Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A 125 GOPS 583 mW Network-on-Chip Based Parallel Processor With Bio-Inspired Visual Attention Engine

A network-on-chip (NoC) based parallel processor is presented for bio-inspired real-time object recognition with visual attention algorithm. It contains an ARM10-compatible 32-bit main processor, 8 single-instruction multiple-data (SIMD) clusters with 8 processing elements in each cluster, a cellular neural network based visual attention engine (VAE), a matching accelerator, and a DMA-like external interface. The VAE with 2-D shift register array finds salient objects on the entire image rapidly. Then, the parallel processor performs further detailed image processing within only the pre-selected attention regions. The low-latency NoC employs dual channel, adaptive switching and packet-based power management, providing 76.8 GB/s aggregated bandwidth. The 36 mm2 chip contains 1.9 M gates and 226 kB SRAM in a 0.13 mum 8-metal CMOS technology. The fabricated chip achieves a peak performance of 125 GOPS and 22 frames/sec object recognition while dissipating 583 mW at 1.2 V.
miRNA-205 Is a Candidate Tumor Suppressor that Targets ZEB2 in Renal Cell Carcinoma

SummaryBackground: This study aims to characterize the function of downregulated MicroRNA miR-205 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and show how the downstream zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) is negatively regulated by miR-205. Materials and Methods: The expression of miR-205 was detected in RCC and adjacent non-tumor tissues using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The expression of miR-205 and ZEB2 was detected in RCC cell lines using real-time PCR. The luciferase reporter assay was used to assess ZEB2 as a target of miR-205. Protein levels of ZEB2, E-cadherin, and vimentin were measured by western blot after overexpression of miR-205 in ACHN cells. In vivo functions of miR-205 in ACHN cells were measured by MTT assays, migration and invasion assays, and flow cytometry. Results: MiR-205 was significantly downregulated in RCC samples and cell lines compared with matched non-tumor tissues and HK-2 cells, respectively. No significant difference was found in miR-205 expression between well differentiated and poorly to moderately differentiated groups or between phase I and phase II-III. ZEB2 was upregulated in RCC cell lines compared with expression in HK-2 cells. Upregulation of miR-205 expression caused the downregulation of ZEB2 and vimentin, and the upregulation of E-cadherin in ACHN cells. miR-205 also inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion, and induced apoptosis of ACHN cells. Conclusion: miR-205 is a candidate tumor suppressor that targets ZEB2 in RCC.
Selecting for fit: a direct test of Schneider's selection proposition

This paper reports an empirical test of Schneider's (1987) selection proposition that organizations select people who share the organization's values. The values of 412 applicants to nine utility companies in the United Kingdom were captured and their fit to (1) the values of the organization as viewed by members of the Top Team (P–OV fit), (2) the values of the recruiting departments as viewed by employees within those departments (P–DV fit), and (3) the values of people working in those recruiting departments (P–P fit) was calculated. The results show that selection outcomes are positively associated with P–P fit, negatively associated with P–DV fit, and not associated at all with P–OV fit. Selection effects for fit were small and only present when there was some form of face-to-face contact between applicants and selectors. At the end of the paper, a conclusion discusses the implications of these findings for the fit literature in general and Schneider's selection proposition in particular. Some managerial implications are also considered.
Molecular diagnosis of citrin deficiency in an infant with intrahepatic cholestasis: identification of a 21.7kb gross deletion that completely silences the transcriptional and translational expression of the affected SLC25A13 allele

Neonatal Intrahepatic Cholestasis caused by Citrin Deficiency (NICCD) arises from biallelic SLC25A13 mutations, and SLC25A13 analysis provides reliable evidences for NICCD definite diagnosis. However, novel large insertions/deletions in this gene could not be detected just by conventional DNA analysis. This study aimed to explore definite diagnostic evidences for an infant highly-suspected to have NICCD. Prevalent mutation screening and Sanger sequencing of SLC25A13 gene just revealed a paternally-inherited mutation c. 851_854del4. Nevertheless, neither citrin protein nor SLC25A13 transcripts of maternal origin could be detected on Western blotting and cDNA cloning analysis, respectively. On this basis, the hidden maternal mutation was precisely positioned using SNP analysis and semi-quantitative PCR, and finally identified as a novel large deletion c. -3251_c. 15+18443del21709bp, which involved the SLC25A13 promoter region and the entire exon 1 where locates the translation initiation codon. Hence, NICCD was definitely diagnosed in the infant. To the best of our knowledge, the novel gross deletion, which silenced the transcriptional and translational expression of the affected SLC25A13 allele, is the hitherto largest deletion in SLC25A13 mutation spectrum. The Western blotting approach using mitochondrial protein extracted from expanded peripheral blood lymphocytes, of particular note, might be a new minimally-invasive and more-feasible molecular tool for NICCD diagnosis.
Electric fields induced in the human body by time-varying magnetic field gradients in MRI: numerical calculations and correlation analysis

The spatial distributions of the electric fields induced in the human body by switched magnetic field gradients in MRI have been calculated numerically using the commercial software package, MAFIA, and the three-dimensional, HUGO body model that comprises 31 different tissue types. The variation of |J|, |E| and |B| resulting from exposure of the body model to magnetic fields generated by typical whole-body x-, y- and z-gradient coils has been analysed for three different body positions (head-, heart- and hips-centred). The magnetic field varied at 1 kHz, so as to produce a rate of change of gradient of 100 T m−1 s−1 at the centre of each coil. A highly heterogeneous pattern of induced electric field and current density was found to result from the smoothly varying magnetic field in all cases, with the largest induced electric fields resulting from application of the y-gradient, in agreement with previous studies. By applying simple statistical analysis to electromagnetic quantities within axial planes of the body model, it is shown that the induced electric field is strongly correlated to the local value of resistivity, and the induced current density exhibits even stronger correlation with the local conductivity. The local values of the switched magnetic field are however shown to bear little relation to the local values of the induced electric field or current density. For more information on this article, see medicalphysicsweb.org
Tuning Genetic Clocks Employing DNA Binding Sites

Periodic oscillations play a key role in cell physiology from the cell cycle to circadian clocks. The interplay of positive and negative feedback loops among genes and proteins is ubiquitous in these networks. Often, delays in a negative feedback loop and/or degradation rates are a crucial mechanism to obtain sustained oscillations. How does nature control delays and kinetic rates in feedback networks? Known mechanisms include proper selection of the number of steps composing a feedback loop and alteration of protease activity, respectively. Here, we show that a remarkably simple means to control both delays and effective kinetic rates is the employment of DNA binding sites. We illustrate this design principle on a widely studied activator-repressor clock motif, which is ubiquitous in natural systems. By suitably employing DNA target sites for the activator and/or the repressor, one can switch the clock “on” and “off” and precisely tune its period to a desired value. Our study reveals a design principle to engineer dynamic behavior in biomolecular networks, which may be largely exploited by natural systems and employed for the rational design of synthetic circuits.
Development of Reverse Transcription (RT)-PCR and Real-Time RT-PCR Assays for Rapid Detection and Quantification of Viable Yeasts and Molds Contaminating Yogurts and Pasteurized Food Products

ABSTRACT Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) and real-time RT-PCR assays have been used to detect and quantify actin mRNA from yeasts and molds. Universal primers were designed based on the available fungal actin sequences, and by RT-PCR they amplified a specific 353-bp fragment from fungal species involved in food spoilage. From experiments on heat-treated cells, actin mRNA was a good indicator of cell viability: viable cells and cells in a nonculturable state were detected, while no signal was observed from dead cells. The optimized RT-PCR assay was able to detect 10 CFU of fungi ml−1 in pure culture and 103 and 102 CFU ml−1 in artificially contaminated yogurts and pasteurized fruit-derived products, respectively. Real-time RT-PCR, performed on a range of spoiled commercial food products, validated the suitability of actin mRNA detection for the quantification of naturally contaminating fungi. The specificity and sensitivity of the procedure, combined with its speed, its reliability, and the potential automation of the technique, offer several advantages to routine analysis programs that assess the presence and viability of fungi in food commodities.
Fluid and diffusion limits for queues in slowly changing environments

We consider an infinite-capacity s-server queue in a finite-state random environment, where the traffic intensity exceeds 1 in some environment states and the environment states change slowly relative to arrivals and service completions. Queues grow in unstable environment states, so that it is useful to look at the system in the time scale of mean environment-state sojourn times. As the mean environment-state sojourn times grow, the queue-length and workload processes grow. However, with appropriate normalizations, these processes converge to fluid processes and diffusion processes. The diffusion process in a random environment is a refinement of the fluid process in a random environment. We show how the scaling in these limits can help explain numerical results for queues in slowly changing random environments. For that purpose, we apply recently developed numerical-transform-inversion algorithms for the MAP/G/1 queue and the piecewise-stationary Mt/Gt/1 queue
Octreotide and the mTOR Inhibitor RAD001 (Everolimus) Block Proliferation and Interact with the Akt-mTOR-p70S6K Pathway in a Neuro-Endocrine Tumour Cell Line

Background/Aim: The mode of action of the somatostatin analog octreotide on neuro-endocrine tumour proliferation is largely unknown. Overexpression of the proto-oncogene Akt/PKB (protein kinase B) has been demonstrated in certain neuro-endocrine tumours: Akt activates downstream proteins including mTOR and p70S6K, which play an important role in cell proliferation. RAD001 (everolimus) is a novel agent that is being trialled in the treatment of neuro-endocrine tumours, and is known to interact with mTOR. We explored the mechanism of action of octreotide, RAD001, and their combination on cell proliferation and kinase activation in a neuro-endocrine tumour cell line (rat insulinoma cell line, INS1). Methods: Proliferation assays were used to determine the effects of octreotide, RAD001, and their combination on cell proliferation. Western blotting was used to characterize the expression of phosphorylated Akt, phosphorylated TSC2, phosphorylated mTOR, and phosphorylated 70S6K. Results: Treatment with octreotide and RAD001 inhibited proliferation and attenuated phosphorylation of all downstream targets of Akt: TSC2, mTOR, and p70S6K. Conclusions: In this cell model, octreotide and RAD001 appear to act through a similar pathway and inhibit the Akt-mTOR-p70S6 kinase pathway downstream of Akt. There may be some overlapping effects of the two inhibitors on the mTOR pathway, although it is likely that other additional effects may differentiate the two agents.
Absorption and scattering by interstellar dust: an XMM-Newton observation of Cyg X-2

We present results of the XMM-Newton observation of the bright X-ray binary Cyg X-2. In our analysis we focus on the absorption and scattering of the X-ray emission by interstellar dust distributed along the line of sight. The scattering halo around Cyg X-2, observed with the CCD detector EPIC-pn, is well detected up to ∼7 arcmin and contributes ∼5–7% to the total source emission at 1 keV, depending on the dust size distribution model considered. For the first time spatially resolved spectroscopy of a scattering halo is performed. In the halo spectrum we clearly detect the signature of the interstellar dust elements: O, Mg, and Si. In the 0.4−2 keV band, the spectral modeling of the halo shows a major contribution of silicates (olivine and pyroxene). The spatial analysis of the halo surface brightness profile shows that the dust is smoothly distributed toward Cyg X-2 at least for ∼60% of the path to the source. However, given the substantial pile-up, we could not investigate fainter or narrower components of the halo. Within this observation limit, the data do not show preference for a specific dust size distribution. In this analysis we used the Mie theory to compute the differential scattering cross section. The RGS data were used to investigate the ISM absorption. The absorption spectrum shows complexity around the oxygen edge at ∼0.54 keV, which cannot be explained in a unique way: it involves either absorption by molecular oxygen or ionized atomic oxygen, as proposed in other studies of Cyg X-2. Combining the RGS results with the additional information on dust grains provided by the EPIC-pn spectrum of the scattered radiation we estimate a column density for dust absorption by oxygen, provided that it is locked in silicate grains.
Accounting for Steel Stock in Japan

During the last two decades, the total material input in Japan has been about 2 billion tons per year, and approximately 50%, i.e., about 1 billion tons, has accumulated as the net addition to stock in the form of buildings, social infrastructure, and various kinds of products. The amount of the net addition to stock is calculated annually from the differential between the input and output. However, the detailed contents of the accumulated stock are unknown. It is said that these unknown contents of stocks include material that has already been discarded as invisible waste. In this study, the following terms are defined: in-use stocks, obsolete stocks, and overall stocks. The materials that are currently used in society are known as “in-use stocks”. Obsolete stocks comprise the steels used for the constructional material in a landfill site, the steels dissipated by corrosion and erosion, etc., which are not associated with social activities and cannot possibly be collected as scrap in the future. Overall stocks are the total of these two types of stock. In this study, a dynamic material flow analysis was conducted to quantify the amount of in-use stocks and obsolete stocks. Furthermore, we defined a system boundary to account for the steel stocks and constructed equations to calculate the three types of stock. The amounts of in-use stock and obsolete stock in Japan from 1980 to 2000 were calculated. The result shows that 0.94 billion tons of the in-use stock is included in the 1.22 billion tons of overall stock in the year 2000.
An optical neural interface: in vivo control of rodent motor cortex with integrated fiberoptic and optogenetic technology

Neural interface technology has made enormous strides in recent years but stimulating electrodes remain incapable of reliably targeting specific cell types (e.g. excitatory or inhibitory neurons) within neural tissue. This obstacle has major scientific and clinical implications. For example, there is intense debate among physicians, neuroengineers and neuroscientists regarding the relevant cell types recruited during deep brain stimulation (DBS); moreover, many debilitating side effects of DBS likely result from lack of cell-type specificity. We describe here a novel optical neural interface technology that will allow neuroengineers to optically address specific cell types in vivo with millisecond temporal precision. Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), an algal light-activated ion channel we developed for use in mammals, can give rise to safe, light-driven stimulation of CNS neurons on a timescale of milliseconds. Because ChR2 is genetically targetable, specific populations of neurons even sparsely embedded within intact circuitry can be stimulated with high temporal precision. Here we report the first in vivo behavioral demonstration of a functional optical neural interface (ONI) in intact animals, involving integrated fiberoptic and optogenetic technology. We developed a solid-state laser diode system that can be pulsed with millisecond precision, outputs 20 mW of power at 473 nm, and is coupled to a lightweight, flexible multimode optical fiber, ∼200 µm in diameter. To capitalize on the unique advantages of this system, we specifically targeted ChR2 to excitatory cells in vivo with the CaMKIIα promoter. Under these conditions, the intensity of light exiting the fiber (∼380 mW mm−2) was sufficient to drive excitatory neurons in vivo and control motor cortex function with behavioral output in intact rodents. No exogenous chemical cofactor was needed at any point, a crucial finding for in vivo work in large mammals. Achieving modulation of behavior with optical control of neuronal subtypes may give rise to fundamental network-level insights complementary to what electrode methodologies have taught us, and the emerging optogenetic toolkit may find application across a broad range of neuroscience, neuroengineering and clinical questions.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Tail Regeneration in the Lizard Anolis carolinensis Reveals Activation of Conserved Vertebrate Developmental and Repair Mechanisms

Lizards, which are amniote vertebrates like humans, are able to lose and regenerate a functional tail. Understanding the molecular basis of this process would advance regenerative approaches in amniotes, including humans. We have carried out the first transcriptomic analysis of tail regeneration in a lizard, the green anole Anolis carolinensis, which revealed 326 differentially expressed genes activating multiple developmental and repair mechanisms. Specifically, genes involved in wound response, hormonal regulation, musculoskeletal development, and the Wnt and MAPK/FGF pathways were differentially expressed along the regenerating tail axis. Furthermore, we identified 2 microRNA precursor families, 22 unclassified non-coding RNAs, and 3 novel protein-coding genes significantly enriched in the regenerating tail. However, high levels of progenitor/stem cell markers were not observed in any region of the regenerating tail. Furthermore, we observed multiple tissue-type specific clusters of proliferating cells along the regenerating tail, not localized to the tail tip. These findings predict a different mechanism of regeneration in the lizard than the blastema model described in the salamander and the zebrafish, which are anamniote vertebrates. Thus, lizard tail regrowth involves the activation of conserved developmental and wound response pathways, which are potential targets for regenerative medical therapies.
Apolipoprotein AIV Gene Variant S347 Is Associated With Increased Risk of Coronary Heart Disease and Lower Plasma Apolipoprotein AIV Levels

Abstract— The impact of common variants in the apolipoprotein gene cluster (APOC3-A4-A5) on prospective coronary heart disease (CHD) risk was examined in healthy UK men. Of the 2808 men followed over 9 years, 187 had a clinically defined CHD event. Examination of 9 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in this group revealed that homozygotes for APOA4 S347 had significantly increased risk of CHD [hazard ratio (HR) of 2.07 (95%CI 1.04 to 4.12)], whereas men homozygous for APOC3 1100T were protected [HR 0.28 (95%CI 0.09 to 0.87)]. In stepwise multiple regression analysis, after entering all the variants and adjusting for established risk factors APOA4 T347S alone remained in the model. Using all nine SNPs, the highest risk-estimate haplotypes carried APOA4 S347 and rare alleles of the two flanking intergenic markers. The protective effect of APOC3 1100T could be explained by negative linkage disequilibrium with these alleles. To determine the association of APOA4 T347S with apoAIV levels, the relationship was examined in 1600 healthy young European men and women. S347 homozygotes had significantly lower apoAIV plasma levels (13.64±0.59 mg/dL) compared with carriers of the T347 allele (14.90±0.12 mg/dL) (P =0.035). These results demonstrate that genetic variation in and around APOA4, independent of the effects of triglyceride, is associated with risk of CHD and apoAIV levels, supporting an antiatherogenic role for apoAIV.
Access to Care and Use of the Internet to Search for Health Information: Results From the US National Health Interview Survey

Background The insurance mandate of the Affordable Care Act has increased the number of people with health coverage in the United States. There is speculation that this increase in the number of insured could make accessing health care services more difficult. Those who are unable to access care in a timely manner may use the Internet to search for information needed to answer their health questions. Objective The aim was to determine whether difficulty accessing health care services for reasons unrelated to insurance coverage is associated with increased use of the Internet to obtain health information. Methods Survey data from 32,139 adults in the 2011 National Health Interview Study (NHIS) were used in this study. The exposure for this analysis was reporting difficulty accessing health care services or delaying getting care for a reason unrelated to insurance status. To define this exposure, we examined 8 questions that asked whether different access problems occurred during the previous 12 months. The outcome for this analysis, health information technology (HIT) use, was captured by examining 2 questions that asked survey respondents if they used an online health chat room or searched the Internet to obtain health information in the previous 12 months. Several multinomial logistic regressions estimating the odds of using HIT for each reported access difficulty were conducted to accomplish the study objective. Results Of a survey population of 32,139 adults, more than 15.90% (n=5109) reported experiencing at least one access to care barrier, whereas 3.63% (1168/32,139) reported using online health chat rooms and 43.55% (13,997/32,139) reported searching the Internet for health information. Adults who reported difficulty accessing health care services for reasons unrelated to their health insurance coverage had greater odds of using the Internet to obtain health information. Those who reported delaying getting care because they could not get an appointment soon enough (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.9-2.5), were told the doctor would not accept them as a new patient or accept their insurance (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.7-2.5 and OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.7-2.5, respectively), or because the doctor’s office was not open when they could go (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.9-2.7) had more than twice the odds of using the Internet to obtain health information compared to those who did not report such access difficulties. Conclusions People experiencing trouble accessing health care services for reasons unrelated to their insurance status are more likely to report using the Internet to obtain health information. Improving the accuracy and reliability of health information resources that are publicly available online could help those who are searching for information due to trouble accessing health care services.