Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alpha-Particle Emitting 213Bi-Anti-EGFR Immunoconjugates Eradicate Tumor Cells Independent of Oxygenation

Hypoxia is a central problem in tumor treatment because hypoxic cells are less sensitive to chemo- and radiotherapy than normoxic cells. Radioresistance of hypoxic tumor cells is due to reduced sensitivity towards low Linear Energy Transfer (LET) radiation. High LET α-emitters are thought to eradicate tumor cells independent of cellular oxygenation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to demonstrate that cell-bound α-particle emitting 213Bi immunoconjugates kill hypoxic and normoxic CAL33 tumor cells with identical efficiency. For that purpose CAL33 cells were incubated with 213Bi-anti-EGFR-MAb or irradiated with photons with a nominal energy of 6 MeV both under hypoxic and normoxic conditions. Oxygenation of cells was checked via the hypoxia-associated marker HIF-1α. Survival of cells was analysed using the clonogenic assay. Cell viability was monitored with the WST colorimetric assay. Results were evaluated statistically using a t-test and a Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM). Survival and viability of CAL33 cells decreased both after incubation with increasing 213Bi-anti-EGFR-MAb activity concentrations (9.25 kBq/ml–1.48 MBq/ml) and irradiation with increasing doses of photons (0.5–12 Gy). Following photon irradiation survival and viability of normoxic cells were significantly lower than those of hypoxic cells at all doses analysed. In contrast, cell death induced by 213Bi-anti-EGFR-MAb turned out to be independent of cellular oxygenation. These results demonstrate that α-particle emitting 213Bi-immunoconjugates eradicate hypoxic tumor cells as effective as normoxic cells. Therefore, 213Bi-radioimmunotherapy seems to be an appropriate strategy for treatment of hypoxic tumors.
The benefit of being a social butterfly: communal roosting deters predation

Aposematic passion-vine butterflies from the genus Heliconius form communal roosts on a nightly basis. This behaviour has been hypothesized to be beneficial in terms of information sharing and/or anti-predator defence. To better understand the adaptive value of communal roosting, we tested these two hypotheses in field studies. The information-sharing hypothesis was addressed by examining following behaviour of butterflies departing from natural roosts. We found no evidence of roost mates following one another to resources, thus providing no support for this hypothesis. The anti-predator defence hypothesis was tested using avian-indiscriminable Heliconius erato models placed singly and in aggregations at field sites. A significantly higher number of predation attempts were observed on solitary models versus aggregations of models. This relationship between aggregation size and attack rate suggests that communally roosting butterflies enjoy the benefits of both overall decreased attack frequency as well as a prey dilution effect. Communal roosts probably deter predators through collective aposematism in which aggregations of conspicuous, unpalatable prey communicate a more effective repel signal to predators. On the basis of our results, we propose that predation by birds is a key selective pressure maintaining Heliconius communal roosting behaviour.
Please Scroll down for Article the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Orienting of Attention Orienting of Attention*

This article may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution , reselling , loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. Bartlett viewed thinking as a high level skill exhibiting ballistic properties that he called its " point of no return ". This paper explores one aspect of cognition through the use of a simple model task in which human subjects are asked to commit attention to a position in visual space other than fixation. This instruction is executed by orienting a covert (attentional) mechanism that seems sufficiently time locked to external events that its trajectory can be traced across the visual field in terms of momentary changes in the efficiency of detecting stimuli. A comparison of results obtained with alert monkeys, brain injured and normal human subjects shows the relationship of this covert system to saccadic eye movements and to various brain systems controlling perception and motion. In accordance with Bartlett's insight, the possibility is explored that similar principles apply to orienting of attention toward sensory input and orienting to the semantic structures used in thinking.
Geometric symmetry of the solar surface of hooves of thoroughbred racehorses.

OBJECTIVE To define a 3-dimensional (3-D) coordinate system with clear definitions of origins and axes relative to hoof anatomic features and determine whether solar surfaces of Thoroughbred racehorse hooves have geometric asymmetry in the mediolateral and dorsopalmar directions. SAMPLE POPULATION Left forelimb hooves from 20 Thoroughbred racehorse cadavers. PROCEDURE A right-handed 3-D coordinate axes system centered on the collateral sulci was defined for the left front hoof. Orthogonal distances of anatomic features from the dorsopalmar axis and the plane coincident with the ground were measured and compared between medial and lateral sides and between dorsal and palmar regions of the hoof. RESULTS The hoof was wider and had a greater radius laterally than medially. The most distal part of the lateral bar of the frog was further from the dorsopalmar axis than that of the medial bar. Overall, mediolateral asymmetries in depth were not observed. The sole at the perimeter was deeper medially in the dorsal part of the hoof and laterally in the palmar part, with depth overall being greater palmarly than dorsally. Most features had dorsopalmar asymmetry. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE When the angle bisected by the collateral sulci is used to determine the dorsopalmar axis of the hoof, most central structures (bars and collateral sulci) have mediolateral symmetry. However, the hoof wall and sole have some mediolateral asymmetries and most structures have dorsopalmar asymmetry. These findings may assist the development of devices for attachment to hooves and studies of the interaction of hooves with bearing surfaces.
A study on the cost of operational complexity in customer – supplier systems

This paper reports on the application of the operational complexity index [Frizelle, G. , Woodcock, E. , 1995. Measuring complexity as an aid to developing operational complexity. International Journal of Operations and Production Management 15(5), 26–39]. The aim is to address what is the relationship between costs and the complexity index. The investigation carried out measurements on two types of supplier–customer systems in the UK. One is make-to-stock with low product variety but high volume, while the second is make-to-order with high variety but low volume. The research found some evidence that inventory costs are associated with operational complexity. Moreover, while the index is generic to both case studies, there seemed to be a direct link between the index value and cost only in the make-to-stock case. r 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Accounting for Limited Detection Efficiency and Localization Precision in Cluster Analysis in Single Molecule Localization Microscopy

Single Molecule Localization Microscopy techniques like PhotoActivated Localization Microscopy, with their sub-diffraction limit spatial resolution, have been popularly used to characterize the spatial organization of membrane proteins, by means of quantitative cluster analysis. However, such quantitative studies remain challenged by the techniques’ inherent sources of errors such as a limited detection efficiency of less than 60%, due to incomplete photo-conversion, and a limited localization precision in the range of 10 – 30nm, varying across the detected molecules, mainly depending on the number of photons collected from each. We provide analytical methods to estimate the effect of these errors in cluster analysis and to correct for them. These methods, based on the Ripley’s L(r) – r or Pair Correlation Function popularly used by the community, can facilitate potentially breakthrough results in quantitative biology by providing a more accurate and precise quantification of protein spatial organization.
Wnt Signaling Regulates the Invasion Capacity of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) exhibit the potential to contribute to a wide variety of endogenous organ tissue repair. However, the signals governing hMSC mobilization out of the bone marrow, release into the bloodstream, and migration/invasion into the target tissue are largely unknown. Since canonical Wnt signaling regulates not only tumor but also various stem cell attributes, we hypothesized that this signal transduction pathway might also be involved in governing the transmigration of hMSCs through human extracellular matrix (ECM). Stimulation of hMSCs with recombinant Wnt3a or LiCl resulted in the accumulation of the transcriptional activator β‐catenin, its translocation into the nucleus, and the upregulation of typical Wnt target genes such as cyclin D1 and membrane‐type matrix metalloproteinase‐1 (MT1‐MMP). Moreover, both stimuli significantly enhanced hMSC proliferation up to 40%. In addition, an increase of more than twofold in the ability of hMSCs to transmigrate through Transwell filters coated with human ECM was observed. In a reverse approach, Wnt signaling in hMSCs was inhibited by knocking down the expression of either β‐catenin or low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein 5 using RNA interference technology. These inhibition strategies resulted in downregulation of the Wnt target genes cyclin D1 and MT1‐MMP, in a reduced proliferation rate, and in a strikingly diminished invasion capacity (64% and 52%). Taken together, this study provides for the first time decisive evidence that canonical Wnt signaling is critically involved in the regulation of the proliferation, as well as of the migration/invasion capacity of hMSCs, representing essential stem cell features indispensable during tissue regeneration processes.
Deletion of the Glucosidase II Gene in Trypanosoma brucei Reveals Novel N-Glycosylation Mechanisms in the Biosynthesis of Variant Surface Glycoprotein*

The trypanosomatids are generally aberrant in their protein N-glycosylation pathways. However, protein N-glycosylation in the African trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei, etiological agent of human African sleeping sickness, is not well understood. Here, we describe the creation of a bloodstream-form T. brucei mutant that is deficient in the endoplasmic reticulum enzyme glucosidase II. Characterization of the variant surface glycoprotein, the main glycoprotein synthesized by the parasite with two N-glycosylation sites, revealed unexpected changes in the N-glycosylation of this molecule. Structural characterization by mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and chemical and enzymatic treatments revealed that one of the two glycosylation sites was occupied by conventional oligomannose structures, whereas the other accumulated unusual structures in the form of Glcα1–3Manα1–2Manα1–2Manα1–3(Manα1–6)Manβ1–4GlcNAcβ1–4GlcNAc, Glcα1–3Manα1–2Manα1–2Manα1–3(GlcNAcβ1–2Manα1–6)Manβ1–4GlcNAcβ1–4GlcNAc, and Glcα1–3Manα1–2Manα1–2Manα1–3(Galβ1–4GlcNAcβ1–2Manα1–6)Manβ1–4GlcNAcβ1–4GlcNAc. The possibility that these structures might arise from Glc1Man9GlcNAc2 by unusually rapid α-mannosidase processing was ruled out using a mixture of α-mannosidase inhibitors. The results suggest that bloodstream-form T. brucei can transfer both Man9GlcNAc2 and Man5GlcNAc2 to the variant surface glycoprotein in a site-specific manner and that, unlike organisms that transfer exclusively Glc3Man9GlcNAc2, the T. brucei UDP-Glc: glycoprotein glucosyltransferase and glucosidase II enzymes can use Man5GlcNAc2 and Glc1Man5GlcNAc2, respectively, as their substrates. The ability to transfer Man5GlcNAc2 structures to N-glycosylation sites destined to become Man4–3GlcNAc2 or complex structures may have evolved as a mechanism to conserve dolichol-phosphate-mannose donors for glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor biosynthesis and points to fundamental differences in the specificities of host and parasite glycosyltransferases that initiate the synthesis of complex N-glycans.
3-D hand & eye-vergence approaching visual servoing with Lyapunouv-stable pose tracking

In this paper, we focus on how to control the robot end-effector to track an object, meanwhile, to approach it with a suitable posture for grasping. We named it “Approaching Visual Servoing”. A proposed hand & eye-vergence dual control system is used to perform Approaching Visual Servoing, aiming at quick eye-tracking and stable hand servoing and approaching. This idea stems from hammerhead shark whose eyes turn to gaze at the target prey to be suited to triangulation, enhancing the ability to measure precisely the distance to the prey for catching it. This animal's visual tracking includes motion control by visual servoing and triangular eye vergence. Moreover, a 3-D pose tracking method that combines “1-Step GA (genetic algorithm)” and hand-motion feedforword compensation is proposed. Our approach differs from known tracking methods using optimization based on Taylor expansion, for it allows the proposed method not to be annoyed by how to sneak out of local minima. A convergence in time domain - whether the 3-D pose tracking error decrease to zero in a successively input images by video rate -, is discussed and verified through Lyapunov method. Both Lyapunouv-stable pose tracking and Approaching Visual Servoing are confirmed by experiments using a 7-link manipulator installed with two mobile cameras.
Comparison of antibody, antigen, and metabolite assays for hospitalized patients with disseminated or peripheral candidiasis

Repeat serum samples from 22 patients with proven disseminated candidiasis and 42 with simple peripheral colonization were assayed for Candida antibodies by coelectrosyneresis, immunoprecipitation, and A and B immunofluorescence, for metabolites by D-arabinitol measurement, and for antigens by the mannan immunoassay and Cand-tec latex agglutination (mean number of samples tested, 2.5 per patient). For the antibody and metabolite assays, the results showed no statistical difference between the two groups. By contrast, the results of both antigen assays were positive for a significantly larger number of patients with disseminated candidiasis than of those with simple peripheral colonization. Results were regardless of whether the patients were neutropenic. They were not predictive of death. We calculated that the mannan antigen assay had 29% sensitivity and 97% specificity for the diagnosis of disseminated candidiasis. Likelihood ratios of a positive and a negative result of this test were 9.2 and 0.7, respectively, for this diagnosis. In the latex agglutination test, likelihood ratios were 2.5, 1.5, 1.6, and 0.3 when the test was positive for dilutions of 1/8, 1/4, and 1/2 and was negative, respectively.
A SA-Based Feature Selection and Parameter Optimization Approach for Support Vector Machine

Support Vector Machine (SVM) is a new technique for pattern classification, and is used in many applications. Kernel parameters set in the SVM training process, along with feature selection, will significantly impact classification accuracy. The objective of this paper was to simultaneously optimize parameters while finding a subset of features without degrading SVM classification accuracy. A simulated annealing (SA) approach for feature selection and parameters optimization was developed. Several UCI datasets are tested using the SA-based approach and the grid algorithm which is a traditional method of performing parameter searching. The developed SA-based approach was also compared with other approaches proposed by Fung and Mangasarian, and Liao et al. Results showed that the proposed SA-based approach significantly improves the classification accuracy rate and requires fewer input features for the SVM.
Temperature dependence of polyolefin melt rheology

The rheology of polymer melts depends strongly on temperature. Quantifying this temperature dependence is very important for fundamental, as well as practical, reasons. The purpose of this paper is to present a unified framework for handling the temperature dependence of rheological data. We considered the case (by far the most common in polymer melts) where all relaxation times (in the context of linear viscoelasticity) have the same temperature dependence (characterized by a “horizontal shift activation energy”) and all relaxation moduli have the same temperature dependence (characterized by a “vertical shift activation energy”). The horizontal and vertical activation energies were extracted from loss tangent vs. frequency and loss tangent vs. complex modulus data, respectively. This is the recommended method of calculation, as it allows independent estimation of the two activation energies (statistically uncorrelated). It was shown theoretically, and demonstrated experimentally, that neglect of the vertical shift leads to a stress (or modulus) dependent activation energy and necessitates different activation energies for the superposition of loss and storage modulus data. The long standing problem of a stress-dependent activation energy in long chain branched LDPE was identified as originating from the neglect of the vertical shift. The theory was applied successfully to many polyolefin melts, including HDPE, LLDPE, PP, EVOH, LDPE, and EVA. Linear polymers (HDPE, LLDPE, PP) and EVOH do not require a vertical shift, but long chain branched polymers do (LDPE, EVA). Steady-shear viscosity data can be superimposed using activation energies extracted from dynamic data.
A strategy of production scheduling with the fitness function of genetic algorithm using Timed Petri net and considering AGV and the input buffer

Scheduling of machines and AGVs in Flexible Manufacturing Systems involves modeling and searching methodology in a wide solution space. In this work the search for scheduling occurs by genetic algorithm and simple AGV dispatching rules. Modeling occurs in Timed Petri nets in time of fitness evaluation, considering the input buffers of machines, AGVs, and flags also control the use of these buffers, which avoids deadlock. We consider the input buffer of the machines as being of size 1 and allowed to advance transport using them, seeking to optimize the minimum makespan. The proposal was tested in two scenarios of FMS and validated by comparing its results with two others obtained by techniques based on genetic algorithm and adaptive genetic algorithm.
Symmetrized Variational Inference

We introduce a framework for modeling parameter symmetries in variational inference by explicitly mixing a base approximating density over a symmetry group. We show that this can be done tractably for the case of a Gaussian mixture over the orthogonal group under an isotropic variance assumption. Initial results show that inference with a symmetrized posterior avoids component collapse and leads to improved predictive performance.
Household Transmission of Leptospira Infection in Urban Slum Communities

Background Leptospirosis, a spirochaetal zoonotic disease, is the cause of epidemics associated with high mortality in urban slum communities. Infection with pathogenic Leptospira occurs during environmental exposures and is traditionally associated with occupational risk activities. However, slum inhabitants reside in close proximity to environmental sources of contamination, suggesting that transmission during urban epidemics occurs in the household environment. Methods and Findings A survey was performed to determine whether Leptospira infection clustered within households located in slum communities in the city of Salvador, Brazil. Hospital-based surveillance identified 89 confirmed cases of leptospirosis during an outbreak. Serum samples were obtained from members of 22 households with index cases of leptospirosis and 52 control households located in the same slum communities. The presence of anti-Leptospira agglutinating antibodies was used as a marker for previous infection. In households with index cases, 22 (30%) of 74 members had anti-Leptospira antibodies, whereas 16 (8%) of 195 members from control households had anti-Leptospira antibodies. Highest titres were directed against L. interrogans serovars of the Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup in 95% and 100% of the subjects with agglutinating antibodies from case and control households, respectively. Residence in a household with an index case of leptospirosis was associated with increased risk (OR 5.29, 95% CI 2.13–13.12) of having had a Leptospira infection. Increased infection risk was found for all age groups who resided in a household with an index case, including children <15 years of age (P = 0.008). Conclusions This study identified significant household clustering of Leptospira infection in slum communities where recurrent epidemics of leptospirosis occur. The findings support the hypothesis that the household environment is an important transmission determinant in the urban slum setting. Prevention therefore needs to target sources of contamination and risk activities which occur in the places where slum inhabitants reside.