Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experimental infection of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar pre-smolts by i.p. injection with new Irish and Norwegian salmonid alphavirus (SAV) isolates: a comparative study.

Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. pre-smolts were experimentally infected with 2 different isolates of salmonid alphavirus (SAV): a Subtype 1 isolate from Ireland and a Subtype 3 isolate from Norway. Sequential samples of tissue and blood were collected during a period of 20 wk post injection and subjected to virus isolation from kidney tissue and serum, detection of viral nucleic acid in heart tissue and serum by real-time RT-PCR, detection of specific antibodies by virus neutralisation assay, and histopathological examination. Successful reproduction of pancreas disease (PD) was obtained by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of both isolates. No mortality was observed post infection in either group, but typical PD histopathological lesions in heart and pancreas tissue were observed with both isolates. The prevalence and severity of lesions in the pancreas, heart, skeletal muscle and brain were similar in both groups with only subtle differences recorded. Re-isolation of virus from kidney tissue was performed at 7 and 14 d post infection (d p.i.) only and was positive for both test groups at both sampling points. Isolation of virus from sera from both groups was positive at 4 to 14 d p.i. , but was negative at later sampling points when antibody production had begun. Virus may be detected only during the acute phase using both methods. Specific neutralising antibodies could be detected for both test groups from Day 21 p.i. until the end of the experiment at 140 d p.i. Peak antibody titres were seen 70 d p.i. Using real-time RT-PCR, pancreas disease virus (PDV)-specific RNA was detected frequently in serum samples up to 14 d p.i. and occasionally thereafter. In contrast, viral RNA could still be detected in the heart tissue of fish from both groups for at least 140 d p.i.
Oncogenomics of c-Myc transgenic mice reveal novel regulators of extracellular signaling, angiogenesis and invasion with clinical significance for human lung adenocarcinoma

The c-Myc transcription factor is frequently deregulated in cancers. To search for disease diagnostic and druggable targets a transgenic lung cancer disease model was investigated. Oncogenomics identified c-Myc target genes in lung tumors. These were validated by RT-PCR, Western Blotting, EMSA assays and ChIP-seq data retrieved from public sources. Gene reporter and ChIP assays verified functional importance of c-Myc binding sites. The clinical significance was established by RT-qPCR in tumor and matched healthy control tissues, by RNA-seq data retrieved from the TCGA Consortium and by immunohistochemistry recovered from the Human Protein Atlas repository. In transgenic lung tumors 25 novel candidate genes were identified. These code for growth factors, Wnt/β-catenin and inhibitors of death receptors signaling, adhesion and cytoskeleton dynamics, invasion and angiogenesis. For 10 proteins over-expression was confirmed by IHC thus demonstrating their druggability. Moreover, c-Myc over-expression caused complete gene silencing of 12 candidate genes, including Bmp6, Fbln1 and Ptprb to influence lung morphogenesis, invasiveness and cell signaling events. Conversely, among the 75 repressed genes TNFα and TGF-β pathways as well as negative regulators of IGF1 and MAPK signaling were affected. Additionally, anti-angiogenic, anti-invasive, adhesion and extracellular matrix remodeling and growth suppressive functions were repressed. For 15 candidate genes c-Myc-dependent DNA binding and transcriptional responses in human lung cancer samples were confirmed. Finally, Kaplan–Meier survival statistics revealed clinical significance for 59 out of 100 candidate genes, thus confirming their prognostic value. In conclusion, previously unknown c-Myc target genes in lung cancer were identified to enable the development of mechanism-based therapies.
Optimal tracking control for linear discrete-time systems using reinforcement learning

This paper presents an online solution to the infinite-horizon linear quadratic tracker (LQT) using reinforcement learning. It is first assumed that the value function for the LQT is quadratic in terms of the reference trajectory and the state of the system. Then, using the quadratic form of the value function, an augmented algebraic Riccati equation (ARE) is derived to solve the LQT. Using this formulation, both feedback and feedforward parts of the optimal control solution are obtained simultaneously by solving the augmented ARE. To find the solution to the augmented ARE online, policy iteration as a class of reinforcement learning algorithms, is employed. This algorithm is implemented on an actor-critic structure by using two neural networks and it does not need the knowledge of the drift system dynamics or the command generator dynamics. A simulation example shows that the proposed algorithm works for a system with partially unknown dynamics.
A preliminary study of podcasting in developing higher education institutions: A South African case

– The purpose of this paper is to report on podcasting experience by faculty and students in a South African higher education institution (HEI), identify issues, limitations and discuss implications for the design of future tools. , – This work consisted of two parts: semi‐structured interviews with lecturers, content/curriculum developers and a student survey. , – Rogers's diffusion of innovations theory provided the framework for this research including determining how new innovations are disseminated, their rate of adoption, the five‐stage decision‐making process for adoption and the characteristics an innovation must possess to be attractive to adopters. The methodology used relied heavily on descriptive and qualitative data analyses in order to determine the current podcasting practices and experiences. Results reveal that by assuming some of the respondents are “innovators” or “early adopters”, they are still in the early stages of the decision‐making process. , – Some instructors who are identified as “early adopters” are experimenting with podcasting as an add‐on to existing lecture resources. However, innovations and their subsequent adoption require an understanding of lecturers' and students' perceptions, opportunities and challenges. , – Podcasting in developing HEIs and the tools therein to support the process has not been given much attention. The context of this study is the first kind of empirical research in this area. The findings from this exploratory research will be valuable for podcasting users.
DIETARY PHYTOSTEROLS INHIBIT THE LIPID MODULATING EFFECTS OF SESAMIN IN RATS

The major lignan in the unsaponifiable fraction of sesame lipids, sesamin, is known to affect lipid metabolism. For example, sesamin inhibits the clearance of tocopherols, the activity of Δ5-desaturase during fatty acid metabolism, and reduces cholesterol absorption and biosynthesis. In order to study whether dietary phytosterols, which are known to reduce the absorption of lipid soluble dietary factors, may influence the lipid-modulating effects of sesamin, rats were fed, in a 2×2 Latin-square design, diets containing two concentrations of sesamin and phytosterols for 4 weeks. Tocopherols and cholesterol were analyzed in plasma and liver and the fatty acid profile was determined in liver lipids. Sesamin increased α-tocopherol concentrations in plasma and liver (p<0.001), whereas the phytosterols had no effect. However, an increase in the phytosterol content of the diet resulted in a reduction of the α-tocopherol-elevating effect of sesamin in plasma (p<0.01). Similarly, sesamin increased the percentage of dihomo-γ-linolenic acid in liver lipids (p<0.05), which was abolished by the addition of phytosterols. Neither sesamin nor phytosterols significantly altered cholesterol concentrations in plasma or liver. In conclusion, these results suggest that in rats, dietary phytosterols may interact with sesamin in a way reducing its biological activities.
Expectation-Maximization Tensor Factorization for Practical Location Privacy Attacks

Abstract Location privacy attacks based on a Markov chain model have been widely studied to de-anonymize or de-obfuscate mobility traces. An adversary can perform various kinds of location privacy attacks using a personalized transition matrix, which is trained for each target user. However, the amount of training data available to the adversary can be very small, since many users do not disclose much location information in their daily lives. In addition, many locations can be missing from the training traces, since many users do not disclose their locations continuously but rather sporadically. In this paper, we show that the Markov chain model can be a threat even in this realistic situation. Specifically, we focus on a training phase (i.e. mobility profile building phase) and propose Expectation-Maximization Tensor Factorization (EMTF), which alternates between computing a distribution of missing locations (E-step) and computing personalized transition matrices via tensor factorization (M-step). Since the time complexity of EMTF is exponential in the number of missing locations, we propose two approximate learning methods, one of which uses the Viterbi algorithm while the other uses the Forward Filtering Backward Sampling (FFBS) algorithm. We apply our learning methods to a de-anonymization attack and a localization attack, and evaluate them using three real datasets. The results show that our learning methods significantly outperform a random guess, even when there is only one training trace composed of 10 locations per user, and each location is missing with probability 80% (i.e. even when users hardly disclose two temporally-continuous locations).
Exciton Dynamics and Charge Separation in Polymer Thin Films

Department of Physics Exciton Dynamics and Charge Separation in Polymer Thin Films by Philipp EHRENREICH Conjugated polymers promise to offer a wide range of new applications and technologies by combining electronic properties of conventional semiconductors with the mechanical and fabrication advantages of plastics. In this context, fundamental challenges have to be solved and the remaining deficiencies, such as low exciton diffusion lengths and poor separation efficiencies, need to be remedied. Even though power conversion efficiencies have reached a competitive level, the exciton dissociation mechanism is still subject of extensive investigations and has not yet been fully understood. This subject will be addressed after an introduction in the fundamental concept of polymer semiconductors and a detailed description of the applied experimental methods. For this purpose, the charge generation process at an polymer-fullerene interface is compared to a hybrid heterointerface in which the organic acceptor is replaced by the metal oxide TiO2. By means of transient absorption spectroscopy, carrier dynamics are investigated with a sub 10 fs time resolution. For hybrid heterostructures, this ultrafast time scale has not yet been investigated and there are only few studies on organic-organic interfaces. It will be shown that exciton dissociation is a non-coherent process in which the energetic landscape at the interface is of crucial importance. Although both systems follow the same exciton dissociation mechanism, it will be shown that the Coulomb interaction of charge transfer states constitutes a major bottleneck in the charge carrier separation efficiency at hybrid interfaces. In a recent work, it was shown that it is possible to bypass limitations if chemically bound molecular interlayers are used. These exhibit intrinsically excellent charge injection properties. Improved photocurrrent contributions from the polymer donor are possible if excitons are transferred resonantly via dipole-dipole interaction to such molecules which subsequently execute the separation process. This thesis will further generalize this finding by comparing four different polymers in combination with two dye molecule interlayers. Moreover, new design rules are offered which allow for direct exciton dissociation by employing a novel benzothiadiazole oligomer as an interlayer. In this context surface energetics are tailored systematically in between donor and acceptor and the power conversion efficiency is improved by remarkable 60% due to a reduced recombination of localized interfacial charge pairs.
The Role of Logistics in Practical Levelized Cost of Energy Reduction Implementation and Government Sponsored Cost Reduction Studies: Day and Night in Offshore Wind Operations and Maintenance Logistics

This paper reveals that logistics make up at least 17% of annual operational expenditure costs for offshore wind farms. Annual operational expenditure is found to vary by a factor of 9.5, making its share of levelized cost of energy for offshore wind range from 13% to 57%. These are key findings of a 20-month research project targeting cost reduction initiatives for offshore wind systems. The findings reveal that cost-out measures are difficult to implement due to cultural differences. Implementation efforts are rendered by personnel located offshore in a harsh sea environment which is in stark contrast to the shore-based office personnel who develop studies directing cost reduction efforts. This paper details the company motivation to join industry-wide cost reduction initiatives. A business case for offshore wind operations and maintenance logistics yielding 1% savings in levelized cost of energy is included on how to expand working hours from daytime to also work at night.
TEL2, an ETS Factor Expressed in Human Leukemia, Regulates Monocytic Differentiation of U937 Cells and Blocks the Inhibitory Effect of TEL1 on Ras-Induced Cellular Transformation

TEL2 is a member of the ETS family of transcription factors, which is highly similar to TEL1/ETV6. It binds to DNA via the ETS domain and interacts with itself or TEL1 via the pointed domain. The expression of TEL2 in normal and leukemic hematopoietic cells suggests a role in hematopoietic development. In this article, we describe the role of TEL2 in hematopoietic differentiation and cellular transformation. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR showed that the expression of TEL2 mRNA was down-regulated during monocytic differentiation of U937 and HL60 induced by 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D3 and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, respectively. Overexpression of TEL2 in U937 cells inhibited differentiation induced by vitamin D3. In contrast, overexpression of a TEL2 mutant lacking either the pointed domain or a functional ETS domain induced both differentiation of U937 cells and inhibited their growth in vitro and in vivo. In addition, these mutants blocked TEL2-mediated transcriptional repression of a synthetic promoter containing TEL2 binding sites. These data suggest that dominant-negative inhibition of TEL2 might cause differentiation. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR demonstrated that TEL2 is expressed at higher level in some primary human leukemia samples than in normal bone marrow. Furthermore, overexpression of TEL2 in NIH3T3-UCLA cells blocked the inhibitory effect of TEL1 on Ras-induced cellular transformation. These results suggest that TEL2 may play an important role in hematopoiesis and oncogenesis.
Spontaneous complete remission of type 1 diabetes mellitus in an adult – review and case report

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune condition that results in low plasma insulin levels by destruction of beta cells of the pancreas. As part of the natural progression of this disease, some patients regain beta cell activity transiently. This period is often referred to as the ‘honeymoon period’ or remission of T1DM. During this period, patients manifest improved glycemic control with reduced or no use of insulin or anti-diabetic medications. The incidence rates of remission and duration of remission is extremely variable. Various factors seem to influence the remission rates and duration. These include but are not limited to C-peptide level, serum bicarbonate level at the time of diagnosis, duration of T1DM symptoms, haemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) levels at the time of diagnosis, sex, and age of the patient. Mechanism of remission is not clearly understood. Extensive research is ongoing in regard to the possible prevention and reversal of T1DM. However, most of the studies that showed positive results were small and uncontrolled. We present a 32-year-old newly diagnosed T1DM patient who presented with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and HbA1C of 12.7%. She was on basal bolus insulin regimen for the first 4 months after diagnosis. Later, she stopped taking insulin and other anti-diabetic medications due to compliance and logistical issues. Eleven months after diagnosis, her HbA1C spontaneously improved to 5.6%. Currently (14 months after T1DM diagnosis), she is still in complete remission, not requiring insulin therapy.
RNAi Screening with Self-Delivering, Synthetic siRNAs for Identification of Genes That Regulate Primary Human T Cell Migration

Screening of RNA interference (RNAi) libraries in primary T cells is labor-intensive and technically challenging because these cells are hard to transfect. Chemically modified, self-delivering small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) offer a solution to this problem, because they enter hard-to-transfect cell types without needing a delivery reagent and are available in library format for RNAi screening. In this study, we have screened a library of chemically modified, self-delivering siRNAs targeting the expression of 72 distinct genes in conjunction with an image-based high-content-analysis platform as a proof-of-principle strategy to identify genes involved in lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1)-mediated migration in primary human T cells. Our library-screening strategy identified the small GTPase RhoA as being crucial for T cell polarization and migration in response to LFA-1 stimulation and other migratory ligands. We also demonstrate that multiple downstream assays can be performed within an individual RNAi screen and have used the remainder of the cells for additional assays, including cell viability and adhesion to ICAM-1 (the physiological ligand for LFA-1) in the absence or presence of the chemokine SDF-1α. This study therefore demonstrates the ease and benefits of conducting siRNA library screens in primary human T cells using self-delivering, chemically modified siRNAs, and it emphasizes the feasibility and potential of this approach for elucidating the signaling pathways that regulate T cell function.
Risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and family history of lymphatic, hematologic, and other cancers.

BACKGROUND An elevated risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has been associated with a family history of NHL and several other malignancies, but the magnitude of risks and mechanisms are uncertain. METHODS We used self-reported family history data from a recent multicenter U.S.-based case-control studies of NHL to evaluate familial aggregation of NHL with various hematolymphoproliferative and other cancers. Estimates of familial aggregation were obtained as hazard ratios (HR) that compare incidence of different cancers in first-degree relatives of NHL cases with that in the first-degree relatives of NHL controls. Limitations of the study included low participation rates (76% for cases and 52% for controls) and potential differential accuracy of recall. RESULTS Risk of NHL was elevated in relatives of NHL cases [HR, 2.9; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.95-8.53]; the aggregation seems to be stronger for siblings (HR, 7.6; 95% CI, 0.98-58.8) and for male relatives (HR, 6.2; 95% CI, 0.77-50.0). Risk of Hodgkin's lymphoma seems to be also elevated among relatives of early-onset (<50 years) NHL cases (HR, 3.2; 95% CI, 0.88-11.6). Evaluation of family history of other cancers provided modest evidence for an increased risk of melanoma of the skin (HR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.08-7.75), pancreatic cancer (HR, 2.1; 95% CI, 0.96-4.43), stomach cancer (HR, 1.8; 95% CI, 0.91-3.63), and prostate cancer (HR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.87-1.99). CONCLUSIONS These results are consistent with previous findings of familial aggregation of NHL, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and a few other cancers. The pattern of male-specific and sibling-specific familial aggregation of NHL we observed, if confirmed, may shed new light on the possible mechanisms that underlie familial aggregation of the disease.
Effects of high calcium intake on blood pressure and calcium metabolism in young SHR.

Increased dietary calcium intake in the adult spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) has been reported to correct low serum ionized calcium concentration ([Ca++]) and to result in a significant amelioration of the prevailing hypertension. In the present study we examined several parameters of calcium metabolism in young (6-week-old) SHR and compared them with those observed in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats fed equal amounts of a diet containing normal quantities of calcium (0.4%, wt/wt) for 4 weeks. A separate group of SHR was placed on an equal amount of a high calcium (2.8%, wt/wt) but otherwise identical diet. In SHR and WKY eating a normal calcium diet, serum total calcium concentration was not different, but [Ca++] was lower in SHR (1.58 +/- 0.06 vs 1.91 +/- 0.07 mmol/liter, p less than 0.01). Serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (PTH) was increased in some, but not all, SHR. No difference was noted between the two groups in the following parameters: calcium intake, serum 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25(OH)2D3), urinary calcium excretion, fractional stool calcium content ([stool calcium/calcium intake] X 100), and in vitro 45Ca uptake by everted gut sacs constructed from segments of duodenum, mid-jejunum, ileum, and proximal colon. A high calcium diet corrected the abnormal serum [Ca++] and PTH but did not alter the progression or severity of the hypertension in SHR. A lower net weight gain was observed in SHR on a high calcium diet when compared to SHR eating normal calcium diet (9.1 +/- 1.8 vs 27.0 +/- 2.0 g). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Ceramides in the Pathophysiology of the Anterior Segment of the Eye

Abstract Purpose: Sphingolipid (SL) research reached a peak in the past years. Yet this positive trend was not evident for eye research as the relative number of studies centered on SLs is decreasing. Our aim is to encourage the inclusion of SL metabolites in studies of ocular pathophysiology by summarizing recent findings and current awareness concerning ceramides in the anterior segment of the eye. Methods: Review of literature relating to ceramides as bioactive lipids and the extent to which their particular nature was investigated in ocular pathophysiology. Results: Ceramides are rare but indispensable lipids that influence cellular responses through their effects on membrane biophysical properties or direct interaction with target proteins. Their biological significance is increased by variability and adaptability as there are tens of enzymes designed to modulate their function. The eye offers a set of unique environments where ceramides or other SLs have not been extensively studied. Not surprisingly, ceramides were associated with apoptosis in the metabolically active tissues, while little is known about its effects on the biophysical properties of the tears or lens lipids. More so, there are still aspects of the ocular homeostasis control where SLs contribution has not been investigated to date (e.g. pathogen aggression). Conclusions: Ceramides and SL metabolism still receive increasing attention and have proven to be a significant metabolite in many research fields (e.g. cancer, stress response and inflammation) and there are yet many questions that they will aid answer. With the present work, we seek to increase awareness of these lipids also in eye research and to highlight their importance as common regulators of various diseases.