Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intermediate filaments: a dynamic network that controls cell mechanics

In humans the superfamily of intermediate filament (IF) proteins is encoded by more than 70 different genes, which are expressed in a cell- and tissue-specific manner. IFs assemble into approximately 10 nm-wide filaments that account for the principal structural elements at the nuclear periphery, nucleoplasm, and cytoplasm. They are also required for organizing the microtubule and microfilament networks. In this review, we focus on the dynamics of IFs and how modifications regulate it. We also discuss the role of nuclear IF organization in determining nuclear mechanics as well as that of cytoplasmic IFs organization in maintaining cell stiffness, formation of lamellipodia, regulation of cell migration, and permitting cell adhesion.
Alcohol craving in problem and occasional alcohol drinkers.

AIMS The impact of emotional states on alcohol craving has so far mainly been investigated in abstinent and actively consuming alcohol addicts. Alcohol craving and the variables that influence alcohol craving have not yet been examined in non-addicted, alcohol abusing drinkers and non-abusing occasional alcohol drinkers. METHODS In this study 50 problem drinkers and 50 occasional alcohol drinkers were investigated. The impact of various craving-related variables such as stress and distress, alcohol effect expectancies, and stress coping strategies on reward and relief craving was examined and compared between the groups. RESULTS Whereas most occasional drinkers reported little alcohol craving, problem drinkers showed a significantly higher amount of reward and relief craving accompanied by increased levels of stress-distress and a stronger tendency to use negative (inadequate) coping strategies. Stress-distress and alcohol effect expectancies were significant predictors of reward and relief craving in problem drinkers. In occasional drinkers alcohol craving was not related to any of these variables. These variables were also found to be predictive of craving in alcohol addicts. CONCLUSIONS We hypothesized, that in non-addicted problem drinkers the expected rewarding and reinforcing alcohol effects lead to an early stage of addictive behaviour. Therefore, in this stage therapeutic interventions focussing on the awareness of the function of alcohol intake as well as alternative coping skills might be useful to prevent alcohol dependence in problem drinkers.
Evolutionary Trajectories, Internet-Mediated Expression, and Language Education

This article describes the evolution of communication technologies, accompanying transformations in everyday communicative activity, and pedagogical possibilities these tools support in second and foreign language (L2) settings. We begin with an overview of synchronous computer-mediated communication (SCMC) and uses of the Internet to mediate intercultural communication for purposes of L2 learning. We then describe generational shifts in Internet technologies and their proliferation and uses, with the majority of our efforts focused on contemporary environments such as blogs, wikis, podcasting, device-agnostic forms of CMC, and advances in intelligent computer-assisted language learning (ICALL). Throughout, we engage in a discussion of praxeological fusions of various media technologies and the implications of this nexus of practice for the transformation of what it means to teach, learn, and communicate in L2 contexts.
Protecting Circuits from Computationally Bounded and Noisy Leakage

Physical computational devices leak side-channel information that may, and often does, reveal secret internal states. We present a general transformation that compiles any circuit into a circuit with the same functionality but resilience against well-defined classes of leakage. Our construction requires a small, stateless ,a ndcomputation-independent leak-proof component that draws random elements from a fixed distribution. In essence, we reduce the problem of shielding arbitrarily complex circuits to the problem of shielding a single, simple component. Our approach is based on modeling the adversary as a powerful observer that inspects the device via a limited measurement apparatus. We allow the apparatus to access all the bits of the computation (except those inside the leak-proof component), and the amount of leaked information to grow unbounded over time. However, we assume that the apparatus is limited in the amount of output bits per iteration and the ability to decode certain linear encodings. While our results apply in general to such leakage classes, in particular, we obtain security against (a) constant-depth circuits leakage, where the leakage function is computed by an AC 0 circuit (composed of NOT gates and unbounded fan-in AND and OR gates); (b) noisy leakage, where the leakage function reveals all the bits of the internal state of the circuit, but each bit is perturbed by independent binomial noise—i.e., flipped with some probability p. Namely, for some number p ∈ (0, 1/2), each bit of the computation is flipped with probability p, and remains unchanged with probability 1 − p.
HIV-1 Antiviral Activity of Recombinant Natural Killer Cell Enhancing Factors, NKEF-A and NKEF-B, Members of the Peroxiredoxin Family*

CD8+ T-cells are a major source for the production of non-cytolytic factors that inhibit HIV-1 replication. In order to characterize further these factors, we analyzed gene expression profiles of activated CD8+ T-cells using a human cDNA expression array containing 588 human cDNAs. mRNA for the chemokine I-309 (CCL1), the cytokines granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-13, and natural killer cell enhancing factors (NKEF) -A and -B were up-regulated in bulk CD8+ T-cells from HIV-1 seropositive individuals compared with seronegative individuals. Recombinant NKEF-A and NKEF-B inhibited HIV-1 replication when exogenously added to acutely infected T-cells at an ID50 (dose inhibiting HIV-1 replication by 50%) of ∼130 nm (3 μg/ml). Additionally, inhibition against dual-tropic simian immunodeficiency virus and dual-tropic simian-human immunodeficiency virus was found. T-cells transfected with NKEF-A or NKEF-B cDNA were able to inhibit 80–98% HIV-1 replication in vitro. Elevated plasma levels of both NKEF-A and NKEF-B proteins were detected in 23% of HIV-infected non-treated individuals but not in persons treated with highly active antiviral therapy or uninfected persons. These results indicate that the peroxiredoxin family members NKEF-A and NKEF-B are up-regulated in activated CD8+ T-cells in HIV infection, and suggest that these antioxidant proteins contribute to the antiviral activity of CD8+ T-cells.
Developmental antecedents of leader-follower relationships and trust

Previous research has shown that transformational leaders tend to be perceived as trustworthy and trust has been found to relate to many positive outcomes, such as performance, organizational citizenship behaviors, and job satisfaction. This study attempts to determine the role of developmental antecedents in explaining leadership style and trust in the leader. This study expands on Mayer, Davis and Schoorman's (1995) model of trust, in conjunction with the developmental theory of attachment, transformational leadership theory and leader-member exchange theory (LMX). The hypotheses were tested in three organizations (N = 121). Questionnaires were distributed in both English and French. Followers rated their immediate supervisor's leadership and attachment styles, as well as their trust in their leader. As expected, findings indicated that transformational leaders were securely attached, had high-quality LMX relationships, and were perceived as benevolent and trustworthy by their followers. As well, LMX fully mediated the relation between secure attachment and follower perceptions of leader benevolence. Implications for leader identification and development are discussed.
One billion word benchmark for measuring progress in statistical language modeling

We propose a new benchmark corpus to be used for measuring progress in statistical language modeling. With almost one billion words of training data, we hope this benchmark will be useful to quickly evaluate novel language modeling techniques, and to compare their contribution when combined with other advanced techniques. We show performance of several well-known types of language models, with the best results achieved with a recurrent neural network based language model. The baseline unpruned KneserNey 5-gram model achieves perplexity 67.6. A combination of techniques leads to 35% reduction in perplexity, or 10% reduction in cross-entropy (bits), over that baseline. The benchmark is available as a code.google. com project; besides the scripts needed to rebuild the training/held-out data, it also makes available log-probability values for each word in each of ten held-out data sets, for each of the baseline n-gram models.
Early years learning, play pedagogy and social class

Abstract Despite 50 years and more of ‘progressive education’ in the United Kingdom, classed patterns of educational success and failure stubbornly prevail. So how, where and when does it all go wrong for the many children who continue to fail or underachieve? Drawing on the work of Basil Bernstein, this article centres processes within early years education which are claimed to help launch children into careers as either educational successes or failures. Our data suggest that children more or less happily play their lives away in the progressive play pedagogies of early years education, in the process learning their position in social and ability hierarchies that help define their future careers inside and outside schools. That such hierarchies prevail is the fault of neither teachers nor parents. Indeed, it is what early years education settings are legitimised to do: sieve and sort, and make children ‘school ready’, pliant and prepared for a lifetime of learning to succeed or fail.
Health Expenditure Comparisons: Low, Middle and High Income Countries

Cross-sectional health expenditure data are used to compare health expenditure aggregates and the contribution of the public and private sectors in a selection of 31 low, middle and high income countries. The comparative data illustrate the diversity of outcomes in terms of total health expenditure and its components even amongst countries with similar GDP per capita. Low and middle income countries on the whole, rely more heavily on private funding especially household out-of-pocket payments. Public funding is more prevalent for funding of curative care than for funding of pharmaceuticals in high, middle and low income countries. The results illustrate the usefulness of internationally comparable health expenditure data to undertake cross country comparisons. Such comparisons are crucial for contributing to evidence based policy.
Synchronization of Continuous Dynamical Networks With Discrete-Time Communications

In this paper, synchronization of continuous dynamical networks with discrete-time communications is studied. Though the dynamical behavior of each node is continuous-time, the communications between every two different nodes are discrete-time, i.e., they are active only at some discrete time instants. Moreover, the communication intervals between every two communication instants can be uncertain and variable. By choosing a piecewise Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional to govern the characteristics of the discrete communication instants and by utilizing a convex combination technique, a synchronization criterion is derived in terms of linear matrix inequalities with an upper bound for the communication intervals obtained. The results extend and improve upon earlier work. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed communication scheme. Some relationships between the allowable upper bound of communication intervals and the coupling strength of the network are illustrated through simulations on a fully connected network, a star-like network, and a nearest neighbor network.
A Carapace-Like Bony ‘Body Tube’ in an Early Triassic Marine Reptile and the Onset of Marine Tetrapod Predation

Parahupehsuchus longus is a new species of marine reptile from the Lower Triassic of Yuan’an County, Hubei Province, China. It is unique among vertebrates for having a body wall that is completely surrounded by a bony tube, about 50 cm long and 6.5 cm deep, comprising overlapping ribs and gastralia. This tube and bony ossicles on the back are best interpreted as anti-predatory features, suggesting that there was predation pressure upon marine tetrapods in the Early Triassic. There is at least one sauropterygian that is sufficiently large to feed on Parahupehsuchus in the Nanzhang-Yuan’an fauna, together with six more species of potential prey marine reptiles with various degrees of body protection. Modern predators of marine tetrapods belong to the highest trophic levels in the marine ecosystem but such predators did not always exist through geologic time. The indication of marine-tetrapod feeding in the Nanzhang-Yuan’an fauna suggests that such a trophic level emerged for the first time in the Early Triassic. The recovery from the end-Permian extinction probably proceeded faster than traditionally thought for marine predators. Parahupehsuchus has superficially turtle-like features, namely expanded ribs without intercostal space, very short transverse processes, and a dorsal outgrowth from the neural spine. However, these features are structurally different from their turtle counterparts. Phylogeny suggests that they are convergent with the condition in turtles, which has a fundamentally different body plan that involves the folding of the body wall. Expanded ribs without intercostal space evolved at least twice and probably even more among reptiles.
Brain Oscillatory Correlates of Altered Executive Functioning in Positive and Negative Symptomatic Schizophrenia Patients and Healthy Controls

Working Memory and executive functioning deficits are core characteristics of patients suffering from schizophrenia. Electrophysiological research indicates that altered patterns of neural oscillatory mechanisms underpinning executive functioning are associated with the psychiatric disorder. Such brain oscillatory changes have been found in local amplitude differences at gamma and theta frequencies in task-specific cortical areas. Moreover, interregional interactions are also disrupted as signified by decreased phase coherence of fronto-posterior theta activity in schizophrenia patients. However, schizophrenia is not a one-dimensional psychiatric disorder but has various forms and expressions. A common distinction is between positive and negative symptomatology but most patients have both negative and positive symptoms to some extent. Here, we examined three groups—healthy controls, predominantly negative, and predominantly positive symptomatic schizophrenia patients—when performing a working memory task with increasing cognitive demand and increasing need for executive control. We analyzed brain oscillatory activity in the three groups separately and investigated how predominant symptomatology might explain differences in brain oscillatory patterns. Our results indicate that differences in task specific fronto-posterior network activity (i.e., executive control network) expressed by interregional phase synchronization are able to account for working memory dysfunctions between groups. Local changes in the theta and gamma frequency range also show differences between patients and healthy controls, and more importantly, between the two patient groups. We conclude that differences in oscillatory brain activation patterns related to executive processing can be an indicator for positive and negative symptomatology in schizophrenia. Furthermore, changes in cognitive and especially executive functioning in patients are expressed by alterations in a task-specific fronto-posterior connectivity even in the absence of behavioral impairment.
TSV-virtualization for Multi-protocol-Interconnect in 3D-ICs

Through Silicon Vias (TSVs) are the method of choice to realize vertical connections between different chip layers in three dimensional Integrated Circuits (3D-ICs). These TSVs offer a fast connection and due to their short wire length, only a small capacitive load to the driving circuitry. On the other hand TSVs consume a relative large amount of chip area and as TSV-count increases the overall yield generally drops due to TSV manufacturing difficulties. As a result of the low capacitance, TSVs can be clocked much higher than conventional intra-layer links. To fully utilize the TSV-based vertical bandwidth we propose using them in a multiplexed manner and share them between several virtual links. On top of that we propose using TSVs to stretch state-of-the art interconnects like busses, crossbars or NoCs to other silicon layers in the 3D stack. This reduces TSV count and gives designers the opportunity to easily migrate from 2D to 3D designs and to largely benefit from reuse of existing IP blocks and interconnection schemes.
MudPad: tactile feedback and haptic texture overlay for touch surfaces

We introduce MudPad, a system capable of localized active haptic feedback on multitouch screens. We use an array of electromagnets combined with an overlay containing magnetorheological (MR) fluid to actuate a tablet-sized area. As MudPad has a very low reaction time it is able to produce instant multi-point feedback for multitouch input, ranging from static levels of surface softness to a broad set of dynamically changeable textures. Our system does not only convey global confirmative feedback on user input but allows the UI designer to enrich the entire interface with a tactile layer conveying local semantic information. This also allows users to explore the interface haptically.
Stress-controlled elastic granular shear flows

While many rheological studies are performed at a fixed concentration, most granular flows are constrained, not by concentration, but by an applied stress. The stress constraint sets the average concentration, but the material is free to vary that concentration slightly to match the applied stress with that generated internally. This study examines stress-controlled systems in light of recent findings that the elastic properties of the particles appear as constitutive parameters even in flowing situations. Stress-controlled flows are shown to behave very differently from flows at fixed concentration. In particular, if the stress is fixed and the shear rate is slowly increased, the flow exhibits the expected progression from elastic–quasi-static to elastic–inertial to inertial flow – a sequence opposite to that followed in fixed-concentration flows. Thus system-scale constraints can have a profound effect on granular rheology.
ON THE (NON)EVOLUTION OF H i GAS IN GALAXIES OVER COSMIC TIME

We present new results on the frequency distribution of projected H i column densities f(NH i, X), total comoving covering fraction, and integrated mass densities ρH i of high-redshift, H i galactic gas from a survey of damped Lyα systems (DLAs) in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Data Release 5. For the full sample spanning z = 2.2–5 (738 DLAs), f(NH i, X) is well fitted by a double power law with a break column density Nd = 1021.55±0.04 cm-2 and low/high-end exponents α = −2.00 ± 0.05, − 6.4+1.1−1.6. The shape of f(NH i, X) is invariant during this redshift interval and also follows the projected surface density distribution of present-day H i disks as inferred from 21 cm observations. We conclude that H i gas has been distributed in a self-similar fashion for the past 12 Gyr. The normalization of f(NH i, X), in contrast, decreases by a factor of 2 during the ≈2 Gyr interval from z = 4–2.2 with coincident decreases in both the total covering fraction and ρH i. At z ≈ 2, these quantities match the present-day values suggesting no evolution during the past ≈10 Gyr. We argue that the evolution at early times is driven by “violent” processes that removes gas from nearly half the galaxies at z ≈ 3 establishing the antecedents of current early-type galaxies. The perceived constancy of ρH i, meanwhile, implies that H i gas is a necessary but insufficient precondition for star formation and that the global star formation rate is driven by the accretion and condensation of fresh gas from the intergalactic medium.
Mutational Analysis of the ompA Promoter from Flavobacterium johnsoniae

ABSTRACT Sequences that mediate the initiation of transcription in Flavobacterium species are not well known. The majority of identified Flavobacterium promoter elements show homology to those of other members of the phylum Bacteroidetes, but not of proteobacteria, and they function poorly in Escherichia coli. In order to analyze the Flavobacterium promoter structure systematically, we investigated the −33 consensus element, −7 consensus element, and spacer length of the Flavobacterium ompA promoter by measuring the effects of site-directed mutations on promoter activity. The nonconserved sequences in the spacer region and in regions close to the consensus motifs were randomized in order to determine their importance for promoter activity. Most of the base substitutions in these regions caused large decreases in promoter activity. The optimal −33/−7 motifs (TTTG/TANNTTTG) were identical to Bacteroides fragilis σABfr consensus −33/−7 promoter elements but lacked similarity to the E. coli σ70 promoter elements. The length of the spacer separating the −33 and −7 motifs of the ompA promoter also had a pronounced effect on promoter activity, with 19 bp being optimal. In addition to the consensus promoter elements and spacer length, the GC content of the core promoter sequences had a pronounced effect on Flavobacterium promoter activity. This information was used to conduct a scan of the Flavobacterium johnsoniae and B. fragilis genomes for putative promoters, resulting in 188 hits in B. fragilis and 109 hits in F. johnsoniae.
Investigation of the link between fluid shift and airway collapsibility as a mechanism for obstructive sleep apnea in congestive heart failure

The increased prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in congestive heart failure (CHF) may be associated with rostral fluid shift. We investigated the effect of overnight rostral fluid shift on pharyngeal collapsibility (Pcrit), pharyngeal caliber (APmean), and apnea‐hypopnea index (AHI) in CHF patients. Twenty‐three optimally treated systolic CHF patients were studied. Neck circumference was measured immediately prior to sleep in the evening and immediately after waking in the morning as a marker of rostral fluid shift. Pcrit was measured during sleep, early and late in the night. APmean was measured using acoustic reflection at the same times as neck circumference measurements. 15/23 CHF patients experienced an overnight increase in neck circumference; overall neck circumference significantly increased overnight (mean±SD, evening: 41.7 ± 3.2 cm; morning: 42.3 ± 3.1 cm; P = 0.03). Pcrit increased significantly overnight (early‐night: −3.8 ± 3.3 cmH2O; late‐night: −2.6 ± 3.0 cmH2O; P = 0.03) and APmean decreased (evening: 4.2 ± 1.3 cm2; morning: 3.7 ± 1.3 cm2; P = 0.006). The total AHI correlated with neck circumference (r = 0.4; P = 0.04) and Pcrit (r = 0.5; P = 0.01). APmean correlated with neck circumference (r = −0.47; P = 0.02). There was no significant change in AHI between the first and second half of the night (first‐half: 12.9 ± 12.4/h; second‐half: 13.7 ± 13.3/h; P = 0.6). Overnight rostral fluid shift was associated with increased pharyngeal collapsibility and decreased pharyngeal caliber during sleep in CHF patients. Rostral fluid shift may be an important mechanism of OSA in this patient group.