Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of the Amygdala: Key to Pathological States?

Abstract: The amygdala plays an important role in associating sensory stimuli with aversive or appetitive outcomes. Conditioning procedures potentiate inputs to the amygdala, which facilitate emotional responses via subcortical and cortical outputs. Powerful inhibitory circuits exist that control expression of conditioned responses in the amygdala, including inhibition from prefrontal cortex. Deficient inhibitory tone in the amygdala could lead to overexpression of conditioned responses, producing pathological states such as anxiety disorders and drug‐seeking behavior. Support for this comes from several lines of animal research: (1) GABA antagonist‐induced priming of anxiety states, (2) extinction of conditioned fear, (3) modulation of inhibitory avoidance memory, and (4) cue‐induced reinstatement of drug seeking. Cue‐induced craving in humans is associated with feelings of fear and autonomic arousal, suggesting a link between fear and addiction in the amygdala. Future therapies aimed at increasing inhibitory tone in the amygdala, either locally or via the prefrontal cortex, may prevent anxiety disorders and addiction relapse. Novel neuropeptides, which can either excite or inhibit specific components of anxiety responses, offer promise in this regard.
A review of immune therapy in cancer and a question: can thermal therapy increase tumor response?

Abstract Immune therapy is a successful cancer treatment coming into its own. This is because checkpoint molecules, adoptive specific lymphocyte transfer and chimeric antigen T-cell (CAR-T) therapy are able to induce more durable responses in an increasing number of malignancies compared to chemotherapy. In addition, immune therapies are able to treat bulky disease, whereas standard cytotoxic therapies cannot treat large tumour burdens. Checkpoint inhibitor monoclonal antibodies are becoming widely used in the clinic and although more complex, adoptive lymphocyte transfer and CAR-T therapies show promise. We are learning that there are nuances to predicting the successful use of the checkpoint inhibitors as well as to specific-antigen adoptive and CAR-T therapies. We are also newly aware of a here-to-fore unrealised natural force, the status of the microbiome. However, despite better understanding of mechanisms of action of the new immune therapies, the best responses to the new immune therapies remain 20–30%. Likely the best way to improve this somewhat low response rate for patients is to increase the patient’s own immune response. Thermal therapy is a way to do this. All forms of thermal therapy, from fever-range systemic thermal therapy, to high-temperature HIFU and even cryotherapy improve the immune response pre-clinically. It is time to test the immune therapies with thermal therapy in vivo to test for optimal timing of the combinations that will best enhance tumour response and then to begin to test the immune therapies with thermal therapy in the clinic as soon as possible.
How Does the English of IFRS Challenge an International Student Cohort? Evidence from a Chinese Cohort

Educators and regulators world-wide are recognizing a range of problems that are arising in both teaching and implementation of IFRS due to language and translation issues. The research question asks what it is about the English in which IFRS are written that causes problems for an effective understanding of IFRS by a Chinese undergraduate student cohort. All 88 participants, with Chinese as their first language, were studying accounting at New Zealand and Chinese Universities. They translated, and then independently back-translated, four sentences of IFRS chosen for the research. There were 168 back-translations useable for the analysis. This study highlights the specific problems students face in understanding the specialized English of accounting, and in particular illustrates problems with the syntax and lexicon used in IFRS. The significance of the findings of this paper originate in the method used; there are other studies which tackle the issue of translatability but only using a quantitative approach. The analysis of these sentences from IFRS is detailed enough to illustrate exactly how problems arise in syntax and the lexicon. We suggest what steps educators may take to alleviate the degree to which pedagogical outcomes are compromised by such issues of understandability.
Displacement between the seating surface and hybrid test dummy during transitions with a variable configuration wheelchair: a technical note.

Changing seating posture can extend the amount of time a person can safely remain seated without damaging tissue or becoming fatigued. The Excelsior is an electrically powered wheelchair that utilizes sit-to-stand (STS) and sit-to-recline (STR) motions to aid in pressure relief. The motion of the wheelchair seating system must closely follow anatomical paths or ulcers may develop from the resulting shear forces. Displacement between the person and the wheelchair seating surface is one measure of these shear forces. The displacement between a Hybrid II 50th percentile anthropometric test dummy (ATD) and the seating surface of the Excelsior wheelchair was examined during STS and STR with two cushions, a Jay Active and a low-profile Roho cushion. The difference between the backrest and ATD back angles were 4.29 degrees +/- 2.13 degrees and 1.78 degrees +/- 1.73 degrees for the Roho and Jay cushions respectively during STS and 3.32 degrees +/- 4.21 degrees and 10.71 degrees +/- 6.20 degrees during STR. These were statistically significant at p<. 05. During STS, shear displacement between the Hybrid II back and Excelsior backrest did not exceed 1.5 cm for either cushion. ATD thigh-to-seat displacements were 2.5 cm for the Jay and 3.0 cm for the Roho cushion. STR produced dummy thigh-to-seat displacements of 1.5 cm and 3.5 cm for the Jay and Roho cushions respectively. Shear displacement in the ATD back was about 3.5 cm for the Roho and 6 cm for the Jay. The latter displacement should be reduced; however, the other conditions are marginal or acceptable. Hysteresis was acceptable or better for all cushion/motion combinations, with the highest net displacement of about 2.5 cm.
Association of Night Shift Work With Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria and Effect Modification by Circadian Dysfunction Among Workers

Purpose: Night shift work is common in the current working environment and is a risk factor for many diseases. The study aimed to explore the relationship between night shift work with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), and the modification effect of circadian dysfunction on it. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Chinese workers. Exposure was measured by night work history and duration. Circadian dysfunction was characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). The diagnosis of CSU was made by dermatologists who were investigating on the spot. The effect size was expressed as odds ratios (ORs). Results: A total of 8,057 participants were recruited, and 7,411 (92%) with complete information were included in the final analyses. The prevalence rates of CSU for workers without night shift and those with night shift history were 0.73 and 1.28%, respectively. Compared with workers who never worked night shifts, the risk of CSU increased with the length of night shift work: OR = 1.55 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78–3.06) for duration <5 years and OR = 1.91 (95% CI: 1.12–3.26) for duration ≥5 years. EDS s EDS has been shown to modify this combination. Among workers without EDS, there was no association between night shift and CSU (OR = 0.94; 95% CI: 0.49–1.79). Whereas, in participants with EDS, the correlation was significant (OR = 3.58; 95% CI: 1.14–11.20). However, the effect modification by sleep disturbance was not observed. Conclusions: Night shift work is a risk factor for CSU, and there is a dose-response relationship between night shift work hours and the risk of CSU. This connection may be modified by circadian dysfunction.
Stage‐Specific expression of rat transition protein 2 mrna and possible localization to the chromatoid body of step 7 spermatids by in situ hybridization using a nonradioactive riboprobe

The present study has used methoxyacetic acid (MAA)‐induced depletion of specific germ cell types in the rat and in situ hybridization with nonradioactive riboprobes to determine the stages of the spermatogenic cycle at which there is expression of the mRNA for the basic chromosomal protein transition protein 2 (TP2). On Northern blots, an abundant mRNA was detectable in samples from control adult rats, but the amount of message was markedly reduced when RNA was extracted from the testes of rats treated 14 and 21 days previously with methoxyacetic acid. These testes were depleted specifically of step 7–12 spermatids, suggesting that these cells contain TP2 mRNA. When tissue sections were subjected to in situ hybridization, the TP2 mRNA was localized at the cellular and subcellular levels. Messenger RNA for TP2 was first detectable in spermatids at step 7. In these spermatids, at high magnification, in addition to some positive reaction in the cytoplasm, intense staining was located to a perinuclear structure consistent with localization of mRNA within the chromatoid body. The amount of TP2 mRNA in the cytoplasm increased as remodelling of the early spermatid nucleus progressed and was highest in step 10 and 11 spermatids at stages X and XI. Thereafter, the mRNA decreased until it was undetectable in step 14 spermatids at stage XIV. The localization of TP2 mRNA to the chromatoid body of step 7 spermatids would be consistent with this organelle being a storage site for long‐lived mRNAs utilized later in spermiogenesis. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Acutely Sodded Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Grafts Produce Only Prostacyclin: A Qualitative Difference from Saphenous Veins

Select subsets of patients require prosthetic graft material for revascularization. Although arterial prosthetic grafts of large caliber perform acceptably, grafts of <6 mm exhibit a high attrition rate. Microvessel endothelial sodding, a method resulting in the lining of prosthetic grafts with autologous endothelium, improves graft patency; however, aggressive antiplatelet therapy is still required, because terminating an antiplatelet regimen accelerates graft attrition. The present investigation was designed to address the acute production of vasoactive substances in microvessel endothelial cell sodded expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts in an attempt to delineate a possible mechanism behind the continued requirement for antiplatelet therapy. Equal lengths of acutely sodded ePTFE grafts (canine falciform ligament source) and saphenous veins (SV) (canine source) were evaluated by superfusion bioassay. Basal secretion from ePTFE grafts relaxed the biodetector ring 1 ± 3%, whereas SV relaxed the ring 10 ± 3% (p < 0.05, ePTFE vs. SV). Relaxation with acetylcholine stimulation was 49 ± 7% in grafts and 50 ± 10% in veins (p = NS). Calcium ionophore stimulation produced relaxation of 37 ± 9% from ePTFE grafts and 100 ± 23% from SV (p < 0.05). Indomethacin added to perfusate reduced relaxations from sodded ePTFE grafts to 20.2 ± 9.2% with acetylcholine stimulation and 12.5 + 4.3% with calcium ionophore (p < 0.05 vs. control); addition of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) had no effect on the release of vasoactive substances from ePTFE grafts. In contrast, relaxations of effluent from SV stimulated by acetylcholine and calcium ionophore were significantly attenuated with indomethacin and L-NMMA (p < 0.05 vs. control). Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated confluent endothelium in SV and a nonconfluent endothelial cell layer in grafts. Acutely sodded ePTFE grafts produce vasoactive substances that quantitatively and qualitatively differ from those produced by canine SV. The ePTFE grafts produce mainly prostanoids, whereas SV produce both nitric oxide and prostanoids. The endothelial cell isolation procedure and absence of immediate graft luminal confluence may contribute to the observed differences.
Evaluation de l’influence sur Twitter: Application au projet « Twitter aux Elections Européennes 2014 »

Le Web a eu les impacts les plus importants sur la vie humaine tout au long de ces dernières années. Les utilisateurs dans les réseaux sociaux sont de plus en plus actifs et génèrent une grande quantité de nouvelles données. L'un des caractéristiques distinctives des réseaux sociaux en ligne est la diffusion de l'information à travers les liens sociaux [6]. En effet, les liens entre les utilisateurs déterminent la circulation de l'information et donc indiquent l'influence d'un utilisateur sur d'autres, un concept qui est essentiel en sociologie.
Comparative analysis of water rights entitlements in India and China

Water rights are widely regarded as a crucial component to enhance efficient water use and for meeting a country9s water resource challenges. This article presents a framework for analyzing and comparing the similarities as well as differences of the water rights systems between India and China. The article relies on the method of document research and comparative analysis to compare general characteristics of India and China9s water rights systems based on six evaluation indicators and evaluation principles. Using this analytical framework, this paper compares the implementation effects of the water rights systems in terms of the degree of meeting water resources demand, conflict-resolution means and the protection of water resources. Our findings provide insights for the reformation of the water rights systems and bring out lessons that other developing countries can learn from India and China9s experiences.
Bureaucracy in the modern state : an introduction to comparative public administration

Comparative public administration - the state of the art, Jon Pierre buureaucracy in a divided regime - the United States, B. Guy Peters public administration at the crossroads - the end of the French specificity, Luc Rouban public administration in Germany - political societal relations, Hans-Ulrich Derlien "deprivileging" the UK civil service in the 1980s - dream or reality, Christopher Hood Japan - divided bureaucrcy in a unified regime, Ellis S. Kraus governing the welfare state - public administration, the state and society in Sweden, Jon Pierre public administration in developing countries - Kenya and Tanzania in comparative comparative perspective, Goran Hyden the Europeanization of the national bureaucracies? , Edward C. Page and Linda Wouters conclusions - a framework of comparative public administration, Jon Pierre.
Impact of antigen expression kinetics on the effectiveness of HIV‐specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Recent studies indicate that the time required for virus‐infected cells to become vulnerable for the activity of CTL is of significance for the capacity of CTL to control ongoing viral reproduction. To investigate whether this applies to the effectiveness of HIV‐1‐specific CTL, we measured virus production in cultures containing CD4+ T cells inoculated with HIV at low multiplicity of infection, and CTL directed against an early protein, Rev, or a late protein, RT. The Rev‐specific CTL prevented at least 2 log10 more HIV‐1 production, in 10 days, than similar numbers of RT‐specific CTL. To study how CTL effectiveness depends on variations in the potency of effector functions and kinetics of HIV protein expression, we developed a mathematical model describing CTL‐target cell interactions during successive infection cycles. The results show that substantially higher CTL‐mediated target cell elimination rates are required to achieve control as there is less time for CTL to act before infected cells release progeny virions. Furthermore, in vitro experiments with HIV recombinant viruses showed that the RT‐specific CTL were at least as effective as the Rev‐specific CTL, but only if the RT epitope was expressed as part of the early protein Nef. Together these results indicate that CTL control ongoing HIV reproduction more effectively if they are able to recognize infected cells earlier during individual viral replication cycles. This provides rationale for immunization strategies that aim at inducing, boosting or skewing CTL responses to early regulatory proteins in AIDS vaccine development.
Regulation of Pancreatic Lipase by Dietary Medium Chain Triglycerides in the Weanling Rat

Pancreatic lipase (PL) and its related protein 1 (PLRP1) are regulated by the amount of dietary fat through an apparent transcriptional mechanism. Regulation of PL and PLRP1 by type of fat (chain length and degree of saturation) is less well understood. The aim of this study was to determine whether medium-chain triglycerides regulate PL and PLRP1. For 7 d, weanling (21-d-old) Sprague Dawley male rats were fed diets low (11% of energy), moderate (40% of energy), or high (67% of energy) in trioctanoate/tridecanoate (MCT) or safflower (low fat only) oils. Food consumption decreased as dietary MCT increased, and the consumption of MCT diets was lower than that of the low-safflower (control) diet. Final body weight was similar among rats fed the low- or moderate-MCT or control diets, but was significantly reduced (17%) in those fed the high-MCT diets. PL activity was significantly elevated 53–60% (p < 0.002) in rats fed low and moderate MCT diets, respectively, compared with that of rats fed high-MCT or control diets. PL and PLRP1 mRNA levels were not significantly different among diets, suggesting that chain length regulates PL and PLRP1 translationally or posttranslationally. The β-hydroxybutyrate plasma concentration was significantly (p < 0.02) higher (85%) in rats consuming low-MCT diet compared with those of rats fed the control diet. MCT at low levels, but not high levels, increase PL activity without changing its mRNA levels.
Occlusion handling and track management method of high-level sensor fusion for robust pedestrian tracking

In object tracking field, occlusion situations between objects are important factors that degrade the performance of tracking algorithms. In this paper, we present a track management method in the tracking level to solve the discontinuous tracking problem caused by occlusions between detected objects. This work is performed by predicting the occlusion situation between detected objects and managing the state of tracks based on an approach to track-to-track fusion in a high-level sensor fusion approach using a lidar and a monocular camera sensor. The occlusion prediction is computed by taking into account the width, length, position and azimuth angle of the detected objects. The track management system manages the occlusion state of the track from the result of occlusion prediction as well as the initialization, creation, confirmation and deletion of the tracks. The proposed approach has been verified in the occlusion situation between pedestrians, and our experimental results showed the intended performance in the occlusion situation between pedestrians.
A mobility prediction (MP)-based phenomenon monitoring in an unbounded area

The task of monitoring a moving phenomenon in an unbounded area using a mobile sensor network (MSN) brings out several challenges due to the high movement speed of phenomenon, the limited sensing/communication capabilities of mobile sensor nodes. To address the challenges and achieve a high weighted sensing coverage, in this paper we propose a monitoring algorithm, namely VirFID-MP (Virtual Force (VF)-based Interest-Driven moving phenomenon monitoring with Mobility Prediction). In VirFID-MP, the movement of phenomenon is first predicted based on its previous movements. Then, the predicted information is used to determine a global virtual force, which is utilized to speed up the MSN toward the moving phenomenon. Simulation results show that VirFID-MP outperforms original VirFID in terms of weighted coverage efficiency, when the MSN monitors a moving phenomenon.
Multi-antenna cognitive uplink design for spectrum reuse

This paper investigates multi-antenna cognitive radio system, designs signal processing algorithms for cognitive uplink transmission, and proposes an opportunistic spectrum access scheme based on space division multiplexing (SDM-OSA). The proposed algorithms take equipment size and complexity constraints for mobile terminal into account and place main workload at cognitive base station, thus facilitate the design of cognitive terminal. With proper antenna configuration, cognitive transmission could be carried out using SDM even though there is no idle spectrum available. Compared with traditional OSA, throughput of cognitive system with proposed method is notably enhanced. Most important, the design guarantees that cognitive system does not interfere with the primary.
Three-Dimensional In Vivo Measurement of Lumbar Spine Segmental Motion

Study Design. Fifteen asymptomatic volunteers were externally rotated and CT scanned to determine lumbar segmental motion. Objectives. To measure three-dimensional segmental motion in vivo using a noninvasive measurement technique. Summary of Background Data. Spinal instability has been implicated as a potential cause of low back pain, especially, axial rotational instability. Typically, flexion-extension lateral radiographs were used to quantify instability, but inaccurately measured translations and inability to capture out-of-plane rotations are limitations. Methods. Using a custom-calibrated rotation jig, L1–S1 CT reconstructions were created of volunteers in each of 3 positions: supine and left and right rotations of the torso with respect to the hips. Segmental motions were calculated using Euler angles and volume merge methods in three major planes. Results. Segmental motions were small (<4° or 6mm) with the greatest motions seen in axial rotation (range, 0.6° to 2.2°), lateral bending (range, −3.6° to 3.0°), and frontal translation (−1.2mm to 5.4mm). Largest motions were in the levels: L1–L2 to L3–L4. Conclusions. Complex coupled motions were measured due to external torsion and could be indicative of instability chronic patients with low back pain. The presented data provide baseline segmental motions for future comparisons to symptomatic subjects.
A Potential Probiotic for Diarrhea: Clostridium tyrobutyricum Protects Against LPS-Induced Epithelial Dysfunction via IL-22 Produced By Th17 Cells in the Ileum

Probiotics are clinically used for diarrhea and inflammatory bowel diseases in both humans and animals. Previous studies have shown that Clostridium tyrobutyricum (Ct) protects against intestinal dysfunction, while its regulatory function in the gut needs further investigation and the related mechanisms are still not fully elucidated. This study aims to further verify the protective function of Ct and reveal its underlying mechanisms in alleviating diarrhea and intestinal inflammation. Ct inhibited LPS-induced diarrhea and intestinal inflammation in the ileum. IL-22 was identified and the protective role of Ct in the ileum presented an IL-22-dependent manner according to the transcriptomic analysis and in vivo interference mice experiments. The flow cytometric analysis of immune cells in the ileum showed that Ct enhanced the proportions of Th17 cells in response to LPS. The results of in situ hybridization further verified that Ct triggered Th17 cells to produce IL-22, which combined with IL-22RA1 expressed in the epithelial cells. Moreover, Ct was unable to enhance the levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the ileum, suggesting that the protective role of Ct in the ileum was independent of SCFAs. This study uncovered the role of Ct in alleviating diarrhea and inflammation with the mechanism of stimulating Th17 cells in the lamina propria to produce IL-22, highlighting its potential application as a probiotic for diarrhea and inflammation in the ileum.