Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Blockade of the interleukin-21/interleukin-21 receptor pathway ameliorates disease in animal models of rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is a T cell-derived cytokine that modulates T cell, B cell, and natural killer cell responses. In this study, the effects of blocking IL-21 were examined in 2 rodent models of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to determine whether IL-21 contributes to their pathologic processes. METHODS DBA/1 mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen and then treated with murine IL-21 receptor Fc fusion protein (IL-21R.Fc), which was initiated after the onset of arthritis symptoms in 10% of the cohort. The mice were assessed 3 times per week for signs of disease, including histologic features as well as serum cytokine, Ig, and cytokine messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in the paws. In a separate experiment, Lewis rats were immunized with Freund's complete adjuvant followed by administration of IL-21R.Fc at the peak of inflammation in the joints. Rats were assessed daily for histologic features and for scoring of arthritis severity. In addition, the effects of IL-21R.Fc on the production of interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) by T cells were examined. RESULTS Treatment of DBA/1 mice with IL-21R.Fc reduced the clinical and histologic signs of collagen-induced arthritis. Nonspecific IgG1 levels were decreased in response to treatment. The levels of IL-6 mRNA in the paws and the serum IL-6 levels were decreased after treatment with IL-21R.Fc. IFNgamma mRNA levels were increased in the paws, and the addition of IL-21R.Fc to collagen-activated lymph node cultures enhanced the levels of IFNgamma. Collagen-specific spleen cell responses in IL-21R.Fc-treated mice were observed as reduced levels of IFNgamma and increased levels of IL-6. Treatment of Lewis rats with IL-21R.Fc after induction of adjuvant-induced arthritis resulted in reversal of disease signs and improvements in histologic parameters. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrate a pathogenic role for IL-21 in animal models of RA, and support consideration of IL-21 as a therapeutic target in human RA.
Tactile Diagrams for the Visually Impaired

In this information-driven era, the use of pictorial forms of communication has become widely popular, making the world increasingly inaccessible to visually impaired and blind individuals. Accessing print media has also been a challenge for this population. Braille, a standard writing system for perception through touch, and audio translations of written text have made books accessible to the visually impaired. However, both these formats fail to make pictures and graphics accessible to the blind.
Vulnerability-Constrained Transmission Expansion Planning: A Stochastic Programming Approach

This paper provides a stochastic programming approach to optimally reinforce and expand the transmission network so that the impact of deliberate attacks is mitigated. The network planner selects the new lines to be built accounting for the vulnerability of the transmission network against a set of credible intentional outages. The vulnerability of the transmission network is measured in terms of the expected load shed. An instance of the previously reported terrorist threat problem is solved to generate the set of credible deliberate attacks. The proposed model is formulated as a mixed-integer linear program for which efficient solvers are available. Results from a case study based on the IEEE Two Area Reliability Test System are provided and analyzed.
Dictyostelium EHD associates with Dynamin and participates in phagosome maturation

ABSTRACT Proteins that contain Eps15 homology domains (EHDs) in their C-terminus are newly identified key regulators of endosomal membrane trafficking. Here, we show that D. discoideum contains a single EHD protein (referred to as EHD) that localizes to endosomal compartments and newly formed phagosomes. We provide the first evidence that EHD regulates phagosome maturation. Deletion of EHD results in defects in intraphagosomal proteolysis and acidification. These defects are linked to early delivery of lysosomal enzymes and fast retrieval of the vacuolar H+-ATPase in maturing phagosomes. We also demonstrate that EHD physically interacts with DymA. Our results indicate that EHD and DymA can associate independently with endomembranes, and yet they share identical kinetics in recruitment to phagosomes and release during phagosome maturation. Functional analysis of ehd−, dymA− and double dymA−ehd− knockout strains indicate that DymA and EHD play non-redundant and independent functions in phagosome maturation. Finally, we show that the absence of EHD leads to increased tubulation of endosomes, indicating that EHD participates in the scission of endosomal tubules, as reported for DymA. Highlighted Article: EHD proteins play regulatory functions in the endocytic pathway. We reveal that D. discoideum EHD interacts with Dynamin and controls intraphagosomal proteolysis and pH dynamics during phagosome maturation.
Intelligent Diagnostic Assistant for Complicated Skin Diseases through C5’s Algorithm

Introduction: Intelligent Diagnostic Assistant can be used for complicated diagnosis of skin diseases, which are among the most common causes of disability. The aim of this study was to design and implement a computerized intelligent diagnostic assistant for complicated skin diseases through C5’s Algorithm. Method: An applied-developmental study was done in 2015. Knowledge base was developed based on interviews with dermatologists through questionnaires and checklists. Knowledge representation was obtained from the train data in the database using Excel Microsoft Office. Clementine Software and C5’s Algorithms were applied to draw the decision tree. Analysis of test accuracy was performed based on rules extracted using inference chains. The rules extracted from the decision tree were entered into the CLIPS programming environment and the intelligent diagnostic assistant was designed then. Results: The rules were defined using forward chaining inference technique and were entered into Clips programming environment as RULE. The accuracy and error rates obtained in the training phase from the decision tree were 99.56% and 0.44%, respectively. The accuracy of the decision tree was 98% and the error was 2% in the test phase. Conclusion: Intelligent diagnostic assistant can be used as a reliable system with high accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and agreement.
A New Type of Artificial Urinary Calculi: In Vitro Study by Spiral CT

Bachmann R, Heimbach D, Kersjes W, et al. A new type of artificial urinary calculi: In vitro study by spiral CT. Invest Radiol 2000;35:672–675. RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES.Artificial urinary calculi similar to natural stones have long been sought in urologic research. In an experimental study, the authors assessed the CT characteristics of a new type of artificially produced urinary calculus [BON(N)-STONE]. METHODS.Six different types of urinary calculi (uric acid, struvite, cystine, calcium oxalate, brushite, and apatite) were produced by a coating technique in which several layers of a suspension of pure substance were applied around a core and dried. A total of 60 stones (10 per group) were studied by spiral CT at two energy levels (100 and 120 kV, 250 mA) with 1-mm slice thickness. RESULTS.All calculi showed a small hyperdense core surrounded by a homogeneous matrix and a slightly hyperdense outer rim. From the least to the most dense, the stone types were uric acid, struvite, cystine, calcium oxalate, brushite, and apatite. Absolute CT values at 100 and 120 kV could differentiate between all groups of stones at a significance level of P < 0.001 or better. Attenuation values were in a comparable range to reported values for natural stones, with the exception of uric acid and struvite, which were notably lower. CONCLUSION.These artificially produced urinary calculi showed properties similar to those of natural stones. Thus, this seems to be a promising stone model for further investigations.
Guide for Child Welfare Administrators on Evidence Based Practice

Several factors influence a current emphasis toward evidence based practice in child welfare today. The practice of child welfare has long been based on a strong professional literature and on thoughtful analytical discussions of what constitutes best practice. Considerable effort has gone into building a strong base of research studies that have tested a wide range of innovations and service models. Within recent years, the field has begun to amass an evidence base of comparative empirical studies that test relevant innovations against standard current practice or other models. We are reaching a point where we can begin to draw lessons and apply them widely across the country. The evidence based movement in child welfare is being hastened by the demands of a variety of funding sources from governors, state legislatures, local government leaders, and private foundations to invest their resources in practices that have a proven high likelihood of success. This movement is also likely to further strengthen as states find that implementing evidence based practices can play a positive role in a state s response to class action litigation and can enhance agency performance as measured in Child and Family Services Reviews.
A qualitative analysis of an advanced practice nurse-directed transitional care model intervention.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to describe barriers and facilitators to implementing a transitional care intervention for cognitively impaired older adults and their caregivers lead by advanced practice nurses (APNs). DESIGN AND METHODS APNs implemented an evidence-based protocol to optimize transitions from hospital to home. An exploratory, qualitative directed content analysis examined 15 narrative case summaries written by APNs and fieldnotes from biweekly case conferences. RESULTS Three central themes emerged: patients and caregivers having the necessary information and knowledge, care coordination, and the caregiver experience. An additional category was also identified, APNs going above and beyond. IMPLICATIONS APNs implemented individualized approaches and provided care that exceeds the type of care typically staffed and reimbursed in the American health care system by applying a Transitional Care Model, advanced clinical judgment, and doing whatever was necessary to prevent negative outcomes. Reimbursement reform as well as more formalized support systems and resources are necessary for APNs to consistently provide such care to patients and their caregivers during this vulnerable time of transition.
Bicuculline injections into the rostral and caudal motor thalamus of the monkey induce different types of dystonia

The pathophysiology of dystonia remains unclear in comparison with other movement disorders. Recent data suggest that there may exist in dystonia an increased thalamic drive to the mesial premotor cortex. To test this hypothesis, we induced overactivity of the motor thalamus by injecting a GABA‐A (γ‐aminobutyric acid) antagonist (bicuculline) into the rostral (pallidal) and caudal (cerebellar) ventrolateral nuclei of the thalamus in both hemispheres of one monkey. Dystonic postures were observed in the contralateral limbs and axis. Electromyographic recordings revealed bursts of muscular activation with co‐contractions during spontaneous dystonic movements and alterations in muscular patterns during sequential visually guided arm movements. The type of dystonia depended on the site of injections. Rostral thalamic injections induced more severe dystonic postures, whereas myoclonic jerks predominated following caudal injections. We conclude that these two distinct clinical patterns, which are frequently associated in humans, are probably due to a dysfunctioning of segregated thalamic projections to the supplementary motor area (from the rostral part) and to the primary motor cortex (from the caudal part).
Morphological and control criteria for self-stable underwater hopping

This paper presents the self-stabilisation features of a hopping gait during underwater legged locomotion. We used a bio-inspired fundamental model of this gait, the underwater spring-loaded inverted pendulum model, to numerically derive quantitative (dimension of the basin of attraction, Floquet multipliers, mean horizontal speed) and qualitative (shape of the basin) features which characterise the self-stability of the system. Furthermore, we compared the results obtained with a terrestrial self-stable running model (i.e. the spring-loaded inverted pendulum with swing-leg retraction) to highlight the role of water-related components in relation to dynamic legged locomotion. The analysis revealed fundamental morphological and actuation parameters that could be used to design self-stabilising underwater hopping machines, as well as elucidating their role with respect to stability and speed. Underwater hopping is a simple and reliable locomotion, as it does not require complex control feedback to reject significant disturbances. Thanks to its high self-stabilising property, underwater hopping appears to be a reliable alternative locomotion for underwater robots.
Early-Onset Schizophrenia1

The available study findings on the course and outcome of schizophrenia beginning in childhood or adolescence can be summarized as follows. (1) Schizophrenic psychoses that arise before the age of 13 have a very poor prognosis. The disease usually continues to progress in adolescence and adulthood. It can be diagnosed with the same criteria that are used for adults. (2) Patients whose disease is of acute onset, with productive schizophrenic manifestations such as hallucinations and delusions (positive manifestations), have a better prognosis than those whose disease begins insidiously and takes an unfavorable course, with depressive states and continually worsening impairment of cognitive function. (3) The patient’s premorbid personality plays a major role. Patients who were described as socially active, intelligent, and integrated children and adolescents before they became ill have a better prognosis than those who were intellectually impaired, timid, introverted and uncommunicative before they became ill. (4) The prognosis seems to be better for patients who have no family history of schizophrenia, those whose families cooperate well, and those whose condition improves rapidly during inpatient treatment. (5) The few available studies on the course and outcome of schizophrenia beginning in childhood and early adolescence confirm that they are much worse than in adult-onset schizophrenia. (6) A 42-year longitudinal study of patients with childhood-onset schizophrenia revealed their suicide rate to be higher than that of patients with adult-onset schizophrenia. No further longitudinal studies are available to confirm this finding.
Interpretations of surface movements of a landfill built on steeply sloping ground. A cautionary case history

The surface of a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill cell, built on steeply sloping ground, was discovered to be moving downhill. The movements were measured and considered by the owners to be alarming. In an attempt to stop the movement, the compacted soil stability berm at the toe of the cell was raised by 5 m in two stages. The rate of movement declined, but the waste surface continued to move. Eventually, the cell was not filled to its designed full level. The paper describes the design of the landfill cell and its underliner, as well as three independent investigations into the causes of the surface movement. The first two investigators assumed that the surface movements represented shear displacements at the interface of the geomembrane and its protective geo-fabric, and therefore that the cell was failing in shear. The third investigation, undertaken in preparation of evidence in a civil court case, 7 years later, concluded that the movements resulted from down-slope shear straining of the land-filled MSW. The later investigation concluded that the MSW cell had been, and is still shear-stable, and it points to differences in behaviour between MSW landfill slopes and comparable slopes in mine waste or natural soils.
The Precursor for Enhanced Rate of Individual Socio-Empowerment in a Funded Youth Group. Is it Access to Credit or Group Support System?

The unemployment and poverty has remained to be a major challenge in the world despite heavy investment directed towards youth and women empowerment initiatives. In doing so most Government and international organizations worldwide in an endeavor to increase socio economic empowerments (increase incomes) of the poor cohorts have used group funding as “a bullet magic”. The purpose of the article is to stimulate critical thinking on basic assumptions among policy makers and youth development practitioners that lays emphases on micro- credit provision but little attention on the group support dynamism as an agency of empowerment which yield to opportunity structure and achievement conditions of empowerment as alluded to by Kabeer (2001). The agency condition influences other conditions of empowerment and therefore the rate of individual socio economic empowerment. This then raises the question that many policy maker and researchers have not answered; that is, what determines or is the precursor and as such, a predictor of empowerment process in groups funding. By answering this question, we shall have the right vehicle through which to drive the agenda of youth empowerment with a renewed vigor and excitement. Since we would have found the medium on which other factors or conditions of empowerment (achievement condition) thrive on thus increasing the rate of individual empowerment. Finally the author’s thoughts are guided by the definitions of empowerment process by Kabeer 2001 and Kishor 2000 and the Model of Positive Youth Development (PYD) to explain and offer provoking thoughts and guidance to study findings by the Mbae F.N 2014 in Embu County Kenya on the influence of youth group funding on individual member’s socio economic empowerment in Kenya.
Don't touch me! autistic traits modulate early and late ERP components during visual perception of social touch

Although individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have impaired responses to interpersonal touch, the underlying neural correlates remain largely unknown. Here, we examined the neural correlates that underlie interpersonal touch perception in individuals with either high or low autistic traits. Fifty‐three participants were classified as having either high or low autistic traits based on their performance on the autism quotient (AQ) questionnaire. We hypothesized that individuals with high AQ scores would have relatively high touch hypervigilance, reflected as earlier P1 and stronger late positive potential (LPP) responses, two components of event‐related potentials that serve as electrophysiological markers of anxiety bias. We recorded each participant's electroencephalography activity during presentation of images depicting human touch, object touch, and non‐touch control images. Consistent with our hypothesis, AQ scores were positively correlated with social touch aversion. Moreover, participants with high AQ scores had earlier P1 and stronger LPP responses when presented with human touch compared to the control images. Importantly, a regression model revealed that earlier P1 and larger LPP amplitude measured during social touch observation can accurately predict higher autistic trait levels. Taken together, these findings indicate that individuals with high levels of autistic traits may have a hypervigilant response to observed social touch. Autism Res 2017, 0: 000–000. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Autism Res 2017, 10: 1141–1154. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Design comparisons between primary-side control and secondary-side control using peak current mode controlled active clamp forward topology

The purpose of this paper is to provide a general comparison between primary-side control and secondary-side control from the perspectives of industrial designs. Definitions and comparisons between the two controls are given, and a small-signal model of active clamp forward topology is developed. Finally, experimental results are presented, with which theoretical analysis and predication are verified.
Serial aggressive platelet transfusion for fetal alloimmune thrombocytopenia: platelet dynamics and perinatal outcome.

OBJECTIVES Our purpose was to describe the fetal loss rate and platelet dynamics in fetal alloimmune thrombocytopenia managed by serial platelet transfusions. METHODS Retrospective analysis over 10 years of consecutive pregnancies affected by fetal alloimmune thrombocytopenia requiring in utero platelet transfusions. RESULTS There were 2 perinatal losses in 12 pregnancies managed by 84 platelet transfusions. One was obviously procedure related from exsanguination despite platelet transfusion. The attributable procedure related fetal loss rate was 1.2% per procedure but 8.3% per pregnancy. The median rate of fall in fetal platelet count per day after transfusion was lower at the placental cord insertion (n = 54) 40.5 x 10(9)/L (range, 5.4-96.1 x 10(9)/L) compared with that at the intrahepatic vein (n = 30) 50.9 x 10(9)/L,(range, 29.5-91 x 10(9)/L) (P = .0009). CONCLUSION Pooling our results with those previously published yields a cumulative risk of serial weekly transfusions of approximately 6% per pregnancy, indicating the need for development of less invasive approaches.
Characterization of polyoma mutants with altered middle and large T-antigens

The viable polyoma mutants dl1013, dl1014, and dl1015 produced shortened middle and large T-antigens. In mouse 3T3 cells, dl1013 and dl1014 grew at normal rates, and dl1015 grew at a reduced rate. dl1015 behaved phenotypically as a double mutant, with deficiencies both in the stimulation of the host cell and the replication of viral DNA. Only the former defect could be complemented by the ts-a mutant, which produced a normal middle T-antigen and a temperature-sensitive large T-antigen. This result suggests that middle T-antigen is involved in the induction of cellular DNA synthesis. Of the three mutants, dl1015 alone failed to transform rat fibroblasts to growth in semisolid medium. This defect could not be complemented by the ts-a mutant. Determination of the base sequences of the mutant DNAs showed that dl1013 and dl1014 had overlapping deletions of 21 and 9 base pairs, respectively, and that the dl1015 deletion of 30 base pairs was contiguous to the other mutations on their 3' sides. Analyses of the mutant t-antigens showed that all three mutants produced shortened middle T-antigens, whereas only dl1015 large T-antigen was detectably reduced in size.