Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cell cycle-dependent alteration in NAC1 nuclear body dynamics and morphology

NAC1, a BTB/POZ family member, has been suggested to participate in maintaining the stemness of embryonic stem cells and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of human cancer. In ovarian cancer, NAC1 upregulation is associated with disease aggressiveness and with the development of chemoresistance. Like other BTB/POZ proteins, NAC1 forms discrete nuclear bodies in non-dividing cells. To investigate the biological role of NAC1 nuclear bodies, we characterized the expression dynamics of NAC1 nuclear bodies during different phases of the cell cycle. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching assays revealed that NAC1 was rapidly exchanged between the nucleoplasm and NAC1 nuclear bodies in interphase cells. The number of NAC1 bodies significantly increased and their size decreased in the S phase as compared to the G0/G1 and G2 phases. NAC1 nuclear bodies disappeared and NAC1 became diffuse during mitosis. NAC1 nuclear bodies reappeared immediately after completion of mitosis. These results indicate that a cell cycle-dependent regulatory mechanism controls NAC1 body formation in the nucleus and suggest that NAC1 body dynamics are associated with mitosis or cytokinesis.
Coarse-to-fine classification via parametric and nonparametric models for computer-aided diagnosis

Classification is one of the core problems in Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD), targeting for early cancer detection using 3D medical imaging interpretation. High detection sensitivity with desirably low false positive (FP) rate is critical for a CAD system to be accepted as a valuable or even indispensable tool in radiologists' workflow. Given various spurious imagery noises which cause observation uncertainties, this remains a very challenging task. In this paper, we propose a novel, two-tiered coarse-to-fine (CTF) classification cascade framework to tackle this problem. We first obtain classification-critical data samples (e.g., implicit samples on the decision boundary) extracted from the holistic data distributions using a robust parametric model (e.g., [13]); then we build a graph-embedding based nonparametric classifier on sampled data, which can more accurately preserve or formulate the complex classification boundary. These two steps can also be considered as effective "sample pruning" and "feature pursuing + kNN/template matching", respectively. Our approach is validated comprehensively in colorectal polyp detection and lung nodule detection CAD systems, as the top two deadly cancers, using hospital scale, multi-site clinical datasets. The results show that our method achieves overall better classification/detection performance than existing state-of-the-art algorithms using single-layer classifiers, such as the support vector machine variants [17], boosting [15], logistic regression [11], relevance vector machine [13], k-nearest neighbor [9] or spectral projections on graph [2].
Watching movies on netflix: investigating the effect of screen size on viewer immersion

Film and television content is moving out of the living room and onto mobile devices - viewers are now watching when and where it suits them, on devices of differing sizes. This freedom is convenient, but could lead to differing experiences across devices. Larger screens are often believed to be favourable, e.g. to watch films or sporting events. This is partially supported in the literature, which shows that larger screens lead to greater presence and more intense physiological responses. However, a more broadly-defined measure of experience, such as that of immersion from computer games research, has not been studied. In this study, 19 participants watched content on three different screens and reported their immersion level via questionnaire. Results showed that the 4.5-inch phone screen elicited lower immersion scores when compared to the 13-inch laptop and 30-inch monitor, but there was no difference when comparing the two larger screens. This suggests that very small screens lead to reduced immersion, but after a certain size the effect is less pronounced.
A hardware accelerator for the specular intensity of Phong illumination model in 3-dimensional graphics

This paper presents a special hardware implementation developed for the computation of the specular term which is the most time consuming part in the Phong's illumination. In the Phong shading, the exponentiation operation of two floating-point numbers is necessary for each point inside a polygon. An approximation algorithm is developed to speed up the exponentiation operation, and it is supported by simple hardware that can be easily merged into a floating-point multiplier. The exponentiation operation takes just 4 cycles in the proposed hardware while it takes about 100-200 cycles in conventional floating-point units. Although an approximation algorithm is employed for the exponentiation operation, the amount of error is so minimal that the difference is virtually indistinguishable.
Microfilament modification by dihydrocytochalasin B causes retinoic acid-modulated chondrocytes to reexpress the differentiated collagen phenotype without a change in shape

Primary monolayers of rabbit articular chondrocytes synthesize high levels of type II collagen and proteoglycan. This capacity was used as a marker for the expression of the differentiated phenotype. Such cells were treated with 1 microgram/ml retinoic acid (RA) for 10 d to produce a modulated collagen phenotype devoid of type II and consisting of predominantly type I trimer and type III collagen. After transfer to secondary culture in the presence of RA, the stability of the RA- modulated phenotype was investigated by culture in the absence of RA. Little reexpression of type II collagen synthesis occurred in this period unless cultures were treated with 3 X 10(-6) M dihydrocytochalasin B to modify microfilament structures. Reexpression of the differentiated phenotype began between days 6-8 and was essentially complete by day 14. Substantial reexpression occurred by day 8 without a detectable increase in cell rounding. Colony formation, characteristic of primary chondrocytes, was infrequent even after reexpression was complete. These data suggest that the integrity of microfilament cytoskeletal structures can be a source of regulatory signals that mechanistically appear to be more proximal to phenotypic change than the overt changes in cell shape that accompany reexpression of subculture-modulated chondrocytes in agarose culture.
Addition of sertraline to other therapies to reduce dialysis‐associated hypotension

SUMMARY: Sertraline has shown promise in the treatment of dialysis‐associated hypotension (DAH) in a limited number of end‐stage renal disease patients. We undertook a study to evaluate the effect of adding sertraline to other therapies for patients with documented DAH. We also measured the effect of sertraline on intradialytic haemodynamics. We used the ultrasound dilution technique (HD01 monitor) to measure cardiac output (CO), central blood volume (CBV) and peripheral vascular resistance (PVR) in these patients. The study was performed in two phases. Phase 1 was a control, while the second phase consisted of treatment with sertraline (50 mg/day). Cardiac output and central blood volume were measured 30 min following the initiation of dialysis and 30 min prior to the termination of dialysis. Blood pressure (BP) was monitored during haemodynamic measurements and throughout dialysis. Eighteen patients with documented DAH completed the study. Cardiac output, CBV and PVR were no different in the sertraline phase as compared with the control phase. The declines in systolic BP, diastolic BP and mean arterial pressures from pre‐haemodialysis (HD) to lowest intradialytic and pre‐HD to post‐HD were not significantly different for the sertraline phase versus the control phase. In conclusion, it appears that sertraline has no additive effect on intradialytic haemodynamics to improve blood pressure in patients with DAH who are under therapy (with sodium modelling, cool dialysate and midodrine).
Serum NGAL, cystatin C and urinary NAG measurements for early diagnosis of contrast-induced nephropathy in children

Abstract Aim: The study investigated a number of biomarkers for the early diagnosis of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), which is an important cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). Material and methods: The study included 91 children scheduled for elective cardiac angiography and 50 healthy controls. Biomarkers including serum (s) and urinary (u) sodium, serum and u-creatinine, s-cystatin-C, serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and urinary N-acetyl beta glucosaminidase (u-NAG)/creatinine ratio were measured 4 times sequentially in the patients and once in the controls. Results: The patient group comprised 40 males (44%) and 51 females (56%) while the control group comprised 16 males (32%) and 34 females (68%). Age, gender, s-creatinine, estimated-glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), s-cystatin-C and fractional-excretion of sodium did not differ significantly between the groups. Serum sodium and s-NGAL were found to be lower in the patients than those of in the controls, while their u-NAG/creatinine ratio was found to be higher. Sequential data analysis revealed that s-NGAL and u-NAG/creatinine ratio increased in the first 6 h after radiocontrast media (RCM) administration and decreased at 12 and 24 h. Serum BUN and s-cystatin-C levels also showed a significant difference during the 24-h follow-up. eGFR, s-sodium and s-creatinine levels did not change in the following period. Serum cystatin-C levels revealed a significant negative correlation with eGFR. Administered RCM doses showed a positive correlation only with u-NAG/creatinine ratios. Conclusion: In the first 24 h, s-cystatin-C, s-NGAL and especially u-NAG/creatinine ratio showed promise as biomarkers, but eGFR is not adequate for early diagnosis of CIN. Sequential measurement of biomarkers may contribute to more accurate diagnosis of AKI.
LRP6 Mutation in a Family with Early Coronary Disease and Metabolic Risk Factors

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and is commonly caused by a constellation of risk factors called the metabolic syndrome. We characterized a family with autosomal dominant early CAD, features of the metabolic syndrome (hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes), and osteoporosis. These traits showed genetic linkage to a short segment of chromosome 12p, in which we identified a missense mutation in LRP6, which encodes a co-receptor in the Wnt signaling pathway. The mutation, which substitutes cysteine for arginine at a highly conserved residue of an epidermal growth factor–like domain, impairs Wnt signaling in vitro. These results link a single gene defect in Wnt signaling to CAD and multiple cardiovascular risk factors.
Notes on Transference: Universal Phenomenon and Hardest Part of Analysis

s AN INTRODUCTION I WOULD LIKE to make a few general remarks about transference as I see it. Transference, in my view, is a A very special mental quality that has never been satisfactorily explained. I am not satisfied, for instance, either with what has been written about it or with its use in analysis. T o me, our knowledge seems slight, and our use limited. This view, admittedly extreme, is possible only because transference is such a very remarkable phenomenon, with a great and largely undeveloped potential. I am particularly taken with the as yet unexplored idea that transEerence is a universal mental function which may well be the basis of all human relationships. I even suspect i t of being one of the mind's main agencies for giving birth to new ideas, and new life to old ones. In these several respects, transference would seem to me to assume characteristics of a major ego function. I tend to go along with those who consider transference unique as it occurs in the analytic situation, and with those who hold that the analysis and resolution of a transference neurosis is the only avenue to the farthest reaches of the mind. I t is also my belie€ that transference, in one form or another, is always present, active, and significant in the analytic situation. From this it should follow that rarely is there a need to give up on the transference or to doubt that everything that goes on in analysis has a transference meaning. I would also be inclined to agree with those, perhaps few in number, who harbor the idea that analysts themselves regularly develop transference reactions to their patients, including periods of transference neurosis, and that these transference reactions play an essential role in the analytic process.
Concurrent models for Linda with transactions

Nowadays concepts, languages and models for coordination cannot leave aside the needs of the increasing number of commercial applications based on global computing over the (inter)net. For example, platforms like Microsoft . NET and Sun Microsystems Java come equipped with packages for supporting ad hoc transactional features, which are essential for most business applications. We show how to extend the coordination language par excellence (viz. Linda) with basic primitives for transactions, while retaining a formal model for its concurrent computations. This is achieved by exploiting a variation of Petri nets, called zero-safe nets, where transactions can be suitably modelled by distinguishing between stable places (ordinary ones) and zero places (where tokens can only be temporarily allocated, defining hidden states). The relevance of the transaction mechanism is illustrated in terms of expressive power. Finally, it is shown that stable places and transactions viewed as atomic steps define an abstract semantics that is apt for a fully algebraic treatment, as demonstrated via categorical adjunctions between suitable categories of nets.
Point-of-care Sensors for Determination of Manganese in Clinical Applications

Chronic exposure to elevated levels of manganese (Mn) can lead to a wide range of health issues. Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) have established safely limits for Mn in water and blood. To protect public health and the environment, it is critically important to monitor concentrations of Mn, so that clinicians and environmental scientists can take immediate action when necessary. The conventional approaches to monitoring Mn, such as ICP-MS or AAS, are extremely accurate, but are costly and are not suitable for fast response. A point-of-care system featuring electrochemical sensing can meet the requirements of a simple, cost-efficient, but highly sensitive analytical tool. This dissertation describes development of a microscale electrochemical sensor for determination of Mn using cathodic stripping voltammetry. The explored sensors include a copper (Cu)-based sensor with palladium (Pd) film working electrode, a platinum (Pt) sensor, and an indium tin oxide (ITO) sensor. With proper characterization of electrodes and optimization of parameters, a sufficiently low limit of detection (LOD) can be achieved. For example, the Cu-Pd sensor on glass substrate demonstrated LOD of 333.6 nM (18.3 ppb) in pH 9.0, 0.1 M borate buffer. For the Pt sensor, the LOD improved to 16.3 nM (0.9 ppb) in pH 5.5, 0.2 M acetate buffer, with similar performance for the ITO sensor. Using the Pt sensor, trace Mn concentrations were determined in natural water samples (pond water, river water, and well water) and achieved >97% precision and ~90% accuracy when we compared with ICP-MS. Using the ITO sensor, Mn was determined in digested whole blood samples. Ultimately, these results suggest that electrochemical sensors can enable sensitive and accurate on-site determination of Mn in various sample matrices. With additional development, these sensors can be integrated into a user-friendly portable system, which could potentially become a viable alternative to the conventional lab-based analysis for clinicians and environmental scientists.
Location of Myc, Igh, and Igk on Robertsonian fusion chromosomes is inconsequential for Myc translocations and plasmacytoma development in mice, but Rb(6.15)‐carrying tumors prefer Igk–Myc inversions over translocations

The location of the Myc and immunoglobulin (Ig) loci on metacentric Robertsonian (Rb) fusion chromosomes may affect the development of mouse plasmacytomas (Pcts) by changing the probability with which chromosomal Myc–Ig translocations occur. To test this hypothesis, we induced Pcts in BALB/c (C) mice that carried Rb(4.12) and/or Rb(6.15) chromosomes. The Rb mice developed Pcts (n = 198) with similar onset and incidence to that in the inbred C mice. Karyotyping of 70 Rb–carrying Pcts demonstrated that in these tumors, just as in their counterparts in inbred C mice, the Igh heavy‐chain locus was translocated with Myc more often than was the Igk light‐chain locus. Pcts harboring Igh or Igk on normal and Rb chromosomes showed no bias toward either in generating Myc translocations. These findings indicated that the location of Myc, Igh, and Igk on normal or Rb chromosomes is inconsequential for Myc translocation and Pct development. In contrast, in Rb(6.15) mice, in which chromosomal inversions competed with chromosomal translocations for Igk–Myc juxtapositions, the former occurred more frequently than the latter in the resulting Pcts. This suggested that spatial proximity of Igk and Myc on the same chromosome facilitates the rearrangement of these loci. Myc translocation–dependent mouse Pct may provide a good model system for furthering our understanding of the relationship of higher‐order genome organization in the interphase nucleus, origin of chromosomal translocations, and development of cancer. Published 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Probiotic roles of Lactobacillus sp. in swine: insights from gut microbiota

The use of lactobacilli as probiotics in swine has been gaining attention due to their ability to improve growth performance and carcass quality, prevent gastrointestinal infection and most importantly, their ‘generally recognized as safe’ status. Previous studies support the potential of lactobacilli to regulate host immune systems, enhance gut metabolic capacities and maintain balance in the gut microbiota. Research on swine gut microbiota has revealed complex gut microbial community structure and showed the importance of Lactobacillus to the host's health. However, the species‐ and strain‐specific characteristics of lactobacilli that confer probiotic benefits are still not well understood. The diversity of probiotic traits in a complex gut ecosystem makes it challenging to infer the relationships between specific functions of Lactobacillus sp. and host health. In this review, we provide an overview of how lactobacilli play a pivotal role in the swine gut ecosystem and identify key characteristics that influence gut microbial community structure and the health of pigs. In addition, based on recent and ongoing meta‐omics and omics research on the gut microbiota of pigs, we suggest a workflow combining culture‐dependent and culture‐independent approaches for more effective selection of probiotic lactobacilli.
The ACCESS Study: Evaluation of Acute Candesartan Cilexetil Therapy in Stroke Survivors

Background and Purpose— The Acute Candesartan Cilexetil Therapy in Stroke Survivors (ACCESS) study was designed to assess the safety of modest blood pressure reduction by candesartan cilexetil in the early treatment of stroke. The study was also designed to provide an estimate of the number of cases required to perform a larger phase III efficacy study. Methods— Five hundred patients were recruited in a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, multicenter phase II study. Results— This safety trial was stopped prematurely when 342 patients (339 valid) had been randomized because of an imbalance in end points. Demographic data, cardiovascular risk factors, and blood pressure on admission, on study onset, and within the whole study period were not significantly different between the 2 groups. However, the cumulative 12-month mortality and the number of vascular events differed significantly in favor of the candesartan cilexetil group (odds ratio, 0.475; 95% CI, 0.252 to 0.895). There were no significant differences in concomitant medication and in number or type of side effects. Conclusions— Although the mechanisms by which angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor blockade affects cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are still unresolved, the present study shows that early neurohumoral inhibition has similar beneficial effects in cerebral and in myocardial ischemia. The fact that no cardiovascular or cerebrovascular event occurred as a result of hypotension is of significant clinical importance. When there is need for or no contraindication against early antihypertensive therapy, candesartan cilexetil is a safe therapeutic option according to the ACCESS results.
Risk Alleles of USF1 Gene Predict Cardiovascular Disease of Women in Two Prospective Studies

Upstream transcription factor 1 (USF1) is a ubiquitously expressed transcription factor controlling several critical genes in lipid and glucose metabolism. Of some 40 genes regulated by USF1, several are involved in the molecular pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although the USF1 gene has been shown to have a critical role in the etiology of familial combined hyperlipidemia, which predisposes to early CVD, the gene's potential role as a risk factor for CVD events at the population level has not been established. Here we report the results from a prospective genetic–epidemiological study of the association between the USF1 variants, CVD, and mortality in two large Finnish cohorts. Haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms exposing all common allelic variants of USF1 were genotyped in a prospective case-cohort design with two distinct cohorts followed up during 1992–2001 and 1997–2003. The total number of follow-up years was 112,435 in 14,140 individuals, of which 2,225 were selected for genotyping based on the case-cohort study strategy. After adjustment for conventional risk factors, we observed an association of USF1 with CVD and mortality among females. In combined analysis of the two cohorts, female carriers of a USF1 risk haplotype had a 2-fold risk of a CVD event (hazard ratio [HR] 2.02; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16–3.53; p = 0.01) and an increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR 2.52; 95% CI 1.46–4.35; p = 0.0009). A putative protective haplotype of USF1 was also identified. Our study shows how a gene identified in exceptional families proves to be important also at the population level, implying that allelic variants of USF1 significantly influence the prospective risk of CVD and even all-cause mortality in females.
Two-Pass IB Based Speaker Diarization System Using Meeting-Specific ANN Based Features

In this paper, we present a two-pass Information Bottleneck (IB) based system for speaker diarization which uses meetingspecific artificial neural network (ANN) based features. We first use IB based speaker diarization system to get the labelled speaker segments. These segments are re-segmented using Kullback-Leibler Hidden Markov Model (KL-HMM) based re-segmentation. The multi-layer ANN is then trained to discriminate these speakers using the re-segmented output labels and the spectral features. We then extract the bottleneck features from the trained ANN and perform principal component analysis (PCA) on these features. After performing PCA, these bottleneck features are used along with the different spectral features in the second pass using the same IB based system with KL-HMM re-segmentation. Our experiments on NIST RT and AMI datasets show that the proposed system performs better than the baseline IB system in terms of speaker error rate (SER) with a best case relative improvement of 28.6% amongst AMI datasets and 27.1% on NIST RT04eval dataset.