Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 (SCA3): Thalamic Neurodegeneration Occurs Independently from Thalamic Ataxin‐3 Immunopositive Neuronal Intranuclear Inclusions

In the last years progress has been made regarding the involvement of the thalamus during the course of the currently known polyglutamine diseases. Although recent studies have shown that the thalamus consistently undergoes neurodegeneration in Huntington’s disease (HD) and spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) it is still unclear whether it is also a consistent target of the pathological process of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3). Accordingly we studied the thalamic pathoanatomy and distribution pattern of ataxin‐3 immunopositive neuronal intranuclear inclusions (NI) in nine clinically diagnosed and genetically confirmed SCA3 patients and carried out a detailed statistical analysis of our findings. During our pathoanatomical study we disclosed (i) a consistent degeneration of the ventral anterior, ventral lateral and reticular thalamic nuclei; (ii) a degeneration of the ventral posterior lateral nucleus and inferior and lateral subnuclei of the pulvinar in the majority of these SCA3 patients; and (iii) a degeneration of the ventral posterior medial and lateral posterior thalamic nuclei, the lateral geniculate body and some of the limbic thalamic nuclei in some of them. Upon immunocytochemical analysis we detected NI in all of the thalamic nuclei of all of our SCA3 patients. According to our statistical analysis (i) thalamic neurodegeneration and the occurrence of ataxin‐3 immunopositive thalamic NI was not associated with the individual length of the CAG‐repeats in the mutated SCA3 allele, the patients age at disease onset and the duration of SCA3 and (ii) thalamic neurodegeneration was not correlated with the occurrence of ataxin‐3 immunopositive thalamic NI. This lack of correlation may suggest that ataxin‐3 immunopositive NI are not immediately decisive for the fate of affected nerve cells but rather represent unspecific and pathognomonic morphological markers of SCA3.
Object-Level Motion Detection From Moving Cameras

It is important for a moving observer to be able to identify his/her surrounding objects and determine whether these objects are moving or stationary, which is called object-level motion detection. Detecting object-level motion from moving cameras is a difficult problem to solve for collision-free navigation due to the dual motion introduced by the mixture of the camera motion and the object motion. This paper presents a novel technique that detects object-level motion from a freely moving camera using only two consecutive video frames. A context-aware motion descriptor (CMD) is designed based on the object’s moving speed and moving direction relative to that of the moving camera. The CMD employs the contextual information, e.g., the optical flow of the image background surrounding the moving object of interest, which describes the object motion behavior better than other contexts such as the camera’s GPS and direction. The inconsistency between the histogram of oriented optical flow of the object and its surrounding background is measured for the object-level motion detection. The proposed technique has been evaluated over two types of widely studied objects, i.e., vehicles and humans that are captured with different sizes, moving speeds, and image backgrounds using a moving camera. Experiments on challenging real-world videos show promising performance in object-level motion detection.
Novel multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) modified metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) based electrode for electrophysiological measurements on human skin

Abstract Standard electrodes for electrophysiological signal acquisition in clinical applications such as electrocardiography or electromyography require the use of electrolytic gel and skin abrasion for better electrical interface between electrode and skin. Since gel dries out over a period of time, signal deterioration takes place on long duration with wet electrodes. Dry electrodes are promising alternative for long duration recording; nevertheless, they suffer from high contact impedance and motion artifacts. The proposed work introduces a novel multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) modified metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) based electrode for electrophysiological measurements on human skin. Vertically aligned metallic MWCNTs grown on the gate of MOSFETs form the contact surface of the electrode. MWCNTs penetrate the outer layer of skin for stable and improved electrical contact without the gel. The proposed electrode utilizes advantages of the MOSFET such as direct charge–current conversion, insulation between skin and instrumentation unit, and low noise pre-amplification of electrophysiological signals. Electrical equivalent of MWCNTs, design, and microfabrication of convenient MOSFET are reported. MOSFET parameters are obtained from technology computer-aided design simulation environment and combined with MWCNT parameters in the simulation program for integrated circuits emphasis. Simulated results of the proposed electrode exhibited lower contact impedance and high quality signal capture with respect to wet electrodes. The results show that the proposed electrode can be used for long duration recording of biopotentials with very high stable performance.
Chronic telogen effluvium or early androgenetic alopecia?

A 16‐year‐old girl presented with a 12‐month history of generalized hair shedding from the scalp. The onset of shedding coincided with the development of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and iron deficiency. At the time of initial presentation, the Hashimoto's thyroiditis had been treated with Neo‐Mercazole and she was euthyroid. Her iron stores were low, with a ferritin level of 13 µg/L. As she was vegetarian, oral iron replacement therapy was commenced without further investigation. On follow‐up 6 months later, her iron stores were normal (ferritin, 36 µg/L), but the hair shedding had continued. On examination, there was a positive hair pull test from both the vertex of the scalp and the occipital scalp. There was mild bitemporal recession, but no widening of the central part, and she appeared to have a full, thick head of hair ( Fig. 1 ). Additional investigations at that time revealed normal thyroid function and negative antinuclear antibody (ANA) and syphilis serology. She was on no medication other than Neo‐Mercazole. Serum testosterone, dihydroepiandosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were normal. Two 4‐mm punch biopsies were taken from the vertex of the scalp; one was sectioned horizontally and the other vertically. The vertical section was unremarkable. On the horizontal section, there were 32 hair follicles in total, 30 of which were terminal hairs and two of which were vellus hairs. One hair was in telogen. The ratio of terminal to vellus hairs was 15 : 1.
A QUESTÃO TERRITORIAL ANTÁRTICA: UMA ANÁLISE DAS TEORIAS DE OCUPAÇÃO

A ocupacao do territorio antartico e um tema de extrema relevância, mas pouco discutido nos tempos atuais. A historia deste acontecimento apresenta as diversas dificuldades sobre o tratamento da questao, que envolvem os diversos interesses dos paises abrangidos, desde questoes economicas ate politicas e ambientais. A divisao geral de pensamentos e realizada em duas linhas, a internacionalista e a territorialista, como especificado na introducao. Dentro desta ultima, apresentam-se seis teorias de ocupacao: a teoria dos quadrantes, a teoria dos setores, a teoria da descoberta, a teoria da contiguidade e da continuidade, a teoria da ocupacao efetiva e a teoria da defrontacao. Tais teorias sao influenciadas por tais fatores de interesses citados acima e por uma forte visao geopolitica, e serao o objeto principal de estudo da pesquisa apresentada neste projeto. Atualmente, sua gestao baseia-se no Tratado Antartico, assinado em 1959 por doze paises, que sao a Argentina, a Gra-Bretanha, a Russia (antiga Uniao Sovietica), a Franca, a Belgica, o Chile, o Japao, a Nova Zelândia, a Australia, a Africa do Sul, a Noruega e os Estados Unidos, e posteriormente outros paises. Estes se comprometeram a utilizar o continente apenas para fins pacificos, como para a realizacao de pesquisas cientificas com a instalacao de bases, e proibindo a entrada de qualquer equipamento militar no territorio. Porem, a existencia das citadas teorias comprovam que mesmo com a existencia de tal tratado internacional os interesses por sua dominacao ainda existem.
Empirical taxonomy of refactoring methods for aspect‐oriented programming

Refactoring improves software quality by improving the design of existing code through changing its internal structure while preserving its behavior. Improving one quality attribute may impair other quality attributes. A number of refactoring methods were proposed specifically for aspect‐oriented systems. However, there are no guidelines to help aspect‐oriented software designer decide which refactoring methods to apply to optimize a software system with regard to certain design goals. In this paper, we propose a taxonomy/classification of refactoring methods for aspect‐oriented programming based on their measurable effect on software quality attributes using six open‐source aspect‐oriented software systems. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of dnaC2 and dnaC28Mutants by Flow Cytometry

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli strains containing thermosensitivednaC alleles were studied by flow cytometry. Strains containing either the dnaC2 or dnaC28 allele were shifted between different temperatures, and DNA content distributions were gathered. Inhibition of initiation of chromosome replication at nonpermissive temperature, as well as reinitiation of replication at permissive temperature, were found to be affected by a number of parameters. These included the choice of permissive and nonpermissive temperatures, the length of the time of incubation at the nonpermissive temperature, the growth medium, the type of temperature shift used for reinitiation of replication (transient or nontransient), the genetic background of the host cell, and the cell concentration. Reinitiation of replication required neither transcription nor translation, whereas the elongation stage of replication was dependent upon ongoing protein synthesis in the mutants. Efficient use ofdnaC mutants for cell cycle studies is discussed.
Analyse du Cycle de Vie

L’acuite des problemes environnementaux generes par les dechets a motive la mise en place des solutions techniques, puis des outils d’analyse environnementale permettant d’evaluer ou de comparer l’efficacite de ces solutions. L’activite relative a la « gestion des dechets » dans les PED est generalement percue comme un tout alors que les enjeux environnementaux qui lui sont associes sont autant variables qu’heterogenes : respect de la qualite de l’air, de l’eau, des sols, effet de serre, l’eutrophisation, consommation des ressources et de l’espace, etc. Il est grand temps qu’une approche holistique claire et comprehensible de ces enjeux soit mise en œuvre par les acteurs directs et indirects du dechet tout en se preoccupant de l’evaluation de la contribution des activites d’elimination des dechets sur chacun d’eux. Il existe beaucoup de methodes d’evaluation des impacts environnementaux lies aux pratiques de gestion et de traitement des dechets menagers mais l’analyse du cycle de vie semble etre la mieux indiquee car elle fait appel a une approche holistique qui consiste a definir le systeme du produit et a en etudier les interactions du berceau a la tombe du produit.
Immunoadsorption of Cryptococcus-specific suppressor T-cell factors

In the murine cryptococcal suppressor cell circuit, two different T-cell suppressor factors, TsF1 and TsF2, have been identified which specifically suppress the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to cryptococcal culture filtrate antigen (CneF). TsF1 is produced by a first-order T suppressor (Ts1) cell population and suppresses the afferent limb of the DTH response, whereas TsF2 is produced by a second-order T suppressor (Ts2) cell population and suppresses the efferent limb of the cryptococcal DTH response. The objective of this study was to ascertain whether TsF1 or TsF2 could bind to cryptococcal antigen. To assess this, adsorption of TsF1 and TsF2 was performed with heat-killed Cryptococcus neoformans cells and by solid-phase immunoadsorption (SPIA) on columns containing cryptococcal antigens, i.e., CneF covalently bound to Sepharose 4B. The suppressive effect of TsF1 was removed by adsorption with intact heat-killed cryptococci and by SPIA on CneF-Sepharose 4B. The binding of cryptococcal TsF1 to the cryptococcal SPIA column was shown to be specific since Sepharose 4B columns either coupled with Saccharomyces cerevisiae mannan or blocked with glycine did not adsorb the suppressor activity. In contrast, the suppressive component of TsF2 did not bind to heat-killed cryptococci, CneF-Sepharose 4B, S. cerevisiae mannan-Sepharose 4B, or glycine-Sepharose 4B columns. These results, together with the finding that cryptococcal antigen, anticryptococcal antibody, and C1q-binding immune complexes were not demonstrated in either TsF1 or TsF2, establish that TsF1 and TsF2 can be differentiated on the basis of their affinity for cryptococcal antigen.
Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) in rheumatoid arthritis : linking genetic predisposition to clinical outcome

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease characterized by arthritis of mainly the small joints of the hands and feet, which is thought to be the result of an autoimmune response. It is the most common inflammatory arthritis with a prevalence of 0.5-1.0% in European and North-American populations 1. There is substantial geographic variation in the occurrence of RA with very high prevalences reported in native American-Indian populations 2, and very low prevalences in populations from South-East Asia 3. The disease is approximately three times more frequent in women than in men, and the prevalence increases with age. Besides the potentially destructive arthritis, patients can be affected by various extraarticular features such as secondary Sjogren’s syndrome, interstitial lung disease, pericarditis and pleuritis. Fortunately, the advent of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors and other biological agents have led to a therapeutic revolution for patients with rheumatoid arthritis 4. Instead of having to resign to an inevitably progressive and debilitating disease course, modern-day treatment aims at achieving the lowest possible disease activity and ultimately remission. Nonetheless, rheumatoid arthritis continues to be a major cause of (partial) disability and of loss of productivity, and is associated with substantial economic costs 5. Classification criteria for the disease were first phrased in 1956 6 after Sir Alfred Garrod had introduced the term rheumatoid arthritis in 1876 in an attempt to counteract the unsatisfactory use of designations such as “chronic rheumatism” and “rheumatic gout” 7. The purpose of the classification criteria was to facilitate both clinical diagnosis and scientific research. For many years since, the 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria have been used to this end, despite the fact that the incorporation of items such as erosive radiographic changes led to limited diagnostic value of these criteria for patients with early arthritis 8. In order to facilitate the study of persons with earlier stages of disease, the ACR and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) have recently developed the 2010 classification criteria for RA as shown in Table 1 9. It is worthwhile to note that these criteria are based on patient characteristics which were associated with the decision by the physician to start treatment with methotrexate. These criteria are a reflection of the shift towards increasingly earlier diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Hospital characteristics associated with success in a pay-for-performance program in orthopaedic surgery.

BACKGROUND Pay-for-performance programs are designed to link payments to clinical outcomes. We investigated the characteristics of hospitals in the United States, such as size and volume, that were associated with the receipt of a clinical performance bonus in a nationwide pay-for-performance program involving hip and knee replacement. METHODS We obtained hospital-level outcomes data from a nationwide pay-for-performance demonstration project on hip and knee replacement. We obtained data on the hospital's size, procedure volume, and case-mix index as well as whether it was a teaching hospital and then performed a multivariate analysis to determine which factors were associated with the receipt of a performance bonus. RESULTS Hospital size and revenue were not associated with the receipt of a performance bonus. Top-performance hospitals tended to be those specialized in orthopaedics (p < 0.002). Multivariate analysis revealed that high-performance hospitals tended to perform a high volume of hip and knee replacements (p < 0.008), to be teaching hospitals (p < 0.037), and to be located in the Midwestern United States (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Teaching hospitals that perform a high volume of hip and knee replacements will tend to succeed should pay-for-performance programs be enacted nationwide.
Effects of fractionated plasma separation and adsorption on survival in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Fractionated plasma separation and adsorption (FPSA) is an extracorporeal procedure that supports liver function by removing endogenous toxins that cause complications from acute-on-chronic liver failure (AOCLF). We performed a randomized trial to investigate survival of patients with AOCLF treated with FPSA. METHODS Patients with AOCLF were randomly assigned to groups given a combination of FPSA and standard medical therapy (SMT) (FPSA group, n = 77) or only SMT (SMT group, n = 68). The Prometheus liver support system was used to provide 8 to 11 rounds of FPSA (minimum of 4 hours each) for 3 weeks. Primary end points were survival probabilities at days 28 and 90, irrespective of liver transplantation. RESULTS Baseline clinical parameters and number of transplant patients were similar between study arms. Serum bilirubin level decreased significantly in the FPSA group but not in the SMT group. In an intention-to-treat analysis, the probabilities of survival on day 28 were 66% in the FPSA group and 63% in the SMT group (P = .70); on day 90, they were 47% and 38%, respectively (P = .35). Baseline factors independently associated with poor prognosis were high SOFA score, bleeding, female sex, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, intermediate increases in serum creatinine concentration, and combination of alcoholic and viral etiology of liver disease. There were no differences between the 2 groups in the incidence of side effects. CONCLUSIONS Among all patients with AOCLF, extracorporeal liver support with FPSA does not increase the probability of survival. Further studies are needed to assess whether therapy might be beneficial in specific subsets of patients.
Robust stabilization of switched two-tank system model via state feedback PI controller

This paper studies the problem of robust stabilization of discrete time switched systems. The stabilization conditions are written as linear matrix inequalities. Using the polyquadratic Lyapunov approach provides a way to design robust stabilizing control of switched system. This control design approach is considered for both state and output feedback cases and illustrated on an example model of switched two-tank system. Integral part of controller is used for tracking reference trajectory.
Role of endothelin and endothelin receptor antagonists in renal disease

Endothelin (ET)‐1 is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide with pro‐inflammatory, mitogenic, and pro‐fibrotic properties that is closely involved in both normal renal physiology and pathology. ET‐1 exerts a wide variety of biological effects, including constriction of cortical and medullary vessels, mesangial cell contraction, stimulation of extracellular matrix production, and inhibition of sodium and water reabsorption along the collecting duct, effects that are primarily mediated in an autocrine/paracrine manner. Increasing evidence indicates that the ET system is involved in an array of renal disorders. These comprise chronic proteinuric states associated with progressive glomerular and tubulointerstitial fibrosis, including diabetic and hypertensive nephropathy, glomerulonephritis and others. In addition, ET‐1 is causally linked to renal disorders characterized by increased renal vascular resistance, including acute ischaemic renal failure, calcineurin inhibitor toxicity, endotoxaemia, hepatorenal syndrome and others. Furthermore, derangement of the ET system may be involved in conditions associated with inappropriate sodium and water retention; for example, in congestive heart failure and hepatic cirrhosis. Both selective and non‐selective ET receptor antagonist have been developed and tested in animal models with promising results. As key events in progressive renal injury like inflammation and fibrosis are mediated via both ETA and ETB receptors, while constrictor effects are primarily transduced by ETA receptors, dual ET receptor blockade may be superior over selective ETA antagonism. Several compounds have been developed with remarkable effects in several models of acute and progressive renal injury. Thus, clinical studies are required to assess whether these results can be confirmed in humans, hopefully leading to novel and effective therapeutic options with few side effects.
Attacking information overload in software development

The productivity of software developers is under constant attack due to a continual inundation of information: source code is easier and easier to traverse and to find, email inboxes are stuffed to capacity, RSS feeds and tweets provide a continual stream of technology updates, and so on. To enable software developers to work more effectively, tools are often introduced that provide even more information. The effect of more and more tools producing more and more information is placing developers into overload. To combat this overload, we have been building approaches rooted in structure and inspired by human memory models. As an example, the Mylyn project packages and makes available the structure that emerges from how a programmer works in an episodic-memory inspired interface. Programmers working with Mylyn see only the information they need for a task and can recall past task information with a simple click. We have shown in a field study that Mylyn makes programmers more productive; the half a million programmers now using Mylyn seem to agree. In this talk, I will describe the overload faced by programmers today and discuss several approaches we have developed to attack the problem, some of which may also pertain beyond the domain of software development.