Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative comparison of optimized nanorods, nanoshells and hollow nanospheres for photothermal therapy

The purpose of this study is to get more efficient gold nanoparticles, for necrosis of cancer cells, in photothermal therapy. Therefore a numerical maximization of the absorption efficiency of a set of nanoparticles (nanorod, nanoshell and hollow nanosphere) is proposed, assuming that all the absorbed light is converted to heat. Two therapeutic cases (shallow and deep cancer) are considered. The numerical tools used in this study are the full Mie theory, the discrete dipole approximation and the particle swarm optimization. The optimization leads to an improved efficiency of the nanoparticles compared with previous studies. For the shallow cancer therapy, the hollow nanosphere seems to be more efficient than the other nanoparticles, whereas the hollow nanosphere and nanorod, offer comparable absorption efficiencies, for deep cancer therapy. Finally, a study of tolerance for the size parameters to guarantee an absorption efficiency threshold is included.
Resistance to anticancer vaccination effect is controlled by a cancer cell-autonomous phenotype that disrupts immunogenic phagocytic removal

Immunogenic cell death (ICD) is a well-established instigator of ‘anti-cancer vaccination-effect (AVE)’. ICD has shown considerable preclinical promise, yet there remain subset of cancer patients that fail to respond to clinically-applied ICD inducers. Non-responsiveness to ICD inducers could be explained by the existence of cancer cell-autonomous, anti-AVE resistance mechanisms. However such resistance mechanisms remain poorly investigated. In this study, we have characterized for the first time, a naturally-occurring preclinical cancer model (AY27) that exhibits intrinsic anti-AVE resistance despite treatment with ICD inducers like mitoxantrone or hypericin-photodynamic therapy. Further mechanistic analysis revealed that this anti-AVE resistance was associated with a defect in exposing the important ‘eat me’ danger signal, surface-calreticulin (ecto-CRT/CALR). In an ICD setting, this defective ecto-CRT further correlated with severely reduced phagocytic clearance of AY27 cells as well as the failure of these cells to activate AVE. Defective ecto-CRT in response to ICD induction was a result of low endogenous CRT protein levels (i.e. CRTlow-phenotype) in AY27 cells. Exogenous reconstitution of ecto-rCRT (recombinant-CRT) improved the phagocytic removal of ICD inducer-treated AY27 cells, and importantly, significantly increased their AVE-activating ability. Moreover, we found that a subset of cancer patients of various cancer-types indeed possessed CALRlow or CRTlow-tumours. Remarkably, we found that tumoural CALRhigh-phenotype was predictive of positive clinical responses to therapy with ICD inducers (radiotherapy and paclitaxel) in lung and ovarian cancer patients, respectively. Furthermore, only in the ICD clinical setting, tumoural CALR levels positively correlated with the levels of various phagocytosis-associated genes relevant for phagosome maturation or processing. Thus, we reveal the existence of a cancer cell-autonomous, anti-AVE or anti-ICD resistance mechanism that has profound clinical implications for anticancer immunotherapy and cancer predictive biomarker analysis.
A Regularization Approach to Learning Task Relationships in Multitask Learning

Multitask learning is a learning paradigm that seeks to improve the generalization performance of a learning task with the help of some other related tasks. In this article, we propose a regularization approach to learning the relationships between tasks in multitask learning. This approach can be viewed as a novel generalization of the regularized formulation for single-task learning. Besides modeling positive task correlation, our approach—multitask relationship learning (MTRL)—can also describe negative task correlation and identify outlier tasks based on the same underlying principle. By utilizing a matrix-variate normal distribution as a prior on the model parameters of all tasks, our MTRL method has a jointly convex objective function. For efficiency, we use an alternating method to learn the optimal model parameters for each task as well as the relationships between tasks. We study MTRL in the symmetric multitask learning setting and then generalize it to the asymmetric setting as well. We also discuss some variants of the regularization approach to demonstrate the use of other matrix-variate priors for learning task relationships. Moreover, to gain more insight into our model, we also study the relationships between MTRL and some existing multitask learning methods. Experiments conducted on a toy problem as well as several benchmark datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of MTRL as well as its high interpretability revealed by the task covariance matrix.
Effects of rivastigmine and memantine alone and in combination on learning and memory in rats with scopolamine-induced amnesia

Abstract Background: Cholinesterase inhibitors and glutamate blockers are commonly used for the treatment of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease. The aim was to evaluate the effects of rivastigmine and memantine alone or in combination in rats with scopolamine-impaired memory. Method: 5 groups of rats were used: control, scopolamine (model), model with rivastigmine, model with memantine, and model with both drugs. Active avoidance test was performed and the number of conditioned responses, unconditioned responses and intertrial crossing were recorded. Passive avoidance tests step-through with criteria latency of reaction 180 s in the light chamber and step-down with criteria latency of reaction 60 s on the platform were done. Results: Control rats learned the task and kept it on memory tests. Scopolamine treated rats failed to perform it. The rivastigmine, memantine and its combination groups showed increased CRs during learning and memory retention tests. In both passive avoidance tests an increased latency of reaction was observed in the drug treated groups. Conclusion: The combination of both drugs rivastigmine and memantine is more effective than the use of the single drug in cognitive impaired rats. Cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA blockers may be combined in the treatment of different kind of dementias.
A Herpesvirus Encoded Deubiquitinase Is a Novel Neuroinvasive Determinant

The neuroinvasive property of several alpha-herpesviruses underlies an uncommon infectious process that includes the establishment of life-long latent infections in sensory neurons of the peripheral nervous system. Several herpesvirus proteins are required for replication and dissemination within the nervous system, indicating that exploiting the nervous system as a niche for productive infection requires a specialized set of functions encoded by the virus. Whether initial entry into the nervous system from peripheral tissues also requires specialized viral functions is not known. Here we show that a conserved deubiquitinase domain embedded within a pseudorabies virus structural protein, pUL36, is essential for initial neural invasion, but is subsequently dispensable for transmission within and between neurons of the mammalian nervous system. These findings indicate that the deubiquitinase contributes to neurovirulence by participating in a previously unrecognized initial step in neuroinvasion.
Audiovisual speech perception in Japanese and English: inter-language differences examined by event-related potentials

By using event-related potentials (ERPs, Experiment 2) and reaction times (RTs, Experiment 1), the present study examined interlanguage differences between Japanese and English in audiovisual speech perception [1, 2, 3, 4]. There were an auditory-only (AO) and a congruent auditory-visual (AV) conditions. In Experiment 1, RTs showed opposite tendencies between English-language (EL) and Japanese-language (JL) groups for the AO-AV relationship: the additional congruent visual information speeded up the speech perception processes for the EL group, but it slowed down the processes for the JL group. Thus, the visual influence was promoting for the EL but disturbing for the JL group. In Experiment 2, different ERP patterns were found between the EL and JL groups: Whereas the visual influence was sustained (maintained from N1 to P2) in the EL group, the influence was transient (limited only to N1) in the JL group. The ERPs and RTs data were both consistent with the reported interlanguage differences that the JL perceivers use visual information to the less extent than the EL perceivers do.
Middle School Student Perception and Understanding of Differentiated Instruction: A Phenomenological Study

3 Dedication . 5 Acknowledgements . 6 List of Figures . 12 List of Tables . 13 List of Abbreviations . 14 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . 15 Overview . 15 Background . 16 Situation to Self.18 Problem Statement . 20 Purpose Statement . 21 Significance of the Study . 21 Research Questions . 22 Definitions.24 Summary . 26 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW . 28 Overview . 28 Theoretical Framework . 29 Piaget.29 Vygotsky . 33 Gardner . 37
On the incidence rate of first overtone Blazhko stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Aims. By using the full span of multicolor data on a representative sample of first overtone RR Lyrae stars in the Large Magellani c Cloud (LMC) we revisit the problem of the incidence rate of the amplitude/phase-modulated (Blazhko) stars. Methods. Multicolor data, obtained by the MAssive Compact Halo Objects (MACHO) project, are utilized through a periodogram averaging method. Results. The method of analysis enabled us to increase the number of detected multiperiodic variables by 18% relative to the number obtained by the analysis of the best single color data. We also test the maximum modulation period detectable in the present dataset. We find that variables showing amplitude/phase modulations with periods close to the total time span can still be clearly separated from the class of stars showing period changes. This larger limit on the modulation period, the more effi cient data analysis and the longer time span lead to a substantial increase in the incidence rate of the Blazhko st ars in comparison with earlier results. We find altogether 99 first overtone Blazhko stars in the full sample of 1332 stars, implying an incidence rate of 7.5%. Although this rate is nearly twice of the one derived earlier, it is still significantly lower than that of the fundamental mode s tars in the LMC. The by-products of the analysis (e.g., star- by-star comments, distribution functions of various quantities) are also pre sented.
A low-load comparison of TCP/IP and end-to-end circuits for file transfers

In this paper, we compare the file transfer delays between end hosts for two different networking approaches under a low-load assumption (with no packet loss). The first approach is based on the TCP/IP solution while the second approach is based on an end-to-end circuits solution. We study the impact of four parameters: round-trip propagation delay, transmission link rate, the number of routers/switc hes on the end-to-end path, and call processing delays at the circuit switches. We arrive at two impor- tant conclusions. First, round-trip propagation delays impact TCP more than the circuit-switched solution because these delays are incurred many times in the TCP solution but only once in the circuit-switched solution. In high-speed environments, propaga- tion delays dominate transmission delays even for large files, which means the TCP solution performs worse than the end-to- end circuits solution. For example, for a round-trip propagation delay of 50ms, at a data rate of 1Gbps, a 20MB file transfer on an end-to-end circuit incurs almost 3.5 times lower delay than on a TCP connection. Second, if we lower call processing delays at switches (with hardware implementations of signaling protocols), the circuit-switched solution performs better than the TCP/IP solution even in environments with low round trip propagation delays and long end-to-end paths (e.g., 20 switches). I. PROBLEM STATEMENT
A new subtype of 3' region of cagA gene in Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from Zhejiang Province in China.

AIM To isolate the subtypes of 3' region of cagA gene in Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) strains from Zhejiang Province in China and to investigate their relations to H pylori-associated gastroduodenal diseases. METHODS One hundred and thirty-seven H pylori clinical strains were isolated from the gastric mucosa specimens of 74 patients with chronic gastritis, 61 with peptic ulceration, and 2 with gastric cancer. Bacterial genomic DNA was extracted and 3' region of cagA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Subtypes of 3' region of cagA gene were determined by the size of PCR amplified segments. The sequences of the subtypes were analyzed by PCR-based sequencing. RESULTS Of the 137 H pylori isolates from Zhejiang Province, 132 (96.4%) yielded PCR products that could be classified into three groups of subtypes, named as subtypes I, II, and III according to their sizes. The sizes of subtypes I, II, and III were 648-650 bp, 705-707 bp, and 815 bp, respectively. Among the 132 cagA-positive H pylori strains, 123 (93.2%) belonged to the group of subtype I, 6 (4.5%) presented subtype II, 1 (0.8%) was subtype III, and 2 (1.5%) presented subtypes I and III both. The primary structure of subtype I was composed of 3 repeats of R1, 1 repeat of R2 and 1 repeat of R3. Subtype II possessing 4 repeats of R1, 2 repeats of R2 and 1 repeat of R3 was a newly found type of 3' region of cagA gene which had not been reported before. The primary structure of subtype III consisted of 4 repeats of R1, 1 repeat of R2 and 2 repeats of R3. Comparison of the sequences of subtype I strains with the corresponding sequences deposited in GenBank, showed a similarity of 95.0% (94.0-96.1%) for nucleotide sequences and 95.9% (94.9-97.4%) for deduced amino acid sequences. Comparison of the sequences of subtype III strains with the corresponding sequences deposited in GenBank, showed a similarity of 93.9% (90.8-96.9%) for nucleotide sequences and 93.2% (90.2-96.2%) for deduced amino acid sequences. Among subtype II strains, the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences showed a similarity of 95.2% (94.1-96.5%) and 96.4% (93.8-97.9%), respectively. There were no statistical differences in the distribution of subtypes of 3' region of cagA gene among different H pylori-associated gastroduodenal diseases (chi(2) = 11.544, P>0.05). CONCLUSION There are three subtypes (I, II, and III) of 3' region of cagA gene in H pylori strains isolated from Zhejiang Province, and subtypeIis predominant. Subtype II is a newly found subtype of 3' region of cagA gene. The result of this study does not support the view that the subtypes of 3' region of cagA gene in H pylori isolated from Zhejiang Province are correlated with the clinical outcomes of H pylori infection.
The Effects of 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and Transforming Growth Factor-β3 on Bone Development in an Ex Vivo Organotypic Culture System of Embryonic Chick Femora

Transforming growth factor-beta3 (TGF-β3) and 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1α,25 (OH) 2D3) are essential factors in chondrogenesis and osteogenesis respectively. These factors also play a fundamental role in the developmental processes and the maintenance of skeletal integrity, but their respective direct effects on these processes are not fully understood. Using an organotypic bone rudiment culture system the current study has examined the direct roles the osteotropic factors 1α,25 (OH)2D3 and TGF-β3 exert on the development and modulation of the three dimensional structure of the embryonic femur. Isolated embryonic chick femurs (E11) were organotypically cultured for 10 days in basal media, or basal media supplemented with either 1α,25 (OH) 2D3 (25 nM) or TGF-β3 (5 ng/mL & 15 ng/mL). Analyses of the femurs were undertaken using micro-computed tomography (μCT), histology and immunohistochemistry. 1α,25 (OH)2D3 supplemented cultures enhanced osteogenesis directly in the developing femurs with elevated levels of osteogenic markers such as type 1 collagen. In marked contrast organotypic femur cultures supplemented with TGF-β3 (5 ng/mL & 15 ng/mL) demonstrated enhanced chondrogenesis with a reduction in osteogenesis. These studies demonstrate the efficacy of the ex vivo organotypic embryonic femur culture employed to elucidate the direct roles of these molecules, 1α,25 (OH) 2D3 and TGF-β3 on the structural development of embryonic bone within a three dimensional framework. We conclude that 1α,25(OH)2D and TGF-β3 modify directly the various cell populations in bone rudiment organotypic cultures effecting tissue metabolism resulting in significant changes in embryonic bone growth and modulation. Understanding the roles of osteotropic agents in the process of skeletal development is integral to developing new strategies for the recapitulation of bone tissue in later life.
1064 nm FT-Raman spectroscopy for investigations of plant cell walls and other biomass materials

Raman spectroscopy with its various special techniques and methods has been applied to study plant biomass for about 30 years. Such investigations have been performed at both macro- and micro-levels. However, with the availability of the Near Infrared (NIR) (1064 nm) Fourier Transform (FT)-Raman instruments where, in most materials, successful fluorescence suppression can be achieved, the utility of the Raman investigations has increased significantly. Moreover, the development of several new capabilities such as estimation of cellulose-crystallinity, ability to analyze changes in cellulose conformation at the local and molecular level, and examination of water-cellulose interactions have made this technique essential for research in the field of plant science. The FT-Raman method has also been applied to research studies in the arenas of biofuels and nanocelluloses. Moreover, the ability to investigate plant lignins has been further refined with the availability of near-IR Raman. In this paper, we present 1064-nm FT-Raman spectroscopy methodology to investigate various compositional and structural properties of plant material. It is hoped that the described studies will motivate the research community in the plant biomass field to adapt this technique to investigate their specific research needs.
Parallel and configurable protocols: experiences with a prototype and an architectural framework

The authors consider the use of parallelism and configurability to increase throughput and reduce protocol processing latencies. They obtain experimental results on parallel protocol performance using a prototype implemented on a shared memory multiprocessor. The results demonstrate the utility of parallel protocol processing, and they indicate the further research necessary for constructing viable communication protocols for large-scale parallel machines. Based on these experiences, the design of an object-oriented framework for parallel protocol programming which facilitates parallel protocol development and helps maximize protocol performance on a wide variety of multiprocessors is presented. <<ETX>>
Feeling at one: Socio-affective distribution, vibe, and dance-music consciousness

In this chapter, the embodied consciousness of clubbing and raving is considered through the theory of extended mind, according to which the mind is a distributed system where brain, body, and environment play equal parts. Building on the idea of music as affective atmosphere, a case is made for considering the vibe of a dance party as cognitively, socially, and affectively distributed. The chapter suggests that participating in the vibe affords primary musical consciousness—a kind of pre-reflexive state characterized by affective and bodily knowledge—and speculates about the neural correlates of clubbing and raving by means of an analogy with brain research on psychedelic states.
Calcitriol, calcidiol, parathyroid hormone, and fibroblast growth factor-23 interactions in chronic kidney disease

Objective To review the inter-relationships between calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH), parent and activated vitamin D metabolites (vitamin D, 25(OH)-vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D, 24,25(OH)2-vitamin D), and fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) during chronic kidney disease (CKD) in dogs and cats. Data Sources Human and veterinary literature. Human Data Synthesis Beneficial effects of calcitriol treatment during CKD have traditionally been attributed to regulation of PTH but new perspectives emphasize direct renoprotective actions independent of PTH and calcium. It is now apparent that calcitriol exerts an important effect on renal tubular reclamation of filtered 25(OH)-vitamin D, which may be important in maintaining adequate circulating 25(OH)-vitamin D. This in turn may be vital for important pleiotropic actions in peripheral tissues through autocrine/paracrine mechanisms that impact the health of those local tissues. Veterinary Data Synthesis Limited information is available reporting the benefit of calcitriol treatment in dogs and cats with CKD. Conclusions A survival benefit has been shown for dogs with CKD treated with calcitriol compared to placebo. The concentrations of circulating 25(OH)-vitamin D have recently been shown to be low in people and dogs with CKD and are related to survival in people with CKD. Combination therapy for people with CKD using both parental and activated vitamin D compounds is common in human nephrology and there is a developing emphasis using combination treatment with activated vitamin D and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system (RAAS) inhibitors.
Pengaruh Atmosfer Gerai dan Pelayanan Ritel terhadap Pembelian Impulsif di Riau Junction

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah melihat pengaruh dan tingkat signifikasi atmosfer gerai terhadap pembelian impulsif dan melihat pengaruh dan tingkat signifikasi pelayanan ritel terhadap pembelian impulsif. Dalam penelitian ini yang dianggap sebagai variabel bebas (X) adalah atmosfer gerai dan juga pelayanan ritel. Sedangkan variabel terkaitnya (Y) adalah pembelian impulsif. Didalam penelitian ini, pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui penyebaran kuesioner sebagai pengumpul data. Metode pengambilan yang digunakan adalah purposive sampling dan orang – orang yang pernah berbelanja di Riau Junction sebagai sampelnya. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa dimensi atmosfer gerai mempengaruhi dimensi pembelian impulsif sebesar 7.7%. Sedangkan dimensi pelayanan ritel mempengaruhi dimensi pembelian impulsif sebesar 2.2%