Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ICAM-2 Expression Mediates a Membrane-Actin Link, Confers a Nonmetastatic Phenotype and Reflects Favorable Tumor Stage or Histology in Neuroblastoma

The actin cytoskeleton is a primary determinant of tumor cell motility and metastatic potential. Motility and metastasis are thought to be regulated, in large part, by the interaction of membrane proteins with cytoplasmic linker proteins and of these linker proteins, in turn, with actin. However, complete membrane-to-actin linkages have been difficult to identify. We used co-immunoprecipitation and competitive peptide assays to show that intercellular adhesion molecule-2 (ICAM-2)/α-actinin/actin may comprise such a linkage in neuroblastoma cells. ICAM-2 expression limited the motility of these cells and redistributed actin fibers in vitro, and suppressed development of disseminated tumors in an in vivo model of metastatic neuroblastoma. Consistent with these observations, immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated ICAM-2 expression in primary neuroblastoma tumors exhibiting features that are associated with limited metastatic disease and more favorable clinical outcome. In neuroblastoma cell lines, ICAM-2 expression did not affect AKT activation, tumorigenic potential or chemosensitivity, as has been reported for some types of transfected cells. The observed ICAM-2-mediated suppression of metastatic phenotype is a novel function for this protein, and the interaction of ICAM-2/α-actinin/actin represents the first complete membrane-linker protein-actin linkage to impact tumor cell motility in vitro and metastatic potential in an in vivo model. Current work focuses on identifying specific protein domains critical to the regulation of neuroblastoma cell motility and metastasis and on determining if these domains represent exploitable therapeutic targets.
Preclinical pulmonary capillary endothelial dysfunction is present in brain dead subjects

Pulmonary endothelium is a major metabolic organ affecting pulmonary and systemic vascular homeostasis. Brain death (BD)-induced physiologic and metabolic derangements in donors' lungs, in the absence of overt lung pathology, may cause pulmonary dysfunction and compromise post-transplant graft function. To explore the impact of BD on pulmonary endothelium, we estimated pulmonary capillary endothelium-bound (PCEB)-angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity, a direct and quantifiable index of pulmonary endothelial function, in eight brain-dead patients and ten brain-injured mechanically ventilated controls. No subject suffered from acute lung injury or any other overt lung pathology. Applying indicator-dilution type techniques, we measured single-pass transpulmonary percent metabolism (%M) and hydrolysis (v) of the synthetic, biologically inactive, and highly specific for ACE substrate 3H-benzoyl-Phe-Ala-Pro, under first order reaction conditions, and calculated lung functional capillary surface area (FCSA). Substrate %M (35 ± 6.8%) and v (0.49 ± 0.13) in BD patients were decreased as compared to controls (55.9 ± 4.9, P = 0.033 and 0.9 ± 0.15, P = 0.033, respectively), denoting decreased pulmonary endothelial enzyme activity at the capillary level; FCSA, a reflection of endothelial enzyme activity per vascular bed, was also decreased (BD patients: 1,563 ± 562 mL/min vs 4,235 ± 559 in controls; P = 0.003). We conclude that BD is associated with subtle pulmonary endothelial injury, expressed by decreased PCEB-ACE activity. The applied indicator-dilution type technique provides direct and quantifiable indices of pulmonary endothelial function at the bedside that may reveal the existence of preclinical lung pathology in potential lung donors.
STUDIES OF TROPICAL TUNA SWIMMING PERFORMANCE IN A LARGE WATER TUNNEL - THERMOREGULATION

The body temperatures (Tb) of nine yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) were monitored while fish swam in a large water tunnel at controlled velocities (U) and ambient temperatures (Ta). Monitoring Tb during step changes in Ta at constant U permitted estimation of the thermal rate coefficient (k), an index of heat transfer. In the yellowfin, k is dependent on both Ta and the direction of the thermal gradient (i.e. whether Ta is greater or less than Tb). Modulation of k in response to Ta was further demonstrated during tests in which U was varied; the elevation of Tb in response to equal increases in U was 3­4 times less at 30 C than at 25 and 20 C. These experiments demonstrate that the yellowfin tuna can modulate heat transfer. This ability could prevent overheating during intense activity, retard heat loss during a descent into cool water and permit increased heat gain upon returning to warm surface waters (i.e. when Tb
Case Report: Extreme Levels of Serum S-100B in a Patient with Chronic Subdural Hematoma

The protein S-100B is a biomarker increasingly used within neurosurgery and neurointensive care. As a relatively sensitive, yet unspecific, indicator of CNS pathology, potential sources of error must be clearly understood when interpreting serum S-100B levels. This case report studied the course of a 46-year-old gentleman with a chronic subdural hemorrhage, serum S-100B levels of 22 μg/l, and a history of malignant melanoma. Both intra- and extra-cranial sources of S-100B are evaluated and imply an unclear contribution of several sources to the total serum concentration. Potential sources of error when interpreting serum concentrations of S-100B are discussed.
Accessory transverse foramina in the cervical spine: incidence, embryological basis, morphology and surgical importance.

AIM To study the incidence of accessory foramina transversaria in cervical spine and to analyze them morphologically with emphasize on their embryological and surgical importance. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 363 human cervical vertebrae which were procured from the bone collections of the Department of Anatomy. The foramen transversarium was observed macroscopically on both sides of all the vertebras, the accessory foramina were noted. RESULTS Out of 363 specimens, only 6 (1.6%) vertebrae showed the accessory foramina. Among them 5 (1.4%) vertebra had double foramina and only 1 (0.3%) vertebra showed three foramina. Only 1 (0.3%) vertebrae showed the foramen on both sides and the remaining 5 (1.4%) had unilateral foramina. Among the unilateral, 4 were present on the right side and only 1 was on the left side. No vertebrae showed the absence of foramen transversarium. CONCLUSION The present study observed the accessory foramina transversarium in 1.6% of cases. The unilateral presence was more common than the bilateral. The surgical anatomy of these variations is important for the neurosurgeons and radiologists for interpreting the computed tomogram and magnetic resonance image scans. Their morphological knowledge is clinically important since the course of the vertebral artery may be distorted in such situations.
Frame-based parallelization of MPEG-4 on compute unified device architecture (CUDA)

Due to its object based nature, flexible features and provision for user interaction, MPEG-4 encoder is highly suitable for parallelization. The most critical and time-consuming operation of encoder is motion estimation. Nvidia's general-purpose graphical processing unit (GPGPU) architecture allows for a massively parallel stream processor model at a very cheap price (in a few thousands Rupees). However synchronization of parallel calculations and repeated device to host data transfer is a major challenge in parallelizing motion estimation on CUDA. Our solution employs optimized and balanced parallelization of motion estimation on CUDA. This paper discusses about frame-based parallelization wherein parallelization is done at two levels - at macroblock level and at search range level. We propose a further division of macroblock to optimize parallelization. Our algorithm supports real-time processing and streaming for key applications such as e-learning, telemedicine and video-surveillance systems, as demonstrated by experimental results.
Immune Function Genes, Genetics, and the Neurobiology of Addiction

The neuroimmune system (i.e., the immune system and those components of the nervous system that help regulate immune responses), and in particular the innate immune system, play a role in the development of addictions, including alcoholism, particularly in the context of stressful situations. Certain cells of the neuroimmune system are activated both by stress and by environmental factors such as alcohol, resulting in the induction of genes involved in innate immunity. One of the molecules mediating this gene induction is a regulatory protein called nuclear factor-κB, which activates many innate immune genes. Innate immune gene induction in certain brain regions (e.g., the frontal cortex), in turn, can disrupt decision making, which is a characteristic of addiction to alcohol and other drugs. Likewise, altered neuroimmune signaling processes are linked to alcohol-induced negative affect and depression-like behaviors and also regulate alcohol-drinking behavior. Moreover, the expression of several genes and proteins involved in innate immunity is enhanced in addicted people. Finally, specific variants of multiple innate immune genes are associated with the genetic risk for alcoholism in humans, further strengthening the connection between increased brain innate immune gene expression and alcohol addiction.
Catechol-O-methyltransferase genotype modifies executive functioning and prefrontal functional connectivity in women with anorexia nervosa.

BACKGROUND Anorexia nervosa is characterized by high levels of perseveration and inflexibility, which interfere with successful treatments. Dopamine (DA) signalling seems to play a key role in modulating the prefrontal cortex, since both DA deficiency and excess nega tively influence the efficiency of cognitive functions. The present study explores the effect of a functional polymorphism (Val158Met) in the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene on the set-shifting abilities and prefrontal functional connectivity of patients with anorexia nervosa. METHODS All participants performed the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task, and a subsample underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS We included 166 patients with DSM-IV lifetime anorexia nervosa and 140 healthy women in our study. Both underweight and weight-recovered patients with anorexia nervosa showed high levels of perseveration, but only in the underweight group did the Val158Met polymorphism affect cognitive performance, showing the U-shaped curve characteristic of increased DA signalling in the prefrontal cortex. Underweight patients with anorexia nervosa who are Met homozygotes had significantly higher levels of perseveration and increased prefrontal functional connectivity than underweight patients in the other genotype groups, indicating abnormal regional cortical processing. LIMITATIONS Although our data show that grey matter reduction in starving patients with anorexia nervosa did not explain our findings, the cross-sectional design of the present study did not allow us to distinguish between the effects of starvation and those of low estrogen levels. CONCLUSION Starvation affects DA release in the prefrontal cortex of patients with anorexia nervosa with different effects on executive functioning and prefrontal functional connectivity according to the COMT genotype. This observation has several therapeutic implications that need to be addressed by future studies.
Organizational trust: How to include the division of labour?

The aim of this article is to study the relevance of the division of labour to the formation of organizational trust. Trust is defined as a phenomenon related to the resources available to a person in a given social position, a social position which in turn is related to the division of labour. It is argued that work externalization constitutes a division of labour, and that differing access to resources for internal and external workers explains variations in trust. The theoretical propositions are tested in a quantitative analysis of 711 external workers and internal employees in a Swedish organization. The results lend partial support to the theory. External employees are found to be less likely have strong trust in their co-workers. The relationship is mediated by perceptions of shared norms in the organization.
Evidence that hepatitis C virus genome partly controls infection outcome

Infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV) leads to one of two outcomes; either the infection resolves within approximately 6 months or the virus can persist indefinitely. Host genetics are known to affect the likelihood of clearance or persistence. By contrast, the importance of the virus genotype in determining infection outcome is unknown, as quantifying this effect traditionally requires well‐characterized transmission networks, which are rare. Extending phylogenetic approaches previously developed to estimate the virus control over set‐point viral load in HIV‐1 infections, we simulate inheritance of a binary trait along a phylogenetic tree, use this data to quantify how infection outcomes cluster and ascertain the effect of virus genotype on these. We apply our method to the Hepatitis C Incidence and Transmission Study in prisons (HITS‐p) data set from Australia, as this cohort prospectively identified incident cases including viraemic subjects who ultimately clear the virus, thus providing us with a unique collection of sequences from clearing infections. We detect significant correlations between infection outcome and virus distance in the phylogeny for viruses of Genotype 1, with estimates lying at around 67%. No statistically significant estimates were obtained for viruses of Genotype 3a.
Gorenstein projective dimension with respect to a semidualizing module

We introduce and investigate the notion of $\gc$-projective modules over (possibly non-noetherian) commutative rings, where $C$ is a semidualizing module. This extends Holm and J{\o}rgensen's notion of $C$-Gorenstein projective modules to the non-noetherian setting and generalizes projective and Gorenstein projective modules within this setting. We then study the resulting modules of finite $\gc$-projective dimension, showing in particular that they admit $\gc$-projective approximations, a generalization of the maximal Cohen-Macaulay approximations of Auslander and Buchweitz. Over a local (noetherian) ring, we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for a $G_C$-approximation to be minimal.
A Discontinuous Tonotopic Organization in the Inferior Colliculus of the Rat

Audible frequencies of sound are encoded in a continuous manner along the length of the cochlea, and frequency is transmitted to the brain as a representation of place on the basilar membrane. The resulting tonotopic map has been assumed to be a continuous smooth progression from low to high frequency throughout the central auditory system. Here, physiological and anatomical data show that best frequency is represented in a discontinuous manner in the inferior colliculus, the major auditory structure of the midbrain. Multiunit maps demonstrate a distinct stepwise organization in the order of best frequency progression. Furthermore, independent data from single neurons show that best frequencies at octave intervals of approximately one-third are more prevalent than others. These data suggest that, in the inferior colliculus, there is a defined space of tissue devoted to a given frequency, and input within this frequency band may be pooled for higher-level processing.
RGB-D Scene Labeling with Long Short-Term Memorized Fusion Model

Semantic labeling of RGB-D scenes is crucial to many intelligent applications including perceptual robotics. It generates pixelwise and fine-grained label maps from simultaneously sensed photometric (RGB) and depth channels. This paper addresses this problem by i) developing a novel Long Short-Term Memorized Fusion (LSTM-F) Model that captures and fuses contextual information from multiple channels of photometric and depth data, and ii) incorporating this model into deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for end-to-end training. Specifically, global contexts in photometric and depth channels are, respectively, captured by stacking several convolutional layers and a long short-term memory layer; the memory layer encodes both short-range and long-range spatial dependencies in an image along the vertical direction. Another long short-term memorized fusion layer is set up to integrate the contexts along the vertical direction from different channels, and perform bi-directional propagation of the fused vertical contexts along the horizontal direction to obtain true 2D global contexts. At last, the fused contextual representation is concatenated with the convolutional features extracted from the photometric channels in order to improve the accuracy of fine-scale semantic labeling. Our proposed model has set a new state of the art, i.e., 48.1% average class accuracy over 37 categories 11.8% improvement), on the large-scale SUNRGBD dataset.1
INFLUENCE OF STUDENT RETENTION STRATEGIES ON PERFORMANCE OF TVETs IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA

Purpose: The study sought to evaluate the power of student retention strategies on performance of TVET institutes in Kenya: a case study of Nairobi City County. In order to capture the required information, the study is guided by four objectives; to assess the influence of student orientation and induction strategy, student support programs strategy, customer relation management, and student involvement and participation on performance of TVET institutes in Kenya. This study is anchored on drive reduction theory, tinto’s learner’s integration theory, the cognitive dissonance theory and structural strain theory. Methodology: The study used a descriptive survey design utilizing primary quantitative and qualitative data. The study employed stratified and simple sampling techniques on the population. Targeted study population was 182 TVET institutes in Nairobi region with teaching staff and dean of students being unit of observation. 70 institutions were targeted as a sample size by the study. Data was collected through the administration of questionnaires to TVET institutions lecturers and deans of students being the respondents. A pilot study was conducted on 10 randomly selected TVET institutes in Nairobi region equivalent to 6% of the overall population. Reliability of the research instrument was established through Cronbach’s Alpha (α) scale of 0.7 (internal consistency measure) thresholds. Content validity of the instrument was conducted. Descriptive and inferential statistics was used for the purpose of data analysis using Microsoft Excel software and SPSS version 22.0. Results: The outcomes of the research showed that majority of the sampled staff had attained graduate level of learning, the institution had Student orientation and induction as indicated by 55.75% of respondents. The institution had in place student support programs as indicated by 40% of respondents. About 31% of the sampled population revealed that TVET institutions in Nairobi County had Customer relationship management program and 27% of the respondents agreed that students were involved to participate on decision making.Contributions: the study makes contribution to policy in regard to student orientation and induction strategy, student support program strategy, customer relation strategy and student involvement and participation
Projective normality of complete symmetric varieties

We prove that in characteristic zero the multiplication of sections of line bundles generated by global sections on a complete symmetric variety X = G/H is a surjective map. As a consequence, the cone defined by a complete linear system over X or over a closed G-stable subvariety of X is normal. This gives an affirmative answer to a question raised by Faltings in [11]. A crucial point of the proof is a combinatorial property of root systems. Introduction Let G be an adjoint semisimple algebraic group over an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero, and let G be its algebraic simply connected cover. Given an involutorial automorphism σ : G → G, denote by H the subgroup of fixed points of σ . A wonderful compactification X of the symmetric variety G/H has been constructed by De Concini and Procesi [9]. The main result of our paper can be stated as the following. THEOREM A If L and L ′ are line bundles generated by global sections on X , then the multiplication 0(X,L )⊗ 0(X,L )→ 0(X,L ⊗L ) is surjective. The projective normality of X follows by a standard argument. Hence we give an affirmative answer to a problem raised by Faltings in [11]. Our result has already been proved in [15] by Kannan in the special case of the compactification of a group, in which G = H×H and the involution exchanges the two copies of H , by a completely different method that does not apply to this situation. We stress that it is necessary to assume that the line bundles L and L ′ are generated by global sections, as the example after the proof of Theorem A in Section 3 shows. DUKE MATHEMATICAL JOURNAL Vol. 122, No. 1, c © 2004 Received 4 October 2002. Revision received 17 March 2003. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 14M17; Secondary 14L30.
Auditing and Inference Control in Statistical Databases

A statistical database (SDB) may be defined as an ordinary database with the capability of providing statistical information to user queries. The security problem for the SDB is to limit the use of the SDB so(that only statistical information is available and no sequence of queries is sufficient to infer protected information about any individual. When such information is obtained, the SDB is said to be compromised.
Wireless Mesh Networks: a comparative study of Ad-Hoc routing protocols toward more efficient routing

Each day, the dream of seamless networking and connectivity everywhere is getting closer to become a reality. In this regard, mobile Ad-Hoc networks (MANETs) have been a hot topic in the last decade; but the amount of MANET usage nowadays confines to a tiny percentage of all our network connectivity in our everyday life, which connectivity through infrastructured networks has the major share. On the other hand, we know that future of networking belongs to Ad-Hocing , so for now we try to give our everyday infrastructure network a taste of Ad-Hocing ability; these types of networks are called Wireless Mesh Networks (WMN) and routing features play a vital role in their functionality. In this thesis we examine the functionality of 3 Ad-Hoc routing protocols known as AODV, OLSR and GRP using simulation method in OPNET17.5. For this goal we set up 4 different scenarios to examine the performance of these routing protocols; these scenarios vary from each other in amount of nodes, background traffic and mobility of the nodes. Performance measurements of these protocols are done by network throughput, end-end delay of the transmitted packets and packet loss ratio as our performance metrics. After the simulation run and gathering the results we study them in a comparative view, first based on each scenario and then based on each protocol. For conclusion, as former studies suggest AODV, OLSR and DRP are among the best routing protocols for WMNs, so in this research we don’t introduce the best RP based on the obtained functionality results, instead we discuss the network conditions that each of these protocols show their best functionality in them and suggest the best routing mechanism for different networks based on the analysis from the former part.
Involutory (dual) quasi-Hopf algebras

We introduce and investigate the basic properties of an involutory (dual) quasi-Hopf algebra. We also study the representations of an involutory quasi-Hopf algebra and prove that an involutory dual quasi-Hopf algebra with non-zero integral is cosemisimple. In the appendix, we give the classification of all involutory quasi-Hopf algebras isomorphic to the Klein group algebra as an algebra and a coalgebra, by computing a third cohomology group.