Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular Determinants of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 1B Trafficking

The metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR1 undergoes alternative splicing to generate isoforms differing in C-terminal sequence. The mechanism by which these isoforms give different functional responses to agonists in vitro is so far unclear. Using the native mGluR1 and CD2-mGluR1 chimeric molecules, as well as their C-terminal truncations and mutants, we identified an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signal Arg-Arg-Lys-Lys within the C-terminal sequence of mGluR1b. Its presence results in a much reduced cell surface expression of the receptor and chimeric molecules in cell lines and their restricted trafficking in neurones. This motif is also present in the C-terminus of mGluR1a, but its effect is overcome by a region of the mGluR1a-specific C-terminal sequence (amino acids 975-1098). Our results indicate that these splice variants of mGluR1 utilize different targeting pathways and suggest that this may be a general phenomenon in the metabotropic glutamate receptor gene family.
Affect Recognition and Support in Intelligent Tutoring Systems

Empirical research provides evidence of strong interaction between cognitive and affective processes in the human mind. Education research proposes a model of constructive learning that relates cognitive and affective processes in an evolving cycle of affective states. Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITSs) are capable of providing comprehensive cognitive support. Affective support in ITSs, however, is lagging behind; the in-depth exploration of cognitive and affective processes in ITSs is yet to be seen. Our research focuses on the integration of affective support in an ITS enhanced with an affective pedagogical agent. In our work we adopt the dimensional (versus categorical) view of emotions for modelling affective states of the agent and the ITSs users. In two stages we develop and evaluate an affective pedagogical agent. The affective response of the first agent version is based on the appraisal of the interaction state; this agent’s affective response is displayed as affective facial expressions. The pilot study at the end of the first stage of the project confirms the viability of our approach which combines the dimensional view of emotions with the appraisal of interaction state. In the second stage of the project we develop a facial feature tracking application for real-time emotion recognition in a video-stream. Affective awareness of the second version of the agent is based on the output from the facial feature tracking application and the appraisal of the interaction state. This agent’s response takes the form of affectoriented messages designed to interrupt the state of negative flow. The evaluation of the affect-aware agent against an unemotional affect-unaware agent provides positive results, thus confirming the superiority of the affect-aware agent. Although the uptake of the agent was not unanimous, the agent established and maintained good rapport with the users in a role of a caring tutor. The results of the pilot study and the final evaluation validate our choices in the design of affective interaction. In both experiments, the participants appreciated the addition of audible feedback messages, describing it as an enhancement which helped them save time and maintain their focus. Finally, we offer directions for future research on affective support which can be conducted within the framework developed in the course of this project.
Lesion patterns and mechanism of ischemia in internal carotid artery disease: a diffusion-weighted imaging study.

CONTEXT Although embolism and low-flow phenomenon are the 2 main mechanisms of stroke in internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusive disease, the mechanism of border-zone infarction remains controversial. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) can more easily detect small or multiple ischemic lesions than conventional imaging. OBJECTIVES To investigate the ischemic lesion patterns on DWI and to discuss the mechanisms of stroke in ICA disease. DESIGN Case series. SETTING A tertiary referral center. PATIENTS We enrolled 35 consecutive patients who had an acute ischemic stroke and (> or = 70%) stenosis or an occlusion of the extracranial ICA confirmed by cerebral angiography and an acute relevant stroke lesion on DWI within 1 week of onset, but without cardiac sources of embolism and tandem intracranial arterial disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The lesion pattern on DWI was categorized as territorial or border zone. Multiple ischemic lesions were defined as noncontiguous lesions on DWI in more than 1 vascular territory. RESULTS There were 3 distinctive stroke lesion patterns. (1) A territorial lesion without a border-zone lesion was found in 21 patients: superficial and superficial territorial in 9, superficial and deep territorial in 7, and single in 5. (2) A border-zone lesion with or without a territorial lesion was found in 10 patients: border zone and territorial in 9 and border zone alone in 1. (3) Bilateral hemispheric lesions were found in 4 patients. Multiple ischemic lesions were found in 29 (82.9%) of the 35 patients. No patient had episodes of hemodynamic compromise. CONCLUSIONS An acute ischemic lesion in ICA occlusive disease is mainly multiple. Border-zone infarction was mostly associated with territorial infarction. These results support the fact that embolism is the predominant stroke mechanism in ICA occlusive disease.
Diagnosing the contribution of phytoplankton functional groups to the production and export of particulate organic carbon, CaCO3, and opal from global nutrient and alkalinity distributions

We diagnose the contribution of four main phytoplankton functional groups to the production and export of particulate organic carbon (POC), CaCO3, and opal by combining in a restoring approach global oceanic observations of nitrate, silicic acid, and alkalinity with a simple size‐dependent ecological/biogeochemical model. In order to determine the robustness of our results, we employ three different variants of the ocean general circulation model (OGCM) required to transport and mix the nutrients and alkalinity into the upper ocean. In our standard model, the global export of CaCO3 is diagnosed as 1.1 PgC yr−1 (range of sensitivity cases 0.8 to 1.2 PgC yr−1) and that of opal as 180 Tmol Si yr−1 (range 160 to 180 Tmol Si yr−1). CaCO3 export is found to have three maxima at approximately 40°S, the equator, and around 40°N. In contrast, the opal export is dominated by the Southern Ocean with a single maximum at around 60°S. The molar export ratio of inorganic to organic carbon is diagnosed in our standard model to be about 0.09 (range 0.07 to 0.10) and found to be remarkably uniform spatially. The molar export ratio of opal to organic nitrogen varies substantially from values around 2 to 3 in the Southern Ocean south of 45°S to values below 0.5 throughout most of the rest of the ocean, except for the North Pacific. Irrespective of which OGCM is used, large phytoplankton dominate the export of POC, with diatoms alone accounting for 40% of this export, while the contribution of coccolithophorids is only about 10%. Small phytoplankton dominate net primary production (NPP) with a fraction of ∼70%. Diatoms and coccolithophorids account for about 15% and less than 2% of NPP, respectively. These diagnosed contributions of the main phytoplankton functional groups to NPP are also robust across all OGCMs investigated. Correlation and regression analyses reveal that the variations in the relative contributions of diatoms and coccolithophorids to NPP can be predicted reasonably well on the basis of a few key parameters.
HUMAN 'S FACIAL PARTS EXTRACTION TO RECOGNIZE FACIAL EXPRESSION

Real-time facial expression analysis is an important yet challenging task in human computer interaction. This paper proposes a real-time person independent facial expression recognition system using a geometrical feature-based approach. The face geometry is extracted using the modified active shape model. Each part of the face geometry is effectively represented by the Census Transformation (CT) based feature histogram. The facial expression is classified by the SVM classifier with exponential chi-square weighted merging kernel. The proposed method was evaluated on the JAFFE database and in real-world environment. The experimental results show that the approach yields a high recognition rate and is applicable in real-time facial expression analysis.
Age‐related reductions in appendicular skeletal muscle mass: association with habitual aerobic exercise status

Appendicular skeletal muscle mass decreases with advancing age, and this is thought to be a key factor for reductions in functional independence in the elderly. We determined the potential modulatory influence of regular aerobic exercise on the age‐related reductions in appendicular muscle mass. In the present cross‐sectional study, we studied a total of 131 healthy men aged 20–79 years. For at least the previous 2 years subjects were either sedentary or endurance‐trained. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass was measured using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. There were no significant group differences in height. Body mass and body surface area were lower in endurance‐trained compared with sedentary men (P<0·05). In general, body fat increased with age in both groups, but was lower in endurance‐trained compared with sedentary men at any age group (P<0·05). Lean body mass and maximal oxygen consumption decreased with age (P<0·05). Irrespective of expression (absolute, relative to body surface area, or relative to body mass), arm, leg, and total limb muscle mass generally decreased with age. Absolute appendicular muscle mass was not different between the two activity groups. When expressed relative to body mass or body surface area, appendicular muscle mass in the endurance‐trained middle‐aged and older men was significantly higher than their sedentary peers. The rate of decline in appendicular muscle mass with age was similar between the two activity groups. The results of the present cross‐sectional study indicate that endurance‐trained men had significantly higher appendicular skeletal muscle mass relative to body mass or body size compared with their sedentary peers. This may contribute, at least in part, to the lower incidence of functional disability observed in middle‐aged and older men who exercise regularly.
Macrophage depletion induced by clodronate-loaded erythrocytes

Given the important role of macrophages in various disorders, the transient and organ specific suppression of their functions may benefit some patients. Until now, liposome-encapsulated bisphosphonate clodronate has been extensively proposed to this end. In this paper, we demonstrate that erythrocytes loaded with clodronate can also be effective in macrophage depletion. Here, clodronate was encapsulated in erythrocytes through hypotonic dialysis, isotonic resealing and reannealing to final concentrations of 4.1±0.4 and 10.1±0.8 μmol/ml of human and murine erythrocytes, respectively. The ability of clodronate-loaded erythrocytes to deplete macrophages was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro studies on human macrophages showed that a single administration of engineered erythrocytes was able to reduce cell adherence capacity in a time-dependent manner, reaching 50±4% reduction, 13 days post treatment. The administration of loaded erythrocytes to cultures of murine peritoneal macrophages was able to reduce macrophage adhesion 67±3%, 48 h post treatment. In vivo, the ability of clodronate-loaded erythrocytes to deplete macrophages was evaluated both in Swiss and C57BL/6 mice. Swiss mice received 125 μg of clodronate through eryhtrocytes and 6 days post treatment 69±7% reduction in the number of adherent peritoneal macrophages and 75±5% reduction in number of spleen macrophages were observed. C57BL/6 mice received 220 μg clodronate by RBC and 3 and 8 days post treatment 65±7% reduction in the number of spleen macrophages and the complete depletion of liver macrophages were obtained. In summary, our results indicate that clodronate selectively targeted to the phagocytic cells by a single administration of engineered erythrocytes is able to deplete macrophages, even if not completely. The transient suppression of macrophage functions through clodronate-loaded erythrocytes can be used in many biomedical phenomena and research applications.
Bradykinesia akinesia inco-ordination test (BRAIN TEST): an objective computerised assessment of upper limb motor function

OBJECTIVES A simple and rapid computerised keyboard test, based on the alternating finger tapping test, has been developed to quantify upper limb motor function. The test generates several variables: (1) kinesia score: the number of keystrokes in 60 seconds; (2) akinesia time: cumulative time that keys are depressed; (3) dysmetria score: a weighted index calculated using the number of incorrectly hit keys corrected for speed; (4) incoordination score: a measure of rhythmicity which corresponds to the variance of the time interval between keystrokes. METHODS The BRAIN TEST© was assessed on 35 patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease, 12 patients with cerebellar dysfunction, and 27 normal control subjects. RESULTS The mean kinesia scores of patients with Parkinson’s disease or cerebellar dysfunction were significantly slower than normal controls (Parkinson’s disease=107 (SD 28) keys/min vcerebellar dysfunction=86± (SD 28) vnormal controls=182 (SD 26), p<0.001) and correlated with the UPDRS (r =−0.69, p<0.001). The akinesia time is very insensitive and was only abnormal in patients with severe parkinsonism. The median dysmetria (cerebellar dysfunction=13.8v Parkinson’s disease=6.1v normal controls=4.2, p=0.002) and inco-ordination scores (cerebellar dysfunction=5.12v Parkinson’s disease=0.84v normal controls=0.15, p=0.002) were significantly higher in patients with cerebellar dysfunction, in whom the dysmetria score correlated with a cerebellar disease rating scale (r=0.64, p=0.02). CONCLUSION The BRAIN TEST© provides a simple, rapid, and objective assessment of upper limb motor function. It assesses speed, accuracy, and rhythmicity of upper limb movements regardless of their physiological basis. The results of the test correlate well with clinical rating scales in Parkinson’s disease and cerebellar dysfunction. The BRAIN test will be useful in clinical studies. It can be downloaded from the Internet (www.anaesthetist.com/software/brain.htm).
Cytomegalovirus UL103 Controls Virion and Dense Body Egress

ABSTRACT Human cytomegalovirus UL103 encodes a tegument protein that is conserved across herpesvirus subgroups. Mutant viruses lacking this gene product exhibit dramatically reduced accumulation of cell-free virus progeny and poor cell-to-cell spread. Given that viral proteins and viral DNA accumulate with normal kinetics in cells infected with mutant virus, UL103 appears to function during the late phase of replication, playing a critical role in egress of capsidless dense bodies and virions. Few dense bodies were observed in the extracellular space in mutant virus-infected cells in the presence or absence of the DNA encapsidation inhibitor 2-bromo-5,6-dichloro-1-(β-d-ribofuranosyl)benzimidazole. Upon reversal of encapsidation inhibition, UL103 had a striking impact on accumulation of cell-free virus, but not on accumulation of cell-associated virus. Thus, UL103 plays a novel and important role during maturation, regulating virus particle and dense body egress from infected cells.
The Effect Of Personality And Self-Efficacy Toward Capabilities And Performance Of Member Parliament

The study of the Parliament performance very attractive because of the people's representatives in Jakarta is always expected by society to perform better performance in building the Jakarta city. The purpose of this study was to measure and describe the parliamentarian performance of Jakarta is associated with personality, self-efficacy and capability. The method used a quantitative method . Analysis using path analysis. The data was collected using a research instrument which was distributed to the respondents with a sample of 94 members. The results showed that the High and low capability of Parliament members have been linked with a personality and self-efficacy, but Parliament Performance not linked with personality and self efficacy. Then capablity there is corelation toward parliament performance. However capabilities in this regard becomes important for personality and self efficacy in improving the performance of parliament members in Jakarta.
Multiferroic and fatigue behavior of BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3/Bi0.90La0.10Fe0.85Zn0.15O3 bilayered thin films

Bilayered thin films consisting of BiFe0.95Mn0. 05O3 (BFMO) and Bi0.90La0. 10Fe0.85Zn0. 15O3 (BLFZO) layers were prepared on Pt-coated silicon substrates without any buffer layers by RF sputtering. The (110) orientation was induced with a high phase purity for all bilayers as a result of the introduction of the bottom (110)-oriented BLFZO layer. The low leakage current density of BFMO/BLFZO bilayers could be attributed to a combined effect of the BFMO and BLFZO layers. The dielectric constant increases, the remanent polarization decreases, and the coercive field slightly increases with increasing thickness of the BLFZO layer in BFMO/BLFZO bilayers. Magnetic properties in BFMO/BLFZO bilayers are improved by increasing the BFMO layer thicknesses. A large polarization value of 2Pr ~ 189.5 μC/cm2 is obtained for the BFMO/BLFZO bilayer with a thickness ratio of 3:1, which is much larger than those reported for BFO-based single layers or multilayers, and a good fatigue behavior is demonstrated with an increase in measurement frequencies and driving electric fields.
Enabling Composition-Based Video-Conferencing for the Home

This paper describes a videoconferencing system that meets performance constraints and functional requirements for use in consumer homes. Our system improves existing home technologies (such as video chat) by providing high-quality audiovisual communication, efficient encoding mechanisms, and low end-to-end delay. Moreover, the system includes a control interface that is capable of dynamically manipulating and compositing audiovisual content streams. This innovative architectural component is required for a domestic setting, where the television acts as the main screen and multiple people gather around it. Apart from the requirements and architecture, this paper analyses the performance of our system. The results validate our architectural decisions and provide a valuable input for further research in domestic videoconferencing.
A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED COMPARATIVE STUDY TO COMPARE THE HEMODYNAMIC AND METABOLIC STRESS RESPONE DUE TO ENDOTRACHEAL INTUBATION AND I-GEL USAGE DURING LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY.

BACKGROUND Surgery and endotracheal intubation both causes an increase in metabolic stress response. This is further aggravated during laparoscopic surgeries. In this study we aimed at comparing hemodynamic and metabolic parameters which are reflective of intraoperative stress response while using I-GEL against endotracheal tube (ETT) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS This is a prospective randomized comparative study among 64 cases of American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA) physical status class I and II, undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy who were randomly allocated into two groups of 32 each using computer generated random number table. Patients were put under general anesthesia using standard protocol. After anesthesia induction and 20 minutes after induction venous blood samples were obtained for measuring adrenalin, noradrenalin, dopamine and cortisol levels. Hemodynamic and respiratory parameters were recorded at the 1st, 5th, 15th, 30th and 45th minutes after the insertion of airway device. RESULTS Although there was no significant difference regarding ventilatory parameters there was significant increase in heart rate at 1st and 45th minutes (p = 0.02 and 0.034) respectively and increase in mean arterial pressure at 15th and 30th minutes(p = 0.034 and 0.026) respectively in the ETT group compared to I-GEL group. Stress hormone intergroup analysis revealed significant increase in serum cortisol 20 minutes after induction in ETT group as compared to I-GEL group (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION I-GEL usage is a suitable, effective and safe alternative to ETT in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients with lower metabolic stress response.
An integrative chronobiological-cognitive approach to seasonal affective disorder

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is characterized by annual recurrence of clinical depression in the fall and winter months. The importance of SAD as a public health problem is underscored by its high prevalence (an estimated 5%) and by the large amount of time individuals with SAD are impaired (on average, 5 months each year). The specific cause of SAD remains unknown; however, researchers have identified possible chronobiological and psychological vulnerabilities to SAD. The study aimed to clarify psychological and chronobiological correlates of SAD in the first test of an integrative model of SAD. The project used a longitudinal design to test the respective contributions of the chronobiological and cognitive vulnerabilities on winter depression severity in 31 SAD patients and 33 never-depressed controls at sites in Burlington, VT and Pittsburgh, PA. The measures selected for the cognitive vulnerability were established measures of vulnerability to nonseasonal depression with empirical support for their relevance to SAD: brooding rumination, dysfunctional attitudes, cognitive reactivity to an induced sad mood, and season-specific cognitions. The chronobiological vulnerability was measured as Phase Angle Difference (PAD) and deviation from PAD of 6 hours. All measures were completed once in the summer, when the SAD patients were remitted, and once in the winter, when patients were clinically depressed. Patients were distinguished from controls on most cognitive vulnerability measures (brooding, as well as rumination, dysfunctional attitudes, and seasonal beliefs). SAD patients exhibited shorter PAD than controls, but did not exhibit greater deviation from PAD-6. Results provide further support for specific cognitive, but not chronobiological, vulnerabilities in prediction of SAD. Limitations of the current sample are discussed. Results hold implications for future SAD research bridging the chronobiological and psychological disciplines with the ultimate aim of improved understanding, assessment, treatment, and prevention of SAD.
Vertebral compression fractures as the initial presentation of AL amyloidosis: case series and review of literature

Abstract The clinical presentation of AL amyloidosis is highly variable. In this series, we describe five cases of AL amyloidosis with vertebral compression fractures as initial presentation. All five patients had evidence of bone marrow replacement on magnetic resonance imaging and bone marrow biopsies demonstrating diffuse interstitial amyloid deposition. Hepatomegaly and elevated liver enzymes, consistent with liver involvement with amyloidosis, were also seen in each case. All five patients responded well to anti-plasma cell chemotherapy, with normalization of serum free light chain levels, reduction in alkaline phosphatase and improvement in pain and functional status. Although rare, AL amyloidosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of selected patients with spontaneous vertebral compression fractures. Moreover, there seems to be an association of vertebral compression fractures with liver involvement in AL amyloidosis.