Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Block of Long-Term Potentiation by Naturally Secreted and Synthetic Amyloid β-Peptide in Hippocampal Slices Is Mediated via Activation of the Kinases c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase, Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5, and p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase as well as Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Type 5

The mechanisms of action of human synthetic and naturally secreted cell-derived amyloid β-peptide (Aβ)1–42 on the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) were investigated in the medial perforant path to dentate granule cell synapses in hippocampal slices. Synthetic and cell-derived Aβ strongly inhibited high-frequency stimulation (HFS)-induced LTP at peak HFS and 1 hr after HFS. Cell-derived Aβ was much more potent than synthetic Aβ at inhibiting LTP induction, with threshold concentrations of ∼1 and 100–200 nm, respectively. The involvement of various kinases in Aβ-mediated inhibition of LTP induction was investigated by applying Aβ in the presence of inhibitors of these kinases. The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor JNKI prevented the block of LTP induction by both synthetic and cell-derived Aβ. The block of LTP induced by synthetic Aβ was also prevented by the JNK inhibitor anthra[1,9-cd]pyrazol-6(2H)-one, the cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) inhibitors butyrolactone and roscovitine, and the p38 MAP kinase (MAPK) inhibitor 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)-1H-imidazole but not by the p42–p44 MAP kinase inhibitor 1,4-diamino-2,3-dicyano-1,4-bis(2-aminophenylthio)butadiene. The group I–group II metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) antagonist 2S-2-amino-2-(1S,2S-2-carboxycyclopropyl-1-yl)-3-(xanth-9-yl)propanoic acid and the mGluR5 antagonist methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)pyridine prevented the block of LTP induction by Aβ. However, theα7 nicotinic ACh receptor antagonist methylcaconatine did not prevent the inhibition of LTP induction by Aβ. These studies provide evidence that the Aβ-mediated inhibition of LTP induction involves stimulation of the kinases JNK, Cdk5, and p38 MAPK after the activation of both the Aβ receptor(s) and mGluR5.
Post-fatigue fracture resistance of metal core crowns: press-on metal ceramic versus a conventional veneering system

Background The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the mechanical failure behavior and to analyze fracture characteristics of metal ceramic crowns with two veneering systems – press-on metal (PoM) ceramic versus a conventional veneering system – subjected to static compressive loading. Material and Methods Forty-six crowns were constructed and divided into two groups according to porcelain veneer manufacture. Group A: 23 metal copings with porcelain IPS-InLine veneering (conventional metal ceramic). Group B: 23 metal copings with IPS-InLine PoM veneering porcelain. After 120,000 fatigue cycles, the crowns were axially loaded to the moment of fracture with a universal testing machine. The fractured specimens were examined under optical stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscope. Results Fracture resistance values showed statistically significant differences (Student’s t-test) regarding the type of ceramic veneering technique (p=0.001): Group A (conventional metal ceramics) obtained a mean fracture resistance of 1933.17 N, and Group B 1325.74N (Press-on metal ceramics). The most common type of fracture was adhesive failure (with metal exposure) (p=0.000). Veneer porcelain fractured on the occlusal surface following a radial pattern. Conclusions Metal ceramic crowns made of IPS InLine or IPS InLine PoM ceramics with different laboratory techniques all achieved above-average values for clinical survival in the oral environment according to ISO 6872. Crowns made with IPS InLine by conventional technique resisted fracture an average of 45% more than IPS InLine PoM fabricated with the press-on technique. Key words:Mechanical failure, conventional feldspathic, pressable ceramic, chewing simulator, thermocycling, compressive testing, fracture types, scanning electron microscope.
N-Terminal Gly224–Gly411 Domain in Listeria Adhesion Protein Interacts with Host Receptor Hsp60

Background Listeria adhesion protein (LAP) is a housekeeping bifunctional enzyme consisting of N-terminal acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and C-terminal alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). It aids Listeria monocytogenes in crossing the epithelial barrier through a paracellular route by interacting with its host receptor, heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60). To gain insight into the binding interaction between LAP and Hsp60, LAP subdomain(s) participating in the Hsp60 interaction were investigated. Methods Using a ModBase structural model, LAP was divided into 4 putative subdomains: the ALDH region contains N1 (Met1–Pro223) and N2 (Gly224–Gly411), and the ADH region contains C1 (Gly412–Val648) and C2 (Pro649–Val866). Each subdomain was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified. Purified subdomains were used in ligand overlay, immunofluorescence, and bead-based epithelial cell adhesion assays to analyze each domain's affinity toward Hsp60 protein or human ileocecal epithelial HCT-8 cells. Results The N2 subdomain exhibited the greatest affinity for Hsp60 with a K D of 9.50±2.6 nM. The K D of full-length LAP (7.2±0.5 nM) to Hsp60 was comparable to the N2 value. Microspheres (1 µm diameter) coated with N2 subdomain showed significantly (P<0.05) higher binding to HCT-8 cells than beads coated with other subdomains and this binding was inhibited when HCT-8 cells were pretreated with anti-Hsp60 antibody to specifically block epithelial Hsp60. Furthermore, HCT-8 cells pretreated with purified N2 subdomain also reduced L. monocytogenes adhesion by about 4 log confirming its involvement in interaction with epithelial cells. Conclusion These data indicate that the N2 subdomain in the LAP ALDH domain is critical in initiating interaction with mammalian cell receptor Hsp60 providing insight into the molecular mechanism of pathogenesis for the development of potential anti-listerial control strategies.
Cluster analysis of genome-wide expression differences in disease-unaffected ileal mucosa in inflammatory bowel diseases

Whole human genome (Agilent) expression profiling was conducted on disease-unaffected ileal RNA collected from the proximal margin of resected ileum from 47 ileal Crohn's disease (CD), 27 ulcerative colitis (UC) and 25 control patients without inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Cluster analysis combined with significance analysis of microarrays (SAM) and principal component analysis (PCA) and was used to reduce the data dimension to identify geneprobe clusters associated with early pathogenic changes in ileal CD and UC. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was used to identify the biological pathways associated with each cluster. We reduced the dimensions of the 26,765 gene probe set to 43 gene-probe clusters. Most of these clusters could be labeled as related to different biological pathways, such as Paneth cell antimicrobial peptides, the formation of organized lymphoid structures, or nuclear receptor signaling and xenobiotic metabolism. Molecular phylogenetic 16S rRNA sequence analysis was completed on 83 DNA samples from the same samples used to generate the gene expression profiles. We conducted an exploratory study to determine if the first principle component (PC1) of these clusters could be linked to specific phyla/subphyla taxa.
Reverse shock emission as a probe of gamma-ray burst ejecta

We calculate the reverse shock (RS) synchrotron emission in the optical and the radio wavelength bands from electron-positron pair-enriched gamma-ray burst ejecta with the goal of determining the pair content of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) using early-time observations. We take into account an extensive number of physical effects that influence radiation from the RS-heated GRB ejecta. We find that optical/infrared flux depends very weakly on the number of pairs in the ejecta, and there is no unique signature of ejecta pair enrichment if observations are confined to a single wavelength band. It may be possible to determine if the number of pairs per proton in the ejecta is ≥100 by using observations in optical and radio bands; the ratio of flux in the optical and radio at the peak of each respective RS light curve is dependent on the number of pairs per proton. We also find that over a large parameter space, RS emission is expected to be very weak: GRB 990123 seems to have been an exceptional burst in that only a very small fraction of the parameter space produces optical flashes this bright. Also. it is often the case that the optical flux from the forward shock is brighter than the RS flux at deceleration. This could be another possible reason for the paucity of prompt optical flashes with a rapidly declining light curve at early times as was seen in GRBs 990123 and 021211. Some of these results are a generalization of similar results reported in Nakar & Piran.
Two-Dimensional Materials for Sensing: Graphene and Beyond

Two-dimensional materials have attracted great scientific attention due to their unusual and fascinating properties for use in electronics, spintronics, photovoltaics, medicine, composites, etc. Graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides such as MoS2, phosphorene, etc., which belong to the family of two-dimensional materials, have shown great promise for gas sensing applications due to their high surface-to-volume ratio, low noise and sensitivity of electronic properties to the changes in the surroundings. Two-dimensional nanostructured semiconducting metal oxide based gas sensors have also been recognized as successful gas detection devices. This review aims to provide the latest advancements in the field of gas sensors based on various two-dimensional materials with the main focus on sensor performance metrics such as sensitivity, specificity, detection limit, response time, and reversibility. Both experimental and theoretical studies on the gas sensing properties of graphene and other two-dimensional materials beyond graphene are also discussed. The article concludes with the current challenges and future prospects for two-dimensional materials in gas sensor applications.
Fuzzy c-Shape: A new algorithm for clustering finite time series waveforms

The existence of large volumes of time series data in many applications has motivated data miners to investigate specialized methods for mining time series data. Clustering is a popular data mining method due to its powerful exploratory nature and its usefulness as a preprocessing step for other data mining techniques. This article develops two novel clustering algorithms for time series data that are extensions of a crisp c-shapes algorithm. The two new algorithms are heuristic derivatives of fuzzy c-means (FCM). Fuzzy c-Shapes plus (FCS+) replaces the inner product norm in the FCM model with a shape-based distance function. Fuzzy c-Shapes double plus (FCS++) uses the shape-based distance, and also replaces the FCM cluster centers with shape-extracted prototypes. Numerical experiments on 48 real time series data sets show that the two new algorithms outperform state-of-the-art shape-based clustering algorithms in terms of accuracy and efficiency. Four external cluster validity indices (the Rand index, Adjusted Rand Index, Variation of Information, and Normalized Mutual Information) are used to match candidate partitions generated by each of the studied algorithms. All four indices agree that for these finite waveform data sets, FCS++ gives a small improvement over FCS+, and in turn, FCS+ is better than the original crisp c-shapes method. Finally, we apply two tests of statistical significance to the three algorithms. The Wilcoxon and Friedman statistics both rank the three algorithms in exactly the same way as the four cluster validity indices.
Regional Longitudinal Myocardial Deformation Provides Incremental Prognostic Information in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Background Global longitudinal systolic strain (GLS) has recently been demonstrated to be a superior prognosticator to conventional echocardiographic measures in patients after myocardial infarction (MI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of regional longitudinal myocardial deformation in comparison to GLS, conventional echocardiography and clinical information. Method In total 391 patients were admitted with ST-Segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention and subsequently examined by echocardiography. All patients were examined by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and two-dimensional strain echocardiography (2DSE). Results During a median-follow-up of 5.3 (IQR 2.5–6.1) years the primary endpoint (death, heart failure or a new MI) was reached by 145 (38.9%) patients. After adjustment for significant confounders (including conventional echocardiographic parameters) and culprit lesion, reduced longitudinal performance in the anterior septal and inferior myocardial regions (but not GLS) remained independent predictors of the combined outcome. Furthermore, inferior myocardial longitudinal deformation provided incremental prognostic information to clinical and conventional echocardiographic information (Harrell's c-statistics: 0.63 vs. 0.67, p = 0.032). In addition, impaired longitudinal deformation outside the culprit lesion perfusion region was significantly associated with an adverse outcome (p<0.05 for all deformation parameters). Conclusion Regional longitudinal myocardial deformation measures, regardless if determined by TDI or 2DSE, are superior prognosticators to GLS. In addition, impaired longitudinal deformation in the inferior myocardial segment provides prognostic information over and above clinical and conventional echocardiographic risk factors. Furthermore, impaired longitudinal deformation outside the culprit lesion perfusion region seems to be a paramount marker of adverse outcome.
The Effect of Checklist in Code Review for Inexperienced Students: An Empirical Study

Code review is believed to be an effective technique to remove defects in early development stage and improve software quality. Therefore, it is regarded as one of the basic skills of qualified software engineers. Consequently, most curricula for SE students incorporated knowledge about code review in different courses. However, how to teach students to conduct efficient code review remains challenging. Many reports claimed that using checklist during code review could increase review efficiency (percentage of defects removed in code review). Nevertheless, we found a quite different result through analyzing the data collected from a PSP course took by freshmen. Results indicate that checklist contributes more to helping beginners conduct code review than to improving review efficiency. This finding implies that educators need to properly recognize the role of checklist in code review for students and explore more approaches to help students master skills to conduct efficient code reviews.
Minimax Optimal Rates for Poisson Inverse Problems With Physical Constraints

This paper considers fundamental limits for solving sparse inverse problems in the presence of Poisson noise with physical constraints. Such problems arise in a variety of applications, including photon-limited imaging systems based on compressed sensing (CS). Most prior theoretical results in CS and related inverse problems apply to idealized settings where the noise is independent identically distributed and do not account for signal-dependent noise and physical sensing constraints. Prior results on Poisson CS with signal-dependent noise and physical constraints provided upper bounds on mean-squared error (MSE) performance for a specific class of estimators. However, it was unknown whether those bounds were tight or if other estimators could achieve significantly better performance. This paper provides minimax lower bounds on MSE for sparse Poisson inverse problems under physical constraints. The lower bounds are complemented by minimax upper bounds which match the lower bounds for certain problem sizes and noise levels. The source of the mismatch between upper and lower bounds for other problem sizes and noise levels is discussed. The upper and lower bounds reveal that due to the interplay between the Poisson noise model, the sparsity constraint and the physical constraints: 1) the MSE upper bound does not depend on the sample size n other than to ensure the sensing matrix satisfies Restricted Isometry Property-like conditions and the intensity T of the input signal plays a critical role and 2) the MSE upper bound has two distinct regimes, corresponding to low and high intensities, and the transition point from the low-intensity to high-intensity regime depends on the sparsifying basis D. In the low-intensity regime, the MSE upper bound is independent of T while in the high-intensity regime, the MSE upper bound scales as (slog p/T), where s is the sparsity level, p is the number of pixels or parameters, and T is the signal intensity.
Semiclassical analysis of defect sine-Gordon theory

The classical sine–Gordon model is a two-dimensional integrable field theory, with particle-like solutions — the so-called solitons. Using its integrability one can define the quantum theory without the process of canonical quantization. The bootstrap method employs the fundamental properties of the model to restrict the structure of the scattering matrix as far as possible. The classical model can be extended with integrable discontinuities, purely transmitting jump defects. Then the quantum version of the extended model can be determined via the bootstrap method again. The resulting quantum theory contains the so-called CDD uncertainty. The aim of this article is to carry out the semiclassical approximation on both the classical and the quantum side of the defect sine–Gordon theory. The CDD ambiguity can be restricted by comparing the two results. To complete the comparison we have to calculate the relation between the classical and quantum parameters. We determine the quantum parameters from the poles of the T matrix, and we find that there are resonances in the spectrum.
Arsenic Contamination of Groundwater: A Review of Sources, Prevalence, Health Risks, and Strategies for Mitigation

Arsenic contamination of groundwater in different parts of the world is an outcome of natural and/or anthropogenic sources, leading to adverse effects on human health and ecosystem. Millions of people from different countries are heavily dependent on groundwater containing elevated level of As for drinking purposes. As contamination of groundwater, poses a serious risk to human health. Excessive and prolonged exposure of inorganic As with drinking water is causing arsenicosis, a deteriorating and disabling disease characterized by skin lesions and pigmentation of the skin, patches on palm of the hands and soles of the feet. Arsenic poisoning culminates into potentially fatal diseases like skin and internal cancers. This paper reviews sources, speciation, and mobility of As and global overview of groundwater As contamination. The paper also critically reviews the As led human health risks, its uptake, metabolism, and toxicity mechanisms. The paper provides an overview of the state-of-the-art knowledge on the alternative As free drinking water and various technologies (oxidation, coagulation flocculation, adsorption, and microbial) for mitigation of the problem of As contamination of groundwater.
Envy and Social Comparison

Upward social comparison can give rise to the emotion of envy: the pain caused by the good fortune of others. This chapter explains what envy is and what the possible function of envy is to an organism experiencing it. The authors provide an overview of past work on envy, the distinction between two subtypes (benign and malicious envy), possible antecedents of envy, possible consequences of envy, and the responses to being envied by others. In each of these areas, there are clear links to research on social comparison and research on envy has greatly benefited from insights from the social comparison literature. Given the surge in research on envy in the last decade, the authors hope that the findings on envy inspires those investigating social comparisons.
Biomechanical Variations in Female Runner’s Pre and Post Treadmill Running

The growing popularity of endurance sports activities is associated with a growing number of running injuries among recreational runners. The aim of this study was to assess the kinematic and kinetic variation on biomechanical parameters before and after 5km of treadmill running in female runners. Fourteen habitually shod female runners were assessed during treadmill running at their self-selected 5km running speed. A VICON motion analysis system and a Novel Pedar insole plantar pressure measurement system were used to record kinematic and plantar pressure data. Key findings from the study were that the internal and external rotation angle of the ankle, hip and knee while pre-5k running showed significant differences to those evaluated post-5k. The peak values of ground reaction forces (GRF) recorded pre-5k running were larger than the forces measured post-5k running. Combining the inversion and eversion of the ankle in the coronal plane during the pushing off phase, post-5k running showed a bigger eversion angle than pre-5k running. These subtle differences may reﬂect adaptation of motor control in female runners during long distance running of 5km.
The Core Membrane Fusion Complex Governs the Probability of Synaptic Vesicle Fusion But Not Transmitter Release Kinetics

Synaptic vesicle fusion is driven by the formation of a four-helical bundle composed of soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor (NSF) attachment protein receptors (SNAREs). Exactly how the structural interactions that lead to the formation of this complex relate to neurotransmitter release is not well understood. To address this question, we used a strategy to “rescue” synaptic transmission after proteolytic cleavage of the synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25) by botulinum neurotoxin E (BoNtE). Transfection of CA3 hippocampal pyramidal cells with BoNtE-resistant SNAP-25 restored synaptic transmission. Additional mutations that alter the interaction between SNAP-25 C-terminal coil and the other SNARE coils dramatically reduce transmitter release probability but leave the kinetics of synaptic responses unaltered. These data indicate that at synapses, SNARE interactions are necessary for fusion but are not the rate-limiting step of neurotransmission.
The Role of Source Characteristics and Message Appeals in Public Service Advertising (PSA) Messages: An Application of Fishbein’s Expectancy-Value Model and the Match-Up Hypothesis for Anti-Binge-Drinking Campaigns Targeting College Students

Abstract Guided by a match-up hypothesis and Fishbein’s expectancy-value theory, this research examines the effects of message sources and appeals in anti-binge-drinking public service ads (PSAs) on college students' binge-drinking attitudes and behavioral intention. College students (N = 251) participated in a 2 sources (expertise vs. similarity) × 2 appeals (expectancy vs. valuative) factorial experiment. Results show that there were conditional impacts of a similar source (peer) on favorable attitudes toward the PSAs. Messages were more effective when there was consistency between source characteristics and appeals (i.e., expert/expectancy and peer/valuative). The usefulness of Fishbein’s expectancy-value theory and the alternative framework for PSA developers are discussed.