Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression of pax-6 in rhesus monkey of optical defocus induced myopia and form deprivation myopia.

BACKGROUND Pax-6 gene plays an important role in the process of eye development. This study was to determine the role of pax-6 in the axial myopia produced by hyperopic optical defocus and form deprivation in infant monkeys. METHODS Among seven normal infant rhesus monkeys (aged 1 to 1.5 months), five wore -3.00 D spectacle lenses over their right eyes and zero-powered lenses over their left eyes. Monocular form deprivation was produced by eyelid fusion in two monkeys. Ten weeks later, the monkeys were sacrificed by an overdose of barbiturates and their eyes were removed immediately. A 5 mm x 5 mm button of retina and sclera was taken from the posterior poles along with a 4-mm optic nerve. RNA was isolated separately from each of these three types of tissues. After that, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for determining gene expression in the retina, sclera and optic nerve. Semi-quantitative analyses were performed on the PCR products. RESULTS As expected, the optically induced hyperopic defocus and the form deprivation produced myopic growth. For the lens-treatment monkeys, pax-6 gene expression in the retinas of the defocused eyes was significantly higher than in the retinas of the left eyes (t = 5.703, P = 0.005). However, there were no analogous significant differences between pax-6 expression in the scleras or the optic nerves. For the two form-deprived monkeys, there were no obvious differences in pax-6 gene expression in the retinas or the optic nerves. CONCLUSION The result that the expression of pax-6 was enhanced by hyperopic defocus in the infant monkey retina suggests that pax-6 may be involved in vision-dependent eye growth and emmetropization.
Pepsinogens and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Mountain Marathon Runners

Although there are various descriptive reports concerning exercise-induced gastrointestinal distress, the role of gastrointestinal hormones and/or enzymes is not definitively established. In this study we investigated the behaviour of pepsinogens (PGI and PGII) after an endurance race performed at an altitude of 4,300 m by 13 well-trained marathon runners, with the aim to establish their interrelationship with gastrointestinal distress and with the modifications of gastrin and cortisol. The athletes showed a significant rise in gastrin (p < 0.01) and in cortisol (p < 0.01) and a significant decrease in PGI (p < 0.01) and PGII (p < 0.05) after the race. The PGI/PGII ratio presented small variations indicating that heavy exercise has less effects on PGs than those observed for gastrin. Gastrointestinal symptoms occurred in 6 athletes (46%) during the race and in 8 athletes (62%) after the race. No relationship was found between gastrointestinal symptoms and hormonal modifications after the race. A control group of 5 subjects was used: they (n = 5) did not show any significant modification of gastrin and PGs during the period spent at the above altitude, indicating that travel, altitude and acclimatization, food and beverages, do not influence the behaviour of these hormones. Conversely, they presented a significant decrease of cortisol (p < 0.05) linked to the circadian rhythm. The data of the present study indicate that the potential damage of gastrointestinal apparatus in mountain marathon runners is not related to the above mentioned hormones.
Cytokines in ovarian folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation and luteinisation

Cytokines are key regulators of ovarian physiology, particularly in relation to folliculogenesis and ovulation, where they contribute to creating an environment supporting follicle selection and growth. Their manifold functions include regulating cellular proliferation/differentiation, follicular survival/atresia, and oocyte maturation. Several cytokines, such as TGF‐β‐superfamily members, are involved at all stages of folliculogenesis while the production of others is stage‐dependent. This review draws upon evidence from both human and animal models to highlight the species‐specific roles at each milestone of follicular development. Given these pivotal roles and their ease of detection in follicular fluid, cytokines have been considered as attractive biomarkers of oocyte maturational status and of successful assisted reproductive outcome. Despite this, our understanding of cytokines and their interactions remains incomplete, and is still frequently limited to overly simplistic descriptions of their interrelationships. Given our increased appreciation of cytokine activity in complex and highly regulated networks, we put forward the case for using Bayesian modelling approaches to describe their hierarchical relationships in order to predict causal physiological interactions in vivo. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 81: 284–314, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Principal Component Analysis for Acceleration of Color Guided Image Filtering

In this paper, we propose an acceleration of guided image filtering, which is one of the fastest edge-preserving filters. The proposed method converts RGB signals into a color space introduced by the principal component analysis. Then, the filtering signals are sub-sampled or approximated by simple box filtering in the biased color space. The experimental results show that the proposed method is superior to the conventional acceleration method in accuracy and computational time.
ALK expression in extranodal anaplastic large cell lymphoma favours systemic disease with (primary) nodal involvement and a good prognosis and occurs before dissemination

Aims—In anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), the site of origin has been described as an important prognostic factor. Recently, a fusion protein containing anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) was described in systemic nodal ALCL, and shown to be associated with a good prognosis. The aims of this study were to investigate whether the presence of ALK protein differs between ALCL of different sites of origin; to determine whether ALK expression occurs before dissemination to other sites; and, finally, to investigate whether the site of origin remains a prognostic parameter in ALK negative ALCL. Methods—ALK expression, as detected by immunohistochemistry using the monoclonal antibodies ALK1 and ALKc, was studied in 85 ALCLs from different sites of origin. In 22 patients, ALK expression was studied in multiple biopsies from different sites (including 13 skin, 16 lymph node, and nine other). Overall survival time was analysed using the Kaplan Meier method. Results—ALK expression was found in 20 of 51 systemic ALCLs with (primary) nodal involvement. No ALK expression was found in 15 primary cutaneous, 14 gastrointestinal, and five nasal ALCLs. Multiple and subsequent biopsies of patients showed ALK expression to be identical to that seen in the primary diagnostic biopsy. Kaplan Meier survival curves showed that in ALK negative ALCLs originating from different sites, primary cutaneous cases are associated with an excellent overall survival, whereas the other cases show a comparable five years survival of less than 40%. Conclusions—If present, ALK expression favours systemic ALCL with (primary) nodal involvement, and can be used in differentiating between extranodal involvement of systemic (nodal) ALCL and primary extranodal ALCL. ALK is expressed consistently in multiple biopsies of a given patient, indicating that the chromosomal abnormality leading to aberrant ALK expression occurs before dissemination to other sites. Finally, in ALK negative non-cutaneous ALCLs, different sites of origin show comparable poor survival.
Evaluation of methods for H. pylori detection in PPI consumption using culture, rapid urease test and smear examination.

BACKGROUND Culture, rapid urease test (RUT) and smear examination have been used as reliable methods for diagnosis of H. pylori infection. Accurate performance of these tests requires good quality biopsies with considerable number of bacterial cells. However, consumption of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) affects growth and urease activity of H. pylori, leading to false negative results. In this study the efficacy of culture, RUT and smear examination was assessed and the effect of PPI consumption was evaluated. METHODS Two antral biopsies from 530 dyspeptic patients with and without PPI consumption were used for RUT, culture and smear examination. Statistical analysis was used to determine the association between results of culture, RUT or smear examination and PPI consumption. Sensitivity and specificity of three tests were calculated by standard methods. RESULTS H. pylori infection was detected in 40% of patients by culture, 48.3% by RUT and 21.1% by smear examination and the overall detection rate was 54%. A strong correlation was found between PPI consumption and negative results of culture and RUT (P<0.05) but not smear examination. The sensitivity of RUT was reduced as a result of PPI consumption. This reduction was more profound in 1-hr RUT (92.2% to 74.4%) compared with 24-hr RUT (93.9% to 81.6%). CONCLUSIONS Prevalence of H. pylori was declined, compared with previous studies. This decrement could be due to false negative results of H. pylori diagnostic tests, among which culture and RUT are mostly affected by PPI. Accordingly, PPI consumption should be stopped before performance of endoscopy.
Nondestructive Defect Evaluation of Polyethylene Pipes

We report an approach for nondestructive testing and evaluation of polyethylene pipes by using active infrared thermography technique, in which an electrical heating bar and a high-sensitivity high-speed infrared camera was respectively used as the novel thermal excitation source and the detector. Mathematical morphology is employed for defect feature extraction from thermographic images and realized the automatic evaluation of PE pipe defects. Various defects with different dimensions in PE pipes were investigated and they would affect the thermal distributions from which the relationship between thermographic images and defect sizes and locations was established. A finite element model was built to mimic the transient heat transfer in PE pipes. The finite element simulation results are well agreed with the one obtained from experiments and it demonstrated that finite element method can be an effective method to analyze infrared imaging. To further verify the capability of developed active infrared thermography in defect detection of PE pipes, defects in heat fusion joints of PE pipes were fabricated and measured. The experimental results showed that active infrared thermography based on an electrical heating bar, with defect extraction by mathematical morphology, could provide a novel tool for nondestructive evaluation and health monitoring of PE pipes. Key-Words: Active Infrared thermography; Mathematical morphology; Polyethylene pipes.
Export Tightening , Competition and Firm Innovation : Evidence from the RMB Appreciation 1

This paper investigates how firm innovation reacts to changes in competitive pressure in the export market. We use the exchange rate appreciation of the RMB during 2005-2007 as a natural experiment and exploit its differential impact on Chinese manufacturing firms with different export exposure. The appreciation reduced exports and imposed greater competitive pressure on exporters relative to non-exporters. In response, exporters increased innovation activities more than non-exporters. Using a difference-in-difference approach, we find the R&D expenses of exporters increased by 11% more than non-exporters during the appreciation period, and the new product development of exporters increased by nearly 1.5 times more than non-exporters. Innovation increased for productive, continuing exporters but decreased for less productive firms that quit exporting. These results contradict the prediction of models that link export and innovation solely via market size effects, and suggest the important role of competition in determining firm innovation.
The effects of menstrual phase on orthodontic pain following initial archwire engagement.

OBJECTIVES To explore the effects of menstrual cycle on orthodontic pain following initial archwire engagement. METHODS Female participants with regular menstrual cycles were recruited and assigned into follicular group or luteal group. Demographical and baseline variables were collected: age, education, menstrual duration, anxiety, oral health impact profile-14 (OHIP-14), and index of complexity outcome and need (ICON). Following initial archwire engagement, orthodontic pain was determined through visual analogue scale (VAS) on 1st day, 2nd day, and 3rd day. Demographical and baseline variables were compared between the two groups. Two-way repeated-measures anova was used to examine the effects of menstrual phase, time, and their interactions on orthodontic pain. Multivariate linear regression was employed to examine the independent effect of each variable on orthodontic pain. RESULTS Finally, 37 and 39 were assigned to the follicular and luteal groups, respectively, with balanced demographical and baseline data. Orthodontic pain was significantly affected by menstrual phase and time (both P < 0.001), but there was no interaction (P > 0.05). Moreover, orthodontic pain was independently predicted by menstrual phase, OHIP, education level, and anxiety (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION We suggest that practitioners arrange female patients to receive initial archwire engagement during their follicular phases to relieve orthodontic pain.
U NDERSTANDING THE F ORMATION OF T RUST IN IT A RTIFACTS Completed Research Paper

IT artifacts often take the role of a trustee in a trust relationship between users and IT artifacts. The goal of this paper is to increase the understanding of the formation of trust in such trust relationships. Instead of using the predominant theoretical foundation of interpersonal trust, we use the theoretical foundation of trust in automation from the HCI discipline for studying the formation of trust. Since we aim at creating insights on the formation of trust and its dimensions, we develop a formative first-order, formative second-order measurement model for trust. To evaluate the impact of the single indicators and dimensions on trust, we conduct a laboratory experiment. Our results show that the dimensions performance, process and purpose have a comparable impact on trust, and that indicators related to user data are especially important. The results complement existing insights, deepening the understanding of the formation of trust in IT artifacts.
Intravenous clodronate in the treatment of reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome. A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of intravenous (i.v.) clodronate in patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS) and to assess the urinary excretion of type I collagen crosslinked N-telopeptide (NTx) before and after the treatment. METHODS Thirty-two patients with RSDS were randomized to receive either i.v. clodronate 300 mg daily for 10 consecutive days or placebo. Forty days later, the placebo treated patients received the clodronate treatment. Outcome measures included as a primary endpoint the visual analog scale of pain (VAS, range 0-100); secondary endpoints were a clinical global assessment (CGA, range 0-3) and an efficacy verbal score (EVS, range 0-3). Clinical and biochemical assessments were performed before the treatment, 40 (T40), 90 (T90), and 180 (T180) days later. RESULTS At T40 the 15 patients randomized to clodronate treatment showed significant decreases of VAS and CGA (p = 0.002, p = 0.001, respectively). Compared with the placebo group (17 patients), significant differences were found in all clinical variables (VAS: p = 0.001; CGA: p = 0.001; EVS: p<0.0001). A further clinical improvement was observed throughout the study. Pooling the results of all 32 patients after clodronate treatment, at T180 the overall percentage decrease of VAS was 93.2+/-15.6%, with 30 patients significantly improved or asymptomatic. Significant inverse correlations between baseline NTx values and decreases of VAS were found at T90 (p = 0.03) and T180 (p = 0.01). No adverse events related to treatment occurred. CONCLUSION A 10 day i.v. clodronate course is better than placebo and effective in the treatment of RSDS. NTx seems to be a predictive factor for clodronate efficacy.
Neuropsychiatric disorders in the 22q11 deletion syndrome

Purpose: This study was undertaken with a view to establishing the occurrence of neuropsychiatric disorders in the 22q11 deletion syndrome.Methods: Thirty-two children and young adults with genetically confirmed 22q11 deletion were given comprehensive neuropsychiatric assessments.Results: Altogether, 56% had a neuropsychiatric disorder. Only 6% were of normal IQ and free of physchiatric disorder. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder was diagnosed in 44% and 31% had an autism spectrum problem. In 16% criteria for both these diagnoses were met. Fifty-three percent had mental retardation, often with a test-profile suggesting a nonverbal learning disorder.Conclusion: The findings imply that a majority of children and adolescents with 22q11 deletion syndrome are in need of neuropsychiatric assessment and intervention.
Modeling and Analysis of Optimal Selection of Ideological and Political Education in Colleges and Universities

: In order to improve the quality of ideological and political education in colleges and universities, ideological and political education is not only the primary content of China's spiritual civilization construction, but also one of the main ways to solve social contradictions and problems. The selection model of ideological and political education in colleges and universities is divided into active education mode, passive education mode and vocational education mode. This paper analyzes the problems existing in ideological and political education in colleges and universities, analyzes the effectiveness of ideological and political education mode by combining the teaching-driven mode, and optimizes the selection of ideological and political education models. Let the whole society attach importance to the ideological and moral construction of the society, deepen the ideological and political work from the perspective of personality and human psychology, so that ideological and political work can form a daily and subtle effect, and through ideological and political education, it makes college students form correct ideological behavior, promote the cooperation of society, school and family, and improve the ideological and political quality of college students.
In Vitro Cellular Immunity to Unrelated Pathogens in Chickens Infected with Fowlpox Virus

Peritoneal macrophages recovered from chickens 15 to 20 days after inoculation with fowlpox virus and showing a delayed hypersensitivity reaction against fowlpox antigens demonstrated an enhanced antimicrobial effect against fowlpox virus as well as unrelated viruses and bacteria. Inoculation of normal chicken macrophage cultures with fowlpox virus resulted in approximately a 200-fold increase in virus titer by 96 h, whereas the virus showed less than a fourfold increase in macrophage cultures from fowlpox-immune chickens. Similarly, the titer of Newcastle disease virus increased by more than 1 log in cultures of normal macrophages, whereas the titer decreased by approximately 1 log after infection of fowlpox-immune macrophages. Vaccinia, vesicular stomatitis, and herpes simplex viruses, which are not natural pathogens of chickens, failed to replicate in cultures of either normal or fowlpox-immune macrophages. By using Salmonella gallinarum, it was further demonstrated that the antimicrobial activity of fowlpox-immune macrophages encompassed not only nonspecific viruses but also bacteria. Infection of normal macrophages with Salmonella resulted in intracellular replication of the organism between 0 and 24 h as determined by microscope examination and viable bacteria counts. In contrast, cultures of fowlpox-immune macrophages failed to show an increase in intracellular organisms and showed a marked decrease in viable bacteria. In conclusion, these studies clearly showed that cellular immunity, previously demonstrated in mammalian species, develops in chickens after infection with fowlpox virus.
Decreased regulatory T‐cells and CD4+/CD8+ ratio correlate with disease onset and progression in patients with generalized vitiligo

The aim of present study was to evaluate CD4+/CD8+ ratio and CD4+CD25hiFoxP3+ Tregs in GV patients with reference to their effect on disease onset and progression. Flow cytometry was used for determination of CD4+/CD8+ ratio and Tregs in 82 patients and 50 controls. CD8+ T‐cell counts were significantly higher in GV patients as compared with controls (p = 0.003). Active GV patients showed higher CD8+ T‐cell counts compared with stable GV patients (p = 0.001). The CD4+/CD8+ ratio decreased significantly in patients as compared with controls (p = 0.001). Moreover, the ratio in active GV patients significantly lowered as compared with stable GV patients (p = 0.002). Significant decrease in Treg cell percentage and counts in GV patients was observed compared with controls (p = 0.009, p = 0.008) with significant reduction in FoxP3 expression (p = 0.024). Treg cell percentage and counts were significantly decreased in active GV patients compared with stable GV patients (p = 0.007, p = 0.002). Our results suggest that an imbalance of CD4+/CD8+ ratio and natural Tregs in frequency and function might be involved in the T‐cell mediated pathogenesis of GV and its progression.
Nonenzymatic bioreduction in rat liver and kidney of nitroxyl spin labels, potential contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging.

Paramagnetic nitroxyl spin labels have potential clinical utility as contrast agents in proton magnetic resonance imaging. Reduction of the nitroxyl moiety in vivo results in the formation of the diamagnetic hydroxylamine, which lacks contrast-enhancing activity. Bioreduction is therefore an important determinant of the imaging behavior of these agents. Both enzymatic and nonenzymatic reduction mechanisms have been suggested for nitroxyl spin labels. This study examines the nonenzymatic mechanisms in rat liver and kidney, mammalian tissues that demonstrate high reducing activity. Protein-free preparations, obtained by heat precipitation or ultrafiltration of rat liver and kidney homogenates, were used to test piperidine and pyrrolidine nitroxyl spin-label derivatives, for which imaging properties and bioreduction had previously been examined. For the piperidine derivative, the initial reduction rates in ultrafiltrates and supernatant fluids were 25-60% of those in whole liver and kidney homogenates. However, the pyrrolidine derivative was reduced at rates much slower than those in whole tissue homogenates. The reduction in whole tissue homogenates was NADPH-dependent, while reduction in ultrafiltrates was unaffected by the addition of NADPH. Preincubation of the ultrafiltrates and supernatant fluids with ascorbic acid oxidase caused almost complete inhibition of the reduction. The reduction rates of these nitroxyl derivatives were determined in ascorbic acid solution; second order rate constants were 0.45 +/- 0.04 and 0.0042 +/- 0.001 mM-1 min-1 for the piperidine and pyrrolidine derivatives, respectively. The concentrations of ascorbic acid in the supernatant fluids and ultrafiltrates of rat liver and kidney were then predicted from the observed reduction rates and found to be virtually identical with those from spectrophotometric determinations. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)