Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of fibroblast growth factor on PC12 cells

PC12 cells, which differentiate morphologically and biochemically into sympathetic neuron-like cells when treated with nerve growth factor, also respond to fibroblast growth factor. Some of the changes induced by fibroblast growth factor are similar to those seen after nerve growth factor treatment. Specifically, pituitary fibroblast growth factor causes the formation of processes initially comparable to those produced by nerve growth factor. However, in contrast to the outgrowth induced by nerve growth factor, which continues for several days, the outgrowth of processes induced by fibroblast growth factor ceases after about 3 days, even though fresh fibroblast growth factor is added. After about 6 days the processes induced by fibroblast growth factor have virtually disappeared. In this regard the processes induced by fibroblast growth factor are very similar to those induced by dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3′:5′-monophosphate (dBcAMP). The addition of nerve growth factor and fibroblast growth factor together appears to produce a synergistic effect on process formation, as does the simultaneous addition of nerve growth factor and dBcAMP. Cells pretreated (or primed) with nerve growth factor are able to regenerate processes much more rapidly in the presence of nerve growth factor than cells which have not been pretreated. When fibroblast growth factor is added to cells primed with nerve growth factor, more rapid regeneration of processes also occurs. The regeneration of neurites in response to either factor is blocked by the addition of an inhibitor of methylation. The process formation induced by fibroblast growth factor is preceded, as is the outgrowth in response to nerve growth factor treatment, by an induction of ornithine decarboxylase, a decrease in the phosphorylation of a specific cytoplasmic protein, and an increase in the phosphorylation of a specific non-histone nuclear protein. The effects of fibroblast growth factor and of nerve growth factor on ornithine decarboxylase are additive. Fibroblast growth factor does not cause an increase in the activity of acetylcholinesterase; nerve growth factor does. Fibroblast growth factor does not appear to be acting through the nerve growth factor receptor. The binding of iodinated nerve growth factor to PC12 cells is specific and is not inhibited by the presence of fibroblast growth factor. In addition, anti-nerve growth factor serum does not interfere with the action of fibroblast growth factor. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
A review of commercial high temperature superconducting materials for large magnets: from wires and tapes to cables and conductors

High temperature superconducting (HTS) materials have the potential to generate a magnetic field beyond the level obtainable with low temperature superconducting (LTS) materials. This review reports on past and present R&D on HTS cables and conductors for high field tokamaks, accelerator dipoles, and large solenoids. Among the HTS wires and tapes available commercially, coated conductor tapes are the most appealing because of their outstanding critical strength and future improvement margin. Limitations are the weakness against peeling and delamination and the short piece length. The prices of technical superconductors are reviewed because they play an important role in large projects; moreover HTS wires and tapes are discussed from the perspective of industrial production considering the historical development of the LTS wire market. Various designs have been proposed for HTS cables and conductors: some are better suited for soft materials, while others can exploit the anisotropy of coated conductors (by aligning the tape with the field), thus providing the highest current density. Recently, there has been an increase in the size and complexity of the prototypes; however some peculiar features of HTS, such as high stability margins and high mechanical limits, have not yet been fully incorporated into the designs: for example the transposition requirements for HTS have not yet been studied in detail. There are elements indicating that rectangular wires and tapes (even if anisotropic) can be used for manufacturing cables and magnets of any size and have advantages with respect to round wires.
Poorer results of mice with latent toxoplasmosis in learning tests: impaired learning processes or the novelty discrimination mechanism?

SUMMARY The heteroxenous protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is transmitted from the intermediate host (any warm-blooded animal) to the definitive host (members of the felidae) by carnivory. The infected intermediate hosts develop several specific behavioural changes that are usually considered products of manipulative activity of the parasite aimed to increase the probability of its transmission to the definitive host. Among other changes, the infected rodents were shown to have impaired learning capability. All previous studies were done 2–6 weeks after the infection. Therefore, it was difficult to resolve whether the observed impairment of learning processes was a result of acute or latent toxoplasmosis, i.e. whether it was a side-effect of the disease or a product of manipulation activity. Here we studied the learning capability of Toxoplasma-infected mice in the static rod test and 8-arm radial maze test and their spontaneous activity in the wheel running test 10 weeks after the infection. The infected mice achieved worse scores in the learning tests but showed higher spontaneous activity in the wheel running test. However, a detailed study of the obtained results as well as of the data reported by other authors suggested that the differences between infected and control mice were a result of impaired ability to recognize novel stimuli rather than of impaired learning capacity in animals with latent toxoplasmosis.
Uranium Interaction with Two Multi-Resistant Environmental Bacteria: Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34 and Rhodopseudomonas palustris

Depending on speciation, U environmental contamination may be spread through the environment or inversely restrained to a limited area. Induction of U precipitation via biogenic or non-biogenic processes would reduce the dissemination of U contamination. To this aim U oxidation/reduction processes triggered by bacteria are presently intensively studied. Using X-ray absorption analysis, we describe in the present article the ability of Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34 and Rhodopseudomonas palustris, highly resistant to a variety of metals and metalloids or to organic pollutants, to withstand high concentrations of U and to immobilize it either through biosorption or through reduction to non-uraninite U(IV)-phosphate or U(IV)-carboxylate compounds. These bacterial strains are thus good candidates for U bioremediation strategies, particularly in the context of multi-pollutant or mixed-waste contaminations.
Hierarchical Bayesian Model for Rare Variant Association Analysis Integrating Genotype Uncertainty in Human Sequence Data

Next‐generation sequencing (NGS) has led to the study of rare genetic variants, which possibly explain the missing heritability for complex diseases. Most existing methods for rare variant (RV) association detection do not account for the common presence of sequencing errors in NGS data. The errors can largely affect the power and perturb the accuracy of association tests due to rare observations of minor alleles. We developed a hierarchical Bayesian approach to estimate the association between RVs and complex diseases. Our integrated framework combines the misclassification probability with shrinkage‐based Bayesian variable selection. It allows for flexibility in handling neutral and protective RVs with measurement error, and is robust enough for detecting causal RVs with a wide spectrum of minor allele frequency (MAF). Imputation uncertainty and MAF are incorporated into the integrated framework to achieve the optimal statistical power. We demonstrate that sequencing error does significantly affect the findings, and our proposed model can take advantage of it to improve statistical power in both simulated and real data. We further show that our model outperforms existing methods, such as sequence kernel association test (SKAT). Finally, we illustrate the behavior of the proposed method using a Finnish low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol study, and show that it identifies an RV known as FH North Karelia in LDLR gene with three carriers in 1,155 individuals, which is missed by both SKAT and Granvil.
On eye-gaze and turn-taking

In this paper we describe our eye-tracking data collection and preliminary experiments concerning the relation between eyegazing and turn-taking in natural human-human conversations, and how these observations can be extended to multimodal human-machine interactions. We confirm the earlier findings that eye-gaze is important in coordinating turn-taking and information flow in dialogues, but note that in multiparty dialogues also head movement seems to pay a crucial role in signalling the person's intention to take, hold, or yield the turn.
Disparate Regulation and Function of the Class A Scavenger Receptors SR-AI/II and MARCO1

The macrophage class A scavenger receptors, macrophage receptor with a collagenous structure (MARCO) and type I/II class A scavenger receptor (SR-AI/II), share structural features and roles in host defense, but little is known about their regulation and signaling properties. Ligation of MARCO on mouse thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages (PEMs) with immobilized mAb costimulated IL-12 production, in contrast to previously reported inhibition by SR-AI/II. PEMs from MARCO-deficient mice exhibited 2.7 times lower IL-12 production in responses to stimulation with LPS and IFN-γ and lack of significant IL-12 production on stimulation with LPS alone. Conversely, SR-AI/II-deficient PEMs produced 2.4 and 1.8 times more IL-12 than wild-type PEMs in response to LPS or LPS and IFN-γ, respectively. Corresponding differences in regulation of SR-A and MARCO expression were also observed. Th1 adjuvants (LPS, a CpG motif-containing oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-ODN), IL-12, and GM-CSF) increased, whereas Th2-polarizing factors (IL-4, M-CSF, and non-CpG ODN) decreased expression of MARCO on J774 macrophage-like cells. Expression of SR-A was regulated in the opposite manner to MARCO or not affected. Whereas MARCO was involved in opsonin-independent phagocytosis in CpG-ODN-pretreated but not in IL-4-pretreated J774 cells, anti-SR-A Abs inhibited particle uptake in untreated and IL-4-pretreated but not in CpG-ODN-pretreated cells. SR-A and MARCO are regulated differently and mediate distinct negative and positive effects on IL-12 production in macrophages. These differences may contribute to sustained Th1 or Th2 polarization of ongoing immune responses.
Product market and labor market imperfections and heterogeneity in panel data estimates of the production function ∗

Embedding the efficient bargaining model into the original R. Hall (1988) approach for estimating price-cost margins shows that both imperfections in the product and labor markets generate a wedge between factor elasticities in the production function and their corresponding shares in revenue. This article investigates these two sources of discrepancies both at the sector level and the firm level using an unbalanced panel of 10646 French firms in 38 manufacturing sectors over the period 1978-2001. By estimating standard production functions and comparing the estimated factor elasticities for labor and materials and their shares in revenue, we are able to derive estimates of average price-cost mark-up and extent of rent sharing parameters. For manufacturing as a whole, our preferred estimates of these parameters are of an order of magnitude of 1.3 and 0.5 respectively. Our sector-level results indicate that sector differences in these parameters and in the underlying estimated factor elasticities and shares are quite sizeable. Since firm production function, behavior and market environment are very likely to vary even within sectors, we also investigate firm-level heterogeneity in estimated mark-up and rentsharing parameters. To determine the degree of true heterogeneity in these parameters, we adopt the P.A. Swamy (1970) methodology allowing to correct the observed variance in the firm-level estimates from their sampling variance. The median of the firm estimates of the price-cost mark-up ignoring labor market imperfections is of 1.10, while as expected it is higher of 1.20 when taking them into account and the median of the corresponding firm estimates of the extent of rent sharing is of 0.62. The ∗We are grateful to Benoit Mulkay (Université Montpellier 1), Mark Rogers (Oxford University) and participants at the ZEW Conference on the Economics of Innovation and Patenting (Mannheim, 2005) and the International Industrial Organization Conference (Boston, 2006) for helpful comments and suggestions. All remaining errors are ours. †Ghent University, K.U. Leuven, IZA Bonn, visiting CREST. Postdoctoral Fellow of the Research Foundation Flanders (Belgium). ‡CREST, Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques (INSEE), MERITMaastricht University, NBER.
A comparison of several predictive algorithms for collaborative filtering on multi-valued ratings

The basic objective of a predictive algorithm for collaborative filtering (CF) is to suggest items to a particular user based on his/her preferences and other users with similar interests. Many algorithms have been proposed for CF, and some works comparing sub-sets of them can be found in the literature; however, more comprehensive comparisons are not available. In this work, a meaningful sample of CF algorithms widely reported in the literature were chosen for analysis; they represent different stages in the evolutive process of CF, starting from simple user correlations, going through online learning, up to methods which use classification techniques. Our main purpose is to compare these algorithms when applied on multi-valued ratings.Experiments were conducted on three well-known datasets with different characteristics, using two protocols and four evaluation metrics, representing coverage, accuracy, reliability and agreement of predictions with respect to real values. Results from such experiments showed that the memory-based method is a good option because its results are more precise and reliable compared with the other methods. Online Learning methods exhibit a good level of accuracy with low variation, which makes them reliable models. On the other hand, Support Vector Machines generate predictions with acceptable agreement; however, their accuracy depends on the characteristics of the input data. Finally, Dependency Networks did not offer good results when applied on multi-valued rankings. The run experiments confirm that the characteristics of datasets keep being an important factor in the performance of methods.
A single K+-binding site in the crystal structure of the gastric proton pump

The gastric proton pump (H+,K+-ATPase), a P-type ATPase responsible for gastric acidification, mediates electro-neutral exchange of H+ and K+ coupled with ATP hydrolysis, but with an as yet undetermined transport stoichiometry. Here we show crystal structures at a resolution of 2.5 Å of the pump in the E2-P transition state, in which the counter-transporting cation is occluded. We found a single K+ bound to the cation-binding site of H+,K+-ATPase, indicating an exchange of 1H+/1K+ per hydrolysis of one ATP molecule. This fulfils the energy requirement for the generation of a six pH unit gradient across the membrane. The structural basis of K+recognition is resolved, supported by molecular dynamics simulations, and this establishes how H+,K+-ATPase overcomes the energetic challenge to generate an H+ gradient of more than a million-fold – the highest cation gradient known in any mammalian tissue – across the membrane.
Prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in patients with breast cancer: a meta-analysis

Purpose: The prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in breast cancer remains controversial. Therefore, we performed this meta-analysis to determine the impact of Foxp3+ Tregs infiltration on survival outcomes. Methods: Relevant literature was retrieved from Pubmed, Web of science and Cocohrane until May 30, 2016. Meta-analysis was performed using hazard ratios (HRs), odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) as effect measures. Results: Fourteen studies (10,259 patients) were included. Meta-analysis showed that high Foxp3+ Tregs infiltration was correlated with high histological grade (OR= 2.96, 95%CI [2.03-4.31]), estrogen receptor (ER) negativity (OR= 0.38, 95%CI [0.23-0.60]), human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) positivity (OR=2.43, 95%CI [1.69-3.51]). The detection of FOXP3+ Tregs was significantly associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS) of patients (HR = 1.58, 95 % CI [1.03-2.44]). Conclusion: Our meta-analysis suggests that high Foxp3+ Tregs infiltration is associated with poor RFS in breast cancer patients and predicts histological grade, estrogen receptor and HER-2 status.
Coping with AIDS-related bereavement in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract This qualitative study explored how South Africans view and cope with AIDS-related loss. In-depth interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 18 bereaved adults living in KwaZulu-Natal, a province that has been severely impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Data were analysed according to the conventions of qualitative research. Participants felt quite powerless and accepted AIDS-related deaths as a part of their life. They tried to reframe their loss as something positive; constructing meaning from their loss. Coping strategies included: suppressing emotions; seeking comfort and strength from one's spiritual beliefs; and maintaining an optimistic attitude about the future. These themes are consistent with research on coping with AIDS-related bereavement in the West. Further research is needed to confirm these themes in the South African context using culturally appropriate measures. Future interventions must be tailored to the local context and must take into consideration the limited availability of funds for mental health services in South Africa.
Composition Operations of Generalized Entropies Applied to the Study of Numbers

The generalized entropies of C. Tsallis and G. Kaniadakis have composition operations, which can be applied to the study of numbers. Here we will discuss these composition rules and use them to study some famous sequences of numbers (Mersenne, Fermat, Cullen, Woodall and Thabit numbers). We will also consider the sequence of the repunits, which can be seen as a specific case of q-integers.
Congenital atlanto-axial dislocation.

Atlanto-axial dislocation IS an uncommon condition. It is usually secondary to trauma, infection (tuberculous and non-tuberculous atlas and axis) and rheumatoid arthritis. Other uncommon causes reported include retropharyngeal abscess, malignant deposits, ankylosing spondylitis (Sorin, et al, 1979). Congenital atlanto-axial dislocation is rare. Wadia (1967) first drew attention to its relative common occurrence among his patients in India. This finding has since then been substantiated by other authors (Bharucha et al., 1964). Congenital atlanto-axial dislocation is also said to be relatively common in Ceylon and Thailand (Wadia, 1972). Rheumatoid arthritis is not as commonly found in Malaysia as in the western developing countries. Its pattern of illness seen here also tends to be of milder form of illness (Toh, et al., 1973). Ethnically Indians constitute about ten percent of the multiracial population of Malaysia. It is thus interesting to note that since the inception of the University Hospital in 1968, we have seen three cases of cong-enital atlanto-axial
How many "friends" can you really have?

Who would have supposed seven years ago that the newly launched piece of software called Facebook would so quickly become a routine part of everyday life? It was, after all, just one more digital trick purporting to spring us from the dusty confines of our small-town lives and into the sunny uplands of a global village, where we could make new friends all around the world. Some might call this the fulfillment of the tech folks- brash promises that such software would help us stay close to an ever-expanding universe of pals. There are the triumphal claims of those who say they have 1000 or even 5000 friends on their Facebook pages, who claim comrades in far-off corners of the world they have never visited. But is this really true? How many real friends do people have on Facebook?
Epidemiology of Depression in the Asia Pacific Region

Objective: To summarise studies reporting rates of depression (for the general population and older samples) and suicide in the Asia Pacific region. Methods: Information on local data was collected from the members of the SEBoD International Advisory Board on known epidemiological studies. Additionally, online searches were conducted using Medline and PsycInfo for the period 1994–2004. Results: Across the Asia Pacific region, rates of current or 1-month major depression ranged from 1.3% to 5.5%, rates of major depression in the previous year ranged from 1.7% to 6.7%, and lifetime rates ranged from 1.1% to 19.9%, with a median of 3.7%. Rates of suicide in the Asia Pacific region are now similar to those in Europe and the Americas. The exceptions include China and South Korea. Conclusions: Epidemiological studies in Asian populations are rare and use various diagnostic criteria. However, studies indicate that rates of depression in Asia Pacific, whilst lower, are comparable to other western countries. As such, depression as a health issue in Asia Pacific demands greater recognition. It is important that Asian countries should have the human and financial resources to conduct large scale epidemiological surveys not only in the area of depression, but also in the broader field of mental disorders.
Automatic Niching Differential Evolution With Contour Prediction Approach for Multimodal Optimization Problems

Niching techniques have been widely incorporated into evolutionary algorithms (EAs) for solving multimodal optimization problems (MMOPs). However, most of the existing niching techniques are either sensitive to the niching parameters or require extra fitness evaluations (FEs) to maintain the niche detection accuracy. In this paper, we propose a new automatic niching technique based on the affinity propagation clustering (APC) and design a novel niching differential evolution (DE) algorithm, termed as automatic niching DE (ANDE), for solving MMOPs. In the proposed ANDE algorithm, APC acts as a parameter-free automatic niching method that does not need to predefine the number of clusters or the cluster size. Also, it can facilitate locating multiple peaks without extra FEs. Furthermore, the ANDE algorithm is enhanced by a contour prediction approach (CPA) and a two-level local search (TLLS) strategy. First, the CPA is a predictive search strategy. It exploits the individual distribution information in each niche to estimate the contour landscape, and then predicts the rough position of the potential peak to help accelerate the convergence speed. Second, the TLLS is a solution refine strategy to further increase the solution accuracy after the CPA roughly predicting the peaks. Compared with the other state-of-the-art DE and non-DE multimodal algorithms, even the winner of competition on multimodal optimization, the experimental results on 20 widely used benchmark functions illustrate the superiority of the proposed ANDE algorithm.