Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Targeting EP4 downstream c‐Jun through ERK1/2‐mediated reduction of DNMT1 reveals novel mechanism of solamargine‐inhibited growth of lung cancer cells

Lung cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. We previously showed that solamargine, one natural phytochemicals from traditional plants, inhibited the growth of lung cancer cells through inhibition of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) receptor EP4. However, the potential downstream effectors of EP4 involving in the anti‐lung cancer effects of solamargine still remained to be determined. In this study, we further verified that solamargine inhibited growth of non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells in multiple cell lines. Mechanistically, solamargine increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Moreover, solamargine inhibited the protein expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and c‐Jun, which were abrogated in cells treated with MEK/ERK1/2 inhibitor (PD98059) and transfected with exogenously expressed DNMT1 gene, respectively. Interestingly, overexpressed DNMT1 gene antagonized the effect of solamargine on c‐Jun protein expression. Intriguingly, overexpressed c‐Jun blocked solamargine‐inhibited lung cancer cell growth, and feedback resisted the solamargine‐induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2. A nude mouse xenograft model implanted with lung cancer cells in vivo confirmed the results in vitro. Collectively, our results show that solamargine inhibits the growth of human lung cancer cells through reduction of EP4 protein expression, followed by increasing ERK1/2 phosphorylation. This results in decrease in DNMT1 and c‐Jun protein expressions. The inter‐correlations between EP4, DNMT1 and c‐Jun and feedback regulation of ERK1/2 by c‐Jun contribute to the overall responses of solamargine in this process. This study uncovers an additional novel mechanism by which solamargine inhibits growth of human lung cancer cells.
Self-organizing relays in LTE networks: Queuing analysis and algorithms

Relay stations are an important component of heterogeneous networks (HetNets) introduced in the LTE-Advanced technology as a means to provide very high capacity and QoS all over the cell area. This paper develops a self-organizing network (SON) feature to optimally allocate resources between backhaul and station to mobile links. Static and dynamic resource sharing mechanisms are investigated. In the static case we provide a queuing model to calculate the optimal resource sharing strategy and the maximal capacity of the network analytically. The influence of relay planning and number of deployed relays is investigated, and the gains resulting from good planning are evaluated analytically. Self-optimizing dynamic resource allocation is tackled using a Markov Decision Process (MDP) model. Both stability in the infinite buffer case and blocking rate and file transfer time in the finite buffer case are considered. To achieve a scalable solution with a large number of relays, a well-chosen parametrized family of policies is considered, to be used as expert knowledge. Finally, a model-free approach is shown in which the network can derive the optimal parametrized policy, and the convergence to a local optimum is proven.1
Classification of brand names based on n-grams

Supervised classification has been extensively addressed in the literature as it has many applications, especially for text categorization or web content mining where data are organized through a hierarchy. On the other hand, the automatic analysis of brand names can be viewed as a special case of text management, although such names are very different from classical data. They are indeed often neologisms, and cannot be easily managed by existing NLP tools. In our framework, we aim at automatically analyzing such names and at determining to which extent they are related to some concepts that are hierarchically organized. The system is based on the use of character n-grams. The targeted system is meant to help, for instance, to automatically determine whether a name sounds like being related to ecology.
p53 isoforms change p53 paradigm

Although p53 defines cellular responses to cancer treatment it is not clear how p53 can be used to control cell fate outcome. Data demonstrate that so-called p53 does not exist as a single protein, but is in fact a group of p53 protein isoforms whose expression can be manipulated to control the cellular response to treatment.
THE EFFECTS OF ICT-BASED LEARNING ON STUDENTS’ VOCABULARY MASTERY IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN BANDUNG

ICT plays a vital role in English language learning since it boosts motivation (Schoepp & Erogul, 2001), learners’ autonomy (Tri. et al., 2014) and learning skills (Galavis, 1998). This study aimed to examine the effects of ICT-based learning using wiki on learning of students’ vocabulary mastery at the junior high school. The design of the present study was quasi-experimental study. The population of the study was seventh graders of a junior high school in Bandung. Experimental group and control group comprised of 25 students each. The instruments of the study were a pre-test and a post-test of vocabulary mastery and an online learning platform called wiki. The data were analyzed by SPSS 16.0 for the windows. The findings revealed that there were significant differences at . 05 level between experimental group and control group (df= 49, t= 2.02). Furthermore, recommendations are proposed for the teachers whose teaching philosophy is twisted with ICT-based learning. For instance, they should provide an interesting topic on the wiki, let them chat while working online, assign them working at home and well prepare the facilities used in the class before starting of the lesson.
Efficient Sampling-based Lock Contention Profiling for Java

Concurrent code commonly uses locks. Choosing between simpler but less scalable and more sophisticated but error-prone locking mechanisms is difficult during development. Therefore, lock contention analysis at run-time is crucial to aid such decisions. We present a novel sampling-based approach for collecting detailed information on lock contention in Java applications by using the Java Virtual Machine Tool Interface (JVMTI) and bytecode instrumentation. We support both intrinsic locks as well as java.util. concurrent locks. Moreover, we can determine not only where contention occurs but also where it is caused. With a mean run-time overhead of about 5%, we consider our approach suitable for use in production environments.
Design and Fabrication of a Micro-CPL for Chip-Level Cooling

This paper summarizes the development of a micro-CPL designed for chip-level cooling. This research indicates that there are numerous fundamental issues regarding the thermofluid dynamics at small scales that are poorly understood. These issues, which can often be ignored at macro-scales, will be critical as devices such as micro-CPL’s and heat pipes are optimized in order to handle the increasingly large thermal loads of modem technology.
Quantification of Cooperativity in Heterodimer-DNA Binding Improves the Accuracy of Binding Specificity Models*

Many transcription factors (TFs) have the ability to cooperate on DNA elements as heterodimers. Despite the significance of TF heterodimerization for gene regulation, a quantitative understanding of cooperativity between various TF dimer partners and its impact on heterodimer DNA binding specificity models is still lacking. Here, we used a novel integrative approach, combining microfluidics-steered measurements of dimer-DNA assembly with mechanistic modeling of the implicated protein-protein-DNA interactions to quantitatively interrogate the cooperative DNA binding behavior of the adipogenic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ):retinoid X receptor α (RXRα) heterodimer. Using the high throughput MITOMI (mechanically induced trapping of molecular interactions) platform, we derived equilibrium DNA binding data for PPARγ, RXRα, as well as the PPARγ:RXRα heterodimer to more than 300 target DNA sites and variants thereof. We then quantified cooperativity underlying heterodimer-DNA binding and derived an integrative heterodimer DNA binding constant. Using this cooperativity-inclusive constant, we were able to build a heterodimer-DNA binding specificity model that has superior predictive power than the one based on a regular one-site equilibrium. Our data further revealed that individual nucleotide substitutions within the target site affect the extent of cooperativity in PPARγ:RXRα-DNA binding. Our study therefore emphasizes the importance of assessing cooperativity when generating DNA binding specificity models for heterodimers.
Examining the Links between Parents’ Relationships with Reading and Shared Reading with their Pre-School Children

While much is known about the benefits of shared reading activity for children, and the role of the home in cultivating shared reading practices far less is known about the factors that can influence parents’ shared reading practices with their children. Given that many young people leave school with poor relationships with reading, this study explores the links between parents’ own relationships with reading and the shared reading they practice with their own children in the home. Drawing on deep-level interview data, this paper presents data from six parents of pre-school children, who reported that they have had a poor personal relationship with reading. These parents all developed positive shared reading relationships with their children, however the importance of this study lies in understanding the interplay between these reading relationships. The data strongly suggested that the construct of ‘reading’ was very different from the ways in which reading had previously been defined for these participants. Reading, within a shared reading context, was seen as a very flexible construct which included activities such as talking and telling stories. In some cases, parents’ own relationships with reading seemed to improve. Implications for intervention with other families are discussed.
Developing a pressure ulcer risk factor minimum data set and risk assessment framework

Aim To agree a draft pressure ulcer risk factor Minimum Data Set to underpin the development of a new evidenced-based Risk Assessment Framework. Background A recent systematic review identified the need for a pressure ulcer risk factor Minimum Data Set and development and validation of an evidenced-based pressure ulcer Risk Assessment Framework. This was undertaken through the Pressure UlceR Programme Of reSEarch (RP-PG-0407-10056), funded by the National Institute for Health Research and incorporates five phases. This article reports phase two, a consensus study. Design Consensus study. Method A modified nominal group technique based on the Research and Development/University of California at Los Angeles appropriateness method. This incorporated an expert group, review of the evidence and the views of a Patient and Public Involvement service user group. Data were collected December 2010–December 2011. Findings The risk factors and assessment items of the Minimum Data Set (including immobility, pressure ulcer and skin status, perfusion, diabetes, skin moisture, sensory perception and nutrition) were agreed. In addition, a draft Risk Assessment Framework incorporating all Minimum Data Set items was developed, comprising a two stage assessment process (screening and detailed full assessment) and decision pathways. Conclusion The draft Risk Assessment Framework will undergo further design and pre-testing with clinical nurses to assess and improve its usability. It will then be evaluated in clinical practice to assess its validity and reliability. The Minimum Data Set could be used in future for large scale risk factor studies informing refinement of the Risk Assessment Framework.
Presence and distribution of dental enamel defects, recurrent aphthous lesions and dental caries in children with celiac disease

Objective: To determine presence and distribution of enamel defects, recurrent oral aphthous lesions (RAS) and dental caries in children with Celiac Disease (CD) and compare the results with a healthy control group. Methods: Twenty- five CD patients age between 4- 16 years with no other systemic disease, were examined in Pediatric Gastroenterology Clinic of Erciyes University, Faculty of Medicine (Kayseri, Turkey) and then referred to Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry for dental examination and treatment. The control group (25 patients) consisted healthy patients referred to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Erciyes University for restorative treatment. Both the CD group and control group was examined by the same investigator for the following; (1) enamel defects, (2) recurrent aphthous stomatitis, (3) dental caries. Results: The mean dmft values for the CD group and control group were 3.25±3.25 and 4.56±2.87 respectively. The difference was not statistically significant. (P>0.05). The mean DMFT values for the CD and the control group were 3.75±2.62 and 1.83±1.7, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). The prevalence of enamel defects and recurrent apthous stomatitis (RAS) was greater in celiac patients than in the control group. Enamel defects (in at least one permanent tooth) were observed in 12 out of 25 (48%) children in the CD group and four out of 25 children (16%). (P =0.01). Recurrent apthous stomatitis was found in 11/25 (44%) CD group, while no RAS was detected in the control group. Conclusion: Celiac Disease (CD) has adverse effects on oral health in term of enamel defect, recurrent aphthous stomatitis and caries score. Pediatricians and dentists especially pediatric dentists should be knowledgeable about oral symptoms of CD. Increased awareness can provide an early diagnosis and prevent long- term complications of this disease. On the other hand, further comprehensive investigations of CD patients can add to our understanding of the efficacy of CD on oral health in children.
Matroids and log-concavity

We show that f-vectors of matroid complexes of realisable matroids are log-concave. This was conjectured by Mason in 1972. Our proof uses the recent result by Huh and Katz who showed that the coefficients of the characteristic polynomial of a realisable matroid form a log-concave sequence. We also discuss the relationship between log-concavity of f-vectors and h-vectors of matroids. In the last section we explain the connection between zonotopal algebra and f-vectors and characteristic polynomials of matroids.
Host Galaxies of Hard X-Ray-Selected Type 2 Active Galactic Nuclei at Intermediate Redshifts

We study properties of the host galaxies of 15 hard X-ray-selected type 2 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) at intermediate redshifts (0.05 < z < 0.6) detected in ASCA surveys. The absorption-corrected hard X-ray luminosities L2-10 keV range from 1042 to 1045 ergs s-1. We took the R-band image of these AGNs with the University of Hawaii 2.2 m telescope. Thanks to the intrinsic obscuration of nuclear light, we can decompose the galaxies with a spheroid component and a disk component. The resulting spheroid luminosities correlate with L2-10 keV; higher (lower) X-ray luminosity AGNs tend to reside in more luminous (less luminous) spheroids. It is also found that the hosts of luminous AGNs show a large spheroid-to-disk luminosity ratio (~1), while those of less luminous AGNs spread between 0 and 1. The correlation between L2-10 keV and spheroid luminosity indicates a relation between the mass of a supermassive black hole (SMBH) and the spheroid luminosity (BS relation) at intermediate redshifts. The BS relation agrees with that in the local universe if an Eddington ratio of 0.24 is adopted, which is a mean value determined from our ASCA type 1 AGN sample at similar redshifts through the broad line width and continuum luminosity. The present study demonstrates the effectiveness of using type 2 AGNs at high redshifts to study their host properties.
A Disease Model of Muscle Necrosis Caused by Aeromonas dhakensis Infection in Caenorhabditis elegans

A variety of bacterial infections cause muscle necrosis in humans. Caenorhabditis elegans has epidermis and bands of muscle that resemble soft-tissue structures in mammals and humans. Here, we developed a muscle necrosis model caused by Aeromonas dhakensis infection in C. elegans. Our data showed that A. dhakensis infected and killed C. elegans rapidly. Characteristic muscle damage in C. elegans induced by A. dhakensis was demonstrated in vivo. Relative expression levels of host necrosis-associated genes, asp-3, asp-4, and crt-1 increased significantly after A. dhakensis infection. The RNAi sensitive NL2099 rrf-3 (pk1426) worms with knockdown of necrosis genes of crt-1 and asp-4 by RNAi showed prolonged survival after A. dhakensis infection. Specifically knockdown of crt-1 and asp-4 by RNAi in WM118 worms, which restricted RNAi only to the muscle cells, conferred significant resistance to A. dhakensis infection. In contrast, the severity of muscle damage and toxicity produced by the A. dhakensis hemolysin-deletion mutant is attenuated. In another example, shiga-like toxin-producing enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) known to elicit toxicity to C. elegans with concomitant enteropathogenicty, did not cause muscle necrosis as A. dhakensis did. Taken together, these results show that Aeromonas infection induces muscle necrosis and rapid death of infected C. elegans, which are similar to muscle necrosis in humans, and then validate the value of the C. elegans model with A. dhakensis infection in studying Aeromonas pathogenicity.
Progressive shared control for training in virtual environments

Virtual environments (VEs) with haptic feedback not only provide a safe and versatile practice medium for many manual control tasks, but also promise to improve the efficacy of manual skill training with the addition of haptic guidance. However, haptic guidance schemes such as shared control may be detrimental since such schemes actively interfere with the coupled system dynamics, thereby causing participants to experience task dynamics that are altered from those of the real task. Therefore, this paper proposes a progressive approach to guidance for training in virtual environments. This progressive guidance scheme adjusts its control gains based on participant performance, aiming to expose the performer to an appropriate amount of haptic guidance throughout training. Long term training experiments were conducted for an under-actuated target-hitting manual control task. The experimental results compare the efficacy of the novel progressive haptic guidance to two common fixed-gain haptic guidance schemes and virtual practice. The results from a month-long training experiment indicate that the proposed progressive shared control scheme reduces guidance interference as compared to fixed-gain guidance schemes thus increasing training efficacy.
Abdominal Ultrasound Examination Findings in 534 Hyperthyroid Cats Referred for Radioiodine Treatment Between 2007–2010

Background The prevalence of concurrent disease in hyperthyroid cats is unknown. Objectives To identify the prevalence of concurrent intra‐abdominal disease using abdominal ultrasound examination (AUS) in hyperthyroid cats referred for radioactive iodine treatment (RIT) and to determine whether the requirement for pretreatment AUS is justified. Animals Five hundred and thirty‐four client‐owned cats diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and referred for RIT. Methods Retrospective study. Age, breed, sex, body weight, clinical signs, total serum T4 concentration, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration, serum creatinine concentration, urine specific gravity (USG), AUS results, and biopsy or cytology results, or both (if obtained) were collected from the medical records. Results The prevalence of concurrent disease identified using AUS in hyperthyroid cats referred for RIT was 36.1%; 22.8% of the cats in the study had renal disease and 2.4% had confirmed neoplasia. Significant differences in median USG (P value 0.032) and median BUN (P value 0.028) were found between cats that had abnormal kidneys on AUS compared to those with normal‐appearing kidneys. Only 2.2% of the cats were not treated with RIT as a result of changes identified on AUS and subsequently obtained cytology or biopsy results. Conclusions and Clinical Importance The results indicate that pretreatment AUS in hyperthyroid cats referred for RIT is unnecessary in most patients.
A Cross-Platform Genome-Wide Comparison of the Relationship of Promoter DNA Methylation to Gene Expression

Peripheral mononuclear cell preparations are commonly used as proxies for other tissues in studies of the role of gene expression and methylation in human disease. Whether changes in peripheral DNA methylation are associated with changes in peripheral blood or brain gene expression is not clear. In order to test the former hypothesis and determine which genome-wide methylation platform was most suitable for our studies of peripheral blood cells, we compared the results from two commercially available genome-wide methylation arrays with respect to genome-wide gene expression using lymphoblast DNA and RNA from eight individuals at the promoters of 5619 genes. We found that methylation signatures at these gene promoters were significantly correlated with one another across platforms and with genome-wide gene expression, but the extent of that relationship is dependent on choice of platform and degree of methylation. Taken in context with data from other studies, these data demonstrate that peripheral blood cell methylation is associated with gene expression and that further studies to clarify the extent of this relationship, and the relationship between central and peripheral DNA methylation are in order.
On mutual coupling for ULAs: Estimating AoAs in the presence of more coupling parameters

The problem of Angle-of-Arrival estimation of multiple sources in the presence of mutual coupling is addressed. The presence of unknown mutual coupling between antenna array elements is known to degrade the performance of direction-finding algorithms. We first present a result explaining why some traditional methods, that estimate Angles-of-Arrival (AoAs) of multiple sources in the presence of mutual coupling, suffer from an identifiability issue, when the number of coupling parameters exceeds a certain level. Then, we present a first method that estimates AoAs of sources when more coupling parameters are present, namely when the number of coupling parameters exceeds that certain level. Finally, we propose a refinement of the proposed algorithm, which could further enhance the AoA estimates. Simulation results have demonstrated the potential of the proposed method and its refined version, for different scenarios, as it enjoys better performance than existing methods. A better description of the paper could be found in the Conclusions section.
Trans-dichotomous algorithms for minimum spanning trees and shortest paths

The fusion tree method is extended to develop a linear-time algorithm for the minimum spanning tree problem and an O(m+n log n/log log n) implementation of Dijkstra's shortest-path algorithm for a graph with n vertices and m edges. The shortest-path algorithm surpasses information-theoretic limitations. The extension of the fusion tree method involves the development of a new data structure, the atomic heap. The atomic heap accommodates heap (priority queue) operations in constant amortized time under suitable polylog restrictions on the heap size. The linear-time minimum spanning tree algorithm results from a direct application of the atomic heap. To obtain the shortest path algorithm, the atomic heap is used as a building block to construct a new data structure, the AF-heap, which has no size restrictions and surpasses information theoretic limitations. The AF-heap belongs to the Fibonacci heap family. <<ETX>>