Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bone marrow stromal cells transplantation combined with ultrashortwave therapy promotes functional recovery on spinal cord injury in rats

This study investigated the effects of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) transplantation combined with low dose ultrashortwave (USW) radiation on functional recovery from spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. Female Sprague‐Dawley rats (n = 64) were randomly divided into five groups: sham‐operated, as well as control, USW, BMSCs, and BMSCs + USW that were subjected to spinal cord contusion. BMSCs were transplanted into rats in the BMSCs and BMSCs+USW groups, while those in the USW and BMSCs + USW were exposed to radiation; Basso–Beattie–Bresnahan (BBB) tests were performed before the operation and at 1‐week intervals after SCI for 7 weeks. 7 weeks later, animals were assessed footprint pattern, motor evoked potential (MEP), histological features, and expression of the ED1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), markers of activated macrophages and astrocytes, respectively, in the lesion area. BBB scores were higher in the BMSCs + USW than in the BMSCs and control groups. The USW and BMSCs + USW groups had improved coordination compared to the BMSCs and control groups (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively, vs. control). BMSCs + USW rats had a lower ratio of lesion/cavity to spinal cord area than the other injured rats, and also had expression of GFAP in transplanted BMSCs. All treatment groups had lower ED1 expression and MEP latency than the controls (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). The results indicate that BMSCs transplantation combined with USW radiation is more effective than either treatment alone in promoting functional recovery after SCI, possibly due to concomitant suppression of inflammation and spinal cord repair. Synapse 69:139–147, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Transliteration or Loan Translation: Constraints on English loanwords' integration into Mandarin Chinese

---Lexical borrowing deserves serious professional attention because borrowed words can constitute a major part of the lexicon in a language. Chinese loanwords of English origin can be roughly divided into three groups: transliteration, semantic loan and a combination of the two. This paper gives a brief sketch of the three different kinds of loanwords and goes further to point out that semantic loan or loan translation tends to be the eventual form for words borrowed from English, for the reasons that Chinese is monosyllabic, that the Chinese writing system is morphemic, and that it has little to do with its sound system. Direct replication of the pronunciations of English words is not compatible with the coding structure of Chinese, which is why transliterations tend to be replaced by loan translations or semantic loans. To support this hypothesis, this paper presents a data-based analysis of 55 borrowed lexical items as found in 80 articles from a Chinese newspaper and a magazine. The findings show that the token frequency of transliterated loanwords is lower than that of semantic loans. Key words----loanwords, transliteration, semantic loan, loan translation, integration, constraint
Coordinated regulation of melatonin synthesis and degradation genes in rice leaves in response to cadmium treatment

We investigated the expression patterns of genes involved in melatonin synthesis and degradation in rice leaves upon cadmium (Cd) treatment and the subcellular localization sites of melatonin 2‐hydroxylase (M2H) proteins. The Cd‐induced synthesis of melatonin coincided with the increased expression of melatonin biosynthetic genes including tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC), tryptamine 5‐hydroxylase (T5H), and N‐acetylserotonin methyltransferase (ASMT). However, the expression of serotonin N‐acetyltransferase (SNAT), the penultimate gene in melatonin biosynthesis, was downregulated, suggesting that melatonin synthesis was counter‐regulated by SNAT. Notably, the induction of melatonin biosynthetic gene expression was coupled with the induction of four M2H genes involved in melatonin degradation, which suggests that genes for melatonin synthesis and degradation are coordinately regulated. The induced M2H gene expression was correlated with enhanced M2H enzyme activity. Three of the M2H proteins were localized to the cytoplasm and one M2H protein was localized to chloroplasts, indicating that melatonin degradation occurs both in the cytoplasm and in chloroplasts. The biological activity of 2‐hydroxymelatonin in the induction of the plant defense gene expression was 50% less than that of melatonin, which indicates that 2‐hydroxymelatonin may be a metabolite of melatonin. Overall, our data demonstrate that melatonin synthesis occurs in parallel with melatonin degradation in both chloroplasts and cytoplasm, and the resulting melatonin metabolite 2‐hydroxymelatonin also acts as a signaling molecule for defense gene induction.
The Effects of Early Exercise on Motor, Sense, and Memory Recovery in Rats With Stroke

Objective Exercise is an effective, inexpensive, home-based, and accessible intervention strategy for stroke treatment, and early exercise after stroke has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years. However, the effects of early exercise on comprehensive functional recovery remain poorly understood. The present study investigated the effect of early exercise on motor, sense, balance, and spatial memory recovery. Design Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and were randomly divided into early exercise group (EE), non-exercise group (NE), and sham group. EE group received 2 weeks of exercise training initiated at 24 hours after operation. The recovery of motor, sense, and balance function was evaluated every 3 days after MCAO. Spatial memory recovery was detected from 21 to 25 days after MCAO. Results The results showed that early exercise significantly promoted the motor and spatial memory recovery with statistical differences. The rats in EE group have a better recovery in sense and balance function, but there is no statistically significant difference about these results. Conclusion Our results showed that early moderate exercise can significantly promote motor and spatial memory recovery, but not the sense and balance functions.
A Note on Communication-Efficient Deterministic Parallel Algorithms for Planar Point Location and 2D Voronoï Diagram

In this note we describe deterministic parallel algorithms for planar point location and for building the Voronoi Diagram of n co-planar points. These algorithms are designed for BSP/CGM-like models of computation, where p processors, with local memory each, communicate through some arbitrary interconnection network. They are communication-efficient since they require, respectively, O(1) and O(log p) communication steps and local computation per step. Both algorithms require local memory.
Enhanced glucose biosensor properties of gold nanoparticle-decorated ZnO nanorods

As new materials have been reported and more knowledge on detailed mechanism of glucose oxidation has been unveiled, the non-enzymatic glucose sensor keeps coming closer to practical applications. Nanostructures with higher surface specific area has great potential applications in sensing devices ZnO nanoords were synthesized in a hydrothermal method using simply available laboratory chemicals. Results showed that as-synthesized Gold Nanoparticle-decorated ZnO Nanorods possessing higher specific surface area, significantly increased the non-enzyme efficiency which in turn improved the sensing performances. The electrode also demonstrated excellent performance in sensing glucose concentration with remarkable sensitivity (46.6 μA/mM-cm2) and good repeatability. This work is expected to open a new avenue to fabricate non-enzymatic electrochemical sensors of glucose involving co-mediating.
When Trust Does Not Compute - The Role of Trust in Ubiquitous Computing

Trust has long been an important concept in network security. With the humancentric vision of ubiquitous computing, a concept like trust seems to gain additional importance as it already forms the basic building block of societies and thus should play an important role in any computer-mediated social network. However, the way the concept of trust is currently introduced into ubiquitous computing systems often seems either too simplistic, or overly complex. This paper argues for a renewed evaluation of the benefits from introducing the concept of trust into computational frameworks and proposes to leave trust assessment in ubiquitous computing environments up to humans.
ENERGY EFFICIENT FUZZY ROUTING PROTOCOL IN WIRELESS BODY AREA NETWORKS

To prolong the lifetime of a wireless body area sensor network (WBAN) is the most important concern in due to limited battery power of sensor nodes. Routing in WBAN is a very challenging problem due to the efficient utilization of energy. This paper focuses on energy efficient fuzzy routing protocol. Protocol based on fuzzy inference system computation reduces power consumption when compared to classical routing protocol. This fuzzy approach is soft and tunable and hence it can accommodate wireless body area sensor network comprising of different types of sensor nodes having different energy QoS metrics.
Rho GTPases in endoderm development and differentiation

The embryonic foregut of the mouse embryo is lined by a layer of endoderm cells whose architecture changes during development. The transition from a squamous to columnar epithelial morphology is accompanied by the upregulation of an atypical Rho GTPase, Rhou. Subsequently, multi-layering of the epithelium at the site of organ bud formation is associated with the downregulation of Rhou. Rho-related small GTPases are known to play multiple roles in establishing and maintaining epithelial polarity, cytoskeletal organization, morphogenesis and differentiation of epithelial tissues, but their role in the early development of the endoderm in mammals is largely unexplored. Our recent study has shown that Rhou is required for maintaining F-actin polarization, epithelial morphogenesis and differentiation of the endoderm. Rhou expression responds to canonical WNT signaling and its activity influences the cytoskeletal organization and differentiation of endodermal cells, possibly via activation of JNK-mediated pathways. In this context, Rhou provides a possible link between β-catenin dependent WNT signaling and cellular processes normally associated with WNT/PCP pathways.
Information Technology Measurement and Testing Activities at NIST

Our high technology society continues to rely more and more upon sophisticated measurements, technical standards, and associated testing activities. This was true for the industrial society of the 20th century and remains true for the information society of the 21st century. Over the last half of the 20th century, information technology (IT) has been a powerful agent of change in almost every sector of the economy. The complexity and rapidly changing nature of IT have presented unique technical challenges to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and to the scientific measurement community in developing a sound measurement and testing infrastructure for IT. This measurement and testing infrastructure for the important non-physical and non-chemical properties associated with complex IT systems is still in an early stage of development. This paper explains key terms and concepts of IT metrology, briefly reviews the history of the National Bureau of Standards/National Institute of Standards and Technology (NBS/NIST) in the field of IT, and reviews NIST’s current capabilities and work in measurement and testing for IT. It concludes with a look at what is likely to occur in the field of IT over the next ten years and what metrology roles NIST is likely to play.
Biochemical and mutagenic analysis of I-CreII reveals distinct but important roles for both the H-N-H and GIY-YIG motifs

Homing endonucleases typically contain one of four conserved catalytic motifs, and other elements that confer tight DNA binding. I-CreII, which catalyzes homing of the Cr.psbA4 intron, is unusual in containing two potential catalytic motifs, H-N-H and GIY-YIG. Previously, we showed that cleavage by I-CreII leaves ends (2-nt 3′ overhangs) that are characteristic of GIY-YIG endonucleases, yet it has a relaxed metal requirement like H-N-H enzymes. Here we show that I-CreII can bind DNA without an added metal ion, and that it binds as a monomer, akin to GIY-YIG enzymes. Moreover, cleavage of supercoiled DNA, and estimates of strand-specific cleavage rates, suggest that I-CreII uses a sequential cleavage mechanism. Alanine substitution of a number of residues in the GIY-YIG motif, however, did not block cleavage activity, although DNA binding was substantially reduced in several variants. Substitution of conserved histidines in the H-N-H motif resulted in variants that did not promote DNA cleavage, but retained high-affinity DNA binding—thus identifying it as the catalytic motif. Unlike the non-specific H-N-H colicins, however; substitution of the conserved asparagine substantially reduced DNA binding (though not the ability to promote cleavage). These results indicate that, in I-CreII, two catalytic motifs have evolved to play important roles in specific DNA binding. The data also indicate that only the H-N-H motif has retained catalytic ability.
An Efficient Multiscale Method for Modeling Progressive Damage in Composite Materials

An efficient multiscale approach is established in order to compute the macroscopic response of nonlinear composites. The micro problem is rewritten in an integral form of the Lippmann-Schwinger type and solved efficiently by Fast Fourier Transforms. Using realistic microstructure models complex nonlinear effects are reproduced and validated with measured data of fiber reinforced plastics. The micro problem is integrated in a Finite Element framework which is used to solve the macroscale. The scale coupling technique and a consistent numerical algorithm is established. The method provides an efficient way to determine the macroscopic response considering arbitrary microstructures, constitutive behaviors and loading conditions.
System Identification using Constrained Kalman Filters

We suggest incorporating dynamical information such as locations of fixed points into parameter estimation algorithms in order to improve the method of reconstructing dynamics from time series. We show how the process of reconstruction using the extended or iterated Kalman filter can be easily modified to include the additional information. We demonstrate the methods using data from the Chua circuit operating in the chaotic regime. We find the models reconstructed by using constraints can better approximate the unstable fixed point structure of the underlying systems.
Predictors of effective de-escalation in acute inpatient psychiatric settings.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To explore the factors that influence the use of de-escalation and its success in halting conflict in acute psychiatric inpatient setting. BACKGROUND De-escalation is the use of verbal and nonverbal communication to reduce or eliminate aggression and violence during the escalation phase of a patient's behaviour. Although de-escalation is a first-line intervention in aggression management in acute psychiatric settings, little is known about the use or effectiveness of this technique. DESIGN A retrospective case note analysis. METHODS For each patient (n = 522), their involvement in conflict (e.g. aggression) or containment (e.g. coerced medication) during the first two weeks of their admission was recorded. The frequency and order of the conflict and containment events were identified during each shift. The sequences of events occurring in shifts involving de-escalation were analysed. Sequences where de-escalation ended the pattern of conflict or containment were categorised as 'successful', and all others were categorised as 'unsuccessful'. RESULTS Over half of patients (53%) experienced de-escalation during the first two weeks of admission, with the majority of these (37%) experiencing multiple episodes. De-escalation was successful in approximately 60% of cases. Successful de-escalations were preceded by fewer, and less aggressive, conflict events, compared with unsuccessful de-escalations, which were most frequently followed by administration of pro re nata medication. Patients with a history of violence were more likely to experience de-escalation, and it was more likely to be unsuccessful. CONCLUSIONS De-escalation is frequently effective in halting a sequence of conflict in acute inpatient settings, but patients with a history of violence may be specifically challenging. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE These findings provide support for de-escalation in practice but suggest that nurses may lack confidence in using the technique when the risk of violence is greater. Providing evidence-based staff training may improve staff confidence in the use of this potentially powerful technique.
Borders, Trade, and Welfare

International economic integration yields large potential welfare effects, even in a static constant returns competitive world economy. Our method is novel. The effect of border barriers on trade flows is often inferred from gravity models. But their rather atheoretic structure precludes welfare analysis. Computable general equilibrium models are designed for tight welfare analysis, but lack econometric foundation. Our method combines these approaches. Gravity models based on Anderson's (1979) interpretation are full general equilibrium models of a special simple sort. In Anderson and van Wincoop (NBER WP 8079, 2001) we develop and estimate this structure, then calculate the comparative static effects on trade flows of border barriers. In this paper we further deploy the model to explore the comparative statics of welfare with respect to borders, to currency unions and to NAFTA. Our NAFTA exercise does a much better job of replicating the actual trade flow changes than do computable general equilibrium models. An interesting implication is that terms of trade changes are very important, even for small' countries such as Mexico.
Discriminate the Falsely Predicted Protein-Coding Genes in Aeropyrum Pernix K1 Genome Based on Graphical Representation

The problem that how many protein-coding genes exist in Aeropyrum pernix K1 genome has confused many scientists since 1999. In this paper, we attempt to re-identify the protein-coding genes in this genome by proposing a modified method based on I-TN curve. Consequently, all of the 727 experimentally validated protein-coding genes and 726 of the corresponding negative samples are correctly predicted respectively, then an accuracy of 99.93% of self-test is obtained. In the Jackknife test, two positive samples and two negative samples are falsely predicted, respectively, and then the accuracy of cross-validation is 99.72%. In the testing set, all of the 132 putative genes are correctly predicted as protein-coding and 14 out of the 841 hypothetical genes are predicted as non-coding, the number of protein-coding genes is reduced to 1686 instead of 1700. Further analysis shows the performance of the reannotating algorithm is comparable to other prevalent programs, and the present method is much simple and efficient. We implement the reannotating algorithm trained by Aeropyrum pernix K1 to Chlorobium tepidum TLS genome, and 217 hypothetical genes are predicted as non-coding. Sufficient sequences analysis indicates most of them are random sequences that are falsely predicted as protein-coding genes. In addition, we also perform some significative analysis aiming to the influence of artificial parameters on the graphical representation approaches, which may provide helpful information for related researches.
Energy‐dispersive techniques

In the first part of this chapter the principles of the white-beam, energy-dispersive method for X-ray diffraction are described with special emphasis on the use of synchrotron radiation. Expressions are given for the integrated intensity, the polarization factor and other correction factors. Applications in high-pressure X-ray diffraction are mentioned. In the second part of the chapter, neutron single-crystal Laue diffraction and neutron time-of-flight powder diffraction are discussed. Keywords: energy-dispersive techniques; integrated intensity; Laue diffraction; neutron diffraction; refinement; resolution; Rietveld method; time-of-flight neutron diffraction; white-beam neutron diffraction; X-ray energy-dispersive diffraction; XED
Influence of DMPA content on the properties of new thermoplastic poly(ether-urethane) elastomers

New thermoplastic poly(ether-urethane) elastomers were synthesized by one-step melt poly addition from poly(oxytetramethylene)diol of M ¯ n = 2000 g mol−1 as soft segment, 1,1′-methanediylbis(4-isocyanatocyclohexane) (Desmodur W®), and 2,2′-methylenebis[(4,1-phenylene)methylenesulfanediyl]diethanol or 6,6′-methylenebis[(4,1-phenylene)methylenesulfanediyl]dihexan-1-ol as unconventional chain extenders, and 3-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylpropanoic acid as an ionic chain extender. The structure of polymers was examined by attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared. Moreover, their thermal behavior, Shore A/D hardness, mechanical properties, and optical and adhesive properties were determined. Addition of carboxyl groups to polymer resulted, generally, in increased transparency, hardness, tensile strength and adhesive strength on copper polymer junction and decreased thermal stability, refractive indexes, elongation at break, and modulus of elasticity.
The Addictive Brain: All Roads Lead to Dopamine

Abstract This article will touch on theories, scientific research and conjecture about the evolutionary genetics of the brain function and the impact of genetic variants called polymorphisms on drug-seeking behavior. It will cover the neurological basis of pleasure-seeking and addiction, which affects multitudes in a global atmosphere where people are seeking “pleasure states. ”
Inflammasomes bridge signalling between pathogen identification and the immune response

Microbial organisms express pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that can stimulate expression of proinflammatory mediators following ligation of pathogen recognition receptors. However, both commensal organisms and pathogens can express PAMPs. The immune system can distinguish between commensals and pathogens in part through secretion of the key inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-18. A PAMP such as lipopolysaccharide can induce production of intracellular pro-IL-1beta and pro-IL-18, but not their secretion. A second "danger signal", derived from host-cell molecules that are released from stressed or infected cells, or detected as a PAMP that is present in the cytosol, can stimulate assembly of an inflammasome that activates the protease caspase-1. Caspase-1, in turn, is responsible for processing and secretion of the mature IL-1beta and IL-18. Many diverse ligands leading to inflammasome activation have been identified, but the cell signaling pathways initiated by the ligands tend to converge on a small set of common mechanisms.
Erythromycin-Resistant Group A Streptococcal Isolates Recovered in Sofia, Bulgaria, from 1995 to 2001

ABSTRACT The frequency of erythromycin resistance within group A streptococci in Sofia, Bulgaria, from 1995 to 2001 was 2.1% (26 isolates). Of this, 57.7% was macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin (MLS) inducible, 7.7% was MLS constitutive, and 34.6% had the M phenotype. Eleven different emm sequence types were found among 25 erythromycin-resistant isolates tested. Nineteen of 26 erythromycin-resistant isolates were additionally resistant to tetracycline and/or chloramphenicol.