Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Novel Split-Luciferase-Based Genetically Encoded Biosensors for Noninvasive Visualization of Rho GTPases

Rho family GTPases are critical regulators of many important cellular processes and the dysregulation of their activities is implicated in a variety of human diseases including oncogenesis and propagation of malignancy. The traditional methods, such as “pull-down” or two-hybrid procedures, are poorly suited to dynamically evaluate the activity of Rho GTPases, especially in living mammalian cells. To provide a novel alternative approach to analyzing Rho GTPase-associated signaling pathways in vivo, we developed a series of bioluminescent biosensors based on the genetically engineered firefly luciferase. These split-luciferase-based biosensors enable non-invasive visualization and quantification of the activity of Rho GTPases in living subjects. The strategy is to reasonably split the gene of firefly luciferase protein into two inactive fragments and then respectively fuse the two fragments to Rho GTPase and the GTPase-binding domain (GBD) of the specific effector. Upon Rho GTPase interacting with the binding domain in a GTP-dependent manner, these two luciferase fragments are brought into close proximity, leading to luciferase reconstitution and photon production in the presence of the substrate. Using these bimolecular luminescence complementation (BiLC) biosensors, we successfully visualized and quantified the activities of the three best characterized Rho GTPases by measuring the luminescence in living cells. We also experimentally investigated the sensitivity of these Rho GTPase biosensors to upstream regulatory proteins and extracellular ligands without lysing cells and doing labor-intensive works. By virtue of the unique functional characteristics of bioluminescence imaging, the BiLC-based biosensors provide an enormous potential for in vivo imaging of Rho GTPase signaling pathways and high-throughput screening of therapeutic drugs targeted to Rho GTPases and (or) upstream molecules in the near future.
Locomotion Consideration and Implementation of Robotic Fish with Modular Undulating Fins: Analysis and Experimental Study

This paper presents an environment-friendly robotic system mimicking undulating fins of fish. To mimic the actual flexible fin of a real fish, we model a fin-like mechanism with a series of connecting linkages and attached it to the robotic fish. By virtue of a specially designed strip, each link is able to turn and slide with respect to the adjacent link. The driving linkages are used to form a mechanical fin consisting of several fin segments, which are able to produce undulations, similar to those produced by the actual fins. Owing to the modular design and the flexible structure of the mechanical fin, we were able to construct biomimetic robot fish with various swimming modes by fin undulations. Some qualitative and workspace observations by experiments with the robotic fish are shown and discussed
Neuroindices of cognitive workload: Neuroimaging, pupillometric and event-related potential studies of brain work

This article is a selective theory-driven review that synthesizes recent neuroscience findings concerning mental workload during complex cognition from the perspective of a functional resource theory called 3CAPS, focusing on the concept of capacity utilization . Capacity utilization refers to the proportion of resources that is being consumed in a given time interval in a given cognitive system. This definition integrates the dynamic effects of (a) the computational demand imposed by a task, and (b) the resource supply in an individual that is available to meet that demand. The analysis reveals that the functional relations between capacity utilization and measures of neural activity are similar across three different cognitive systems (language comprehension, visuospatial processing and executive processing). The measures of neural activity include functional neuroimaging, pupillary dilation and event-related potentials. The construct of capacity utilization provides a mapping between a functional architecture of cognition and aspects of its neural implementation.
Holocene relative sea-level change and rate of sea-level rise from coastal deposits in the Toyooka Basin, western Japan

This study presents relative sea-level (RSL) change from 11,200 to 500 cal. BP in the Toyooka Basin, western Japan. Diatom assemblage and sedimentary sulfur analyses were performed for 32 sediment cores obtained from thick Holocene fluvial and marine deposits. An age model was constructed based on tephrochronology and 31 radiocarbon ages from elevations of −46.85 to +1.51 m in 19 cores. The RSLs in the Toyooka Basin are −31.05 m in elevation at 10,000 cal BP, above −4.00 m at 7900 cal. BP, −0.47 m at 6700 cal. BP and +0.15 m at 3300 cal. BP. A rapid sea-level rise, at a rate of about 23 mm/yr, is observed during the period from 10,600 to 10,300 cal. BP. Relative sea-level rose at a rate of about 12 mm/yr between 10,000 and 7900 cal. BP. The rate of sea-level rise decelerated at 7900 cal. BP, from about 12 mm/yr (10,000–7900 cal. BP) to 3 mm/yr (7900–6700 cal. BP). The mid-Holocene sea-level highstand probably occurred between 7000 and 6000 cal. BP, but it remains difficult to constrain its elevation. These RSL features described here may provide a typical example of Holocene sea-level changes resulting from both eustatic and hydro-isostatic components for the Japanese islands.
Gunnedah Basin 3D architecture and upper crustal temperatures

The Gunnedah Basin in New South Wales has long been an important coal and gas resource, but limited information exists on the temperature structure or crustal architecture at depth to enable development of its geothermal potential. Here we combine gravity modelling, seismic-reflection surveys and borehole drilling results to develop a 3D depth to basement structural map and geological model of the basin. The 3D structure of the Gunnedah Basin is characteristic of a typical intracontinental rift basin. Gravity modelling of the Lachlan Fold Belt basement, using borehole and seismic-reflection controls, shows a 2–3.5 km-deep approximately north–south-oriented channel between the basement highs of the Rocky Glen Ridge in the west and Boggabri Ridge in the east. Extensional basal volcanics during the Late Carboniferous–Early Permian fill this channel. Borehole data and gravity modelling show up to 1 km of Permian to Jurassic sedimentary rocks overlying the rift volcanics. Preliminary thermal modelling, incorporating the geological model and limited deep borehole temperatures, indicates temperatures at the top of basement are in the range 105–165°C.
Stability of the Anterior Maxillary Segment and Teeth after Segmental Le Fort I Osteotomy and Postoperative Skeletal Elastic Fixation With or Without Occlusal Splint

ABSTRACT Objectives To assess the short term dental and skeletal stability of the anterior maxillary segment after segmental Le Fort I osteotomy with postoperative skeletal elastic fixation with or without occlusal splint. Material and Methods 29 consecutive patients underwent segmental Le Fort I osteotomy and elastic skeletal fixation was applied. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether a fixed occlusal splint was used for six weeks (group A) or dismounted perioperatively (group B). Changes in landmarks and reference planes between the two timepoints were estimated on lateral cephalometric radiographs. Results Group A: The upper incisor had a mean intrusion of -0.56 mm (SD 0.77; range -2.04 to 1.08 mm) and a mean posterior movement of -0.93 mm (SD 1.03; range -2.52 to 0.96 mm). The mean change in the axial inclination of the upper incisor was -0.33° (SD 2.56; range -6° to 4°) (95% CI: -1.75 to 1.08°). Group B: The upper incisor had a mean intrusion of -0.13 mm (SD 1.36; range -1.92 to 3.6 mm) and a mean anterior movement of 0.11 mm (SD 1.78; range -2.88 to 3.84 mm). The mean change in the axial inclination of the upper incisor was -0.07° (SD 3.05; range -5° to 5°) (95% CI: -1.83 to 1.69°). There was no statistically significant difference in stability between the two groups at the P value 0.05. Conclusions The skeletal anterior fixation with postoperative elastics for eight weeks may not compromise the early postoperative dental and skeletal stability of the anterior segment in segmental Le Fort I osteotomy.
Bone mineral density and chronic lung disease mortality: the rotterdam study.

CONTEXT Low bone mineral density (BMD) has been associated with increased all-cause mortality. Cause-specific mortality studies have been controversial. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to investigate associations between BMD and all-cause mortality and in-depth cause-specific mortality. DESIGN AND SETTING We studied two cohorts from the prospective Rotterdam Study (RS), initiated in 1990 (RS-I) and 2000 (RS-II) with average follow-up of 17.1 (RS-I) and 10.2 (RS-II) years until January 2011. Baseline femoral neck BMD was analyzed in SD values. Deaths were classified according to International Classification of Diseases into seven groups: cardiovascular diseases, cancer, infections, external, dementia, chronic lung diseases, and other causes. Gender-stratified Cox and competing-risks models were adjusted for age, body mass index, and smoking. PARTICIPANTS The study included 5779 subjects from RS-I and 2055 from RS-II. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS We measured all-cause and cause-specific mortality. RESULTS A significant inverse association between BMD and all-cause mortality was found in males [expressed as hazard ratio (95% confidence interval)]: RS-I, 1.07 (1.01-1.13), P = . 020; RS-II, 1.31 (1.12-1.55), P = . 001); but it was not found in females: RS-I, 1.05 (0.99-1.11), P = . 098; RS-II, 0.91 (0.74-1.12), P = . 362. An inverse association with chronic lung disease mortality was found in males [RS-I, 1.75 (1.34-2.29), P < . 001; RS-II, 2.15 (1.05-4.42), P = . 037] and in RS-I in females [1.72 (1.16-2.57); P = . 008], persisting after multiple adjustments and excluding prevalent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A positive association between BMD and cancer mortality was detected in females in RS-I [0.89 (0.80-0.99); P = . 043]. No association was found with cardiovascular mortality. CONCLUSIONS BMD is inversely associated with mortality. The strong association of BMD with chronic lung disease mortality is a novel finding that needs further analysis to clarify underlying mechanisms.
Realistic mobility models for Vehicular Ad hoc Network (VANET) simulations

Vehicular ad-hoc network (VANET) is surging in popularity, in which vehicles constitute the mobile nodes in the network. Due to the prohibitive cost of deploying and implementing such a system in real world, most research in VANET relies on simulations for evaluation. A key component for VANET simulations is a realistic vehicular mobility model that ensures that conclusions drawn from simulation experiments will carry through to real deployments. In this work, we first introduce a tool MOVE that allows users to rapidly generate realistic mobility models for VANET simulations. MOVE is built on top of an open source micro-traffic simulator SUMO. The output of MOVE is a realistic mobility model and can be immediately used by popular network simulators such as ns-2 and qualnet. We evaluate the effects of details of mobility models in three case studies of VANET simulations (specifically, the existence of traffic lights, driver route choice and car overtaking behavior) and show that selecting sufficient level of details in the simulation is critical for VANET protocol design.
Effect of addition of proton carriers in culture medium on growth and secretion of hybridoma cell line OKT3.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) constitute the centre of all in-vitro diagnostic measures and almost all in-vivo therapeutic manoeuvres now. Production emphasis for these antibodies is having a current shift from animal-based large-scale culture to in-vitro bioreactor-based high-density culture. One of the major difficulties in high-density culture is end-metabolite accumulation in batch and fed-batch cultures in the forms of H+, NH4+ etc. thereby reducing cellular growth and secretions. In the present study, effects of added proton carries--NAD and NADP--over and above the metabolic pools of the molecules, were examined on the cellular growth and secretion kinetics. Although NADP fortification showed a remarkable improvement in cellular growth (time dependent 200-300% improvements compared to controls) and size, cumulative MAb titre was better with NAD fortification. Combined additional loads of the proton carriers would be interesting to study in high density culture conditions.
Analysis of the pre-Tertiary rifting history of the Rockall Trough

The Rockall Trough is a large, lightly explored, deep water basin offshore West of Britain. Only the 132/15-1 well has penetrated Mesozoic section within the Rockall Trough encountering a syn-rift section, interpreted on seismic reflection data, of early Cretaceous age (Hauterivian-Cenomanian) lying directly on crystalline basement. Older rift events have been proposed in the Rockall Trough to explain the extensive crustal thinning (Beta = 3 to 5) and because of the presence of older rifts on adjacent basins. Although the evidence is not conclusive, analysis of seismic reflection data within the Rockall Trough and of rift system trends on an early Cretaceous plate reconstruction do not require or suggest older than Cretaceous rifts in the Rockall Trough but also do not preclude them. Structurally, the Cretaceous rifting is highly assymetric being dominated by faults downthrowing to the southeast. A model of a reactivated Caledonian foreland thrust belt is proposed similar to that reported on the adjacent Hebridean shelf.
Turnover of Detrital Organic Carbon in a Nutrient‐Impacted Everglades Marsh

Phosphorus loading to the Everglades from nearby agricultural areas has become a major concern, and is considered to be a significant factor in the encroachment of cattail (Typha domingensis Pers.) and other rapidly growing vegetation into endemic sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense Crantz) marsh. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the variability in turnover of organic C in plant and soil detrital pools along a P enrichment gradient in an Everglades marsh and to identify substrate characteristics and environmental factors controlling C turnover. Potential rates of C mineralization in plant litter and peat were determined by measuring aerobic and anaerobic microbial respiration under controlled conditions in laboratory incubations. Potential C mineralization decreased with depth and, consequently, substrate age, in the plant-soil profile. Within individual detrital pools [standing dead plant material, soil litter layer, surface peat (0-10 cm depth) and subsurface peat (10-30 cm depth)], potential C mineralization decreased down gradient from the source of nutrient loading to WCA-2A. Overall, 91% of the variability in aerobic C mineralization in peat and plant litter was accounted for by substrate P concentration and lignocellulose composition. Anaerobic C mineralization rates were consistently about one-third of aerobic rates. Results indicated that organic C turnover in detrital pools in WCA-2A is significantly affected by accelerated P loading, but is also controlled by O 2 availability and substrate C quality.
Palaeomagnetic constraints on the Proterozoic tectonic evolution of Australia

Abstract Recent plate tectonic models advocate assembly of Proterozoic Australia by tectonic processes that involved large-scale horizontal motions, whereas previous models suggested that the continent evolved as an essentially intact block of lithosphere. Geological and geochemical observations alone are insufficient to test whether the major cratonic blocks of Australia were together or widely separated during the Proterozoic; only palaeomagnetism can provide quantitative constraints on relative plate motions during the Precambrian. Despite deficiencies in the palaeomagnetic record for Proterozoic Australia, groups of overlapping palaeopoles for 1.7–1.8 and 1.5–1.6 Ga permit the North and West Australian cratonic assemblages to have occupied their present relative positions since at least c. 1.7Ga, and to have been joined to the South Australian cratonic assemblage since at least c. 1.5Ga. Nonetheless, additional geological, geochronological and palaeomagnetic data are required to test whether large oceans closed between any of the continental blocks.
Robust online multi-object tracking based on KCF trackers and reassignment

There is a big challenge in online multi-object tracking-by-detection, which caused by frequent occlusions, false alarms or miss detections and other factors. In this paper, we proposed an improved fast online multi-object tracking method through taking into account the results of multiple single-object trackers and detections synthetically. To solve the fixed scale problem of conventional kernelized correlation filter in single-object tracker we used, trackers are associated with detections based on position and size and then an adaptive mechanism of trackers is established. In addition, in order to correctly reassign detections to lost trackers after occlusion, we propose to attach occluded object to occluders to predict its position. And then, an association strategy on the basis of appearance, position, attached position and size reliably reassigns detections to re-appearing objects. Experiments on public datasets demonstrate that our proposed method performs favorably against the state-of-the-art methods.
Données actuelles sur la formation interglaciaire de Pompillon (Pléistocène moyen), Val de Lans en Vercors (Isère, France)

Le vaste synclinal du Val de Lans est rempli d'une epaisse formation lacustre et palustre sur une profondeur inconnue. Sa partie superieure constitue des elements de plateaux faiblement etages au-dessus des fonds de vallees. Son contenu pollinique, etudie d'abord a partir d'une coupe artificielle a Pompillon puis dans une serie de dix sondages, conduit a en attribuer les niveaux les plus temperes a l'interglaciaire holsteinien (Pleistocene moyen).
An analysis of multimedia searching on AltaVista

Web searching is a significant activity for many people seeking multimedia information. Major Web search engines, such as Alta Vista, are essential tools in the quest to locate relevant online information. As such, it is important that we understand how searchers utilize these Web information systems. This paper presents research that examines characteristics of multimedia Web searching on Alta Vista. More specifically, the research questions driving this study are: (1) What are the characteristics of multimedia searching on Alta Vista? and (2) How does this multimedia searching compare to Web searching in general? The results of our research show that multimedia searching is complex relative to general Web searching and that searching specific multimedia collections does not necessarily reduce the searching complexity. We discuss the implications of the findings for the development of online multimedia retrieval systems.
Republished paper: Emergency department triage revisited

Triage is a process that is critical to the effective management of modern emergency departments. Triage systems aim, not only to ensure clinical justice for the patient, but also to provide an effective tool for departmental organisation, monitoring and evaluation. Over the last 20 years, triage systems have been standardised in a number of countries and efforts made to ensure consistency of application. However, the ongoing crowding of emergency departments resulting from access block and increased demand has led to calls for a review of systems of triage. In addition, international variance in triage systems limits the capacity for benchmarking. The aim of this paper is to provide a critical review of the literature pertaining to emergency department triage in order to inform the direction for future research. While education, guidelines and algorithms have been shown to reduce triage variation, there remains significant inconsistency in triage assessment arising from the diversity of factors determining the urgency of any individual patient. It is timely to accept this diversity, what is agreed, and what may be agreeable. It is time to develop and test an International Triage Scale (ITS) which is supported by an international collaborative approach towards a triage research agenda. This agenda would seek to further develop application and moderating tools and to utilise the scales for international benchmarking and research programmes.
Bone Morphogenetic Proteins Regulate the Developmental Program of Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells

The identification of molecules that regulate human hematopoietic stem cells has focused mainly on cytokines, of which very few are known to act directly on stem cells. Recent studies in lower organisms and the mouse have suggested that bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) may play a critical role in the specification of hematopoietic tissue from the mesodermal germ layer. Here we report that BMPs regulate the proliferation and differentiation of highly purified primitive human hematopoietic cells from adult and neonatal sources. Populations of rare CD34+CD38−Lin− stem cells were isolated from human hematopoietic tissue and were found to express the BMP type I receptors activin-like kinase (ALK)-3 and ALK-6, and their downstream transducers SMAD-1, -4, and -5. Treatment of isolated stem cell populations with soluble BMP-2, -4, and -7 induced dose-dependent changes in proliferation, clonogenicity, cell surface phenotype, and multilineage repopulation capacity after transplantation in nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice. Similar to transforming growth factor β, treatment of purified cells with BMP-2 or -7 at high concentrations inhibited proliferation yet maintained the primitive CD34+CD38− phenotype and repopulation capacity. In contrast, low concentrations of BMP-4 induced proliferation and differentiation of CD34+ CD38−Lin− cells, whereas at higher concentrations BMP-4 extended the length of time that repopulation capacity could be maintained in ex vivo culture, indicating a direct effect on stem cell survival. The discovery that BMPs are capable of regulating repopulating cells provides a new pathway for controlling human stem cell development and a powerful model system for studying the biological mechanism of BMP action using primary human cells.
Shear Strength Behavior of Fiber-Reinforced Sand Considering Triaxial Tests under Distinct Stress Paths

The results of drained triaxial tests on fiber reinforced and nonreinforced sand (Osorio sand) specimens are presented in this work, considering effective stresses varying from 20 to 680 kPa and a variety of stress paths. The tests on nonreinforced samples yielded effective strength envelopes that were approximately linear and defined by a friction angle of 32.5° for the Osorio sand, with a cohesion intercept of zero. The failure envelope for sand when reinforced with fibers was distinctly nonlinear, with a well-defined kink point, so that it could be approximated by a bilinear envelope. The failure envelope of the fiber-reinforced sand was found to be independent of the stress path followed by the triaxial tests. The strength parameters for the lower-pressure part of the failure envelope, where failure is governed by both fiber stretching and slippage, were, respectively, a cohesion intercept of about 15 kPa and friction angle of 48.6 deg. The higher-pressure part of the failure envelope, governed by tensile yielding or stretching of the fibers, had a cohesion intercept of 124 kPa, and friction angle of 34.6 deg. No fiber breakage was measured and only fiber extension was observed. It is, therefore, believed that the fibers did not break because they are highly extensible, with a fiber strain at failure of 80%, and the necessary strain to cause fiber breakage was not reached under triaxial conditions at these stress and strain levels.