Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Telomere-based proliferative lifespan barriers in Werner-syndrome fibroblasts involve both p53-dependent and p53-independent mechanisms

Werner-syndrome fibroblasts have a reduced in vitro life span before entering replicative senescence. Although this has been thought to be causal in the accelerated ageing of this disease, controversy remains as to whether Werner syndrome is showing the acceleration of a normal cellular ageing mechanism or the occurrence of a novel Werner-syndrome-specific process. Here, we analyse the signalling pathways responsible for senescence in Werner-syndrome fibroblasts. Cultured Werner-syndrome (AG05229) fibroblasts senesced after ∼20 population doublings with most of the cells having a 2N content of DNA. This was associated with hypophosphorylated pRb and high levels of p16Ink4a and p21Waf1. Senescent AG05229 cells re-entered the cell cycle following microinjection of a p53-neutralizing antibody. Similarly, production of the human papilloma virus 16 E6 oncoprotein in presenescent AG05229 cells resulted in senescence being bypassed and extended cellular life span. Werner-syndrome fibroblasts expressing E6 did not proliferate indefinitely but reached a second proliferative lifespan barrier, termed Mint, that could be bypassed by forced production of telomerase in post-M1 E6-producing cells. The conclusions from these studies are that: (1) replicative senescence in Werner-syndrome fibroblasts is a telomere-induced p53-dependent event; and (2) the intermediate lifespan barrier Mint is also a telomere-induced event, although it appears to be independent of p53. Werner-syndrome fibroblasts resemble normal human fibroblasts for both these proliferative lifespan barriers, with the strong similarity between the signalling pathway linking telomeres to cell-cycle arrest in Werner-syndrome and normal fibroblasts providing further support for the defect in Werner syndrome causing the acceleration of a normal ageing mechanism.
Relationship between the nature of the search task types and query reformulation behaviour

Success of query reformulation and relevant information retrieval depends on many factors, such as users' prior knowledge, age, gender, and cognitive styles. One of the important factors that affect a user's query reformulation behaviour is that of the nature of the search tasks. Limited studies have examined the impact of the search task types on query reformulation behaviour while performing Web searches. This paper examines how the nature of the search tasks affects users' query reformulation behaviour during information searching. The paper reports empirical results from a user study in which 50 participants performed a set of three Web search tasks -- exploratory, factorial and abstract. Users' interactions with search engines were logged by using a monitoring program. 872 unique search queries were classified into five query types -- New, Add, Remove, Replace and Repeat. Users submitted fewer queries for the factual task, which accounted for 26%. They completed a higher number of queries (40% of the total queries) while carrying out the exploratory task. A one-way MANOVA test indicated a significant effect of search task types on users' query reformulation behaviour. In particular, the search task types influenced the manner in which users reformulated the New and Repeat queries.
Standalone Balloon Dilation versus Sinus Surgery for Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial

Background A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted on patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) to test the hypotheses that symptom improvement after balloon dilation was noninferior to functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and balloon dilation was superior to FESS for postoperative debridements. Methods Adults with uncomplicated CRS of the maxillary sinuses with or without anterior ethmoid disease who met criteria for medically necessary FESS were randomized 1:1 to office balloon dilation or FESS and followed for 6 months. A minimum of 36 patients per arm were required to test the hypotheses with 90% power. Symptom improvement using the validated 20-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-20) survey, debridements, recovery outcomes, complications, and revision surgeries were compared between groups. Results Ninety-two patients (50 balloon dilation; 42 FESS) were treated. Mean SNOT-20 improvement was 1.67 ± 1.10 and 1.60 ± 0.96 in the balloon and FESS arms, respectively. Both groups showed clinically meaningful and statistically significant (p < 0.0001) improvement and the balloon arm was noninferior (p < 0.001) to FESS. The mean number of postprocedure debridements per patient was 0.1 ± 0.6 in the balloon arm versus 1.2 ± 1.0 in the FESS arm, with the balloon group showing superiority (p < 0.0001). Occurrence of postoperative nasal bleeding (p = 0.011), duration of prescription pain medication use (p < 0.001), recovery time (p = 0.002), and short-term symptom improvement (p = 0.014) were all significantly better for balloon dilation versus FESS. No complications occurred in either group and one revision surgery was reported in each arm. Conclusion Balloon dilation is noninferior to FESS for symptom improvement and superior to FESS for postoperative debridements in patients with maxillary and anterior ethmoid disease. Balloon dilation is an effective treatment in patients with uncomplicated CRS who meet the criteria for medically necessary FESS.
Block-Matching Convolutional Neural Network for Image Denoising

There are two main streams in up-to-date image denoising algorithms: non-local self similarity (NSS) prior based methods and convolutional neural network (CNN) based methods. The NSS based methods are favorable on images with regular and repetitive patterns while the CNN based methods perform better on irregular structures. In this paper, we propose a block-matching convolutional neural network (BMCNN) method that combines NSS prior and CNN. Initially, similar local patches in the input image are integrated into a 3D block. In order to prevent the noise from messing up the block matching, we first apply an existing denoising algorithm on the noisy image. The denoised image is employed as a pilot signal for the block matching, and then denoising function for the block is learned by a CNN structure. Experimental results show that the proposed BMCNN algorithm achieves state-of-the-art performance. In detail, BMCNN can restore both repetitive and irregular structures.
Hypovitaminosis D and Other Risk Factors of Femoral Neck Fracture in South Indian Postmenopausal Women: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND Non-communicable diseases like hip fractures are a significant problem in a developing country like India. The risk factors for hip fractures vary according to local practices and the availability of preventive health care delivery systems. There is paucity of data on risk factors for hip fracture in the south Indian population. AIM This study was undertaken to assess risk factors associated with femoral neck (FN) fracture in South Indian postmenopausal women along with subsequent one year mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred four postmenopausal women with FN fracture and 104 age and BMI matched controls were included. Sedative use, visual impairment and other relevant risk factors were assessed. Bone biochemistry and Bone Mineral Density (BMD) were evaluated. A telephonic interview was done at the end of one year to ascertain the well-being. RESULTS Sedative use, visual impairment, low FN BMD and vitamin-D deficiency (<20 ng/ml) were seen more in fracture subjects compared to controls (p≤0.05). At the end of one year, 20% of the fracture subjects and 5% of the controls had died (p=0.001). CONCLUSION Risk factors identified in our study are potentially correctable, and needs special attention in an Indian context to prevent hip fractures.
Neuroimage: Clinical Fmri Resting State Networks and Their Association with Cognitive Fluctuations in Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Cognitive fluctuations are a core symptom in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and may relate to pathological alterations in distributed brain networks. To test this we analysed resting state fMRI changes in a cohort of fluctuating DLB patients (n = 16) compared with age matched controls (n = 17) with the aim of finding functional connectivity (FC) differences between these two groups and whether these associate with cognitive fluctuations in DLB. Resting state networks (RSNs) were estimated using independent component analysis and FC between the RSN maps and the entirety of the brain was assessed using dual regression. The default mode network (DMN) appeared unaffected in DLB compared to controls but significant cluster differences between DLB and controls were found for the left fronto-parietal, temporal, and sensory–motor networks. Desynchronization of a number of cortical and subcortical areas related to the left fronto-parietal network was associated with the severity and frequency of cognitive fluctuations. Our findings provide empirical evidence for the potential role of attention–executive networks in the aetiology of this core symptom in DLB.
The sound of one hand clapping: How to succeed in independent language learning

L'A. decrit les strategies rapportees par 30 adultes engages, durant une periode de six mois, dans l'etude autonome d'une langue. leurs rapports furent classes conformement aux buts realises, selon le double critere grand abatteur de travail/faible abatteur de travail. les grands et faibles abatteurs ne revelent pas de differences significatives eu egard au traitement general de la matiere a apprendre. Ils different toutefois par leur approche de la langue elle-meme
Statistical Analysis for Pattern-Dependent Simultaneous Switching Outputs (SSO) of Parallel Single-Ended Buffers

Switching currents of simultaneous switching output (SSO) buffers can cause significant power-supply-induced jitter (PSIJ) and uncertainty in the output voltages. The bit error rate (BER) can be simulated by considering all possible input data patterns with a long data sequence; however, it requires large computational efforts. In this paper, the SSO waveforms are analytically calculated, including the rise time of the input voltage, and the probability density functions (PDFs) of the waveforms are analytically calculated. The PDFs of the SSO step responses are combined with the inter-symbol interference (ISI) PDF extraction. The statistical eye and BER eye diagrams obtained from the proposed method are validated with HSPICE simulations. The effects of the SSO patterns as well as the channel ISI are successfully included in the proposed method. Also, the effects of input rise time and the number of parallel SSO buffers are investigated, and the proposed method is extended for analysis of SSO buffers with the data bus inversion (DBI) coding. The method should be practically useful for design of wideband memory I/O interfaces and low-cost consumer devices by reducing the computational time of the jitter and BER drastically.
Estimation of transmission dynamics of the Ceratomyxa shasta actinospore to the salmonid host

SUMMARY Transmission dynamics of the actinospore stage of Ceratomyxa shasta to the salmonid host were investigated under field and laboratory conditions. The number of parasites transmitted and the transmission rate were compared between 2 different exposure durations and also among different water velocities, by means of field exposures. Under laboratory conditions, the number of parasites transmitted and the transmission rates were compared across a broader range of water velocities and also at different water temperatures. Transmission rate was not constant over time as the number of parasites transmitted increased non-linearly between the 2 exposure durations. Transmission was also inversely related to water velocity and there was a threshold to transmission between 0·2–0·3 m s−1. Lastly, transmission rate increased with water temperature up to 18 °C then decreased at 23 °C. These experiments provide a range of values of transmission that will be incorporated into an epidemiological model to simulate the effectiveness of different management strategies. Additionally, these experiments provided novel information on the effects of environmental conditions (i.e. water velocity and water temperature) on the transmission dynamics between the salmonid host and the actinospore stage.
Experiential marketing : how to get customers to sense, feel, think, act, and relate to your company and brands

Traditional approaches to marketing are out of touch with today's fast-paced multimedia environment. No longer is it enough to pitch the features and benefits of a product. Consumers now take functional quality and a positive brand image as a given, says Bernd Schmitt. What they want are products, communications, and marketing campaigns that arouse the senses, touch their hearts, and stimulate their minds. Responding to the public's desires, experiential marketers do not sell mere products. Instead, they seek, through packaging and advertising, to create a holistic experience to which customers can relate. In this way, Schmitt explains, marketers can transform a product or service from a one-time purchase to a daily part of the consumer's life. Incorporating the latest findings from psychology, cognitive science, sociology, and evolutionary biology, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING is essential reading for managers at every level who want to create, build or revitalise a brand or company.
A novel switched-current phase locked loop

The paper investigates the design of phase locked loops (PLLs) using the switched current (SI) technique and proposes a novel 2/sup nd/ order PLL architecture that does not require an explicit phase detector, unlike conventional PLL circuits. Simulated results based on 0.35 /spl mu/m BSim3v3 CMOS models of two PLL designs (10 MHz FSK demodulator, 500 MHz frequency synthesizer) are included.
Fundamental examination about cooling approach for a heated EM-wave absorber under high power injection

Utilization of electromagnetic absorbers under high power is increasing to estimate performance of high power radars in anechoic chambers. Variation of absorption characteristics of absorbers is expected due to the generation of heat or temperature change. To suppress temperature increase, the absorber has to be cooled down in some kind of way. For example, the means are sending air to the absorber, loading radiating fin on the absorber, developing lattice structure in the absorber to increase heat transfer, and so on. In this paper, for the fundamental examination, the wind-chill factor by sending air to a heated lambda/4 EM-absorber is evaluated by measuring the temperature distribution with and without air blasting. As a result, the maximum temperature 78[degC] is confirmed on the surface of the absorber without air blasting. Meanwhile the maximum temperature decreases to 70[degC] on the surface of the absorber with air blasting. Therefore, the wind-chill factor by the air blasting is verified.
Combined long and short timescale X-ray variability of NGC 4051 with RXTE and XMM-Newton

Abstract We present a comprehensive examination of the X-ray variability of the narrow line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) galaxy NGC 4051. We combine over 6.5 years of frequent monitoring observations by RXTE with a >100 ks continuous observation by XMM-Newton and so present a powerspectral density (PSD) covering an unprecedent frequency range of over 6.5 decades from 10−2 Hz. The combined RXTE and XMM-Newton PSD is a very good match to the PSD of the galactic black hole binary system (GBH) Cyg X-1 when in a ‘high’, rather than ‘low’, state providing the first definite confirmation of an AGN in a ‘high’ state. We find a break in the PSD at a frequency νB=8+4−3×10−4 Hz. If νB scales linearly with mass then, assuming a black hole (BH) mass of 10 M ⊙ for Cyg X-1, we imply a BH mass of 3+2−1×105 M⊙ in NGC 4051, which is consistent with the recently reported reverberation value of 5+6−3×105 M⊙. Hence NGC 4051 is emitting at ∼ 30% LEdd. We note that the higher energy photons lag the lower energy ones and that the lag is greater for variations of longer Fourier period and increases with the energy separation of the bands. Variations in different wavebands are very coherent at long Fourier periods but the coherence decreases at shorter periods and as the energy separation between bands increases. This behaviour is similar to that of GBHs and suggests a radial distribution of frequencies and photon energies with higher energies and higher frequencies being associated with smaller radii. It is not possible to fit all AGN to the same linear scaling of break timescale with black hole mass. Broad line AGN are consistent with a linear scaling of break timescale with mass from Cyg X-1 in its low state but NLS1 galaxies scale better with Cyg X-1 in its high state. We suggest that the relationship between black hole mass and break timescale is a function of another underlying parameter which may be accretion rate.
Lightweight NEtwork MObility Within PMIPv6 for Transportation Systems

NEtwork MObility (NEMO) provides that a moving network involving mobile network nodes (MNNs) can move around the Internet without loss of connection. NEMO Basic Support (NBS) has been developed as an extension of Mobile IPv6 (MIPv6) so that it succeeds to drawbacks of host-based mobility management protocol. In NBS, the moving network keeps its connectivity with its home agent (HA) through its registration procedure. In other words, the moving network is required to obtain its new address and to send its own mobility signaling to the HA for every movements. In this paper, a simple and lightweight mechanism for NEMO within Proxy Mobile IPv6 (PMIPv6), which is a network-based mobility management protocol, is introduced. The proposed mechanism enables a moving network to change its point of attachment at a given PMIPv6 domain without acquiring a new address and sending its own mobility signaling. Mobility service provisioning entities residing at the PMIPv6 domain are extended to support NEMO. The analytical performance analysis is conducted to demonstrate that the moving network in the proposed mechanism achieves the reduced traffic cost and handover latency compared to NBS.
Overexpression of hypoxia-inducible factor prolylhydoxylase attenuated by HCG-induced vascular endothelial growth factor expression in luteal cells

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-dependent angiogenesis plays a crucial role in the corpus leteum formation and their functional maintenances in mammalian ovaries. We recently reported that the activation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α signaling contributes to the regulation of VEGF expression in the luteal cells (LCs) in response to hypoxia and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). This study was designed to test the hypothesis that, HIF prolyl-dydoxylases (PHDs) express in LCs and overexpression of PHD attenuates the expression of VEGF induced by HCG in LCs. By real-time PCR and western blot analysis, we examined the expression of PHDs, confirmed the plasmid transfection and their expression and also investigated the changes of HIF-1α and VEGF expression after treatment with HCG and PHD2 transgenes. PHD2 expression was significantly higher than the others, indicating its main roles. Moreover, a significant increase of VEGF mRNA was found after HCG treatment, while this increased VEGF mRNA was also blocked by PHD2 overexpression in LCs. Further analysis also found that, this HCG-induced increase of VEGF mRNA was consistent with the level of HIF-1α protein, which is regulated by HIF prolyl-dydoxylase -mediated degradation. Taken together, our results indicated that, PHD2 mainly expressed in LCs and HCG-induced VEGF expression can be blocked by PHD2 overexpression through HIF-1α -mediated mechanism in LCs. This PHD2-mediated transcriptional activation may be one of the important mechanisms regulating VEGF expression in LCs during mammalian corpus leteum development. Key words : Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, HIF prolyl-dydoxylase, vascular endothelial growth factor, human chorionic gonadotropin, luteal cells.
Comparison of the environmental footprint of the egg industry in the United States in 1960 and 20101

The US egg industry has evolved considerably over recent decades by incorporating new technologies and production practices. To date, there has been no comprehensive assessment of the resource demand and environmental effects of these changes. This study quantifies the environmental footprint of egg production supply chains in the United States for 2010 compared with 1960 using life cycle assessment. The analysis considers changes in both foreground (e.g., hen production performance) and background (e.g., efficiencies of energy provision, fertilizer production, production of feed inputs, and transport modes) system variables. The results revealed that feed efficiency, feed composition, and manure management are the 3 primary factors that determine the environmental impacts of US egg production. Further research and improvements in these areas will aid in continual reduction of the environmental footprint of the US egg industry over time. Per kilogram of eggs produced, the environmental footprint for 2010 is 65% lower in acidifying emissions, 71% lower in eutrophying emissions, 71% lower in greenhouse gas emissions, and 31% lower in cumulative energy demand compared with 1960. Table egg production was 30% higher in 2010; however, the total environmental footprint was 54% lower in acidifying emissions, 63% lower in eutrophying emissions, 63% lower in greenhouse gas emissions, and 13% lower in cumulative energy demand compared with 1960. Reductions in the environmental footprint over the 50-yr interval considered can be attributed to the following: 27 to 30% due to improved efficiencies of background systems, which outweighed the declining energy return on energy invested for primary energy sources; 30 to 44% due to changes in feed composition; and 28 to 43% due to improved bird performance.
The Effect of Group Status on Moral Relativism and the Stigmatization of Mental Illness: a Social Dominance Theoretical Model

This dissertation created a model to explore the effect of dominant group status on stigmatization of mental illness and on moral relativism and the interactive effect of dominant group status on stigmatization of mental illness through moral relativism. The model was conceptualized according to social dominance theory. Latent variables were created to measure moral relativism and stigmatization of mental illness. The latent measures were conceptualized according to current theories in the fields of moral relativism and stigmatization. During statistical analyses the latent measure for moral relativism was found to be unreliable. The study then became confirmatory-exploratory in nature by first comparing the fit indices of three alternate models with single-measure latent variables. The model that best fit the data was then used to conclude the exploratory research on the effect of group status on moral relativism and stigmatization of mental illness. The model was not supported by the data based on fit index and standardized residual scores.
Mast‐cell‐deficient W/Wv mice exhibit A decreased rate of tumor angiogenesis

The role of host mast cells in tumor‐associated angiogenesis was investigated by comparing the angiogenic response of genetically mast‐cell‐deficient W/Wv mice and mast‐cell‐sufficient +/+ littermate mice to s.c. growing B16‐BL6 tumors. The angiogenic response was found to be slower and initially less intense in W/Wv mice than in +/+ mice. Fewer W/Wv mice than +/+ mice developed spontaneous lung metastases and W/Wv mice exhibited fewer lung metastases per mouse. Bone‐marrow repair of the mast‐cell deficiency restored the angiogenic response of W/Wv mice and also restored the incidence of hematogenous metastases to approach that of +/+ mice. Differences in lymphatic metastasis were not detected between W/Wv and +/+ mice. These results demonstrate a role for mast cells in vivo during tumor angiogenesis, and suggest a role also for host mast cells in hematogenous metastasis.