Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Head movements produced during linear translations in unexpected directions

Passive translation of the body in space elicits a complex combination of directionally-specific torques that are exerted on the neck. The inertial torques that are produced by linear translation are counteracted by linear vestibular and proprioceptive reflexes that maintain head stability. A novel experimental apparatus was used in this study to translate human subjects in a random and unpredictable direction in order to quantify the head’s 3-D movement with respect to the direction of translation. Head movements were found to be produced in systematic patterns as a function of stimulus direction. Roll and yaw head movements were produced in proportion to the magnitude of the lateral component of the translation. Pitch head movements were proportionate to the magnitude of the fore-aft component of the translation. One surprising observation was that head movements produced during lateral translations were, on average, 17% smaller than those produced during fore-aft translations. This suggests that linear vestibular reflexes that stabilize the head may be directionally-specific and more active during lateral whole body translations.
Immunocytochemical Characterization of Glutamate Dehydrogenase in the Cerebellum of the Rat

Abstract: The immunocytochemical distribution of glutamate dehydrogenase was studied in the cerebellum of the rat using antibodies made in rabbit and guinea pig against antigen purified from bovine liver. Antiserum was found to block partially enzymatic activity both of the purified enzyme and of extracts of the rat cerebellum. Using immunoblots of proteins of rat cerebellum, a major immunoreactive protein and several minor immunoreactive proteins were detected with antiserum. Only a single immunoreactive protein was detected using affinity‐purified antibody preparations. This protein migrates with a molecular weight identical to that of the subunit of glutamate dehydrogenase. Further evidence that the antibodies were selective for glutamate dehydrogenase in rat cerebellum was obtained through peptide mapping. Purified glutamate dehydrogenase and the immunoreactive protein from rat cerebellum generated similar patterns of immunoreactive peptides. No significant cross‐reaction was observed with glutamine synthetase. Immunocytochemistry was done on cryostat‐ and Vibratome‐cut sections of the cerebellum of rats that had been perfused with cold 4% paraformaldehyde. Glial cells were found to be the most immunoreactive structures throughout the cerebellum. Most apparent was the intense labeling of Bergmann glial cell bodies and fibers. In the granule cell layer, heavy labeling of astrocytes was seen. Purkinje and granule cell bodies were only lightly immunoreactive, whereas stellate, basket, and Golgi cells were unlabeled. Labeling of presynaptic terminals was not apparent. These findings suggest that glutamate dehydrogenase, like glutamine synthetase, is enriched in glia relative to neurons.
The effect of the introduction of the internet submission method on service request volume in the City of Cincinnati

This paper looks at the relationship between the promotion of the Internet submission method and Service Request (SR) volume in the City of Cincinnati. The volume of Service Requests (SRs) that the City of Cincinnati received followed an increasing trend from 2005 to 2015. However, regression analysis conducted in this paper does not support the hypothesis that the promotion of the Internet submission method in 2011 led to an increase in SR volume between January 2011 and June 2015, when compared to SR volume between January 2005 and December 2010. This paper contributes to growing literature on the topics of Digital Government, Smart Cities, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Dynamic Differentiation of Activated Human Peripheral Blood CD8+ and CD4+ Effector Memory T Cells

Two functionally different memory T cell subsets were originally defined based on their different CCR7 expression profile, but the lineage relationship between these subsets referred to as central memory T cells (TCM) and effector memory T cells (TEM), is not resolved. A prevalent model proposes a linear progressive differentiation from TCM to TEM. Our results demonstrate that on activation, human CCR7−CD62L− peripheral blood CD8+ and CD4+ TEM cells exhibit a dynamic differentiation, involving transient as well as stable changes to TCM phenotype and properties. Whereas the larger fraction of TEM cells increases expression of effector molecules, such as perforin or IFN-γ, a smaller fraction first acquires CCR7 expression. We demonstrate that this acquisition of lymph node homing potential is associated with strong proliferation similar to that of activated TCM cells. After proliferation, most of these cells lose CCR7 expression again and acquire effector functions (e.g., perforin production). A small proportion (∼6%), however, maintain phenotypic and functional TCM properties over a long time interval. These results suggest that TEM cells provide immediate effector function by a fraction of cells as well as self-renewal by others through up-regulation of CCR7 followed by either secondary peripheral effector function or long term maintenance of TCM-like properties.
Different corticosteroids and regimens for accelerating fetal lung maturation for women at risk of preterm birth.

BACKGROUND Despite the widespread use of antenatal corticosteroids to prevent respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants, there is currently no consensus as to the type of corticosteroid to use; nor the dose, frequency or timing of use or the route of administration. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of different corticosteroid regimens for women at risk of preterm birth. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (January 2008). SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials of antenatal corticosteroid regimens in women at risk of preterm birth. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors assessed trial quality and extracted the data independently. MAIN RESULTS Ten trials (1089 women and 1161 infants) were included. Dexamethasone decreased the incidence of intraventricular haemorrhage compared with betamethasone (risk ratio (RR) 0.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.21 to 0.92; four trials, 549 infants). No statistically significant differences were seen for other primary outcomes including respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, severe intraventricular haemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, perinatal death, or mean birthweight. Results for biophysical parameters were inconsistent, but mostly no important differences were seen for these, or any other secondary outcome except for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. In one trial of 105 infants, significantly more infants in the dexamethasone group were admitted to NICU compared with the betamethasone group (RR 3.83, 95% CI 1.24 to 11.87). Oral dexamethasone compared with intramuscular dexamethasone increased the incidence of neonatal sepsis (RR 8.48, 95% CI 1.11 to 64.93) in one trial of 183 infants. No statistically significant differences were seen for other outcomes reported.In one small trial of 69 infants comparing betamethasone acetate and phosphate with betamethasone phosphate no differences were seen for any of the outcomes reported. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Dexamethasone may have some benefits compared with betamethasone such as less intraventricular haemorrhage, although perhaps a higher rate of NICU admission (seen in only one trial). Apart from a suggestion from another small trial that the intramuscular route may have advantages over an oral route for dexamethasone, few other conclusions about optimal antenatal corticosteroid regimens were able to be made. Trials of commonly used corticosteroids are most urgently needed, followed by trials of dosages and other variations in regimens.
Theoretical analysis of evolutionary algorithms with an infinite population size in continuous space. Part II: Analysis of the diversification role of crossover

For pt. I see ibid., p. 102-19. In this part of the paper the authors concentrate on the unique diversification role of the crossover operator in genetic algorithms. The explorative behavior of a generic crossover operator is revealed through a detailed large-sample analysis. Recursive equations for the population distributions are derived for a uniform crossover operator in multi-dimensional continuous space, showing how the crossover operator probes new regions of the solution space while keeping the population within the feasible region. The results of this analysis can be extended to the setting of a discrete space in a straightforward manner, shedding much light on the understanding of the essential role of crossover in genetic algorithms.
Hepatitis C viral RNA titers in serum prior to, during, and after oral treatment with ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C

Ten patients with biopsy verified chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were treated with oral ribavirin at a dose of 1,000–1,200 mg per day in two divided doses for 12 weeks. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and hepatitis C viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) levels in serum were followed prior to, during, and 12 weeks posttreatment. ALT levels decreased significantly in all patients during therapy from a mean level of 3.21 μkat/l (range 1.22 to 7.79) before, to 1.25 μkat/l (range 0.78 to 2.04) at the end of treatment (P < 0.005). Hereafter, relapse to pretreatment levels was seen within 12 weeks after treatment stop. The hepatitis C viral RNA levels decreased from a mean 10 log titer of 4.1 (range 1–6) before treatment to 3.4 (range 1–5) at treatment stop. Five patients did not change their HCV RNA titers during treatment. Twelve weeks posttreatment only 3 patients had lower titers than prior to treatment. We conclude that oral ribavirin seems to reduce the viral load, at least temporarily, in some patients with chronic viremic HCV infection. Further studies are needed to evaluate fully the effect of oral ribavirin on chronic HCV infection.
Affine Invariant Convergence Rates of the Conditional Gradient Method

We show that the conditional gradient method for the convex composite problem \[\min_x\{f(x) + \Psi(x)\}\] generates primal and dual iterates with a duality gap converging to zero provided a suitable {\em growth property} holds and the algorithm makes a judicious choice of stepsizes. The rate of convergence of the duality gap to zero ranges from sublinear to linear depending on the degree of the growth property. The growth property and convergence results depend on the pair $(f,\Psi)$ in an affine invariant and norm-independent fashion.
T-cell cytokine responses in human infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Compared with healthy tuberculin reactors, Mycobacterium tuberculosis-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from tuberculosis patients had diminished production and mRNA expression of the Th1 cytokines gamma interferon and interleukin 2 (IL-2), with no change in production and mRNA expression for the Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13. These results were confirmed by evaluation of T cells and CD4+ cells. At the level of systemic T cells, development of tuberculosis is associated with diminished Th1 but not enhanced Th2 responses.
HLA‐DR‐restricted presentation of purified myelin basic protein is independent of intracellular processing

Antigen presentation to CD4+ T cells involves intracellular antigen processing and loading of peptides onto newly synthesized major histocompatibility complex (MHC)‐class II molecules. Some antigens, such as the lipid‐bound, native form of myelin basic protein (LB‐MBP) can also be presented by recycling of cell surface MHC class II molecules. The data reported here demonstrate that a preparation of highly purified, delipidated MBP (HP‐MBP) follows yet another presentation pathway. Similar to LB‐MBP, presentation of HP‐MBP to HLA‐DR1‐restricted T cells was independent of HLA‐DM, of newly synthesized proteins, and of invariant chain expression. However, in contrast to LB‐MBP, presentation of HP‐MBP was also independent of internalization of surface HLA‐DR molecules. The different requirements for the presentation of the two molecular forms of MBP were further confirmed by use of the protease inhibitor E64: presentation of LB‐MBP but not of HP‐MBP was inhibited after treatment of target cells with E64. Furthermore, intact HP‐MPB bound to isolated HLA‐DR molecules in vitro with an association rate that was considerably faster than that of short peptides. These results show that presentation of HP‐MBP is independent of intracellular processing and suggest that it may be presented to T cells by direct binding to surface HLA‐DR molecules.
Radiation-Induced Vascular Damage in Tumors: Implications of Vascular Damage in Ablative Hypofractionated Radiotherapy (SBRT and SRS)

We have reviewed the studies on radiation-induced vascular changes in human and experimental tumors reported in the last several decades. Although the reported results are inconsistent, they can be generalized as follows. In the human tumors treated with conventional fractionated radiotherapy, the morphological and functional status of the vasculature is preserved, if not improved, during the early part of a treatment course and then decreases toward the end of treatment. Irradiation of human tumor xenografts or rodent tumors with 5–10 Gy in a single dose causes relatively mild vascular damages, but increasing the radiation dose to higher than 10 Gy/fraction induces severe vascular damage resulting in reduced blood perfusion. Little is known about the vascular changes in human tumors treated with high-dose hypofractionated radiation such as stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). However, the results for experimental tumors strongly indicate that SBRT or SRS of human tumors with doses higher than about 10 Gy/fraction is likely to induce considerable vascular damages and thereby damages the intratumor microenvironment, leading to indirect tumor cell death. Vascular damage may play an important role in the response of human tumors to high-dose hypofractionated SBRT or SRS.
Simulation and analysis of ad-hoc on-demand distance vector routing protocol

Mobile Ad-hoc Network is a decentralized network. There are many routing protocols have been proposed for Mobile Ad-hoc Network. In this paper, we have simulated AODV routing protocol to visualize the performance of AODV Routing Protocol. AODV is a reactive protocol; it uses traditional routing tables. This means that for each destination exist one entry in routing table and uses sequence number, this number ensure the freshness of routs and guarantee the loop-free routing. To evaluate the performance of AODV routing protocol, the simulation results were analyzed by graphical manner and trace file based on QoS metrics such as Delay, Jitter. The simulation result analysis verifies the AODV routing protocol performance.
Interferon-induced indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity inhibits Chlamydia psittaci replication in human macrophages.

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) previously has been shown to inhibit the replication of Chlamydia psittaci in epithelial cells by inducing indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, the enzyme that decyclizes tryptophan to N-formylkynurenine. The role of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in IFN-mediated inhibition of C. psittaci in human macrophages has now been examined. Peripheral blood monocytes from normal donors were isolated and cultivated 10-14 days to allow differentiation to macrophages. Cells were then treated with either IFN-gamma or IFN-beta for 48 h before infection with sufficient C. psittaci to infect approximately 30% of the cells. Infected cells were incubated 24 h, at which time coverslips were fixed, stained with Giemsa, and examined for development of C. psittaci inclusions by light microscopy. Complete inhibition of inclusion development was observed with IFN-gamma. In the absence of lipopolysaccharide, inhibition of C. psittaci by IFN-beta was variable; however, in the presence of lipopolysaccharide, IFN-beta also completely inhibited C. psittaci replication. The addition of excess tryptophan to the culture medium at the time of infection partially reversed the effect of IFN on the inhibition of C. psittaci growth in a concentration-dependent manner. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity was determined by measurement of the concentrations of tryptophan and its metabolites in the culture medium after reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Significant indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity was observed only in macrophages treated with IFN-gamma or combined IFN-beta plus lipopolysaccharide, and resulted in greater than 50% of available tryptophan being catabolized in a 4-h period. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Islamic investment funds versus hedge funds

In der Literatur werden islamische Investmentfonds und Hedge-Fonds stets als getrennte Spezialgebiete behandelt. Es gibt nur sehr wenige wissenschaftliche Arbeiten, die diese beiden alternativen Investmentmoglichkeiten vergleichen. Die vorliegende Diplomarbeit ist ein Versuch, diese Lucke zu schliesen und erste Erkenntnisse zu liefern. Die Arbeit versucht eine Antwort auf die folgende Frage zu finden: Konnen islamische Investmentfonds mit Hedge-Fonds uberhaupt mithalten? Um diese Frage zu beantworten, werden in der Diplomarbeit beide Investitionsmoglichkeiten anhand von drei Fragestellungen verglichen: o Was sind die Vor- und Nachteile der beiden Investitionsmoglichkeiten? o In welchen Punkten unterscheiden bzw. ahneln sich die beiden? o Wie kann ein Investitionsportfolio durch den Einsatz beider Investmentmoglichkeiten sinnvoll ausbalanciert werden? Wie diese Diplomarbeit zeigen wird, haben islamische Investmentfonds mehrere Vorteile gegenuber Hedge-Fonds, die es ihnen sogar erlauben, profitablere Ergebnisse zu liefern. Hedge-Fonds versuchen hauptsachlich, Marktineffizienzen auszunutzen und das Risiko durch kurzfristige Investmenttechniken zu reduzieren. Doch gerade diese Kurzfristigkeit birgt ein gewisses Risiko in sich und der Fondmanager findet sich oft in einer Situation wieder, die durch hohe Profite aber auch hohes Risiko gekennzeichnet ist. Obwohl die Scharia – das religios legitimierte Gesetz des Islams – bestimmte Investmenttechniken verbietet, kann der Manager eines islamischen Investmentfonds einige Hedge-Fond Techniken einsetzen. Der Hauptunterschied ist jedoch, dass islamische Investmentfonds eine starkere Kontrolle uber das Risiko bieten. Diese Stabilitat wird durch den kooperativen Charakter der Vereinbarungen ermoglicht, die bei den unterschiedlichen islamischen Investitionen zwischen den Parteien abgeschlossen werden. Dieser Umstand ermoglicht es einem Fondmanager, das Risiko, das durch kurzfristige Investmenttechniken der Hedge-Fonds entsteht, durch das Investieren in islamische Investmentfonds zu vermindern. Die vorliegende Arbeit zeigt, dass sich Hedge-Fonds und islamische Investmentfonds in einem Investmentportfolio sinnvoll erganzen.
Parents' Experiences in Decision Making With Childhood Cancer Clinical Trials

Childhood cancer requires families to deal with many stressors, including decision making in terms of their child's treatment. Adding to the stress of families is that most children participate in clinical research trials. Minimal research has been done to explore parents' decisions related to involving their child in childhood cancer clinical trials. Especially missing is a description of Canadian parents' perspectives. This article describes a qualitative study that sought to understand Canadian parents' participation in decisions about childhood cancer clinical trials. Person-centered, individual, open-ended interviews were conducted with 31 parents of children with cancer. The parents ranged in age between 27 and 51 years. Data analyzed by the constant comparative method revealed that parents found their participation in decisions about childhood cancer clinical trials as a difficult and extraordinary experience that included 6 themes: (1) living a surreal event, (2) wanting the best for my child, (3) helping future families of children with cancer, (4) coming to terms with my decision, (5) making one decision among many, and (6) experiencing a sense of trust. This study indicates that parents need more support not only during the initial decision-making period but also throughout the entire time their child is enrolled in a clinical trial.
Prognostic superiority of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network International Prognostic Index over pretreatment whole‐body volumetric–metabolic FDG‐PET/CT metrics in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma

This study aimed to determine the prognostic value of whole‐body maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), whole‐body metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and whole‐body total lesion glycolysis (TLG) at pretreatment 18F‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐d‐glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG‐PET/CT) in patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
Impact of Stent Type and Presence of Vasospastic Angina on Long-Term Prognosis.

BACKGROUND Little is known about the impact of stent type on the prognosis of vasospastic angina (VSA) in patients who undergo stent implantation.Methods and Results:We evaluated consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography with positive (n=650; VSA) and negative (n=2,872; non-VSA) ergonovine testing. Among them, 304 patients undergoing stent implantation for organic stenosis were classified for comparison into 3 respective VSA and non-VSA groups based on stent type (68 and 78 with bare-metal stent [BMS]; 21 and 49 with sirolimus-eluting stent [SES]; 26 and 62 with newer generation drug-eluting stent [N-DES]). The primary outcome was defined as target lesion revascularization, target vessel revascularization, emergency coronary angiography, and cardiac death. The 2-year cumulative incidence of the primary outcome was significantly higher in the VSA group than non-VSA group after SES implantation (38.1% vs. 16.1%, P=0.03), whereas there were no differences between the 2 groups after both BMS implantation and N-DES implantation. The difference in the percent diameter stenosis from mid-term to late-term follow-up was significantly higher in the VSA group than non-VSA group (10.0% vs. 2.3%, P=0.045) after SES implantation, whereas there were no differences between the 2 groups after both BMS implantation and N-DES implantation. CONCLUSIONS The impact of VSA on clinical and angiographic outcomes was observed only in SES implantation, but not after N-DES or BMS implantation.
Plasma Cortisol, Renin, and Aldosterone During an Intense Heat Acclimation Program

The physiologic responses to an intense heat acclimation (HA) regimen (treadmill, 41.2 degrees C, 8 days, 56 min exercise/44 min rest) and the effects on stress and fluid balance hormone responses were examined in 13 unacclimated male volunteers. Venous blood samples were collected before (PRE) and after (POST) exercise (days 1, 4, 8) and analyzed for plasma renin activity (PRA), aldosterone (ALD), cortisol (PC), plasma volume shifts (delta PV%), sodium concentration (Na+), and potassium concentration (K+). HA responses (day 1 vs day 8) indicated reduced strain (P less than 0.05): decreased heart rate, rectal temperature, skin temperature, improved defense of PV, and attenuated PC responses. While plasma Na+ demonstrated no change during daily exercise, K+ (P less than 0.01), PC, PRA, and ALD increased (P less than 0.05) more than delta PV%(day 1: -7.1%, day 8: -5.1%) accounted for. Na+ and K+ did not change as a result of HA, and there was no change in fluid balance hormones (e.g., PRA, ALD). It was concluded that this intense heat acclimation regimen reduced physiologic strain by mechanisms other than alterations in fluid balance hormones and offered few physiologic advantages which cannot be gained through conventional heat acclimation techniques (e.g., walking).