Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Xueliankoufuye Suppresses Microglial Activation with Inflammatory Pain by Blocking NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Xuelian, as a traditional Chinese ethnodrug, plays an important role in anti-inflammation, immunoregulation, promoting blood circulation, and other physiological functions. It has been prepared into different traditional Chinese medicine preparations for clinical use, with xuelian koufuye (XL) being widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. However, whether XL can relieve inflammatory pain and its analgesic molecular mechanism are still unknown. The present study explored the palliative effect of XL on inflammatory pain and its analgesic molecular mechanism. In complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammatory joint pain, oral XL dose-dependently improved the mechanical withdrawal threshold of inflammatory pain from an average value of 17.8 g to 26.6 g (P < 0.05) and high doses of XL significantly reduced inflammation-induced ankle swelling from an average value of 3.1 cm to 2.3 cm compared to the model group (P < 0.05). In addition, in carrageenan-induced inflammatory muscle pain rat models, oral XL dose-dependently improved the mechanical withdrawal threshold of inflammatory pain from an average value of 34.3 g to 40.8 g (P < 0.05). The phosphorylated p65 was inhibited in LPS-induced BV-2 microglia and spinal cord of mice in CFA-induced inflammatory joint pain within a value of 75% (P < 0.001) and 52% reduction (P < 0.05) on average, respectively. In addition, the results showed that XL could effectively inhibit the expression and secretion of IL-6 from an average value of 2.5 ng/ml to 0.5 ng/ml (P < 0.001) and TNF-α from 3.6 mg/ml to 1.8 ng/ml with IC50 value of 20.15 μg/mL and 112 μg/mL respectively, by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway in BV-2 microglia (P < 0.001). The above-given results provide a clear understanding of the analgesic activity and mechanism of action not found in XL. Considering the significant effects of XL, it can be evaluated as a novel drug candidate for inflammatory pain, which establishes a new experimental basis for expanding the indications of XL in clinical treatment and suggests a feasible strategy to develop natural analgesic drugs.
Robust Visual Tracking via Parallel Kernel Sparse Representation and NormalHedge

In this paper, a novel visual object tracking method based on NormalHedge (NH) and parallel kernel sparse representation (PKSR) is proposed to achieve robust tracking accuracy under challenging conditions such as the target and its background sharing similar patterns, occlusion and deformation. Kernel functions are capable of improving classification performance by casting features to high dimensional kernel space. However, standard coordinate descent-based sparse representation method is not efficient enough for tracking problems. Thus we propose a kernel parallel coordinate descent method (KPCD) to efficiently solve �1 minimization in the kernel space. The classification framework is proposed to calculate the loss value of each particle as well. Then, an adaptive dictionary updating method is proposed to create the over-completed dictionary. In addition, the states of the target are calculated by a recently developed online learning method similar to the particle filter called NormalHedge (NH), which has an effective re-sampling method to avoid the degeneracy problem. Extensive test results show the proposed method outperforms several state-of-art tracking methods in complex conditions.
Targeting BACE1-mediated production of amyloid beta improves hippocampal synaptic function in an experimental model of ischemic stroke

Post-stroke cognitive impairment and dementia (PSCID) affects many survivors of large vessel cerebral ischemia. The molecular pathways underlying PSCID are poorly defined but may overlap with neurodegenerative pathophysiology. Specifically, synaptic dysfunction after stroke may be directly mediated by alterations in the levels of amyloid beta (Aβ), the peptide that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. In this study, we use the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) model in young adult mice to evaluate if a large vessel stroke increases brain soluble Aβ levels. We show that soluble Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels are increased in the ipsilateral hippocampus in MCAo mice 7 days after the injury. We also analyze the level and activity of β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), an enzyme that generates Aβ in the brain, and observe that BACE1 activity is increased in the ipsilateral hippocampus of the MCAo mice. Finally, we highlight that treatment of MCAo mice with a BACE1 inhibitor during the recovery period rescues stroke-induced deficits in hippocampal synaptic plasticity. These findings support a molecular pathway linking ischemia to alterations in BACE1-mediated production of Aβ, and encourage future studies that evaluate whether targeting BACE1 activity improves the cognitive deficits seen with PSCID.
Improvement of expectation–maximization algorithm for phase‐type distributions with grouped and truncated data

This paper proposes an improved expectation–maximization (EM) algorithm for phase-type (PH) distributions with grouped and truncated data. Olsson (1996) derived an EM algorithm for PH distributions under censored data, and the similar technique can be utilized to the PH fitting even under grouped and truncated data. However, it should be noted that Olsson's algorithm has a drawback in terms of computation speed. Because the time complexity of the algorithm is a cube of number of phases, it does not work well in the case where the number of phases is large. This paper proposes an improvement of the EM algorithm under grouped and truncated observations. By applying a uniformization-based technique for continuous-time Markov chains, it is shown that the time complexity of our algorithm can be reduced to the square of number of phases. In particular, when we consider the PH fitting using a canonical form of PH distributions, the time complexity is linear in the number of phases. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The potential impact of human interventions at different scales in offshore wind farms to promote flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) reef development in the southern North Sea

Incorporation of ecology and ecosystem services into marine infrastructural developments has gained interest over the last decades. Growing attention is given to combine the massive roll-out of offshore wind farms in the North Sea with reinstating the once rich but nowadays nearly extinct European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis). However, the practical upscaling of these pilots is hindered by the absence of clear management objectives and the lack of quantitative knowledge on the effect of technical interventions that could stimulate oyster reef development. Consequently, it is unclear what scale of intervention would actually be required to achieve overall management objectives. This paper presents a stepwise procedure designed in particular to guide the selection of appropriate measures and their required scale for pro-actively facilitating flat oyster reef development in offshore wind farms, in order to reach a desired state for oyster reef inclusive wind farms. The stepwise procedure addresses the historical and current situation of the physical system and social environment, provides options for intervention that stimulate oyster reef development at a range of scales, from micro-scale (materials used) to mega-scale (connectivity between wind farms), and quantitatively assesses the potential effect of applying these interventions. Assumptions have been made in quantifying the effort required for developing oyster reefs in offshore wind farms, and refinement is obviously needed. However, this is a first attempt to make such estimates. The outcomes provide direction in identifying research needs to fill knowledge gaps, as well as in decision-making during the design process for inducing oyster reef development in offshore wind farms. Herewith, application of the stepwise procedure supports authorities in restoration management for the successful reinstatement of flat oyster reefs in the southern North Sea.
Genome-Wide Analysis of the Rhododendron AP2/ERF Gene Family: Identification and Expression Profiles in Response to Cold, Salt and Drought Stress

The AP2/ERF gene family is one of the most conserved and important transcription factor families mainly occurring in plants with various functions in regulating plant biological and physiological processes. However, little comprehensive research has been conducted on the AP2/ERF gene family in Rhododendron (specifically, Rhododendron simsii), an important ornamental plant. The existing whole-genome sequence of Rhododendron provided data to investigate the AP2/ERF genes in Rhododendron on a genome-wide scale. A total of 120 Rhododendron AP2/ERF genes were identified. The phylogenetic analysis showed that RsAP2 genes were classified into five main subfamilies, AP2, ERF, DREB, RAV and soloist. Cis-acting elements involving plant growth regulators, response to abiotic stress and MYB binding sites were detected in the upstream sequences of RsAP2 genes. A heatmap of RsAP2 gene expression levels showed that these genes had different expression patterns in the five developmental stages of Rhododendron flowers. Twenty RsAP2 genes were selected for quantitative RT-PCR experiments to clarify the expression level changes under cold, salt and drought stress treatments, and the results showed that most of the RsAP2 genes responded to these abiotic stresses. This study generated comprehensive information on the RsAP2 gene family and provides a theoretical basis for future genetic improvement.
Large deviations for risk models in which each main claim induces a delayed claim

In reality insurance claims may be delayed for several reasons and risk models with this feature have been discussed for some years. In this paper we present a sample path large deviation principle for the delayed claims risk model presented in (Yuen K.C., Guo J., and Ng K.W., 2005, On ultimate ruin in a delayed-claims model, Journal of Applied Probability, 42, 163–174). Roughly speaking each main claim induces another type of claim called by-claim; any by-claim occurs later than its main claim and the time of delay is random. Successively we use Gärtner Ellis Theorem to prove a large deviation principle for a more general version of this model, in which the following items depend on the evolution of an irreducible (continuous time) Markov chain with finite state space: the intensity of the Poisson claim number process, the distribution of the claim sizes and the distribution of the random times of delay. Finally we present the Lundberg's estimate for the ruin probabilities; in the fashion of large deviations this estimate provides the exponential decay of the ruin probability as the initial capital goes to infinity.
Epidemiology of Leptospira spp. infection in a beef cattle area of Argentina

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira that affect humans and animals. This disease is complex and non-eradicable in nature. Therefore, the understanding of it is epidemiology in different environments is crucial to implement prevention and control measures. The prevalence of Leptospira infection in beef cattle farms is affected by multiple environmental, management and individual factors. In this study, a cross-sectional serological survey was carried on to estimate the prevalence of Leptospira antibodies in beef cattle in Tandil and Ayacucho Departments (Buenos Aires Province) and to identify risk factors and spatial clusters associated with seropositivity. Using a probabilistic two-stage sampling, 25 farms and 15 animals per farm were selected. The Microagglutination Test was used to analize all serum samples. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Seventy-three out of 375 cows were seropositive, representing a positivity rate of 19.47% (95% CI: 10.51–28.42), with Sejroe and Pomona being the most reactive serogroups: 9.33% (95% CI: 6.26–12.41) and 8.27% (95% CI: 5.35–11.19), respectively. The prevalence in Ayacucho was 23.11% (95% CI: 10.05–36.17), and in Tandil, 14% (95% CI: 3.25–24.75). The animals from Ayacucho presented 2.01 (1.16–3.49) more chances of being positive compared with those from Tandil (p < 0.01). After the Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) with random effect of farm-level risk, the presence of lagoons (OR: 7.32, 95% CI: 1.68–31.8, p < 0.05) and undulating terrain (OR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.07–0.74, p < 0.05) were associated with bovine leptospirosis. Four spatial clusters with higher rates of seropositivity were detected. A new GLMM was performed with the significant variables detected in the first GLMM and a new variable, “being inside the spatial cluster,” being the only one that remained significant (OR: 9.58, 95% CI: 3.39–27.08, p < 0.0001). The animals inside the clusters belonged to farms with a greater presence of creeks (OR: 9.03, 95% CI: 3.37–24.18, p < 0.0001), higher accumulated rainfall (OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1–1.01, p < 0.0001) and less undulating terrain (OR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.10–0.35, p < 0.0001). We conclude that Leptospira is seroprevalent in beef cattle in Tandil and Ayacucho Departments, especially in the latter, where the largest cattle farms are located. Prevalence of seropositivity animals was associated with selected environmental risk factors.
The right ear advantage – a perspective from speech perception in noise test

Abstract Objective So far, binaural summation for speech stimuli has been less evaluated in the literature, without the head shadow effect and spatial release from masking. Moreover, the right ear advantage has been shown mostly in the dichotic listening situation, but with conflicting results in the monaural/binaural listening condition. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate binaural hearing advantage utilizing only binaural summation without other factors and to evaluate the right ear advantage in the monaural listening situation. Methods Thirty-seven participants with normal hearing in the range of 0.125–20 kHz participated current study. Evaluation of speech perception in noise (SPIN) performances were conducted by Matrix test. Participants assessed in three different conditions including the right ear condition, the left ear condition and the binaural condition. Test order of the ears was counterbalanced and noises presented ipsilateral for monaural conditions. Results The lowest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values needed for understanding speech in noise were statistically significantly lower in binaural listening conditions compared to monaural listening conditions. In monaural listening conditions, the SNR value needed to understand speech in noise in the right ear was statistically significantly lower than in the left ear. Conclusion The results showed that the rehabilitation/habilitation of hearing-impairment patient should consider binaural amplification options to improve SPIN. In case of the symmetric hearing loss with the encountering compulsory situations which bring about the necessity to use only one ear, then right ear preference for amplification devices can provide better SPIN performance.
Myocardial tissue characterization by means of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging

The possibilities and the limits of texture analysis by NMR imaging using automatic discrimination algorithms, were investigated. The authors tried to identify objective descriptors of tissue textures by means of computerized analysis of gray level geometric properties. The algorithms were able to distinguish different tissues without reference to their anatomic location. Tissue structure could be characterized even before a clear macroscopic derangement has occurred. <<ETX>>
Influence of Parturition on Rumen Bacteria and SCFAs in Holstein Cows Based on 16S rRNA Sequencing and Targeted Metabolomics

Simple Summary The depressed appetite at parturition might induce the changes in the composition and quantity of rumen microbiota. At present, little is known about the influence of parturition on the levels of rumen microbiota and their fermentation ability in dairy cows. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of parturition on composition and quantity of bacterial communities and concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) with 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing and targeted GC–MS/MS metabolomics. The results showed that parturition altered the levels of rumen bacteria and their fermentation ability. The findings provide a better understanding of the effect of parturition on rumen digestive function. Abstract The rumen fluids from ten cows at Day 3~5 before calving and Day 0 after calving were collected to analyze the composition and quantity of bacterial communities and concentrations of SCFAs. The results showed that the relative abundances of unidentified Lachnospiraceae, Acetitomaculum, Methanobrevibacter, Olsenella, Syntrophococcus, Lachnospira, and Lactobacillus genera were significant increased (p < 0.05), while that of unidentified-Prevotellaceae was notably decreased after calving (p < 0.05). In addition, the concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and caproic acid obviously decreased after calving (p < 0.01). Our findings show that parturition altered the rumen microbiota and their fermentation ability in dairy cows. This study defines a rumen bacteria and metabolic profile of SCFAs associated with parturition in dairy cows.
An Improved Asymmetric Modulation of Current-Source Rectifier With CM Filter for Low Voltage Stress on Switching Devices

Common-mode (CM) filters are usually utilized in high power density three-phase current-source rectifier (3ph-CSR) to suppress the CM noise in the input currents. However, when CM filters are utilized, the inductor currents at the positive and negative ends of the dc side of 3ph-CSR are unequal, which brings high voltage stress on switching devices. To reduce the voltage stress on the switching devices, an improved asymmetric modulation is proposed in this letter. In the proposed asymmetric modulation, two switching devices are always turned on in each sector, which clamps the voltage of the switching devices to the peak of the input line voltages. A 1 kW experimental prototype of the 3ph-CSR is built to verify the analysis results.
Identifying Maritime Ports’ Investment Drivers: The Case of French Local and Regional Ports

Ports play an essential role in the production and distribution processes of companies, as well as in the organizations set up by logistics and transportation service providers. But ports are also likely to have to contribute to the development of the territories they are part of. This paper aims at knowing more about how this double challenge impacts the investments made by local and regional ports. To this end, seventeen individual websites and three collective websites of French ports have been surveyed. Results show that the sampled ports and groups of ports have for the most part properly adjusted both to the constraints posed by the public authorities and to the needs and expectations of their current and potential customers.
Regimes of chaotic synchronization in external-cavity laser diodes

Chaotic synchronization is investigated experimentally using two diode lasers as transmitter and receiver. The transmitter laser is rendered chaotic by application of an optical feedback in an external-cavity configuration. Experimental conditions are found under which the synchronization diagram makes a transition from a positive to a negative gradient. A regime of operating conditions is identified in which the receiver laser is found to anticipate the dynamics of the transmitter laser. The anticipation time does not depend on the external-cavity length, but rather on the time of flight between the two lasers. Changes in the spectrum of the synchronized system are shown to be associated with the transition between anticipating and lag synchronization.
Polarisation against voltage hysteresis loop of surface-stabilised ferroelectric liquid crystals

The director orientation of the ferroelectric liquid crystal molecules within a surface-stabilised is measured by means of Diamant capacitance bridge. It turns out that the polarisation versus voltage curve has a strongly frequency-dependent hysteresis loop. For example, the width of the hysteresis loop (i.e. the coercive voltage) increases with increasing frequency f like f12/, over a large range of frequencies. A simple mathematical model, which considers the director orientation to be uniform throughout the display, explains these experimental facts.
TeV γ-ray observation of nearby Active Galactic Nuclei with the MAGIC telescope: exploring the high energy region of the multiwavelength picture

The first three chapters of this thesis provide an introduction to the relevant physics topics discussed, starting from the basic notions and open questions about the Cosmic Rays (chapter 1), going through the achievements of the young branch of Astrophysics known as gamma-ray Astronomy (chapter 2), and focusing finally on the astrophysical objects which are the subject of this thesis: the Active Galactic Nuclei (chapter 3). We propose then three chapters that discuss the experimental approach to the subject. The gamma-ray detection techniques and the type of detectors are first discussed (chapter 4), paying special attention to the explanation of the IACT technique. The MAGIC telescope(-s) (chapter 5) and its data analysis procedure (chapter 6) are then discussed in detail, since the astrophysical measurements shown on this thesis are obtained in this framework. The next two chapters report on the physics results obtained in the course of my research. The measurement of the VHE gamma-ray flux of three famous extragalactic sources, namely Markarian 421 and Markarian 501, in the context of the up to date most complete multiwavelength campaigns ever organized on this type of objects (chapter 7), and Messier 87 during an important flaring activity (chapter 8). Finally, two appendices describe the most relevant technical developments to which I was committed during my PhD. The first is the development of a novel method for the analysis of the MAGIC telescope data which makes use of the time information in the Cherenkov images (appendix A). The second is the development of the data acquisition software for MAGIC-II (appendix B), the second telescope of the 'MAGIC Florian Goebel Telescopes' array.
A new species of Paracortina from a Vietnamese cave, with remarkable secondary sexual characters in males (Callipodida, Paracortinidae)

﻿Abstract A new millipede species, Paracortinakyrangsp. nov., is described from a cave in Cao Bang Province, northern Vietnam. The new species is diagnosed by having an extraordinarily long projection on the head of males, reduced eyes, a gonocoxite with two processes, a long and slender gonotelopodite with two long, clavate prefemoroidal processes densely covered with long macrosetae apically, and with a distal, reverse, short spine on mesal side, and a rather sinuous distal part of the telopodite. This is the third species of the genus that is known from Vietnam. A brief comparison of some secondary sexual characters is made.