Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Requirement for Drosophila SNMP1 for Rapid Activation and Termination of Pheromone-Induced Activity

Pheromones are used for conspecific communication by many animals. In Drosophila, the volatile male-specific pheromone 11-cis vaccenyl acetate (cVA) supplies an important signal for gender recognition. Sensing of cVA by the olfactory system depends on multiple components, including an olfactory receptor (OR67d), the co-receptor ORCO, and an odorant binding protein (LUSH). In addition, a CD36 related protein, sensory neuron membrane protein 1 (SNMP1) is also involved in cVA detection. Loss of SNMP1 has been reported to eliminate cVA responsiveness, and to greatly increase spontaneous activity of OR67d-expressing olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). Here, we found the snmp11 mutation did not abolish cVA responsiveness or cause high spontaneous activity. The cVA responses in snmp1 mutants displayed a delayed onset, and took longer to reach peak activity than wild-type. Most strikingly, loss of SNMP1 caused a dramatic delay in signal termination. The profound impairment in signal inactivation accounted for the previously reported “spontaneous activity,” which represented continuous activation following transient exposure to environmental cVA. We introduced the silk moth receptor (BmOR1) in OR67d ORNs of snmp11 flies and found that the ORNs showed slow activation and deactivation kinetics in response to the BmOR1 ligand (bombykol). We expressed the bombykol receptor complex in Xenopus oocytes in the presence or absence of the silk moth SNMP1 (BmSNMP) and found that addition of BmSNMP accelerated receptor activation and deactivation. Our results thus clarify SNMP1 as an important player required for the rapid kinetics of the pheromone response in insects.
Intrinsic Scene Properties from a Single RGB-D Image

In this paper we extend the “shape, illumination and reflectance from shading” (SIRFS) model [3, 4], which recovers intrinsic scene properties from a single image. Though SIRFS performs well on images of segmented objects, it performs poorly on images of natural scenes, which contain occlusion and spatially-varying illumination. We therefore present Scene-SIRFS, a generalization of SIRFS in which we have a mixture of shapes and a mixture of illuminations, and those mixture components are embedded in a “soft” segmentation of the input image. We additionally use the noisy depth maps provided by RGB-D sensors (in this case, the Kinect) to improve shape estimation. Our model takes as input a single RGB-D image and produces as output an improved depth map, a set of surface normals, a reflectance image, a shading image, and a spatially varying model of illumination. The output of our model can be used for graphics applications, or for any application involving RGB-D images.
KEEFEKTIFAN MODEL PEMBELAJARAN KOOPERATIF TIPE TEAMS GAMES TOURNAMENT PADA MOTIVASI BELAJAR DAN KEMAMPUAN KOMUNIKASI MATEMATIKA

Kemampuan komunikasi matematika perlu menjadi fokus perhatian dalam pembelajaran matematika dikarenakan melalui komunikasi siswa dapat mengeksplorasi, mengorganisasi, dan menggabungkan konsep-konsep matematika. Selain itu, motivasi belajar siswa juga perlu ditingkatkan karena dengan adanya motivasi belajar yang tinggi siswa menjadi lebih bersemangat dalam mengikuti pembelajaran matematika, sehingga dapat meningkatkan kemampuan kognitif siswa. Salah satu model pembelajaran yang diharapkan dapat meningkatkan motivasi belajar dan kemampuan komunikasi matematis adalah model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe Teams Games Tournament (TGT). Berdasarkan hal tersebut, permasalahan dalam penelitian ini adalah sebagai berikut. (1) Apakah motivasi belajar siswa dengan model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe Teams Games Tournament lebih tinggi daripada dengan model pembelajaran konvensional? (2) Apakah model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe Teams Games Tournament lebih efektif terhadap kemampuan komunikasi matematika daripada model pembelajaran konvensional? (3) Adakah pengaruh yang signifikan antara motivasi belajar siswa terhadap kemampuan komunikasi matematika pada model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe Teams Games Tournament? Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh siswa kelas VIII di SMP N 2 Wirosari tahun ajaran 2012/2013. Dengan menggunakan teknik cluster sampling, diperoleh satu kelas eksperimen menggunakan model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe TGT dan satu kelas kontrol menggunakan model pembelajaran konvensional. Berdasarkan hasil analisis diperoleh bahwa rata-rata skor motivasi belajar siswa kelas eksperimen lebih tinggi dari kelas kontrol, rata-rata nilai kemampuan komunikasi matematika siswa kelas eksperimen lebih tinggi dari kelas kontrol, proporsi siswa yang mencapai KKM pada kelas eksperimen mencapai 75%, proporsi siswa yang mencapai KKM pada kelas eksperimen lebih besar dari kelas kontrol, dan rxy = 0,048 serta rtabel = 0,329 dengan α = 5% dan n = 36. Simpulan dari hasil penelitian dan pembahasan adalah (1) motivasi belajar siswa dengan model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe TGT lebih tinggi daripada dengan model pembelajaran konvensional, (2) model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe TGT lebih efektif terhadap kemampuan komunikasi matematika daripada model pembelajaran konvensional, (3) tidak ada pengaruh yang signifikan antara motivasi belajar siswa terhadap kemampuan komunikasi matematika pada model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe TGT.
Relationship between Corporate Image and Customer Loyalty in Mobile Communications Service Markets

This study examines the relationships between corporate image, brand awareness, service price, service quality, customer support services, and customer loyalty, and investigates the key drivers that establish and maintain customer loyalty to mobile telecommunications service providers. Four hundred and sixty-nine samples, which were collected from participants in a web-based survey in Korea, were analyzed using multiple regression analysis techniques. The results of the study show that corporate image, brand awareness, service price, and service quality are strong antecedents for establishing customer loyalty in mobile communications service markets. In addition, the empirical findings show that corporate image plays the most important role in establishing and maintaining customer loyalty in the markets. Based on the findings of the study, we discuss possible strategies for marketing success in high-tech service markets.
A Sequence Alignment Algorithm with an Arbitrary Gap Penalty Function

An algorithm for aligning biological sequences is presented that is an adaptation of the sequence generating function approach used in the statistical mechanics of biopolymers. This algorithm uses recursion relationships developed from a partition function formalism of alignment probabilities. It is implemented within a dynamic programming format that closely resembles the forward algorithm used in hidden Markov models (HMM). The algorithm aligns sequences or structures according to the statistically dominant alignment path and will be referred to as the SDP algorithm. An advantage of this method over previous ones is that it allows more complicated and physically realistic gap penalty functions to be incorporated into the algorithm in a facile manner. The performance of this algorithm in a case study of aligning the heavy and light chain from the variable region of an immunoglobulin is investigated.
No Hubble Bubble in the Local Universe

Zehavi et al. have suggested that the Hubble flow within 70 h-1 Mpc may be accelerated by the existence of a void centered on the Local Group. Its underdensity would be ~20%, which would result in a local Hubble distortion of about 6.5%. We have combined the peculiar velocity data of two samples of clusters of galaxies, SCI and SCII, to investigate the amplitude of Hubble distortions to 200 h-1 Mpc. Our results are not supportive of that conclusion. The amplitude of a possible distortion in the Hubble flow within 70 h-1 Mpc in the SCI+SCII merged data is 0.010 ± 0.022. The largest, and still quite marginal, geocentric deviation from smooth Hubble flow consistent with that data set is a shell with ΔH0/H0 = 0.027 ± 0.023, centered at hd = 101 Mpc and extending over some 30 h-1 Mpc. Our results are thus consistent with a Hubble flow that, on distances in excess of ~50 h-1 Mpc, is remarkably smooth.
Processing-in-Memory Enabled Graphics Processors for 3D Rendering

The performance of 3D rendering of GraphicsProcessing Unit that converts 3D vector stream into 2D framewith 3D image effects significantly impacts users gamingexperience on modern computer systems. Due to its hightexture throughput requirement, main memory bandwidthbecomes a critical obstacle for improving the overall renderingperformance. 3D-stacked memory systems such as HybridMemory Cube provide opportunities to significantly overcomethe memory wall by directly connecting logic controllers toDRAM dies. Although recent works have shown promisingimprovement in performance by utilizing HMC to acceleratespecial-purpose applications, a critical challenge of how toeffectively leverage its high internal bandwidth and computingcapability in GPU for 3D rendering remains unresolved. Basedon the observation that texel fetches greatly impact off-chipmemory traffic, we propose two architectural designs to enableProcessing-In-Memory based GPU for efficient 3D rendering. Additionally, we employ camera angles of pixels to controlthe performance-quality tradeoff of 3D rendering. Extensiveevaluation across several real-world games demonstrates thatour design can significantly improve the performance of texturefiltering and 3D rendering by an average of 3.97X (up to 6.4X) and 43% (up to 65%) respectively, over the baseline GPU. Meanwhile, our design provides considerable memory trafficand energy reduction without sacrificing rendering quality.
Decursin Inhibits Induction of Inflammatory Mediators by Blocking Nuclear Factor-κB Activation in Macrophages

In the course of screening inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 induction in macrophages, we isolated decursin, a coumarin compound, from the roots of Angelicae gigas. As a marker for the screening and isolation, we tested expression of MMP-9 in RAW264.7 cells and THP-1 cells after treatment with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the TLR-4 ligand. Decursin suppressed MMP-9 expression in cells stimulated by LPS in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations below 60 μM with no sign of cytotoxicity. The suppressive effect of decursin was observed not only in cells stimulated with ligands for TLR4, TLR2, TLR3, and TLR9 but also in cells stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, indicating that the molecular target of decursin is common signaling molecules induced by these stimulants. In addition to the suppression of MMP-9 expression, decursin blocked nitric oxide production and cytokine (IL-8, MCP-1, IL-1β, and TNF-α) secretion induced by LPS. To find out the molecular mechanism responsible for the suppressive effect of decursin, we analyzed signaling molecules involved in the TLR-mediated activation of MMP-9 and cytokines. Decursin blocked phosphorylation of IκB and nuclear translocation of NF-κB in THP-1 cells activated with LPS. Furthermore, expression of a luciferase reporter gene under the promoter containing NF-κB binding sites was blocked by decursin. These data indicate that decursin is a novel inhibitor of NF-κB activation in signaling induced by TLR ligands and cytokines.
Effects of Arginine Concentration on the In Vitro Expression of Casein and mTOR Pathway Related Genes in Mammary Epithelial Cells from Dairy Cattle

Arginine (Arg) is a conditionally-essential amino acid that is taken up by bovine mammary gland in excess of its output in milk. In this study we evaluated the effects of Arg concentration on the expression of casein and signaling pathway-related genes in mammary epithelial cells. The treatments (applied for 24 h) were designed to be devoid of Arg 0X (control; 0.00 mg/L), resemble the profile of Arg in casein (Arg 1X; 278.00 mg/L), be deficient [Arg 0.25X (69.50 mg/L) and Arg 0.5X (139.00 mg/L)], or be in excess of the amount in casein [Arg 2X (556.00 mg/L), Arg 4X (1,112 mg/L), and Arg 8X (2,224 mg/L)]. The expression of CSN1S, CSN3 and mTOR in the experimental groups was higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). Except for Arg 0.25X and Arg 8X (P>0.05), the expression of CSN1S2, CSN2 and JAK2 in other experimental groups was higher (P<0.05) than those in the control group. Except for Arg 8X (P>0.05), the expression of STAT5 in the other experimental groups was higher than those of the control (P<0.05). It also was observed that except for Arg 0.5X, the S6K expression was higher in other experimental groups than the control (P<0.05). In contrast, except for Arg 0.25X the other experimental groups resulted in lower 4EBP1 expression than the control (P<0.05). Among groups, the expression of CSN1S1, CSN1S2, CSN2, CSN3, JAK2, STAT5, mTOR and S6K gene was highest with Arg 2X (P<0.05); the reverse was true for 4EBP1 gene, with the lowest expression in this group (P<0.05). Taken together, Arg appears to play an important role in the transcriptional regulation of casein genes and mTOR-related genes in bovine mammary epithelial cells.
Impact of acute chest pain Tc-99m sestamibi myocardial perfusion imaging on clinical management

BackgroundPrevious studies have demonstrated the high sensitivity and specificity of technetium 99m sestamibi scintigraphy during acute chest pain myocardial perfusion imaging. However, no study has shown that this technique would alter clinical management in practice.Methods and ResultsOne hundred twenty consecutive patients were injected with Tc-99m sestamibi (22 mCi) during pain; single photon emission computed tomography was performed 1 to 6 hours later. The population included inpatients and those who arrived at the emergency department with chest pain deemed to be at intermediate risk for myocardial ischemia. The requesting physician completed a questionnaire before the study, indicating the likelihood of cardiac disease and proposed management had the test not been available. Follow-up management was evaluated from medical records. There was a 34% reduction in total admissions and 59% in planned admissions to the coronary care unit (P < .001). Conversely, 7 patients had discharge cancelled and 17 required coronary care purely because of abnormal acute rest myocardial perfusion imaging results. Coronary angiography was reduced by 40% in a selected subgroup.ConclusionsIn our population, acute rest myocardial perfusion imaging reduced total admissions and altered resource utilization. This may result in more appropriate triage of individual patients in the management algorithm, as well as potential cost savings.
Age-related variation in carbon allocation at tree and stand scales in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) using a chronosequence approach.

Two types of physiological mechanisms can contribute to growth decline with age: (i) the mechanisms leading to the reduction of carbon assimilation (input) and (ii) those leading to modification of the resource economy. Surprisingly, the processes relating to carbon allocation have been little investigated as compared to research on the processes governing carbon assimilation. The objective of this paper was thus to test the hypothesis that growth decrease related to age is accompanied by changes in carbon allocation to the benefit of storage and reproductive functions in two contrasting broad-leaved species: beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. ). Age-related changes in carbon allocation were studied using a chronosequence approach. Chronosequences, each consisting of several even-aged stands ranging from 14 to 175 years old for beech and from 30 to 134 years old for sessile oak, were divided into five or six age classes. In this study, carbon allocations to growth, storage and reproduction were defined as the relative amount of carbon invested in biomass increment, carbohydrate increment and seed production, respectively. Tree-ring width and allometric relationships were used to assess biomass increment at the tree and stand scales. Below-ground biomass was assessed using a specific allometric relationship between root:shoot ratio and age, established from the literature review. Seasonal variations of carbohydrate concentrations were used to assess carbon allocation to storage. Reproduction effort was quantified for beech stands by collecting seed and cupule production. Age-related flagging of biomass productivity was assessed at the tree and stand scales, and carbohydrate quantities in trees increased with age for both species. Seed and cupule production increased with stand age in beech from 56 gC m(-)(2) year(-1) at 30 years old to 129 gC m(-2) year(-1) at 138 years old. In beech, carbon allocation to storage and reproductive functions increased with age to the detriment of carbon allocation to growth functions. In contrast, the carbon balance between growth and storage remained constant between age classes in sessile oak. The contrasting age-related changes in carbon allocation between beech and sessile oak are discussed with reference to the differences in growing environment, phenology and hydraulic properties of ring-porous and diffuse-porous species.
Direct Behavior Rating: An Evaluation of Alternate Definitions to Assess Classroom Behaviors

Abstract. The method of Direct Behavior Rating (DBR) incorporates aspects of both systematic direct observation and behavior rating scales to provide an efficient means to collect time series data. This study extended the development and evaluation of DBR Single-Item Scales (DBR-SIS) as a behavior assessment tool. Eighty-eight undergraduate students used DBR-SIS to rate 2-min video clips of elementary student classroom behaviors across positive (e.g., academically engaged) and negative (e.g., academically unengaged) wording conditions. DBR-SIS outcomes were then compared against those obtained via systematic direct observation. Rater bias and error, as well as criterion-related validity of DBR-SIS, were evaluated with systematic direct observation serving as the criterion measure. Results provide support for using DBR-SIS to assess general outcome behaviors relevant to classroom behavior.
Coresets in dynamic geometric data streams

A dynamic geometric data stream consists of a sequence of <i>m</i> insert/delete operations of points from the discrete space 1,…,Δ<i><sup>d</sup></i> [26]. We develop streaming (1 + ε)-approximation algorithms for <i>k</i>-median, <i>k</i>-means, MaxCut, maximum weighted matching (MaxWM), maximum travelling salesperson (MaxTSP), maximum spanning tree (MaxST), and average distance over dynamic geometric data streams. Our algorithms maintain a small weighted set of points(a coreset) that approximates with probability 2/3 the current point set with respect to the considered problem during the <i>m</i> insert/delete operations of the data stream. They use poly (ε<sup>-1</sup>, log <i>m</i>, log Δ) space and update time per insert/delete operation for constant <i>k</i> and dimension <i>d</i>Having a coreset one only needs a fast approximation algorithm for the weighted problem to compute a solution quickly. In fact, even an exponential algorithm is sometimes feasible as its running time may still be polynomial in <i>n</i>. For example one can compute in poly(log <i>n</i>, exp(<i>O</i>((1+log (1⁄ε)⁄ε)<sup><i>d</i>-1</sup>))) time a solution to <i>k</i>-median and <i>k</i>-means [21] where <i>n</i> is the size of the current point set and <i>k</i> and <i>d</i> are constants. Finding an implicit solution to MaxCut can be done in poly(log <i>n</i>, exp((1⁄ε)<sup>O(1)</sup>)) time. For MaxST and average distance we require poly(log <i>n</i>, ε<sup>-1</sup>) time and for MaxWM we require O(<i>n</i><sup>3</sup>) time to do this.
Enantioselective induction of oxidative stress by permethrin in rat adrenal pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells

Synthetic pyrethroid (SP) insecticides are chiral compounds with multiple asymmetric positions. Several recent studies have focused on the effect of enantioselectivity of SPs in acute aquatic toxicity, endocrine‐disrupting activities, and immunotoxicity. However, the relevant molecular mechanisms are still unknown. The potential relationship between ecotoxicological effects and oxidative stress could contribute to SP‐induced enantioselective cytotoxicity, but this requires further investigation. Therefore, this study was undertaken to evaluate the role of oxidative stress in enantiomer‐specific permethrin (PM)‐induced cytotoxicity in rat adrenal pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. The study demonstrated that PM induced enantioselective oxidative stress and cytotoxicity. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and lipid peroxidation production of malondialdehyde (MDA) were obviously increased, whereas the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase [SOD] and catalase [CAT]) and glutathione (GSH) content had declined after exposure in 1R‐trans‐PM at a concentration of 30 mg/L. Meanwhile, the result of the cytotoxicity assay showed a clear, dose‐dependent growth‐inhibition effect of PM in an enantioselective manner. The most toxic effect on PC12 cells was shown by 1R‐trans‐PM and was approximately 1.6 times higher than that with 1S‐cis‐PM, which exhibited only a slightly toxic effect at a concentration of 20 mg/L. These results suggested that PM exhibited significant enantioselectivity in oxidative stress, which may be one of the initial events in PM‐induced enantioselective cytotoxicity. The present study also improved understanding of enantiomer‐specific, SP‐induced cytotoxicity. The enantioselectivity should be taken into consideration when assessing ecological effects and development of new chiral pesticides. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:683–690. © 2009 SETAC
Reactivation of Multiple Viruses in Patients with Sepsis

A current controversy is whether patients with sepsis progress to an immunosuppressed state. We hypothesized that reactivation of latent viruses occurred with prolonged sepsis thereby providing evidence of clinically-relevant immunosuppression and potentially providing a means to serially-monitor patients' immune status. Secondly, if viral loads are markedly elevated, they may contribute to morbidity and mortality. This study determined if reactivation of herpesviruses, polyomaviruses, and the anellovirus TTV occurred in sepsis and correlated with severity. Serial whole blood and plasma samples from 560 critically-ill septic, 161 critically-ill non-septic, and 164 healthy age-matched patients were analyzed by quantitative-polymerase-chain-reaction for cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr (EBV), herpes-simplex (HSV), human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6), and TTV. Polyomaviruses BK and JC were quantitated in urine. Detectable virus was analyzed with respect to secondary fungal and opportunistic bacterial infections, ICU duration, severity of illness, and survival. Patients with protracted sepsis had markedly increased frequency of detectable virus. Cumulative viral DNA detection rates in blood were: CMV (24.2%), EBV (53.2%), HSV (14.1%), HHV-6 (10.4%), and TTV (77.5%). 42.7% of septic patients had presence of two or more viruses. The 50% detection rate for herpesviruses was 5–8 days after sepsis onset. A small subgroup of septic patients had markedly elevated viral loads (>104–106 DNA copies/ml blood) for CMV, EBV, and HSV. Excluding TTV, DNAemia was uncommon in critically-ill non-septic patients and in age-matched healthy controls. Compared to septic patients without DNAemia, septic patients with viremia had increased fungal and opportunistic bacterial infections. Patients with detectable CMV in plasma had higher 90-day mortality compared to CMV-negative patients; p<0.05. Reactivation of latent viruses is common with prolonged sepsis, with frequencies similar to those occurring in transplant patients on immunosuppressive therapy and consistent with development of an immunosuppressive state. Whether reactivated latent viruses contribute to morbidity and mortality in sepsis remains unknown.