Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gamma Oscillatory Activity Related to Language Prediction

Using magnetoencephalography, the current study examined gamma activity associated with language prediction. Participants read high- and low-constraining sentences in which the final word of the sentence was either expected or unexpected. Although no consistent gamma power difference induced by the sentence-final words was found between the expected and unexpected conditions, the correlation of gamma power during the prediction and activation intervals of the sentence-final words was larger when the presented words matched with the prediction compared with when the prediction was violated or when no prediction was available. This suggests that gamma magnitude relates to the match between predicted and perceived words. Moreover, the expected words induced activity with a slower gamma frequency compared with that induced by unexpected words. Overall, the current study establishes that prediction is related to gamma power correlations and a slowing of the gamma frequency.
RECOD Titans at ISIC Challenge 2017

This extended abstract describes the participation of RECOD Titans in parts 1 and 3 of the ISIC Challenge 2017 "Skin Lesion Analysis Towards Melanoma Detection" (ISBI 2017). Although our team has a long experience with melanoma classification, the ISIC Challenge 2017 was the very first time we worked on skin-lesion segmentation. For part 1 (segmentation), our final submission used four of our models: two trained with all 2000 samples, without a validation split, for 250 and for 500 epochs respectively; and other two trained and validated with two different 1600/400 splits, for 220 epochs. Those four models, individually, achieved between 0.780 and 0.783 official validation scores. Our final submission averaged the output of those four models achieved a score of 0.793. For part 3 (classification), the submitted test run as well as our last official validation run were the result from a meta-model that assembled seven base deep-learning models: three based on Inception-V4 trained on our largest dataset; three based on Inception trained on our smallest dataset; and one based on ResNet-101 trained on our smaller dataset. The results of those component models were stacked in a meta-learning layer based on an SVM trained on the validation set of our largest dataset.
Large-Scale Discovery of ERK2 Substrates Identifies ERK-Mediated Transcriptional Regulation by ETV3

A chemical genetics strategy identified 67 previously unknown substrates of the kinase ERK2, including the transcriptional repressor ETV3. Discovering ERK2 Substrates Extracellular signal–regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) is one of two closely related mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) that function downstream of many receptors. Because ERK2 and ERK1 are usually activated under the same conditions and are recognized by the same antibodies, it can be difficult to assign specific substrates and functions to these related proteins. Carlson et al. combined mass spectrometry analysis with chemical genetics to identify ERK2-specific substrates. Their work identified targets in diverse pathways suggesting mechanisms for crosstalk with MAPK signaling. Additionally, detailed analysis of the transcriptional repressor ETV3 suggested that phosphorylation by ERK2 on sites in both canonical and noncanonical motifs inhibited its DNA binding capacity, which may poise cells for a transient transcriptional burst in response to stimuli that activate ERK signaling or those that arrive concurrently. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) extracellular signal–regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) is ubiquitously expressed in mammalian tissues and is involved in a wide range of biological processes. Although MAPKs have been intensely studied, identification of their substrates remains challenging. We have optimized a chemical genetic system using analog-sensitive ERK2, a form of ERK2 engineered to use an analog of adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP), to tag and isolate ERK2 substrates in vitro. This approach identified 80 proteins phosphorylated by ERK2, 13 of which are known ERK2 substrates. The 80 substrates are associated with diverse cellular processes, including regulation of transcription and translation, mRNA processing, and regulation of the activity of the Rho family guanosine triphosphatases. We found that one of the newly identified substrates, ETV3 (a member of the E twenty-six family of transcriptional regulators), was extensively phosphorylated on sites within canonical and noncanonical ERK motifs. Phosphorylation of ETV3 regulated transcription by preventing its binding to DNA at promoters for several thousand genes, including some involved in negative feedback regulation of itself and of upstream signals.
Impact of Nodule Size on Malignancy Risk Differs according to the Ultrasonography Pattern of Thyroid Nodules

Objective To test whether the impact of thyroid-nodule size on the malignancy risk differs according to the ultrasonography (US) patterns of nodules. Materials and Methods This study is a post hoc analysis using data from the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS) multicenter retrospective study which included 2000 consecutive thyroid nodules (≥ 1 cm) with final diagnoses. A total of 2000 consecutive thyroid nodules from 1802 patients (1387 women and 613 men; mean age, 51.2 ± 12.2 years) were enrolled in this study. The malignancy risk of the nodules was assessed according to the nodule size and US patterns (Korean-TIRADS). Results Overall, the malignancy risk did not increase as nodules enlarged. In high-suspicion nodules, the malignancy rate had no association with nodule size (p = 0.467), whereas in intermediate- or low-suspicion nodules there was a trend toward an increasing malignancy risk as the nodule size increased (p = 0.004 and 0.002, respectively). The malignancy rate of large nodules (≥ 3 cm) was higher than that of small nodules (< 3 cm) in intermediate-suspicion nodules (40.3% vs. 22.6%, respectively; p = 0.001) and low-suspicion nodules (11.3% vs. 7.0%, respectively; p = 0.035). There was a trend toward a decreasing risk and proportion of papillary carcinoma and an increasing risk and proportion of follicular carcinoma or other malignant tumors as nodule size increased (p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion The impact of nodule size on the malignancy risk differed according to the US pattern. A large nodule size (≥ 3 cm) showed a higher malignancy risk than smaller nodules in intermediate- and low-suspicion nodules.
Interactions of the Borna Disease Virus P, N, and X Proteins and Their Functional Implications*

Borna disease virus (BDV) causes persistent central nervous system infection and behavioral disturbances in warm-blooded animals. Protein interaction studies were pursued to gain insight into the functions of the putative nucleoprotein (N), phosphoprotein (P), atypical glycoprotein (gp18), and X protein (X) of BDV. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments indicated that N and P, and P and X, form complexes in infected cells. Two-hybrid analyses confirmed interactions between P and P, P and X, and P and N, but not between P and gp18, N and gp18, X and gp18, or X and N. Analysis of P truncation mutants identified three nonoverlapping regions important for oligomerization (amino acids (aa) 135–172), and binding to X (aa 33–115) or N (aa 197–201). Coexpression of X stimulated oligomerization of P but decreased N-P complex formation. Immunocytochemistry of transfected noninfected CHO cells demonstrated that the distribution of X is dependent upon the presence of P-X expressed alone was found predominantly in the cytoplasm whereas coexpression of X and P resulted in nuclear localization. Immunocytochemistry of infected cells revealed nuclear colocalization of P and X. Interactions of P, N, and X may have implications for regulation of BDV transcription/replication and ribonucleoprotein assembly.
AII amacrine cells discriminate between heterocellular and homocellular locations when assembling connexin36-containing gap junctions

ABSTRACT Electrical synapses (gap junctions) rapidly transmit signals between neurons and are composed of connexins. In neurons, connexin36 (Cx36) is the most abundant isoform; however, the mechanisms underlying formation of Cx36-containing electrical synapses are unknown. We focus on homocellular and heterocellular gap junctions formed by an AII amacrine cell, a key interneuron found in all mammalian retinas. In mice lacking native Cx36 but expressing a variant tagged with enhanced green fluorescent protein at the C-terminus (KO-Cx36-EGFP), heterocellular gap junctions formed between AII cells and ON cone bipolar cells are fully functional, whereas homocellular gap junctions between two AII cells are not formed. A tracer injected into an AII amacrine cell spreads into ON cone bipolar cells but is excluded from other AII cells. Reconstruction of Cx36–EGFP clusters on an AII cell in the KO-Cx36-EGFP genotype confirmed that the number, but not average size, of the clusters is reduced – as expected for AII cells lacking a subset of electrical synapses. Our studies indicate that some neurons exhibit at least two discriminatory mechanisms for assembling Cx36. We suggest that employing different gap-junction-forming mechanisms could provide the means for a cell to regulate its gap junctions in a target-cell-specific manner, even if these junctions contain the same connexin.
Mitochondrial dysfunction in COPD patients with low body mass index

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Influence of IGBT current rating on the thermal cycling lifetime of a power electronic active rectifier in a direct wave energy converter

Direct Wave Energy Converters offer high reliability potential, which is a key factor in offshore environments, yet their electrical power produced is strongly pulsating. The thermal cycling of their power electronic switches (considered here to be Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors, IGBT) may reduce the lifetime of the power electronic converter. This study proposes a generic design method for choosing both the IGBT current rating and the heatsink thermal resistance in order to satisfy a reliability constraint. A parametric electro-thermal model has thus been developed to determine the junction temperature time series. Moreover, a rainflow cycle counting method is introduced for the reliability analysis and lifetime prediction using two aging models, one for wire bonds, the other for the solder joint of the chip.
Parallel Tournaments

In this paper, I theoretically and experimentally compare a principal’s profits from two tournament designs. The first design is a standard winner-take-all tournament with a single prize. The second design features two parallel tournaments with different prizes where individuals choose which tournament to enter before competing. I develop a simple model that illustrates how the relative performances of these designs change as contestants’ abilities differ. The theoretical model shows that the designer’s profit is higher (lower) in the parallel tournament when contestants’ abilities differ greatly (are similar). I complement these findings with experimental evidence. The experiments show that the parallel tournament is more profitable under high heterogeneity, whereas under low heterogeneity the designer is better off with the single-prize tournament. Further, high-ability agents under-participate and low-ability agents over-participate in the high-prize tournament relative to the theoretical prediction. JEL classification: C72, D82, J33, M51, M52
Time Course of Central and Peripheral Alterations after Isometric Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation-Induced Muscle Damage

Isometric contractions induced by neuromuscular electrostimulation (NMES) have been shown to result in a prolonged force decrease but the time course of the potential central and peripheral factors have never been investigated. This study examined the specific time course of central and peripheral factors after isometric NMES-induced muscle damage. Twenty-five young healthy men were subjected to an NMES exercise consisting of 40 contractions for both legs. Changes in maximal voluntary contraction force of the knee extensors (MVC), peak evoked force during double stimulations at 10 Hz (Db10) and 100 Hz (Db100), its ratio (10∶100), voluntary activation, muscle soreness and plasma creatine kinase activity were assessed before, immediately after and throughout four days after NMES session. Changes in knee extensors volume and T2 relaxation time were also assessed at two (D2) and four (D4) days post-exercise. MVC decreased by 29% immediately after NMES session and was still 19% lower than the baseline value at D4. The decrease in Db10 was higher than in Db100 immediately and one day post-exercise resulting in a decrease (−12%) in the 10∶100 ratio. On the contrary, voluntary activation significantly decreased at D2 (−5%) and was still depressed at D4 (−5%). Muscle soreness and plasma creatine kinase activity increased after NMES and peaked at D2 and D4, respectively. T2 was also increased at D2 (6%) and D4 (9%). Additionally, changes in MVC and peripheral factors (e.g., Db100) were correlated on the full recovery period, while a significant correlation was found between changes in MVC and VA only from D2 to D4. The decrease in MVC recorded immediately after the NMES session was mainly due to peripheral changes while both central and peripheral contributions were involved in the prolonged force reduction. Interestingly, the chronological events differ from what has been reported so far for voluntary exercise-induced muscle damage.
SMARTxAC: a passive monitoring and analysis system for high‐speed networks

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present SMARTxAC, a tailor‐made passive monitoring and analysis system for high‐speed IP networks. The authors also discuss the design challenges we had to face to cope with the requirements of such a system.Design/methodology/approach – This system has been designed to operate at gigabit speeds without packet loss, while providing very detailed information about the network usage.Findings – SMARTxAC has become a very powerful tool for the network operators of the Catalan Research and Education Network (Anella Cientifica) to know, in detail, the usage of their network and to detect network faults, anomalies and attacks when they occur.Research limitations/implications – In the design of this system, the authors had to trade generality for performance in order to address the current limitations of monitoring high‐speed links.Practical implications – Since 2003, SMARTxAC has been used for continuously monitoring the Anella Cientifica.Originality/value – The main dif.
Prognostic and Clinicopathological Significance of Downregulated E-Cadherin Expression in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): A Meta-Analysis

Background Many studies have investigated the prognostic role of E-cadherin in patients with NSCLC; however, the result still remains inconclusive. An up-to data system review and meta-analysis was necessary to give a comprehensive evaluation of prognostic role of E-cadherin in NSCLC. Methods Eligible studies were searched in Pubmed, Embase and Web of Science databases. The inclusion criteria were studies that assessed the relationship between E-cadherin expression detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and the prognosis or clinicopathological features in patients with NSCLC. Subgroup analysis according to race, percentage of reduced/negative E-cadherin expression, histological type, and sample size were also conducted. Odds ratio (OR) or hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to examine the risk or hazard association. Results A total of 29 studies including 4010 patients were qualified for analysis. The analysis suggested that downregulated E-cadherin expression was significant associated with unfavorable overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival/progression-free survival (DFS/PFS) in patients with NSCLC. Subgroup analysis by race, percentage of reduced/negative E-cadherin expression, sample size also found the significant association in OS. When only the stage I NSCLC were considered, downregulated E-cadherin expression still had an unfavorable impact on OS. Additionally, downregulated E-cadherin expression was significantly associated with differentiation grade, lymphnode metastasis, vascular invasion, and TNM stage. Conclusion Downregulated E-cadherin expression detected by IHC seems to correlate with tumour progression and could serve as an important prognostic factor in patients with NSCLC.
Components of Golgi-to-vacuole trafficking are required for nitrogen- and TORC1-responsive regulation of the yeast GATA factors

Nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR) is the regulatory pathway through which Saccharomyces cerevisiae responds to the available nitrogen status and selectively utilizes rich nitrogen sources in preference to poor ones. Expression of NCR‐sensitive genes is mediated by two transcription activators, Gln3 and Gat1, in response to provision of a poorly used nitrogen source or following treatment with the TORC1 inhibitor, rapamycin. During nitrogen excess, the transcription activators are sequestered in the cytoplasm in a Ure2‐dependent fashion. Here, we show that Vps components are required for Gln3 localization and function in response to rapamycin treatment when cells are grown in defined yeast nitrogen base but not in complex yeast peptone dextrose medium. On the other hand, Gat1 function was altered in vps mutants in all conditions tested. A significant fraction of Gat1, like Gln3, is associated with light intracellular membranes. Further, our results are consistent with the possibility that Ure2 might function downstream of the Vps components during the control of GATA factor‐mediated gene expression. These observations demonstrate distinct media‐dependent requirements of vesicular trafficking components for wild‐type responses of GATA factor localization and function. As a result, the current model describing participation of Vps system components in events associated with translocation of Gln3 into the nucleus following rapamycin treatment or growth in nitrogen‐poor medium requires modification.
Estimation Combining Ability, Heterosis and Some Genetic Parameters across Four Environments Using Full Diallel Cross Method

This study aimed to estimate heterosis and combinin g ability in respect of quantitative and qualitative traits by c rossing five diverse maize inbred lines in full diallel mating design. Twenty F1 progenies along with their parents were planted in randomized complete block dwith three replications in four environments in 2014. Combined analysis of variance showed highly significant difference (P. 0.01) betw een four environments, genotypes and interaction between them also the res ults was exhibited that both general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining abi lity mean square were highly significant for number of days to 50% tassel ing and silking, plant and ear height, leaf area, 300-kernel weight, number of rows ear-1 number of kernels row-1 and kernel yield plant-1, indicating the importance of both additive and non-additive genetic effects for these traits. However, high narrow-sense heritability, high degree of dominance also the results indicate that some the crosses main tested significant, posi tive heterosis for all traits while the traits, days to 50% tasseling and silking gave negative heterosis. The crosses (A105◊DK), (A119◊A132) and (DK◊A132), with 146.49, 143.27 and 137.249 per plant were considered as a good combina tion for improving the trait. Most of the crosses with high mean of kernel yield had at least one parent (DK, A119 and A132) with significant GCA effect for these traits.
Monoamine oxidase activity in placenta in relation to manganese , cadmium , lead , and mercury at delivery

Background: Environmental prenatal exposure to potentially neurotoxic metals poses a particular challenge in regard to study of early toxic effects. Monoamine oxidase activity, shown to be influenced by metals in experimental studies, could be useful biomarker in humans. Objectives: To examine the relationship between blood metals concentrations at delivery and placenta MAO activity. Methods: The study was performed in 163 pregnancies. Maternal and cord blood samples were obtained at delivery for manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) determination. Mercury (Hg) was also analysed in maternal hair. Placental samples were stored immediately after expulsion and total MAO activity was measured. Results: MAO activity was significantly positively correlated with maternal and cord blood Mn concentrations in subjects with high MAO activity. In subjects with low MAO activity, maternal hair Hg was negatively correlated with MAO. Conclusion: Our results suggest the use of placental MAO as potential surrogate marker of Mn toxicity in newborn and its correlation with psychomotor development should be further investigated.
Ultrahigh sensitivity of methylammonium lead tribromide perovskite single crystals to environmental gases

Extremely low surface trap densities and ultrahigh sensitivity to oxygen and water molecules are demonstrated in perovskite single crystals. One of the limiting factors to high device performance in photovoltaics is the presence of surface traps. Hence, the understanding and control of carrier recombination at the surface of organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite is critical for the design and optimization of devices with this material as the active layer. We demonstrate that the surface recombination rate (or surface trap state density) in methylammonium lead tribromide (MAPbBr3) single crystals can be fully and reversibly controlled by the physisorption of oxygen and water molecules, leading to a modulation of the photoluminescence intensity by over two orders of magnitude. We report an unusually low surface recombination velocity of 4 cm/s (corresponding to a surface trap state density of 108 cm−2) in this material, which is the lowest value ever reported for hybrid perovskites. In addition, a consistent modulation of the transport properties in single crystal devices is evidenced. Our findings highlight the importance of environmental conditions on the investigation and fabrication of high-quality, perovskite-based devices and offer a new potential application of these materials to detect oxygen and water vapor.