Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Autologous killing by a population of intermediate T‐cell receptor cells and its NK1.1+ and NK1.1− subsets, using Fas ligand/Fas molecules

Self‐reactive clones, estimated by anti‐Vβ monoclonal antibodies (mAb) in conjunction with the Mls system, are confined to a population of intermediate (int) T‐cell receptor (TCR) (or CD3) cells (i.e. TCRint cells), but are not found among TCRhigh cells. The next questions to be answered are whether autologous killing is confined to TCRint cells and how such killing is mediated. In this study, 51Cr‐labelled thymocytes of syngeneic or allogeneic origin were used as target cells (4‐hr assay). When liver and splenic mononuclear cells (MNC) obtained from B6 mice were used as effector cells, prominent autologous killing was seen in liver MNC, but not splenic MNC. Such killing was not seen when thymocytes from B6‐lpr/lpr mice (i.e. Fas−) were used as target cells, nor when liver MNC from MRL‐gld/gld mice (i.e. Fas ligand−) were used as effector cells (target thymocytes of MRL‐+/+ mice). Cell separation experiments using a cell sorter revealed that autologous killing was mediated for the most part by CD3int cells, while allogeneic killing was mediated entirely by natural killer (NK) cells, TCRint cells and TCRhigh cells. Among CD3int cells, the NK1.1+ subset (i.e. NK1.1+ T cells) manifested a higher level of autologous killing than did the NK1.1− subset. Consistent with the results of a functional assay, it was found by reverse‐transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) assay that CD3int cells among liver MNC showed the expression of Fas ligand mRNA, while thymocytes expressed Fas mRNA. When class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC)− thymocytes (from β2‐microglobulin‐deficient mice) were used as target cells, NK cells, but not CD3int cells, showed potent cytotoxicity. These results suggest that autologous killing is a major function of TCRint cells with self‐reactivity, and that such killing is mediated by means of Fas ligand/Fas molecules.
Language and Care: Tensions for Japanese Teachers and Foreign Students in Japanese Schools

Current Japanese schools have maintained the homogeneous discourse, based on the majority, ethnicJapanese, embedded in the national curriculum. In addition to the homogeneous discourse,Tsuneyoshi (2003) argues that Japanese schools have an educational philosophy of egalitarianism,asserting that "all children are treated the same. " Egalitarianism in schools refers to working to providethe same materials for all students, teaching all at the same pace, and, frequently not offering additionalsupport for particular students (Gordon, 2006). In other words, students need to share a high level ofcommonalities, such as a common language, a shared belief system and behavioral norms, familystability, and a sense of belonging (Tsuneyoshi, 2001). Shimizu, Sakai, Shimizu, and Dotera (1999,cited in Gordon, 2006) also mention that the belief of egalitarianism makes it difficult for teachers torecognize the unique qualities and needs of each student.
Stock Market Response to the Financial Regulations in the Mortgage‐Lending Market in Korea

This study investigates the economic impact of the financial regulations that aimed to control the housing market in Korea during the reign of late President Ro's Administration, which had diligently fought against the then speculative bubble in the Korean real-estate market. We test for the validity of the general prediction that the financial regulations in the form of the loan-to-value (LTV) and debt-to-income (DTI) restrictions would have adverse impacts on the value of the firms operating in the mortgage-lending industry. In this event study, we select two critical days as event dates and check whether the stock prices of the financial firms react negatively to the announcements of the regulations. Overall, the initial imposition of the DTI restrictions (i.e., the first event) adversely affects those banks that possess a relatively large number of mortgage loans in their asset portfolio. By contrast, banks that hold a small number of mortgage loans appear to benefit from the risk-reducing effect of the DTI regulation. Subsequently, the reinforcement of the LTV and DTI rules (i.e., the second event) has negative impacts on the banks with large mortgage loans. The degree of this adverse effect is greater in the second event than in the first event (i.e., the DTI restrictions). The reinforced regulations also unfavorably affect the savings banks with large mortgage loans but to a lesser degree compared with their counterparts in the banks. Meanwhile, the reinforcement of the financial regulations has negligible impacts on the banks and the savings banks with smaller mortgage loans.
Cigarette smoking in schizophrenia: relationship to psychopathology and medication side effects.

OBJECTIVE The authors' goal was to study the relationship between smoking status and clinical characteristics in schizophrenic patients. METHOD Seventy-eight schizophrenic outpatients were assessed by a single rater using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale, and the Simpson-Angus Scale for extrapyramidal symptoms. Current smokers (N = 58) were compared with nonsmokers (N = 20) on clinical variables by independent t tests and chi-square tests. Differences in outcome variables were tested by multiple analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with smoking status and gender as factors and age, neuroleptic dose, and caffeine consumption as covariates. RESULTS Seventy-four percent of patients were current smokers and reported a mean of 19 cigarettes smoked per day. Compared to nonsmokers, current smokers were significantly more likely to be men, to be younger, and to have had an earlier age at onset and a greater number of previous hospitalizations. Current smokers and nonsmokers received mean neuroleptic doses of 1160 and 542 mg/day (chlorpromazine equivalents); the difference was significant. Current smokers also displayed significantly less parkinsonism and more akathisia and had higher total scores on the BPRS. Overall multiple ANCOVA demonstrated a significant main effect for smoking status but not gender or the interaction between gender and smoking status. Univariate ANCOVAs demonstrated a significant main effect of smoking status only for the Simpson-Angus Scale score. CONCLUSIONS Cigarette smokers receive significantly higher neuroleptic doses, in part because of a smoking-induced increase in neuroleptic metabolism. Smoking is also associated with significant reduction in levels of parkinsonism. Smoking status is a significant factor that should be considered in assessment of neuroleptic dose requirements and neuroleptic side effects.
Tactile spatial resolution. III. A continuum mechanics model of skin predicting mechanoreceptor responses to bars, edges, and gratings.

" Passive electrical constants in three classes of hippocampal neurons. " The sentence beginning six lines below equation 8, right-hand column, should read: Although equation 8 was originally derived assuming an infinite electrotonic length, the resultant biases are small when p is small (11, 32), as described below.
Multi-robot cooperative stereo for outdoor scenarios

In this paper, we propose a cooperative perception framework for multi-robot real-time 3D high dynamic target estimation in outdoor scenarios based on monocular camera available on each robot. The relative position and orientation between robots establishes a flexible and dynamic stereo baseline. Overlap views subject to geometric constraints emerged from the stereo formulation, which allowed us to obtain a decentralized cooperative perception layer. Epipolar constraints related to the global frame are applied both in image feature matching and to feature searching and detection optimization in the image processing of robots with low computational capabilities. In contrast to classic stereo, the proposed framework considers all sources of uncertainty (in localization, attitude and image detection from both robots) in the determination of the objects best 3D localization and its uncertainty. The proposed framework can be later integrated in a decentralized data fusion (DDF) multi-target tracking approach where it can contribute to reduce rumor propagation data association and track initialization issues. We demonstrate the advantages of this approach in real outdoor scenario. This is done by comparing a stereo rigid baseline standalone target tracking with the proposed multi-robot cooperative stereo between a micro aerial vehicle (MAV) and an autonomous ground vehicle (AGV).
Ecology and physiology of the emerging opportunistic fungi Pseudallescheria boydii and Scedosporium prolificans

Summary. Nutritionally physiological patterns of Pseudallescheria boydii (Microascaceae) and the related species Scedosporium prolificans were established. Differences between the two species were found in assimilation of sucrose, ribitol, xylitol and L‐arabinitol. In contrast, no physiological distinction could be made between the three intraspecific variants of P. boydii which have been recognized on the basis of nDNA/DNA homology data and of morphological and clinical differences. Some potential virulence factors were studied in the fungi mentioned above and in some related anamorphs. All species were capable of anaerobic growth, but differed in their temperature relations.
3-D Shape Matching and Non-Rigid Correspondence for Hippocampi Based on Markov Random Fields

The purpose of this paper is to recover dense correspondence between non-rigid shapes for anatomical objects, which is a key element of disease diagnosis and analysis. We proposed a shape matching framework based on Markov random fields to obtain non-rigid correspondence. We constructed an energy function by summing up two terms where one was a unary term and the other was a binary term. By using this formulation, shape matching was represented as an energy function minimisation problem. Loopy belief propagation (LBP) was then used to minimize the energy function. We adopted a new sparse update technique for LBP update to increase computational efficiency. At the same time, we also proposed to use a novel clamping technique, an expectation-maximization (EM) like approach, to enhance matching accuracy. Experiments with the hippocampal data from OASIS and PATH showed that the sparse update was 160 times faster than standard BP. By iteratively running the EM-like clamping procedure, we were able to obtain high quality non-rigid correspondence results to achieve 97% matching rate between two hippocampi. Our shape matching based approach overcomes the flip problem of first-order ellipsoid and does not assume pre-alignment unlike iterative closest point.
Digital media and youth engagement

The landscape of political communication is undergoing fundamental change due to structural shifts in late modern societies and the widespread adoption of new digital communication technologies. These changes create new opportunities for young citizens to interact with information and organize action. We explore broad trends in three of the most prominent areas: (1) changes in information reception and consumption, (2) the emergence of content production and public position framing by and between citizens, and (3) the shifting nature of political action and engagement in the social media landscape. Adaptation to these changes is most visible among young people, who are both immersed in social technologies, and least committed to older patterns of citizenship and information-use.
An epidemiologic study of Lyme disease in southern Sweden.

BACKGROUND Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne infection in some temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. However, for most areas of endemic disease reliable epidemiologic data are sparse. METHODS Over a one-year period, we conducted a prospective, population-based survey of cases of Lyme disease in southern Sweden. The diagnosis was made on the basis of the presence of erythema migrans at least 5 cm in diameter or characteristic clinical manifestations such as arthritis, neuroborreliosis, and carditis. RESULTS We identified 1471 patients with Lyme disease, for an overall annual incidence of 69 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The incidence varied markedly according to geographic region, and there were several areas where disease was widely prevalent. The incidence varied according to age, with the highest rates among people 5 to 9 and 60 to 74 years of age, but not according to sex. The most frequent clinical manifestation was erythema migrans (seen in 77 percent of all cases), followed by neuroborreliosis (16 percent) and arthritis (7 percent). Carditis was rare. A preceding tick bite was reported by 79 percent of the patients. Bites in the head and neck region were more common among children than among adults and were associated with an increased risk of neuroborreliosis. CONCLUSIONS Lyme disease is very common in southern Sweden, with a relatively high frequency of neurologic complications and arthritis. With the exception of the low incidence of carditis, the pattern of disease we found in Sweden was similar to that reported in the United States.
Risk factors in habitats of the tick Ixodes ricinus influencing human exposure to Ehrlichia phagocytophila bacteria

Ixodes ricinus L. (Acari: Ixodida) were sampled during 1996–99 in southern Scotland, on vegetation using cloth drags, on humans by removal from clothing and on roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) by searching legs of culled deer. Developmental microclimate was recorded by automatic recorders and questing microclimate by portable instruments during tick collections. Ticks and deer were examined for infection with Ehrlichia phagocytophila bacteria (Rickettsiales) using microscopy and polymerase chain reaction. This pathogen causes tick‐borne fever of sheep in Europe and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis in North America, but in Europe human clinical ehrlichiosis due to E. phagocytophila has not been recorded despite serological evidence of exposure.
Randomized Clinical Trials of Neurally Mediated Syncope

Evidence for therapy of neurally mediated syncope is generally weak. Many drugs have been used for the treatment of vasovagal syncope (beta‐blockers, disopyramide, scopolamine, clonidine, theophylline, fludrocortisone, ephedrine, dihydroergotamine, etilefrine, midodrine, clonidine, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, enalapril). In general, although the results have been satisfactory in uncontrolled trials or short‐term controlled trials, the majority of long‐term placebo‐controlled prospective trials have not been able to show a benefit of the active drug over placebo. Only two well‐designed double‐blind placebo‐controlled randomized trials have been performed—one for etilefrine and the other for atenolol—and both were unable to show a superiority of the active drug versus placebo. Four randomized clinical trials of pacing therapy—three positive and one negative—have been performed in patients affected by vasovagal syncope. The relationship between carotid sinus hypersensitivity and spontaneous, otherwise unexplained, syncope has been demonstrated. Cardiac pacing appears to be beneficial in carotid sinus syndrome; its efficacy has been demonstrated by two randomized controlled trials and confirmed by several pre‐post comparative studies, one controlled trial, and one prospective observational study. There is evidence and general agreement that cardiac pacing is useful in patients with cardioinhibitory or mixed carotid sinus syndrome. Usefulness of the treatment is less well established and divergence of opinion exists with regard to cardiac pacing in patients with cardioinhibitory vasovagal syncope. The evidence fails to support the efficacy of beta‐blocking drugs. As yet there are insufficient data to support the use of any other pharmacologic therapy for vasovagal syncope. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 14, pp. S64‐S69, September 2003, Suppl.)
Epoprostenol and pulmonary arterial hypertension: 20 years of clinical experience

Epoprostenol was the first therapy to be approved for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). In the 20 years since the introduction of this prostacyclin analogue, the outlook for patients with PAH has improved, with survival rates now double those from the era before the development of disease-specific treatments. Today, there are a large amount of data on the clinical role of prostacyclin treatments and a body of evidence attesting the efficacy of epoprostenol in improving exercise capacity, key haemodynamic parameters and PAH symptoms, as well as in reducing mortality. The place of epoprostenol in the therapeutic management of PAH continues to evolve, with the development of new formulations and use in combination with other drug classes. In this review, we provide a historical perspective on the first 20 years of epoprostenol, a therapy that led to evidence-based study of PAH-specific treatments and the subsequent expansion of treatment options for PAH. The evolution of the place of epoprostenol in the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension http://ow.ly/OkY3303N2CX
A novel KLT algorithm optimized for small signal sets [speech processing applications]

The Karhunen-Loeve transform, being able to represent stochastic processes under appropriate conditions, is a powerful signal processing tool. But the high computational cost incurred in the modeling of long signals has limited its use in the recognition of speech segmented at the word level. In this paper, we present a novel algorithm that significantly reduces the computational cost when the number of signals to be treated is small in comparison to their samples.
Anti-System Parties:Policy Choices for Democracies A Study of India's Bharatiya Janata Party and Austria's Freedom Party

Teater, Kristina M. M.A., Department of Political Science, Wright State University, 2006. Anti-System Parties: Effective Policy Choices for Democracies. A study of India’s Bharatiya Janata party and Austria’s Freedom Party In the decades following WWII, countries across the globe witnessed the rise of antisystem parties. Political scientists have attributed their success to economic conditions, electoral systems, party systems and the electorate’s disaffection with mainstream parties. This analysis also suggests the influence of global factors. While the causes for success have been examined, effective policy choices for democracies have not been equally explored. This study makes the argument that by including anti-system parties in government, states are able to lessen the threat they pose to democracy. The analysis of India’s Bharatiya Janata Party and Austria’s Freedom party suggest that anti-system parties loose their allure when they come to power. The analysis also suggests that democracies by adopting the contrary policy of exclusion, in fact create conditions that foster support for anti-system parties. Lastly, this study suggests that the international community in response to anti-system parties in power should adopt a policy of cautious
Oxoferryl-Porphyrin Radical Catalytic Intermediate in Cytochrome bd Oxidases Protects Cells from Formation of Reactive Oxygen Species*

Background: Cytochrome bd oxidases are proposed to reduce O2 to H2O via a peroxide intermediate. Results: Kinetic studies detected, however, an oxoferryl-porphyrin radical intermediate and established insignificant production of reactive oxygen species. Conclusion: Cytochrome bd oxidases, like heme-copper oxidases, reduce O2 in a single four-electron transfer reaction. Significance: Both classes of terminal oxidases converged independently to minimize the production of reactive oxygen species. The quinol-linked cytochrome bd oxidases are terminal oxidases in respiration. These oxidases harbor a low spin heme b558 that donates electrons to a binuclear heme b595/heme d center. The reaction with O2 and subsequent catalytic steps of the Escherichia coli cytochrome bd-I oxidase were investigated by means of ultra-fast freeze-quench trapping followed by EPR and UV-visible spectroscopy. After the initial binding of O2, the O–O bond is heterolytically cleaved to yield a kinetically competent heme d oxoferryl porphyrin π-cation radical intermediate (compound I) magnetically interacting with heme b595. Compound I accumulates to 0.75–0.85 per enzyme in agreement with its much higher rate of formation (∼20,000 s−1) compared with its rate of decay (∼1,900 s−1). Compound I is next converted to a short lived heme d oxoferryl intermediate (compound II) in a phase kinetically matched to the oxidation of heme b558 before completion of the reaction. The results indicate that cytochrome bd oxidases like the heme-copper oxidases break the O–O bond in a single four-electron transfer without a peroxide intermediate. However, in cytochrome bd oxidases, the fourth electron is donated by the porphyrin moiety rather than by a nearby amino acid. The production of reactive oxygen species by the cytochrome bd oxidase was below the detection level of 1 per 1000 turnovers. We propose that the two classes of terminal oxidases have mechanistically converged to enzymes in which the O–O bond is broken in a single four-electron transfer reaction to safeguard the cell from the formation of reactive oxygen species.
The temporal dynamics of relationships between cannabis, psychosis and depression among young adults with psychotic disorders: findings from a 10-month prospective study

Background. The aim was to examine the temporal relationships over 10 months between cannabis use and symptoms of psychosis and depression in people with schizophrenia and related disorders. The design was a prospective study of 101 patients with schizophrenia and related disorders who were assessed monthly over 10 months on medication compliance, cannabis and other drug use, symptoms of depression and symptoms of psychosis. Method. Linear regression methods to assess relationships between cannabis use and symptoms of psychosis and depression while adjusting for serial dependence, medication compliance and other demographic and clinical variables. Results. Cannabis use predicted a small but statistically significant increase in symptoms of psychosis, but not depression, after controlling for other differences between cannabis users and non-users. Symptoms of depression and psychosis did not predict cannabis use. Conclusion. Continued cannabis use by persons with schizophrenia predicts a small increase in psychotic symptom severity but not vice versa.