Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of Gait Exercise Assist Robot (GEAR) for stroke patients with hemiplegia

doi.org/10.11336/jjcrs.8. 71 Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci Vol 8, 2017 ABSTRACT Hirano S, Kagaya H, Saitoh E, Sonoda S, Tanabe S, Katoh M, Yamada J, Tanino G, Suzuki A, Itoh N. Effectiveness of Gait Exercise Assist Robot (GEAR) for stroke patients with hemiplegia. Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 2017; 8: 71-76. Objective: This study examined whether subacute stroke patients with hemiplegia who receive gait training using the Gait Exercise Assist Robot (GEAR) show early improvement in gait independence compared to patients who receive orthosis-assisted gait training. Methods: Six patients who satisfied the following criteria were included in the study: patients with hemiplegia caused by primary supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction, within 60 days after onset, aged 20 to 75 years, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) walking score ≤ 3, Stroke Impairment Assessment Set (SIAS) lower extremity total score ≤ 6, and use of a knee-ankle-foot orthosis. Rehabilitation was conducted for a maximum of 3 h a day, including 40 min of gait training using GEAR. A historical control group was selected from among patients admitted to the ward for intensive inpatient rehabilitation at Nanakuri Memorial Hospital. One control patient matching the criteria of each subject was selected, with a total of six in the control group. The primary outcome measure was the improvement in efficiency of FIM-walk, defined as the gain in FIM walking score from the baseline to supervised walking divided by the number of weeks required. Results: The mean improvement in efficiency of FIMwalk was 1.0 in the GEAR group and 0.54 in the control group, and was significantly higher in the GEAR group (p = 0.042). Conclusion: Gait training using GEAR may facilitate early improvement in gait independence.
Deficient autophagy unravels the ROS paradox in chronic granulomatous disease

Autophagy defects resulting in inflammation appear to be a key feature in the pathogenesis of Crohn colitis. An inflammatory colitis indistinguishable from Crohn disease is described in patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). Patients with CGD have a mutated NADPH complex and are therefore deficient in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production; however, the underlying mechanism for the inflammatory colitis in CGD remained unknown. In a recent study, our group reported that NADPH-dependent ROS deficiency results in autophagic dysfunction that subsequently contributes to increased IL1B/interleukin 1β production. Mice deficient in the NADPH-complex component NCF4/p40phox, and CGD patients with a defect in NCF4 display minimal recruitment of LC3 to phagosomes in response to internalized bacteria and fungi. Human monocytes from patients with CGD with defective LC3 recruitment show increased IL1B production after LPS stimulation. Blocking IL1 protects NCF4-deficient mice from experimental colitis; importantly, improved clinical outcome in 2 CGD patients with colitis is also observed with IL1 blockade. Moreover, blocking IL1 restores defective autophagy in CGD mice and cells from patients with CGD. Thus, autophagic dysfunction underlies the pathogenesis of granulomatous colitis in CGD, and blocking IL1 can be used to treat CGD colitis.
Different levels of ovine interferon‐τ gene expressions are regulated through the short promoter region including Ets‐2 binding site

Regulation of interferon‐τ (IFNτ) production, a conceptus secretory protein implicated in the process of maternal recognition of pregnancy, has not been fully elucidated. Among more than 10 ovine IFNτ (oIFNτ) gene sequences characterized, approximately 75% of oIFNτ transcripts expressed in utero is derived from oIFNτ‐o10 gene and amounts of transcripts from other oIFNτ genes such as oIFNτ‐o8 or oIFNτ‐o2 are minimal. It was hypothesized that the variation in expression levels exhibited by oIFNτ‐o10 and oIFNτ‐o8/‐o2 genes was due to differences in the proximal promoter regions of these oIFNτ genes. To test this hypothesis, transient transfection experiments with human choriocarcinoma JEG3 cells were executed with deleted and/or mutated 5′‐upstream regions of these oIFNτ genes attached to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene. Because only the Ets‐2 binding site located in the oIFNτ‐o10 gene appeared to differentiate the expression levels of these constructs, the 6 base pair (bp) Ets‐2 sequence from the oIFNτ‐o10 gene inserted into the oIFNτ‐o8/‐o2 gene‐reporter construct was examined. The insertion of this Ets‐2 binding site into the oIFNτ‐o8/o2‐reporter construct failed to increase the degree of transactivation. Rather than this 6 bp sequence, a 22 bp sequence of the proximal promoter region, including the Ets‐2 binding site, of the oIFNτ‐o10 gene was required for oIFNτ‐o8/‐o2‐reporter transactivation. By electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), nuclear protein(s) bound to this 22 bp from the oIFNτ‐o10 and oIFNτ‐o8/o2 genes differed. These results suggest that the short promoter region including the Ets‐2 binding site, not the Ets‐2 binding region itself, may determine different levels of oIFNτ gene expressions seen in utero. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Immunologic recognition of malignant melanoma by autologous T lymphocytes

T lymphocytes specifically recognizing autologous tumor cells in vitro can be generated from melanoma patients. Recognition of tumor cells by both CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes is mediated through the T-cell receptor and is restricted by HLA antigens. Although HLA-A2 has been identified as a restricting allele for many melanoma-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes, T cells directed against antigens unique to each patient's tumor as well as antigens common to melanomas from unrelated individuals can be restricted by several different HLA alleles. A common melanoma antigen recognized in association with HLA-A1 has now been identified. The antigen is a nonapeptide derived from the gene MAGE1, a normal cellular gene preferentially expressed in a variety of solid tumors. Melanoma cells have been found to produce a soluble form of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1. Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 effectively inhibits cell-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro, raising the possibility that its expression in vivo could promote escape of the tumor cells from immune effectors.
CELL DYNAMICS IN HIV-1 INFECTION ∗

■ Abstract In the absence of antiretroviral treatment, HIV-1 establishes a chronic, progressive infection of the human immune system that invariably, over the course of years, leads to its destruction and fatal immunodeficiency. Paradoxically, while viral replication is extensive throughout the course of infection, deterioration of conventional measures of immunity is slow, including the characteristic loss of CD4+ T cells that is thought to play a key role in the development of immunodeficiency. This conundrum suggests that CD4+ T cell–directed viral cytopathicity alone cannot explain the course of disease. Indeed, recent advances now indicate that HIV-1 pathogenesis is likely to result from a complex interplay between the virus and the immune system, particularly the mechanisms responsible for T cell homeostasis and regeneration. We review these data and present a model of HIV-1 pathogenesis in which the protracted loss of CD4+ T cells results from early viral destruction of selected memory T cell populations, followed by a combination of profound increases in overall memory T cell turnover, damage to the thymus and other lymphoid tissues, and physiological limitations in peripheral CD4+ T cell renewal.
The Ascoli-Arzelà Theorem via Tychonoff's Theorem

The purpose of this note is to point out that the Ascoli-Arzelà theorem may be derived as an immediate consequence of the Tychonoff theorem. Suppose then that K is a compact Hausdorff space. Let C(K ) denote the space of continuous complex-valued functions on K . We say that a subfamily F of C(K ) is pointwise bounded if for every x in K there exists r(x) > 0 such that | f (x)| ≤ r(x) for all f in F , and that F is equicontinuous if for each x in K and > 0 there exists U , a neighborhood of x , such that | f (x) − f (y)| < for all f in F whenever y belongs to U .
A hierarchical learning paradigm for semi-supervised classification of remote sensing images

In this paper, we present a new semi-supervised method for the classification of hyperspectral and VHR remote sensing images. The method is based on a hierarchical learning paradigm which is composed of multiple layers feeding into each other: 1) feature extraction layer, 2) classification layer, and 3) spatial regularization layer. In the feature extraction layer, the method employs morphological operators. In case of hyperspectral images, a dimensionality reduction step is first applied using an algorithm such PCA. In layer 2, the Extreme Learning Machine is trained and used to build an initial classification map of the image. Finally, in layer 3, a regularization step is applied to exploit spatial information between all pixels in the image. The Random Walker (RW) algorithm is used for this purpose, which uses the output results of layer 2, such as the class map and the posterior probabilities, as inputs. Initial results are obtained using the PAVIA dataset, which outperform the state-of-the-art methods in terms of accuracy and execution times.
Multiple solutions for free convection flow in inclined enclosures

In this paper, we investigated the free convection flow in inclined rectangular enclosures filled with air. The analysis is carried out by a numerical solution of the full governing equations of the problem employing the finite volumes approach with staggered grid arrangement by the iterative SIMPLE-C algorithm. We propose for three aspect ratio's AR = 3, 4 and 8 a parametric description illustrated the influence of the inclination angles 0° ≤ φ ≤ 90° and Rayleigh number 103 ≤ Ra ≤ 104, on the flow patterns likely to develop in each configuration. The results indicate that the effects of inclination on flow mode transition and multiplicity of solutions for each aspect ratio at various Rayleigh numbers, the existence of such multi-steady solutions strongly depends on the value of the Rayleigh number. For that the Hysteresis phenomenon for Ra ≥ 2000 are demonstrated and also the parameter maps of Ra vs φ are constructed.
AERODYNAMIC RESPONSE OF AN EMS-TYPE MAGLEV VEHICLE RUNNING ON FLEXIBLE GUIDEWAYS

In this paper, an incremental iterative procedure was carried out to study aerodynamic response of an EMS-type maglev vehicle moving over a series of guideway girders at constant speeds. The maglev vehicle is simulated as a rigid car body supported by a rigid levitation frame using a uniformly distributed spring-dashpot system, in which the electromagnetic forces are controlled by an on-board optimal PI controller and the guideway unit is modeled as a series of simple beams with identical span. Considering the motion-dependent nature of electromagnetic forces and the velocity-dependent characteristics of aerodynamic forces, this study presents an iterative approach in conjunction with the simulation of aerodynamic coefficient curves approximated by a number of piecewise connected linear segments through subdivision to compute the interaction response of the maglev vehicle/guideway coupling system. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the aerodynamic forces lead to a significant amplification on the acceleration amplitude of the running maglev vehicle at higher speeds. Such an aerodynamic phenomenon should be taken into account in the analysis and design stage of a maglev transport system.
Susceptibility to erbB-induced erythroblastosis is a dominant trait of 151 chickens

Rous-associated virus-1 (RAV-1)-induced erythroblastosis results from proviral insertions into or viral transductions of the c-erbB region of the epidermal growth factor gene. Most chickens develop low incidences (less than 5%) of RAV-1-induced erythroblastosis. However, an inbred line of chickens (151) suffers high incidences (approximately 80%) of RAV-1-induced erythroblastosis. Analysis of 151, K28, and (K28 X 151) X K28 chickens for susceptibility to RAV-1-induced erythroblastosis revealed that susceptibility to RAV-1-induced erythroblastosis is a dominant trait of line 151 chickens. Analysis of 151 X K28 and K28 chicks for susceptibility to the induction of erythroblastosis by two new c-erbB-transducing viruses (avian erythroblastosis virus strains AEV-5005 and AEV-5009) revealed that susceptibility to transformation by new c-erbB-transducing viruses is also a dominant trait of 151 chickens. We think it is likely that both of these dominant traits are encoded by the same gene or genes. Our hypothesis is that this gene (or genes) potentiates the ability of the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the epidermal growth factor receptor to transform cells.
ALDH2 Activator (Alda-1) for Heart Benefit: A Look Ahead

Volume 1 • Issue 5 • 1000127 J Alcoholism Drug Depend ISSN: 2329-6488 JALDD, an open access journal We thank Ferreira and Mochly-Rosen [1] for their innovative ideas and thorough discussion on the molecular mechanisms associated with the benefits and risks of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) in myocardial infarction (MI). Mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase2 (ALDH2) plays a major role in acetaldehyde detoxification, that has proven to protect various alcohol-related diseases, including cancer [2], asthma [3] and heart disease [4]. ALDH2 is involved in antioxidant defense and its deficiency enhances oxidative stress [5]. In addition, ALDH2 contributes to a variation in the efficacy of nitroglycerin treatment for angina and heart failure [6,7]. Recently, mitochondrial ALDH2 is identified as a protein kinase C epsilon (PKCɛ) substrate, whose activity strongly correlates with cardioprotection [7].
Camera Calibration for 3 D Leaf-Image Reconstruction using Singular Value Decomposition

Features of leaves can be more precisely captured using 3D imaging. A 3D leaf image is reconstructed using two 2D images taken using stereo cameras. Reconstructing 3D from 2D images is not straightforward. One of the important steps to improve accuracy is to perform camera calibration correctly. By calibrating camera precisely, it is possible to project measurement of distances in real world to the image plane. To maintain the accuracy of the reconstruction, the camera must also use correct parameter settings. This paper aims at designing a method to calibrate a camera to obtain its parameters and then using the method in the reconstruction of 3D images. Camera calibration is performed using region-based correlation methods. There are several steps necessary to follow. First, the world coordinate and the 2D image coordinate are measured. Extraction of intrinsic and extrinsic camera parameters are then performed using singular value decomposition. Using the available disparity image and the parameters obtained through camera calibration, 3D leafimage reconstruction can finally be performed. Furthermore, the results of the experimental depth-map reconstruction using the intrinsic parameters of the camera show a rough surface, so that a smoothing process is necessary to improve the depth map. Keywords—Camera calibration; image reconstruction; 3D leaf images; singular value decomposition
Microbial diversity, producer–decomposer interactions and ecosystem processes: a theoretical model

Interactions between the diversity of primary producers and that of decomposers — the two key functional groups that form the basis of all ecosystems — might have major consequences on the functioning of depauperate ecosystems. I present a simple ecosystem model in which primary producers (plants) and decomposers (microbes) are linked through material cycling. The model considers a diversity of plant organic compounds and a diversity of microbial species. Nutrient recycling efficiency from organic compounds to decomposers is then the key parameter that controls ecosystem processes (primary productivity, secondary productivity, producer biomass and decomposer biomass). The model predicts that microbial diversity has a positive effect on nutrient recycling efficiency and ecosystem processes through either greater intensity of microbial exploitation of organic compounds or functional niche complementarity, much like in plants. Microbial niche breadth and overlap should not affect ecosystem processes unless they increase the number of organic compounds that are decomposed. In contrast, the model predicts that plant organic compound diversity can only have a negative effect or, at best, no effect on ecosystem processes, at least in a constant environment. This creates a tension between the effects of plant diversity and microbial diversity on ecosystem functioning, which may explain some recent experimental results.
A pleiotropic effect of the APOE gene: association of APOE polymorphisms with multibacillary leprosy in Han Chinese from Southwest China

Patients with leprosy have a very low risk of Alzheimer disease (AD) and β‐amyloid (Aβ) deposition is significantly lower in the brain tissue of elderly patients with leprosy compared with age‐matched controls. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) plays a critical role in lipid metabolic pathways and in the brain, facilitating the proteolytic clearance of Aβ. We hypothesized that APOE confers risk of leprosy as lipid metabolism is involved in Mycobacterium leprae infection.
Alterations in the epithelial surface of A/Jax mouse palatal shelves prior to and during palatal fusion: A scanning electron microscopic study

The surfaces of palatal shelves from carefully staged A/Jax mouse embryos were examined with the scanning electron microscope prior to and during palatal fusion. No change was observed in the appearance of cells covering the oral and nasal surfaces of the shelves. A change was observed, however, in the region of presumptive fusion, and was detectable on vertical shelves just prior to transposition. This change initially involved surface cells along the future medial edge of the shelf at the level of the second to third rugae. It was characterized by a loss of distinct cellular boundaries, the appearance of intercellular gaps caused by apparent retraction of adjacent cells, and a progressive accumulation of filamentous material at the surface. These alterations spread posteriorly along the medial edge of the shelf during transposition and fusion. While it was impossible to determine the precise nature of the surface change from S.E. M. data alone, the fact that it both preceded closure and was restricted to the region of subsequent contact and fusion between the shelves suggests it may be a prerequisite for normal palatal fusion and may represent an expression of the acquisition of a potential to fuse similar to that proposed for palatal fusion in vitro.
Histones Associated with Non-nucleosomal Rat Ribosomal Genes Are Acetylated while Those Bound to Nucleosome-organized Gene Copies Are Not (*)

Acetylation of histones bound to rat rRNA genes has been studied relative to their organization in chromatin, either as canonical nucleosomes, containing the inactive copies, or as anucleosomal nonrepeating structures, corresponding to the transcribed genes (Conconi, A., Widmer, R. M., Koller, T., and Sogo, J. M.(1989) Cell 57, 753-761). Nuclei from butyrate-treated rat tumor cells were irradiated with a UV laser to cross-link proteins to DNA, and the purified covalent complexes were immunofractionated by an antibody that specifically recognized the acetylated histones. Upon probing with sequences coding for mature rat 28 S RNA, DNA of the antibody-bound complexes was 5-20-fold enriched relative to the total rat DNA. Since the laser cross-links histones to DNA in both active and inactive genes, one cannot distinguish which one of them, or both, are bound to acetylated histones. Alternatively, purified mononucleosomes were immunofractionated, but DNA from the antibody-bound monosomes was not enriched in coding rDNA. Taken together, these results suggest that nucleosome-organized rRNA genes are bound to nonmodified histones and that the acetylated histones are associated with the active, anucleosomal gene copies.
Involvement of CREB Binding Protein in Expression of Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Genes via Interaction with the Class II Transactivator

ABSTRACT The class II transactivator (CIITA) is a key regulatory factor that controls expression of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II genes that are essential components for antigen presentation and thus regulation of the immune response. We show here that the adenovirus E1A protein interferes with the action of CIITA and inhibits both B-cell-specific and gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-induced expression of MHC class II promoters. Transfection studies provide evidence for the functional role of the CREB-binding protein (CBP) in IFN-γ and CIITA-mediated MHC class II promoter activation. We demonstrate that the N-terminally located transcription activation domain of CIITA physically interacts with both the N-terminal and the E1A-binding (C/H3) regions of CBP. These results suggest the involvement of a multisubunit complex, which contains the gene-specific coactivator CIITA and the versatile coactivator CBP, in MHC class II gene regulation, which may be responsible for both high-level expression and modulation by different signaling pathways.
EXPRESSION OF HISTIOCYTE‐ASSOCIATED ANTIGENS ON HODGKIN AND REED‐STERNBERG CELLS: To the Editor:

In their recent article, Hansmann et a1 (1) studied Hodgkin (H) and Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells using a panel of ‘histiocyte-associated’ monoclonal antibodies (McAbs). While not claiming an origin of H-RS cells from histiocytes, the results presented and the conclusions drawn suggest a relationship of H-RS cells to the mononuclear phagocytic system. The evidence is based on the reactivity of two McAbs (Ki-M3 and KiM7) which are reportedly markers of monocytes. Interestingly, the one McAb (Ki-M1) which in the Third International Workshop on Human Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens (Oxford, 1986) was assigned to the CDl l c cluster, did not react with H-RS cells. On the other hand, CDl lc McAbs have been found to be among the ‘best’ reagents for the identification of normal and malignant histiocytes (2); other McAbs described as markers for histiocytes are the CDl lb and CD14 antibodies. However, no positive reactivity of CDllb, CDl lc or CD14 McAbs with H-RS cells has been documented (3). None of the studies listed in Table 1 found any cases positive for these markers. Therefore, while a histiocytic origin of H-RS cells cannot and maybe should not be completely excluded, there is clearly no evidence from immunophenotyping studies which would lend support to the concept of such a cellular derivation of H-RS cells.