Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Central nervous system recruitment of effector memory CD8+ T lymphocytes during neuroinflammation is dependent on α4 integrin

Abstract Clonally expanded CD8+ T lymphocytes are present in multiple sclerosis lesions, as well as in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis. In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, CD8+ T lymphocytes are found in spinal cord and brainstem lesions. However, the exact phenotype of central nervous system-infiltrating CD8+ T lymphocytes and the mechanism by which these cells cross the blood–brain barrier remain largely unknown. Using cerebrospinal fluid from patients with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and coronavirus-induced encephalitis, we demonstrate that central nervous system-infiltrating CD8+ T lymphocytes are mostly of the effector memory phenotype (CD62L− CCR7− granzymeBhi). We further show that purified human effector memory CD8+ T lymphocytes transmigrate more readily across blood-brain barrier-endothelial cells than non-effector memory CD8+ T lymphocytes, and that blood-brain barrier endothelium promotes the selective recruitment of effector memory CD8+ T lymphocytes. Furthermore, we provide evidence for the recruitment of interferon-γ- and interleukin-17-secreting CD8+ T lymphocytes by human and mouse blood-brain barrier endothelium. Finally, we show that in vitro migration of CD8+ T lymphocytes across blood-brain barrier-endothelial cells is dependent on α4 integrin, but independent of intercellular adhesion molecule-1/leucocyte function-associated antigen-1, activated leucocyte cell adhesion molecule/CD6 and the chemokine monocyte chemotactic protein-1/CCL2. We also demonstrate that in vivo neutralization of very late antigen-4 restricts central nervous system infiltration of CD8+ T lymphocytes in active immunization and adoptive transfer experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, and in coronavirus-induced encephalitis. Our study thus demonstrates an active role of the blood-brain barrier in the recruitment of effector memory CD8+ T lymphocytes to the CNS compartment and defines α4 integrin as a major contributor of CD8+ T lymphocyte entry into the brain.
Making the user more efficient: design for sustainable behaviour

User behaviour is a significant determinant of a product's environmental impact; while engineering advances permit increased efficiency of product operation, the user's decisions and habits ultimately have a major effect on the energy or other resources used by the product. There is thus a need to change users' behaviour. A range of design techniques developed in diverse contexts suggest opportunities for engineers, designers and other stakeholders working in the field of sustainable innovation to affect users' behaviour at the point of interaction with the product or system, in effect ‘making the user more efficient’. Approaches to changing users' behaviour from a number of fields are reviewed and discussed, including: strategic design of affordances and behaviour‐shaping constraints to control or affect energy‐ or other resource‐using interactions; the use of different kinds of feedback and persuasive technology techniques to encourage or guide users to reduce their environmental impact; and context‐based systems which use feedback to adjust their behaviour to run at optimum efficiency and reduce the opportunity for user‐affected inefficiency. Example implementations in the sustainable engineering and ecodesign field are suggested and discussed.
Personality Traits Associated with Fear

The extent to which personality characteristics are associated with fear was investigated. The amount of fear and the attributional style of 91 college students (74 women, 17 men) were measured using the Fear Questionnaire, the Fear Survey Schedule, and the Attributional Style Questionnaire. Analysis indicated that fear was significantly correlated with the responsibility for bad outcomes and with the tendency to generalize all outcomes to many situations. Findings are consistent with the view that significantly different attributional profiles emerge as fearfulness increases.
Thermal transport in lattice-constrained 2D hybrid graphene heterostructures

The thermal transport properties of hybrid graphene/h-BN heterostructures are investigated using atomistic simulations. While the thermal conductivity is observed to be significantly limited perpendicular to the graphene/h-BN interface, it is tunable via a composition parallel to the interface. In particular we show that the thermal transport parallel to the interface can be understood by viewing the hybrid system as a series of individual embedded graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) constrained by neighboring h-BN. A mechanistic model is proposed to relate the thermal conductivities of the embedded and free-standing GNRs through a linear function of the composition. The model predictions are demonstrated to be in good agreement with the simulation results.
Review of mitoxantrone in the treatment of multiple sclerosis

Mitoxantrone is a synthetic anthracenedione recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of worsening relapsing–remitting (RR), secondary progressive (SP), and progressive relapsing (PR) multiple sclerosis (MS). In experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), mitoxantrone prevented the development of the signs and decreased the frequency of relapses in relapsing EAE. Early pilot trials using mitoxantrone were carried out using vastly different dosage regimens and patient populations, which may have resulted in conflicting results. Subsequent trials of mitroxantrone in patients with active inflammatory forms of MS suggested a profound effect in decreasing relapse rates, enhancing lesion frequency, and progression of disability. These results were later confirmed in a large, randomized, double-blind trial in patients with either worsening RRMS or SPMS. Treatment with mitoxantrone brought about statistically significant decreases in relapse rates, progression of disability, gadolinium-enhancing, and new lesions on T2-weighted MRI. Although mitoxantrone is generally well tolerated, it is associated with a variety of potential toxicities. Therefore, its use should probably be restricted to those patients with a suboptimal response to high-dose interferon therapy or those with rapidly progressive disease from onset.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Enhances Regeneration of the Rat Sciatic Nerve

The effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment on regeneration of the rat sciatic nerve was studied. The sciatic nerve was crushed with a pair of pliers and the animals were either left untreated or subjected to a series of 45-min exposures to 100% O2 at 3.3 atm absolute pressure at 0, 4, and 8 h postoperatively and then every 8 h. Regeneration was evaluated using the pinch-reflex test at 3, 4, or 5 days following surgery and with neurofilament staining at 4 days. The regeneration distances at all time points were significantly longer in animals exposed to hyperbaric oxygen treatment independent of the evaluation procedure. A short initial period of the same HBO treatment schedule, with no more treatments after 25 h, appeared as effective as when treatments were maintained being given every 8 h until evaluation. We conclude that HBO treatment stimulates axonal outgrowth following a nerve crush lesion.
AICA riboside improves myocardial ischemia in coronary microembolization in dogs.

This study was undertaken to examine whether 5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide (AICA) riboside (acadesine), which augments adenosine release in ischemic myocardium, further attenuates ischemic injury after acute coronary microembolization. The left anterior descending coronary artery was cannulated and perfused with blood from the left carotid artery in 46 dogs, and coronary blood flow (CBF) of the perfused area was measured. In 12 dogs, 15-microns microspheres (5.0 x 10(4)/ml) were injected repeatedly until CBF approached zero. Changes in CBF, fractional shortening, lactate extraction ratio, and adenosine release were measured with and without administration of AICA riboside. In the control group (n = 7), CBF increased to 154 +/- 11 ml.100 g-1.min-1 at 16-30% of total coronary embolization, and adenosine release was 6.1 +/- 1.0 nmol.100 g-1.min-1. Administration of AICA riboside (n = 5) enhanced coronary hyperemia (187 +/- 8 ml.100 g-1.min-1, P < 0.05), adenosine release (11.9 +/- 0.9 nmol.100 g-1.min-1, P < 0.001), and myocardial adenosine content (0.434 +/- 0.069 vs. 0.118 +/- 0.019 nmol/mg wet wt, P < 0.01) and attenuated decreases in fractional shortening and lactate extraction ratio. AICA riboside preserved myocardial tissue ATP content of the embolized area. The administrations of 8-phenyltheophylline (n = 12) and alpha,beta-methyleneadenosine 5'-diphosphate (n = 10) abolished the beneficial effects of AICA riboside. Furthermore, AICA riboside increased ectosolic and cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase activity of the embolized myocardium (n = 12). Thus we conclude that AICA riboside attenuates contractile and metabolic dysfunction by enhancing adenosine release via activation of ectosolic 5'-nucleotidase and inducing local hyperemia in acute coronary microembolization.
Traumatically Induced Axonal Injury: Pathogenesis and Pathobiological Implications

This work reviews the pathobiology of traumatically induced axonal injury. Drawing upon literature gleaned from the experimental and clinical setting, this review attempts to emphasize that, other than the most destructive insults, traumatic brain injury does not typically cause direct mechanical disruption of the axon. Rather, this review documents that with traumatic injury focal, subtle axonal change occurs, and that over time, such change leads to impaired axoplasmic transport, continued axonal swelling, and ultimate disconnection. The initial intra‐axonal events that trigger the above described sequence of reactive axonal change are considered with focus on the possibility of either traumatically altered axolemmal permeability, direct cytoskeletal damage/perturbation, or more overt metabolic/functional disturbances. Not only does this review focus on the sequence of traumatically induced axonal change, but also, it considers its attendant consequences in terms of Wallerian degeneration and subsequent deafferentation. The concept that traumatically induced diffuse axonal injury leads to diffuse deafferentation is emphasized together with its pathobiological implications for morbidity and recovery. The potential for either adaptive or maladaptive neuroplasticity subsequent to such diffuse deafferentation is considered in the context of mild, moderate and severe traumatic brain injury.
Comprehensive prediction in 78 human cell lines reveals rigidity and compactness of transcription factor dimers

The binding of transcription factors (TFs) to their specific motifs in genomic regulatory regions is commonly studied in isolation. However, in order to elucidate the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation, it is essential to determine which TFs bind DNA cooperatively as dimers and to infer the precise nature of these interactions. So far, only a small number of such dimeric complexes are known. Here, we present an algorithm for predicting cell-type–specific TF–TF dimerization on DNA on a large scale, using DNase I hypersensitivity data from 78 human cell lines. We represented the universe of possible TF complexes by their corresponding motif complexes, and analyzed their occurrence at cell-type–specific DNase I hypersensitive sites. Based on ∼1.4 billion tests for motif complex enrichment, we predicted 603 highly significant cell-type–specific TF dimers, the vast majority of which are novel. Our predictions included 76% (19/25) of the known dimeric complexes and showed significant overlap with an experimental database of protein–protein interactions. They were also independently supported by evolutionary conservation, as well as quantitative variation in DNase I digestion patterns. Notably, the known and predicted TF dimers were almost always highly compact and rigidly spaced, suggesting that TFs dimerize in close proximity to their partners, which results in strict constraints on the structure of the DNA-bound complex. Overall, our results indicate that chromatin openness profiles are highly predictive of cell-type–specific TF–TF interactions. Moreover, cooperative TF dimerization seems to be a widespread phenomenon, with multiple TF complexes predicted in most cell types.
Protandrous arrival timing to breeding areas: a review

Protandry, the earlier arrival of males to breeding areas than females, is a common pattern of sex-biased timing in many animal taxa (e.g. some insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals). The adaptive significance of protandry is not fully understood and, since the 1970s, at least seven hypotheses for protandry have been proposed. We describe each of these hypotheses and summarize what is known about each. In three of these hypotheses, the relative arrival timing of males and females has no direct fitness consequences for males or females, but selection for different timing in each sex indirectly produces protandry. In the other four hypotheses, the difference between male and female timing has fitness consequences for males or females and selection directly maintains the fitness-maximizing degree of sex-biased timing. The hypotheses are not mutually exclusive, and the degree of multiple mating by males and the occurrence of male territoriality seem to determine the relative importance of each hypothesis. In order to understand the adaptive significance of sex-biased timing, future studies need to consider all the alternatives and to assess the costs and benefits to males of early arrival relative to calendar date, to other males and to females.
Device Characterisation of a High Density Half-Micron CMOS Process

The device characterisation and the ringoscillator performance of a high density half-micron CMOS process were studied. A novel recessed field isolation technology, twin retrograde wells, N+ poly-silicon gate material and lightly doped drain structures for both the n-and p-channel devices were used in the device fabrication. The device properties and the ringoscillator performance will be presented.
Sackler Colloquium Proteins: Paradigms of Complexity

Proteins are the working machines of living systems. Directed by the DNA, of the order of a few hundred building blocks, selected from twenty different amino acids, are covalently linked into a linear polypeptide chain. In the proper environment, the chain folds into the working protein, often a globule of linear dimensions of a few nanometers. The biologist considers proteins units from which living systems are built. Many physical scientists look at them as systems in which the laws of complexity can be studied better than anywhere else. Some of the results of such studies will be sketched. “The history of physics is also a history of concepts. For an understanding of the phenomena, the first condition is the introduction of adequate concepts. ” — Pauli to Heisenberg During the past few decades, the general attitude of many physicists has undergone a sea change. It used to be that physicists loved simple systems, tried to understand them in the simplest terms, and often looked down on fields like chemistry and biology, where complexity reigned. No longer. Now many physicists are studying complex nonlinear systems and discover to their surprise how beautiful the problems are and how rewarding the interaction with biologists and chemists can be. Here I try to give a brief description of what proteins are, what they do, how complex they are, and why they are nearly ideal systems for the study of complexity. If this complexity can be called “self-organized” is a question of semantics.
ZigBee wireless intelligent socket design

With the putting forward of the intelligent power grid, scientific power has been more and more taken seriously. Intelligent socket is an important part of the scientific power, it has remote control, electricity power supply condition monitoring, communication network functions etc. This paper studies the intelligent socket function and design method, the design uses the ZigBee wireless technology. ZigBee technology has the advantages of low cost and high reliability etc, and is very suitable for smart home systems. The product has good market prospect, and is worth popularizing widely.
A comparative study of invariant descriptors for shape retrieval

This paper presents a comparative study between scale, rotation and translation invariant descriptors for shape representation and retrieval. Specifically, we studied Fourier, angular radial transform and image moment descriptors for shape representation. Since shape is one of the most widely used image feature exploited in content-based image retrieval systems, we studied for each descriptor, the number of coefficients needed for indexing and their retrieval performance. Results showed that moment descriptors present the best performance in both terms of shape representation quality as well as in the amount of required coefficients.
Ultra-wide dynamic range 1.75 dB noise-figure, 900 MHz CMOS LNA

Efforts toward single-chip transceivers for wireless communications motivate integration of the low-noise amplifier (LNA) in CMOS technology. However, LNA design for CDMA and W-CDMA/UMTS transceivers operating from 860 to 2150 MHz typically requires input IP3/spl ges/0 dBm and noise figure NF/spl les/1.8. A wide-dynamic-range 900 MHz CMOS LNA uses the CMOS part of an RF dedicated BiCMOS process with 0.35 /spl mu/m minimum channel length. The process features on-chip inductors with Q>8-10, nMOS f/sub T/>26 GHz and nMOS transistors separated from the substrate.
FERMI GBM OBSERVATIONS OF LIGO GRAVITATIONAL-WAVE EVENT GW150914

With an instantaneous view of 70% of the sky, the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) is an excellent partner in the search for electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational-wave (GW) events. GBM observations at the time of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) event GW150914 reveal the presence of a weak transient above 50 keV, 0.4 s after the GW event, with a false-alarm probability of 0.0022 (2.9σ). This weak transient lasting 1 s was not detected by any other instrument and does not appear to be connected with other previously known astrophysical, solar, terrestrial, or magnetospheric activity. Its localization is ill-constrained but consistent with the direction of GW150914. The duration and spectrum of the transient event are consistent with a weak short gamma-ray burst (GRB) arriving at a large angle to the direction in which Fermi was pointing where the GBM detector response is not optimal. If the GBM transient is associated with GW150914, then this electromagnetic signal from a stellar mass black hole binary merger is unexpected. We calculate a luminosity in hard X-ray emission between 1 keV and 10 MeV of 1.8 − 1.0 + 1.5 × 10 49 erg s−1. Future joint observations of GW events by LIGO/Virgo and Fermi GBM could reveal whether the weak transient reported here is a plausible counterpart to GW150914 or a chance coincidence, and will further probe the connection between compact binary mergers and short GRBs.
Coenzyme Q10 levels in idiopathic and varicocele‐associated asthenozoospermia

Levels of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and of its reduced and oxidized forms (ubiquinol, QH2, and ubiquinone, Qox) have been determined in sperm cells and seminal plasma of idiopathic (IDA) and varicocele‐associated (VARA) asthenozoospermic patients and of controls. The results have shown significantly lower levels of coenzyme Q10 and of its reduced form, QH2, in semen samples from patients with asthenospermia; furthermore, the coenzyme Q10 content was mainly associated with spermatozoa. Interestingly, sperm cells from IDA patients exhibited significantly lower levels of CoQ10 and QH2 when compared to VARA ones. The QH2/Qox ratio was significantly lower in sperm cells from IDA patients and in seminal plasma from IDA and VARA patients when compared with the control group. The present data suggest that the QH2/Qox ratio may be an index of oxidative stress and its reduction, a risk factor for semen quality. Therefore, the present data could suggest that sperm cells, characterized by low motility and abnormal morphology, have low levels of coenzyme Q10. As a consequence, they could be less capable in dealing with oxidative stress which could lead to a reduced QH2/Qox ratio. Furthermore, the significantly lower levels of CoQ10 and QH2 levels in sperm cells from IDA patients, when compared to VARA ones, enable us to hypothesize a pathogenetic role of antioxidant impairment, at least as a cofactor, in idiopathic forms of asthenozoospermia.
Effects of prebiotics on mineral metabolism.

Nondigestible oligosaccharides (NDOs) have been found to stimulate absorption of several minerals and to improve mineralization of bone. Hence, these substances are potential ingredients for "functional foods. " In addition to a nutritional effect, functional foods have physiologic and psychological benefits that result in improved health or reduced risk of chronic disease. Most of the scientific evidence for the functional effects of NDOs is based on animal experiments in which NDOs increased the availability of calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron. This stimulatory effect of some NDOs is assumed to be mainly due to their prebiotic character. A prebiotic is defined as a substrate or food ingredient that is nondigestible for the host but is fermented selectively by some of the intestinal microflora. Thus, it stimulates the growth and activity of bacteria with beneficial consequences for the host's health. Recently, these findings were confirmed in human studies for some NDOs. The effects seem to be specific for the type of carbohydrate and are likely related to the rate of fermentation by the intestinal flora and appear to depend on the ingested dose. Contradictory results of the effect of prebiotics in literature may be due to the experimental design because the effect of NDOs depends on the dose, the time of administration, the content of calcium in the diet, the part of the skeleton investigated, and the age of the subjects studied.
Patients' Views on Bedside Nursing Handover: Creating a Space to Connect

A study was undertaken to explore patients' experiences and perceptions associated with implementation of bedside nursing handover. Interviews were conducted with patients and analyzed using a directed content analysis. Three themes emerged through which patients described their experience with bedside nursing handover as follows: (1) creating a space for personal connection; (2) “bumping up to speed”; and (3) varying preferences. Health care leaders and nurses can use study findings to tailor strategies to engage patients, taking into account their preferences, in bedside nursing handover.