Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ablation of eosinophils with anti‐IL‐5 antibody enhances the survival of intracranial worms of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in the mouse

Effects of depressed eosinophilia on the development of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in the mouse were studied using monoclonal rat anti‐mouse‐interleukin‐5 antibody (anti‐IL‐5). The administration of anti‐IL‐5 strongly depressed peripheral, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and medullary eosinophilic responses in mice infected with A. cantonensis, when compared with groups treated with phosphate‐buffered saline solution (PBS) alone or isotype‐matched rat IgG. There was no significant difference in A. cantonensis antigen specific IgG and IgE antibody responses between rat IgG treated and anti‐IL‐5 treated mice. Intracranial worm recovery in anti‐IL‐5 treated mice was consistently high throughout the course of the study and some worms migrated from the brain to the lungs. By contrast, almost all the intracranial worms in the mouse groups treated with PBS alone or rat IgG died before day 32. These data clearly indicate that IL‐5 is essential for eosinophil responses in A. cantonensis infected mice and also that eosinophils serve as a potential effector cell in the killing of the intracranial worms in mice.
Global Versus Local Processing in the Absence of Low Spatial Frequencies

When observers are presented with hierarchical visual stimuli that contain incongruous coarse (global) and fine (local) pattern attributes, the global structure interferes with local pattern processing more than local structure interferes with global pattern processing. This effect is referred to as global precedence. The present experiments tested the hypothesis that global precedence depends on the presence of low spatial frequencies using stimuli constructed from contrast balanced dots. Stimuli composed of contrast balanced dots are largely devoid of low-frequency content. Choice reaction time to identify either the local or global pattern information was the dependent measure. Global precedence was found only for control stimuli that contained low spatial frequencies. In the absence of low-frequency information, local precedence was obtained. These findings suggest that global precedence is heavily dependent on the low spatial frequency content of the patterns.
Technical Note - Clustering a Data Array and the Traveling-Salesman Problem

A clustering of a nonnegative M×N array is obtained by permuting its rows and columns. W. T. McCormick et al. [Opns. Res. 20, 993-1009 1972] measure the effectiveness of a clustering by the sum of all products of nearest-neighbor elements in the permuted array. This note points out that this clustering problem can be stated as two traveling-salesman problems.
A Longitudinal Study of the Control of Renal and Uterine Hemodynamic Changes of Pregnancy

We have determined the sequence and extent of maternal renal and uterine adaptation to pregnancy and examined the role of hormonal factors in their regulation. Renal bipolar diameter (RBD), renal artery resistance index (RARI), uterine artery pulsatility index (UAPI), and plasma relaxin, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), progesterone, estradiol, urea, and creatinine were measured longitudinally in women with normal spontaneous singleton pregnancies, in vitro fertilization (IVF) singleton pregnancies, ovum donation (OD) singleton pregnancies, and multiple pregnancies from prepregnancy to postpartum. There was a progressive increase in the RBD and the RARI and a decrease in the UAPI during pregnancy. These changes reversed toward prepregnancy levels by 6 weeks post delivery. There was no difference in the rate of change of RBD, RARI, and UAPI between spontaneous singleton, IVF singleton, OD singleton, and multiple pregnancies (p < 0.05), but relaxin was directly correlated to the RARI (r = 0.654, p = 0.015), and progesterone was inversely correlated to uterine artery PI (r = 0.554, p = 0.049). These data show that renal size and resistance to blood flow increase with advancing gestation, whereas the uterine artery resistance declined with gestation. These changes may be influenced by relaxin and progesterone.
Aspergillus vaccines: Hardly worth studying or worthy of hard study?

Vaccines rank among the greatest advances in the history of public health. Yet, despite the need, there are no licensed vaccines to protect humans against fungal diseases, including aspergillosis. In this focused review, some of the major scientific and logistical challenges to developing vaccines to protect at-risk individuals against aspergillosis are discussed. Approaches that have shown promise in animal models include vaccines that protect against multiple fungal genera and those that are specifically directed to Aspergillus. Advances in proteomics and glycomics have facilitated identification of candidate antigens for use in subunit vaccines. Novel adjuvants and delivery systems are becoming available that can skew vaccine responses toward those associated with protection. Immunotherapy consisting of adoptive transfer of Aspergillus-specific T cells to allogeneic hematopoietic transplant recipients has advanced to human testing but is technically difficult and of unproven benefit. While progress has been impressive, much work still needs to be done if vaccines against aspergillosis are to become a reality.
Two‐Dimensional Color Doppler Echocardiography for Left Ventricular Stroke Volume Assessment: A Comparison Study with Three‐Dimensional Echocardiography

Aim: Whether measurement of left ventricular outflow tract diameter (LVOTd) using color Doppler (CD) in order to more accurately define LVOTd is more accurate for determination of stroke volume (SV) than gray scale and compare it with direct measurement of LVOT area (a) using three‐dimensional echocardiography (3DE) for SV determination. Methods and Results: Twenty‐one volunteers were examined. LVOTa was calculated by two‐dimensional echocardiography (2DE) using the following formula: π× (d/2)2, d = LVOT diameter by gray scale and CD, respectively. Planimetry of LVOTa was performed in parasternal long axis using 3DE. Eccentricity Index was calculated using the lateral and anterior‐posterior LVOTd. SV was obtained by four different methods: (1) 2D gray scale, (2) 2D color, (3) LVOTa × LVOT velocity time integral, and (4) SV by Simpson's biplane method. Gray scale LVOTd was significantly smaller compared to LVOTd obtained with CD (P < 0.05). Significant differences occurred between LVOTa gray scale and CD (3.29 ± 0.74 cm2 vs 3.67 ± 0.70 cm2, P < 0.05) and between LVOTa calculated by gray scale in comparison to 3DE planimetry; (3.29 ± 0.74 cm2 vs 3.61 ± 0.89 cm2, P = 0.011). Half of the subjects had at least 17% difference between the lateral and anterior‐posterior LVOTd. There were significant differences between SV by 2D gray scale and 2D CD (82.8 ± 17.1 mL vs 92.4 ± 16.8 mL, P < 0.05) and between 2D gray scale and 3DE planimetry (82.8 ± 17.1 mL vs 90.7 ± 19.8 mL, P = 0.025). Conclusion: Our study demonstrates LVOT being frequently elliptical. SV and LVOTa were found to be similar when comparing 2DE CD and 3DE planimetry and showed higher values in comparison to 2DE gray scale, which suggests 2DE CD to be an alternative approach for SV assessment.
Optimizing atomic resolution of force microscopy in ambient conditions

(Received 22 March 2013; published 12 June 2013)Ambient operation poses a challenge to atomic force microscopy because in contrast to operation in vacuumor liquid environments, the cantilever dynamics change dramatically from oscillating in air to oscillating in ahydrationlayerwhenprobingthesample.WedemonstrateatomicresolutionbyimagingoftheKBr(001)surfacein ambient conditions by frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy with a cantilever based on a quartztuningfork(qPlussensor)andanalyzebothlong-andshort-rangecontributionstothedamping.Thethicknessofthehydrationlayerincreaseswithrelativehumidity;thusvaryinghumidityenablesustostudytheinﬂuenceofthehydration layer thickness on cantilever damping. Starting with measurements of damping versus amplitude, weanalyzed the signal and the noise characteristics at the atomic scale. We then determined the optimal amplitudewhich enabled us to acquire high-quality atomically resolved images.DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.87. 245415 PACS number(s): 07
PA-7200 Enables Inexpensive MP Systems: 3/7/94

Aiming to reinvigorate its PA-RISC processor line, Hewlett-Packard unveiled its PA-7200 design in papers delivered at the ISSCC and Compcon conferences. The new chip will allow HP to compete more effectively against inexpensive multiprocessor (MP) workstations and servers from Sun, which has become the dominant MP vendor. The 7200 will also increase HP’s uniprocessor performance, leading the charge against new highspeed CPUs expected from Digital, IBM, and others. While leveraging heavily from the existing PA-7100 design (see 060406.PDF), the 7200 adds several new features. The chip connects directly to a new 768-Mbyte/s system bus that can connect up to four 7200 chips along with system memory and I/O. Like the PA-7100LC, the 7200 adds a second integer ALU to increase throughput on integer applications. While retaining the off-chip primary caches of previous HP processors, the new design uses prefetching and a small on-chip “assist” cache to improve memory performance. It also adds bi-endian support. The 7200 is manufactured in a new 0.55-micron CMOS process, allowing clock speeds of up to 140 MHz. As with its previous processors, HP has no plans to market the PA-7200 openly, although it may provide the part to its PA-RISC partners—Convex, in particular, is interested in the 7200 for its parallel systems. HP did not PA-7200 Enables Inex
Andropause: an androgen deficiency state in the ageing male

An age-related decline in circulating testosterone levels has been shown to occur in the adult male population starting as early as middle age and continuing on into old age. This decline in testosterone has been associated with a number of changes in body composition and sexual performance in the male that are directly attributable to an androgen deficiency state, which can be restored by the use of testosterone replacement therapy. The term ‘andropause’ has been used to describe this gradual drop in testosterone in the ageing male and is characterised by different endocrine, somatic and psychic changes that become more pronounced as the male gets older. For some males, the adjustment of circulating testosterone levels with replacement therapy to levels seen in young men can improve physical performance, induce a sense of well-being and restore the androgen-dependent sex drive that declines with ageing.
Brain potentials to sexually suggestive whistles show meaning modulates the mismatch negativity

Electroencephalographic data suggest that spoken words produce an enhanced output of the brain's automatic deviance detection system, as reflected by the mismatch negativity. Using meaningful and nonmeaningful whistles, we sought to distinguish the effect of semantic content on the brain's deviance detection system from language-specific stimulus features. In the meaningful condition, study participants heard a human ‘wolf whistle’, which is commonly interpreted as an unsolicited expression of sexual attention. In the nonmeaningful condition participants heard an acoustically identical, but digitally rearranged, version of the wolf whistle. The mismatch negativity amplitude was significantly larger when the infrequent stimulus was meaningful than when it was meaningless. These data suggest that enhanced mismatch negativity magnitude was due to the semantic valence of the eliciting deviant.
Dynamic-segmentation-based feature dimension reduction for quick audio/video searching

We propose a new feature dimension reduction method for multimedia search. The main technique in the method is dynamic segmentation that partitions sequential feature trajectories dynamically. While dynamic segmentation reduces the average dimensionality and accelerates the search, it requires huge amount of calculation. Thus, our method quickly executes suboptimal partitioning of the trajectories by using the discreteness of dimension changes. This guarantees the optimal amount of calculation to derive the suboptimal partitioning under the condition that the dimension monotonously increases as the segment length increases. The experiment shows that our method is over 10 times faster than a straightforward dynamic segmentation method.
Epi.q-TG: mobile robot for surveillance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of a robot for surveillance able to move in structured and unstructured environments and able to overcome obstacles with high energetic efficiency.Design/methodology/approach – The proposed Epi.q‐TG hybrid robot combines wheeled and legged locomotion. It is equipped with four three‐wheeled locomotion units; traction is generated by the two forecarriage units, while the two rear ones have same geometry but are idle. Each front unit is actuated by a single motor with the interposition of an epicyclical gearing, accurately designed in order to suitably switch between wheeled and legged motion. The robot changes locomotion mode from rolling on wheels (advancing mode) to stepping on legs (automatic climbing mode) according to local friction and dynamic conditions.Findings – The experimental results confirm the design objectives. In advancing mode, the robot behaves like a four‐wheeled vehicle, with high speed and energetic efficiency. In automa.
Concomitant occurrence of IgG 4-related pleuritis and periaortitis : a case report with review of the literature

IgG4-related sclerosing disease is an established disease entity with characteristic clinicopathological features. Some recent reports have demonstrated that this disease can occur in the respiratory system including the pleura. Herein, we describe the first documented case of concomitant occurrence of IgG4-related pleuritis and periaortitis. A 71-year-old Japanese female with a history of essential thrombocythemia presented with persistent cough and difficulty in breathing. Computed tomography demonstrated thickening of the right parietal pleura, pericardium, and periaortic tissue and pleural and cardiac effusions. Histopathological study of the surgical biopsy specimen of the parietal pleura revealed marked fibrous thickening with lymphoplasmacytic infiltration. Phlebitis was noted, however, only a few eosinophils had infiltrated. Immunohistochemical study revealed abundant IgG4positive plasma cell infiltration and high ratio of IgG4-/IgG-positive plasma cells (84%). Therefore, a diagnosis of IgG4-related pleuritis was made with consideration of the elevated serum IgG4 level (684 mg/dL). Recently, the spectrum of IgG4-related sclerosing disease has expanded, and this disease can occur in the pleura, pericardium, and periaortic tissue. Although histopathological analysis of the pericardium and periaortic tissue was not performed in the present case, it was suspected that thickening of the pericardium and periaortic tissue was clinically due to IgG4-related sclerosing disease. Our clinicopathological analyses of IgG4-related pleuritis and pericarditis reveal that this disease can present as dyspnea and pleural and pericardial effusion as seen in the present case, therefore, it is important to recognize that IgG4-related sclerosing disease can occur in these organs for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Presbyphonia: a review

Recent research has led to greater understanding of the physiologic and cellular factors involved in the aging of laryngeal tissues, and concurrent advances in treatment promise improvements in clinical outcomes. This article reviews the current medical literature with respect to the age-related clinical and pathological changes in the larynx leading to presbyphonia.
Instrument transformers: A different approach to their modeling

As well known, the availability of an advanced and reliable model describing the real behavior of a physical device may strongly simplify the measurement activities devoted to its characterization. A model driven approach can meaningfully reduce the amount and the complexity of the required tests. This is very important when in field experimental activities are required. A typical example of this situation is the metrological assessment of the instrument transformer (IT) for medium and high voltage applications. The aim of this paper is to present a different approach to the instrument transformer modeling. This proposal leads to an analysis of the instrument transformer that is independent by the waveform shape of the voltage applied to its primary and simply based on the measurement of the input and output signals. In this paper an experimental procedure for the identification of the model parameters of a voltage IT (VT) at the AC-mains frequency is presented and discussed. Finally, the proposed model has been simulated by using the parameters experimentally evaluated. The simulation results have been compared with those obtained through a conventional calibration procedure.
Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery for Local Excision of Rectal Lesions: Is There a Learning Curve

Background: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is a minimally invasive technique for the local resection of benign and stage T1 rectal lesions in selected patients, associated with lower morbidity and mortality rates than open surgery. We present our initial results and assess whether experience influences outcome after TEM. Methods: This was a prospective descriptive survey. All patients undergoing TEM for tubulovillous adenoma or carcinoma between 2002 and 2007 were included. Results: A total of 105 patients were included. Median age was 68 years. Median distance of the lesion from the anal verge was 7.0 cm; median operating time was 90 min. In 10 patients, the peritoneum was opened. Six procedures were converted to (low) anterior resections. Postoperative staging revealed 77 tubulovillous adenomas, 22 stage T1, 5 stage T2 and 1 stage T3 carcinomas; tumor resection was radical in 86%. The postoperative complication rate was 7.6%. Length of hospital stay, operating time and complications significantly diminished over time. After a median follow-up of 27 months, 8 recurrences occurred (7.6%). Conclusion: TEM is a safe technique with low morbidity and recurrence rates. Over time, experience leads to a reduction in operation time, lenght of patients’ hospital stay and complication rate. TEM remains the treatment of choice for benign lesions and stage T1 rectal carcinomas in selected patients.
On the bias of various estimators of the logit and its variance with application to quantal bioassay.

SUMMARY The bias of several logit estimators and their corresponding variance estimators is investigated in small samples. Their use in quantal bioassay is similarly explored. The logit transformation has been suggested in the analysis of higher dimensional contingency tables, by Woolf (1954) and many others more recently, and also in estimating the parameters of the logistic function in the quantal bioassay problem (Berkson, 1944, 1953). Various modifications of the logit have been suggested by Berkson (1953), Haldane (1955), Anscombe (1956), Tukey, mentioned by Anscombe (1956), and Hitchcock (1962). Modifications of its usual variance estimator have been proposed by Haldane, Goodman (1964) and Gart (1966). More recently Goodman, in an unpublished paper, has derived several further modifications of his estimator. In this paper we present a numerical comparison of the bias of these estimators and give conditions under which one or the other may be preferred. The use of logits in the quantal bioassay problem is briefly explored with particular reference to the asymptotic results of Hitchcock regarding the bias of the estimators.
Serum Hormones in Boys Prenatally Exposed to Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Dibenzofurans

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are persistent environmental pollutants shown to adversely interact with several functions of the endocrine system. In 1978–1979, over 2000 Taiwanese people ingested rice oil accidentally contaminated with PCBs and PCDFs. This is one of the major toxic exposure episodes that occurred globally and was later called Yucheng (oil disease in Chinese). The children born to exposed Yucheng women were therefore exposed in utero to high doses of PCBs/PCDFs. In 1995, 60 Yucheng and 61 control boys participated in physical examination, and serum hormones were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Age, body weight, body height, Tanner status, testicular size, serum luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were not statistically different between Yucheng and control boys in the subgroups of before and at the age of puberty. However, the serum estradiol (E2) levels were significant higher in Yucheng boys at the age of puberty. Yucheng and control boys were further divided into two subgroups, those before (age <13 yr) and those at the age of puberty (age ≥13 yr). There was a decrease of serum testosterone (TT) levels and increase of serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels in Yucheng boys at the age of puberty as compared with controls. There was a significant decrease of the square root of TT/E2 and TT/FSH; however, the square root of E2/FSH was increased in Yucheng boys at the age of puberty as compared with controls. Data indicated that prenatal exposure to PCBs and PCDFs may have implications for boys’ sex hormone homeostasis at puberty. Further studies are needed to identify the congeners of PCBs/PCDFs responsible for disruption of the endocrine system, as well as the mechanisms of such disruption.
A New Smooth Synchronization of Brushless Doubly-Fed Induction Generator by Applying a Proposed Machine Model

The Brushless Doubly-Fed induction Generator (BDFG) has a commercial potential for wind power generation, due to its low maintenance cost. For simplicity, the Cascaded Brushless Doubly Fed induction Generator (CBDFG) topology is usually applied as a model for BDFG. The BDFG-based wind turbines must be synchronized and connected to the grid, without inrush current. This paper purposes an improved Direct Torque Control (DTC) method for smooth synchronization of BDFG. Since BDFG has a complicated model, due to the resistance and voltage source in its rotor loop, finding proper references for smooth synchronization is difficult. To overcome this difficulty, a new model for BDFG is proposed. Appropriate flux and torque references for the DTC scheme are proposed based on this model, in order to achieve grid synchronization without inrush current. A 2-MW BDFG is simulated to show the efficiency and accuracy of this proposed method. The experimental results of a 3-kW laboratory scale BDFG confirm the efficiency of this proposed method.
Radial force control of Multi-Sector Permanent Magnet machines considering radial rotor displacement

A mathematical model enabling to predict the electromagnetic x−y forces and torque for a given input current in a Multi-Sector Permanent Magnet Synchronous (MSPMS) machine is presented. The rotor static eccentricity is also accounted and the analytical calculations are validated by means Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Furthermore, a novel force and torque control is proposed based on input current minimization and is applied to suppress the Unbalanced Magnetic Pull (UMP) caused by the rotor eccentricity. The effective operation of the force suppression technique is verified by means of FEA.