Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
REMUPP: an interface for evaluation of relations between musical parameters and perceived properties

New media offers new roles, functions and challenges to music, calling for new methods and tools for music research. To meet these increasingly important challenges. REMUPP, a new software tool for the investigation of relations between music and perceived properties or characteristies, was designed. The ideas behind REMUPP and the technology used to realize it is deseribed. In order to test the sensitivity and validity of REMUPP. a simple experiment aimed to examine some properties of music was carried out. 38 subjects were listening to music and instructed to indicate their priority for different aspects of the music (musical parameters) while they actively controlled these aspects. The results show that REMUPP is able to bring out significant differences between the musical parameters, and that these differences correspond well with findings by others.
Self-reported gagging in dentistry: prevalence, psycho-social correlates and oral health.

Although gagging has a profound effect on the delivery of dental care, it is a relatively under-investigated phenomenon. This study aimed to derive a prevalence estimate of gagging during dental treatment based on patient-reported information, to determine some socio-demographic and psychological correlates and to assess the relationship of gagging with self-reported oral health and avoidance of dental care. Data were collected with a survey among Dutch twin families (n = 11 771). Estimated overall prevalence of gagging during dental treatment was 8·2% (95% CI 7·7-8·7). Patients' self-report of gagging was found to be significantly associated with female sex, a lower level of education and higher levels of dental trait anxiety, gagging-related fears (e.g. fear of objects in the mouth), anxious depression and neuroticism. Gagging also appeared to be significantly associated with untreated cavities, gingival bleeding and wearing full dentures, but not with avoidance of dental care. It can be concluded that individuals who report to gag during dental treatment are moderately dentally anxious, fear-specific situations that can trigger a gagging response and, albeit visiting the dentist equally frequently, report to have a poorer oral health compared to those who do not gag.
Feedback stabilization, regulation and optimal control of Boolean control networks

In this paper various control problems for Boolean control networks (BCNs) are investigated. By resorting to some recent results regarding the infinite-horizon optimal control, we first provide an alternative proof of the fact that the stabilization of a BCN to a given reachable equilibrium point can always be performed by means of a static state-feedback. Secondly, upon deriving necessary and sufficient conditions for the solvability of the output regulation problem, we show that, when such conditions are satisfied, also this problem can be solved by means of a static state-feedback. In both cases, a feedback gain matrix is explicitly derived by making use of the results obtained for the optimal control problem. Finally, some preliminary results about the stabilization problem by means of a static, either time-invariant or time-varying, output feedback are also presented.
Thermal behavior of polarized Pd / D electrodes prepared by co-deposition

Thermal behavior of polarized Pd/D electrode, prepared by the co-deposition technique, serving as a cathode in the Dewar-type electrochemical cell/calorimeter is examined. It is shown that: (i) excess enthalpy is generated during and after the completion of the co-deposition process; (ii) rates of excess enthalpy generation are somewhat higher than when Pd wires or other forms of Pd electrodes are used; (iii) positive feedback and heat-after-death effects were observed; and (iv) rates of excess power generation were found to increase with an increase in both cell current and cell temperature, the latter being higher. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Pharmacological investigation of the bioluminescence signaling pathway of the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum: evidence for the role of stretch‐activated ion channels

Dinoflagellate bioluminescence serves as a whole‐cell reporter of mechanical stress, which activates a signaling pathway that appears to involve the opening of voltage‐sensitive ion channels and release of calcium from intracellular stores. However, little else is known about the initial signaling events that facilitate the transduction of mechanical stimuli. In the present study using the red tide dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum (Stein) Dodge, two forms of dinoflagellate bioluminescence, mechanically stimulated and spontaneous flashes, were used as reporter systems to pharmacological treatments that targeted various predicted signaling events at the plasma membrane level of the signaling pathway. Pretreatment with 200 μM Gadolinium III (Gd3+), a nonspecific blocker of stretch‐activated and some voltage‐gated ion channels, resulted in strong inhibition of both forms of bioluminescence. Pretreatment with 50 μM nifedipine, an inhibitor of L‐type voltage‐gated Ca2+ channels that inhibits mechanically stimulated bioluminescence, did not inhibit spontaneous bioluminescence. Treatment with 1 mM benzyl alcohol, a membrane fluidizer, was very effective in stimulating bioluminescence. Benzyl alcohol‐stimulated bioluminescence was inhibited by Gd3+ but not by nifedipine, suggesting that its role is through stretch activation via a change in plasma membrane fluidity. These results are consistent with the presence of stretch‐activated and voltage‐gated ion channels in the bioluminescence mechanotransduction signaling pathway, with spontaneous flashing associated with a stretch‐activated component at the plasma membrane.
Molecular Mechanisms for Cardiovascular Stem Cell Apoptosis and Growth in the Hearts with Atherosclerotic Coronary Disease and Ischemic Heart Failure

Abstract: In the heart with atherosclerotic coronary disease, chronic ischemia causes progressive loss of cardiovascular cells and ultimately triggers myocardial dysfunctions or heart failure. Various types of stem cells from embryonic and adult tissues have potentials for regenerating functional cardiovascular cells in the heart undergoing ischemic injury. However, native or exogenous stem cells in the ischemic hearts are exposed to various proapoptotic or cytotoxic factors. Furthermore, during repopulation and differentiation, certain numbers of newly produced cells may die by apoptosis during neocardiovascular tissue remodeling and morphogenesis. Embryonic and adult stem cells may have different life spans, as being programmed genetically to apoptosis. The endogenous and environmental factors play important roles in regulation of stem cells, including inflammatory cytokines, growth factors, surface receptors, proteolytic enzymes, mitochondrial respiration, nuclear proteins, telomerase activities, hypoxia‐responding proteins, and stem cell‐host cell interaction. Clarification of the molecular mechanisms may help us understand and design stem cell therapies.
Evaluation of E1A double mutant oncolytic adenovectors in anti‐glioma gene therapy

Malignant glioma, in particular glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), represents one of the most devastating cancers currently known and existing treatment regimens do little to change patient prognosis. Conditionally replicating adenoviral vectors (CRAds) represent attractive experimental anti‐cancer agents with potential for clinical application. However, early protein products of the wild type adenovirus backbone—such as E1A—limit CRAds' replicative specificity. In this study, we evaluated the oncolytic potency and specificity of CRAds in which p300/CPB and/or pRb binding capacities of E1A were ablated to reduce non‐specific replicative cytolysis. In vitro cytopathic assays, quantitative PCR analysis, Western blot, and flow cytometry studies demonstrate the superior anti‐glioma efficacy of a double‐mutated CRAd, Ad2/24CMV, which harbors mutations that reduce E1A binding to p300/CPB and pRb. When compared to its single‐mutated and wild type counterparts, Ad2/24CMV demonstrated attenuated replication and cytotoxicity in representative normal human brain while displaying enhanced replicative cytotoxicity in malignant glioma. These results have implications for the development of double‐mutated CRAd vectors for enhanced GBM therapy. J. Med. Virol. 80:1595–1603, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A database of new zeolite-like materials.

We here describe a database of computationally predicted zeolite-like materials. These crystals were discovered by a Monte Carlo search for zeolite-like materials. Positions of Si atoms as well as unit cell, space group, density, and number of crystallographically unique atoms were explored in the construction of this database. The database contains over 2.6 M unique structures. Roughly 15% of these are within +30 kJ mol(-1) Si of α-quartz, the band in which most of the known zeolites lie. These structures have topological, geometrical, and diffraction characteristics that are similar to those of known zeolites. The database is the result of refinement by two interatomic potentials that both satisfy the Pauli exclusion principle. The database has been deposited in the publicly available PCOD database and in www.hypotheticalzeolites. net/database/deem/.
The F-box subunit of the SCF E3 complex is encoded by a diverse superfamily of genes in Arabidopsis

The covalent attachment of ubiquitin is an important determinant for selective protein degradation by the 26S proteasome in plants and animals. The specificity of ubiquitination is often controlled by ubiquitin-protein ligases (or E3s), which facilitate the transfer of ubiquitin to appropriate targets. One ligase type, the SCF E3s are composed of four proteins, cullin1/Cdc53, Rbx1/Roc1/Hrt1, Skp1, and an F-box protein. The F-box protein, which identifies the targets, binds to the Skp1 component of the complex through a degenerate N-terminal ≈60-aa motif called the F-box. Using published F-boxes as queries, we have identified 694 potential F-box genes in Arabidopsis, making this gene superfamily one of the largest currently known in plants. Most of the encoded proteins contain interaction domains C-terminal to the F-box that presumably participate in substrate recognition. The F-box proteins can be classified via a phylogenetic approach into five major families, which can be further organized into multiple subfamilies. Sequence diversity within the subfamilies suggests that many F-box proteins have distinct functions and/or substrates. Representatives of all of the major families interact in yeast two-hybrid experiments with members of the Arabidopsis Skp family supporting their classification as F-box proteins. For some, a limited preference for Skps was observed, suggesting that a hierarchical organization of SCF complexes exists defined by distinct Skp/F-box protein pairs. Collectively, the data shows that Arabidopsis has exploited the SCF complex and the ubiquitin/26S proteasome pathway as a major route for cellular regulation and that a diverse array of SCF targets is likely present in plants.
Label-Free Protein-RNA Interactome Analysis Identifies Khsrp Signaling Downstream of the p38/Mk2 Kinase Complex as a Critical Modulator of Cell Cycle Progression

Growing evidence suggests a key role for RNA binding proteins (RBPs) in genome stability programs. Additionally, recent developments in RNA sequencing technologies, as well as mass-spectrometry techniques, have greatly expanded our knowledge on protein-RNA interactions. We here use full transcriptome sequencing and label-free LC/MS/MS to identify global changes in protein-RNA interactions in response to etoposide-induced genotoxic stress. We show that RBPs have distinct binding patterns in response to genotoxic stress and that inactivation of the RBP regulator module, p38/MK2, can affect the entire spectrum of protein-RNA interactions that take place in response to stress. In addition to validating the role of known RBPs like Srsf1, Srsf2, Elavl1 in the genotoxic stress response, we add a new collection of RBPs to the DNA damage response. We identify Khsrp as a highly regulated RBP in response to genotoxic stress and further validate its role as a driver of the G1/S transition through the suppression of Cdkn1aP21 transcripts. Finally, we identify KHSRP as an indicator of overall survival, as well as disease free survival in glioblastoma multiforme.
Serological Evidence of Human Klassevirus Infection

ABSTRACT Klassevirus is a proposed new genus of picornavirus that has been associated with pediatric diarrhea. In this study, we used recombinant klassevirus 3C protease as the capture antigen for an indirect serological enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Four of six klassevirus reverse transcription (RT)-PCR-positive individuals demonstrated seroconversion against the 3C protease, suggesting that klassevirus infection and replication occur in humans. Additional screening of 353 samples from an age-banded serological cohort from two St. Louis hospitals indicated a seroprevalence of 6.8%.
DRVS: Power-efficient reliability management through Dynamic Redundancy and Voltage Scaling under variations

Many-core processors facilitate coarse-grained reliability by exploiting available cores for redundant multithreading. However, ensuring high reliability with reduced power consumption necessitates joint considerations of variations in vulnerability, performance and power properties of software as well as the underlying hardware. In this paper, we propose a power-efficient reliability management system for many-core processors. It exploits various basic redundancy techniques (like, dual and triple modular redundancy) operating in different voltage-frequency levels, each offering distinct reliability, performance and power properties. Our system performs Dynamic Redundancy and Voltage Scaling (DRVS) considering process variations in hardware, and diversities in software vulnerability and execution time properties. Experiments show that DRVS system provides significant reliability improvements while providing up to 60% reduced power consumption compared to state-of-the-art techniques.
Clinical and radiographic analysis of cervical disc arthroplasty compared with allograft fusion: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECT The authors report the results of a prospective randomized multicenter study in which the results of cervical disc arthroplasty were compared with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in patients treated for symptomatic single-level cervical degenerative disc disease (DDD). METHODS Five hundred forty-one patients with single-level cervical DDD and radiculopathy were enrolled at 32 sites and randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: 276 patients in the investigational group underwent anterior cervical discectomy and decompression and arthroplasty with the PRESTIGE ST Cervical Disc System (Medtronic Sofamor Danek); 265 patients in the control group underwent decompressive ACDF. Eighty percent of the arthroplasty-treated patients (223 of 276) and 75% of the control patients (198 of 265) completed clinical and radiographic follow-up examinations at routine intervals for 2 years after surgery. Analysis of all currently available postoperative 12- and 24-month data indicated a two-point greater improvement in the neck disability index score in the investigational group than the control group. The arthroplasty group also had a statistically significant higher rate of neurological success (p = 0.005) as well as a lower rate of secondary revision surgeries (p = 0.0277) and supplemental fixation (p = 0.0031). The mean improvement in the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Physical Component Summary scores was greater in the investigational group at 12 and 24 months, as was relief of neck pain. The patients in the investigational group returned to work 16 days sooner than those in the control group, and the rate of adjacent-segment reoperation was significantly lower in the investigational group as well (p = 0.0492, log-rank test). The cervical disc implant maintained segmental sagittal angular motion averaging more than 7 degrees. In the investigational group, there were no cases of implant failure or migration. CONCLUSIONS The PRESTIGE ST Cervical Disc System maintained physiological segmental motion at 24 months after implantation and was associated with improved neurological success, improved clinical outcomes, and a reduced rate of secondary surgeries compared with ACDF.
The thermal evolution of sedimentary basins and its effect on the maturation of hydrocarbons

SUMMARY The maturation of hydrocarbon source rocks depends on a range of factors, including the primary rock type and its original content of organic matter (kerogens); the history of sedimentation and burial (depth); the local geothermal gradient (temperature); and duration of sedimentation (time). The standard approach to modelling this process assumes an evolving burial history, but in a basin with a steady-state geotherm, both in the sediment column and in the underlying basement rocks. This first-order approach neglects any eVects of changes in the geothermal profile resulting from the timing and history of the particular mechanism that formed the sedimentary basin, and hence may lead to systematic overestimation or underestimation of hydrocarbon maturation in such rocks. This systematic eVect may be small when sedimentation rates are low, but can be significant in basins with sedimentation rates that are rapid when compared with the rate of heat transport and re-equilibration in the system. Here we describe two analytical 1-D mathematical models for diVusive heat transport during sediment deposition, which is rapid compared with the thermal relaxation rate. The two models describe sedimentary events that can be considered either eVectively instantaneous (sudden) or continuous. In both cases we calculate a time-dependent geothermal profile and the resulting maturation index of particular source rocks, given the combined eVects of the thermal and burial histories. The models take account both of the transient cooling eVect of the cold sediment blanket and of the steady-state warming from the underlying basement. After calibration with borehole data, the method allows a reconstruction of the initial geothermal gradient at the start of the sedimentation event. The model has been applied to data derived from two wells drilled in two diVerent tectonic settings: the Pannonian Basin and the Central North Sea. In both cases there is a good agreement between the model predictions of the maturation index and empirical observations based on the vitrinite reflectance technique applied to borehole samples of actual source rocks. In contrast, the steady-state geotherm models give a systematic overestimation of both the maximum temperature and the degree of maturation reached by the sediments by the end of the sedimentary event; this overestimation is particularly evident for the case of the Pannonian Basin. Such systematic eVects could have significant implications both for the interpretation of past thermotectonic events, and for oilfield appraisal.
Ideal Cardiovascular Health in Young Adult Populations From the United States, Finland, and Australia and Its Association With cIMT: The International Childhood Cardiovascular Cohort Consortium

Background Goals for cardiovascular (CV) disease prevention were set by the American Heart Association in 2010 for the concept of CV health. Ideal CV health is defined by 7 CV health metrics: blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, body mass index, and physical activity on recommended levels; nonsmoking; and a healthy diet. We studied the prevalence of ideal CV health and its associations with ultrasonographically measured carotid intima‐media thickness (cIMT) cross‐sectionally in 5 international populations. Methods and Results Prevalence of ideal CV health was assessed among 5785 young adults (age, 36.6±3.2 years) comprising 335 participants from the Minneapolis Childhood Cohort Studies (Minnesota), 723 from the Princeton Follow‐up Study, 981 from the Bogalusa Heart Study (BHS), 1898 from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS), and 1848 from the Childhood Determinants of Adult Health Study (CDAH). Only 1% of the participants had all 7 ideal CV health metrics. The number of ideal CV health metrics associated inversely with cIMT in the 4 cohorts in which cIMT was available: for each additional ideal CV health metric, cIMT was 12.7 μm thinner in Minnesota (P=0.0002), 9.1 μm thinner in BHS (P=0.05), 10.4 μm thinner in YFS (P<0.0001), and 3.4 μm thinner in CDAH (P=0.03). Conclusions The number of ideal CV health metrics was inversely associated with cIMT in the cohorts in which cIMT was available, indicating that ideal CV health metrics are associated with vascular health at the population level. Ideal CV health was rare in this large international sample of young adults, emphasizing the need for effective strategies for health promotion.
Academics’ online connections: Characterising the structure of personal networks on academic social networking sites and Twitter

Academic social networking sites (SNS), such as Academia.edu and ResearchGate, seek to bring the benefits of online social networking to academics' professional lives. Online academic social networking offers the potential to revolutionise academic publishing, foster novel collaborations, and empower academics to develop their professional identities online. However, the role that such sites play in relation to academic practice and other social media is not well understood at present. Arguably, the defining characteristic of academic social networking sites is the connections formed between profiles (in contrast to the traditional static academic homepage, for example). The social network of connections fostered by SNSs occupies an interesting space in relation to online identity, being both an attribute of an individual and shaped by the social context they are embedded within. As such, personal network structures may reflect an expression of identity (as "public displays of connection" (Donath & boyd, 2004) or "relational self portraits[s]" (Hogan & Wellman, 2014)), while social capital has been linked to network structures (Crossley et al., 2015). Network structure may therefore have implications for the types of roles that a network can play in professional life. What types of network structures are being fostered by academic SNS and how do they relate to academics' development of an online identity? This presentation will discuss findings from a project which has used a mixed-methods social network analysis approach to analyse academics' personal networks online. The personal networks of 55 academics (sampled from survey participants, to reflect a range of disciplines and job positions) on both one academic SNS (either Academia.edu or ResearchGate) and Twitter were collected and analysed. Differences in network structure emerged according to platform, with Twitter networks being larger and less dense, while academic SNS networks were smaller and more highly clustered. There were differences between academic SNS and Twitter in the brokerage positions occupied by the participant. The results are discussed in relation to other salient studies relating network structure in online social networks to social capital, and implications for academic practice. Future work, including co-interpretive interviews to explore the significance of network structures with participants, is introduced.