Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
articleVariability over time and correlates of cholesterol and blood pressure in systemic lupus erythematosus : a longitudinal cohort study

Introduction: Total cholesterol (TC) and blood pressure (BP) are likely to take a dynamic course over time in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This would have important implications in terms of using single-point-intime measurements of these variables to assess coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. The objective of this study was to describe and quantify variability over time of TC and BP among patients with SLE and to determine their correlates. Methods: Patients in the Toronto lupus cohort who had two or more serial measurements of TC and systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP) were included in the analysis. Variability over time was described in terms of the proportion of patients whose TC and BP profile fluctuated between normal and elevated (TC > 5.2 mmol/L; SBP ≥ 140 mm Hg or DBP ≥ 90 mm Hg), and also in terms of withinand between-patient variance quantified by using analysis of variance modeling. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to determine independent correlates of each of TC, SBP, and DBP, treated as continuous outcome variables. Results: In total, 1,260 patients, comprising 26,267 measurements of each of TC, SBP, and DBP, were included. Mean ± SD number of measurements per patient was 20.8 ± 20. Mean ± SD time interval between measurements was 5.4 ± 9.7 months. Mean ± SD time interval from the start to the end of the study was 9.3 ± 8.5 years. Over time, 64.7% of patients varied between having normal and elevated cholesterol levels, whereas the status of 46.4% of patients varied between normotensive and hypertensive. By using analysis of variance (ANOVA), the within-patient percentage of total variance for each of TC, SBP, and DBP was 48.2%, 51.2%, and 63.9%, respectively. By using GEE, independent correlates of TC and BP included age, disease activity, and corticosteroids; antimalarial use was negatively correlated with TC (all P values <
On-road vehicle detection fusing radar and vision

This paper presents a cross-verification approach to fuse radar and vision data for vehicle detection. Firstly, a realtime vision approach using specific shadow segmentation is used to detect vehicles in whole image independently. The fusion approach contains two steps: matching and validation. The targets respectively from radar and vision verify each other in matching process. Then the unmatched radar targets are validated by vision data once again. Experiment results with test dataset from real traffic scenes on freeway and urban roads are presented to illustrate the performance of this approach.
Anything wrong with conventional wet mount microscopy?

Using KOVA Glasstic Grid Slides, Dr Fowler identified 9 categories of vaginal wet mount microflora patterns by combining abundancy of lactobacilli, presence of leukocytes, maturation index of epitheliocytes, and excess of nonlactobacillary morphotypes [1]. We earlier proposed the scoring system for aerobic vaginitis (AV), which not only incorporates most forms of nonYbacterial vaginosis (BV) bacterial flora types mentioned in his article, such as atrophic vaginitis and (desquamative) inflammatory vaginitis, but also assesses the host reaction by quantifying parabasal cells and the proportional number and types of leukocytes. In pregnancy, AV with coccoid bacteria is associated with preterm birth [2Y4], and daily practice learns that adjustment of the therapy according to the microscopic findings of AV is the only way to satisfy these patients with longstanding and severe complaints. The correlation of the AV score with the production of proinflammatory cytokines as precursors of inflammation and pregnancy complications has been independently confirmed in different populations and laboratories [5Y7]. A simple diagram using AV and BV as abnormal flora types fits all bacterial flora types encompassed in the 9 categories described in Fowler’s article in an alternative, simple way (see Figure 1). In our hands, instead of counting absolute numbers of leukocytes and lactobacillary morphotypes, which number is largely dependent on how the rinsing is performed, the assessment of the proportional number leukocytes versus epithelial cells in a direct smear was more practical [9]. Also, the direct technique allows to discern leukocytes originating from endocervicitis from those from vaginitis.
Cutting Edge: cGAS Is Required for Lethal Autoimmune Disease in the Trex1-Deficient Mouse Model of Aicardi–Goutières Syndrome

Detection of intracellular DNA triggers activation of the stimulator of IFN genes–dependent IFN-stimulatory DNA (ISD) pathway, which is essential for antiviral immune responses. However, chronic activation of this pathway is implicated in autoimmunity. Mutations in TREX1, a 3′ repair exonuclease that degrades cytosolic DNA, cause Aicardi–Goutières syndrome and chilblain lupus. Trex1−/− mice develop lethal, IFN-driven autoimmune disease that is dependent on activation of the ISD pathway, but the DNA sensors that detect the endogenous DNA that accumulates in Trex1−/− mice have not been defined. Multiple DNA sensors have been proposed to activate the ISD pathway, including cyclic GMP–AMP synthase (cGAS). In this study, we show that Trex1−/− mice lacking cGAS are completely protected from lethality, exhibit dramatically reduced tissue inflammation, and fail to develop autoantibodies. These findings implicate cGAS as a key driver of autoimmune disease and suggest that cGAS inhibitors may be useful therapeutics for Aicardi–Goutières syndrome and related autoimmune diseases.
Selective modulation of glucocorticoid receptor function toward development of novel antiinflammation: lessons from a phenylpyrazolosteroid cortivazol

A Frequent association of side effects has been a long-standing dilemma in clinical glucocorticoid therapy. Recent progress in molecular biology of glucocorticoid hormone action, however, has prompted researchers to tackle the dissociation of side effects and therapeutic effects based on the assumption that selective modulation of its receptor function could be achieved by as yet unknown compounds. Already a number of selective modulators of the glucocorticoid receptor (SGRMs) have been reported, and certain compounds have dissociating characteristics in vivo. We have addressed ligand-dependent modular recruitment of AF-1 function using a phenylpyrazologlucocorticoid cortivazol, suggesting the possibility of developing tissue-specific SGRMs. It should also be emphasized that SGRMs do not always have a steroid structure.
Developing an On-Demand Cloud-Based Sensing-as-a-Service System for Internet of Things

The increasing number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices with various sensors has resulted in a focus on Cloud-based sensing-as-a-service (CSaaS) as a new value-added service, for example, providing temperature-sensing data via a cloud computing system. However, the industry encounters various challenges in the dynamic provisioning of on-demand CSaaS on diverse sensor networks. We require a system that will provide users with standardized access to various sensor networks and a level of abstraction that hides the underlying complexity. In this study, we aim to develop a cloud-based solution to address the challenges mentioned earlier. Our solution, SenseCloud, includes a sensor virtualization mechanism that interfaces with diverse sensor networks, a multitenancy mechanism that grants multiple users access to virtualized sensor networks while sharing the same underlying infrastructure, and a dynamic provisioning mechanism to allow the users to leverage the vast pool of resources on demand and on a pay-per-use basis. We implement a prototype of SenseCloud by using real sensors and verify the feasibility of our system and its performance. SenseCloud bridges the gap between sensor providers and sensor data consumers who wish to utilize sensor data.
The learning advantage: bird species that learn their song show a tighter adjustment of song to noisy environments than those that do not learn

Song learning has evolved within several avian groups. Although its evolutionary advantage is not clear, it has been proposed that song learning may be advantageous in allowing birds to adapt their songs to the local acoustic environment. To test this hypothesis, we analysed patterns of song adjustment to noisy environments and explored their possible link to song learning. Bird vocalizations can be masked by low‐frequency noise, and birds respond to this by singing higher‐pitched songs. Most reports of this strategy involve oscines, a group of birds with learning‐based song variability, and it is doubtful whether species that lack song learning (e.g. suboscines) can adjust their songs to noisy environments. We address this question by comparing the degree of song adjustment to noise in a large sample of oscines (17 populations, 14 species) and suboscines (11 populations, 7 species), recorded in Brazil (Manaus, Brasilia and Curitiba) and Mexico City. We found a significantly stronger association between minimum song frequency and noise levels (effect size) in oscines than in suboscines, suggesting a tighter match in oscines between song transmission capacity and ambient acoustics. Suboscines may be more vulnerable to acoustic pollution than oscines and thus less capable of colonizing cities or acoustically novel habitats. Additionally, we found that species whose song frequency was more divergent between populations showed tighter noise–song frequency associations. Our results suggest that song learning and/or song plasticity allows adaptation to new habitats and that this selective advantage may be linked to the evolution of song learning and plasticity.
Isolation and Biochemical Characterization of Amyloid Plaques and Paired Helical Filaments

Extracellular deposits of amyloid fibrils in the form of parenchymal plaques and cerebrovascular lesions, as well as intracellular accumulation of paired‐helical filaments in the form of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) in selected neuronal populations are the main neuropathologic hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. Amyloid fibrils composed of polymeric structures of the amyloid‐β (Aβ) concentrate at the center of senile plaques and accumulate in the walls of cerebral blood vessels, exhibiting extensive Congo red/thioflavin S staining. Intraneuronal NFT are composed of building blocks of aberrantly hyperphosphorylated species of the microtubule‐associated protein tau, which accumulate in the perinuclear cytoplasm of vulnerable neurons in the form of paired helical filaments (PHF). This unit presents a variety of protocols for the isolation, biochemical analysis, and characterization of amyloid fibrils and neurofibrillary tangles. Curr. Protoc. Cell Biol. 44:3.33. 1‐3.33.33. © 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Magnitude and Determinants of Overweight and Obesity in 6-12 year old school children of Vadodara City

Childhood obesity forms a link between adult obesity and cardio-vascular risk. Thus we conducted a school-based cross-sectional survey to estimate the prevalence of obesity in 6-12 year-old children of Vadodara City and to investigate the role of associated risk factors. Background information and anthropometry (1067), diet history and activity pattern (n=140), serum glucose and lipids (n=36) were studied on children. Prevalence of over-weight and obesity as per IOTF, CDC and Must et al standards were 20.3%, 21.6% and 23.4% respectively. Risk factor analysis revealed that heredity and income of parents con-tributed significantly to the prevalence of obesity. BMI of obese children’s parents were sig-nificantly higher than normal BMIchildren’s parents. Mean calorie intake was higher in obese and overweight children as compared to normal children. Energy expenditure pattern and lipid profile were not significantly different between normal, overweight or obese chil-dren. Thus obesity is a problem even in the lower age-groups and large-scale intervention strategies, focusing on improving modifiable risk factors, especially type of diet (with re-gard to calorie & and fat intake) and physical activity should be designed to arrest the trend.
A high gradient 17 GHz RF gun for the production of high brightness electron beams

We report on the design and construction of a new, tuneable, 1.5 cell 17 GHz RF gun and improved beamline. Emittance compensation in the new beamline is achieved with a 6.5 cm long, 0.5 T solenoid placed immediately after the RF gun. Simulations predict a normalized RMS emittance of 0.5 nmm-mrad for a 1 ps, 0.1 nC, 2.4 MeV beam. Emittance measurement diagnostic slits have also been designed and constructed. This gun will operated with 50 ns, approximately 5 MW, pulses from a 17.13 GHz klystron amplifier built by Haimson Research Corp. Initial cold tests of the new gun have been performed. The on axis field profile of the RF gun has recently been measured using a "bead hang" technique developed at MIT to forgo the need of a hole in the cathode as required by the more conventional "bead pull" measurement. A balanced field profile was obtained.
Detection and identification of explosives using terahertz pulsed spectroscopic imaging

The absorption spectrum of the explosive 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane (RDX) has been measured using a conventional Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and by terahertz pulsed spectroscopy. Seven absorption features in the spectral range of 5–120cm−1 have been observed and identified as the fingerprint of RDX. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of individual chemical substances including RDX, has been mapped out using reflection terahertz spectroscopic imaging in combination with component spatial pattern analysis. This is the terahertz spectroscopy and chemical mapping of explosives obtained using reflection terahertz measurement, and represents a significant advance toward developing a terahertz pulsed imaging system for security screening of explosives.
Domains of high Ca2+ beneath the plasma membrane of living A7r5 cells

Theoretical models and indirect experimental observations predict that Ca2+ concentrations at the inner surface of the plasma membrane may reach, upon stimulation, values much higher than those of the bulk cytosol. In the past few years, we have shown that the Ca2+‐sensitive photoprotein aequorin can be intracellularly targeted and utilized for specifically monitoring the [Ca2+] of various organelles. In this work, we extend this approach to the study of the cytoplasmic rim beneath the plasma membrane. We have constructed a new aequorin chimera by fusing the photoprotein with SNAP‐25, a neuronal protein which is recruited to the plasma membrane after the post‐translational addition of a lipid anchor. The SNAP‐25–aequorin chimera, expressed in the rat aortic smooth muscle cell line A7r5, appears correctly sorted as revealed by immunocytochemistry. Using this probe, we demonstrate that the mean [Ca2+] of this cytoplasmic region ([Ca2+]pm) can reach values >10‐fold higher than those of the bulk cytosol ([Ca2+]c) upon activation of Ca2+ influx through plasma membrane channels. In unstimulated cells, the mean [Ca2+]pm appears also to be higher than the bulk cytosol, presumably reflecting the existence of microdomains of high [Ca2+].
Ergodic multigram HMM integrating word segmentation and class tagging for Chinese language modeling

A novel ergodic multigram hidden Markov model (HMM) is introduced which models sentence production as a doubly stochastic process, in which word classes are first produced according to a first order Markov model, and then single or multi-character words are generated independently based on the word classes, without word boundary marked on the sentence. This model can be applied to languages without word boundary markers such as Chinese. With a lexicon containing syntactic classes for each word, its applications include language modeling for recognizers, and integrated word segmentation and class tagging. Pre-segmented and tagged corpus are not needed for training, and both segmentation and tagging are trained in one single model. In this paper, relevant algorithms for this model are presented, and experimental results on a Chinese news corpus are reported.
Coinductive Techniques on a Linear Quantum λ-Calculus

In this thesis, it is examined the issue of equivalence between linear terms in higher order languages, that is, in languages which allow to use functions as variables, and where variables which appear in the terms must be used exactly once. The work is developed focusing on the bisimulation method, with the purpose to compare this technique with that which has become the standard for the comparison between the terms of a language, i.e. the context equivalence. The thesis is divided into three parts: in the first one, the introduction of the bisimulation and context equivalence techniques takes place within a deterministic linear and typed language. In the second part, the same techniques are reformulated for a language that, while preserving the linearity, loses the deterministic connotation, allowing the terms to evaluate to a set of values each one having a certain probability to appear in the end of calculation. In the last part, a quantum language is examined, discussing the advantages of quantum computation, which allows to speed-up many of the algorithms of computation. Here one gives the concept of quantum program, which is inextricably linked to the (quantum) register where the qubits used in the computation are stored, entailing a more complex notion of equivalence between terms. The techniques to demonstrate that bisimulation is a congruence are not standard and have been used for the first time by Howe for untyped languages: within the thesis, one shows that bisimulation is a congruence in all considered languages but it coincides with the context equivalence relation only for the deterministic one. Indeed, extending the techniques already used by Howe to the probabilistic and quantum environment, it is shown, as non trivial result, that in probabilistic and quantum linear languages the bisimulation is contained in context equivalence relation.
Role of Adiponectin in Preventing Vascular Stenosis

Obesity is more linked to vascular disease, including atherosclerosis and restenotic change, after balloon angioplasty. The precise mechanism linking obesity and vascular disease is still unclear. Previously we have demonstrated that the plasma levels of adiponectin, an adipose-derived hormone, decreases in obese subjects, and that hypoadiponectinemia is associated to ischemic heart disease. In current the study, we investigated the in vivorole of adiponectin on the neointimal thickening after artery injury using adiponectin-deficient mice and adiponectin-producing adenovirus. Adiponectin-deficient mice showed severe neointimal thickening and increased proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells in mechanically injured arteries. Adenovirus-mediated supplement of adiponectin attenuated neointimal proliferation. In cultured smooth muscle cells, adiponectin attenuated DNA synthesis induced by growth factors including platelet-derived growth factor, heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factor (HB-EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor, and EGF and cell proliferation and migration induced by HB-EGF. In cultured endothelial cells, adiponectin attenuated HB-EGF expression stimulated by tumor necrosis factor α. The current study suggests an adipo-vascular axis, a direct link between fat and artery. A therapeutic strategy to increase plasma adiponectin should be useful in preventing vascular restenosis after angioplasty.
Morphologically heterogeneous met‐enkephalin terminals form synapses with tyrosine hydroxylase‐containing dendrites in the rat nucleus locus coeruleus

Physiological and anatomical studies have suggested that the endogenous opioid peptide, methionine‐enkephalin (ENK), may directly modulate noradrenergic neurons. Additionally, chronic opiate administration has been shown to increase the levels of a number of G‐proteins and phosphoproteins including the catecholamine synthesizing enzyme, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). We combined immunogold‐silver localization of tyrosine hydroxylase and immunoperoxidase labeling for ENK in single sections through the nucleus locus coeruleus (LC) in the rostral pons to determine potential substrates for the divergent actions of this opioid peptide. Light microscopic analysis of ENK immunoreactivity in the LC area indicated that ENK fibers are dense and highly varicose. In coronal sections, ENK‐immunoreactive processes were punctate and appeared to envelop LC cell bodies. More rostrally, in the region of catecholamine immunoreactive extranuclear dendrites, ENK‐immunoreactive varicose processes were inter digitated with TH‐labeled processes. Electron microscopy of this rostral region revealed that ENK‐immunoreactive axon terminals contained small clear as well as large dense core vesicles. The large dense core vesicles (1‐10/terminal) were consistently the most immunoreactive and were identified toward the periphery of the axon terminal distal to the active zone of the synapse. Unlabeled axon terminals and glial processes were the most commonly observed elements located adjacent to the plasmalemma of axons containing the labeled dense core vesicles. Axon terminals containing ENK immunoreactivity varied in size (0.3 μm to 2.0 μm) as well as formation of synaptic specializations (i. e., asymmetric versus symmetric). The ENK labeled terminals formed synapses with dendrites with and without detectable TH immunoreactivity. These results provide the first direct ultrastructural evidence that morphologically heterogeneous terminals containing ENK immunoreactivity form synapses with catecholamine dendrites within the LC. The formation of asymmetric and symmetric synaptic specializations suggests that the opioid peptide, ENK, may be colocalized with other neurotransmitters. Furthermore, the distribution of ENK immunoreactivity in axon terminals apposed to other unlabeled afferents or astrocytic processes suggests that actions of ENK may also include presynaptic modulation of other transmitters and/or effects on astrocytes. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.