Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of Serpine-1 and Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase type-1 in early host responses to Staphylococcus aureus intracutaneous infection of mice.

Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of skin and soft tissue infections in animal and humans. In the current study, we hypothesized that early host responses to S. aureus infection leading to the recruitment of neutrophils and control of the bacterium at the site of infection depend on the expression of Serpine-1 and Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase type-1, two important endogenous proteinase inhibitors that possess regulatory properties on a variety of pathophysiological conditions. Using a mouse model of skin infection and single-gene and double-gene knockout mice, however, our observations showed that Serpine-1 and Tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease type-1 did not impact the number of bacteria accumulating at the site of infection. Double-gene knockout mice further had the same volume of accumulating host cells at the site of infection, while single Tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease type-1 knockout mice showed a decreased number of cells. Follow-up studies demonstrated changes in Serpine-1, Tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease type-1 and IL-6 plasma levels following challenge. In addition, double-gene knockout mice did not differ from wild-type mice in white blood cell, granulocyte and leucocyte counts, while single-gene genotypes differed in these phenotypes.
Medial prefrontal cortex cells show dynamic modulation with the hippocampal theta rhythm dependent on behavior

Both the hippocampus and the medial prefrontal cortex are essential for successful performance in learning‐ and memory‐related tasks. Within the hippocampus the theta rhythm plays an integral role in the timing of action potentials of hippocampal neurons responding to elements of any given task. Medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) neurons display firing rate changes to specific facets of behavioral tasks (Jung et al., 1998. Cereb Cortex 8:437–450). We recorded units in the mPFC and field potentials in the hippocampus to determine whether behaviorally correlated mPFC cells fired with phase relationships to the hippocampal theta rhythm. In two different behavioral tasks (running a linear track and foraging in two distinct environments) we found mPFC cells that alternated between theta entrained firing and nonphasic firing depending on the ongoing behavior, while other cells were modulated during all conditions in both tasks. The majority of the mPFC cells with a significant correlation of firing rate changes with behavior were entrained to hippocampal theta. Cells that fired to specific events during only one direction of running were predisposed to theta modulation only in that direction. mPFC neurons have the capability to respond to behaviorally relevant elements by dynamically alternating between hippocampal theta entrained and nonphasic firing. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Extension of EFICA algorithm for blind separation of piecewise stationary non Gaussian sources

We propose an extension of EFICA algorithm for piecewise stationary and non Gaussian signals. The proposed method is able to profit from varying distribution of the original signals and also from their varying variance, which is demonstrated by simulations with real-world signals. We show that in case of constant-variance signals, the accuracy of the method may achieve the corresponding Cramer-Rao bound, if score functions of the original signals are known in all blocks.
A distributed design of ℋ2 suboptimal distributed controllers for networked systems

This paper considers the problem of finding a distributed ℋ2 suboptimal controller of a networked system in a distributed fashion, where both the plant and the controller units are interconnected systems interacting over a bidirectional causal network. A distributed design of ℋ2 suboptimal distributed control problem is provided using distributed linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). ℋ2 suboptimal distributed controllers can be found if there exists a feasible solution to these LMIs. These distributed LMIs consist of local and shared variables, and these shared variables are common only with their neighbors. The main contribution of this paper is that while the provided ℋ2 suboptimal control problem can be solved in a distributed way using distributed LMIs, after solving these LMIs, each node can construct its own full-order sub-controller unit, which is implementable over the given network.
Protein restriction cycles reduce IGF‐1 and phosphorylated Tau, and improve behavioral performance in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model

In laboratory animals, calorie restriction (CR) protects against aging, oxidative stress, and neurodegenerative pathologies. Reduced levels of growth hormone and IGF‐1, which mediate some of the protective effects of CR, can also extend longevity and/or protect against age‐related diseases in rodents and humans. However, severely restricted diets are difficult to maintain and are associated with chronically low weight and other major side effects. Here we show that 4 months of periodic protein restriction cycles (PRCs) with supplementation of nonessential amino acids in mice already displaying significant cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease (AD)‐like pathology reduced circulating IGF‐1 levels by 30–70% and caused an 8‐fold increase in IGFBP‐1. Whereas PRCs did not affect the levels of β amyloid (Aβ), they decreased tau phosphorylation in the hippocampus and alleviated the age‐dependent impairment in cognitive performance. These results indicate that periodic protein restriction cycles without CR can promote changes in circulating growth factors and tau phosphorylation associated with protection against age‐related neuropathologies.
Seismic evidence for thermally‐controlled dehydration reaction in subducting oceanic crust

We perform travel‐time tomography to estimate detailed seismic velocity structures in the crust of the Pacific slab from northeastern (NE) Japan to the Kanto district, Japan, and reveal that the depth extent of the low‐velocity (hydrated) oceanic crust varies along the arc. The low‐velocity oceanic crust is subducting to depths of 120–150 km beneath Kanto, which is 40–70 km deeper compared to NE Japan. Such deeper preservation of the low‐velocity oceanic crust beneath Kanto can be explained by lower‐temperature conditions in the Pacific slab as a result of the subduction of the Philippine Sea slab immediately above it. These observations suggest that dehydration reactions accompanied by large velocity changes are controlled principally by temperatures, not by pressures. We also find spatial correspondence between intensive seismicity in the oceanic crust and the disappearance depth of the low‐velocity oceanic crust, suggesting that breakdown of hydrous minerals triggers earthquakes in the oceanic crust.
Morphological Tools for Describing the Male External Genitalia of Sapajus apella

Sapajus apella is a wild monkey of South America distributed across almost all of Brazil. This species adapts to domesticated life and reproduces easily. The present study describes the macro- and microscopic morphology of male genital organs (penis, penis bone, glans penis, prepuce, bulb of penis, and urethra) of Sapajus apella. Four male monkeys were used in this study. For macroscopic description, the genitals were dissected, examined and photographed. For microscopic analysis, samples were stained by HE and Tricom Masson and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. The penis has a gutter shape with numerous spines on the free part of the penis and glans, and showed cavernous body elements in which mesenchymal cells appear. The glans penis is well developed with a broad crown shape. The prepuce does not cover the free part of the penis. The bulb displays well-developed muscle structure and the membranous urethra is very elongated. These results reveal that Sapajus apella shows specific male genital features, different from other primates.
Owners’ Perceptions of Their Animal’s Behavioural Response to the Loss of an Animal Companion

Simple Summary The loss of a companion animal is recognised as being associated with experiences of grief by the owner, but it is unclear how other animals in the household may be affected by such a loss. This paper investigates the behavioural responses of dogs and cats to the loss of an animal companion through owner-reported observations. There was consensus that behaviour changed as a result of loss including increased affectionate behaviour, territorial behaviour, and changes in food consumption and vocalisation. Abstract The loss of a companion animal is recognised as being associated with experiences of grief by the owner, but it is unclear how other animals in the household may be affected by such a loss. Our aim was to investigate companion animals’ behavioural responses to the loss of a companion through owner-report. A questionnaire was distributed via, and advertised within, publications produced by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) across Australia and New Zealand, and through a selection of veterinary clinics within New Zealand. A total of 279 viable surveys were returned pertaining to 159 dogs and 152 cats. The two most common classes of behavioural changes reported for both dogs and cats were affectionate behaviours (74% of dogs and 78% of cats) and territorial behaviours (60% of dogs and 63% of cats). Both dogs and cats were reported to demand more attention from their owners and/or display affiliative behaviour, as well as spend time seeking out the deceased’s favourite spot. Dogs were reported to reduce the volume (35%) and speed (31%) of food consumption and increase the amount of time spent sleeping (34%). Cats were reported to increase the frequency (43%) and volume (32%) of vocalisations following the death of a companion. The median duration of reported behavioural changes in both species was less than 6 months. There was consensus that the behaviour of companion animals changed in response to the loss of an animal companion. These behavioural changes suggest the loss had an impact on the remaining animal.
Endemism and Regional Color and Genetic Differences in Five Putatively Cosmopolitan Reef Fishes

Abstract: Endemism is thought to be relatively rare in marine systems due to the lack of allopatric barriers and the potential for long‐distance colonization via pelagic larval dispersal. Although many species of coral reef fishes exhibit regionally restricted color variants that are suggestive of regional endemism, such variation is typically ascribed to intraspecific variation. We examined the genetic structure in 5 putatively monospecific fishes from the Indo‐West Pacific (Amphiprion melanopus, Chrysiptera talboti, and Pomacentrus moluccensis [Pomacentridae] and Cirrhilabrus punctatus, and Labroides dimidiatus [Labridae]) that express regional color variation unique to this area. Mitochondrial‐control‐region sequence analysis showed shallow to deep genetic divergence in all 5 species (sequence divergence 2–17%), with clades concordant with regional color variation. These results were partially supported by nuclear RAG2 data. An analysis of molecular variation (AMOVA) mirrored the phylogenetic results; ΦST values ranged from 0.91 to 0.7, indicating high levels of geographic partitioning of genetic variation. Concordance of genetics and phenotype demonstrate the genetic uniqueness of southwestern Pacific color variants, indicating that these populations are at a minimum distinct evolutionarily significant units and perhaps distinct regionally endemic species. Our results indicate that the alpha biodiversity of the southwestern Pacific is likely underestimated even in well‐studied groups, such as reef fishes, and that regional endemism may be more common in tropical marine systems than previously thought.
A class of mean field interaction models for computer and communication systems

In this presentation we review a generic mean field interaction model where N objects are evolving according to an objectpsilas individual finite state machine and the state of a global resource. We show that, in order to obtain mean field convergence for large N to an Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE), it is sufficient to assume that (1) the intensity, i.e. the number of transitions per object per time slot, vanishes and (2) the coefficient of variation of the total number of objects that do a transition in one time slot remains bounded. No independence assumption is needed anywhere. We find convergence in mean square and in probability on any finite horizon, and derive from there that, in the stationary regime, the support of the occupancy measure tends to be supported by the Birkhoff center of the ODE. We use these results to develop a critique of the fixed point method sometimes used in the analysis of communication protocols.
Increased association of the ERG oncoprotein expression in advanced stages of prostate cancer in Filipinos

Filipinos with prostate cancer (CaP) are at increased risk of harboring advanced stages and lower survival rates compared to other Asians. This study aims to investigate prevalence of ETS‐related gene (ERG) oncoprotein overexpression in Filipinos as surrogate of TMPRSS2‐ERG gene fusions, using a highly specific monoclonal antibody (ERG‐MAb), and conduct the first attempt to study the role of genetic alterations in the aggressive tumor biologic behaviour of CaP among Filipinos.
The Specification of Color Tolerances

by eye (used by expert matchers, elnssers, and graders) to coniparisons of measurements made on beautifully adjusted, highly intricate, automatic, instruments. Between these extremes are a great variety of instruments by means of which tlie colors may be compared. Measurements made on such instruments are expressed in a wide variety of terms. Some results arc expressed directly in terms of instrument opl’ration, c. ,g. , in terms of particular filters used in the instrument. Others
Palliative Thoracic Radiotherapy for Lung Cancer: What Is the Impact of Total Radiation Dose on Survival?

Background Effective symptom palliation can be achieved with low-dose palliative thoracic radiotherapy. In several studies, median survival was not improved with higher doses of radiation. More controversy exists regarding the impact of higher doses on 1- and 2-year survival rates. Therefore, a comparison of survival outcomes after radiotherapy with different biologically equivalent doses (equivalent dose in 2-Gy fractions, EQD2) was performed. Methods This was a retrospective single-institution study of 232 patients with small or non-small cell lung cancer. Most commonly 2 fractions of 8.5 Gy were prescribed (34%), followed by 10 fractions of 3 Gy or equivalent regimens (30%, EQD2 circa 33 Gy). The highest EQD2 consisted of 45 Gy. Intention-to-treat analyses were performed. Results Survival was significantly shorter with regimens of intended EQD2 < 33 Gy, e.g., 2 fractions of 8.5 Gy (median 2.5 months compared to 5.0 and 7.5 months with EQD2 of circa 33 and 45 Gy, respectively). The 2-year survival rates were 0%, 7% and 11%, respectively. In 128 prognostically favorable patients, median survival was comparable for the three different dose levels (6 - 8.3 months). The 2-year survival rates were 0%, 10%, and 13%, respectively (not statistically significant). Conclusion Although most of the observed survival differences diminished after exclusion of poor prognosis patients with reduced performance status and/or progressive extrathoracic disease, a slight increase in 2-year survival rates with higher EQD2 cannot be excluded. Because of relatively small improvements, a confirmatory randomized trial in this subgroup would have to include a large number of patients.
Mutational analysis of GLUT1 (SLC2A1) in Glut‐1 Deficiency Syndrome

Fifteen children presenting with infantile seizures, acquired microcephaly, and developmental delay were found to have novel heterozygous mutations in the GLUT1 (SLC2A1). We refer to this condition as the Glut‐1 Deficiency Syndrome (Glut‐1 DS). The encoded protein (Glut‐1), which has 12 transmembrane domains, is the major glucose transporter in the mammalian blood‐brain barrier. The presence of GLUT1 mutations correlates with reduced cerebrospinal fluid glucose concentrations (hypoglycorrhachia) and reduced erythrocyte glucose transporter activities in the patients. We used Florescence in situ hybridization, PCR, single‐stranded DNA conformational polymorphism, and DNA sequencing to identify novel GLUT1 mutations in 15 patients. These abnormalities include one large‐scale deletion (hemizygosity), five missense mutations (S66F, R126L, E146K, K256V, R333W), three deletions (266delC, 267A>T; 904delA; 1086delG), three insertions (368‐369 insTCCTGCCCACCACGCTCACCACG, 741‐742insC, 888‐889insG), three splice site mutations (197+1G>A; 1151+1G>T; 857T>G, 858G>A, 858+1del10), and one nonsense mutation (R330X). In addition, six silent mutations were identified in exons 2, 4, 5, 9, and 10. The K256V missense mutation involved the maternally derived allele in the patient and one allele in his mother. A spontaneous R126L missense mutation also was present in the paternally derived allele of the patient. The apparent pathogenicity of these mutations is discussed in relation to the functional domains of Glut‐1. Hum Mutat 16:224–231, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Stepwise nucleosome translocation by RSC remodeling complexes

The SWI/SNF-family remodelers regulate chromatin structure by coupling the free energy from ATP hydrolysis to the repositioning and restructuring of nucleosomes, but how the ATPase activity of these enzymes drives the motion of DNA across the nucleosome remains unclear. Here, we used single-molecule FRET to monitor the remodeling of mononucleosomes by the yeast SWI/SNF remodeler, RSC. We observed that RSC primarily translocates DNA around the nucleosome without substantial displacement of the H2A-H2B dimer. At the sites where DNA enters and exits the nucleosome, the DNA moves largely along or near its canonical wrapping path. The translocation of DNA occurs in a stepwise manner, and at both sites where DNA enters and exits the nucleosome, the step size distributions exhibit a peak at approximately 1–2 bp. These results suggest that the movement of DNA across the nucleosome is likely coupled directly to DNA translocation by the ATPase at its binding site inside the nucleosome. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.10051. 001
Fat Storage-inducing Transmembrane Protein 2 Is Required for Normal Fat Storage in Adipose Tissue*

Background: FIT2 is an ER protein purported to be important for triglyceride lipid droplet formation. Results: FIT2 deficiency in adipose tissue results in lipodystrophy and metabolic dysfunction. Conclusion: FIT2 is required for normal triglyceride storage in adipose tissue. Significance: This study provides the first proof-of-principle mouse models indicating that FIT2 is essential for normal triglyceride storage in adipose tissue. Triglycerides within the cytosol of cells are stored in a phylogenetically conserved organelle called the lipid droplet (LD). LDs can be formed at the endoplasmic reticulum, but mechanisms that regulate the formation of LDs are incompletely understood. Adipose tissue has a high capacity to form lipid droplets and store triglycerides. Fat storage-inducing transmembrane protein 2 (FITM2/FIT2) is highly expressed in adipocytes, and data indicate that FIT2 has an important role in the formation of LDs in cells, but whether FIT2 has a physiological role in triglyceride storage in adipose tissue remains unproven. Here we show that adipose-specific deficiency of FIT2 (AF2KO) in mice results in progressive lipodystrophy of white adipose depots and metabolic dysfunction. In contrast, interscapular brown adipose tissue of AF2KO mice accumulated few but large LDs without changes in cellular triglyceride levels. High fat feeding of AF2KO mice or AF2KO mice on the genetically obese ob/ob background accelerated the onset of lipodystrophy. At the cellular level, primary adipocyte precursors of white and brown adipose tissue differentiated in vitro produced fewer but larger LDs without changes in total cellular triglyceride or triglyceride biosynthesis. These data support the conclusion that FIT2 plays an essential, physiological role in fat storage in vivo.
Experimental investigation on the alkali silica reaction effect on concrete strength degradation

Alkali Silica Reaction (ASR) is a significant cause of premature concrete deterioration. This internal reaction is a result of alkali hydroxides in pore solution that reacts with reactive silica found in certain aggregates. Once the silica is released from the aggregate an alkali-silica rich gel forms. ASR has been analysed for approximately 80 years, and has been a concern for the mechanical capacity of the affected structures. Under natural environment, the ASR reaction usually does take a few years to appear and show damage; Since the project time frame has been set as 8 months, the ASR reaction has to be accelerated to suit the time frame by using highly reactive aggregate, adding chemicals and placing the sample in hot water or oven. The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads has concerns that some of concrete bridges been affected by ASR. They are interested on the strengths (compressive and tensile) reduction cause by the reaction. In addition, they desire to know possible methods and remedies to minimise or even stop the reaction into the structure. The aggregate was first tested for reactivity using American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM C 1260) – Standard test method for potential alkali reactivity of aggregates (mortar bar method); mortar bar (200 mm x 50 mm x 50 mm) and cylinder (200 mm x 50 mm) were casted. Regular expansion measurements were taken. Flexural strength test were conducted on the mortar bars at 155 days. Tests planned methodology: eighteen concrete cylinders (200 mm x 100 mm) were casted. Nine samples were casted according to Australian Standards and were left in the moisture and left in moisture room; and the remaining specimens were placed in sodium hydroxide (NaOH) mixture and after curing, specimens were left in the oven at high temperature (80oC); as previous researches and testings have shown moisture is an important factor to activate the alkali-silica gel, which will then expand and consequently will cause cracks on concrete structure, these cracks were measured, and then compression and indirect tensile tests were conducted. Compression strength was reduced by 2.54% at from 28 days to 80 days after casting for cylinder standard size and smaller cylinders had presented ii reduction 47.3% at 114 days. Indirect tensile strengths percentage reductions were measured at 28, 49 and 77 days: 2.28%, 7.79% and 12.09% respectively. Bending test had percentage reduction of 41.45% at 132 days. The crack will be analysed according to width and related to the stiffness of the structure and from tensile strength results the percentage of tensile lost will be recorded and associated to moisture and crack width. Overall results will be related to field structure. Those results will give a guide about the tensile capacity of their structures. Suggestions of methodology to prevent and/or mitigate ASR reaction on existing and new structures, focusing on existing structures mitigation and diagnosis.