Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Coadministration of Plasmid DNA Constructs Encoding an Encephalitogenic Determinant and IL-10 Elicits Regulatory T Cell-Mediated Protective Immunity in the Central Nervous System1

We have previously shown that Ag-specific IL-10-producing regulatory T cells (Tr1) participate in the regulation of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and that their specificity undergoes determinant spread in a reciprocal manner to effector T cell specificity. The current study shows that coadministration of plasmid DNA vaccines encoding IL-10 together with a plasmid encoding a myelin basic protein (MBP) encephalitogenic determinant during an ongoing disease rapidly amplifies this Tr1-mediated response, in a disease-specific manner. Thus, coadministration of both plasmids, but not the plasmid DNA encoding MBP alone, rapidly suppresses an ongoing disease. Tolerance included elevation in Ag-specific T cells producing IL-10 and an increase in apoptosis of cells around high endothelial venules in the CNS after successful therapy. Tolerance could be transferred by MBP-specific primary T cells isolated from protected donors and reversed by neutralizing Abs to IL-10 but not to IL-4. Due to the nature of determinant spread in this model, we could bring about evidence implying that rapid and effective induction of Tr1-induced active tolerance is dependent on redirecting the Tr1 response to the epitope to which the effector function dominates the response at a given time. The consequences of these findings to multiple sclerosis, and possibly other inflammatory autoimmune diseases are discussed.
Chronic lithium treatment rectifies maladaptive dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens

Chronic lithium treatment effectively reduces behavioral phenotypes of mania in humans and rodents. The mechanisms by which lithium exerts these actions are poorly understood. Pre‐clinical and clinical evidence have implicated increased mesolimbic dopamine (DA) neurotransmission with mania. We used fast‐scan cyclic voltammetry to characterize changes in extracellular DA concentrations in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core evoked by 20 and 60 Hz electrical stimulation of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in C57BL6/J mice treated either acutely or chronically with lithium. The effects of chronic lithium treatment on the availability of DA for release were assessed by depleting readily releasable DA using short inter‐train intervals, or administering d‐amphetamine acutely to mobilize readily releasable DA. Chronic, but not acute, lithium treatment decreased the amplitude of DA responses in the NAc following 60 Hz pulse train stimulation. Neither lithium treatment altered the kinetics of DA release or reuptake. Chronic treatment did not impact the progressive reduction in the amplitude of DA responses when, using 20 or 60 Hz pulse trains, the VTA was stimulated every 6 s to deplete DA. Specifically, the amplitude of DA responses to 60 Hz pulse trains was initially reduced compared to control mice, but by the fifth pulse train, there was no longer a treatment effect. However, chronic lithium treatment attenuated d‐amphetamine‐induced increases in DA responses to 20 Hz pulse trains stimulation. Our data suggest that long‐term administration of lithium may ameliorate mania phenotypes by normalizing the readily releasable DA pool in VTA axon terminals in the NAc.
The new immigrants.

This chapter uses data from the 1990 Census of Population to explicate the demographic social and economic circumstances of the foreign-born population of the United States. Sections are included on immigration law and diversity (trends over time and migrant origins); immigrants residence characteristics and citizenship (local impact children and education seniors and naturalization); the skills of immigrants (education language and school enrollment); immigrants and the labor market; household structure marital status and fertility; immigrant income (earnings public assistance household income and poverty); and the consequences of immigration. (EXCERPT)
Fasting plasma insulin is associated with metabolic syndrome in farmers but not in nomads among the Mongolian population, China.

AIM The World Health Organization (WHO) includes insulin resistance among its criteria for diagnosing metabolic syndrome (MetS); however, previous epidemiologic studies have limited their research to settled populations only. This study aims to clarify the relationship between plasma insulin and metabolic factors on a broader scale by studying data obtained from nomadic and settled Mongolian populations. METHODS A cross-sectional epidemiologic study of 200 nomads and 256 farmers was performed in Inner Mongolia, Republic of China. Plasma insulin levels and other metabolic factors, such as blood pressure, serum lipids and obesity, were measured. Participants were classified into 3 categories according to their plasma insulin levels. RESULTS Cut-off values grouped into tertiles of fasting insulin for all participants were 6.73 nmol/L and 10.33 nmol/L. The mean number of metabolic risk factors, waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose and triglyceride were higher, and the mean HDL cholesterol was lower in the higher fasting insulin tertile among farmers after adjusting for age, gender, smoking, alcohol drinking and total cholesterol. However, no MetS factors were statistically related with fasting insulin tertile levels among nomads. CONCLUSIONS In nomads, hyperinsulinemia may not be an indicator of MetS due to their specific life-style.
Prostaglandin E production by human blood monocytes and mouse peritoneal macrophages

Purified populations of both human peripheral blood monocytes and murine peritoneal macrophages synthesize and release Prostaglandin E in vitro. In contrast, prostaglandin E was detected in neither the supernate fluids from cultures of highly enriched human lymphocytes and granulocytes, nor in nonadherent murine peritoneal cells. Macrophage prostaglandin E production was markedly enhanced by endotoxin, and completely suppressed by indomethacin. All neoplastic monocyte- macrophage cell lines examined elaborated prostaglandin E in vitro, either constitutively or after induction with endotoxin. In contrast, prostaglandin E production could not be detected from either a T- or B- cell lymphoma, whether or not they were treated with endotoxin. These findings thus indicate that the blood monocyte and tissue macrophage represent an important source of prostaglandin E, a function shared by both normal and neoplastic mononuclear phagocytes.
Who is blinded in randomized clinical trials? A study of 200 trials and a survey of authors

Background Insufficient blinding of persons involved in randomized clinical trials is associated with bias. The appraisal of the risk of bias is difficult without adequate information in trial reports. Purpose We wanted to study how blinding is reported in clinical trials and how lack of reporting relate to lack of blinding. Methods A cohort study of 200 blinded randomized clinical trials published in 2001 randomly sampled from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and a questionnaire survey of the trial authors. Results One-hundred and fifty-six (78%) articles described trials as ‘double blind’. In three (2%) of such articles the blinding status of patients, health care providers and data collectors was explicitly described. Eighty-eight (56%) articles did not describe the blinding status of any trial person, and 41 articles (26%) reported no blinding relevant information at all beyond the trial being ‘double blind’. One-hundred and thirty (65%) surveyed authors responded. Patients were blinded in 101 (97%) ‘double blind’ trials, and health care providers in 93 (89%). Twenty (19%) ‘double blind’ trials had not blinded either patients, health care providers or data collectors. Survey responders provided 15 different operational meanings of the term ‘double blind’, and typically felt that their preferred definition was the most widely used. Limitations The proportions in the author survey may be too optimistic due to reporting bias. It is not known how the increased use of the CONSORT guidelines may have afffected reporting in years after 2001. Conclusions The blinding status of key trial persons was incompletely reported in most randomized clinical trials. Unreported blinding may be frequent, but one of five ‘double blind’ trials did not blind either patients, treatment providers or data collectors. Authors, referees, and journal editors could improve the completeness of reporting of blinding, eg, by adhering to the CONSORT statement. It is inappropriate to presume blinding of key trial persons based only on the ambiguous term ‘double blind’.
Citizens’ e-participation on agenda setting in local governance: Do individual social capital and e-participation management matter?

ABSTRACT Although a growing body of literature has touted e-participation as a means of facilitating greater citizen participation in policy decision-making processes, little is known about the driving forces behind citizens’ use of e-participation. Based on a literature review of social capital and citizen participation, this study develops and tests a model proposing that three dimensions of social capital and three dimensions of citizen participation management should be positively associated with e-participation in agenda setting. Using data from a Korean e-participation survey conducted in 2009, we found that citizens tend to be more active e-participants when they have greater trust in government and are weakly tied to offline social groups. We also found that citizen participants’ perception of government responsiveness to their input can facilitate their e-participation. The study findings imply that local governments should pay more attention to the function of public trust in local government and provide quality feedback in response to citizen input. They should also be sensitive to how the social factors of e-participants can facilitate involvement in agenda setting.
Dexmedetomidine Infusion to Facilitate Opioid Detoxification and Withdrawal in a Patient with Chronic Opioid Abuse

Many patients are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for acute intoxication, serious complication of overdose, or withdrawal symptoms of illicit drugs. An acute withdrawal of drugs with addiction potential is associated with a sympathetic overactivity leading to marked psychomimetic disturbances. Acute intoxication or withdrawal of such drugs is often associated with life-threatening complications which require ICU admission and necessitate prolonged sedative analgesic medications, weaning from which is often complicated by withdrawal and other psychomimetic symptoms. Dexmedetomidine, an alpha-2 (α2) agonist, has been used successfully to facilitate withdrawal and detoxification of various drugs and also to control delirium in ICU patients. Herein, we report a case of a chronic opioid abuse (heroin) patient admitted with acute overdose complications leading to a prolonged ICU course requiring sedative–analgesic medication; the drug withdrawal-related symptoms further complicated the weaning process. Dexmedetomidine infusion was successfully used as a sedative–analgesic to control the withdrawal-related psychomimetic symptoms and to facilitate smooth detoxification and weaning from opioid and other sedatives.
Laminar Specificity of Local Circuits in Barrel Cortex of Ephrin-A5 Knockout Mice

Cortical circuits are characterized by layer-specific axonal arbors. Molecular laminar cues are believed to direct the development of this specificity. We have tested the hypothesis that ephrin-A5 is responsible for preventing layer 2/3 pyramidal cell axons from branching within layer 4 (Castellani et al., 1998) by assessing the laminar specificity of axonal arbors in ephrin-A5 knockout mice. We find that in barrel cortex of knockout mice, layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons form axonal arbors specifically in layers 2/3 and 5, avoiding layer 4. This pattern of arborization is indistinguishable from that of wild-type littermates. Furthermore, we find that in wild-type mice, laminar patterns of ephrin-A5 expression differ between cortical areas despite the similarity of layer-specific local cortical circuits across areas. Most notably, ephrin-A5 is not expressed preferentially in layer 4 of wild-type mouse barrel cortex. We conclude that ephrin-A5 is not responsible for preventing the development of layer 2/3 pyramidal cell axonal arbors in layer 4 of mouse barrel cortex. These observations also suggest that if ephrin-A5 plays a role in the emergence of layer-specific circuits, that role must differ between cortical areas.
How Does Performance Feedback Affect Boundary Spanning in Multinational Corporations? Insights from Technology Scouts

As much as prior research has shed light on the boundary-spanning processes of global organizations and their (positive) impact on an MNC's performance, whether, when and how past performance ultimately shapes an MNC's boundary-spanning activities remains an open question in management research. To tackle these questions, we examine the behavior of technology scouts in global organizations who span organizational and national boundaries to tap into novel knowledge and span internal boundaries to present this knowledge to constituents inside the MNC. Drawing on the behavioral theory of the firm, we propose that the intensity of organizational boundary spanning, the likelihood of spanning national boundaries and the way technology scouts span internal boundaries to engage with members inside the organization are sensitive to how the MNC has performed relative to its aspirations. We support our theoretical expositions with insights gained from interviewing senior industry professionals with direct experience in technology scouting in MNCs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
A growth cost of begging in captive canary chicks

Nestling birds solicit food from adults by using begging displays that appear paradoxically costly and wasteful. Theoretical work suggests that the evolution of such exuberant offspring behavior reflects parent–offspring conflict over the supply of parental investment. Originally, extravagant begging was seen as a means of psychological trickery by which offspring could wheedle additional resources from resistant parents. Subsequently, costly begging came to be viewed as the hallmark of resolved parent–offspring conflict, serving either to prevent escalated scramble competition or to enforce honest signaling. However, the theoretical assumption of costly solicitation has been called into question by the low level of energy expenditure measured empirically during begging. This finding has prompted new theoretical work that shows that begging can be cost-free and yet still resolve parent–offspring conflict. Here, I report that begging is more costly than recent work suggests. My experimental evidence from captive canaries demonstrates a marginal cost of begging through impaired growth. Furthermore, I argue that previous studies of energy expenditure during solicitation do not measure the cost of begging, as defined theoretically. More generally, my results may account for the evolution of nestling growth rates, as well as the observation that begging is typically most flamboyant in older offspring.
Incidence proportions of brain metastases in patients diagnosed (1973 to 2001) in the Metropolitan Detroit Cancer Surveillance System.

PURPOSE Population-based estimates of the incidence of brain metastases are not generally available. The purpose of this study was to calculate population-based incidence proportions (IPs) of brain metastases from single primary lung, melanoma, breast, renal, or colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients diagnosed with single primary lung, melanoma, breast, renal, or colorectal cancer (1973 to 2001) in the Metropolitan Detroit Cancer Surveillance System (MDCSS) were used for analysis. IP of brain metastases by primary site and variable of interest (race, sex, age at diagnosis of primary cancer, and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results [SEER] stage of primary cancer) was calculated with 95% CIs. RESULTS Total IP percentage (IP%) of brain metastases was 9.6% for all primary sites combined, and highest for lung (19.9%), followed by melanoma (6.9%), renal (6.5%), breast (5.1%), and colorectal (1.8%) cancers. Racial differences were seen with African Americans demonstrating higher IP% of brain metastases compared with other racial groups for most primary sites. IP% was significantly higher for female patients with lung cancer, and significantly higher for male patients with melanoma. The highest IP% of brain metastases occurred at different ages at diagnoses: age 40 to 49 years for primary lung cancer; age 50 to 59 years for primary melanoma, renal, or colorectal cancers; and age 20 to 39 for primary breast cancer. IP% significantly increased as SEER stage of primary cancer advanced for all primary sites. CONCLUSION Total IP% of brain metastases was lower than previously reported, and it varied by primary site, race, sex, age at diagnosis of primary cancer, and SEER stage of primary cancer.
Memory Efficient Multilevel Discrete Wavelet Transform Schemes for JPEG2000

When working with the line-based wavelet transform, JPEG2000 needs to buffer many sub-band lines for future block coding. This coding buffer occupies the majority of the memory usage in a JPEG2000 system. In this paper, we first use the multilevel block-based wavelet transform, and then utilize the multilevel stripe-based wavelet transform to realize JPEG2000 coding. The system schemes of the multilevel block-based wavelet transform and the multilevel stripe-based wavelet transform for JPEG2000 are presented. The proposed schemes can effectively control the wavelet coefficient output pattern, and thus reduce the memory usage of JPEG2000 coding buffer. Compared with the line-based wavelet transform, the proposed schemes reduce more than 50% memory usage of the JPEG2000 system and slightly decrease the memory bandwidth. By holding the blocks/stripes in on-chip memory, which do not depend on the image size, the memory bandwidth of the JPEG2000 system can be further significantly reduced. The advantage of the stripe-based wavelet transform over the block-based wavelet transform lies in that it occupies much less internal memory.
Public–Private Mixed Delivery and Information Effects

This paper analyses publicâ€“private mixed delivery of essential public services under price regulation. A private firm may have lower production costs and can potentially provide a performance benchmark for a public firm. A public firm may offer higherâ€ quality service and can reveal the production cost of the private firm to the regulator. However, this paper shows that publicâ€“private mixed delivery does not always dominate public delivery or private delivery. Mixed delivery is optimal only when (i) the cost uncertainty of the private firm is large, (ii) the managerial incentive problem of the public firm is large, and (iii) the performances of the public and private firms are highly correlated.
Sliding Mode Control Made Smarter: A Computational Intelligence Perspective

Sliding mode control (SMC) is a well-known control method that has been widely studied and applied for more than 50 years since its inception in the late 1950s [1], [2]. While its simplicity in methodology and robustness against certain uncertainties and disturbances are celebrated, its shortcomings, such as chattering and brutalness of control forces, are also well documented. Computational intelligence (CI) techniques, such as neural networks (NNs), fuzzy systems (FSs), and evolutionary computation (EC), can provide means to help overcome the shortcomings. This article introduces the basic concepts and principles of SMC, shows how CI techniques can be tailored to make SMC smarter (in the sense of reducing chattering and control brutalness), and speculates on the future of SMC.
An online flow pattern identification system for gas-oil two-phase flow using electrical capacitance tomography

An online and non-invasive gas-oil two-phase flow pattern identification system based on electrical capacitance tomography technique is proposed. Image processing is used to analyze the reconstructed images. Fuzzy pattern recognition is introduced to determine the flow patterns. The experimental results show that the identification accuracy of homogeneous flow, stratified flow, annular-flow and slug flow is 94.8%, 96.4%, 85.2% and 92.0% respectively and the online flow patterns identification system is effective.
The Consultant Role of the Resource Teacher

In order to provide support to classroom teachers and to maintain a full continuum of services for exceptional children, the use of consultation has been proposed. Research has demonstrated that consultation minimizes labeling (Martin. 1974; Reschly, 1976), increases available services to students (Bergan & Tombari, 1976). and gives classroom teachers inservice training in the acquisition of new skills (Fox, Egner, Paolluci, Perelman. & McKenzie, 1973). Several specialist approaches have recently been developed to meet the need for consultant services: the diagnostic-prescriptive teacher (Proutty & McGarry 1973); the stratistician (Buffmire, 1973); the consulting teacher (McKenzie, Egner. Knight, Perelman. Schneider, & Garvin, 1970); and the special learning and behavior problem specialist (Lilly, 1977). Since most school districts do not have consultant specialists. the resource room teacher may be the most available and best equipped professional to implement consultant services to classroom teachers. The purposes of this investigation were to determine the extent to which consultation is actually being used as one role of the resource teacher; to survey the attitudes of classroom teachers, principals. and resource teachers toward a consultant role for resource specialists; and to identify factors related to the successful implementation of consultant services.
Sodium current modulation by a tubulin/GTP coupled process in rat neonatal cardiac myocytes

Microtubule disassembly by colchicine increases spontaneous beating of neonatal cardiac myocytes by an unknown mechanism. Here, we measure drug effects on spontaneous calcium transients and whole cell ionic currents to define the route between microtubule depolymerization and the increase in the rate of contraction. Colchicine treatment disassembles microtubules resulting in free tubulin dimers, thereby increasing the spontaneous beating frequency and changing both the rates of rise and decay of calcium transients. In addition, colchicine treatment produces an increase of the sodium current (INa) while ICa is not modified. The colchicine‐enhanced INa was blocked by the addition of 10 μm TTX. In addition, the colchicine‐induced increase of INa was prevented when GTP was omitted from the patch pipette. Vinblastine also depolymerizes microtubules but re‐aggregates tubulin into paracrystalline structures. Free tubulin dimers are not increased with vinblastine treatment. We found no modification in calcium transients or INa in the presence of vinblastine. Action potential durations measured at 50 % and 90 % repolarization were shorter, and the dV/dt was larger, in colchicine‐treated cells compared to untreated cells. The resting membrane potential and overshoot of the action potentials were comparable in both kinds of cells. Our data suggest that release of free tubulin dimers may activate G proteins, which in turn modulate the sodium channel. An increase in whole cell INa changes the spontaneous firing rate and this may be the underlying cause of the increase in the frequency of contraction in neonatal cardiac myocytes. We suggest a new role for dimeric tubulin in regulating membrane excitability.