Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comprehensive Evaluation of Hibernating Myocardium: Use of Noninvasive Imaging

Ischemic heart failure is probably the most challenging issue in cardiology today, posing an enormous medical and financial burden on our society. Conceptually, it represents a maladaptive cardiac remodeling due to acute and/or chronic coronary artery disease with varying degrees of left ventricular dilatation and dysfunction. Although therapeutic options have improved overall survival over the years, mortality rates remain high, and in daily practice cardiologists not infrequently face the therapeutic dilemma whether a revascularization procedure will lead to symptomatic and prognostic benefit for the patient. Simple, straightforward guidelines are lacking because of the complexity of the disease. Moreover, the issue of viability imaging grounded on observational and retrospective studies has recently been challenged by the publication of prospective, randomized trials (eg, STICH and PARR trial) showing no benefit of revascularization nor of preprocedural viability assessment in those patients. These contradictory findings have obliged us to inquire whether viability imaging is still relevant and what is needed to make it more appropriate.
Predictive value of quantitative plasma HIV RNA and CD4+ lymphocyte count in HIV-infected infants and children.

CONTEXT Pediatric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has unique viral pathogenetic features that preclude routine extrapolation from adult studies and require specific analysis. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the prognostic value of 2 key laboratory markers-plasma RNA and CD4+ lymphocyte count-for HIV disease progression in infants and children and to establish targeted values for optimal outcome. DESIGN Data from a cohort of 566 infants and children who participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (ACTG 152) were analyzed. The trial was conducted between 1991 and 1995 and enrolled a heterogeneous cohort of antiretroviral therapy-naive children (age, 3 months to 18 years); patients had a median follow-up of 32 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The trial clinical end points consisted of time to first HIV disease progression (growth failure, decline in neurologic or neurodevelopmental function, opportunistic infections) or death. RESULTS Baseline plasma RNA levels were high (age group medians, 5 x 10(4) to >10(6) copies/mL), and both baseline RNA and CD4+ lymphocyte count were independently predictive of subsequent clinical course. Risk reduction for disease progression between 49% and 64% was observed for each log10 reduction in baseline RNA and was linear without suggestion of a threshold or age effect. Disease progression predictive power was enhanced by the combined use of plasma RNA and CD4+ cell count. Marker values of less than 10000 copies/mL for plasma RNA and greater than 500 x 10(6)/L (<6.5 years of age) or greater than 200 x 10(6)/L (>6.5 years) for CD4+ cell count were associated with a 2-year disease progression rate of less than 5%. CONCLUSIONS Two key laboratory markers--plasma RNA and CD4+ lymphocyte count-are independent predictors of clinical course among HIV-infected infants and children. The linear, age-independent relationship between log10 plasma RNA and relative risk of disease progression strongly supports therapeutic efforts to achieve plasma virus levels as low as possible.
Induction of localized differences in rat uterine radial artery behavior and structure during gestation.

OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were to investigate differences in diameter and vasoconstriction of premyometrial versus uteroplacental radial arteries and to evaluate the contribution of nitric oxide (NO) to myogenic tone as a function of vessel location. STUDY DESIGN Radial arteries supplying either the myometrium or placenta were dissected from the uterus of pregnant rats. Constrictor responses to pressure elevation were studied before and after inhibition of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). RESULTS Passive lumen diameters of premyometrial and proximal uteroplacental arteries were comparable and significantly smaller than those of distal uteroplacental vessels. High potassium- and pressure-induced responses were also similar in premyometrial and proximal but were virtually absent in distal uteroplacental segments. L-NNA enhanced pressure-induced tone, but was without effect in distal uteroplacental segments. CONCLUSION Gestational remodeling alters arterial structure and reactivity in a highly localized manner. During pregnancy, enhanced basal production of NO may be an important local mechanism for uterine blood flow regulation.
Magnetically assembled 30 nm diameter nickel nanowire with ferromagnetic electrodes

Facile, cost-effective, and manufacturable techniques to create single-nanowire based devices with good electrical interconnects is demonstrated by combining template directed electrodeposition, magnetic assembly, and a post-annealing in a reducing environment. Nickel nanowires with a diameter of approximately 30 nm were electrodeposited from low-stress nickel sulfamate baths at room temperature using in-house made anodized alumina as a nanotemplate. After electrodeposition, nanowires were released from the template, efficiently positioned, trapped, and assembled on ferromagnetic electrodes using the magnetic interaction between the nanowires and the electrodes. By annealing the interconnect in a reducing environment of 5%H2+95%N2 at 300 °C for 30 min, the interconnect’s resistance was dramatically reduced from >10 M Ω to 835 Ω. Magnetotransport studies at 300 K on a single nickel interconnect with diameters ranging from 30 to 200 nm show a strong diameter dependent magnetoresistance, which might be attributed to different domain structure within the interconnect.
\"Women as agents of change : advancing the role of women in politics and civil society\" : statement

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee, on behalf of the National Democratic Institute, I appreciate this opportunity to testify about programs that help empower women to engage in political decision-making and civil society at all levels. NDI has been working with political and civic leaders for more than two decades to assist their efforts to increase the number and effectiveness of women in political life. We currently work in nearly 70 countries, creating programs that are specifically tailored to women and ensuring they are a part of every existing program. I appreciate the chance to highlight both the achievements and challenges in the process of integrating and empowering women in political processes.
Measuring the ventilatory response to hypoxia

After defining the current approach to measuring the hypoxic ventilatory response this paper explains why this method is not appropriate for comparisons between individuals or conditions, and does not adequately measure the parameters of the peripheral chemoreflex. A measurement regime is therefore proposed that incorporates three procedures. The first procedure measures the peripheral chemoreflex responsiveness to both hypoxia and CO2 in terms of hypoxia's effects on the sensitivity and ventilatory recruitment threshold of the peripheral chemoreflex response to CO2. The second and third procedures employ current methods for measuring the isocapnic and poikilocapnic ventilatory responses to hypoxia, respectively, over a period of 20 min. The isocapnic measure is used to determine the time course characteristics of hypoxic ventilatory decline and the poikilocapnic measure shows the ventilatory response to a hypoxic environment. A measurement regime incorporating these three procedures will permit a detailed assessment of the peripheral chemoreflex response to hypoxia that allows comparisons to be made between individuals and different physiological and environmental conditions.
Finite helical axis versus symmetrical axis of rotation approach for the human knee joint: squats, rowing and cycling

Instrumented movement analysis has a large field of applications and requires an appropriate description of the human locomotor system. A crucial point is the kinematical representation of the human joints. In order to facilitate data comparison between different groups, observer dependence has to be reduced.Misaligned reference points and reference axes modify the computed displacements, i.e. joint translations and rotations. In an optimisation including several joints, modifications may propagate to neighbouring joints and thus distort the interpretation of the whole-body kinematics (Charlton et al. 2004). The present contribution focuses on the human knee joint. Joint axes based on anatomical landmarks entail the error of palpation. Alternatively, provided that the subject’s achievable range of motion is sufficiently large, axes can be functionally derived from kinematical data. Ehrig et al. (2007) compare general concepts for the calculation of one single axis. For the intact knee joint in particular, it has been shown that a biaxial joint model increases the reproducibility of the joint displacements. Flexion is the most dominant motion; thus, the flexion axis is first determined. The second rotation axis of importance is the internal–external rotation axis that is obtained by minimising the varus–valgus rotation (Churchill et al. 1998; Martelli et al. 2002; Marin et al. 2003). If the flexion axis is not determined due to anatomical landmarks, it is set equal to the mean finite helical axis (FHA) in the flexion range of 408–808 of the squat motion. This study compares the performance of the FHA axis and the symmetrical axis of rotation approach (SARA) axis. This comparison has already been carried out on fictive data (Reichl and Auzinger 2012) yielding that within the compound hinge model, the SARA axis leads to a better reproducibility of the joint displacements than the mean FHA axis. The present contribution, however, applies these two axis concepts on human motion data captured with skin fixed markers and an opto-electronic system. Because the type of movement and the range of motion are decisive for the joint axes calculation, three different types of movement are investigated. Special emphasis is put on the selection of marker sites and the angular range of data used for the axis computation.
Combination of Protein and Viral Vaccines Induces Potent Cellular and Humoral Immune Responses and Enhanced Protection from Murine Malaria Challenge

ABSTRACT The search for an efficacious vaccine against malaria is ongoing, and it is now widely believed that to confer protection a vaccine must induce very strong cellular and humoral immunity concurrently. We studied the immune response in mice immunized with the recombinant viral vaccines fowlpox strain FP9 and modified virus Ankara (MVA), a protein vaccine (CV-1866), or a combination of the two; all vaccines express parts of the same preerythrocytic malaria antigen, the Plasmodium berghei circumsporozoite protein (CSP). Mice were then challenged with P. berghei sporozoites to determine the protective efficacies of different vaccine regimens. Two immunizations with the protein vaccine CV-1866, based on the hepatitis B core antigen particle, induced strong humoral immunity to the repeat region of CSP that was weakly protective against sporozoite challenge. Prime-boost with the viral vector vaccines, FP9 followed by MVA, induced strong T-cell immunity to the CD8+ epitope Pb9 and partially protected animals from challenge. Physically mixing CV-1866 with FP9 or MVA and then immunizing with the resultant combinations in a prime-boost regimen induced both cellular and humoral immunity and afforded substantially higher levels of protection (combination, 90%) than either vaccine alone (CV-1866, 12%; FP9/MVA, 37%). For diseases such as malaria in which different potent immune responses are required to protect against different stages, using combinations of partially effective vaccines may offer a more rapid route to achieving deployable levels of efficacy than individual vaccine strategies.
Membrane Proteins of the Endoplasmic Reticulum Induce High-Curvature Tubules

The tubular structure of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) appears to be generated by integral membrane proteins, the reticulons and a protein family consisting of DP1 in mammals and Yop1p in yeast. Here, individual members of these families were found to be sufficient to generate membrane tubules. When we purified yeast Yop1p and incorporated it into proteoliposomes, narrow tubules (∼15 to 17 nanometers in diameter) were generated. Tubule formation occurred with different lipids; required essentially only the central portion of the protein, including its two long hydrophobic segments; and was prevented by mutations that affected tubule formation in vivo. Tubules were also formed by reconstituted purified yeast Rtn1p. Tubules made in vitro were narrower than normal ER tubules, due to a higher concentration of tubule-inducing proteins. The shape and oligomerization of the “morphogenic” proteins could explain the formation of the tubular ER.
Delayed Maturation of Regenerating Myelinated Axons in Mice Lacking Neurofilaments

Using the technique of homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells, we generated mice bearing a targeted disruption of the gene encoding the neurofilament light (NF-L) protein. The absence of NF-L protein in mice resulted in dramatic declines of approximately 20-fold in the levels of neurofilament medium and heavy proteins in the brain and sciatic nerve while increases were detected for other cytoskeletal proteins such as tubulin and GAP-43. Despite a lack of neurofilaments and hypotrophy of axons, the NF-L knockout mice develop normally and do not exhibit overt phenotypes. However, in both NF-L -/- and NF-L +/- mice, the regeneration of myelinated axons following crush injury of peripheral nerves was found to be abnormal. In the second week after axotomy, the number of newly regenerated myelinated axons in the sciatic nerve and facial nerve of NF-L -/- mice corresponded to only approximately 25 and approximately 5% of the number of myelinated axons found in normal mice, respectively. At this early postaxotomy stage, electron microscopy of nerve segments distal to the crush site in NF-L -/- mice revealed abundant clusters of axonal sprouts that were indicative of retarded maturation of regenerating fibers. The analysis of the distal sciatic nerve at 2 months after crush indicated that neurofilament-deficient axons have the capacity to regrow for a long distance and to remyelinate, albeit at a slower rate. These results provide the first direct evidence for a role of neurofilaments in the maturation of regenerating myelinated axons.
Why Did the West Extend the Franchise ? A Correction ∗

This paper corrects Proposition 1 in Acemoglu and Robinson (2000). It shows that in addition to parts of the parameter space where the unique MPE is franchise extension and temporary redistribution, there is an intermediate part of the parameter space where the unique MPE is in mixed strategies. In this region, there is a positive probability of franchise extension, but also a revolution takes place with positive probability along the equilibrium path. ∗We would like to thank Gabriel Carol, Alex Debs and Harry Di Pei for excellent comments and suggestions.
The Interactive Effects of Colors on Visual Attention and Working Memory: In Case of Images of Tourist Attractions

The paper explores the role that color can influence people’s visual attention and working memory through a computer-based experiment. With the assumption that there are trade-offs between attention/ memory, and loading tasks which create distractions (e.g., tasking/working people cannot afford to pay attention to other objects, and no tasking people would more pay attention to the objects), the study examines the effects of colors on people’s visual attention and the relevance of attention to retention of working memory by performing a dual-task experiment called the box shooting test. The results show that the color effect shows significant differences on working memory indicating that color would more significantly play a role for forming people’s memory rather than holding attention. The possible implications are also discussed.
Impacts of 2.4-GHz ISM Band Interference on IEEE 802.15.4 Wireless Sensor Network Reliability in Buildings

With the recent emergence of standards, wireless solutions are ready to be deployed in building automation networks. IEEE 802.15. 4 is a standard for short-range wireless networks. Its major application fields are home and building automation, as well as industrial sensor and actuator networks. It operates primarily in the license-free 2.4-GHz industrial, scientific, and medical band. This feature makes the technology not only easily applicable but also potentially vulnerable to interference by other technologies in this band, e.g., Bluetooth and microwave ovens. There are many possible coexistence scenarios with different network sizes, configurations, interference sources (ISs), and environmental conditions. To investigate the impacts of ISs on the performance of IEEE 802.15. 4 wireless sensor networks, this paper performs several experiments with commercially available equipment. The results give a rough indication of the mutual interference of the different systems when any two of the networks operate simultaneously and in range. This work collects important communication parameters to evaluate the impacts of other ISs on IEEE 802.15. 4 networks. These results should help designers better understand the challenges of building wireless applications.
Selective harmonic elimination PWM technology applied in PMSMs

This paper introduces selective harmonic elimination PWM (SHEPWM) technology applied in PMSMs. According to model of PMSMs, relation between harmonic currents and voltages is derived. From this relation, selection principle of SHEPWM is different for salient pole PMSMs and non-salient pole PMSMs. Besides, the method of smooth transition between different SHEPWMs is introduced. Simulations and experiments have been completed to test those conclusions correctness.
Zero-inflated, hurdle and bivariate parameter-driven count models

A time series is a collection of observations made sequentially through time. Examples occur in a variety of fields, ranging from medicine to engineering. The analysis of time series of counts is one of the rapidly developing areas in time series modeling. In time series, it is unlikely that neighbouring observations are independent. To accommodate potential correlation for count data, two main classes of models are frequent in the literature: parameter-driven and observationdriven models. Central to both classes are the generalized linear models (GLMs). Parameter-driven models result when temporal random effects are used in the GLM to accommodate the autocorrelations. In this dissertation we propose zero-inflated and hurdle specifications for both Poisson and negative binomial parameter-driven models. We employ the data cloning approach as the numerical tool for performing inferences about the models. We carry out intensive simulations to examine the performance of the proposed methodologies. An application of the methods to a data set on the daily counts of emergency department visits for asthma cases in Ontario, Canada, is also provided. The second focus of this dissertation is to model dependence in bivariate time series of counts. In this direction, we propose two parameter-driven models based on a commonly used bivariate Poisson specification. The first model employs one latent process through the cross-correlation parameter of the bivariate Poisson distribution, thus leading to common temporal autocorrelations between the components of the bivariate Poisson, while the second model uses two latent processes to introduce separate autocorrelations in the two marginal processes. An intensive simulation study and real data applications are also provided in these scenarios.
MicroRNAs and Their Impact on Radiotherapy for Cancer

Resistance to radiation is considered to be an important reason for local failure after radiotherapy and tumor recurrence. However, the exact mechanisms of tumor resistance remain poorly understood. Current investigations of microRNAs as potential diagnostic and therapeutic tools for cancer treatment have shown promising results. With respect to radiotherapy resistance and response, there is now emerging evidence that microRNAs modulate key cellular pathways that mediate response to radiation. These data suggest that microRNAs might have significant potential as targets for the development of new therapeutic strategies to overcome radioresistance in cancer. This review summarizes the current literature pertinent to the influence of microRNAs in the response to radiotherapy for cancer treatment, with an emphasis on microRNAs as novel diagnostic and prognostic markers, as well as their potential to alter radiosensitivity.
Development of cytolytic T lymphocyte precursors in organ-cultured mouse embryonic thymus rudiments

The appearance of immunologically competent cells in the organ-cultured mouse fetal thymic rudiment has been investigated. Fetal thymuses removed at 14 d of gestation and cultured for 7-21 d were assayed for their content of cytolytic T lymphocyte precursors (CTL-P) directed against H-2d alloantigens. Whereas CTL-P were undetectable within fetal thymus until 18-19 d of gestation, their frequency in the organ- cultured fetal thymus was similar to, or greater than that found in the normal adult thymus. This direct demonstration of the appearance of alloreactive CTL-P in a closed in vitro system should provide an accessible model for the investigation of interactions between developing T cells and the thymic microenvironment.
The relation between force and velocity in human muscle

Light weights can be lifted more quickly than heavy ones. As the size of the weight is increased the speed of lifting becomes less and less, until eventually no movement takes place at all. As commonly observed, this phenomenon depends partly on the inertia of the object lifted, mainly on the inherent properties of muscle. Isolated muscle exhibits the same behaviour when it is stimulated: the smaller the opposing force, the more quickly it shortens. Conversely, when allowed to shorten at a predetermined speed, for example in a Levin-Wyman ergometer, the force it exerts diminishes as the speed of shortening is increased. The maximal force is developed when the speed of shortening is zero, that is, when the contraction is isometric. Hill (1922) suggested that stimulation always brought about development of this maximal force, but that during shortening some of the force was used up in overcoming the viscous resistance of the muscle substance. Many experimental results were explained satisfactorily on this basis: for example, those obtained on the inertia flywheel (Hill, 1922; Lupton, 1922), and on the constant speed ergometer (Levin & Wyman, 1927). In isotonic contractions the relationship between force applied and velocity of shortening was first investigated by Fenn & Marsh (1935). On the viscosity hypothesis the curve relating these two variables should be a straight line; yet they found in isolated muscles both of the frog and of the cat that it was clearly concave towards the origin (Fig. 2). They fitted an exponential equation to this curve (see p. 255). A later investigation into the heat production during isotonic contraction (Hill, 1938) showed that the shape of the force-velocity curve was governed by the way in which energy was released during shortening: from thermal measurements Hill derived a simple equation relating the two variables