Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts hemodynamic significance of coronary artery stenosis

Objective: Coronary artery disease is closely linked with inflammation, and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has emerged as a new inflammatory marker. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is a well-established method for determining hemodynamic significance of coronary artery stenosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between NLR and hemodynamic significance of coronary artery lesion as assessed by FFR. Methods: A total of 134 patients with FFR measurement between January 2012 and December 2013 were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients with single intermediate-grade coronary artery stenosis were enrolled, and those with second intermediate or severe coronary artery stenosis were excluded from study. Patients’ NLR were calculated. An FFR value of <0.80 was accepted for hemodynamic significance. Statistical analysis was performed by the chi-square test, Student’s t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, logistic regression analysis, and ROC curve analysis. Results: Patients with hemodynamically significant lesions had higher NLR values (3.3±1.2 vs. 2.0±0.9, p<0.001). White blood cell count, male gender, high-density lipoprotein levels, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and NLR were found to be possible confounding factors predicting hemodynamically significant coronary artery stenosis. In multiple logistic regression analysis, NLR remained as the only independent predictor for hemodynamically significant coronary artery stenosis. An NLR value of 2.4 had 87.5% sensitivity and 78.4% specificity for prediction of hemodynamically significant coronary artery stenosis. Conclusion: In present study, we showed that NLR was significantly higher in patients with hemodynamically significant coronary artery stenosis. We also found NLR to be an independent predictor of hemodynamically significant coronary artery stenosis as measured by FFR. Further studies are needed to find a causal relationship.
Effects of hypotonic stress on the survival of mouse oocytes and embryos at various stages.

To examine the sensitivity of mammalian oocytes and embryos to osmotic swelling, which can occur during the removal of cryoprotectant from cryopreserved cells, the effect of hypotonic stress on the survival of fresh and vitrified mouse oocytes/embryos at various stages was examined. Oocytes and embryos were suspended in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) media of various hypotonicities for 30 min at 25 degrees C. They were then returned to isotonic PBS medium, and the survival was assessed by the apparent integrity of the blastomeres and/or the developmental potential during culture. The survival of stressed embryos at one- to eight-cell stages assessed by the appearance was close to that assessed by the developmental ability, suggesting that hypotonic stress causes physical damage in the cell membrane. Fresh oocytes and embryos were almost totally unaffected by exposure to a 0.5x isotonic solution at all developmental stages examined. However, the extent of injury resulting from exposure to 0.3 to 0.2x isotonic solutions varied and depended on the developmental stage of the embryos. For example, zygotes were the least sensitive and morulae were the most sensitive to the hypotonic stresses. Except for morulae, vitrified cells were more sensitive to hypotonic stresses than were fresh ones. However, in many cases, the sensitivity was reduced or eliminated when the oocytes and embryos were cultured for a short period before exposure to the hypotonic stress. Furthermore, the survival rate of some stressed embryos which had been equilibrated in vitrification solution without cooling was higher than the survival of embryos stressed immediately following vitrification. These results show that sensitivity to osmotic swelling is variable among oocytes and embryos. The results also show that cryopreserved cells just after warming are more sensitive to osmotic swelling than are fresh ones, and even swelling corresponding to that in 0.5x solution may decrease survival in some stages.
Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Macrophage Infiltration Is Associated With Hepatic and Visceral Fat Deposition, Hyperinsulinemia, and Stimulation of NF-κB Stress Pathway

OBJECTIVE To examine in obese young adults the influence of ethnicity and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) inflammation on hepatic fat fraction (HFF), visceral adipose tissue (VAT) deposition, insulin sensitivity (SI), β-cell function, and SAT gene expression. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS SAT biopsies were obtained from 36 obese young adults (20 Hispanics, 16 African Americans) to measure crown-like structures (CLS), reflecting SAT inflammation. SAT, VAT, and HFF were measured by magnetic resonance imaging, and SI and β-cell function (disposition index [DI]) were measured by intravenous glucose tolerance test. SAT gene expression was assessed using Illumina microarrays. RESULTS Participants with CLS in SAT (n = 16) were similar to those without CLS in terms of ethnicity, sex, and total body fat. Individuals with CLS had greater VAT (3.7 ± 1.3 vs. 2.6 ± 1.6 L; P = 0.04), HFF (9.9 ± 7.3 vs. 5.8 ± 4.4%; P = 0.03), tumor necrosis factor-α (20.8 ± 4.8 vs. 16.2 ± 5.8 pg/mL; P = 0.01), fasting insulin (20.9 ± 10.6 vs. 9.7 ± 6.6 mU/mL; P < 0.001) and glucose (94.4 ± 9.3 vs. 86.8 ± 5.3 mg/dL; P = 0.005), and lower DI (1,559 ± 984 vs. 2,024 ± 829 ×10−4 min−1; P = 0.03). Individuals with CLS in SAT exhibited upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and monocyte antigen CD14 genes, as well as several other genes belonging to the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) stress pathway. CONCLUSIONS Adipose tissue inflammation was equally distributed between sexes and ethnicities. It was associated with partitioning of fat toward VAT and the liver and altered β-cell function, independent of total adiposity. Several genes belonging to the NF-κB stress pathway were upregulated, suggesting stimulation of proinflammatory mediators.
MetaMorpho TM: a linguistically enriched translation memory

This paper describes the new linguistic approaches of the MetaMorphoTM system, a linguistically enriched translation memory. Our aim was to develop an improved TM system that uses linguistic analysis in both source and destination languages to yield more exact matches to the source sentence. The MetaMorphoTM stores and retrieve subsentential segments and uses a linguistically based measure to determine similarity between two source-language segments, and attempts to assemble a sensible translation using translations of source-language chunks if the entire source segment was not found.
Eosinophils elicit proliferation of naive and fungal‐specific cells in vivo so enhancing a T helper type 1 cytokine profile in favour of a protective immune response against Cryptococcus neoformans infection

Experimental Cryptococcus neoformans infection in rats has been shown to have similarities with human cryptococcosis, because as in healthy humans, rats can effectively contain cryptococcal infection. Moreover, it has been shown that eosinophils are components of the immune response to C. neoformans infections. In a previous in vitro study, we demonstrated that rat peritoneal eosinophils phagocytose opsonized live yeasts of C. neoformans, thereby triggering their activation, as indicated by the up‐regulation of MHC and co‐stimulatory molecules and the increase in interleukin‐12, tumour necrosis factor‐α and interferon‐γ production. Furthermore, this work demonstrated that C. neoformans‐specific CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes cultured with these activated C. neoformans‐pulsed eosinophils proliferated, and produced important amounts of T helper type 1 (Th1) cytokines in the absence of Th2 cytokine synthesis. In the present in vivo study, we have shown that C. neoformans‐pulsed eosinophils are also able to migrate into lymphoid organs to present C. neoformans antigens, thereby priming naive and re‐stimulating infected rats to induce T‐cell and B‐cell responses against infection with the fungus. Furthermore, the antigen‐specific immune response induced by C. neoformans‐pulsed eosinophils, which is characterized by the development of a Th1 microenvironment with increased levels of NO synthesis and C. neoformans‐specific immunoglobulin production, was demonstrated to be able to protect rats against subsequent infection with fungus. In summary, the present work demonstrates that eosinophils act as antigen‐presenting cells for the fungal antigen, hence initiating and modulating a C. neoformans‐specific immune response. Finally, we suggest that C. neoformans‐loaded eosinophils might participate in the protective immune response against these fungi.
Micro-instrumentation For Tribological Measurement

A new lateral (non-rotary) SCS micro-instrument for direct measurment of static and dynamic friction between two surfaces is presented. Comb drive actuators apply the normal force and the tangential force for relative motion. The frictionally interacting contact surfaces are SCREAM fabricated vertical side-walls which can be coated with materials. For silicon-dioxide coated surfaces of area 10/sup/3 /sop mu/m/sup2/, friction is observed with the Coulomb's static coefficient of friction being 0.5.
Association of Breast Cancer Resistance Protein/ABCG2 Phenotypes and Novel Promoter and Intron 1 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms

The hypothesis was tested that sequence diversity in breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP)'s cis-regulatory region is a significant determinant of BCRP expression. The BCRP promoter and intron 1 were resequenced in lymphoblast DNA from the polymorphism discovery resource (PDR) 44 subset. BCRP single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in donor human livers, intestines, and lymphoblasts quantitatively phenotyped for BCRP mRNA expression. Carriers of the –15622C>T SNP had lower BCRP expression in multiple tissues. The intron 1 SNP 16702C>T was associated with high expression in livers; 1143G>A was associated with low expression in intestine; 12283T>C was associated with higher expression in the PDR44 and White livers. The –15994C>T promoter SNP was significantly associated with higher BCRP expression in multiple tissues. Patients with the –15994C>T genotype had substantially higher clearance of p.o. imatinib. We next determined whether BCRP expression was related to polymorphic alternative splicing or alternative promoter use. Liver polymorphically expressed an alternatively spliced mRNA [splice variant (SV) 1] skipping exon 2. Although SV1+ livers did not uniformly carry the exon 2 G34A allele, 90% of G34A livers expressed SV1 (versus 4% of 34GG livers). BCRP mRNA was significantly lower among Hispanic livers with the G34A variant genotype and may be due, in part, to polymorphic exon 2 splicing. Analysis of allele expression imbalance (AEI) showed that PDR44 samples with AEI had lower BCRP mRNA expression; however, no linked cis-polymorphisms were identified. BCRP used multiple promoters, and livers differentially using alternative exon 1b had lower BCRP. In conclusion, BCRP expression in lymphoblasts, liver, and intestine is associated with novel promoter and intron 1 SNPs.
Nanoporous carbon-based electrodes for high strain ionomeric bending actuators

Ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs) are electroactive material devices that bend at low applied voltage (1–4 V). Inversely, a voltage is generated when the materials are deformed, which makes them useful both as sensors and actuators. In this paper, we propose two new highly porous carbon materials as electrodes for IPMC actuators, generating a high specific area, and compare their electromechanical performance with recently reported RuO2 electrodes and conventional IPMCs. Using a direct assembly process (DAP), we synthesize ionic liquid (Emi-Tf) actuators with either carbide-derived carbon (CDC) or coconut-shell-based activated carbon-based electrodes. The carbon electrodes were applied onto ionic liquid-swollen Nafion membranes using a direct assembly process. The study demonstrates that actuators based on carbon electrodes derived from TiC have the greatest peak-to-peak strain output, reaching up to 20.4 mε (equivalent to>2%) at a 2 V actuation signal, exceeding that of the RuO2 electrodes by more than 100%. The electrodes synthesized from TiC-derived carbon also exhibit significantly higher maximum strain rate. The differences between the materials are discussed in terms of molecular interactions and mechanisms upon actuation in the different electrodes.
Influence of laser beam on transport dynamics of Si nanoparticles by laser ablation

To investigate nucleation area and transport dynamics of Si nanoparticles, nanocrystalline silicon films were prepared by pulsed laser ablation. Subsequently, the additional laser beam as energy source was introduced, which crossed vertically the plasma plume from the top down in front of the target at a distance of 0.5 cm under same experiment condition. In this region, due to collision between the photon and the plasma plume, the transport of Si nanoparticles was impacted by the cross-laser beam. The Raman and x-ray diffraction spectra (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the films showed that Si nanoparticles were formed in a certain range, and the average size of Si nanoparticles monotonically decreases with the increase of distance. Obviously, the range of Si nanoparticles deposited in substrates became narrower due to the influence of additional laser beam. Experimental results were analyzed in terms of the nucleation area model.
Reverse logistics network design model based on E-commence

The reverse logistics responsible for collecting products from customers and return them to providers is increasingly receiving much attention in the era of E-commence. What's more, to reduce reverse logistic cost, the enterprise tends to outsourcing these activities to the third-party reverse logistics service providers (3PLs). Previous studies on the design of reverse logistics network are mainly based on traditional business and assume that the demand and the return are known. However, in this paper, we propose a decision reverse logistics network model under the context of E-business with the assumption of uncertain demand and return which are determined by the optimal return policy. The major focus of this model is on determining the optimal number and location of factories, on-line retails and the 3PLs. And finally, a numerical example is developed to illustrate the practicability and efficiency of the model.
The development of meibomian glands in mice

Purpose The purpose of this study was to characterize the natural history of meibomian gland morphogenesis in the mouse. Methods Embryonic (E) and post natal (P) C57Bl/6 mouse pups were obtained at E18.5, P0, P1, P3, P5, P8, P15, and P60. Eyelids were fixed and processed for en bloc staining with Phalloidin/DAPI to identify gland morphogenesis, or frozen for immunohistochemistry staining with Oil red O (ORO) to identify lipid and antibodies specific against peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) to identify meibocyte differentiation. Samples were then evaluated using a Zeiss 510 Meta laser scanning confocal microscope or Nikon epi-fluorescent microscope. Tissues from adult mice (2 month-old) were also collected for western blotting. Results Meibomian gland morphogenesis was first detected at E18.5 with the formation of an epithelial placode within the fused eyelid margin. Invagination of the epithelium into the eyelid was detected at P0. From P1 to P3 there was continued extension of the epithelium into the eyelid. ORO and PPARγ staining was first detected at P3, localized to the central core of the epithelial cord thus forming the presumptive ductal lumen. Ductal branching was first detected at P5 associated with acinar differentiation identified by ORO and PPARγ staining. Adult meibomian glands were observed by P15. Western blotting of meibomian gland proteins identified a 50 kDa and a 72 kDa band that stained with antibodies specific to PPARγ. Conclusions We have demonstrated that meibomian gland development bears distinct similarities to hair development with the formation of an epithelial placode and expression of PPARγ co-incident with lipid synthesis and meibocyte differentiation.
Effect of plasma nitrocarburising on fatigue resistance of low alloy Cr–Mo sintered steel

A nitrocarburising treatment was carried out on a low alloyed Cr–Mo sintered steel (1·5%Cr, 0·2%Mo) to evaluate its influence on the bending fatigue resistance of the material. Fatigue performance was compared with that obtained by a conventional through hardening and a plasma carburising. Two different green densitise (7·1 and 7·4 g cm−3) and two different sintering temperatures (1120 and 1250°C) were adopted during preparing the as sintered steels. Fatigue strength after nitrocarburising on 1120°C sintered steels considerably increases. It is comparable with that obtained by through hardening and slightly better than that obtained by plasma carburising. On samples sintered at 1250°C the fatigue resistance of the nitrocarburissed is worse than expected, because the microstructure is softer and less homogeneous.
An item response theory/confirmatory factor analysis of the Autobiographical Memory Test

The Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT) is used to assess the degree of specificity of autobiographical memory. The AMT usually contains cue words of both positive and negative valence, but it is unclear whether these valences form separate factors or not. Accordingly, confirmatory factor analysis assessed whether the AMT measures one overall factor, or whether different cue types are related to different factors. Results were consistent across three datasets (N = 333, N = 405, and N = 336). A one-factor model fitted each dataset well, which suggests that responses to positive and negative cues are related to the one construct. In addition, item response theory analyses showed that the AMT is most precise for people who score low on memory specificity. Implications for using the AMT with high-functioning samples are discussed.
Dirichlet Reputation Systems

Reputation systems can be used in online markets and communities in order to stimulate quality and good behaviour as well as to sanction poor quality and bad behaviour. The basic idea is to have a mechanism for rating services on various aspects, and a way of computing reputation scores based on the ratings from many different parties. By making the reputation scores public, such systems can assist parties in deciding whether or not to use a particular service. Reputation systems represent soft security mechanisms for social control. This article presents a type of reputation system based on the Dirichlet probability distribution which is a multinomial Bayesian probability distribution. Dirichlet reputation systems represent a generalisation of the binomial Beta reputation system. The multinomial aspect of Dirichlet reputation systems means that any set of discrete rating levels can be defined. This provides great flexibility and usability, as well as a sound basis for designing reputation systems
Relative abundance of males to females affects behaviour, condition and immune function in a captive population of dark-eyed juncos Junco hyemalis

Relative numbers of males and females in breeding groups may vary from expected values owing to a variety of factors. To determine how sex ratio might influence individual phenotypes in a captive population of dark-eyed juncos Junco hyemalis during the breeding season, we established three treatment groups: a male-biased (2:1), equal (1:1), and female-biased group (1:2). Within-group density (birds/m 2 ) was constant across groups. We assessed the frequency of flight chases (a proxy for social instability), measured changes in body mass and pectoral muscle condition, assayed plasma levels of testosterone (T) and compared cell-mediated immunity of individuals. We found significantly more chases in the male-biased group than in the female-biased group. Birds in the male-biased group lost more mass and displayed poorer pectoral-muscle condition than birds in the equal group. Cell-mediated immune responses were reduced in individuals in the male-biased group in comparison to the female-biased group. Plasma T levels in both sexes did not vary with sex ratio. Collectively, these results suggest that during the breeding season, social instability is greater in male-biased populations, and instability may lead to decreased general health and vigour.
Geographic cline analysis as a tool for studying genome‐wide variation: a case study of pollinator‐mediated divergence in a monkeyflower

A major goal of speciation research is to reveal the genomic signatures that accompany the speciation process. Genome scans are routinely used to explore genome‐wide variation and identify highly differentiated loci that may contribute to ecological divergence, but they do not incorporate spatial, phenotypic or environmental data that might enhance outlier detection. Geographic cline analysis provides a potential framework for integrating diverse forms of data in a spatially explicit framework, but has not been used to study genome‐wide patterns of divergence. Aided by a first‐draft genome assembly, we combined an FCT scan and geographic cline analysis to characterize patterns of genome‐wide divergence between divergent pollination ecotypes of Mimulus aurantiacus. FCT analysis of 58 872 SNPs generated via RAD‐seq revealed little ecotypic differentiation (mean FCT = 0.041), although a small number of loci were moderately‐to‐highly diverged. Consistent with our previous results from the gene MaMyb2, which contributes to differences in flower colour, 130 loci have cline shapes that recapitulate the spatial pattern of trait divergence, suggesting that they may reside in or near the genomic regions that contribute to pollinator isolation. In the narrow hybrid zone between the ecotypes, extensive admixture among individuals and low linkage disequilibrium between markers indicate that most outlier loci are scattered throughout the genome, rather than being restricted to one or a few divergent regions. In addition to revealing the genomic consequences of ecological divergence in this system, we discuss how geographic cline analysis is a powerful but under‐utilized framework for studying genome‐wide patterns of divergence.
Lefty at the Crossroads of “Stemness” and Differentiative Events

Stem cells are functionally defined by their ability to self‐renew and generate a progeny capable of creation or reconstitution of various tissues. Microarray analysis has shown a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β superfamily, Lefty, to be the single most abundant inhibitor in stem cells and in maternal decidua that supports embryo implantation. Lefty is regulated by pathways such as Smad (Sma and Mad [mothers against decapentaplegic]) and WNT (wingless‐type) and by the transcriptional factor Oct3/4 (octamer‐binding transcription factor 3/4), which support “stemness. ” Lefty is also induced upon exit from the state of stemness, including forced in vitro differentiation, and leukemia inhibitory factor withdrawal. Lefty is a candidate in cell‐fate decisions because of its unique ability to modulate the expression of TGF‐β family proteins such as Nodal and by blanket inhibition of the activity of members of this family which require EGF‐CFC (epidermal growth factor‐Cripto, Frl‐1, and Cryptic) as a coreceptor.