Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transcellular transport of CCL2 across brain microvascular endothelial cells

The means by which the chemokine CCL2 produced in the brain parenchyma can recruit leukocytes lying behind the highly impervious endothelium of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) has remained a paradox. As other chemokines have been evidenced to stimulate their own synthesis and release by peripheral microvascular endothelial cells, and/or undergo transcytosis in the abluminal‐to‐luminal direction, we determined whether CCL2 experiences similar fates across brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC). Using cultured BMEC as a paradigm of the BBB, it was observed that exogenous unlabeled CCL2 actually depressed the release of endogenous CCL2, and further caused diminished CCL2 mRNA levels in these cells. On the other hand, exogenous 125I‐labeled CCL2 exhibited transport across BMEC in a manner that was sensitive to temperature, competition by excess unlabeled CCL2 but not unlabeled CCL3, knockdown of caveolin‐1/caveolae, and elimination of the cognate CCL2 receptor CCR2. These results implied a facet of CCL2 transport by a transcellular mechanism partly involving binding of CCL2 to CCR2, and subsequent transfer to caveolae vesicles for transcytosis. This notion was supported by double‐label immuno‐electronmicroscopy, which revealed co‐localization of caveolin‐1 with exogenous CCL2, during this chemokine’s transit across BMEC. Collectively, these findings provide a rationale by which CCL2, deposited on the abluminal side of the brain microvasculature during inflammatory episodes, can be relayed across the BBB to foster leukocyte recruitment.
Integration of Colour, Motion, Orientation, and Spatial Frequency in Visual Search

Response times (RTs) in visual search were measured with either a single target specified by colour, motion, spatial frequency, or orientation alone, or specified by pairwise conjunctions of these features, or by presenting double targets, each specified by a separate feature. First, for all feature combinations, except for motion–colour, RTs were faster when double features were used to specify a single target than when they specified separate targets, implying location-specific redundancy gains predicted by coactivation on a common location-specific map. Second, coactivation, as revealed by race-model violations, occurred for all double-feature single-target conditions except the motion–colour and colour–orientation combinations. No violations occurred in double-target conditions. Taken together, these results are accounted for by well-known feature-specific sensitivities of cortical V1 cells and provide further evidence for a V1 locus of redundancy gain in visual search.
Unobserved automated office blood pressure measurement in the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT): systolic blood pressure treatment target remains below 140 mmHg.

The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) enrolled 9300 participants age 50 years and older without diabetes or previous stroke in ∼100 expert medical centres and clinical practices throughout the USA.1 Between 2010 and 2013, the SPRINT investigators randomly allocated the study participants into a standard treatment group receiving an average of two different blood pressure (BP) medications to achieve a systolic BP (SBP) target of <140 mmHg, and an intensive treatment group receiving an average of three BP medications to achieve an SBP target of <120 mm Hg. SPRINT was stopped early because of effect. The target SBP of <120 mmHg had reduced rates of the composite primary outcome that included myocardial infarction, other acute coronary syndromes, stroke, heart failure, or death from cardiovascular causes by 25% and the risk of death from all causes by 27%, as compared with the target SBP of <140 mmHg.2 However, …
Influence of Fluoride Dentifrice on Brushing Abrasion of Eroded Human Enamel: An in situ/ex vivo Study

This in situ/ex vivo study assessed the effect of fluoride dentifrice on eroded enamel subjected to brushing abrasion. In a crossover study performed in 2 phases, 10 volunteers wore acrylic palatal appliances, each containing 3 human enamel blocks. Dentifrice was used to brush the volunteers’ teeth and the specimens subjected to abrasion. In phases A and B the dentifrices used had the same formulation, except for the absence or presence of fluoride, respectively. The blocks were subjected to erosion by immersion of the appliances in a cola drink for 5 min, 4 times a day. Then the blocks were brushed, and the appliance was replaced into the mouth. Enamel alterations were determined using profilometry and percentage change in surface microhardness (%SMHC) tests. The data were tested using the paired t test. The mean wear values (±SD, µm) were: group A 6.84 ± 1.72 and group B 5.38 ± 1.21 (p = 0.04). The mean %SMHC values (±SD) were: group A 54.6 ± 16.2 and group B 45.7 ± 6.8 (p = 0.04). Fluoride dentifrice had a protective effect on eroded enamel subjected to brushing abrasion.
Robust Model-Based Inference for Incomplete Data via Penalized Spline Propensity Prediction

Parametric model-based regression imputation is commonly applied to missing-data problems, but is sensitive to misspecification of the imputation model. Little and An (2004) proposed a semiparametric approach called penalized spline propensity prediction (PSPP), where the variable with missing values is modeled by a penalized spline (P-Spline) of the response propensity score, which is logit of the estimated probability of being missing given the observed variables. Variables other than the response propensity are included parametrically in the imputation model. However they only considered point estimation based on single imputation with PSPP. We consider here three approaches to standard errors estimation incorporating the uncertainty due to non response: (a) standard errors based on the asymptotic variance of the PSPP estimator, ignoring sampling error in estimating the response propensity; (b) standard errors based on the bootstrap method; and (c) multiple imputation-based standard errors using draws from the joint posterior predictive distribution of missing values under the PSPP model. Simulation studies suggest that the bootstrap and multiple imputation approaches yield good inferences under a range of simulation conditions, with multiple imputation showing some evidence of closer to nominal confidence interval coverage when the sample size is small.
Did Trichromatic Color Vision and Red Hair Color Coevolve in Primates?

Reddish pelage and red hair ornaments have evolved many times, independently, during primate evolution. It is generally assumed that these red‐coat phenotypes, like red skin phenotypes, play a role in sociosexual signaling and, thus evolved in tandem with conspecific color vision. This study examines the phylogenetic distribution of color vision and pelage coloration across the primate order to ask: (1) did red pelage and trichromacy coevolve; or (2) did trichromacy evolve first, and then subsequently red pelage evolved as an exaptation? We collected quantitative, color‐corrected photographic color data for 142 museum research skins from 92 species representing 41 genera spanning all major primate lineages. For each species, we quantified the ratio of Red/Green values (from a RGB color model) at 20 anatomical landmarks. For these same species, we compiled data on color vision type (routine trichromatic, polymorphic, routine dichromatic, monochromatic) and data on variables that potentially covary with visual system (VS) and coloration, including activity pattern and body mass dimorphism (proxy for sexual selection). We also considered whether the long‐term storage of research skins might influence coloration. Therefore, we included the time since the specimen was collected as an additional predictor. Analyzing the data with phylogenetic generalized least squares models, we found that the amount of red hair present in primates is associated with differences in VSs, but not in the direction expected. Surprisingly, trichromatic primate species generally exhibited less red hair compared to red‐green colorblind species. Thus, our results do not support the general assumption that color vision and red pelage coloration are a coevolutionary product of sociosexual signaling in primates. In addition, we did not find an effect of activity pattern, body mass dimorphism, or time since collection on the redness of primate hair. Our results have important implications for the evolution of primate coloration and visual systems. Am. J. Primatol. 75:740‐751, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Yeast strain affects 3‐isopropyl‐2‐methoxypyrazine concentration and sensory profile in Cabernet Sauvignon wine

Background and Aims: 3-Isopropyl-2-methoxypyrazine (IPMP) is both a grape- and insect-derived trace compound found in wine that can contribute green characters. There has been renewed interest in examining how wine IPMP concentrations can be modulated due to recent concerns regarding ladybug taint � an off-flavour from IPMP extracted from Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (multicoloured Asian lady beetle). This study sought to determine the influence of commercial Saccharomyces yeast strains on IPMP concentration in Cabernet Sauvignon wines and to describe their sensory impact. Methods and Results: Rehydrated juice from Cabernet Sauvignon concentrate was spiked with 30 ng/L IPMP and fermented in triplicate by yeast strains Lalvin BM45, Lalvin EC1118, Lalvin ICV-D21 or Lalvin ICV-D80. IPMP concentration was determined using headspace solid-phase micro-extraction coupled with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS), and was unchanged from juice levels in wine fermented by EC1118, Lalvin D21 and Lalvin D80 but increased by 11 ng/L (29%) in wine fermented by Lalvin BM45. Yeast strains differed in their sensory impact on wine made from IPMP-spiked juice for five aroma and four flavour attributes. Conclusions: HS-SPME-GC-MS allows for sensitive measurement of IPMP that, for the first time, has demonstrated the capacity for wine yeast to affect IPMP concentration. Yeast strains demonstrate varying ability to mask green or ladybug taint characters in wine. Significance of the Study: This information should be useful in guiding selection of yeast strains for juices of high IPMP concentration, including those that are multicoloured Asian lady beetle-affected, under-ripe or from varieties with high methoxypyrazine loads such as Cabernet Sauvignon.
Podocyte injuries exacerbate mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis.

BACKGROUND From the observations of morphology seen in early phases of the experimental models of the irreversible mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, we hypothesized that podocyte injury is one of the important factors in bringing upon irreversible glomerular alterations. To verify this hypothesis, we investigated whether podocyte injury induced by puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) injection affects the mesangial alterations of anti-Thy 1.1 glomerulonephritis. METHODS Female Wistar rats were injected with 0.5 mg monoclonal antibody (mAb) 1-22-3 five days after the injection of 10 mg or 5 mg/100 g body weight (BW) of puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN), and sacrificed at 7 days or 8 weeks after the mAb 1-22-3 injection. RESULTS Consecutive injections of 10 mg/100 g BW of PAN and mAb 1-22-3 caused the irreversible mesangial alteration with persistent proteinuria (at week 8, proteinuria 100.3 +/- 57.8 mg/24 h, matrix score 1.13 +/- 0.52, collagen type I score 2.04 +/- 0.53, mRNA for collagen type I 227 +/- 79% to the group with a single injection of 1-22-3). Although single injection of 5 mg/100 g BW of PAN was not capable of inducing abnormal proteinuria, consecutive injections of 5 mg/100 g BW of PAN and mAb 1-22-3 also caused irreversible mesangial alteration and persistent proteinuria. CONCLUSIONS Podocyte injury might be an important factor that exacerbates mesangial proliferation and mesangial matrix expansion. The irreversible mesangial alterations caused by consecutive injections of PAN and mAb 1-22-3 may be a novel model that could be used to analyze the mechanism of progressive mesangial alteration.
Blind deconvolution by means of the Richardson-Lucy algorithm.

A blind deconvolution algorithm based on the Richardson–Lucy deconvolution algorithm is presented. Its performance in the presence of noise is found to be superior to that of other blind deconvolution algorithms. Results are presented and compared with results obtained from implementation of a Weiner filter blind deconvolution algorithm. The algorithm is developed further to incorporate functional forms of the point-spread function with unknown parameters. In the presence of noise the point-spread function can be evaluated with 1.0% error, and the object can be reconstructed with a quality near that of the deconvolution process with a known point-spread function.
Stratifying Stroke Risk in Atrial Fibrillation: Beyond Clinical Risk Scores

See releated articles, pp 2653, 2654, 2660, 2671 Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common atrial arrhythmia, affecting ≈1% of the US population.1 This estimate may understate its true burden, given that a high proportion of patients have subclinical AF. The prevalence of AF increases with age,1,2 and given an aging population, the projected prevalence of AF in the United States is at least 5.6 million by the year 2050.2 AF is associated with increased risk of stroke or systemic embolism3 and death.4 The heightened thromboembolic risk seen in AF is substantially reduced by anticoagulation.5 On the contrary, long-term anticoagulation can also lead to hemorrhagic complications. The recommended approach to making decisions about anticoagulant therapy in AF is to balance the expected risks of stroke versus bleeding. In this article, we review the widely used clinical methods for predicting stroke risk in AF and augment this discussion with an overview of more recent risk predictors beyond conventional clinical scores. ### Risk Factors Several studies have reported risk factors for stroke in patients with AF. A pooled analysis of 5 trials with 5956 patient-years of follow-up found that independent risk factors for ischemic stroke were age (relative risk [RR] per 10 years, 1.4), prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA; RR, 2.5), hypertension (RR, 1.8), diabetes mellitus (RR, 1.7), and congestive heart failure (RR, 1.4). 6 In patients 75 years of age with one or more of these risk factors, the annual stroke rate was 8.1% (95% CI, 4.7%–13.9%). 6 Another systematic review, including 7 studies with >12 000 patients, identified the …
Curved Surface Patches for Rough Terrain Perception

Attaining animal-like legged locomotion on rough outdoor terrain with sparse foothold affordances -a primary use-case for legs vs other forms of locomotion- is a largely open problem. New advancements in control and perception have enabled bipeds to walk on flat and uneven indoor environments. But tasks that require reliable contact with unstructured world surfaces, for example walking on natural rocky terrain, need new perception and control algorithms. This thesis introduces 3D perception algorithms for contact tasks such as foot placement in rough terrain environments. We introduce a new method to identify and model potential contact areas between the robot's foot and a surface using a set of bounded curved patches. We present a patch parameterization model and an algorithm to fit and perceptually validate patches to 3D point samples. Having defined the environment representation using the patch model, we introduce a way to assemble patches into a spatial map. This map represents a sparse set of local areas potentially appropriate for contact between the robot and the surface. The process of creating such a map includes sparse seed point sampling, neighborhood searching, as well as patch fitting and validation. Various ways of sampling are introduced including a real time bio-inspired system for finding patches statistically similar to those that humans select while traversing rocky trails. These sparse patch algorithms are integrated with a dense volumetric fusion of range data from a moving depth camera, maintaining a dynamic patch map of relevant contact surfaces around a robot in real time. We integrate and test the algorithms as part of a real-time foothold perception system on a mini-biped robot, performing foot placements on rocks.
Spectral control of light action on biological particles inside soft biological tissue

Gradient forces formed by speckle structures in laser-irradiated biological tissue are studied. Speckle fields and some their parameters, such as speckle sizes, are theoretically evaluated. Multi-layered human skin is taken as biotissue. The gradients of light intensity at varying depths inside the tissue are estimated. It turned out that to provide the maximal force acting on a biological particle located at a predetermined depth inside tissue requires the irradiation at a specific wavelength under constant light power density at the skin surface. The more the depth is, the more the wavelength is shifted to the infrared. This enables one to control the performances of laser tweezers and their operation to trap a biological particle inside tissue in vivo. Examples of the applications of the designed approach are given.
Built-in self test systems for silicon-based phased arrays

Phased array silicon chips with built-in-self-test (BIST) have been demonstrated at X-band and W-band using integrated couplers and on-chip receiver circuitry. In the X-band chip (2-element phased array), a dedicated I/Q receiver is built into the chip, while in the W-band case (self-contained 16-element array), the standard I/Q receiver is used for BIST functionality. The BIST is accomplished using a very low loss coupler at the input of each channel which does not introduce additional loss and noise. Measurements on the X-band and W-band chips indicate that BIST results in accurate phase and gain measurements for every phased-array channel on the chip, and allows the measurement of an on-chip array factor, all at microsecond speeds. The BIST can also measure the frequency response of every channel. It is expected that BIST functionality will greatly reduce the cost of phased array testing and allow for on-site calibration and control.
International Practice Patterns and Resource Utilization in the Treatment of Neuroendocrine Tumors

Objectives This study compared resource use and practice patterns in patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) on disease progression, across countries, and by tumor type. Methods Physicians in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Brazil, and Italy completed data extraction forms to extract chart data of patients with NET relating to health care resource utilization and treatment practice. Data were assessed in a cross-sectional manner, by country, and by NET subtype. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to compare categories of resource use by disease progression status. Results A total of 197 physicians provided data on 394 patients. Overall resource utilization was high across tumor types, countries, and progression. Nearly half of all patients received chemotherapy (49%); moreover, high rates of hospitalization (65%), surgery (47%), and use of somatostatin analog (77%) were observed, with lower rates of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (10%) and targeted therapies (6%). These patterns were consistent across gastrointestinal tract/lung NET and pancreatic NET. However, a certain variation in resource utilization was observed across countries. Disease progression was associated with increasing utilization of chemotherapy, hospitalization, and targeted therapy. Conclusions Advanced NET is associated with significant resource use across subtypes and countries, and resource utilization is likely to increase on disease progression. There remains an unmet need for therapeutic options after disease progression.
Powering sensor networks

This paper describes the sensor networks that are wireless systems in which large number of sensors can be deployed. A snapshot of the first-generation hardware and software for sensor networks, the requirements of the sensor nodes by their capabilities, and an outlook on future implementations are focused. These networks have been enabled in part by advancements in silicon sensor technology, low-power microcontrollers, chip-based radios, ad-hoc networking protocols, and operating systems and languages for embedded systems.
“Patient reported outcomes” following experimental surgery—using telemetry to assess movement in experimental ovine models

Many potential treatments for orthopedic disease fail at the animal to human translational hurdle. One reason for this failure is that the majority of pre‐clinical outcome measurements emphasize structural changes, such as gross morphology and histology, and do not address pain or its alleviation, which is a key component of treatment success in man. With increasing emphasis on “patient reported outcome measurements (PROM)” in clinical practice, in this study we have used two different telemetric methods (geolocation and Fitbark activity trackers, Kansas City, MO) to measure movement behavior, i.e., an indirect PROM, in an ovine osteoarthritis induction and an osteochondral defect model performed in adult female Welsh Mountain sheep. This study demonstrates that both systems can be used to track movement and activity of experimental sheep before and after surgery and that the Geolocator system recorded a decrease in distance moved and activity at the end of the experimental period in both models. The Fitbark activity tracker also recorded significant alterations in movement behavior at the end of these studies and this method of recording showed a correlation between Fitbark data and radiography, macroscopic and histological scoring (well recognized outcome measurements), particularly in animals with large (10 mm) defects, i.e., more severe pathology. These results suggest that telemetry is able to track movement behavior in experimental sheep and that the methodology should be considered for inclusion in outcome measures in preclinical orthopedic research. © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research® Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Orthopaedic Research Society. J Orthop Res 36:1498–1507, 2018.
Collaboration for Sustainability in the Food Supply Chain: A Multi-Stage Study in Italy

The objective of this study is twofold. Firstly, to analyze sustainability practices adopted in collaboration, including vertical collaboration i.e., with other actors or stages upstream or downstream in the supply chain, and horizontal collaboration i.e., with actors such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Secondly, to identify the sustainability performance expected from sustainability practices implemented in different supply chain stages. The study reports on a set of case studies representing four different food supply chain (FSC) stages: breeding/growing, processing, distribution and retail. The findings indicate that each stage selects different collaboration schemes for sustainability practices’ implementation, prioritizing relations with upstream actors, namely grower/breeder, as these are key actors responsible for ensuring product quality and safety. In addition, the type of collaborative relationship is shown to be predominantly transactional for environmental and community practices, especially for solving specific short-term issues. Finally, varied areas of environmental and social sustainability performance are recognized, upstream and downstream, as a result of collaborative practices applied in different FSC stages, showing the diverse sustainability objectives pursued along the chain.