Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New insight into the role of MMP14 in metabolic balance

Membrane-anchored matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14) is involved broadly in organ development through both its proteolytic and signal-transducing functions. Knockout of Mmp14 (KO) in mice results in a dramatic reduction of body size and wasting followed by premature death, the mechanism of which is poorly understood. Since the mammary gland develops after birth and is thus dependent for its functional progression on systemic and local cues, we chose it as an organ model for understanding why KO mice fail to thrive. A global analysis of the mammary glands’ proteome in the wild type (WT) and KO mice provided insight into an unexpected role of MMP14 in maintaining metabolism and homeostasis. We performed mass spectrometry and quantitative proteomics to determine the protein signatures of mammary glands from 7 to 11 days old WT and KO mice and found that KO rudiments had a significantly higher level of rate-limiting enzymes involved in catabolic pathways. Glycogen and lipid levels in KO rudiments were reduced, and the circulating levels of triglycerides and glucose were lower. Analysis of the ultrastructure of mammary glands imaged by electron microscopy revealed a significant increase in autophagy signatures in KO mice. Finally, Mmp14 silenced mammary epithelial cells displayed enhanced autophagy. Applied to a systemic level, these findings indicate that MMP14 is a crucial regulator of tissue homeostasis. If operative on a systemic level, these findings could explain how Mmp14KO litter fail to thrive due to disorder in metabolism.
Epidemiological Risk Factors for Cancers of the Lung, Breast, Colon-rectum & Oral cavity: A case-control study in the Philippines

Introduction. In the Philippines, lung, breast, colon-rectum, and oral cavity cancers are among the top 10 most common cancers. This study evaluates the risk factors for these cancers among Filipinos. Methods. This age-matched case-control study included incident primary cancers (histologically-diagnosed) of the lung, breast (also matched for sex), colon-rectum and oral cavity. Controls(clinically free and no history of cancer) were obtained from the same tertiary hospitals as the cases. Target sample size was 283 cases and 283 controls per cancer type. Conditional logistic regression was done. Results. Exposure to cigarette/tobacco was a significant risk factor for lung (OR of current smoker compared to non-smoker [95% Confidence Interval]: 3.6 [1.6-7.9]) and oral cavity cancers (2.0 [1.2-3.3]); family history (1st degree) for lung (4.3 [1.3 – 14.2]) and breast cancers (3.0 [1.2-7.5]); every year increase in age at first pregnancy for breast cancer (1.06 [1.02-1.11]). Other risk factors for oral cavitywere passive smoking (2.8 [1.6-5.1]), chewing tobacco (5.2[1.4-19.5]) and inverted cigarette smoking (3.2[1.3-8.1]). Fish sauce (patis) was found to be a protective factor for breast cancer (0.34 [0.22-0.51]) and oral cavity (0.44 [0.25-0.78]) and use of shrimp paste (bagoong) (0.48 [0.27-0.84]) for oral cavity. Conclusion and Recommendations. Except for family history of cancer, the identified risk factors for lung, colon-rectum, and oral cavity cancers are preventable. Proper diet and lifestyle, avoidanceof cigarettes and tobacco, and environmental safety in the workplace are key cancer prevention measures. Public awareness campaign and continuing healthcare provider education must always be part of a cancer prevention program.
Quantitative aspects of weathering and neoformation in selected Costa Rican volcanic soils.

Gains and losses of major elements in eight soil profiles developed on volcanic parent material in the perhumid tropical Atlantic lowland of Costa Rica were calculated from total element contents, assuming Ti to be immobile. Initially soil formation (0-500 yr) in Tropopsamments involves dilation of the sandy deposits by incorporation of organic matter and formation of structure and biopores, without detectable gains or losses of elements. In 2000- to 5000-yr-old sandy Hapludands, primary minerals are still abundant, but up to 20% of the mineral soil consists of x-ray amorphous materials. Dilation continues and losses of Mg, Ca, Na, and K, and to a lesser degree Si, become measurable. Within 18 000 yr, a Melanudand develops, which is depleted of primary minerals and especially volcanic glass in the fine-earth fraction. A mixture of short-range order material, metal-humus complexes, and gibbsite and kaolin minerals dominate its upper horizon, while gibbsite, halloysite, and short-range order material are the most important secondary minerals at greater depths. Dilation of the soil mass prevails in the A horizon, while collapse has occurred in the B horizon. The Melanudand has lost considerable amounts of mobile elements: 50 to 85% of Si, Mg, Ca, Na, and K have been leached from the fine-earth fraction. Within 125 000 yr, a Haploperox has formed (thought to have formed from Andisols); it is strongly collapsed and is dominated by gibbsite, kaolin minerals, and Fe (hydr) oxides. The upper meters are devoid of primary minerals except for small opaques. Under the prevailing environmental conditions, weathering and neoformation of primary volcanic minerals lead to almost complete dissolution and leaching of basic cations, probably within 20 000 to 50 000 yr. The Si and P mineral reserves are depleted considerably, but part is still present after such long time periods.
Visualizing the Tree of Life : Learning Around an Interactive Visualization of Biological Data in Museums

A central goal of many science museums is to provide hands-on experiences in which visitors learn from exhibit elements and through their interactions with other visitors (Falk & Dierking, 2000; Allen, 2004; Humphrey & Gutwill, 2005; Oppenheimer, 1978). These types of experiences are often characterized by physical engagement with scientific phenomena, open-ended exploration, and carefully designed support for collaboration. However, there are many types of experiences that museums might want to offer in this spirit that go beyond the direct manipulation of physical phenomena (Meisner et al., 2007; Louw & Crowley, 2013). In particular, advances in interactive computer displays coupled with new information visualization techniques have made it possible to offer hands-on experiences in which visitors “touch” and explore large scientific datasets (e.g. Louw & Crowley, 2013; Ma et al., 2012; Roberts et al., 2014; Hinrichs, Schmidt, & Carpendale, 2008). Such exhibits create new opportunities for visitors to engage with authentic computational tools (Louw & Crowley, 2013) while at the same time reflecting the evolving nature of scientific inquiry (Henderson, Cortina, & Wing, 2007). Despite these advantages, however, we know little about how such exhibits support learning.
An approach for estimating absorption and backscattering coefficients from MERIS in the Bohai Sea

Distribution of absorption and backscattering coefficients (a(560) and bb(550)) is important for characterizing the marine optical environment. Satellite remote sensing is a useful tool for investigating the absorption and backscattering coefficients in coastal waters. A simple semi-analytical algorithm (SAABS) was developed for estimating a(560) and bb(550) in the Bohai Sea from Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) images. Using field measurements, the SAABS model attained root-mean-square (RMS) values of 13.25% and 12.75% for a(560) and bb(550), respectively. The SAABS model was also used to retrieve a(560) and bb(550) from the MERIS image. The match-up analysis results indicate that the RMS values of a(560) and bb(550) retrievals are 18.75% and 17%, respectively. These findings suggested that if the atmospheric correction scheme is available, the SAABS model may be used for the quantitative monitoring of the absorption and backscattering coefficients in the Bohai Sea from the MERIS images.
Verifiable Smart Packaging with Passive RFID

Smart packaging adds sensing abilities to traditional packages. This paper investigates the possibility of using RF signals to test the internal status of packages and detect abnormal internal changes. Towards this goal, we design and implement a nondestructive package testing and verification system using commodity passive RFID systems, called Echoscope. Echoscope extracts unique features from the backscatter signals penetrating the internal space of a package and compares them with the previously collected features during the check-in phase. The use of backscatter signals guarantees that there is no difference in RF sources and the features reflecting the internal status will not be affected. Compared to other nondestructive testing methods such as X-ray and ultrasound, Echoscope is much cheaper and provides ubiquitous usage. Our experiments in practical environments show that Echoscope can achieve very high accuracy and is very sensitive to various types abnormal changes.
Sign language structure: an outline of the visual communication systems of the American deaf. 1960.

It is approaching a half century since Bill Stokoe published his revolutionary monograph, Sign Language Structure: An Outline of the Visual Communication Systems of the American Deaf It is rare for a work of innovative scholarship to spark a social as well as an intellectual revolution, but that is just what Stokoe's 1960 paper did. And it is indicative both of Stokoe's genius and of his commitment that he did not simply publish his groundbreaking work and then sit back to watch the revolutions unfold. He actively promoted important changes in at least three areas of social and intellectual life. First, and perhaps most important, his work, that was ultimately generally accepted as showing the signing of deaf people to be linguistic, supported significant changes in the way deaf children are educated around the globe. Second, his work led to a general rethinking of what is fundamental about human language; and, third, it helped to reenergize the moribund field of language origin studies. This truly revolutionary paper has been reprinted at least twice, in revised and original versions, since its initial release in 1960, and now, five years after Bill's death, it is good to see it once again brought before the general public.
Grey-matter abnormalities in boys with Tourette syndrome: magnetic resonance imaging study using optimised voxel-based morphometry

Summary The genesis of Tourette syndrome is still unknown, but a core role for the pathways of cortico-striatal-thalamic-cortical circuitry (CSTC) is supposed. Volume-rendering magnetic resonance imaging data-sets were analysed in 14 boys with Tourette syndrome and 15 age-matched controls using optimised voxel-based morphometry. Locally increased grey-matter volumes (corrected P < 0.001) were found bilaterally in the ventral putamen. Regional decreases in grey matter were observed in the left hippocampal gyrus. This unbiased analysis confirmed an association between striatal abnormalities and Tourette syndrome, and the hippocampal volume alterations indicate an involvement of temporolimbic pathways of the CSTC in the syndrome.
Luteinizing hormone in the cat. II. Mating-induced secretion.

In cannulated female cats, LH concentrations increased within 5 min after mating and usually reached a maximum within 20 min if the animals were limited to a single copulation. The dynamics of such LH release were similar to those observed after the iv injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). A second mating, 1 h after the first, resulted in a second, similar increase in concentrations of LH without evidence of a priming effect of the first mating on the LH release mechanism. When female cats were permitted to mate at their own pace, copulations were frequent during the first 2 h, with LH release being evident during the first 90 min. However, the copulatory stimulus became ineffective (or nearly so) at inducing LH release when matings continued beyond this period. In all types of cats studied (spontaneous estrous, estrogentreated, intact, and estrogen-treated castrate), the LH response to a single coitus varied considerably and was not correlated with plasma concentrations of estradiol or prog.
Enhancing the NekoStat Tool with Uncertainty, Resolution and Intrusiveness Evaluation Capabilities

Dependability and resilience measurements pose some important challenges to the scientific and ind ustrial community, which span from the proper definition of the measurand, to the adequate characterization of meas urement tool and techniques, and the correct presentation o f measurement results. The authors have recently inve stigated the general awareness about metrological issues by examining some of the most significant and popular tools and experiments of dependability and resilience measurements. Stemm ing from the results of this survey, the steps taken to enha nce NekoStat, a tool for quantitative evaluations in distributed systems, are presented in the paper. Enhancements involve the ca pability of evaluating uncertainty, resolution and intrusivenes s with regard to time interval measurements.
Changing spatial distribution of fish stocks in relation to climate and population size on the Northeast United States continental shelf

We tested the hypothesis that recent oceanographic changes associated with climate change in the Northeast United States continental shelf ecosystem have caused a change in spatial distribution of marine fish. To do this, we analyzed temporal trends from 1968 to 2007 in the mean center of biomass, mean depth, mean temperature of occurrence, and area occupied in each of 36 fish stocks. Temporal trends in distribution were compared to time series of both local- and large-scale environmental variables, as well as estimates of survey abundance. Many stocks spanning several taxonomic groups, life-history strategies, and rates of fishing exhibited a poleward shift in their cen- ter of biomass, most with a simultaneous increase in depth, and a few with a concomitant expansion of their northern range. However, distributional changes were highly dependent on the biogeogra- phy of each species. Stocks located in the southern extent of the survey area exhibited much greater poleward shifts in center of biomass and some occupied habitats at increasingly greater depths. In contrast, minimal changes in the center of biomass were observed in stocks with distributions limited to the Gulf of Maine, but mean depth of these stocks increased while stock size decreased. Large- scale temperature increase and changes in circulation, represented by the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, was the most important factor associated with shifts in the mean center of biomass. Stock size was more often correlated with the total area occupied by each species. These changes in spatial distribution of fish stocks are likely to persist such that stock structure should be re-evaluated for some species.
Landscape Influences on Recent Timberline Shifts in the Carpathian Mountains: Abiotic Influences Modulate Effects of Land-Use Change

Abstract Expected shifts in the upper forest limit of many mountain ranges due to anthropogenic climate change will likely be constrained by current and historical land-use practices. We used historical maps and Landsat satellite imagery to analyze timberline change for the entire Carpathian range in Eastern Europe. Our objectives were (1) to compare 19th and 20th century timberline elevations across regions differing in sociopolitical history and land-use trends; and (2) to quantify how land-use patterns and environmental influences were associated with changes in timberline position. Timberline changes across geopolitical regions were consistent with regional variations in re-settlement rates and population shifts following World War II. Important predictors for timberline rise were the mainly biophysical factors of slope steepness, timberline elevation, shrub cover, topographic curvature, aspect, and proximity to roads. For horizontal migration, important predictors were proximity to shepherd's huts, elevation, population density, forest composition, and shrub cover. Overall, cultural influences were critical for understanding the response of Carpathian timberlines to global change, yet biophysical influences proved important where reforestation was already occurring. In mountain ranges with prevalent agricultural abandonment, forest migration associated with climate warming may lead to increased contrast in the forest-alpine ecotone between areas with and without intensive land-use.
Switching Between Collaboration Levels in a Human–Robot Target Recognition System

This paper presents a set of algorithms that are developed for real-time dynamic switching between collaboration levels in a human-robot target recognition system. The algorithms were developed for a closed-loop controller to maximize system performance, despite deviations in the parameter values. These developments enable smooth real-time adaptation of the combined human-robot system to many possible changes of the environment, human operator, and robot performance. System performance was analyzed in simulations for a variety of target probability distributions. Two hundred independent simulations for each target probability distribution were conducted to calculate algorithm performance for a variety of conditions. Values for human operations were taken from a target recognition experiment dealing with detecting melons for a robotic melon harvester. The numerical analysis results indicated that the developed dynamic switching algorithms resulted in improved system performance that, in some cases, was increased by more than 90%.
Compiling Model-Based Diagnosis to Boolean Satisfaction

This paper introduces an encoding of Model Based Diagnosis (MBD) to Boolean Satisfaction (SAT) focusing on minimal cardinality diagnosis. The encoding is based on a combination of sophisticated MBD preprocessing algorithms and SAT compilation techniques which together provide concise CNF formula. Experimental evidence indicates that our approach is superior to all published algorithms for minimal cardinality MBD. In particular, we can determine, for the first time, minimal cardinality diagnoses for the entire standard ISCAS-85 benchmark. Our results open the way to improve the state-of-the-art on a range of similar MBD problems.
Ischemic Stroke or Systemic Embolism After Transseptal Ablation of Arrhythmias in Patients With Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices

Background Incidental mobile thrombi are commonly found on endovascular leads of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). Transseptal puncture for catheter ablation of arrhythmia poses a risk for paradoxical embolism. We examined risk of ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or systemic embolism after transseptal ablation in patients with and without CIEDs. Methods and Results Using a national administrative claims database, 31 720 patients who underwent a transseptal catheter ablation between January 2004 and September 2014 were identified. Two propensity‐matched cohorts were created by matching demographic variables, administrative variables, Charlson Comorbidity Index, CHA 2 DS 2‐Vasc score, and year and indication for ablation (5533 and 11 300 patients with and without CIEDs). Incidence rates and Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate risk of ischemic stroke, TIA, or systemic embolism for patients with and without CIEDs. Impact of oral anticoagulation (OAC) use on the endpoint was examined. Over a mean follow‐up of 2.1 years, the incidence of the combined endpoint was 1.9 per 100 person‐years in patients with CIEDs and 1.5 per 100 person‐years in patients without CIEDs (P=0.03). Among patients not on OAC, presence of a cardiac device was associated with an increased risk (hazard ratio [HR], 1.71 [1.24–2.35]; P<0.01), whereas there was no association noted among patients treated with OAC (HR, 0.98 [0.75–1.28]). Conclusion CIEDs are associated with an increased risk of stroke, TIA, or systemic embolism after transseptal ablation, but this risk is attenuated with postablation OAC use. Role of anticoagulation post‐transseptal ablation in patients with CIED warrants further investigation.
Some imaging strategies in multi-angle spatial compounding

Multi-angle compound images were generated with four schemes: mean, median, root-mean-square and geometric mean. The in vitro images, based on formalin fixed porcine tissue, were analyzed by visual inspection and by calculation of speckle contrast and contrast between different tissues. The mean and rms images featured the largest enhancement of distributed specular reflections. The median image appears somewhat noisy. However, the quantitative analysis did not indicate large differences between the images.
Improvements to the Function Point Analysis Method: A Systematic Literature Review

Function point analysis (FPA) is a standardized method to systematically measure the functional size of software. This method is proposed by an international organization and it is currently recommended by governments and organizations as a standard method to be adopted for this type of measurement. This paper presents a compilation of improvements, focused on increasing the accuracy of the FPA method, which have been proposed over the past 13 years. The methodology used was a systematic literature review (SLR), which was conducted with four research questions aligned with the objectives of this study. As a result of the SLR, of the 1600 results returned by the search engines, 454 primary studies were preselected according to the criteria established for the SLR. Among these studies, only 18 specifically referred to accuracy improvements for FPA, which was the goal of this study. The low number of studies that propose FPA improvements might demonstrate the maturity of the method in the current scenario of software metrics. Specifically in terms of found issues, it was found that the step for calculating the functional size exhibited the highest number of problems, indicating the need to revise FPA in order to encompass the possible improvements suggested by the researchers.
Additive Comparisons of Stop Rule and Supremum Expectations of Uniformly Bounded Independent Random Variables

Let XI, X2, . be independent random variables taking values in [a, b], and let T denote the stop rules for X1, X2, Then E(sup,, X,,) sup{EX,: t E T) < (1/4)(b a), and this bound is best possible. Probabilistically, this says that if a prophet (player with complete foresight) makes a side payment of (b a)/8 to a gambler (player using nonanticipating stop rules), the game becomes at least fair for the gambler.