Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Involvement of Bcl-2-Associated Transcription Factor 1 in the Differentiation of Early-Born Retinal Cells

Retinal progenitor proliferation and differentiation are tightly controlled by extrinsic cues and distinctive combinations of transcription factors leading to the generation of retinal cell type diversity. In this context, we have characterized Bcl-2-associated transcription factor (Bclaf1) during rodent retinogenesis. Bclaf1 expression is restricted to early-born cell types, such as ganglion, amacrine, and horizontal cells. Analysis of developing retinas in Bclaf1-deficient mice revealed a reduction in the numbers of retinal ganglion cells, amacrine cells and horizontal cells and an increase in the numbers of cone photoreceptor precursors. Silencing of Bclaf1expression by in vitro electroporation of shRNA in embryonic retina confirmed that Bclaf1 serves to promote amacrine and horizontal cell differentiation. Misexpression of Bclaf1 in late retinal progenitors was not sufficient to directly induce the generation of amacrine and horizontal cells. Domain deletion analysis indicated that the N-terminal domain of Bclaf1 containing an arginine-serine-rich and a bZip domain is required for its effects on retinal cell differentiation. In addition, analysis revealed that Bclaf1 function occurs independently of its interaction with endogenous Bcl-2-related proteins. Altogether, our data demonstrates that Bclaf1expression in postmitotic early-born cells facilitates the differentiation of early retinal precursors into retinal ganglion cells, amacrine cells, and horizontal cells rather than into cone photoreceptors.
An Urban Computing Framework for Autonomous Services in a U-City

We propose ubiquitous city context-aware service agent system (UCASS) architecture to bring the computing and networking systems into the center of daily urban life. We present a framework and development of hardware and software systems for the urban environments which could offer the key elements to build people-centric service platform. We also propose smart personal devices that provides intelligent assisting services. Our real testbed shows that our systems can dynamically localize the areas of interest and adapt to changes in the ubiquitous intelligence landscape.
Immune checkpoints on innate lymphoid cells

In this issue of JEM, Taylor et al. describe PD-1 as a critical negative regulator of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC-2s). PD-1 intrinsically controls proliferation and cytokine production of both mouse and human ILC-2s. PD-1 signaling inhibits STAT5 phosphorylation and the removal of this brake by knocking down PD-1 expression or by using anti–PD-1 blocking antibodies, translated in vivo into better clearance of helminth worm infection in mice.
Effects of multi‐carbohydrase and phytase on standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids and apparent metabolizable energy in canola meal fed to broiler chicks

ABSTRACT Two assays were conducted to evaluate nutritive value of canola meal (CM) fed to broiler chicks without or with a multi‐carbohydrase (MC) preparation (700 U &agr;‐galactosidase, 2,200 U galactomannanase, 30,000 U xylanase, and 22,000 U &bgr;‐glucanase per kg of diet) and phytase (Phy, 500 FTU per kg of diet). Assay 1 determined apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients and metabolizable energy (AME) by the difference method. Assay 2 determined apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids by the index method. Two reference diets (RD) — an 85% corn based and a 5% casein‐cornstarch diet fortified with vitamins and minerals — were made for assays 1 and 2, respectively. For each assay, the test diets were made by mixing RD and CM 7:3 wt/wt basis and fed without or with MC or Phy or combination. A total of 245 day‐old male broilers (Cobb 500) was allocated to 5 treatments to give 7 replicates (7 birds/cage). The birds were fed a commercial diet from day zero to 10 followed by assay 1 fed from d 11 to 18 and assay 2 fed from d 19 to 21. Excreta samples were collected on d 15 to18, and all birds were slaughtered on d 21 for ileal digesta. There was an interaction (P < 0.05) between MC and Phy on ATTD of DM, N, and P. There was no interaction (P > 0.05) between MC and Phy on AMEn; however, MC and Phy individually improved AMEn retention. Enzymes interacted (P < 0.05) on SID of Arg, His, Leu, Met, Thr, Ala, Asp, Gln, and Gly. In this context, feeding a combination of MC and Phy resulted in higher (P < 0.05) SID of Arg, His, Met, and Thr relative to single activity or control. Both enzymes improved (P < 0.05) SID of Lys independently. The combination of carbohydrase and Phy may be an effective strategy to improve amino acid utilization in CM for poultry.
Playing it real again: a repeated evaluation of magic lens and static peephole interfaces in public space

We repeated a study on the usage of a magic lens and a static peephole interface for playing a find-and-select game in a public space. While we reproduced the study setup and procedure the task was conducted in a public transportation stop with different characteristics. The results on usage duration and user preference were significantly different from those reported for previous conditions. We investigate possible causes, specifically the differences in the spatial characteristics and the social contexts in which the study took place.
I'm Doing as Well as I Can: Modeling People as Rational Finite Automata

We show that by modeling people as bounded finite automata, we can capture at a qualitative level the behavior observed in experiments. We consider a decision problem with incomplete information and a dynamically changing world, which can be viewed as an abstraction of many real-world settings. We provide a simple strategy for a finite automaton in this setting, and show that it does quite well, both through theoretical analysis and simulation. We show that, if the probability of nature changing state goes to 0 and the number of states in the automaton increases, then this strategy performs optimally (as well as if it were omniscient and knew when nature was making its state changes). Thus, although simple, the strategy is a sensible strategy for a resource-bounded agent to use. Moreover, at a qualitative level, the strategy does exactly what people have been observed to do in experiments.
Acute colonic diverticulitis: prospective comparative evaluation with US and CT.

PURPOSE To compare the accuracy of ultrasonographic (US) and computed tomographic (CT) findings for diagnosis of acute colonic diverticulitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS US and CT were prospectively performed in 64 consecutive patients suspected of having acute colonic diverticulitis. Images were interpreted independently in a blinded fashion. Imaging data were compared with the final diagnosis, which was based on initial clinical and follow-up examination results (n = 64) and pathologic (n = 22), endoscopic (n = 21), and contrast enema (n = 15) examination findings. RESULTS Final diagnosis was acute colonic diverticulitis (n = 33), other acute abdominal condition (n = 24), or unknown (n = 7). Both CT and US findings yielded 84% accuracy. US and CT findings were not statistically significant different in terms of sensitivity (85% and 91%, respectively) and specificity (84% and 77%, respectively). Positive predictive value was 85% for US and 81% for CT; negative predictive value was 84% for US and 88% for CT. When determining alternative diagnoses, US and CT findings yielded sensitivity of 33% and 50%, respectively (difference not statistically significant). CT scans depicted a small pneumoperitoneum overlooked on plain radiographs and US scans. Six pericolic abscesses were depicted with both techniques; three were depicted with CT only. CONCLUSION US and CT findings result in similar accuracy for the evaluation of patients suspected of having diverticulitis.
Inflammation Location, But Not Type, Determines the Increase in TGF-&bgr;1 and IGF-1 Expression and Collagen Deposition in IBD Intestine

Background and AimsInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is frequently complicated by extracellular matrix (ECM) changes that may result in fibrosis. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-&bgr;1 and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 mediate numerous ECM changes. Our aim was to determine whether TGF-&bgr;1 and IGF-1 are involved in intestinal ECM collagen regulation and what impact the inflammatory infiltrate has on their expression. MethodsTGF-&bgr;1 and IGF-1 mRNA and protein were assessed in fibrosed Crohn's disease (CD), inflamed CD, inflamed ulcerative colitis (UC), and control intestine using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Collagen types I and III were quantified by electron immunohistochemistry. ResultsIn CD, increased TGF-&bgr;1 and IGF-1 mRNA expression was transmural. In UC, the increase was confined to the lamina propria and submucosa. In both, distribution of TGF-&bgr;1 and IGF-1 protein matched mRNA expression and coincided with the distribution of the inflammatory infiltrate. An increase in the collagen type III:I ratio in both CD and UC also coincided with the inflammatory infiltrate. ConclusionsThese findings suggest that TGF-&bgr;1 and IGF-1 are involved in intestinal ECM remodeling in IBD, and their enhanced expression depends on the presence and location of inflammatory infiltrates rather than the type of IBD.
A Joint Statistical and Symbolic Anomaly Detection System: Increasing performance in maritime surveillance

The need for improving the capability to detect illegal or hazardous activities and yet reducing the workload of operators involved in various surveillance tasks calls for research on more capable automatic tools. To maximize their performance, these tools should be able to combine automatic capturing of normal behavior from data with domain knowledge in the form of human descriptions. In a proposed Joint Statistical and Symbolic Anomaly Detection System, statistical and symbolic methods are tightly integrated in order to detect the majority of critical events in the situation while minimizing unwanted alerts. We exemplify the proposed system in the domain of maritime surveillance.
Biodeterioration and strength reductions in preservative treated aspen waferboard

Resultats d'essais acceleres de resistance aux champignons pour des panneaux de copeaux plats de tremble lies par des resines phenoplastes et traites par divers antifongiques. On a determine les pertes de poids et de resistance provoquees par la biodegradation
A design kit for a fully working shared memory multiprocessor on FPGA

This paper presents a framework to design a shared memory multiprocessor on a programmable platform. We propose a complete flow, composed by a programming model and a template architecture. Our framework permits to write a parallel application by using a shared memory model. It deals with the consistency of shared data, with no need of hardware coherence protocol, but uses a software model to properlyallsynchronize the local copies with the shared memory image. This idea can be applied both to a scratchpad-based architecture or a cache-based one. The architecture is synthesizable with standard IPs, such as the softcores and interconnect elements, which may be found in any commercial FPGA toolset.
Simulation of temperature field for temperature-controlled radio frequency ablation using a hyperbolic bioheat equation and temperature-varied voltage calibration: a liver-mimicking phantom study

This study aims at improving the accuracy of temperature simulation for temperature-controlled radio frequency ablation (RFA). We proposed a new voltage-calibration method in the simulation and investigated the feasibility of a hyperbolic bioheat equation (HBE) in the RFA simulation with longer durations and higher power. A total of 40 RFA experiments was conducted in a liver-mimicking phantom. Four mathematical models with multipolar electrodes were developed by the finite element method in COMSOL software: HBE with/without voltage calibration, and the Pennes bioheat equation (PBE) with/without voltage calibration. The temperature-varied voltage calibration used in the simulation was calculated from an experimental power output and temperature-dependent resistance of liver tissue. We employed the HBE in simulation by considering the delay time τ ? > of 16 s. First, for simulations by each kind of bioheat equation (PBE or HBE), we compared the differences between the temperature-varied voltage-calibration and the fixed-voltage values used in the simulations. Then, the comparisons were conducted between the PBE and the HBE in the simulations with temperature-varied voltage calibration. We verified the simulation results by experimental temperature measurements on nine specific points of the tissue phantom. The results showed that: (1) the proposed voltage-calibration method improved the simulation accuracy of temperature-controlled RFA for both the PBE and the HBE, and (2) for temperature-controlled RFA simulation with the temperature-varied voltage calibration, the HBE method was 0.55 °C more accurate than the PBE method. The proposed temperature-varied voltage calibration may be useful in temperature field simulations of temperature-controlled RFA. Besides, the HBE may be used as an alternative in the simulation of long-duration high-power RFA.
Integral Transforms and Drinfeld Centers in Derived Algebraic Geometry

We study the interaction between geometric operations on stacks and algebraic operations on their categories of sheaves. We work in the general setting of derived algebraic geometry: our basic objects are derived stacks X and their oo-categories QC(X) of quasicoherent sheaves. We show that for a broad class of derived stacks, called perfect stacks, algebraic and geometric operations on their categories of sheaves are compatible. We identify the category of sheaves on a fiber product with the tensor product of the categories of sheaves on the factors. We also identify the category of sheaves on a fiber product with functors between the categories of sheaves on the factors (thus realizing functors as integral transforms, generalizing a theorem of Toen for ordinary schemes). As a first application, for a perfect stack X, consider QC(X) with its usual monoidal tensor product. Then our main results imply the equivalence of the Drinfeld center (or Hochschild cohomology category) of QC(X), the trace (or Hochschild homology category) of QC(X) and the category of sheaves on the loop space of X. More generally, we show that the E_n-center and the E_n-trace (or E_n-Hochschild cohomology and homology categories respectively) of QC(X) are equivalent to the category of sheaves on the space of maps from the n-sphere into X. This directly verifies geometric instances of the categorified Deligne and Kontsevich conjectures on the structure of Hochschild cohomology. As a second application, we use our main results to calculate the Drinfeld center of categories of linear endofunctors of categories of sheaves. This provides concrete applications to the structure of Hecke algebras in geometric representation theory. Finally, we explain how all of the above results can be interpreted in the context of topological field theory.
Emerging drugs for polycythemia vera

Introduction: Polycythemia vera (PV) patients suffer from disease-related constitutional symptoms, cardiovascular complications and risk of transformation into myelofibrosis and acute leukemia. Areas covered: Clinical and molecular aspects and current therapies will be described to provide clinical and molecular background to understand the natural history and treatment strategies in PV. Pertinent ongoing research questions, challenges arising out of the specific disease course and biology of PV as well as challenges and opportunities for new agents in PV are addressed. A focus is placed on pegylated interferon-α formulations (PEG-INFa2a) and JAK2 inhibitors. Newest data on symptom burden and incidence and prevalence of PV and MPNs are highlighted in the context of development of PV therapies. Expert opinion: Therapeutic goals in PV are to prevent vascular events, reduce symptoms and for future therapies delay/prevent disease progression. Currently available treatments such as phlebotomy, antiplatelet therapy, managing risk factors and cytoreductive therapies such as hydroxyurea (HU) and PEG-INFa2a are effective. JAK2 inhibitors recently have shown promising activity in reducing PV symptoms and spleen size and improving blood counts. Yet the influence of long-term outcome and delaying disease progression is unknown. Thus, there still remains an unmet medical need for improved therapy and symptom management in PV.
Overproduction of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase DinB (Pol IV) inhibits replication fork progression and is lethal

Escherichia coli dinB encodes the specialized DNA polymerase DinB (Pol IV), which is induced as part of the SOS stress‐response system and functions in translesion synthesis (TLS) to relieve the replicative Pol III that is stalled at DNA lesions. As the number of DinB molecules, even in unstressed cells, is greater than that required to accomplish TLS, it is thought that dinB plays some additional physiological role. Here, we overexpressed dinB under the tightly regulable arabinose promoter and looked for a distinct phenotype. Upon induction of dinB expression, progression of the replication fork was immediately inhibited at random genomic positions, and the colony‐forming ability of the cells was reduced. Overexpression of mutated dinB alleles revealed that the structural requirements for these two inhibitory effects and for TLS were distinct. The extent of in vivo inhibition displayed by a mutant DinB matched the extent of its in vitro impedance, at near‐physiological concentration, of a moving Pol III. We suggest that DinB targets Pol III, thereby acting as a brake on replication fork progression. Because the brake operates when cells have excess DinB, as they do under stress conditions, it may serve as a checkpoint that modulates replication to safeguard genome stability.
Screening for Coronary Artery Disease in Patients With Diabetes A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) accounts for a large fraction of the morbidity, mortality, and cost of diabetes. Recognizing this, nearly 10 years ago the American Diabetes Association published a consensus recommendation that clinicians consider a risk factor–guided screening approach to early diagnosis of CAD in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Subsequent clinical trial results have not supported those recommendations. Since the prior consensus statement, newer imaging methods, such as coronary artery calcium scoring and noninvasive angiography with computed tomography (CT) techniques, have come into use. These technologies, which allow quantitation of atherosclerotic burden and can predict risk of cardiac events, might provide an approach to more widespread coronary atherosclerosis screening. However, over this same time interval, there has been recognition of diabetes as a cardiovascular disease (CVD) equivalent, clear demonstration that medical interventions should provide primary and secondary CVD risk reduction in diabetic populations, and suggestive evidence that percutaneous coronary revascularization may not provide additive survival benefit to intensive medical management in patients with stable CAD. This additional evidence raises the question of whether documenting asymptomatic atherosclerosis or ischemia in people with diabetes is warranted. More data addressing this issue will be forthcoming from the BARI 2-D (Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes) trial. Until then, for patients with type 2 diabetes who are asymptomatic for CAD, we recommend that testing for atherosclerosis or ischemia, perhaps with cardiac CT as the initial test, be reserved for those in whom medical treatment goals cannot be met and for selected individuals in whom there is strong clinical suspicion of very-high-risk CAD. Better approaches to identify such individuals based on readily obtained clinical variables are sorely needed.
An Accurate Field Model Requiring Minimal Map Data for Guiding and Diffusion in Streets and Buildings

Theory of normal mode propagation in a line-of-sight street scenario is extended to include propagation into buildings through coupling to a diffuse indoor field. Signal strength predictions are in close agreement with measurements, producing 2 dB and ≤ 3.5 dB root-mean-square model-data difference, in line-of-sight and outdoor-indoor scenarios, respectively. The full 3-D field model predicts actual signal directions and antenna correlations as a function of range, important for evaluating performance of directional antennas and spatial diversity. Only minimal description of the environment is needed, i.e., street width and representative building wall properties, without any interior details.
Thermophilic Blue-Green Algae and the Thermal Environment

INTRODUCTION. 476 DISTRIBUTION OF THERMAL WATERS. 481 SOLUTES OF THERMAL WATERS. 482 DISTRIBUTION OF SPECD DS. 486 Upper and Lower TemperatureLLmts . 486 Clas tion and Geographical Distribution. 487 Problems of Survival and Transport. 488 STUDIES OF NATURAL POPULATIONS. 489 Mat Formation and Stability. 489 Movements of Filaments and Mats. 491 Measurements of Photosynthesis and Growth. 491 CULTIVATION OF THERMOPHILIC CYANOPHYTES . 493 Medium and Nutrition . 493 Isolation and Maintenance. 494 Rates of Growth, Photosynthesis, and Respiration in Culture. 495 RESPONSES TO TEMPERATURE AND LIGHT INTENSITY. 497 Optimal Temperature and Light Intensity. 497 Effects of Light and Temperature on Pigmentation. 498 Growth and Survival at Suboptimal Temperatures. 499 LITERATURE CITED. 500
Evaluation of Some Trace Elements in Biological Samples of Egyptian Viral Hepatitis Patients under Nutrition Therapy

Hepatitis infection is the most serious liver diseases causing cirrhosis and liver cancer. Multifunctional trace elements possessing antioxidant and immunomodulatory activity could have clinical benefits against the development of cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. This study evaluated the effect of trace elements formulation as dietary supplements composed of Viusid, Pharma Nord, and SiliciumOrganiqe G5. The study was conducted on 149 Egyptian patients with hepatitis virus infection (Hospital of Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt). The patients were subdivided into three groups, acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, and post hepatitis cirrhosis. The patients received a formulation composed of Viusid, Pharma Nord, and SiliciumOrganiqe G5 (3 times per day) during 21 months. The scalp hair, nail, serum, RBC and blood were used to determine the level, efficacy and safety of trace elements, iron, copper, zinc and selenium, using ICP-MS spectroscopy. Statistical methods such as correlation coefficient and cluster analysis were used to analysis the data. The results exhibited significant changes in the iron, copper, zinc and selenium levels in the biological samples, hair, nail, RBC, serum and whole blood, of patients relative to those of healthy controls. The mean copper levels in patients with hepatitis virus were significantly higher than that of the control group whereas the mean iron, zinc, and selenium levels in the patients were significantly lower than those of the control group. Therefore, on the basis of this study, we identified the impact of natural supplements to improve the treatment of viral liver damage, using the level of some trace elements such as, iron, copper, zinc, and selenium, which might serve as biomarkers for increases survival and reduces disease progression.