Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Down-Regulated Lymphoproliferation Coincides with Parasite Maturation and with the Collapse of Both Gamma Interferon and Interleukin-4 Responses in a Bovine Model of Onchocerciasis

ABSTRACT Onchocerciasis is a debilitating parasitic infection caused by the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus. Infections are chronic, and persistence of the parasites for several years argues for highly adapted mechanisms of immune evasion. Due to the restricted host repertoire of O. volvulus, we have used the cattle parasite Onchocerca ochengi to investigate the nature of immunomodulation underpinning these long-term infections. Cattle were infected with a single inoculation of 350 infective-stage larvae under laboratory conditions (n = 6). Intradermal nodules containing immature adult worms were detected from 110 days postinfection, and microfilariae in skin were detected from day 280 postinfection. Parasite-specific responses during early infection were nonpolarized with respect to the major Th cytokines (interleukin-4 [IL-4], IL-2, and gamma interferon [IFN-γ]) produced by antigen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or serum antibody isotypes. Antigen-induced proliferation of PBMC peaked shortly after exposure and remained high during the prepatent infection. As the parasites matured and animals developed patent infections, there was a profound down-regulation of lymphoproliferation, accompanied by sharp falls in the expression of both IL-4 and IFN-γ and a gradual decline in IL-2. Levels of immunoglobulin G2 (IgG2) fell, while those of IgG1 remained high. We conclude that neither a classical Th2 response nor a simple Th1-to-Th2 switch is sufficient to explain the immunomodulation associated with patent Onchocerca infections. Instead, there is an initial Th0 response, which matures into a response with some, but not all of the features of a Th2 response. The natural host-parasite relationship of O. ochengi in cattle may be useful as both a descriptive and predictive tool to test more refined models of immunomodulation in onchocerciasis.
Robust Scheduling and Resource Allocation in the Downlink of Spatially Correlated MIMO-OFDMA Wireless Systems With Imperfect CSIT

Multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) has been selected as the core physical-layer access scheme for the downlink of state-of-the-art and next-generation wireless communications standards. In these systems, scheduling and resource allocation (SRA) algorithms, jointly assigning transmission data rates, bandwidth, and power, become crucial in optimizing resource utilization while providing support to multimedia applications with heterogeneous quality-of-service (QoS) requirements. To this end, the transmitter is assumed to have channel state information at the transmitter (CSIT) that will typically be imperfect. This paper introduces a unified analytical framework for robust channel- and queue-aware QoS-guaranteed cross-layer SRA algorithms for the downlink of MIMO-OFDMA networks with imperfect CSIT. The framework is based on the statistical characterization of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) under imperfect CSIT and is general enough to encompass spatial correlation effects in the Tx and Rx antenna arrays, different types of traffic, uniform and continuous power allocation, discrete and continuous rate allocation, and protocols with different amounts of channel and queue awareness. Simulation results using parameters drawn from the Third-Generation Partnership Project Long-Term Evolution (3GPP-LTE) standard demonstrate the validity and advantages of the proposed robust cross-layer unified approach.
Mediation and Domestic Violence

This paper analyzes the potential and limits of recourse to mediation for regulating domestic violence. On the basis of an empirical study of its implementation in France and of the existing academic literature, it shows the existence of two types of practices reflecting two conceptions of mediation and more generally, two conceptions of the articulation between social and penal regulation
Peripheral Vascular Diseases Resulting from Chronic Arsenical Poisoning

Drinking water contaminated by arsenic remains a major public health problem. Long‐term arsenic exposure has been found to be associated with peripheral vascular diseases in a variety of studies. Reports of vascular effects of arsenic in drinking water, which span almost 100 years, have been published in Taiwan, Chile, Mexico, and China. This paper reviewed the association of peripheral vascular diseases resulting from arsenic exposure to drinking water from the clinical and pathological points of view. An endemic peripheral vascular disorder called “blackfoot disease” has been noticed in a limited area in Taiwan. This disease results in gangrene in the extremities. It has been associated with the ingestion of high concentrations of arsenic‐tainted artesian well water. Epidemiological studies confirmed a dose‐response relationship between long‐term arsenic exposure and the occurrence of blackfoot disease. Whereas arsenic has induced various clinical manifestations of vascular effects in Chile, Mexico and China, they do not compare in magnitude or severity to the blackfoot disease found in Taiwan. The pathogenesis of vascular effects induced by arsenic is still controversial. The possible mechanisms include endothelial cell destruction, arsenic‐associated atherogenesis, carotene and zinc deficiency, and/or some immunological mechanism. Microcirculatory assessments revealed that deficits of capillary blood flow and permeability exist in clinically normal skin of patients with chronic arsenical poisoning. The vascular effects of chronic arsenic poisoning may involve cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems as well. In view of the increasing public health problems caused by arsenic exposure, vascular effects should be included in the future study of health effects of arsenic.
Effects of horizontal field-of-view restriction on manoeuvring performance through complex structured environments

Field-of-view (FOV) restrictions are known to affect human behaviour and to degrade performance for a range of different tasks. A proposed cause for this performance impairment is the predominant activation of the ventral cortical stream as compared to the dorsal stream. This may compromise the ability to control heading as well as degrade the processing of spatial information [Patterson et al. 2006]. Furthermore, the peripheral visual field is important in maintaining postural equilibrium [Turano et al. 1993]. These are all significant factors when manoeuvring through complex structured environments. We discuss here two experiments investigating the influence of horizontal FOV-restriction on manoeuvring performance through real-world structured environments. The results can help determine requirements for the selection and development of FOV limiting devices such as Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs).
Impact of muscle fatigue on mechanics and motor control of walking

The aim of the study is to analyze the effects of muscle fatigue on mechanics and motor control of walking in different environments. A series of walking experiments addressedmuscle fatigue impact in different gait tasks, age-related changes in control of gait with muscle fatigue, and effects of fatigue in different muscular group on mechanics and control of gait during stepping down. The present thesis showed that quadriceps muscle fatigue modifies gait fairly independent of the environment. In walking on a level surface, during obstacle crossing and during stepping down quadriceps fatigue caused with a wider basis of support and reduced stride duration, but without modulation of placement of the feet in crossing an obstacle and stepping down a curb. This strategyimproves the balance to avoid falling. Furthermore, the mechanics and control during the last stride before stepping down and in landing phase were dependent on whether ankle muscles or knee muscles were fatigued. It should be noted that the joint used to absorb kinetic energy in stepping down with ankle muscle fatigue was dependent on whether a heel or toe landing strategy was used. However, the variability of trailing and leading foot-step horizontal distance was higher after both fatigue protocols, which indicates a reduced control of foot placement. Moreover, the effects of knee muscle fatigue on even and uneven walking of young adults were independent of physical activity level but age-related. The spatial-temporal and kinetic modulations in both tasks after knee muscle fatigue started over 40 years old with a risky strategy for older individuals (over 60 years old). In conclusion: a) knee muscle fatigue affects medio-lateral balance control independently of type of gait, which were compensated by modulation of the spatial-temporal and kinetic parameters, angular movement, muscle activity and energy absorption to maintain stability; b) compensatory muscle strategies were used according to the muscle groups that were fatigued, recruiting unfatigued muscle groups to adjust the gait pattern and to enhance balance control. In addition, the variability of trailing and leading footstep horizontal distances increased with fatigue, suggesting a loss of control; c) physical activity level did not mediate the effects of knee muscle fatigue on walking on even and uneven surfaces in young adults. On the other hand, the aging process impacts the walking over even and uneven terrains after knee muscles fatigue. Key-words: Muscle fatigue; Walking; Obstacle; Stepping down; Aging; Physical activity level; Biomechanics; Motor control. iv
SIN-1 reverses attenuation of hypercapnic cerebrovasodilation by nitric oxide synthase inhibitors.

We sought to determine whether the attenuation of the hypercapnic cerebrovasodilation associated with inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) can be reversed by exogenous NO. Rats were anesthetized (halothane) and ventilated. Neocortical cerebral blood flow (CBF) was monitored by a laser-Doppler probe. The NOS inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 40 mg/kg iv) reduced resting CBF [-36 +/- 5% (SE); P < 0.01, analysis of variance] and attenuated the increase in CBF elicited by hypercapnia (partial pressure of CO2 = 50-60 mmHg) by 66% (P < 0.01). L-NAME reduced forebrain NOS catalytic activity by 64 +/- 3% (n = 10; P < 0.001). After L-NAME, intracarotid infusion of the NO donor 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1; n = 6) increased resting CBF and reestablished the CBF increase elicited by hypercapnia (P > 0.05 from before L-NAME). Similarly, infusion of the guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) analogue 8-bromo-cGMP (n = 6) reversed the L-NAME-induced attenuation of the hypercapnic cerebrovasodilation. The NO-independent vasodilator papaverine (n = 6) increased resting CBF but did not reverse the attenuation of the CO2 response. SIN-1 did not affect the attenuation of the CO2 response induced by indomethacin (n = 6). The observation that NO donors reverse the L-NAME-induced attenuation of the CO2 response suggests that a basal level of NO is required for the vasodilation to occur. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that NO is not the final mediator of smooth muscle relaxation in hypercapnia. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Real-time quality-on-demand energy-saving schemes for OLED-based displays

This paper proposes the novel methods which are able to real-timely and dynamically transform the RGB values of images displayed on the organic light-emitting diode (OLED), in the case where the personal viewing quality requirements are able to be met based on the peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) prediction. The methods could also be applied to the real-time energy-saving transformation of any displaying media including the video playback on OLED. Simulation results show that by the proposed methods it will own the advantage of efficiently saving the displaying power consumption up to 51%.
Should the Quality of Preparation Impact Postcolonoscopy Follow-Up Recommendations?

A high-quality bowel cleansing preparation is an essential prerequisite for a safe, efficient, and accurate colonoscopy. Large studies, however, have shown that up to 25% of patients undergoing colonoscopy have what is considered to be an inadequate preparation. A well-done survey reported in this issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology by Ben-Horin et al. found considerable variability among endoscopists in their assessment of preparation adequacy from photographs of three representative cases. When the preparation was judged suboptimal, follow-up colonoscopy often was recommended at shorter time intervals than is currently indicated by clinical guidelines. Because this practice is not supported by any direct investigation, a better practice might be to determine if the preparation is poor or inadequate, indicating instead the need for a prompt repeat preparation and another colonoscopy.
The Signal Transduction Function for Oxidative Phosphorylation Is at Least Second Order in ADP*

To maintain ATP constant in the cell, mitochondria must sense cellular ATP utilization and transduce this demand to F0-F1-ATPase. In spite of a considerable research effort over the past three decades, no combination of signal(s) and kinetic function has emerged with the power to explain ATP homeostasis in all mammalian cells. We studied this signal transduction problem in intact human muscle using 31P NMR spectroscopy. We find that the apparent kinetic order of the transduction function of the signal cytosolic ADP concentration ([ADP]) is at least second order and not first order as has been assumed. We show that amplified mitochondrial sensitivity to cytosolic [ADP] harmonizes with in vitro kinetics of [ADP] stimulation of respiration and explains ATP homeostasis also in mouse liver and canine heart. This result may well be generalizable to all mammalian cells.
A survey of UV-excess AGNs in the South Galactic Pole

Spectra, position, magnitudes and colors are presented for 485 faint (B<20.5) emission line objects selected with the ultraviolet-excess (UVX) criterion on a area of 24.6 sq. deg in the South Galactic Pole. The objects were selected from the analysis of pixel-to-pixel stacking of COSMOS scans of UKST U, J and R plates. The candidates were observed with the Meudon-ESO Fiber Optics System (MEFOS) at the ESO 3.6m telescope. 429 type 1 AGNs have been identified (373 in the redshift range 0.3<z<2.2). This sample has allowed the measure of a difference on the QSO clustering evolution in comparison with that found for galaxies (La Franca et al 1998). The region is part of the ESO Imaging Survey (EIS) and of the 2dF QSO redshift survey.
Restless legs syndrome and PD

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurologic disorder whose prevalence has been estimated at 4 to 10% of the general population. Although its pathophysiology remains unknown, dopaminergic mechanisms are believed to play a central role. Furthermore, dopaminergic drugs have shown therapeutic efficacy in various large-scale therapeutic trials, and dopamine agonists now represent the first line of treatment. Several studies performed over the past years have suggested an association between RLS and Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the evidence is still limited and large controlled studies are needed to show the prevalence rates of PD in RLS patients versus controls. Furthermore, in contrast to PD, some brain imaging studies have revealed a mild striatal dysfunction in RLS. Preliminary neuropathologic evidence also suggests that the dopaminergic dysfunction does not involve neuronal degeneration at that level. Therefore, neuronal degeneration in other dopaminergic pathways than the nigrostriatal might be relevant in the pathogenesis of RLS in PD.
Detecting Malicious Domains via Graph Inference

Enterprises routinely collect terabytes of security relevant data, e.g., network logs and application logs, for several reasons such as cheaper storage, forensic analysis, and regulatory compliance. Analyzing these big data sets to identify actionable security information and hence to improve enterprise security, however, is a relatively unexplored area. In this paper, we introduce a system to detect malicious domains accessed by an enterprise’s hosts from the enterprise’s HTTP proxy logs. Specifically, we model the detection problem as a graph inference problemwe construct a host-domain graph from proxy logs, seed the graph with minimal ground truth information, and then use belief propagation to estimate the marginal probability of a domain being malicious. Our experiments on data collected at a global enterprise show that our approach scales well, achieves high detection rates with low false positive rates, and identifies previously unknown malicious domains when compared with state-of-the-art systems. Since malware infections inside an enterprise spread primarily via malware domain accesses, our approach can be used to detect and prevent malware infections.
Using Upland Forest in Shimentai Nature Reserve, China*

The Shimentai Nature Reserve in Yingde County, Guangdong Province, China, established recently in a subtropical upland forest area, has served for ages as an essential and customary source of livelihood for local people. Assessment of forest usage indicates heavy reliance by villagers on its diversified biotic resources. This forest dependence, associated with socioeconomic factors such as distance from village, ethnic origin, out‐migration of rural youngsters, and a local tradition of conservation, is unlikely to decline in the near future. The reserve management recognizes the need to address the livelihood issues of local people and to win local support. A pragmatic adherence to provincial and higher‐level policies that exclude forest‐tapping activities could lead to more people‐versus‐park conflicts, which would dilute fundamental conservation objectives. A more enlightened and localized approach that nurtures a synergy between limited forest use and conservation while helping to develop new income sources could furnish workable alternatives.
An electronic screen for triaging adolescent substance use by risk levels.

IMPORTANCE Screening adolescents for substance use and intervening immediately can reduce the burden of addiction and substance-related morbidity. Several screening tools have been developed to identify problem substance use for adolescents, but none have been calibrated to triage adolescents into clinically relevant risk categories to guide interventions. OBJECTIVE To describe the psychometric properties of an electronic screen and brief assessment tool that triages adolescents into 4 actionable categories regarding their experience with nontobacco substance use. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Adolescent patients (age range, 12-17 years) arriving for routine medical care at 2 outpatient primary care centers and 1 outpatient center for substance use treatment at a pediatric hospital completed an electronic screening tool from June 1, 2012, through March 31, 2013, that consisted of a question on the frequency of using 8 types of drugs in the past year (Screening to Brief Intervention). Additional questions assessed severity of any past-year substance use. Patients completed a structured diagnostic interview (Composite International Diagnostic Interview-Substance Abuse Module), yielding Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition) substance use diagnoses. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES For the entire screen and the Screening to Brief Intervention, sensitivity and specificity for identifying nontobacco substance use, substance use disorders, severe substance use disorders, and tobacco dependence were calculated using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview-Substance Abuse Module as the criterion standard. RESULTS Of 340 patients invited to participate, 216 (63.5%) enrolled in the study. Sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 84% (95% CI, 76%-89%) for identifying nontobacco substance use, 90% (95% CI, 77%-96%) and 94% (95% CI, 89%-96%) for substance use disorders, 100% and 94% (95% CI, 90%-96%) for severe substance use disorders, and 75% (95% CI, 52%-89%) and 98% (95% CI, 95%-100%) for nicotine dependence. No significant differences were found in sensitivity or specificity between the full tool and the Screening to Brief Intervention. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE A single screening question assessing past-year frequency use for 8 commonly misused categories of substances appears to be a valid method for discriminating among clinically relevant risk categories of adolescent substance use.
Exact and Robust (Self‐)Intersections for Polygonal Meshes

We present a new technique to implement operators that modify the topology of polygonal meshes at intersections and self‐intersections. Depending on the modification strategy, this effectively results in operators for Boolean combinations or for the construction of outer hulls that are suited for mesh repair tasks and accurate mesh‐based front tracking of deformable materials that split and merge. By combining an adaptive octree with nested binary space partitions (BSP), we can guarantee exactness (= correctness) and robustness (= completeness) of the algorithm while still achieving higher performance and less memory consumption than previous approaches. The efficiency and scalability in terms of runtime and memory is obtained by an operation localization scheme. We restrict the essential computations to those cells in the adaptive octree where intersections actually occur. Within those critical cells, we convert the input geometry into a plane‐based BSP‐representation which allows us to perform all computations exactly even with fixed precision arithmetics. We carefully analyze the precision requirements of the involved geometric data and predicates in order to guarantee correctness and show how minimal input mesh quantization can be used to safely rely on computations with standard floating point numbers. We properly evaluate our method with respect to precision, robustness, and efficiency.
Moral Realism and the Heuristics Debate

There has been substantial debate in the legal academy centered on the questions of whether universal moral intuitions exist and, if so, whether these intuitions have a privileged normative status, a debate both reflecting and partly reinterpreting classical jurisprudential debates about the existence of “natural law” and “natural rights. ” There is a strong but underappreciated homology between the debates about the nature and quality of intuitive moral reasoning, and debates, associated with the Heuristics and Biases (H&B) school on the one hand and the “Fast and Frugal” (F&F) school on the other, about the nature and quality of our capacity to make self-interested decisions (decisions requiring both factual and a-moral evaluative judgment and decision making ability. There are those in the legal academy, most prominently Cass Sunstein, who accept that people indeed often have strong moral intuitions but believe these predispositions deserve little or no normative deference because the intuitions frequently merely reflect the use of inapt rules of thumb. Others, most prominently John Mikhail, believe people readily make non-reflective moral judgments that we cannot readily explain or justify logically that are grounded in our capacity to process a quite small number of critical features of a decision situation in precisely the way that F&F theorists believe we make most judgments. I explore the degree to which some of the virtues, and, more importantly, most of the problems, in both Sunstein's and Mikhail’s work are the features and shortcomings that have bedeviled the work of each of the schools on heuristic reasoning.