Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation of pre‐diagnostic virological markers for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in human immunodeficiency virus‐infected patients

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a severe neurological disorder due to JC virus (JCV) infection. Pre‐diagnostic biological markers and risk factors for PML are not well understood. We conducted a case–control study nested within the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study to examine the association between JCV viruria and viremia and serum antibody to JCV capsids, in relation to subsequent PML diagnoses, 5 months to 12 years later. Other demographic and immunologic factors were also examined. The study population included 28 incident cases of PML, 26 matched HIV‐positive controls, and 50 HIV‐negative controls. Prevalence of JCV viruria was 37% in cases, 42% in HIV‐positive controls, and 28% in HIV‐negative controls (P = 0.43). Among persons with JCV viruria, persistent viruria was more common in cases (89%) than in HIV‐positive controls (33%) (P = 0.02). Presence of JCV viruria was not related to the time to PML diagnosis (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 0.8–1.4); however, the urinary concentration of JCV DNA increased with proximity to the date of PML diagnosis in cases. JCV seropositivity did not differ between cases or controls (P = 0.42). Four cases tested JCV seronegative, including one case only 5 months prior to diagnosis with PML. JCV DNA was detected in the serum of one HIV‐positive control. Smoking was the only demographic variable analyzed associated with an increased risk for PML (MOR: 9.0, 95% CI: 1.2–394.5). The results suggest that persistent JCV viruria and increasing urinary concentration of JCV DNA may be predictive of PML for some patients. J. Med. Virol. 81:1140–1150, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Chiral‐Nanoassemblies‐Enabled Strategy for Simultaneously Profiling Surface Glycoprotein and MicroRNA in Living Cells

Assemblies of nanomaterials for biological applications in living cells have attracted much attention. Herein, graphene oxide (GO)–gold nanoparticle (Au NP) assemblies are driven by a splint DNA strand, which is designed with two regions at both ends that are complementary with the DNA sequence anchored on the surface of the GO and the Au NPs. In the presence of microRNA (miR)‐21 and epithelial cell‐adhesion molecule (EpCAM), the hybridization of miR‐21 with a molecular probe leads to the separation of 6‐fluorescein‐phosphoramidite‐modified Au NPs from GO, resulting in a decrease in the Raman signal, while EpCAM recognition reduces circular dichroism (CD) signals. The CD signals reverse from negative in original assemblies into positive when reacted with cells, which correlates with two enantiomer geometries. The EpCAM detection has a good linear range of 8.47–74.78 pg mL−1 and a limit of detection (LOD) of 3.63 pg mL−1, whereas miR‐21 detection displays an outstanding linear range of 0.07–13.68 amol ng−1RNA and LOD of 0.03 amol ng−1RNA. All the results are in good agreement with those of the Raman and confocal bioimaging. The strategy opens up an avenue to allow the highly accurate and reliable diagnosis (dual targets) of clinic diseases.
Integrating Contextual Information With ${H}/{\bar {\alpha }}$ Decomposition for PolSAR Data Classification

The use of contextual information is beneficial to improve both the accuracy and reliability of image classification. Based on the robust fuzzy c-means (RFCM) clustering method and an adaptive Markov random field model, this letter proposes a contextual H/α̅ classifier for polarimetric synthetic aperture radar images. At each iterative step of RFCM clustering, the prior probability extracted from the local neighborhood is combined with the fuzzy membership derived from inherent polarimetric characteristics, thus the enhanced fuzzy membership is more reliable. In addition, an adaptive smoothing factor is proposed for use during contextual information retrieval, which can prevent oversmoothing and preserve the local spatial details. The experimental results implemented using AIRSAR and ESAR L-band data validate the efficacy of the proposed method. Compared with the iterated Wishart classifier and fuzzy H/α̅ classifier, the proposed method significantly improves the classification accuracy, with less noise and increased preservation of details.
Subjective insomnia symptoms and sleep duration are not related to hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity in older adults

Insomnia symptoms are highly prevalent in depressed older adults. This study investigates the association between hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity and symptoms of insomnia, respectively, sleep duration among 294 depressed and 123 non‐depressed older adults of the Netherlands Study of Depression in Older people (NESDO) study. Insomnia symptoms were defined as clinically relevant when having a score ≥ 10 points on the Women's Health Initiative Insomnia Rating Scale (WHIIRS). Sleep duration was categorized in short (≤ 6 h per night), normal (7–8 h per night) and long (≥ 9 h per night) duration. Salivary cortisol levels were used to assess the following cortisol parameters for HPA axis activity: area under the curve with respect to the increase (AUCi) and to the ground (AUCg), diurnal slope, evening cortisol level and dexamethasone suppression ratio. Clinically relevant insomnia symptoms were present in 46% of the participants. Thirty‐two per cent of the participants were short sleepers, whereas 16% were long sleepers. However, univariate analyses showed no differences in any of the HPA axis parameters between people with and without insomnia symptoms or between the three groups with different sleep duration. In addition, no significant interaction was found between a diagnosis of depression or the severity of depressive symptoms and any of the cortisol parameters in relation to insomnia symptoms or sleep duration.
Myocardial T  2* measurements in iron‐overloaded thalassemia: An in vivo study to investigate optimal methods of quantification

Reproducible and accurate myocardial T 2* measurements are required for the quantification of iron in heart tissue in transfused thalassemia. The aim of this study was to determine the best method to measure the myocardial T 2* from multi‐gradient‐echo data acquired both with and without black‐blood preparation. Sixteen thalassemia patients from six centers were scanned twice locally, within 1 week, using an optimized bright‐blood T 2* sequence and then subsequently scanned at the standardization center in London within 4 weeks, using a T 2* sequence both with and without black‐blood preparation. Different curve‐fitting models (monoexponential, truncation, and offset) were applied to the data and the results were compared by means of reproducibility. T 2* measurements obtained using the bright‐ and black‐blood techniques. The black‐blood data were well fitted by the monoexponential model, which suggests that a more accurate measure of T 2* can be obtained by removing the main source of errors in the bright‐blood data. For bright‐blood data, the offset model appeared to underestimate T 2* values substantially and was less reproducible. The truncation model gave rise to more reproducible T 2* measurements, which were also closer to the values obtained from the black‐blood data. Magn Reson Med 60:1082–1089, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Childhood Attachment to Pets: Associations between Pet Attachment, Attitudes to Animals, Compassion, and Humane Behaviour

Attachment to pets has an important role in children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development, mental health, well-being, and quality of life. This study examined associations between childhood attachment to pets and caring and friendship behaviour, compassion, and attitudes towards animals. This study also examined socio-demographic differences, particularly pet ownership and pet type. A self-report survey of over one thousand 7 to 12 year-olds in Scotland, UK, revealed that the majority of children are strongly attached to their pets, but attachment scores differ depending on pet type and child gender. Analysis revealed that attachment to pets is facilitated by compassion and caring and pet-directed friendship behaviours and that attachment to pets significantly predicts positive attitudes towards animals. The findings have implications for the promotion of prosocial and humane behaviour. Encouraging children to participate in pet care behaviour may promote attachment between children and their pet, which in turn may have a range of positive outcomes for both children (such as reduced aggression, better well-being, and quality of life) and pets (such as humane treatment). This study enhances our understanding of childhood pet attachment and has implications for humane education and promoting secure emotional attachments in childhood.
Eliminating Scale Drift in Monocular SLAM Using Depth From Defocus

This letter presents a novel approach to correct errors caused by accumulated scale drift in monocular SLAM. It is shown that the metric scale can be estimated using information gathered through monocular SLAM and image blur due to defocus. A nonlinear least squares optimization problem is formulated to integrate depth estimates from defocus to monocular SLAM. An algorithm to process the output keyframe and feature location estimates generated by a monocular SLAM algorithm to correct for scale drift at selected local regions of the environment is presented. The proposed algorithm is experimentally evaluated by processing the output of ORB-SLAM to obtain accurate metric scale maps from a monocular camera without any prior knowledge about the scene.
Improving Smartphone Accessibility with Personalizable Static Overlays

The physical keypads that used to dominate our mobile devices provided additional support for non-visual interaction - the keys could be recognized tactually, the interfaces were simpler and consistent. When combined with a screen reader, these devices could be easily operated by blind people. The advent of smartphones, with their rich, feature-filled applications and interfaces, have brought forward additional challenges for blind users. Apps and features are no longer developed by a single entity leading to an overwhelming variety of interfaces. We present an approach that superimposes a virtual overlay to all other interfaces ensuring interface consistency by re-structuring how content is accessed in every screen. To explore the approach, we split the screen, dedicating half to a configurable set of static options mimicking always available physical buttons regardless of context; while the other enables the standard content navigation gestures with the ability to re-order content and apply filters. In a qualitative study with nine visually impaired participants, the virtual overlays were reported as simpler to use, while still providing full-fledged usage of the system and the third party applications, and were seen as effective and useful, particularly for novice users.
Cutting Edge: Chemokine Receptor CCR4 Is Necessary for Antigen-Driven Cutaneous Accumulation of CD4 T Cells under Physiological Conditions1

Dual expression of chemokine receptor CCR4 and E-selectin ligand is characteristic of skin-tropic CD4 T cells from blood, lymphoid organs, and the skin itself. A strong and specific correlation exists among CCR4, its ligand CCL17/TARC, and the cutaneous lymphocyte-homing process. Nevertheless, whether CCR4 function is required for skin-specific trafficking remains an open question, which we address in this study. We developed an Ag-specific, TCR-transgenic, murine CD4 T cell adoptive transfer model that induces a mixed Th1 and Th17 cutaneous response. Within the hosts, both CCR4+/+ and CCR4−/− donor CD4 T cells contribute equally well to the circulating E-selectin ligand+ pool in response to Ag. However, only CCR4+/+ donor cells accumulate efficiently within the skin. CCR4−/− cells home normally to the peritoneum, showing that they do not have a general defect in lymphocyte trafficking. We conclude that under physiological conditions, CCR4 is a nonredundant, necessary component of skin-specific lymphocyte trafficking.
Uncertainties in energy markets and their consideration in energy storage evaluation

This book successfully illustrates the modeling of electricity prices with the help of stochastic processes. The relatively new phenomenon of negative prices is also integrated into the models. The integration of feed-in from wind power plants in energy models is also very innovative. This approach helps to simulate electricity prices in order to take into account the "merit-order effect of renewable energy". Finally, the models are used for the techno-economic evaluation of energy storages.
Insulin-Like Growth Factors and Their Binding Proteins in Children Born Small for Gestational Age: Implication for Growth Hormone Therapy

The insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their binding proteins (IGFBPs) are important regulators of growth and metabolism and are the key mediators of the actions of growth hormone (GH). Children born small for gestational age (SGA) have a host of medical problems including an increased risk of poor growth later in life, a tendency to develop metabolic abnormalities and a high incidence of learning disabilities. IGFs and related molecules may be linked to all of these concerns. Mouse models of IGF-I and IGF-II deficiencies have phenotypes reminiscent of human SGA, including slow growth, insulin resistance, and mental dysfunction. Humans with IGF-I mutations are born SGA and exhibit very poor subsequent growth, metabolic syndrome and mental retardation. Current management of children born SGA who present with growth failure during childhood includes treatment with GH. SGA children usually have growth factor levels within the normal range; however, as a group, they display lower IGFBP-3 levels in relation to their IGF-I levels. GH is effective in improving growth in children born SGA, but higher doses of GH are required to achieve optimal outcome, suggesting a component of GH insensitivity in SGA children. As in other indications for GH, a rational monitoring approach (focusing on maintaining IGF levels in the high normal range) is prudent.
Radiation therapy for portal venous invasion by hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM To clarify the efficacy and safety of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3-D CRT) for this disease and to specify patient subgroups suitable for this treatment. METHODS Fifty-two patients with HCC received PVI-targeted radiation therapy from January 1995 through December 2003. Portal venous invasion (PVI) was found in the second or lower order branches of the portal vein in 6 patients, in the first branch in 24 patients and in the main trunk in 22 patients. Child classifications of liver function before radiation therapy were A, B, and C for 19, 24 and 2 patients, respectively. All patients received three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy with a total dose ranging from 39 to 60 Gy (57.0 Gy in average). RESULTS Overall survival rates at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years were 45.1%, 25.3%, 15.2%, 10.1%, and 5.1%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that Child status, the number of tumor foci, tumor type, transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) after radiation therapy were statistically significant prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis showed that the number of tumor foci and TAE after radiation therapy were statistically significant. CONCLUSION The results of this study strongly suggest the efficacy of 3-D CRT as treatment for PVI in HCC. 3-D CRT is recommended in combination with post-radiation TAE for PVI of HCC with 5 tumor foci or less in the liver and with Child A liver function.
Etiology of Spondylolisthesis: Assessment of the Role Played by Lumbar Facet Joint Morphology

This study examined the role of facet joint morphology in the etiology of both degenerative spondylolisthesis and isthmic spondylolysis. To this end, the axial facet joint morphology of the lower lumbar spine in a normal population and in populations of patients with spinal stenosis or degenerative spondylolisthesis at L4-5 and in patients with isthmic spondylolysis at the L5 level were characterized. Computed tomographic scans were digitized, defining the axial morphology of the normal facet joint at five stations from proximal to distal within the joint. Assessments were made of facet joint orientation, transverse articular dimension, depth of the articular surface, and shape of the articular surface at levels L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1. There was a gradually more coronal orientation from proximal to distal among the stations at each level, and a maximal transverse articular dimension at the level of the superior endplate of the caudad vertebra. Minimal error in the recording process at this level, in addition to the maximal joint dimension, made this level the most representative of the overall morphology and most useful for further studies. At the L4-5 level, a significantly more sagittal facet orientation was found in the degenerative spondyiolisthesis group when compared to both the normal population and spinal stenosis groups (P< 0.01). At L5-S1, the only significant morphologic difference between the normal population and the patients with isthmic spondylolysis was reduced transverse articular dimension. These results support the hypothesis that patients developing degenerative spondylolisthesis are predisposed to this by a developmental sagittal orientation of the L4-5 facet joints
Release‐regulating autoreceptors of the GABAB‐type in human cerebral cortex

1 The depolarization‐evoked release of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) and its modulation mediated by autoreceptors were investigated in superfused synaptosomes prepared from fresh human cerebral cortex. 2 The release of [3H]‐GABA provoked by 15 mM K+ from human cortex nerve endings was almost totally (85%) calcium‐dependent. 3 In the presence of the GABA uptake inhibitor SK&F 89976A (N‐(4,4‐diphenyl‐3‐butenyl)‐nipecotic; acid), added to prevent carrier‐mediated homoexchange, GABA (1–10 μm) decreased in a concentration‐dependent manner the K+‐evoked release of [3H]‐GABA. The effect of GABA was mimicked by the GABAB receptor agonist (−)‐baclofen (1–100 μm) but not by the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol (1–100 μm). Moreover, the GABA‐induced inhibition of [3H]‐GABA release was not affected by two GABAA receptor antagonists, bicuculline or SR 95531 (2‐(3′‐carbethoxy‐2′‐propenyl)−3‐amino‐6‐paramethoxy‐phenyl‐pyridazinium bromide). 4 (−)‐Baclofen also inhibited the depolarization‐evoked release of endogenous GABA from human cortical synaptosomes. 5 It is concluded that GABA autoreceptors regulating the release of both newly taken up and endogenous GABA are present in human brain and appear to belong to the GABAB subtype.
High-Performance SAW Resonator on New Multilayered Substrate Using LiTaO3 Crystal

To develop the high-performance filters and duplexers required for recent long-term evolution frequency bands in mobile handsets, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator is needed that has a higher quality (Q) and a lower temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF). To achieve this, the authors focused on acoustic energy confinement in the depth direction for a rotated Y-X LiTaO3 (LT) substrate. Characteristics of multilayered substrates with low-impedance and high-impedance layers under LT layer were studied numerically in terms of acoustic energy distribution, phase velocity, coupling coefficient, and temperature characteristics employing a finite-element method simulation. After several calculations, a novel multilayered structure was developed that uses SiO2 for a low-impedance layer and AlN for a high-impedance layer under the thin LT layer. A one-port resonator using the new substrate was fabricated, and its experimental results showed that the developed resonator had a Bode-Q over 4000 and TCF of −8 ppm/°C, which are four times higher than and one-fifth as small as those of a conventional 4° YX-LT SAW resonator, respectively. By applying this technology, a band 25 duplexer with very narrow duplex gap was successfully developed, which shows extremely low insertion loss, steep cutoff characteristics, and stable temperature characteristics.
The structural organization and adrenergic innervation of the carotid arterial system of the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)

The sympathetic innervation of the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) carotid arterial system is described in this study using the sucrose‐potassium phosphate‐glyoxylic acid (SPG) method. The brachiocephalic and bicarotid trunks showed a paucity of sympathetic innervation. Smooth muscle nests observed in the outer layers of the tunica media in these arteries revealed a rich network of sympathetic nerve fibres. The common carotid artery showed numerous sympathetic nerve fibres particularly in the outer muscular zone of the tunica media. The internal maxillary, ramus anastomoticus, and arteria anastomotica also revealed a rich sympathetic innervation and a deep penetration of the nerve fibres into the tunica media. It is suggested that the rich sympathetic innervation of the giraffe carotid arteries maintains a basal tonic state in the smooth muscle in the tunica media. This, in turn, may enable the animal to maintain a relatively high rate of blood flow in the carotid arteries in diastole despite the pressure run‐off. It is further suggested that the muscular structure and dense sympathetic innervation of the internal maxillary and its branches to the carotid rete mirabile provide the animal with an array of mechanisms to modulate its cranial circulation particularly when it bends its head to drink.
DC electrical breakdown dependence on the radial position of specimens within HVDc XLPE cable insulation

Because of temperature gradients and inhomogeneous cooling rates after extrusion, the performances of HVDC XLPE cable insulation at radial position are not uniformly distributed. DC breakdown strength measurements of HVDC XLPE cable insulation specimens in inner insulation (near conductor shield), middle insulation and outer insulation (near insulation shield) have been carried out and show that DC breakdown strength of specimens in middle insulation is relatively lower than that of in inner and outer insulation at 30, 50 and 70 °C. At 90 °C, there is no significant difference of DC breakdown strength of specimens at radial position. Thus the micro performances of XLPE specimens at different radial position have been studied by FTIR, DSC, SEM and XRD. FTIR measurements show that cross-linked by-products (benzyl alcohol and acetophenone) content in middle insulation is higher; DSC measurements shows that crystallinity of specimens in middle insulation is slightly higher; SEM measurements show that the grains of specimens in middle insulation are unevenly distributed and their sizes have obvious difference; the results of XRD measurements show a higher content of by-products, a higher crystallinity and a larger crystalline interplanar spacing (a larger grain size) of specimens in middle insulation, which are consistent with FTIR, DSC and SEM analysis. Therefore, cross-linked by-products, crystallinity and crystal morphology together make DC breakdown strength of specimens in middle insulation lower.