Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Residual Elimination Algorithm Enhancements to Improve Foot Motion Tracking During Forward Dynamic Simulations of Gait.

Patient-specific gait optimizations capable of predicting post-treatment changes in joint motions and loads could improve treatment design for gait-related disorders. To maximize potential clinical utility, such optimizations should utilize full-body three-dimensional patient-specific musculoskeletal models, generate dynamically consistent gait motions that reproduce pretreatment marker measurements closely, and achieve accurate foot motion tracking to permit deformable foot-ground contact modeling. This study enhances an existing residual elimination algorithm (REA) Remy, C. D. , and Thelen, D. G. , 2009, “Optimal Estimation of Dynamically Consistent Kinematics and Kinetics for Forward Dynamic Simulation of Gait,” ASME J. Biomech. Eng., 131(3), p. 031005) to achieve all three requirements within a single gait optimization framework. We investigated four primary enhancements to the original REA: (1) manual modification of tracked marker weights, (2) automatic modification of tracked joint acceleration curves, (3) automatic modification of algorithm feedback gains, and (4) automatic calibration of model joint and inertial parameter values. We evaluated the enhanced REA using a full-body three-dimensional dynamic skeletal model and movement data collected from a subject who performed four distinct gait patterns: walking, marching, running, and bounding. When all four enhancements were implemented together, the enhanced REA achieved dynamic consistency with lower marker tracking errors for all segments, especially the feet (mean root-mean-square (RMS) errors of 3.1 versus 18.4 mm), compared to the original REA. When the enhancements were implemented separately and in combinations, the most important one was automatic modification of tracked joint acceleration curves, while the least important enhancement was automatic modification of algorithm feedback gains. The enhanced REA provides a framework for future gait optimization studies that seek to predict subject-specific post-treatment gait patterns involving large changes in foot-ground contact patterns made possible through deformable foot-ground contact models.
Direct Demonstration of NFATp Dephosphorylation and Nuclear Localization in Activated HT-2 Cells Using a Specific NFATp Polyclonal Antibody (*)

Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) regulates transcription of a number of cytokine genes, and NFAT DNA binding activity is stimulated following T cell activation. Several lines of evidence have suggested that NFAT is a substrate for calcineurin, a serine/threonine phosphatase. Using a polyclonal antibody to murine NFATpp, Western blot analysis of various mouse tissues demonstrated that the 110-130-kDa NFATp protein was highly expressed in thymus and spleen. Treatment of immunoprecipitated NFATp from untreated HT-2 cells with calcineurin resulted in the dephosphorylation of NFATp, demonstrating that NFATp is an in vitro substrate for calcineurin. NFATp immunoprecipitated from 32P-labeled HT-2 cells migrated as an approximately 120-kDa protein that was localized to the cytosol of the cells. Treatment of the cells with ionomycin resulted in a decrease in the molecular weight of NFATp and a loss of 32P, consistent with NFATp dephosphorylation. The dephosphorylation of NFATp was accompanied by localization of the protein to the nuclear fraction. Both of these events were blocked by preincubation of the cells with FK506, a calcineurin inhibitor, consistent with the hypothesis that NFATp is a calcineurin substrate in cells.
Renal dysfunction increases the risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in the general population

Abstract Aims. The association between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and different subtypes of stroke is unclear, and previous studies have yielded conflicting results. We aimed to assess the impact of CKD on the risk of fatal or non-fatal ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in both men and women. Methods. In 539,287 Swedish men and women, mainly undergoing health controls, with mean age 45 years, and no previous stroke or myocardial infarction, hazard ratios for stroke were calculated to assess the association between renal dysfunction and incidence of stroke. We estimated glomerular filtration rates (GFR) using the Mayo (GFR-Mayo) formula. Glomerular filtration rate 60–90, 30–60, and 15–30 mL per minute per 1.73 m2 was defined as mildly, moderately, and severely decreased GFR, respectively. Results. There were 17,678 strokes, of which 72% were ischemic, 15% hemorrhagic, and 12% unspecified, during 12 years of follow-up. Hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for ischemic stroke were 1.09 (1.04–1.14) for mildly, 1.24 (1.10–1.39) for moderately, and 2.27 (1.63–3.17) for severely decreased GFR-Mayo. The corresponding figures for hemorrhagic stroke were 1.04 (0.93–1.15), 1.26 (0.96–1.64), and 2.31 (1.10–4.87). Ischemic stroke was related to all levels of decreased GFR-Mayo in both genders (P < 0.0003). Hemorrhagic stroke was only related to renal dysfunction among women; hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) 1.38 (1.14–1.66) for mildly, 1.70 (1.13–2.57) for moderately, and 3.46 (1.09–10.9) for severely decreased GFR-Mayo. Conclusions. Already mildly decreased GFR-Mayo increases the risk of ischemic fatal or non-fatal stroke and severely decreased GFR-Mayo the risk of hemorrhagic stroke in the general population. In gender-specific analyses ischemic stroke was related to a decreased GFR-Mayo in both genders. Hemorrhagic stroke was only related to renal dysfunction among women.
Cytochrome P-450 arachidonate metabolites affect ion fluxes in rabbit medullary thick ascending limb.

The medullary thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (mTALH) of the rabbit metabolizes arachidonic acid (AA) via a cytochrome P-450 (P-450) monooxygenase pathway to several products, of which the principal are 20-hydroxy-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) and 1,20-eicosatetraenedioic acid (20-COOH-AA). To understand their mechanism of action on alkali cation metabolism in mTALH cells, we have compared their effects with those of ouabain and furosemide. Incubation of rabbit isolated mTALH cells with either 1 mM ouabain or furosemide decreased K+ content from a control of 1,015 +/- 51 peq/micrograms protein to 717 +/- 41 and to 548 +/- 48 peq/micrograms protein, respectively, whereas they had opposite effects on Na+ content; from a control of 138 +/- 22 peq/micrograms protein, ouabain increased Na+ content to 357 +/- 37 peq/micrograms protein, and furosemide decreased it to 64 +/- 23 peq/micrograms protein. Preincubation with either 20-HETE (1 microM) or 20-COOH-AA (1 microM) decreased Na+ and K+, resembling furosemide in their effects on Na+ and K+ content. In other experiments we used monensin-treated cells to determine 86Rb uptake under conditions in which Na+ entry into the cell was not rate limiting. Under these conditions ouabain still inhibited 86Rb uptake, and the effect of AA was blocked. A major action of AA metabolites on Na(+)-K(+)-adenosinetriphosphatase was thereby excluded. Furthermore, AA metabolites did not inhibit Ba(2+)-sensitive 86Rb efflux, indicating that they do not act through K+ channels. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effects of organic amendments on the reduction and phytoavailability of chromate in mineral soil.

In this study, seven organic amendments (biosolid compost, farm yard manure, fish manure, horse manure, spent mushroom, pig manure, and poultry manure) were investigated for their effects on the reduction of hexavalent chromium [chromate, Cr(VI)] in a mineral soil (Manawatu sandy soil) low in organic matter content. Addition of organic amendments enhanced the rate of reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) in the soil. At the same level of total organic carbon addition, there was a significant difference in the extent of Cr(VI) reduction among the soils treated with organic amendments. There was, however, a significant positive linear relationship between the extent of Cr(VI) reduction and the amount of dissolved organic carbon in the soil. The effect of biosolid compost on the uptake of Cr(VI) from the soil, treated with various levels of Cr(VI) (0-1200 mg Cr kg(-1) soil), was examined with mustard (Brassica juncea L.) plants. Increasing addition of Cr(VI) increased Cr concentration in plants, resulting in decreased plant growth (i.e., phytotoxicity). Addition of the biosolid compost was effective in reducing the phytotoxicity of Cr(VI). The redistribution of Cr(VI) in various soil components was evaluated by a sequential fractionation scheme. In the unamended soil, the concentration of Cr was higher in the organic-bound, oxide-bound, and residual fractions than in the soluble and exchangeable fractions. Addition of organic amendments also decreased the concentration of the soluble and exchangeable fractions but especially increased the organic-bound fraction in soil.
Palmitoylation is a prerequisite for dimerization-dependent raftophilicity of rhodopsin

The visual photopigment rhodopsin (Rh) is a prototypical G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) responsible for initiation of the phototransduction cascade in rod photoreceptors. Similar to other GPCRs, Rh can form dimers or even higher oligomers and tends to have a supramolecular organization that is likely important in the dim light response. Rh also exhibits high affinity for lipid rafts (i.e. raftophilicity) upon light-dependent binding with the cognate G protein transducin (Gt), suggesting the presence of lipid raft-like domains in the retinal disk membrane and their importance in phototransduction. However, the relationship between Rh oligomerization and lipid rafts in the disk membrane remains to be explored. Given previous findings that Gt binds to dimeric Rh and that Rh is posttranslationally modified with two highly raftophilic palmitoyl moieties, we hypothesized that Rh becomes raftophilic upon dimerization. Here, using biochemical assays, we found that Rh*–Gt complexes in the detergent-resistant membrane are partially resistant to cholesterol depletion by methyl-β-cyclodextrin and that the Rh-to-Gt stoichiometry in this methyl-β-cyclodextrin–resistant complex is 2:1. Next, we found that IgG-mediated Rh–Rh cross-linking renders Rh highly raftophilic, supporting the premise that Rh becomes raftophilic upon dimerization. Rh depalmitoylation via reduction of thioester linkages blocked the translocation of IgG–cross-linked Rh to the detergent-resistant membrane, highlighting that the two palmitoyl moieties are important for the dimerization-dependent raftophilicity of Rh. These results indicate that palmitoylated GPCRs such as Rh can acquire raftophilicity upon G protein–stabilized dimerization and thereby organize receptor-cluster rafts by recruiting raftophilic lipids.
Defect engineering of diamond cathodes for high temperature solar cells

A cathode structure for photon-enhanced thermionic emission was designed for high temperature energy conversion in solar concentrating systems. Surface-hydrogenated diamond is one of the few semiconductors to show negative electron affinity and a work function as low as 1.7 eV if nitrogen-doped, that is connected to a significant thermionic emission at moderate temperatures (up to 800 °C). But diamond is transparent to solar radiation, consequently advanced techniques for preparing an efficient sunlight absorbing diamond are discussed.
A Single-Stage Single-Switch Soft-Switching Power-Factor-Correction LED Driver

This paper proposes a new isolated single-stage single-switch soft-switching power-factor-correction (S6-PFC) driver without electrolytic capacitors for supplying light-emitting diodes (LEDs). In the proposed LED driver, all the semiconductor devices are soft-switched without employing any extra active switch. The leakage inductance of transformer acts as a resonant component so that the leakage energy is recycled. Soft-switching operation of the semiconductor devices together with absorption of the leakage energy improve the proposed driver efficiency. Furthermore, input current of the driver has very low harmonics resulting in high power-factor. Operating principles of the proposed S6-PFC LED driver as well as its design guidelines are presented. Also, experimental results of a laboratory prototype for supplying a 21 W/30 V LED module from 220 V/50 Hz ac mains are provided to verify the theoretical analysis. The presented results show that the implemented prototype has an efficiency of 92% under full-load condition and its input current total harmonic distortion is as low as 2.6%.
Qualitative Similarity and Stock Price Comovement

I introduce a method for gauging the qualitative similarity of firm-specific information based on linguistic commonality in newswire text. I show that this new qualitative similarity measure predicts future cross-firm return correlation even after accounting for the pair's contemporaneous price comovement, common exposures to systematic risk, firm liquidity, price, index membership, text volume, headquarters location, product similarity, shared mutual fund or institutional ownership, common analyst following and newswire co-mentions. I also demonstrate that content produced solely by journalists cannot predict an economically meaningful portion of future comovement. Out-of-sample tests confirm that knowledge of qualitative similarity can also reduce portfolio risk.
Impact of initial seeds on the growth of biotechnology startups: evidence from the U.S. and Japan

ABSTRACT We assess the impact of initial seeds on the long-run growth of biotechnology startups, including the response of the capital market, in the U.S. and Japan. For this purpose, we collected a comprehensive dataset of the matched sample of listed firms from their foundations to the post-IPO period. We find that the quality of initial seeds predicts significantly both the level and the growth rate of the patent stock as well as those of the asset size of the U.S. startups, even controlling for their alliances and acquisitions, while it predicts only the level of the patent stock for the Japanese startups. Furthermore, the asset growth and the patent stock growth in turn account for the market value performances of the U.S. firms much more significantly than those of the Japanese firms. On the other hand, there are only small differences with respect to the time to IPO and the asset growth through the IPO. These results suggest that higher quality of initial seeds significantly enhanced long-run growth of biotechnology startups in the U.S. but not in Japan, and that the differences in fertility of the initial seeds and in efficiency of the capital market could significantly explain the difference.
Notice of RetractionNotice of RetractionThe assessment of gross motor skills development among down syndrome children in Klang Valley

Gross motor skills is one of the precursors for successful involvement in any sports and physical activities performance. This study investigated the gross motor skills development among Down syndrome children in Klang Valley. 30 children (16 boys and 14 girls) participated in this study with the age range from 3–10 years old. They were assessed on locomotor and object control skills. It includes running, galloping, hoping, leaping, horizontal jumping, and sliding, striking, dribbling, kicking, catching, throwing and underhand roll. 10.0% of the children scored Above Average on the ratings, 30.0% Average, 23.3% Below Average, 20% Poor and 16.67% Very Poor. The mean score for boys on locomotor skills was 5.8 (SD 3.8) while for girls 6.3 (SD 2.8). The mean score for boys on object control skills was 9.6 (SD 3.5) while for the girls 9.5 (SD 3.93). There was no significant difference between boys and girls in locomotor skills. Results for object control skills also showed no significant different between boys and girls. The result shows that there was positive relationship between locomotor skills and object control skills among boys and girl. Suitable intervention strategies have to be implemented to improve the gross motor skills development among the participants.
Studies on human pregnancy-associated plasma protein A. Purification by affinity chromatography and structural comparisons with alpha 2-macroglobulin.

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) has been purified by a combination of methods including antibody-affinity chromatography. The resultant protein, obtained in 16% yield from maternal serum, appeared as a single major component on non-denaturing polyacrylamide and SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The protein showed a single component when analysed by isoelectric focusing under denaturing conditions in the presence and absence of reduction and had a pI of 4.34 and 4.42 respectively. These pI values were indistinguishable from those of alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M). The molecular weight of the PAPP-A polypeptide as shown by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis was 187000, with a minor component of mol.wt. 82500 that was attributed to proteolysis. Since native PAPP-A had a molecular weight on gel chromatography very similar to that of alpha 2M (620000--820000), it was concluded that PAPP-A was a homotetramer. In the absence of reduction, a high-molecular-weight (420000) protomer of PAPP-A was found. It was deduced that PAPP-A, like alpha 2M, is a dinner, whose protomers are composed of disulphide-linked polypeptide chains. It was found that the molecular weight of the PAPP-A polypeptide exceeded that of alpha 2M by 3.3%, but that the total carbohydrate content of PAPP-A exceeded that of alpha 2M by 10% and that its neutral carbohydrate content exceeded that of alpha 2M by between 7.4 and 9.0%. The significance of the estimated molecular weights of alpha 2M (181000) and its major tryptic fragments is discussed in the light of published values. A tryptic fragment alpha 2M (82500 mol.wt.) was apparently the same size as the major tryptic fragment of PAPP-A.
Iodine‐induced thyrotoxicosis: analysis of eighty‐five consecutive cases

Abstract. Iodine‐induced thyrotoxicosis was documented in eighty‐five cases. Eighty per cent occur in apparently normal thyroid glands; 60% among them occur in males. Amiodarone accounted for 50% of iodine‐induced thyrotoxicosis. Mean thyroid hormone levels at diagnosis were: FT1: 21·7 (normal mean: 7·5, arbitrary units); T3: 4·53 nmol l‐1 (normal: 2·30 nmol l‐1). Mean 131I‐ 24‐h uptake was 3·5% (normal range in France 25–45%) and was activated by exogenous TSH (mean 27%). The spontaneous cure in non‐treated cases was observed within an average 6 months. A phase of biological hypothyroidism (mean FT1: 3·7, T3: 1·23 nmol l‐1, TSH: 9·6 μU ml‐1 (normal TSH range: 1–7 μU ml‐1)) preceded the return to euthyroidism. Intrathyroid iodine content measured by X‐ray fluorescence was high, then fell gradually. Thyroid tissue study showed a large quantity of intrathyroid iodine and the overiodination of thyroglobulin. Histological and electron microscopic studies are reported. Prednisone and in some cases propylthiouracile were found to be effective.
Updated meta-analysis of NFkappaB1 -94ins/Delattg promoter polymorphism and cancer risk based on 19 case-control studies.

OBJECTIVE Recently, a common insertion/deletion (-94insertion/deletion ATTG, rs28362491) polymorphism in the NFkappaB1 promoter region has been extensively investigated for association with cancer risk but the results have been inconsistent. In order to clarify the effect of the promoter polymorphism we performed an update meta-analysis of published case-control studies to better compare the results between studies. METHODS Relevant studies were identified via a thorough literature search on Medline and Embase database (up to August 10, 2011). The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were used to investigate the strength of the association. RESULTS A total of 5,196 cases and 6,614 controls in 19 case-control studies from 16 publications were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, the variant genotypes were associated with a moderately decreased risk of all cancer types (OR =0.74, 95%CI =0.57-0.97 for DD versus II; OR =0.79, 95%CI =0.66-0.95 for DD versus II/ID). In the stratified analyses, significantly decreased risk was found among Asians (OR =0.52, 95%CI =0.42-0.65 for DD versus II; OR =0.74, 95%CI =0.66-0.83 for ID versus II; OR =0.64, 95%CI =0.53-0.78 for DD versus II/ID; OR =0.68, 95%CI =0.61-0.75 for DD/ID versus II). The validity of this association was further strengthened by the sensitivity analysis. No publication bias was observed in this study. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggested that the -94deletion ATTG promoter polymorphism in NFkappaB1 gene might be associated with a decreased cancer risk, especially for Asian population.
Identification of Regions of Poliovirus 2BC Protein That Are Involved in Cytotoxicity

ABSTRACT The expression of poliovirus 2BC protein in yeast and mammalian cells leads to a number of metabolic and morphological alterations, such as growth inhibition, intracellular membrane proliferation, blockade of the exocytic pathway, and enhanced membrane permeability. Yeast cells that express poliovirus 2BC in an inducible manner were used to identify the regions of 2BC implicated in the modifications of these cellular functions. Several 2BC deletion mutants were generated to define the minimal portion of 2BC required to alter these activities. Additional deletion mutants that were obtained by random mutagenesis followed by selection in yeast cells provided new insights into the structure and mechanism of action of 2BC. The activity responsible for membrane proliferation is located in 2C, while the activities responsible for membrane permeabilization and inhibition of the exocytic pathway are located in 2B. Several regions of 2B and 2C required for the different functions of 2BC were identified. Thus, the integrity of the N termini of both 2B and 2C is necessary for 2BC-induced cytotoxicity. It is also possible to separate the different cellular alterations provoked by 2BC by the use of several 2BC variants. Deletion of amino acids 52 to 65 in 2B generates a 2BC deletion variant, 2bCΔAvrII, that still blocks yeast growth but is unable to enhance membrane permeability or to inhibit the exocytic pathway. On the other hand, 2Bc128*. 32b and 2Bc128*. 3c, which contain only 73 and 77 amino acids of 2B, interfere with yeast division and enhance membrane permeability but affect the exocytic pathway only weakly and do not induce membrane proliferation. Our findings indicate that Saccharomyces cerevisiae represents a useful model system to analyze the functions of poliovirus 2BC and show the feasibility of separating the activities assigned to this protein.
Effect of tacrolimus (FK506) and sirolimus (rapamycin) mono- and combination therapy in prolongation of renal allograft survival in the monkey.

BACKGROUND Our previous studies confirmed that tacrolimus (FK506) and sirolimus [rapamycin (RAPA)], in combination, are not antagonistic but are synergistic in the prolongation of heart and small bowel grafts in the rodent. The aim of this study was to confirm further the synergistic effect of combined FK506 and RAPA in the more clinically relevant model, kidney transplantation in monkeys. METHODS A total of 60 male Vervet monkeys were randomly assigned to 10 groups (n> or =5). Monkeys with renal allografts were treated with different doses of FK506 and/or RAPA orally for 60 days. Graft survival, body weight, clinical biochemistry determinations, oral glucose tolerance test, trough levels of the two drugs, and histopathology were investigated. RESULTS Low doses of FK506 (1 or 4 mg/kg) combined with RAPA (0.5 mg/kg) produced synergistic effect in the prolongation of renal graft survival [combination index (CI) = 0.292, 0.565]. There were no additive or synergistic drug-associated toxicities such as hyperglycemia, nephrotoxicity, and hyperlipidemia. There also was no pharmacological antagonism. CONCLUSION Concomitant therapy of low-dose (drug-optimal) FK506 and RAPA produced a synergistic effect in the prolongation of kidney allograft survival in Vervet monkeys without additive drug-associated toxicities.