Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The identification of myogenic cells in skeletal muscle, with emphasis on the use of tritiated thymidine autoradiography and desmin antibodies

The identification of myogenic precursor cells (mpc) is a key factor in determining the early events in the myogenesis and regeneration of skeletal muscle. Although satellite cells have long been established as the providers of myoblastic cells, very little is really known (apart from their anatomical location in relation to muscle fibres and their ability to migrate) about the precise role of satellite cells in myogenesis. Numerous techniques for labelling mpc have been devised, but none of these has proven to be completely reliable in firmly establishing the origin of myogenic cells. The use of tritiated thymidine to label DNA in proliferating mpc (which are not specifically distinguishable at the time) and the subsequent location of their labelled progeny in myotube nuclei has revealed a great deal of data on the timing of myogenesis, but not about the nature of mpc themselves. DNA synthesis can also be detected by antibodies to the thymidine analogue, bromodeoxyuridine, and also by antibody staining for proliferating nuclear cell antigen. Like tritiated thymidine, these other markers are not specific for muscle but are general markers for DNA synthesis. In situ hybridisation of various muscle‐specific genetic markers and their products has been informative, as has immunolabelling of myogenin, MyoD1 and desmin. Desmin labelling has been particularly instructive in identifying mpc because it is one of the first muscle‐specific proteins to be produced in mpc. This review covers some of the techniques mentioned above and their usefulness in determining the early events in myogenesis.
High prevalence of sustained remission of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura after Helicobacter pylori eradication: A long-term follow-up study

We studied the effect of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication in 43 consecutive H. pylori-infected patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. H. pylori was eradicated with antibiotics in 41 of them (95.3%). The difference between the mean platelet count before and after therapy was statistically significant (54.3 × 109/l vs. 119.1 × 109/l; P < 0.001). A sustained remission was observed in 20 patients (48.8%), after a median follow-up of 31.2 months. None of the patients still infected by H. pylori after therapy reached normal platelet values. The long-term follow-up confirms the efficacy of H. pylori eradication in H. pylori-infected ITP patients.
Imatinib mesylate reduces production of extracellular matrix and prevents development of experimental dermal fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE Imatinib mesylate is a clinically well-tolerated small molecule inhibitor that exerts selective, dual inhibition of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) pathways. This study was undertaken to test the potential use of imatinib mesylate as an antifibrotic drug for the treatment of dermal fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS The expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in SSc and normal dermal fibroblasts was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and Sircol collagen assay. Proliferation capacity was assessed with the MTT assay. Cell viability was analyzed by mitochondrial membrane potential and by annexin V/propidium iodide staining. Bleomycin-induced experimental dermal fibrosis was used to assess the antifibrotic effects of imatinib mesylate in vivo. RESULTS Imatinib mesylate efficiently reduced basal synthesis of COL1A1, COL1A2, and fibronectin 1 messenger RNA in SSc and normal dermal fibroblasts, in a dose-dependent manner. The induction of ECM proteins after stimulation with TGFbeta and PDGF was also strongly and dose-dependently inhibited by imatinib mesylate. These results were confirmed at the protein level. Imatinib mesylate did not alter proliferation or induce apoptosis and necrosis in dermal fibroblasts. Consistent with the in vitro findings, imatinib mesylate reduced dermal thickness, the number of myofibroblasts, and synthesis of ECM proteins in experimental dermal fibrosis, without evidence of toxic side effects. CONCLUSION These data show that imatinib mesylate at biologically relevant concentrations has potent antifibrotic effects in vitro and in vivo, without toxic side effects. Considering its favorable pharmacokinetics and clinical experience with its use in other diseases, imatinib mesylate is a promising candidate for the treatment of fibrotic diseases such as SSc.
A Novel “Pseudo” Direct-Drive Brushless Permanent Magnet Machine

For low-speed electrical machine applications, it is usually weight/size and cost effective to employ a high-speed machine together with a mechanical gearbox. However, the disadvantages associated with magnetic gearboxes can be overcome by mechanically and magnetically integrating a magnetic gear and a permanent magnet brushless machine, to create a ldquopseudordquo direct-drive machine. It is shown that a torque density in excess of 60 kNm/m 3 can then be achieved, at a power factor in excess of 0.9.
Towards a Comprehensive Ray-Tracing Modeling of an Urban City With Open-Trench Drains for Mobile Communications

This paper investigates the impacts that open-trench drains make on the accuracy of radio propagation prediction in an urban city environment. Compared with conventional prediction styles that assume the ground to be flat, in this paper, we have considered for the first time the real scenario in many Asian cities to make open-trench drains inclusive in radio propagation modeling. The aims of this paper are twofold. First, to scrutinize one narrow L-shaped structure, modeled after an open-trench drain, by means of comparing ray-tracing simulation results with the actual field measurement results at 2.4 and 5.8 GHz. Second, to compare one city model built without and with the inclusion of open-trench drains for running ray-tracing simulation in yielding radio propagation prediction results. The findings from this paper are especially beneficial to the improvement of mobile communications in extraordinary environments such as open-trench drains, caves, coal mines, underground passageway, and others. Besides, they provide a unique insight into how the presence of the open-trench drains may affect radio wave propagation in an urban city environment.
Pathologic assessment of the vulnerable human coronary plaque

Despite significant strides towards an understanding of the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis and the influence of risk factors, coronary heart disease remains the principal killer in the western world.1 If progress in the field is to continue in the 21st century, one must focus on high risk patients with lesions that are vulnerable to thrombosis together with the triggering mechanisms that cause plaques to rupture at a precise location and time. Although animal studies have helped define the molecular mechanisms of atherosclerosis, a convincing model of plaque rupture still does not exist. Therefore, the development of future treatments targeted against plaque instability is contingent upon our ability to confidently recognise precursor lesions likely to thrombose; this will be primarily achieved via improved imaging modalities. Insights into the mechanisms of coronary thrombosis extend from detailed analyses of underlying plaque morphologies in necropsy specimens from sudden death victims.2,3 In 50–75% of these cases, the culprit lesion (fatal plaque) shows a coronary thrombus whereas the remainder without thrombi exhibit stable coronary plaques with > 75% cross sectional area luminal narrowing.4 The major cause of acute coronary thrombosis is plaque rupture, and the precursor lesion has been termed vulnerable plaque (fig 1) or, as defined by our laboratory, the thin cap fibroatheroma (TCFA). In this review, we will critically analyse the pathology of plaque rupture with emphasis on its relation to TCFAs and healed plaque ruptures to gain a better understanding of the lesion most responsible for coronary morbidity and mortality. Figure 1 A non-haemodynamically limiting thin cap fibroatheroma. (A) Low power view of a thin cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) with a relatively large eccentric necrotic core (NC) and an overlying thin fibrous cap (< 65 μm); the greyish material in the lumen is barium gelatin (Movat pentachrome, ×20). (B) Image of …
Sparse electromagnetic imaging

We exploit the sparseness of the induced currents on the surfaces of perfectly conducting (PEC) scatterers to develop a non-iterative imaging algorithm in two-dimensional (2D) space. We assume that the targets can be suitable represented by a set of unknown filament currents as in the equivalent source method. We apply the surface equivalence theorem and l1 regularization on the model with the filament currents. In this way, we promote the solutions with small number of equivalent sources placed in the vicinity of scatterer surfaces. We show that the algorithm reconstructs reliably the shape of the hidden scatters using single frequency data.
How bile acids confer gut mucosal protection against bacteria.

Bile is a complex mixture of organic and inorganic molecules that is stored in the gallbladder and released into the proximal small intestine when a meal is eaten. Bile is both an excretory secretion, to eliminate cholesterol, bilirubin, and waste products, and a digestive secretion, to promote lipid absorption. The dominant organic constituents of bile are conjugated bile acids (also termed bile salts), glycine or taurine N-acyl amidated derivatives of bile acids that are formed from cholesterol in the liver cell. Bile acids are wedge-shaped, water soluble, amphipathic molecules with a hydrophobic side and a hydrophilic side. Adsorption of bile acid anions to lipid bilayers of dietary membrane lipids or fatty acids (derived by pancreatic lipase acting on triglyceride) increases the curvature of the bilayers, ultimately converting them to mixed micelles (1, 2). Such micellar solubilization of polar lipids greatly increases their rate of diffusion to the epithelial surface of the small intestine, and micellar solubilization is essential for the efficient absorption of lipids. Although most lipid absorption occurs in the proximal small intestine, conjugated bile acids themselves are not absorbed together with the solubilized lipids in the jejunum but pass to the distal small intestine, where they are efficiently absorbed by an active transport system present in the epithelium of the terminal ileum. Efficient intestinal reclamation of bile acids leads to the accumulation of a recycling pool of conjugated bile acids that circulates one or more times with each meal (3). Enterohepatic cycling of bile acids provides large quantities of bile acids for digestion.
Graft-Versus-Host-Like Disease-A Case of Thymoma-Related Erythroderma

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a T-cell-mediated reaction that most commonly develops after transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells. In rare conditions, GVHD-like symptoms are observed in patients with thymoma. We present the case of a 58-year-old man with thymoma noted 6 years earlier who initially presented with myasthenia gravis and subsequently developed GVHD-like disease with symptoms of generalized itching, scaly erythroderma, and liver dysfunction. The histopathological features of a skin biopsy were consistent with those noted in the case of GVHD. We assume that the altered thymic microenvironment in thymoma patients causes immune dysregulation, leading to GVHD-like disease.
Nickel Hydroxide as an Active Material for the Positive Electrode in Rechargeable Alkaline Batteries

Spherical nickel hydroxide powders coprecipitated with the additives Ca(OH){sub 2}, Co(OH){sub 2}, and Zn(OH){sub 2} were prepared through a spraying technique. These powders, which have a higher tapping density and a much smaller pore volume and crystalline size than conventional powders, were used as the active materials of nickel hydroxide electrodes. The effects of the Ca(OH){sub 2}, Co(OH){sub 2}, and Zn(OH){sub 2} additions on electrode properties such as charge-discharge, reversibility of the electrode reaction, and cycle life, were studied. The relationship between the electrode swelling and the formation of {gamma}-NiOOH was also investigated. The results show that nickel hydroxide powders having a smaller crystallite size show better electrode characteristics such as lower overpotential, higher plateau discharge potential, and higher capacity. The utilization of the active material in the electrodes illustrates that for general use it is better to add Co{sub 2+}, while for a wider temperature range, it would be better to consider the addition of Ca{sup 2+}. The cycle life of the electrode containing Zn{sup 2+} was improved obviously because there was less electrode swelling due to much reduced formation of {gamma}-NiOOH.
Opposite latitudinal gradients in projected ocean acidification and bleaching impacts on coral reefs

Coral reefs and the services they provide are seriously threatened by ocean acidification and climate change impacts like coral bleaching. Here, we present updated global projections for these key threats to coral reefs based on ensembles of IPCC AR5 climate models using the new Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) experiments. For all tropical reef locations, we project absolute and percentage changes in aragonite saturation state (Ωarag) for the period between 2006 and the onset of annual severe bleaching (thermal stress >8 degree heating weeks); a point at which it is difficult to believe reefs can persist as we know them. Severe annual bleaching is projected to start 10–15 years later at high‐latitude reefs than for reefs in low latitudes under RCP8.5. In these 10–15 years, Ωarag keeps declining and thus any benefits for high‐latitude reefs of later onset of annual bleaching may be negated by the effects of acidification. There are no long‐term refugia from the effects of both acidification and bleaching. Of all reef locations, 90% are projected to experience severe bleaching annually by 2055. Furthermore, 5% declines in calcification are projected for all reef locations by 2034 under RCP8.5, assuming a 15% decline in calcification per unit of Ωarag. Drastic emissions cuts, such as those represented by RCP6.0, result in an average year for the onset of annual severe bleaching that is ~20 years later (2062 vs. 2044). However, global emissions are tracking above the current worst‐case scenario devised by the scientific community, as has happened in previous generations of emission scenarios. The projections here for conditions on coral reefs are dire, but provide the most up‐to‐date assessment of what the changing climate and ocean acidification mean for the persistence of coral reefs.
Dynamic Magnetic Resonance Angiography Provides Collateral Circulation and Hemodynamic Information in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background and Purpose— Contrary to usual static vascular imaging techniques, contrast-enhanced dynamic magnetic resonance angiography (dMRA) enables dynamic study of cerebral vessels. We evaluated dMRA ability to assess arterial occlusion, cerebral hemodynamics, and collateral circulation in acute ischemic stroke. Methods— Twenty-five acute ischemic stroke patients with proximal anterior circulation occlusion underwent dMRA on a 3T scanner within 12 hours of symptoms onset. Diffusion weighted imaging, Tmax6 s lesion volumes and hypoperfusion intensity ratio as volume of Tmax>6 s/volume of Tmax>10 s were measured. Site and grade of occlusion (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction criteria) were evaluated on time-of-flight MRA and dMRA. Leptomeningeal collaterality (American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology/Society of Interventional Radiology [ASITN/SIR] Scale) and asymmetries in venous clearance were assessed exclusively on dMRA. Collateral filling was dichotomized into incomplete (ASITN/SIR 0–2) or complete (ASITN/SIR 3–4). Results— On dMRA, site of occlusion was M1 in 21 patients, tandem internal carotid artery/M1 in 2 and tandem internal carotid artery/terminal internal carotid artery in 2 patients. Three tandem occlusions were not detected on time-of-flight–MRA. All patients had Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 0 to 1 on time-of-flight–MRA, but three of them had Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 2 on dMRA. Complete collateral filling (n=12, 48%) was associated with smaller diffusion weighted imaging lesion volume (P=0.039), smaller hypoperfused volume (P=0.018), and lower hypoperfusion intensity ratio (P=0.006). Patients with symmetrical clearance of transverse sinuses (52%) were more likely to have complete collateral filling (P=0.015). Conclusions— As a fast, direct, feasible, noninvasive, and reliable method to assess site of occlusion, collateral circulation and hemodynamic alterations, dMRA provides profound insights in acute stroke.
ANGIOSTRONGYLUS (PARASTRONGYLUS) CANTONENSIS IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE

Angiostrongylus (Parastrongylus) cantonensis, the rat lungworm, was once considered primarily endemic to Asia and the Pacific Basin. The nematode was first described from China, but throughout the years has been reported worldwide in rats, the molluscan intermediate host as well as humans. Angiostrongylus eosinophilic meningitis was first reported from Taiwan, followed 17 years later from Hawaii where a man died and the worm found in his brain. The parasite was not known to be in the Western Hemisphere until reports of eosinophilic meningitis in Cuba. Subsequently, the intermediate molluscan and definitive rodent hosts, as well as human infections, have been reported from many of the Caribbean Islands. In the continental United States, A. cantonensis was found in rats in New Orleans, Louisiana and locally collected molluscs were susceptible to experimental infections. The parasite was next found in primates in the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. Snails and slugs collected from the zoo environment were also found infected with the larval stages of the parasite. One human case from Louisiana has been documented and more recently 12 American travelers to Jamaica returned home with the disease. The parasite is on the move with reports of infections in a horse from Mississippi and wildlife in Louisiana. There is now concern that in time the parasite will spread to infect wild and domestic animals and possibly humans elsewhere in the country. The question remains on how the parasite has moved from East to West. It may have been via infected molluscs stowawayed on ocean going ships, or more likely by infected stowaway rats that "jumped" ship and infected local molluscs. Many species of mollusc are susceptible to infection and are able to serve as intermediate host, but only rats can serve as definitive hosts.
Overexpression of the leucine‐rich receptor‐like kinase gene LRK2 increases drought tolerance and tiller number in rice

Summary Drought represents a key limiting factor of global crop distribution. Receptor‐like kinases play major roles in plant development and defence responses against stresses such as drought. In this study, LRK2, which encodes a leucine‐rich receptor‐like kinase, was cloned and characterized and found to be localized on the plasma membrane in rice. Promoter–GUS analysis revealed strong expression in tiller buds, roots, nodes and anthers. Transgenic plants overexpressing LRK2 exhibited enhanced tolerance to drought stress due to an increased number of lateral roots compared with the wild type at the vegetative stage. Moreover, ectopic expression of LRK2 seedlings resulted in increased tiller development. Yeast two‐hybrid screening and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) indicated a possible interaction between LRK2 and elongation factor 1 alpha (OsEF1A) in vitro. These results suggest that LRK2 functions as a positive regulator of the drought stress response and tiller development via increased branch development in rice. These findings will aid our understanding of branch regulation in other grasses and support improvements in rice genetics.
Higher Gonalities of Erdős-Rényi Random Graphs

We consider the asymptotic behavior of the second and higher gonalities of an Erdős-Rényi random graph and provide upper bounds for both via the probabilistic method. Our results suggest that for sufficiently large n, the second gonality of an Erdős-Rényi random Graph G(n, p) is strictly less than and asymptotically equal to the number of vertices under a suitable restriction of the probability p. We also prove an asymptotic upper bound for all higher gonalities of large Erdős-Rényi random graphs that adapts and generalizes a similar result on complete graphs. We suggest another approach towards finding both upper and lower bounds for the second and higher gonalities for small p = c n , using a special case of the Riemann-Roch Theorem, and fully determine the asymptotic behavior of arbitrary gonalities when c ≤ 1.
Electrically small, circular inverted-F antenna based on a robust, minimal design space

A printed circular inverted-F antenna (CIFA) is mirrored against a small, crescent-like ground plane (GNDP). The whole radiator is printed on a discoid substrate that conforms to the element and the ground plane. The edge of the PCB conforms to the circumscribing sphere. The CIFA-plus-GNDP combination is an electrically small element designed with only three parameters: two angles and a radius. It is resonant and matched at 2.5 GHz, where it achieved a 3.5% fractional impedance bandwidth. The antenna is highly efficient (91-95%) and approaches Thal's limit on minimum Q-factor within 27%.
Topic n-gram count language model adaptation for speech recognition

We introduce novel language model (LM) adaptation approaches using the latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) model. Observed n-grams in the training set are assigned to topics using soft and hard clustering. In soft clustering, each n-gram is assigned to topics such that the total count of that n-gram for all topics is equal to the global count of that n-gram in the training set. Here, the normalized topic weights of the n-gram are multiplied by the global n-gram count to form the topic n-gram count for the respective topics. In hard clustering, each n-gram is assigned to a single topic with the maximum fraction of the global n-gram count for the corresponding topic. Here, the topic is selected using the maximum topic weight for the n-gram. The topic n-gram count LMs are created using the respective topic n-gram counts and adapted by using the topic weights of a development test set. We compute the average of the confidence measures: the probability of word given topic and the probability of topic given word. The average is taken over the words in the n-grams and the development test set to form the topic weights of the n-grams and the development test set respectively. Our approaches show better performance over some traditional approaches using the WSJ corpus.
The pains of desistance

Desistance is generally presented in a positive light, with themes of ‘making good’ and generativity recurring in the literature. This article reports on two qualitative studies exploring the desistance journeys of two different groups of ex-offenders, drawing attention to the pains of this process. It examines the possible consequences of these ‘pains of desistance’ and how they are linked to three spheres of desistance: act-desistance; identity desistance; and relational desistance. The attempt to achieve act-desistance often led to the pain of isolation for our interviewees, while the clash between the need to achieve identity desistance and a lack of relational desistance (especially on the meso- and macro-levels) meant that they suffered the pain of goal failure. The pains of isolation and goal failure combined to lead to the further pain of hopelessness. Those interviewed were indeed ‘going straight’, but taking this path led many to a limited and often diminished life.