Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Haltere Afferents Provide Direct, Electrotonic Input to a Steering Motor Neuron in the Blowfly, Calliphora

The first basalar muscle (b1) is one of 17 small muscles in flies that control changes in wing stroke kinematics during steering maneuvers. The b1 is unique, however, in that it fires a single phase-locked spike during each wingbeat cycle. The phase-locked firing of the b1’s motor neuron (mnb1) is thought to result from wingbeat-synchronous mechanosensory input, such as that originating from the campaniform sensilla at the base of the halteres. Halteres are sophisticated equilibrium organs of flies that function to detect angular rotations of the body during flight. We have developed a new preparation to determine whether the campaniform sensilla at the base of the halteres are responsible for the phasic activity of b1. Using intracellular recording and mechanical stimulation, we have found one identified haltere campaniform field (dF2) that provides strong synaptic input to the mnb1. This haltere to mnb1 connection consists of a fast and a slow component. The fast component is monosynaptic, mediated by an electrical synapse, and thus can follow haltere stimulation at high frequencies. The slow component is possibly polysynaptic, mediated by a chemical synapse, and fatigues at high stimulus frequencies. Thus, the fast monosynaptic electrical pathway between haltere afferents and mnb1 may be responsible in part for the phase-locked firing of b1 during flight.
Reliability and validity of a Swedish version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP‐S)

The aim of this study was to translate the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) into Swedish and evaluate the reliability and validity of the Swedish version (OHIP‐S). The OHIP is a 49‐item, self‐administered questionnaire divided into 7 different subscales. The original version in English was translated into Swedish, accompanied by back‐translation into English, after which the Swedish version was revised. A total of 145 consecutive patients participated and answered a questionnaire. The patients comprised five clinically separate groups: temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) (n = 30), Primary Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) (n = 30), burning sensation and pain in the oral mucosa (oral mucosal pain, OMP) (n = 28), skeletal malocclusion (malocclusion) (n = 27), and healthy dental recall patients (controls) (n = 30). The TMD group and the control group participated in a test–retest procedure. The internal reliability of each subscale was calculated with Cronbach's alpha and found to be high and to range from 0.83–0.91. The stability (test–retest) of the instrument, calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficient, ranged from 0.87 to 0.98. The construct validity of OHIP‐S was compared with subscales of the Symptom Check List (SCL‐90) (rho 0.65) and the Jaw Function Limitation Scale (JFLS) (rho 0.76) and analyzed with Spearman's correlation coefficient. Convergent validity was evaluated by comparing OHIP with self‐reported health using Spearman's correlation coefficient and was found to be acceptable (rho 0.61). In the evaluation of the discriminative ability of the instrument, significant differences were found in the total OHIP‐S score between the controls and the other four groups (P<0.001). We conclude that the reliability and validity of OHIP‐S is excellent. The instrument can be recommended for assessing the impact of oral health on masticatory ability and psychosocial function.
Loss of heterozygosity is detected at chromosomes 1p35-36 (NB), 3p25 (VHL), 16p13 (TSC2/PKD1), and 17p13 (TP53) in microdissected apocrine carcinomas of the breast.

INTRODUCTION Apocrine carcinomas of the breast are an unusual special category of predominantly AR+, ER-, and PR- breast cancer, characterized by cells with abundant, eosinophilic cytoplasm and nuclei with often prominent nucleoli. To further investigate these lesions, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was evaluated at multiple chromosomal loci, including loci frequently mutated in breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-five intraductal apocrine carcinomas, 11 invasive apocrine carcinomas, and six apocrine hyperplasias were retrieved from the files of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (Washington, DC) and Fairfax Hospital (Fairfax, VA). Cells from lesional as well as normal tissues were microdissected. LOH was performed at a number of chromosomal loci, including loci commonly altered in breast cancer: 1p35-36 (NB), 3p25.5 (VHL), 8p12 (D8S136), 9p21 (p16), 11p13 (D11S904), 11q13 (INT-2 and PYGM), 16p13.3 (TSC2/PKD1 gene region), 17p13 (TP53), 17q13 (NM23), and 22q12 (D22S683). RESULTS Among informative in situ and invasive apocrine carcinomas, LOH was present in 33% of 15 cases for 17p13 (TP53), as well as 36% of 14 cases for 3p25 (VHL), 30% of 10 cases for 1p35-36 (NB), and 27% of 11 cases for 16p13.3 (TSC2/PKD1). A higher frequency of LOH was noted among invasive apocrine carcinomas (30 to 50%) compared with in situ apocrine carcinomas (23 to 33%) at these loci. LOH was present simultaneously for TP53 and either VHL or NB in five cases. Infrequent (< or =12%) or absent LOH was detected at the remaining loci, including several loci commonly mutated in breast cancer (i.e., INT2, PYGM, and NM23). LOH was not detected in any of the six apocrine hyperplasias. CONCLUSION An intermediate frequency of allelic loss was detected at multiple tumor suppressor gene loci, including 17p13 (TP53), as well as 1p35-336 (NB), 3p25 (VHL), and 16p13 (PKD1/ TSC2), in apocrine carcinomas of the breast, with a higher overall frequency of LOH noted among invasive tumors compared with in situ tumors. Aside from LOH at p53, LOH was infrequent or absent at several other loci commonly mutated in breast cancer. This preliminary molecular evidence supports immunohistochemical data that apocrine carcinomas of the breast may possess unique mechanisms of carcinogenesis, compared with ordinary ductal carcinomas. However, further study is needed to support this assertion and to determine if the LOH detected is truly etiologic or if it is the result of genetic progression.
Induction of Tumor-Reactive CTL by C-Side Chain Variants of the CTL Epitope HER-2/neu Protooncogene (369-377) Selected by Molecular Modeling of the Peptide: HLA-A2 Complex1

To design side chain variants for modulation of immunogenicity, we modeled the complex of the HLA-A2 molecule with an immunodominant peptide, E75, from the HER-2/neu protooncogene protein recognized by CTL. We identified the side chain orientation of E75. We modified E75 at the central Ser5 (E75 wild-type), which points upward, by removing successively the HO (variant S5A) and the CH2-OH (variant S5G). Replacement of the OH with an aminopropyl (CH2)3-NH3 (variant S5K) maintained a similar upward orientation of the side chain. S5A and S5G were stronger stimulators while S5K was a weaker stimulator than E75 for induction of lytic function, indicating that the OH group and its extension hindered TCR activation. S5K-CTL survived longer than did CTL induced by E75 and the variants S5A and S5G, which became apoptotic after restimulation with the inducer. S5K-CTL also recognized E75 endogenously presented by the tumor by IFN-γ production and specific cytolysis. S5K-CTL expanded at stimulation with E75 or with E75 plus agonistic anti-Fas mAb. Compared with S5K-CTL that had been restimulated with the inducer S5K, S5K-CTL stimulated with wild-type E75 expressed higher levels of E75+ TCR and BCL-2. Activation of human tumor-reactive CTL by weaker agonists than the nominal Ag, followed by expansion with the nominal Ag, is a novel approach to antitumor CTL development. Fine tuning of activation of tumor-reactive CTL by weak agonists, designed by molecular modeling, may circumvent cell death or tolerization induced by tumor Ag, and thus, may provide a novel approach to the rational design of human cancer vaccines.
A Copula Based Method for the Classification of Fish Species

The proposed work develops a method for classification of the species of a fish given in an image, which is a sub-ordinate level classification problem. Fish image categorization is unique and challenging as the images of same fish species can show significant differences in the fish's attributes when taken in different conditions. The authors' approach analyses the local patches of images, cropped based on specific body parts, and hence keep comparison more specific to grab more finer details rather than comparing global postures. The authors have used Histogram of Oriented Gradients and colour histograms to create representative feature vectors; feature vectors are summarized using Copula theory. Their method is very simple yet they have matched the classification accuracy of other proposed complex work for such problems.
Expression of Fas Ligand Contributes to Formation of Immune Escape in Esophageal Carcinoma

Study the role of Fas ligand (FasL) expression in carcinogenesis and progression of esophageal cancer and molecular mechanisms of relevant immune escape. FasL expression was studied in adjacent epithelial cells, cancer cells and lymphocytes of primary foci, and cancer cells of metastatic foci from 40 cases of esophageal cancer by immunohistochemistry. The relationship between FasL expression in cancer cells and T infiltrating lymphocytes of primary foci was investigated. Positive expression of fas-L genes was detected in 34 HEC cases (85%, 34/40). Positive expression of fas-L genes was detected in 31 T infiltrating lymphocytes of primary foci (82.5%, 31/40). Positive expression of fas-L genes was detected in 17 cancer cells of metastases (100%, 17/17). Up-regulated expression of FasL a in cancer cells of primary foci play an important role in esophageal carcinogenesis. As an effective marker to reveal the biological behaviors, FasL is implicated in metastasis of esophageal cancer by inducing apoptosis of infiltrating lymphocytes.
Modeling of Short-Channel Effects in Organic Thin-Film Transistors

We propose a model for short-channel organic thin-film transistors, which accounts for Poole-Frenkel field-dependent mobility and space-charge-limited current effects. The model is developed for devices operating in the linear regime, as well as in depletion and saturation regimes. Super linear output curves for low drain voltages, as well as nonsaturating currents, can be adequately described. Experimental results for short-channel P3HT devices have been fitted, showing good agreement with the proposed model.
Design of scheduling storage for real-time control system

This paper describes the schedule of allocating storage on real-time control system. Data storage of users which are transmitted from the man-machine display interface is allocated based on the names of the users. The schedule for the allocation of user programming code is realized on the system according to the user ID. The schedule includes techniques for the dynamic repositioning of user program. Based on the updated information, the adjustment of data storage can be effectively updated from the storage related table. The experimental results demonstrate that the scheduling algorithm provides efficient behaviour.
First Molecular Characterization of Group B Streptococci with Reduced Penicillin Susceptibility

ABSTRACT Group B streptococci (GBS; Streptococcus agalactiae) are the leading cause of neonatal invasive diseases and are also important pathogens for adults. Penicillins are the drugs of first choice for the treatment of GBS infections, since GBS have been regarded to be uniformly susceptible to penicillins so far. Here we characterize the first strains of GBS with reduced penicillin susceptibility (PRGBS) identified in Japan. Fourteen PRGBS strains were clinically isolated from the sputa of elderly patients from 1995 to 2005; and the MICs of penicillin, oxacillin, and ceftizoxime ranged from 0.25 to 1 μg/ml, 2 to 8 μg/ml, and 4 to 128 μg/ml, respectively. Moreover, some strains were also insusceptible to ampicillin, cefazolin, cefepime, and cefotaxime. All the PRGBS isolates tested possessed a few amino acid substitutions adjacent to the conserved SSN and KSG motifs (amino acids 402 to 404 and 552 to 554, respectively) of PBP 2X, and the amino acid substitutions could be classified into two types, Q557E and V405A. Western blotting analysis of the 14 clinical isolates with anti-PBP 2X-specific serum suggested that the amount of PBP 2X among the 14 PRGBS isolates was reduced, although the 2 ATCC strains produced a significant amount of PBP 2X. The introduction of PRGBS-derived PBP 2X genes into penicillin-susceptible strains through allelic exchange elevated their penicillin insusceptibility, suggesting that these altered PBP 2X genes are responsible for the penicillin insusceptibility in PRGBS strains. In this study, we characterized for the first time PRGBS strains on a molecular basis, although several reports have so far mentioned the existence of β-lactam-insusceptible GBS from a phenotypic standpoint.
A compact triple-band bandpass filter based on half-mode substrate integrated waveguides

A triple-band, bandpass filter, that is six times smaller than a similar substrate integrated waveguide filter, is designed and implemented in half-mode substrate integrated waveguide technology for the first time. The highly compact structure makes the design very challenging, so an iterative optimization technique based on full-wave simulation is proposed. Using this technique, a triple-band filter is designed with center frequencies of 1.105 GHz, 1.295 GHz, and 1.505 GHz. Simulations show a return loss better than 15 dB, and an insertion loss better than 2 dB over all three bands, in addition to bandstop regions with rejection levels better than 40 dB separating the three bands. A prototype is then designed, fabricated, and measured to validate the design procedure. Reasonably good agreement between measurement and simulation is observed.
THE MASS DISTRIBUTION OF STARLESS AND PROTOSTELLAR CORES IN GOULD BELT CLOUDS

Using data from the SCUBA Legacy Catalogue (850 μm) and Spitzer Space Telescope (3.6–70 μm), we explore dense cores in the Ophiuchus, Taurus, Perseus, Serpens, and Orion molecular clouds. We develop a new method to discriminate submillimeter cores found by Submillimeter Common-User Bolometer Array (SCUBA) as starless or protostellar, using point source photometry from Spitzer wide field surveys. First, we identify infrared sources with red colors associated with embedded young stellar objects (YSOs). Second, we compare the positions of these YSO candidates to our submillimeter cores. With these identifications, we construct new, self-consistent starless and protostellar core mass functions (CMFs) for the five clouds. We find best-fit slopes to the high-mass end of the CMFs of −1.26 ± 0.20, −1.22 ± 0.06, −0.95 ± 0.20, and −1.67 ± 0.72 for Ophiuchus, Taurus, Perseus, and Orion, respectively. Broadly, these slopes are each consistent with the −1.35 power-law slope of the Salpeter initial mass function at higher masses, but suggest some differences. We examine a variety of trends between these CMF shapes and their parent cloud properties, potentially finding a correlation between the high-mass slope and core temperature. We also find a trend between core mass and effective size, but we are very limited by sensitivity. We make similar comparisons between core mass and size with visual extinction (for AV ⩾ 3) and find no obvious trends. We also predict the numbers and mass distributions of cores that future surveys with SCUBA-2 may detect in each of these clouds.
Probabilistic Model Development for Project Performance Forecasting

In this paper, based on the past project cost and time performance, a model for forecasting project cost performance is developed. This study presents a probabilistic project control concept to assure an acceptable forecast of project cost performance. In this concept project activities are classified into sub-groups entitled control accounts. Then obtain the Stochastic S-Curve (SS-Curve), for each sub-group and the project SS-Curve is obtained by summing sub-groups’ SS-Curves. In this model, project cost uncertainties are considered through Beta distribution functions of the project activities costs required to complete the project at every selected time sections through project accomplishment, which are extracted from a variety of sources. Based on this model, after a percentage of the project progress, the project performance is measured via Earned Value Management to adjust the primary cost probability distribution functions. Then, accordingly the future project cost performance is predicted by using the Monte-Carlo simulation method. Keywords—Monte Carlo method, Probabilistic model, Project forecasting, Stochastic S-curve
Vascular disease in diabetes: pathophysiological mechanisms and therapy.

Vascular disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetes mellitus. Data from the recent comprehensive report from the National Commission on Diabetes suggested that diabetics are two times more prone to heart attacks, five times more prone to gangrene, 17 times more prone to kidney failure, and 25 times more prone to blindness than nondiabetics.1These sobering statistics reflect the ravages of accelerated atherosclerosis plus a relatively specific form of microvascular disease in multiple organ systems in the diabetic. Recent progress has been made in the understanding of the mechanisms involved both in large-vessel disease (macrovascular disease) and small-vessel disease (microvascular disease) in patients with diabetes mellitus. With an increased understanding of the mechanisms involved, intelligent decisions about therapy may be more easily made. We briefly review the current thoughts about the pathophysiologic features of diabetic vascular disease and make therapeutic recommendations based on these observations.
Towards Data Portability between Online Social Networks, a Conceptual Model of the Portable User Profile

The last decade has seen an increasing number of Online Social Network OSN users. As they grew more and more popular over the years, OSNs become also more and more profitable. Indeed, users share a considerable amount of personal information on these sites, both intentionally and unintentionally. And thanks to this enormous user base, social networks are able to generate recommendations; attract numerous advertisers; and sell the data to companies. This situation has sparked a lot of interest in the research community. Researchers have studied, among other topics, the issues of trust and privacy. Indeed, users grow more uncomfortable with the idea that they do not have full control over their own data. This paper addresses the notion of portable profile. The authors will discuss the advantages and drawbacks of a portable profile, from the perspective of the user and of the online social network. Secondly, the authors will propose a conceptual model for the data in this unified profile.
Inductor-Based Tuning in $LC$-Quadrature Oscillators: A Comparative Study

This brief analyzes three different mechanisms for injecting a tuning current into the tank of inductively tuned LC-quadrature oscillators. It is shown that, by controlling how the tuning current is injected into the tank, either by magnetic coupling, direct coupling, or the newly proposed partial coupling, a tradeoff exists between tuning range, phase noise, and power consumption. This leads to a very flexible design methodology where the coupling mechanism can be selected based on system-level requirements, which may change from one design to the next.
Methotrexate is of limited value in the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa

A 58-year-old man was referred because of a pruritic skin eruption that had appeared within the previous 24 h. He had been treated for 3 days with roxithromycin (Rulid, Roussel Uclaf, France) 300 mg ⁄ day because of an upper respiratory infection. On examination, large erythematous plaques covered his buttocks, but no other abnormalities were noted on cutaneous or systemic examination. The treatment with Rulid was immediately withdrawn, and following treatment with oral antihistamines and topical corticosteroids the rash resolved within a few days. Rulid is a new semisynthetic macrolide antibiotic most frequently used in the treatment of upper and lower respiratory tract, skin, soft tissue and genitourinary infections. Only a few adverse reactions have been reported, including haematological, gastrointestinal, neurological and metabolic side-effects. Cutaneous reactions have been only rarely noted and include mild itching in 1–5% of the patients and occasional fingernail discolouration. The catchword baboon syndrome has been used to denote a characteristic distribution pattern of systemic allergic dermatitis. The areas of predilection for such a rash include the buttocks and major flexures. The eruption usually reaches a peak between the second and fifth days after exposure to the allergen by ingestion, inhalation or injection. Drugs which have been implicated in such an eruption include penicillins such as ampicillin and amoxycillin. In our case, the diagnosis of a drug induced rash was made relatively likely by the clinical data, time correlation between the use of Rulid and the development of the skin eruption, and its fading as soon as the drug was withdrawn. We did not however, consider a second challenge to the patient with the medication to be a safe or ethical option. We now suggest that when prescribing roxithromycin in the future, one should be aware that the occurrence of a rash is a slight possibility. We used the term baboon-like eruption because the clinical picture resembled the red gluteal region of the baboon.
Complete Genome Analysis of 33 Ecologically and Biologically Diverse Rift Valley Fever Virus Strains Reveals Widespread Virus Movement and Low Genetic Diversity due to Recent Common Ancestry

ABSTRACT Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus is a mosquito-borne RNA virus responsible for large explosive outbreaks of acute febrile disease in humans and livestock in Africa with significant mortality and economic impact. The successful high-throughput generation of the complete genome sequence was achieved for 33 diverse RVF virus strains collected from throughout Africa and Saudi Arabia from 1944 to 2000, including strains differing in pathogenicity in disease models. While several distinct virus genetic lineages were determined, which approximately correlate with geographic origin, multiple exceptions indicative of long-distance virus movement have been found. Virus strains isolated within an epidemic (e.g., Mauritania, 1987, or Egypt, 1977 to 1978) exhibit little diversity, while those in enzootic settings (e.g., 1970s Zimbabwe) can be highly diverse. In addition, the large Saudi Arabian RVF outbreak in 2000 appears to have involved virus introduction from East Africa, based on the close ancestral relationship of a 1998 East African virus. Virus genetic diversity was low (∼5%) and primarily involved accumulation of mutations at an average of 2.9 × 10−4 substitutions/site/year, although some evidence of RNA segment reassortment was found. Bayesian analysis of current RVF virus genetic diversity places the most recent common ancestor of these viruses in the late 1800s, the colonial period in Africa, a time of dramatic changes in agricultural practices and introduction of nonindigenous livestock breeds. In addition to insights into the evolution and ecology of RVF virus, these genomic data also provide a foundation for the design of molecular detection assays and prototype vaccines useful in combating this important disease.