (1.8 to 7.0 mg/kg) and cyclophosphamide (2.5 g/m2) were administered intravenously (IV) on days -6, -4, and -2 followed by autologous marrow reinfusion on day 0. Plasma and urinary thiotepa was assayed by gas chromatography. Biexponential plasma decay curves were seen in ten patients, with a t 1/2 alpha of 10.0 +/- 6.4 minutes, a t 1/2 beta of 174 +/- 61 minutes and a total body clearance of 379 +/- 153 mL/h/kg (mean +/- SD). Six patients displayed monoexponential plasma decay curves with a terminal t 1/2 of 137 +/- 83 minutes and a total body clearance of 440 +/- 195 mL/h/kg. Although there was a trend toward reduced plasma clearance in the three patients treated at the highest dose level, the available data suggest that metabolic clearance mechanisms for thiotepa were not saturated with the doses used in this study. By stepwise regression analysis, linear functions using only 15-minute and four-hour postinfusion plasma levels were derived that correlated closely with area under the plasma concentration X time curves (AUC) (P less than .002). We conclude that high-dose thiotepa results in similar pharmacokinetic values to conventional doses with no apparent dose-dependent variation. The value of specific time points to predict AUC and clearance will require prospective evaluation.
Polysorbate‐80 coating enhances uptake of polybutylcyanoacrylate (PBCA)‐nanoparticles by human and bovine primary brain capillary endothelial cells

Certain drugs such as dalargin, loperamide or tubocurarine are not transported across the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and therefore exhibit no effects on the central nervous system. However, effects on the central nervous system can be observed when these drugs are loaded onto polybutylcyanoacrylate (PBCA)‐nanoparticles and coated with polysorbate 80. The mechanism by which these complexed nanoparticles cross the BBB and exhibit their effects has not been elucidated. Cultured microvessel brain endothelial cells of human and bovine origin were used as an in vitro model for the BBB to gain further insight into the mechanism of uptake of nanoparticles. With cells from these species we were able to show that polysorbate 80‐coated nanoparticles were taken up by brain endothelial cells much more rapidly and in significantly higher amounts (20‐fold) than uncoated nanoparticles. The process of uptake was followed by fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The results demonstrate that the nanoparticles are taken up by cells and that this uptake occurs via an endocytotic mechanism.
The Impact of Website Personality on Consumers' Initial Trust towards Online Retailing Websites

E-tailing websites are often perceived to be static, impersonal and distant. However, with the movement of the World Wide Web to Web 2.0 in recent years, these online websites have been found to display personalities akin to ‘humanistic’ qualities and project impressions much like its retailing counterpart i.e. salespeople. This paper examines the personality of e-tailing websites and their impact on consumers’ initial trust towards the sites. A total of 239 Internet users participated in this field experiment study which utilized 6 online book retailers’ websites that the participants had not previously visited before. Analysis revealed that out of four website personalities (sincerity, competence, excitement and sophistication) only sincerity and competence are able to exert an influence in building consumers’ trust upon their first visit to the website. The implications of the findings are further elaborated in this paper. Keywords—e-commerce, e-tailing, initial trust, online trust, partial least squares, website personality.
Biochemical analysis of pistol self-cleaving ribozymes

Pistol RNAs are members of a distinct class of self-cleaving ribozymes that was recently discovered by using a bioinformatics search strategy. Several hundred pistol ribozymes share a consensus sequence including 10 highly conserved nucleotides and many other modestly conserved nucleotides associated with specific secondary structure features, including three base-paired stems and a pseudoknot. A representative pistol ribozyme from the bacterium Lysinibacillus sphaericus was found to promote RNA strand scission with a rate constant of ∼10 min−1 under physiological Mg2+ and pH conditions. The reaction proceeds via the nucleophilic attack of a 2′-oxygen atom on the adjacent phosphorus center, and thus adheres to the same general catalytic mechanism of internal phosphoester transfer as found with all other classes of natural self-cleaving ribozymes discovered to date. Analyses of the kinetic characteristics and the metal ion requirements of the cleavage reaction reveal that members of this ribozyme class likely use several catalytic strategies to promote the rapid cleavage of RNA.
Skills not pills: learning to cope with anxiety symptoms.

A pilot project to assess the benefit of a psychology service in general practice for patients with anxiety is described. A course of lessons in ;anxiety management skills' was provided at two practices. At a follow-up appointment one year later two thirds of the 35 patients studied had stopped taking anxiolytic medication and two thirds reported an elimination of their anxiety symptoms. It is proposed that a psychology service be provided for general practitioners, in health centres and health clinics, as a possible alternative to repeat prescribing of anxiolytic medication.
Joint PEV charging station and distributed PV generation planning

Integration of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) with distributed renewable resources will decrease PEVs' well-to-wheels greenhouse gas emissions, alleviate power congestions and defer power system investments. This paper proposes a two stage stochastic joint planning model of PEV fast-charging stations and distributed photovoltaic (PV) generation on coupled transportation and power networks, considering stochastic characteristics of base load, traffic flow and PV power. We use origin-destination (OD) traffic flow to estimate PEV charging demands and propose a second order cone programming (SOCP) model for PV power generation with reactive power control. A modified capacitated-flow refueling location model (CFRLM) is used to describe the transportation network and explicitly capture time-varying PEV charging demands under driving range constraints. AC power flow with SOCP relaxation is adopted to incorporate power network constraints. The joint planning model is a mixed-integer SOCP model and can be solved by an off-the-shelf solver.
Simple mechanism whereby the F1-ATPase motor rotates with near-perfect chemomechanical energy conversion

Significance ATP synthase produces most of the ATP in respiratory and photosynthetic cells. It is a rotary motor enzyme and its catalytic portion F1-ATPase hydrolyzes ATP to drive rotation of the central γ subunit. Efficiency of chemomechanical energy conversion by this motor is always near-perfect under different ATP hydrolysis energy (ΔGATP) conditions. However, the mechanism for the efficient conversion remains unknown. We measured the torque as a function of rotation angle under different ΔGATP conditions and estimated mechanical work. The torque profiles show three sawtooth-like repeats during a single ATP hydrolysis. When concentrations of ATP/ADP and Pi in the environment are changed, the height, and hence the area, of the sawtooth changes accordingly so that mechanical work can always match ΔGATP. F1-ATPase is a motor enzyme in which a central shaft γ subunit rotates 120° per ATP in the cylinder made of α3β3 subunits. During rotation, the chemical energy of ATP hydrolysis (ΔGATP) is converted almost entirely into mechanical work by an elusive mechanism. We measured the force for rotation (torque) under various ΔGATP conditions as a function of rotation angles of the γ subunit with quasi-static, single-molecule manipulation and estimated mechanical work (torque × traveled angle) from the area of the function. The torque functions show three sawtooth-like repeats of a steep jump and linear descent in one catalytic turnover, indicating a simple physical model in which the motor is driven by three springs aligned along a 120° rotation angle. Although the second spring is unaffected by ΔGATP, activation of the first spring (timing of the torque jump) delays at low [ATP] (or high [ADP]) and activation of the third spring delays at high [Pi]. These shifts decrease the size and area of the sawtooth (magnitude of the work). Thus, F1-ATPase responds to the change of ΔGATP by shifting the torque jump timing and uses ΔGATP for the mechanical work with near-perfect efficiency.
Analysis and Stability of Hyperici Oleum

Hyperici Oleum (St. John's wort oil) used in wound healing contains no hypericin. By using the sunlight maceration method described in the supplement to DAB 6 (EB 6), lipophilic breakdown products of this compound are obtained which lend the oil its red colour. Hyperforin, which is responsible for the oil's therapeutic activity could, for the first time, be identified and quantitatively determined by TLC and HPLC after solid-phase extraction. The stability of hyperforin is limited; sufficient shelf-life could only be achieved by hot maceration of dried flowers with eutanol G and storage in the absence of air. By gradient HPLC further polar hyperforin analogues were detected in those St. John's wort oils in which hyperforin had decomposed. At the same time flavonoids and xanthones could be identified. A procedure for the quantitative determination of flavonoids in St. John's wort was validated. The action of light during preparation of the oil led to a rise in the content of flavonoids.