Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Nymphs Collected in Managed Red Pine Forests in Wisconsin

ABSTRACT Changes in the structure of managed red pine forests in Wisconsin caused by interacting root- and stem-colonizing insects are associated with increased abundance of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, in comparison with nonimpacted stands. However, the frequency and variability of the occurrence of tick-borne pathogens in this coniferous forest type across Wisconsin is unknown. Red pine forests were surveyed from 2009 to 2013 to determine the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in questing I. scapularis nymphs. Polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed geographical differences in the nymphal infection prevalence (NIP) of these pathogens in red pine forests. In the Kettle Moraine State Forest (KMSF) in southeastern Wisconsin, NIP of B. burgdorferi across all years was 35% (range of 14.5–53.0%). At the Black River State Forest (BRSF) in western Wisconsin, NIP of B. burgdorferi across all years was 26% (range of 10.9–35.5%). Differences in NIP of B. burgdorferi between KMSF and BRSF were statistically significant for 2010 and 2011 and for all years combined (P < 0.05). NIP of A. phagocytophilum (human agent) averaged 9% (range of 4.6–15.8%) at KMSF and 3% (range of 0–6.4%) at BRSF, and was significantly different between the sites for all years combined (P < 0.05). Differences in coinfection of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum were not statistically significant between KMSF and BRSF, with an average of 3.4% (range of 1.7–10.5%) and 2.5% (range of 0–5.5%), respectively. In 2013, the density of infected nymphs in KMSF and BRSF was 14 and 30 per 1000m2, respectively, among the highest ever recorded for the state. Differences in the density of nymphs and NIP among sites were neither correlated with environmental factors nor time since tick colonization. These results document significant unexplained variation in tick-borne pathogens between coniferous forests in Wisconsin that warrants further study.
Sleep habits and excessive daytime sleepiness correlate with injury risks in the general population in Taiwan

Objective To explore the relationship between sleeping habits, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), and different injury risks in the general population of Taiwan. Design Cross-sectional national data from the Taiwan Social Trend Survey conducted in 2005 by interviews using validated inventories. Setting Population-based face-to-face interviews at participants' residences. Participants 36 473 Taiwanese citizens aged 15 years or older. Exposure Measures Self-reported EDS was measured using the Epworth sleepiness scale. Other sleep-related problems investigated included self-reported sleep quality (assessed by the insomnia self-assessment inventory) and self-reported inadequate sleep duration (<7 h). Main Outcome Measures Self-reported major injuries that required medical attention. Results Considering all sleep-related problems together, multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that EDS and poor sleep quality were significant predictors of higher risks of various injuries. EDS predicted major traffic injuries (odds ratio (OR) 1.62, 95% CI 1.29 to 2.02) and major fall injuries (OR 1.49, 95% CI1.20 to 1.84). Those with poor sleep quality tended to have traffic injuries (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.41 to 1.99) and major fall injuries (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.07). Conclusions EDS and sleep quality are associated with the occurrence of a variety of injuries in Taiwan's general population.
On the Relationship between PQCL Preference Formalism and Value-Based AF

Representing and reasoning with preferences and arguments are two wide and active research topics. In this paper, we establish a link between a preference formalism, called Prioritized Qualitative Choice Logic (PQCL) and argumentation theory. We show that for any set of preferences expressed using PQCL, there is an equivalent Value-based argumentation framework (VAF). We then show that there is a direct relationship between preferred models of a given PQCL theory and the preferred extension of the corresponding VAF. This relationship is interesting since it makes it possible to use an argumentation framework for preferences elicitation.
Triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein–cholesterol ratio, glycemic control and cardiovascular risk in obese patients with type 2 diabetes

Purpose of reviewThis article provides an update on the role of the triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (triglyceride/HDL-C) ratio in the setting of obesity-related insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Recent findingsInsulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus are well-established risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, and are commonly associated with metabolic abnormalities such as hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-C and presence of small, dense low-dense lipoprotein (LDL) particles. Mounting evidence suggests that the triglyceride/HDL-C ratio is a marker of insulin resistance, although this relationship might vary as a function of ethnicity and sex. The triglyceride/HDL-C ratio has also been shown to correlate with other atherogenic lipid measurements, such as triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, remnant cholesterol and small dense LDL particles. Recent epidemiologic studies have shown that the triglyceride/HDL-C ratio associates with cardiovascular risk, mainly because of its association with insulin resistance. Finally, triglyceride/HDL-C can also be a marker of glycemic control, especially in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. SummaryThe triglyceride/HDL-C integrates information on triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, insulin resistance and glycemic control. Future studies may better define its specific clinical role.
Antiadhesive Effect of Mixed Solution of Sodium Hyaluronate and Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose After Blow-out Fracture Repair

Abstract Treatment of blow-out fractures is aimed at the prevention of permanent diplopia and cosmetically unacceptable enophthalmos. Porous polyethylene sheets are one of the most common alloplastic implants for blow-out fracture repair. Because adhesion between the porous polyethylene and the orbital soft tissue can result in restrictions of ocular motility, prevention of postoperative adhesion is important in the reconstruction of blow-out fractures. The purpose of this study was to find out the effect of the mixed solution of sodium hyaluronate and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (HACMC) on postoperative adhesion in blow-out fracture repair in an animal model. Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits were used. An 8-mm defect was made in the maxillary sinuses including the bone and mucosa. A 10-mm porous polyethylene sheet (Medpor; Porex Surgical Inc., Newnan, GA) was inserted in to the defect. The rabbits were divided into a control group and a HACMC group. In the HACMC group, HACMC solution was instilled onto the surface of the implant and then the implant was inserted. The implants were harvested at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery (3 implants each period). Hematoxylin and eosin, Masson trichrome, and CD31 (platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1) stains were performed for evaluation of inflammation, fibrosis, and vascularization. Inflammation appeared less severe in the HACMC group, but the difference between the 2 groups was not statistically significant. The degree of fibrosis was more severe in the control group. There were significant differences in the degree of fibrosis between the 2 groups 4 and 8 weeks after surgery (P = 0.046). The amount of vascularization was similar in both groups. The HACMC solution seemed to be effective for reducing postoperative adhesion in reconstruction of blow-out fractures in a rabbit model. Our results suggest that the application of HACMC solution could be an effective adjunct for the repair of trap-door fractures or revision of blow-out fractures.
Bardet-Biedl syndrome presenting with steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by postaxial polydactyly, retinitis pigmentosa, central obesity, mental retardation, hypogonadism, and renal involvement. Renal involvement in various forms has been seen in BBS. Cases with nephrotic range proteinuria not responding to steroid have been described in this syndrome. Here we report a case of BBS who presented with nephrotic range proteinuria. The biopsy findings were suggestive of minimal change disease. The child responded well to steroid therapy and remains in remission.
Notch Signaling in Neuroendocrine Tumors

Carcinoids and neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a heterogeneous group of tumors that arise from the neuroendocrine cells of the GI tract, endocrine pancreas, and the respiratory system. NETs remain significantly understudied with respect to molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis, particularly the role of cell fate signaling systems such as Notch. The abundance of literature on the Notch pathway is a testament to its complexity in different cellular environments. Notch receptors can function as oncogenes in some contexts and tumor suppressors in others. The genetic heterogeneity of NETs suggests that to fully understand the roles and the potential therapeutic implications of Notch signaling in NETs, a comprehensive analysis of Notch expression patterns and potential roles across all NET subtypes is required.
RNA Interference as a Cellular Defense Mechanism against the DNA Virus Baculovirus

ABSTRACT In insects, the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway plays a major role in antiviral responses, as shown against many RNA viruses. The response includes the cleavage of double-stranded RNA genome or intermediates, produced during replication, into viral short interfering RNAs (v-siRNAs). Using deep sequencing, we found that a large number of small reads of ∼20 nucleotides from Helicoverpa armigera larvae infected with Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus (HaSNPV) were mapped to certain open reading frames in the viral genome (hot spots) that are mostly structural and auxiliary late genes. After excluding the possibility of these small RNAs being microRNAs, it was determined that Dicer-2, the main enzyme implicated in the RNAi response in insects, is involved in the generation of v-siRNAs. In Dicer-2- but not Dicer-1-silenced cells, higher transcript levels of the hot spot genes were detected, and as a consequence the virus replicated more efficiently. The results suggest that the viral transcripts are degraded by the RNAi response of the host. This may, however, be to the advantage of the virus by preventing overreplication of the virus, which may otherwise lead to the premature death of the host cells.
Cementless modular total hip arthroplasty with subtrochanteric shortening osteotomy for hips with developmental dysplasia.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyze the functional and radiographic results of cementless, modular total hip arthroplasty combined with subtrochanteric osteotomy for the treatment of patients who had had Crowe Group-IV developmental dysplasia of the hip as a child. METHODS Twenty-five consecutive patients (thirty-three hips) who had previously had Crowe Group-IV developmental dysplasia of the hip were treated with a modular cementless prosthesis at a mean age of sixty years. The mean follow-up period was eight years (range, five to eleven years). The acetabular cup was placed in the position of the anatomical hip center in every patient. Subtrochanteric femoral shortening osteotomy was performed with use of a step-cut design. RESULTS The mean Merle d'Aubigné and Postel hip score improved from 9 to 16 points (out of a maximum of 18 points). The mean limb-length discrepancy in seventeen patients with unilateral involvement was reduced from 5.1 cm (range, 3.7 to 6.5 cm) to 2.8 cm (range, 1.4 to 4.6 cm). Two patients had a positive Trendelenburg sign, and three had a slight limp at the time of the latest follow-up. No cases of nonunion or nerve palsy were encountered. Postoperative dislocations occurred in two hips. One hip showed progressive radiolucent lines around the proximal femoral sleeve within two years after the surgery, and this was followed by progressive stem subsidence. Only one femoral stem was revised. CONCLUSIONS Cementless, modular total hip arthroplasty combined with subtrochanteric osteotomy for the treatment of patients with prior Crowe Group-IV developmental dysplasia of the hip resulted in satisfactory outcomes. Hips with poor bone quality and a developmentally short femoral neck present technical challenges with regard to achieving sufficient rotatory stability, following osteotomy, for osseointegration of the modular implants. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
The origin of lattice instability in bcc tungsten under triaxial loading

Abstract Stability of ideal bcc tungsten crystal under triaxial tensile loading was explored from first principles using an analysis of both elastic and dynamic stability. The triaxial stress state was considered as a superposition of axial and biaxial transverse stresses. The region of attainable stresses which was delimited using the computed tensile stress maxima was marginally reduced by occurrence of soft phonons in the crystal lattice. While, under purely hydrostatic tension, the crystal was predicted stable up to 48 GPa, greater magnitude of a differential stress reduced the value of a mean (hydrostatic) stress associated with first phonon instabilities to about 35 GPa. This value is rather close to that recently determined in experiment. Computed phonon spectra were successfully verified with the help of atomistic models of microscopic lattice deformation.
The intracellular carboxyl terminal domain of Vangl proteins contains plasma membrane targeting signals

Vangl1 and Vangl2 are integral membrane proteins that play a critical role in establishing planar cell polarity (PCP) in epithelial cells and are required for convergent extension (CE) movements during embryogenesis. Their proper targeting to the plasma membrane (PM) is required for function. We created discrete deletions at the amino and carboxy termini of Vangl1 and monitored the effect of the mutations on PM targeting in Madin–Darby canine kidney cells. Our results show that the Vangl1 amino terminus lacks PM targeting determinants, and these are restricted to the carboxy terminus, including the predicted PDZBM motif at the C‐terminus.
A Novel Algorithm for Text Detection and Localization in Natural Scene Images

Text data in an image present useful information for annotation, indexing and structuring of images. The gathered information from images can be applied for devices for impaired people, navigation, tourist assistance or georeferencing business. In this paper we propose a novel algorithm for text detection and localization from outdoor/indoor images which is robust against different font size, style, uneven illumination, shadows, highlights, over exposed regions, low contrasted images, specular reflections and many distortions which makes text localization task harder. A binarization algorithm based on difference of gamma correction and morphological reconstruction is realized to extract the connected components of an image. These connected components are classified as text and non test using a Random Forest classifier. After that text regions are localized by a novel merging algorithm for further processing.
Translational Diffusion of Macromolecule-sized Solutes in Cytoplasm and Nucleus

Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) was used to quantify the translational diffusion of microinjected FITC-dextrans and Ficolls in the cytoplasm and nucleus of MDCK epithelial cells and Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. Absolute diffusion coefficients (D) were measured using a microsecond-resolution FRAP apparatus and solution standards. In aqueous media (viscosity 1 cP), D for the FITC-dextrans decreased from 75 to 8.4 × 10−7 cm2/s with increasing dextran size (4–2,000 kD). D in cytoplasm relative to that in water (D/Do) was 0.26 ± 0.01 (MDCK) and 0.27 ± 0.01 (fibroblasts), and independent of FITC-dextran and Ficoll size (gyration radii [RG] 40–300 Å). The fraction of mobile FITC-dextran molecules (fmob), determined by the extent of fluorescence recovery after spot photobleaching, was >0.75 for RG < 200 Å, but decreased to <0.5 for RG > 300 Å. The independence of D/Do on FITC-dextran and Ficoll size does not support the concept of solute “sieving” (size-dependent diffusion) in cytoplasm. Photobleaching measurements using different spot diameters (1.5–4 μm) gave similar D/Do, indicating that microcompartments, if present, are of submicron size. Measurements of D/Do and fmob in concentrated dextran solutions, as well as in swollen and shrunken cells, suggested that the low fmob for very large macromolecules might be related to restrictions imposed by immobile obstacles (such as microcompartments) or to anomalous diffusion (such as percolation). In nucleus, D/Do was 0.25 ± 0.02 (MDCK) and 0.27 ± 0.03 (fibroblasts), and independent of solute size (RG 40–300 Å). Our results indicate relatively free and rapid diffusion of macromolecule-sized solutes up to approximately 500 kD in cytoplasm and nucleus.
Implicit test pattern generation constrained to cellular automata embedding

This paper presents an implicit methodology that constrains a test pattern generator to identify test sequences which can be reproduced by cellular automata (CA). The so identified CA can be synthesized as an autonomous finite state machine and can be attached to the inputs of a circuit under test (e.g., a controller). In this way, the circuit under test preserves its integrity and its performance is not affected by the proposed testing technique. The overall device (controller+CA) is an off-line self-testable circuit which con potentially self-test all stuck-at faults both of the controller and the CA. Thus, the method can be viewed as a BIST strategy based on the embedding of deterministic test sequences.
An Activation-based Sentence Processing Model of English

In this paper, we argue that linear order plays crucial role in an adequate account of acceptability judgment and further that the linear order effects we observe should be seen in terms of real-time processing, rather than static syntax. To capture the linear-order effects, we formulate a memory-based model that predicts fine-grained degrees of acceptability.
Recommendations for the development and application of wildlife toxicity reference values

Toxicity reference values (TRVs) are essential in models used in the prediction of the potential for adverse impacts of environmental contaminants to avian and mammalian wildlife; however, issues in their derivation and application continue to result in inconsistent hazard and risk assessments that present a challenge to site managers and regulatory agencies. Currently, the available science does not support several common practices in TRV derivation and application. Key issues include inappropriate use of hazard quotients and the inability to define the probability of adverse outcomes. Other common problems include the continued use of no‐observed‐ and lowest‐observed‐adverse‐effect levels (NOAELs and LOAELs), the use of allometric scaling for interspecific extrapolation of chronic TRVs, inappropriate extrapolation across classes when data are limited, and extrapolation of chronic TRVs from acute data without scientific basis. Recommendations for future TRV derivation focus on using all available qualified toxicity data to include measures of variation associated with those data. This can be achieved by deriving effective dose (EDx)‐based TRVs where x refers to an acceptable (as defined in a problem formulation) reduction in endpoint performance relative to the negative control instead of relying on NOAELs and LOAELs. Recommendations for moving past the use of hazard quotients and dealing with the uncertainty in the TRVs are also provided. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2010; 6:28–37. © 2009 SETAC
Cross-Lingual Genre Classification

Classifying text genres across languages can bring the benefits of genre classification to the target language without the costs of manual annotation. This article introduces the first approach to this task, which exploits text features that can be considered stable genre predictors across languages. My experiments show this method to perform equally well or better than full text translation combined with monolingual classification, while requiring fewer resources.
Watch-Over – The Concept of a Cooperative System for Vehicle to Vulnerable Road UsersCommunication

WATCH-OVER is a European Specific Targeted project co-funded by the European Commission Information Society and Media within the initiatives of the cooperative systems for traffic safety and efficiency based on communication and sensor technologies. The project, supported by EUCAR and coordinated by Centro Ricerche Fiat, includes in its consortium vehicle and motorcycle makers, technology, automotive suppliers and research centres for the design, development and testing phase. The main goal of the WATCH-OVER project is to avoid road accidents that involve vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. The innovative system concept, presented in this paper, will be represented by the cooperation of an on-board platform and a vulnerable user module. It is based on the interaction between an in-vehicle unit and users’ devices that will allow all road users to take an active part in traffic in urban and extra-urban areas. For that reason the WATCH-OVER project carries out research and development activities in order to design and develop an efficient system for accident prevention.
Polygraph Arrangements

A class of subspace arrangements, Z(n,m), known as polygraph arrangements was exploited by Haiman in order to prove the n! theorem. By showing that their intersection lattices, L(Z(n,m)), are EL-shellable, we determine the cohomology groups of the complements of the arrangements. Moreover, we generalize the shellability results to a class of lattices which deserve to be called Dowling generalizations of L(Z(n,m)). As a consequence, we obtain the cohomology groups of the complements of certain Dowling analogues of polygraph arrangements.