Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Additional in-series compliance reduces muscle force summation and alters the time course of force relaxation during fixed-end contractions

ABSTRACT There are high mechanical demands placed on skeletal muscles in movements requiring rapid acceleration of the body or its limbs. Tendons are responsible for transmitting muscle forces, but, because of their elasticity, can manipulate the mechanics of the internal contractile apparatus. Shortening of the contractile apparatus against the stretch of tendon affects force generation according to known mechanical properties; however, the extent to which differences in tendon compliance alter force development in response to a burst of electrical impulses is unclear. To establish the influence of series compliance on force summation, we studied electrically evoked doublet contractions in the cane toad peroneus muscle in the presence and absence of a compliant artificial tendon. Additional series compliance reduced tetanic force by two-thirds, a finding predicted based on the force–length property of skeletal muscle. Doublet force and force–time integral expressed relative to the twitch were also reduced by additional series compliance. Active shortening over a larger range of the ascending limb of the force–length curve and at a higher velocity, leading to a progressive reduction in force-generating potential, could be responsible. Muscle–tendon interaction may also explain the accelerated time course of force relaxation in the presence of additional compliance. Our findings suggest that a compliant tendon limits force summation under constant-length conditions. However, high series compliance can be mechanically advantageous when a muscle–tendon unit is actively stretched, permitting muscle fibres to generate force almost isometrically, as shown during stretch–shorten cycles in locomotor activities. Restricting active shortening would likely favour rapid force development. Summary: Active shortening permitted by a tendon of high physiological compliance not only constrains muscle force generation, but also reduces force summation and accelerates the time course of relaxation.
Immediate-early RNA 2.9 and early RNA 2.6 of bovine herpesvirus 1 are 3' coterminal and encode a putative zinc finger transactivator protein

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) contains three major immediate-early (IE) genes involved in regulation of the productive cycle of replication. Two spliced IE RNAs, IER4.2 (4.2 kb) and IER2.9 (2.9 kb), are under the control of a single promoter; IER1.7 (1.7 kb) is transcribed from a different promoter in the opposite direction. Examining the kinetics of transcription, we found that the IER4.2/2.9 promoter was turned off at the end of the IE period. An alternative promoter became active, directing synthesis of an unspliced early RNA, ER2.6 (2.6 kb), which was colinear with the second exon of IER2.9 except for its 5' end in the intron about 10 bases upstream of the splice site. Sequence analysis revealed a single open reading frame common to IER2.9 and ER2.6 with a coding potential of 676 amino acids. The putative protein, named p135, contained a cysteine-rich zinc finger domain near the N terminus with homology to ICP0 of herpes simplex virus type 1, to protein 61 of varicella-zoster virus, to early protein 0 of pseudorabies virus, and to other viral and cellular proteins. The remaining parts of p135 exhibited only limited homology, mainly with pseudorabies virus protein 0, but the entire sequence was highly conserved between two strains of BHV-1 (K22 and Jura). The latency-related antisense transcript covered a large portion of ER2.6 excluding the zinc finger coding region. In transient expression assays, p135 activated a variety of promoters, including that for ER2.6, but repressed the IER1.7 promoter. Thus, p135 combines functional characteristics of ICP0, a strong transactivator, and of protein 61, a repressor. BHV-1 seems to have evolved a subtle mechanism to ensure the continued synthesis of p135 while turning off IER4.2, which encodes p180, the herpes simplex virus type 1 ICP4 homolog.
Reliability and stability of performances in 400-m swimming and 1500-m running.

PURPOSE To assess the reliability and stability of 400-m swimming and 1500-m running competitions to establish the number of samples needed to obtain a stable pacing profile. Coaches, athletes, and researchers can use these methods to ensure that sufficient data are collected before training and race strategies are constructed or research conclusions are drawn. METHOD Lap times were collected from 5 world and European championship finals between 2005 and 2011, resulting in the capture of data from 40 swimmers and 55 runners. A cumulative mean for each lap was calculated, starting with the most recent data, and the number of races needed for this to stabilize to within 1% was reported. Typical error for each lap was calculated for athletes who had competed in more than 1 final. RESULTS International swimmers demonstrated more reproducible performances than runners in 3 of the 4 laps of the race (P < .01). Variance in runners' lap times significantly decreased by 1.7-2.7% after lap 1, whereas variance in swimmers' lap times tended to increase by 0.1-0.5% after lap 1. To establish a stable profile, at least ten 400-m swimmers and forty-four 1500-m runners must be included. CONCLUSIONS A stable race profile was observed from the analysis of 5 events for 1500-m running and 3 events for 400-m swimming. Researchers and athletes can be more certain about the pacing information collected from 400-m swimming than 1500-m running races, as the swimming data are less variable, despite both events being of similar duration.
Histone Deacetylase 1/mSin3A Disrupts Gamma Interferon-Induced CIITA Function and Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Enhanceosome Formation

ABSTRACT The class II transactivator (CIITA) is a master transcriptional regulator of major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) promoters. CIITA does not bind DNA, but it interacts with the transcription factors RFX5, NF-Y, and CREB and associated chromatin-modifying enzymes to form an enhanceosome. This report examines the effects of histone deacetylases 1 and 2 (HDAC1/HDAC2) on MHC-II gene induction by gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and CIITA. The results show that an inhibitor of HDACs, trichostatin A, enhances IFN-γ-induced MHC-II expression, while HDAC1/HDAC2 inhibits IFN-γ- and CIITA-induced MHC-II gene expression. mSin3A, a corepressor of HDAC1/HDAC2, is important for this inhibition, while NcoR, a corepressor of HDAC3, is not. The effect of this inhibition is directed at CIITA, since HDAC1/HDAC2 reduces transactivation by a GAL4-CIITA fusion protein. CIITA binds to overexpressed and endogenous HDAC1, suggesting that HDAC and CIITA may affect each other by direct or indirect association. Inhibition of HDAC activity dramatically increases the association of NF-YB and RFX5 with CIITA, the assembly of CIITA, NF-YB, and RFX5 enhanceosome, and the extent of H3 acetylation at the MHC-II promoter. These results suggest a model where HDAC1/HDAC2 affect the function of CIITA through a disruption of MHC-II enhanceosome and relevant coactivator-transcription factor association and provide evidence that CIITA may act as a molecular switch to modulate MHC-II transcription by coordinating the functions of both histone acetylases and HDACs.
Progesterone reduces neurofilament (NF)--positive nerve fibers in eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis and myomata.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether there are neurofilament (NF)-positive nerve fibers in the eutopic endometrium of patients with myoma and endometriosis by using stromal cell culture and to verify whether progesterone has an effect on the NF-positive nerve fiber by using stromal cell culture. STUDY DESIGN Patients with uterine myoma (N = 11), ovarian and pelvic endometriosis (N = 10), and without myoma and endometriosis (N = 10) were included in the study. Human endometrial tissues were obtained from hysterectomy and curettage. The stromal cells were cultured and immunostaining was performed before and after treatment with progesterone by using NF. RESULTS Before progesterone treatment the percentage of NF-positive nerve fibers between the uterine myoma group (4.91 +/- 2.05) and the endometriosis group (2.22 +/- 0.92) was statistically significant, and there was a significantly different percentage of NF-positive nerve fibers between the uterine myoma group (4.91 +/- 2.05) and the levonorgestrel intrauterine device-inserted group (1.50 +/- 0.25). After progesterone treatment the percentage of NF-positive nerve fibers was significantly decreased in the uterine myoma (2.09 +/- 1.73) and the endometriosis (1.48 +/- 0.80) groups. CONCLUSION We showed that the NF-positive nerve fibers were reduced after progesterone treatment by using stromal cell culture and suggest that progesterone could have a role in the decrease of endometriosis/myoma-associated pain.
Minocycline protects retinal ganglion cells after optic nerve crush injury in mice by delaying autophagy and upregulating nuclear factor‐&kgr;B2

Background Currently, no medicine is available that can prevent or treat neural damage associated with optic nerve injury. Minocycline is recently reported to have a neuroprotective function. The aims of this study were to exarmine the neuroprotective effect of minocycline on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and determine its underlying mechanisms, using a mouse model of optic nerve crush (ONC). Methods ONC was performed in the left eye of adult male mice, and the mice were randomly divided into minocycline‐treated group and saline‐treated control group. The mice without receiving ONC injury were used as positive controls. RGC densities were assessed in retinal whole mounts with immunofluorescence labeling of &bgr;III‐tubulin. Transmission electron microscopy was used to detect RGC morphologies, and Western blotting and real‐time PCR were applied to investigate the expression of autophagy markers LC3‐I, LC3‐II, and transcriptional factors nuclear factor‐&kgr;B1 (NF‐&kgr;B1), NF‐&kgr;B2. Results In the early stage after ONC (at Days 4 and 7), the density of RGCs in the minocycline‐treated group was higher than that of the saline‐treated group. Electron micrographs showed that minocycline prevented nuclei and mitochondria injuries at Day 4. Western blotting analysis demonstrated that the conversion of LC3‐I to LC3‐II was reduced in the minocycline‐treated group at Days 4 and 7, which meant autophagy process was inhibited by minocycline. In addition, the gene expression of NF‐&kgr;B2 was upregulated by minocycline at Day 4. Conclusion The neuroprotective effect of minocycline is generated in the early stage after ONC in mice, partly through delaying autophagy process and regulating NF‐&kgr;B2 pathway.
Generative Bayesian neural network model for risk-neutral pricing of American index options

Financial models with stochastic volatility or jumps play a critical role as alternative option pricing models for the classical Black–Scholes model, which have the ability to fit different market volatility structures. Recently, machine learning models have elicited considerable attention from researchers because of their improved prediction accuracy in pricing financial derivatives. We propose a generative Bayesian learning model that incorporates a prior reflecting a risk-neutral pricing structure to provide fair prices for the deep ITM and the deep OTM options that are rarely traded. We conduct a comprehensive empirical study to compare classical financial option models with machine learning models in terms of model estimation and prediction using S&P 100 American put options from 2003 to 2012. Results indicate that machine learning models demonstrate better prediction performance than the classical financial option models. Especially, we observe that the generative Bayesian neural network model demonstrates the best overall prediction performance.
Dietary Roles of Non-Starch Polysachharides in Human Nutrition: A Review

Nonstarch polysaccharides (NSPs) occur naturally in many foods. The physiochemical and biological properties of these compounds correspond to dietary fiber. Nonstarch polysaccharides show various physiological effects in the small and large intestine and therefore have important health implications for humans. The remarkable properties of dietary NSPs are water dispersibility, viscosity effect, bulk, and fermentibility into short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These features may lead to diminished risk of serious diet related diseases which are major problems in Western countries and are emerging in developing countries with greater affluence. These conditions include coronary heart disease, colo-rectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, breast cancer, tumor formation, mineral related abnormalities, and disordered laxation. Insoluble NSPs (cellulose and hemicellulose) are effective laxatives whereas soluble NSPs (especially mixed-link β-glucans) lower plasma cholesterol levels and help to normalize blood glucose and insulin levels, making these kinds of polysaccharides a part of dietary plans to treat cardiovascular diseases and Type 2 diabetes. Moreover, a major proportion of dietary NSPs escapes the small intestine nearly intact, and is fermented into SCFAs by commensal microflora present in the colon and cecum and promotes normal laxation. Short chain fatty acids have a number of health promoting effects and are particularly effective in promoting large bowel function. Certain NSPs through their fermented products may promote the growth of specific beneficial colonic bacteria which offer a prebiotic effect. Various modes of action of NSPs as therapeutic agent have been proposed in the present review. In addition, NSPs based films and coatings for packaging and wrapping are of commercial interest because they are compatible with several types of food products. However, much of the physiological and nutritional impact of NSPs and the mechanism involved is not fully understood and even the recommendation on the dose of different dietary NSPs intake among different age groups needs to be studied.
Handling Occlusions for Accurate 3D Urban Cartography: A New Approach Based on Characterization and Multiple Passages

In this paper we present a new occlusion handling technique which successfully addresses the intricate problem of extraction of occluded features for urban landscape analysis and cartography. This new method is based on temporal integration in which multiple sessions or passages are used to complete occluded features in a 3D cartographic image. 3D image obtained from each passage is first characterized and classified into three main object classes: Permanently static, Temporarily static and Mobile using inference based on basic reasoning and a new point matching technique, intelligently exploiting the different viewing angles of the mounted Lidar sensors. All the Temporarily static and Mobile objects, considered as occluding objects, are removed from the image/scene leaving behind a perforated 3D image of the cartography. This perforated image is then updated by similar subsequent perforated images, obtained on different days and hours of the day, filling in the holes and completing the missing features of the urban cartography. This ensures that the resulting 3D image of the cartography is most accurate containing only the exact and actual permanent features. Separate update and reset functions are specially added to increase robustness of the method. The proposed method is evaluated on a standard data set demonstrating its efficacy and suitability for different applications.
Changes in Cervical Spine Curvature after Uninstrumented One- and Two-level Corpectomy in Patients with Spondylotic Myelopathy

OBJECTIVEWe studied changes in the cervical spine curvature in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy who underwent one- or two-level central corpectomy and iliac bone grafting without the use of instrumentation. METHODSCurvature of the fused segment and of the whole cervical spine was evaluated on preoperative and follow-up x-rays in 93 patients (30 underwent one-level corpectomy, and 63 underwent two-level corpectomy). In 59 patients, the changes in the cervical spine curvature were studied using one follow-up x-ray; in the other 34 patients, the changes were studied on x-rays obtained at two or more follow-up visits. The sagittal alignment of the fused segment was categorized as lordotic (>+5 degrees), straight (+5 to −5 degrees) or kyphotic (>−5 degrees). The whole spine curvature also was recorded as lordotic, straight, or kyphotic. RESULTSAt a mean follow-up of 22.2 months (range, 6–71 mo), there was a mean change of −10.4 degrees in the segmental curvature (P < 0.001). The fused segment sagittal alignment also worsened (lordotic angles becoming straight or kyphotic and straight angles becoming kyphotic) in 44 patients (47%)(P < 0.001). However, serial studies in 34 patients (mean first and last follow-ups, 11.9 and 30.8 mo, respectively) did not demonstrate significant worsening of the kyphotic angle or the sagittal alignment over time (P = 0.9). Whole spine curvature worsened in 33 (35%) of the 93 patients (P < 0.001); serial studies did not reveal a significant change (P = 0.9). Patients improved in their functional status from a preoperative mean Nurick grade of 2.9 (range, 1–5) to a follow-up mean Nurick grade of 1.5 (range, 0–4) (P < 0.001). Patients with a kyphotic change in their whole spine curvature (n = 33) and those without such change (n = 60) had a similar functional outcome (mean change in Nurick grade, 1.5 and 1.4, respectively). CONCLUSIONCervical spine curvature tended to undergo a kyphotic change at the fused segment in 47% of patients and a kyphotic change of the whole spine curvature in 35% of patients who underwent one- or two-level uninstrumented central corpectomy. This kyphotic change in the cervical spine, which stabilizes within 1 year after surgery, is not progressive, and it does not affect neurological outcome in these patients.
Partial Deafness Treatment

Abstract The authors present the accepted strategy of Partial Deafness Treatment (PDT) based on long-term observation and results: 8-years long in adult patients and over 5-years long in children. In therapy, there are two fundamental modes of complementary stimulation in cases of moderate to severe hearing loss. One of them is the acoustic stimulation (AS), comprising patients who use amplification with hearing aid (HA) and/or middle ear implant (MEI). The other mode, presented by the authors in this study, is the electric stimulation using cochlear implant (PDCI). The entire material in this mode is divided into three groups: 1. Electrical Complement (EC); 2. Electric Acoustic Stimulation (EAS); and 3. Electric Stimulation (ES). Surgical approach in PDT is based on the 6-steps method, emphasizing round window approach to the scala tympani. The results obtained in the long-term follow-up shows the preservation of preoperative hearing in 97% of subjects. Overall, for all audiometric frequencies the differences in mean pre- and mean postoperative thresholds, measured before surgery and 3 months afterwards were not statistically significant (p>0.05). In all four groups we observed a significant increase in scores between pre-operative and 12 months after surgery both under quiet and noisy conditions. The presented concept, supported by the substantial material and long-term follow-up, allows the comprehensive approach to the treatment of partial deafness using different modes of stimulation.
Baroreceptor reflex control of heart rate during development of coarctation hypertension.

To study whether resetting of the baroreceptors is accompanied by normal reflex activity to the heart, we analyzed time-course changes of pressure, heart rate, baroreceptor reflex sensitivity, and plasma renin activity during the development of coarctation hypertension. Baseline heart rate was measured daily, and plasma renin activity and reflex changes in heart rate (bolus injections of either phenylephrine or nitroprusside, 0.2-25.6 micrograms/kg i.v.) were recorded at different times in coarcted and sham-coarcted rats. Hypertension was stable (approximately 39% from baseline mean arterial pressure of 112 +/- 3 mm Hg), whereas heart rate (333 +/- 4 beats per minute) showed a biphasic behavior: bradycardia at 6 hours (264 +/- 7 beats per minute) and tachycardia at 5 days (418 +/- 14 beats per minute). On day 10 of hypertension, heart rate was normal. Plasma renin activity was markedly increased only after 6 hours (4.9 times). Reflex bradycardia exhibited a progressive impairment: The slopes of the regression lines between changes in heart rate and changes in mean arterial pressure were not significantly reduced at 6 and 48 hours when the resetting was in development (changes of 17% and 28% from a control of -1.89 +/- 0.20 beats per minute/mm Hg) but were significantly depressed after the resetting had been completed (-51% and -56% at 5 and 10 days, respectively). Reflex tachycardia was significantly reduced in all periods studied (75%, 78%, 52%, and 61% at 6 hours and 2, 5, and 10 days, respectively; -3.92 +/- 0.42 beats per minute/mm Hg in sham rats). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Presenting ADHD symptoms, subtypes, and comorbid disorders in clinically referred adults with ADHD.

OBJECTIVE Despite the increasing presentation of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults, many practitioners remain reluctant to assess individuals for ADHD, in part related to the relative lack of data on the presenting symptoms of ADHD in adulthood. Comorbidity among adults with ADHD is also of great interest due to the high rates of psychiatric comorbidity, which can lead to a more persistent ADHD among adults. METHOD We assessed 107 adults with ADHD of both sexes (51% female; mean +/- SD of 37 +/- 10.4 years) using structured diagnostic interviews. Using DSM-IV symptoms, we determined DSM-IV subtypes. The study was conducted from 1998 to 2003. RESULTS Inattentive symptoms were most frequently endorsed (> 90%) in adults with ADHD. Using current symptoms, 62% of adults had the combined subtype, 31% the inattentive only subtype, and 7% the hyperactive/impulsive only subtype. Adults with the combined subtype had relatively more psychiatric comorbidity compared to those with the predominately inattentive subtype. Women were similar to men in the presentation of ADHD. CONCLUSION Adults with ADHD have prominent inattentive symptoms of ADHD, necessitating careful questioning of these symptoms when evaluating these individuals.