Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase during Long-term Potentation in area CA1 of the Rat Hippocampus in vivo

The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) cascade can transduce cell-surface signals to the nucleus in post-synaptic neurons during hippocampus-dependent learning and hippocampus-dependent synaptic plasticity, yet, whether the cascade can convey information about stimulus frequency or synaptic modification direction to the nucleus during plasticity events has not been addressed. The objective of the current study was to investigate whether ERK regulation differs as a function of stimulus frequency and in accordance with synaptic modification direction by comparing ERK regulation during LTP in area CA1 of the hippocampus in vivo to previous findings for ERK regulation during LTD in area CA1 in vivo (Thiels et al., 2002). The ultimate goal was to determine whether ERK functions as a general or as a specific plasticity kinase during synaptic plasticity events in the hippocampus. Using a combination of in vivo electrophysiology, pharmacology and Western blot analysis, I demonstrate that: (1) LTP induced by high-frequency stimulation applied to commissural fiber inputs to area CA1 pyramidal cells in the adult hippocampus in vivo is accompanied by a rapid yet transient increase in ERK2 activation; (2) blockade of NMDA receptors by MK-801 blocks both LTP induction and the associated increase in ERK2 activation; (3) HFS delivered in the presence of the ERK kinase inhibitor SL327 fails to produce a persistent potentiation; (5) phosphorylation of the transcriptional regulator cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) is increased after HFS; and (6) inhibition of ERK activation by SL327 blocks this observed increase in pCREB. The similarity of the current findings with previous findings for ERK2 activation and regulation during LTD in area CA1 in vivo, suggests that the ERK cascade conveys a general as opposed to iv a specific plasticity signal during these two forms of synaptic plasticity in area CA1 in vivo. Differences in the coupling of ERK2 activation to CREB phosphorylation between LTP and LTD (Thiels et al., 2002), suggest that other signaling cascades are most likely operative in determining the direction of synaptic modification during bidirectional synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus.
Saturation Curve for a Synthetic Antiferromagnetic System

For toggle magnetic random access memory, the saturation field represents the exterior limit of the work region. Exterior magnetic fields higher than the saturation field lead to an irremediable loss of the stored information because the antiferromagnetic state of the synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) structure becomes a ferromagnetic state and data stored in the magnetic memory cell are altered. At the saturation point, the two ferromagnetic-layer magnetizations became parallel oriented, in a direction close to that of the applied field. In this paper, we present a method to find an analytical formula for the magnetic saturation field that depends on the angle between the applied magnetic field related to the easy anisotropy axis, on the amplitude of the antiferromagnetic coupling field between the ferromagnetic layers, on the geometrical characteristics of the SAF structure, and on the second term of the series expansion of the anisotropy energy of the system. This method allows us to obtain an analytical formula for saturation field that depends only on the controllable parameters of the SAF structure. This analytically obtained critical saturation curve perfectly matches with the critical saturation curve reported in previous papers.
Detection and Removal of Long Scratch Lines in Aged Films

Historical films usually have defects. We study the type of defects, and propose a series of solutions to detect defects before they are repaired by our inpainting algorithms. This paper focuses on a difficult issue to locate long vertical line defects in aged films. A progressive detection algorithm is proposed. We are able to detect more than 86% (recall rate) of effective line defects. These line defects are then removed step by step. The experiments use real historical video collected from national museum and public channel, instead of using computer generated noise. The results are visually pleasant based on our subjective evaluation by volunteers
A 0.8-μm CMOS 2.5 Gb/s oversampling receiver and transmitter for serial links

A receiver targeting OC-48 (2.488 Gb/s) serial data link has been designed and integrated in a 0.8-/spl mu/m CMOS process. An experimental receiving front-end circuit demonstrates the viability of using multiple phased clocks to overcome the intrinsic gate-speed limitations in the demultiplexing (receiving) and multiplexing (transmitting) of serial data. To perform clock recovery, data is 3/spl times/ oversampled so that transitions can be detected to determine bit boundaries. The design of a transmitter for the high-speed serial data is also described. The complete transceiver occupies a die area of /spl sim/3/spl times/3 mm/sup 2/.
Guideline for the Evaluation of Cholestatic Jaundice in Infants: Joint Recommendations of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition

ABSTRACT Cholestatic jaundice in infancy affects approximately 1 in every 2500 term infants and is infrequently recognized by primary providers in the setting of physiologic jaundice. Cholestatic jaundice is always pathologic and indicates hepatobiliary dysfunction. Early detection by the primary care physician and timely referrals to the pediatric gastroenterologist/hepatologist are important contributors to optimal treatment and prognosis. The most common causes of cholestatic jaundice in the first months of life are biliary atresia (25%–40%) followed by an expanding list of monogenic disorders (25%), along with many unknown or multifactorial (eg, parenteral nutrition-related) causes, each of which may have time-sensitive and distinct treatment plans. Thus, these guidelines can have an essential role for the evaluation of neonatal cholestasis to optimize care. The recommendations from this clinical practice guideline are based upon review and analysis of published literature and the combined experience of the authors. The committee recommends that any infant noted to be jaundiced after 2 weeks of age be evaluated for cholestasis with measurement of total and direct serum bilirubin, and that an elevated serum direct bilirubin level (direct bilirubin levels >1.0 mg/dL or >17 &mgr;mol/L) warrants timely consideration for evaluation and referral to a pediatric gastroenterologist or hepatologist. Of note, current differential diagnostic plans now incorporate consideration of modern broad-based next-generation DNA sequencing technologies in the proper clinical context. These recommendations are a general guideline and are not intended as a substitute for clinical judgment or as a protocol for the care of all infants with cholestasis. Broad implementation of these recommendations is expected to reduce the time to the diagnosis of pediatric liver diseases, including biliary atresia, leading to improved outcomes.
How do employees and managers perceive depression: a worksite case study.

BACKGROUND The impact of depression in the workplace is significant. If managers and employees understood depression better they could assist those with depression to achieve optimal work performance. METHOD The case study was a medium-sized, privately owned forest products company located in western Canada. Individual interviews were used to explore the views of employees and managers about depression and its impact on work performance. FINDINGS Suggest that how one perceives workplace support for depression is influenced by the interaction of the following factors: a) knowledge and understanding of depression, b) roles and responsibilities within the work environment, and c) perceptions of work role boundaries. CONCLUSION Better links are needed between employees and managers to enhance workplace collaborations and achieve optimal work performance. The implementation of mental health support programs and the vocational role of occupational therapy in addressing the impact of depression in the workplace are discussed.
Synergistic effect of deoxyanthocyanins from symbiotic fern Azolla spp. on hrmA gene induction in the cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme.

The hrmA gene of the N2-fixing cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme functions in repressing the formation of transitory motile filaments, termed hormogonia, by plant-associated vegetative filaments. Here, we report that anthocyanins can contribute to induction of hrmA expression. Aqueous extract from fronds of the fern Azolla pinnata, a host of symbiotic Nostoc spp. , was found to be a potent inducer of hrmA-luxAB in N. punctiforme strain UCD 328. The hrmA-luxAB inducing activities of A. pinnata, as well as Azolla filiculoides, were positively correlated with levels of frond deoxyanthocyanins. Analyses of the deoxyanthocyanins in frond extracts revealed, in order of predominance, an acetylated glycoside derivative of luteolinidin (m/z 475) and of apigeninidin (m/z 459) and minor amounts of a second luteolinidin derivative. At up to 150 microM, a purified preparation of deoxyanthocyanins only weakly induced hrmA-luxAB on its own, but mixtures with hrmA-luxAB inducers (A. filiculoides extract or the flavonoid naringin) synergistically doubled to tripled their inducing activities. These results suggest that appropriately localized deoxyanthocyanins could function in plant-mediated mechanisms for repressing Nostoc spp. hormogonium formation.
Effects of the First Line Diabetes Care (FiLDCare) self-management education and support project on knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, self-management practices and glycaemic control: a quasi-experimental study conducted in the Northern Philippines

Objectives To investigate the effects of implementing a context-adapted diabetes self-management education and support (DSME/S) project based on chronic care models in the Philippines, on knowledge, attitudes, self-management practices, adiposity/obesity and glycaemia of people with diabetes. Design Prospective quasi-experimental before–after study. Participants 203 people with type 2 diabetes mellitus from two local government units in the Northern Philippines fulfilling set criteria. Outcome measures Context-adapted DSME/S was given to a cohort of people with diabetes by trained pre-existing local government healthcare personnel. Changes in knowledge, attitudes and self-management practices, body mass index, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio (WHR) and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured 1 year after full project implementation. Non-parametric and parametric descriptive and inferential statistics including logistic regression analysis were done. Results Complete data were collected from 164 participants. Improvements in glycaemia, waist circumference, WHR, knowledge, some attitudes, adherence to medications and exercise, and an increase in fear of diabetes were significant. Reductions in HbA1c, regardless of level of control, were noted in 60.4%. Significant increase in knowledge (p<0.001), positive attitude (p=0.013), perceived ability to control blood glucose (p=0.004) and adherence to medications (p=0.001) were noted among those whose glycaemia improved. Significant differences between the subgroups whose HbA1c improved and those whose HbA1c deteriorated include male gender (p=0.042), shorter duration of diabetes (p=0.001) and increased perceived ability to control blood glucose (p=0.042). Significant correlates to improved glycaemia were male gender (OR=2.655; p=0.034), duration of diabetes >10 years (OR=0.214; p=0.003) and fear of diabetes (OR=0.490; p=0.048). Conclusions Context-adapted DSME/S introduced in resource-constrained settings and making use of established human resources for health may improve knowledge, attitudes, self-management practices and glycaemia of recipients. Further investigations on addressing fear of diabetes and tailoring DSME/S to females with diabetes and those who have had diabetes for a longer period of time may help improve glycaemia.
Influence of finger-joint geometry and end pressure on tensile properties of three finger-jointed Tropical African Hardwoods

SYNOPSIS Three tropical African hardwoods, Obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon), Makore (Tieghemella heckelii) and Moabi (Baillonella toxisperma), were finger-jointed using three different finger profile geometries, three different end pressures, and resorcinol formaldehyde adhesive, with a view to assessing the effect of these factors on the tensile properties of the joint. Finger profile geometry was found to significantly affect ultimate tensile strength, but not tension modulus of elasticity (MOE) of finger-joints from the three species. The finger profile geometry having 18 mm finger length exhibited significantly the strongest and the most efficient finger-joint compared with finger profile geometry having 10 mm and 20 mm finger lengths. End pressure significantly increased ultimate tensile strength of finger-joints only when it seemed to have resulted in an increase in the tightness of the fit of the fingers in the joint. Finger-joints of high strength and efficiency were produced when the profile having 18mm finger length was combined with the end pressure of 12 MPa for Makore and Moabi, and end pressure of 8 MPa for Obeche. Among the three species, finger-joints from the low density Obeche exhibited the highest joint efficiency with a high percentage wood failure, followed by the medium density Makore and the high density Moabi. Tropical African hardwoods of low- to medium-densities are recommended for the production of finger-joints of high joint efficiency and high wood failure, using resorcinol formaldehyde glue.
Submodular Maximization over Multiple Matroids via Generalized Exchange Properties

Submodular function maximization is a central problem in combinatorial optimization, generalizing many important NP-hard problems including max cut in digraphs, graphs, and hypergraphs; certain constraint satisfaction problems; maximum entropy sampling; and maximum facility location problems. Our main result is that for any k ≥ 2 and any e > 0, there is a natural local search algorithm that has approximation guarantee of 1/(k + e) for the problem of maximizing a monotone submodular function subject to k matroid constraints. This improves upon the 1/(k + 1)-approximation of Fisher, Nemhauser, and Wolsey obtained in 1978 [Fisher, M. , G. Nemhauser, L. Wolsey. 1978. An analysis of approximations for maximizing submodular set functions---II. Math. Programming Stud.8 73--87]. Also, our analysis can be applied to the problem of maximizing a linear objective function and even a general nonmonotone submodular function subject to k matroid constraints. We show that, in these cases, the approximation guarantees of our algorithms are 1/(k-1 + e) and 1/(k + 1 + 1/(k-1) + e), respectively. Our analyses are based on two new exchange properties for matroids. One is a generalization of the classical Rota exchange property for matroid bases, and another is an exchange property for two matroids based on the structure of matroid intersection.
Myocardial infarction as a thrombotic complication of essential thrombocythemia and polycythemia vera

Objective: Detailed analyses of clinical characteristics of myocardial infarction (MI) as an essential thrombocythemia (ET)- and polycythemia vera (PV)-related complication have been so far presented mostly as case reports. Therefore, the aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the main cardiological and hematological characteristics for better understanding myocardial complications in ET/PV. Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out involving 263 patients diagnosed with ET or PV (155/108) between 1998 and 2014. Fourteen patients suffered MI during the hematological follow-up. Their clinical characteristics were compared to 162 patients (97 ET and 65 PV patients) who did not exhibit any major thrombotic complications (MI, stroke/transient ischemic attack, and venous events) before or after hematological diagnosis of ET/PV. Results: Fourteen MI events occurred among the 263 patients (5.3%). Vascular risk factors were found in 92.9% (13/14) of analyzed cases. In all, 71.4% of the MI complications developed within 12 months after the diagnosis of ET/PV. The coronary angiography findings revealed ST-elevation MI in four cases and non-ST-elevation MI in 10. Significant stenosis of coronary arteries requiring percutaneous coronary intervention with a stent implantation was present in seven cases, while three had complex stenoses or previous grafts/stents. All of them had undergone coronary artery bypass graft operations. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that early detection and consideration of individual management of vascular risk factors in ET/PV patients are also important. Furthermore, a better theoretic understanding of platelet activation and role of leukocytes in myeloproliferative neoplasm-related thrombosis could open new perspectives in thrombosis prediction and prevention.
Postoperative Quantitative Assessment of Reconstructive Tissue Status in a Cutaneous Flap Model Using Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the capabilities of a novel optical wide-field imaging technology known as spatial frequency domain imaging to quantitatively assess reconstructive tissue status. Methods: Twenty-two cutaneous pedicle flaps were created on 11 rats based on the inferior epigastric vessels. After baseline measurement, all flaps underwent vascular ischemia, induced by clamping the supporting vessels for 2 hours (either arteriovenous or selective venous occlusions); normal saline was injected into the control flap and hypertonic-hyperoncotic saline solution was injected into the experimental flap. Flaps were monitored for 2 hours after reperfusion. The spatial frequency domain imaging system was used for quantitative assessment of flap status over the duration of the experiment. Results: All flaps demonstrated a significant decline in oxyhemoglobin and tissue oxygen saturation in response to occlusion. Total hemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin were increased markedly in the selective venous occlusion group. After reperfusion and the administration of solutions, oxyhemoglobin and tissue oxygen saturation in those flaps that survived gradually returned to baseline levels. However, flaps for which oxyhemoglobin and tissue oxygen saturation did not show any signs of recovery appeared to be compromised and eventually became necrotic within 24 to 48 hours in both occlusion groups. Conclusions: Spatial frequency domain imaging technology provides a quantitative, objective method of assessing tissue status. This study demonstrates the potential of this optical technology to assess tissue perfusion in a very precise and quantitative way, enabling wide-field visualization of physiologic parameters. The results of this study suggest that spatial frequency domain imaging may provide a means for prospectively identifying dysfunctional flaps well in advance of failure.
Age, gender, and bone lamellae elastic moduli

To enhance preventative and therapeutic strategies for metabolic bone diseases and bone fragility disorders, we began to explore the physical properties of bone tissue at the cellular level. Proximal femurs were harvested from 27 cadavera (16 male and 11 female) for in vitro measurement of the mechanical properties. We measured the variations in lamellar‐level elastic modulus and hardness in human bone as a function of age and gender to identify microstructural properties responsible for age and gender‐related reductions in the mechanical integrity. The lateral femoral necks were examined, and age, gender, height, body mass, and body mass index were not found to correlate with lamellar‐level elastic modulus or hardness. This result was consistent for osteonal, interstitial, and trabecular tissue. These data suggest that increased bone mass maintenance, known to occur in heavier individuals, is not accompanied by increases in the lamellar‐level elastic modulus or hardness. The independence of elastic modulus and hardness from age and gender suggests that age and gender‐related decreases in mechanical integrity do not involve alterations in elastic modulus or hard ness of the extracellular matrix. Lamellar‐level ultimate, fatigue, and fracture toughness properties should also be investigated. Other factors, such as tissue mass and organization, may also contribute to age and gender‐related decreases in the mechanical integrity.
Epstein-Barr Virus Proteins EBNA3A and EBNA3C Together Induce Expression of the Oncogenic MicroRNA Cluster miR-221/miR-222 and Ablate Expression of Its Target p57KIP2

We show that two host-encoded primary RNAs (pri-miRs) and the corresponding microRNA (miR) clusters – widely reported to have cell transformation-associated activity – are regulated by EBNA3A and EBNA3C. Utilising a variety of EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) carrying knockout-, revertant- or conditional-EBV recombinants, it was possible to demonstrate unambiguously that EBNA3A and EBNA3C are both required for transactivation of the oncogenic miR-221/miR-222 cluster that is expressed at high levels in multiple human tumours – including lymphoma/leukemia. ChIP, ChIP-seq, and chromosome conformation capture analyses indicate that this activation results from direct targeting of both EBV proteins to chromatin at the miR-221/miR-222 genomic locus and activation via a long-range interaction between enhancer elements and the transcription start site of a long non-coding pri-miR located 28kb upstream of the miR sequences. Reduced levels of miR-221/miR-222 produced by inactivation or deletion of EBNA3A or EBNA3C resulted in increased expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p57KIP2, a well-established target of miR-221/miR-222. MiR blocking experiments confirmed that miR-221/miR-222 target p57KIP2 expression in LCLs. In contrast, EBNA3A and EBNA3C are necessary to silence the tumour suppressor cluster miR-143/miR-145, but here ChIP-seq suggests that repression is probably indirect. This miR cluster is frequently down-regulated or deleted in human cancer, however, the targets in B cells are unknown. Together these data indicate that EBNA3A and EBNA3C contribute to B cell transformation by inhibiting multiple tumour suppressor proteins, not only by direct repression of protein-encoding genes, but also by the manipulation of host long non-coding pri-miRs and miRs.
On Input/Output Argumentation Frameworks

This paper introduces Input/Output Argumentation Frameworks, a novel approach to characterize the behavior of an argumentation framework as a sort of black box exposing a well-defined external interface. As a starting point, we define the novel notion of semantics decomposability and analyze complete, stable, grounded and preferred semantics in this respect. Then we show as a main result that, under grounded, stable and credulous preferred semantics, Input/Output Argumentation Frameworks with the same behavior can be interchanged without affecting the result of semantics evaluation of other arguments interacting with them.