Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Functional morphology and efficiency of the antenna cleaner in Camponotus rufifemur ants

Contamination of body surfaces can negatively affect many physiological functions. Insects have evolved different adaptations for removing contamination, including surfaces that allow passive self-cleaning and structures for active cleaning. Here, we study the function of the antenna cleaner in Camponotus rufifemur ants, a clamp-like structure consisting of a notch on the basitarsus facing a spur on the tibia, both bearing cuticular ‘combs’ and ‘brushes’. The ants clamp one antenna tightly between notch and spur, pull it through, and subsequently clean the antenna cleaner itself with the mouthparts. We simulated cleaning strokes by moving notch or spur over antennae contaminated with fluorescent particles. The notch removed particles more efficiently than the spur, but both components eliminated more than 60% of the particles with the first stroke. Ablation of bristles, brush and comb strongly reduced the efficiency, indicating that they are essential for cleaning. To study how comb and brush remove particles of different sizes, we contaminated antennae of living ants, and anaesthetized them immediately after they had performed the first cleaning stroke. Different-sized beads were trapped in distinct zones of the notch, consistent with the gap widths between cuticular outgrowths. This suggests that the antenna cleaner operates like a series of sieves that remove the largest objects first, followed by smaller ones, down to the smallest particles that get caught by adhesion.
Similarity for News Recommender Systems

The accuracy of content-based recommender systems tends to depend on the way similarity is defined. In this paper, we will explore different ways to measure similarity for a news recommender system based on news headlines. We will compare human judgements of similarity with Lin’s taxonomy-based measure and the WASP measure that uses annotated corpus data. The main aim of this work is to better understand similarity, so that it can be used to explain recommendations to users.
Virus/Host Cell Crosstalk in Hypoxic HPV-Positive Cancer Cells

Oncogenic types of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are major human carcinogens. The expression of the viral E6/E7 oncogenes plays a key role for HPV-linked oncogenesis. It recently has been found that low oxygen concentrations (“hypoxia”), as present in sub-regions of HPV-positive cancers, strongly affect the interplay between the HPV oncogenes and their transformed host cell. As a result, a state of dormancy is induced in hypoxic HPV-positive cancer cells, which is characterized by a shutdown of viral oncogene expression and a proliferative arrest that can be reversed by reoxygenation. In this review, these findings are put into the context of the current concepts of both HPV-linked carcinogenesis and of the effects of hypoxia on tumor biology. Moreover, we discuss the consequences for the phenotype of HPV-positive cancer cells as well as for their clinical behavior and response towards established and prospective therapeutic strategies.
Comparison of the effects of continuous positive airway pressure, oral appliance and exercise training in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

OBJECTIVE: There are several treatments for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, such as weight loss, use of an oral appliance and continuous positive airway pressure, that can be used to reduce the signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of a physical training program compared with other treatments. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of physical exercise on subjective and objective sleep parameters, quality of life and mood in obstructive sleep apnea patients and to compare these effects with the effects of continuous positive airway pressure and oral appliance treatments. METHODS: Male patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and body mass indices less than 30 kg/m2 were randomly assigned to three groups: continuous positive airway pressure (n = 9), oral appliance (n = 9) and physical exercise (n = 7). Polysomnographic recordings, blood samples and daytime sleepiness measurements were obtained prior to and after two months of physical exercise or treatment with continuous positive airway pressure or an oral appliance. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01289392 RESULTS: After treatment with continuous positive airway pressure or an oral appliance, the patients presented with a significant reduction in the apnea-hypopnea index. We did not observe changes in the sleep parameters studied in the physical exercise group. However, this group presented reductions in the following parameters: T leukocytes, very-low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides. Two months of exercise training also had a positive impact on subjective daytime sleepiness. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that isolated physical exercise training was able to modify only subjective daytime sleepiness and some blood measures. Continuous positive airway pressure and oral appliances modified the apnea-hypopnea index.
Stability as a natural selection mechanism on interacting networks

Biological networks of interacting agents exhibit similar topological properties for a wide range of scales, from cellular to ecological levels, suggesting the existence of a common evolutionary origin. A general evolutionary mechanism based on global stability has been proposed recently [J I Perotti, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 108701 (2009)]. This mechanism was incorporated into a model of a growing network of interacting agents in which each new agent's membership in the network is determined by the agent's effect on the network's global stability. In this work, we analyze different quantities that characterize the topology of the emerging networks, such as global connectivity, clustering and average nearest neighbors degree, showing that they reproduce scaling behaviors frequently observed in several biological systems. The influence of the stability selection mechanism on the dynamics associated to the resulting network, as well as the interplay between some topological and functional features are also analyzed. Received: 17 July 2010; Accepted: 27 September 2010; Edited by: D. H. Zanette; Reviewed by: V. M. Eguiluz, Inst. Fisica Interdisciplinar y Sist. Complejos, Palma de Mallorca, Spain; DOI: 10.4279/PIP.020005
Identifying Long-Run Risks: A Bayesian Mixed-Frequency Approach

We develop a nonlinear state-space model that captures the joint dynamics of consumption, dividend growth, and asset returns. Building on Bansal and Yaron (2004), our model consists of an economy containing a common predictable component for consumption and dividend growth and multiple stochastic volatility processes. The estimation is based on annual consumption data from 1929 to 1959, monthly consumption data after 1959, and monthly asset return data throughout. We maximize the span of the sample to recover the predictable component and use high-frequency data, whenever available, to efficiently identify the volatility processes. Our Bayesian estimation provides strong evidence for a small predictable component in consumption growth (even if asset return data are omitted from the estimation). Three independent volatility processes capture different frequency dynamics; our measurement error specification implies that consumption is measured much more precisely at an annual than monthly frequency; and the estimated model is able to capture key asset-pricing facts of the data.
Magnetoencephalographic Localization of Subdural Dipoles in a Patient with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Summary: We report magnetoencephalographic localization of subdural electrode dipoles placed at the basal and mesial surfaces of the temporal lobe in a patient with temporal lobe epilepsy. The locations of the three dipoles were predicted from their magnetic fields with a computer model of the head as a conducting sphere. The predicted locations were within 1,3, and 4 mm of the actual locations. These results, obtained in an area of the brain from which epileptiform discharges are frequently recorded, strongly support the capability of magnetoencepha lography to accurately localize electrical events in this brain region.
New drug targets in Kaposi sarcoma

Importance of the field: Kaposi sarcoma (KS) occurs as a result of Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection, typically in the context of an immunodeficient state such as coinfection with HIV or transplantation. Systemic treatment of KS has traditionally involved one of several chemotherapeutic agents either in combination or as single agents, which typically provides reasonable response rates and short-term control. However, recurrence of KS is common and progression-free intervals are short. For these reasons, new therapies are being sought. Areas covered in this review: This review describes the contemporary pathobiology of KS targets, current limitations of standard treatment options, and examines the findings of completed and ongoing clinical trials of novel, molecularly targeted treatments for patients with KS. What the reader will gain: The reader will be presented with key clinicopathological characteristics and the pathogenesis of KS. Standard therapy for KS is reviewed including local, regional and systemic treatments. Molecular targets related to LANA-mediated and vGPCR-mediated signaling, angiogenesis, apoptosis and KSHV replication are discussed in detail. The reader will be provided with a compilation of agents, their mechanism of action, and results on various molecularly target agents in KS. Take home message: With the elucidation of novel pathogenic mechanisms of KS including KSHV replication, restoration of immune competence and signal transduction pathways utilized by KSHV in the propagation of KS, rational therapeutic targets have been identified.
Seasonal changes of gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion in the ewe.

A sustained volley of high-frequency pulses of GnRH secretion is a fundamental step in the sequence of neuroendocrine events leading to ovulation during the breeding season of sheep. In the present study, the pattern of GnRH secretion into pituitary portal blood was examined in ewes during both the breeding and anestrous seasons, with a focus on determining whether the absence of ovulation during the nonbreeding season is associated with the lack of a sustained increase in pulsatile GnRH release. During the breeding season, separate groups (n = 5) of ovary-intact ewes were sampled during the midluteal phase of the estrous cycle and following the withdrawal of progesterone (removal of progesterone implants) to synchronize onset of the follicular phase. During the nonbreeding season, another two groups (n = 5) were sampled either in the absence of hormonal treatments or following withdrawal of progesterone. Pituitary portal and jugular blood for measurement of GnRH and LH, respectively, were sampled every 10 min for 6 h during the breeding season or for 12 h in anestrus. During the breeding season, mean frequency of episodic GnRH release was 1.4 pulses/6 h in luteal-phase ewes; frequency increased to 7.8 pulses/6 h during the follicular phase (following progesterone withdrawal). In marked contrast, GnRH pulse frequency was low (mean less than 1 pulse/6 h) in both groups of anestrous ewes (untreated and following progesterone withdrawal), but GnRH pulse amplitude exceeded that in both luteal and follicular phases of the estrous cycle. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A comparative virological study of children in hospital with respiratory and diarrhoeal illnesses

Between October 1963 and April 1965, 113 children with respiratory disease and 113 children with diarrhoeal disease were matched for age and time of entry into hospital and studied by virus isolation and serological techniques. Infections with respiratory syncytial (RS) virus, parainfluenza virus and herpes simplex virus respectively were found in 29, 11 and 12 children in the respiratory illness group but in only 1, 2 and 4 children in the diarrhoeal group. Rhinoviruses were isolated from 10 children in each group and in seven cases were associated with lower respiratory disease. Adenovirus infections were found in nine children with respiratory disease and eight with diarrhoea. Of the 40 enteroviruses isolated 16 were associated with respiratory disease and 24 with diarrhoea. A poor or delayed serological response in children under 4 months with RS virus infection was observed. Addition of unheated rabbit serum increased the sensitivity of the neutralization test with RS virus. These findings indicate that respiratory syncytial and parainfluenza virus infections were clearly associated with respiratory illness but the pathogenic role of the other viruses was not clear.
Glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites – a review

Glass fibers reinforced polymer composites have been prepared by various manufacturing technology and are widely used for various applications. Initially, ancient Egyptians made containers by glass fibers drawn from heat softened glass. Continues glass fibers were first manufactured in the 1930s for high-temperature electrical application. Nowadays, it has been used in electronics, aviation and automobile application etc. Glass fibers are having excellent properties like high strength, flexibility, stiffness and resistance to chemical harm. It may be in the form of roving’s, chopped strand, yarns, fabrics and mats. Each type of glass fibers have unique properties and are used for various applications in the form of polymer composites. The mechanical, tribological, thermal, water absorption and vibrational properties of various glass fiber reinforced polymer composites were reported.
Prognostic value of human papillomavirus in the survival of cervical cancer patients: an overview of the evidence.

Some studies have suggested that the presence in tumors of nucleic acids from human papillomavirus (HPV) constitutes a prognostic marker of disease severity in cervical cancer. There are two conflicting lines of evidence in this regard. First, the presence of HPV 18 is equated to rapid progression through early disease stages, possibly resulting in a more aggressive clinical course. Although fragmentary, in terms of the clinical and epidemiological basis, this line of evidence has some experimental support. Second, the absence of HPV from the tumor would confer a worse prognosis than if any viral types were present. Unlike the former, the latter line of evidence is not bolstered by experimental data but emerged from persuasive clinical studies, which had adequate sample sizes, used survival end points, and controlled for confounders. The absence of HPV in some tumors could indicate that they originated through different oncogenic mechanisms, perhaps resulting in different cell proliferation rates and, consequently, distinct clinical behavior. On the other hand, HPV detectability could simply be a correlate of other genuine prognostic characteristics, which would explain its association with survival. Both the nature and the mechanism of the prognostic role for HPV in cervical cancer remain to be elucidated. The paucity of studies can be attributed to the labor-intensive nature of assays for HPV. It is hoped that the advent of the polymerase chain reaction method will facilitate the conduct of retrospective studies of archival histopathology specimens and survival information. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Clinicopathological and genetic characteristics of extraventricular neurocytomas

Extraventricular neurocytoma (EVN) shares histological features with central neurocytoma, but has a wide morphological spectrum. Little is known regarding its clinicopathologic nature, biological behavior and genetic abnormalities. The aim of this study is to examine the diagnostic criteria, genetic abnormalities and biological behavior of EVN. Clinicopathological and molecular genetic studies were performed in seven EVNs. Among them, three cases showed atypical histology. Immunohistochemically, synaptophysin was robustly positive, but neuronal muclear antigen was positive in only half the cases (4/7cases). Isocitrate dehydrogenase enzyme isoform 1 (IDH1) (H09 immunostaining), α–internexin and p53 were negative in all cases. One case was positive for galectin‐3. None of the cases showed IDH1 R132 and IDH2 R172 mutation by direct sequencing. One case showed high polysomy of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene; however, O6‐methylguanine‐DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation and 1p/19q co‐deletion were not detected. Array‐based comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) study was performed in two cases, revealing different profiles, with loss and gain of multiple chromosomal loci. Two children (18%) had tumor recurrence after initial surgery, and one of them showed worse histology at recurrence and EGFR high polysomy. One patient died from the disease at 18.5 months after surgery. From our study, we concluded that EVNs were characterized by the absence of p53 overexpression, α‐internexin positivity, MGMT promotor methylation and IDH1/IDH2 mutation. Oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 expression was seen in a scattered positive pattern but quite large numbers of tumor cells were negative. EVN is a WHO grade II tumor but some cases (2/7 cases in our series) can show late recurrence but mortality is low (1/7 cases in our series). CGH study suggested genetic heterogeneity of EVNs and unknown subclassification, which requires verification in more cases.
Cdc34p Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzyme Is a Component of the Tombusvirus Replicase Complex and Ubiquitinates p33 Replication Protein

ABSTRACT To identify host proteins interacting with Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) replication proteins in a genome-wide scale, we have used a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) proteome microarray carrying 4,088 purified proteins. This approach led to the identification of 58 yeast proteins that interacted with p33 replication protein. The identified host proteins included protein chaperones, ubiquitin-associated proteins, translation factors, RNA-modifying enzymes, and other proteins with yet-unknown functions. We confirmed that 19 of the identified host proteins bound to p33 in vitro or in a split-ubiquitin-based two-hybrid assay. Further analysis of Cdc34p E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, which is one of the host proteins interacting with p33, revealed that Cdc34p is a novel component of the purified viral replicase. Downregulation of Cdc34p expression in yeast, which supports replication of a TBSV replicon RNA (repRNA), reduced repRNA accumulation and the activity of the tombusvirus replicase by up to fivefold. Overexpression of wild-type Cdc34p, but not that of an E2-defective mutant of Cdc34p, increased repRNA accumulation, suggesting a significant role for the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme function of Cdc34p in TBSV replication. Also, Cdc34p was able to ubiquitinate p33 in vitro. In addition, we have shown that p33 becomes ubiquitinated in vivo. We propose that ubiquitination of p33 likely alters its function or affects the recruitment of host factors during TBSV replication.
Learning Hierarchical Translation Structure with Linguistic Annotations

While it is generally accepted that many translation phenomena are correlated with linguistic structures, employing linguistic syntax for translation has proven a highly non-trivial task. The key assumption behind many approaches is that translation is guided by the source and/or target language parse, employing rules extracted from the parse tree or performing tree transformations. These approaches enforce strict constraints and might overlook important translation phenomena that cross linguistic constituents. We propose a novel flexible modelling approach to introduce linguistic information of varying granularity from the source side. Our method induces joint probability synchronous grammars and estimates their parameters, by selecting and weighing together linguistically motivated rules according to an objective function directly targeting generalisation over future data. We obtain statistically significant improvements across 4 different language pairs with English as source, mounting up to +1.92 BLEU for Chinese as target.
Diagnostic Groups and Depressed Mood as Predictors of 22-Month Mortality in Medical Inpatients

Objective While depression has been found to predict mortality in acute myocardial infarction, results from many other groups of medical patients are inconclusive. It is, therefore, unclear whether depression also predicts mortality in the typical mixed patient populations treated on medical hospital wards and whether an increased risk can be identified by means of patients' self ratings of depression. Method The Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale was used as a routine screening tool in consecutive admissions to the general medical wards of a university hospital. The official survival data were obtained 22 months later. For all 454 patients who completed the screening questionnaire, complete survival data were available. Results High depression scores significantly predicted mortality in univariate comparisons (odds ratio 3.2; 95% CI 1.9-5.5) and in multivariate Cox regression analyses controlling for demographic and medical baseline variables (multivariate odds ratio 1.9; 95% CI 1.2-3.1; p < .01). Other significant predictors in the multivariate model were having a principal diagnosis of hematological disease or cancer, and older age. Disability, as assessed by nurses' ratings, and gender were not related to mortality. Subgroup analyses showed that the effect of depression scores was greatest in cardiopulmonary patients, but there was also a uniform trend toward higher mortality in depressed patients with other diagnoses. Conclusion Depressed mood is an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality in medical inpatients. Identifying patients at risk does not require formal psychiatric diagnoses, but can be achieved by means of a short, routinely administered self-rating questionnaire.
Procedure placement using temporal ordering information

Instruction cache performance is very important to instruction fetch efficiency and overall processor performance. The layout of an executable has a substantial effect on the cache miss rate during execution. This means that the performance of an executable can be improved significantly by applying a code-placement algorithm that minimizes instruction cache conflicts. We describe an algorithm for procedure placement, one type of code-placement algorithm, that significantly differs from previous approaches in the type of information used to drive the placement algorithm. In particular we gather temporal ordering information that summarizes the interleaving of procedures in a program trace. Our algorithm uses this information along with cache configuration and procedure size information to better estimate the conflict cost of a potential procedure ordering. We compare the performance of our algorithm with previously published procedure-placement algorithms and show noticeable improvements in the instruction cache behavior.