Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identifying Information Spreaders in Twitter Follower Networks

A number of research efforts on Twitter have been contributed towards understanding various factors that are related to retweetability, analyzing retweeting and diffusion patterns, predicting retweets, etc. One fundamental research question remains untackled: given a user and her followers, which of the followers are likely to spread her tweets to the world (the information spreader identification problem)? Answering this new and open problem helps to bridge the gap between analyzing retweetbility and understanding information diffusion. Using a large scale Twitter data set, we first find that retweet history is not an ideal method for identifying information spreaders, especially for the long tail users. Backed by statistical analysis, we set forward to extract meaningful features and present a set of feasible approaches for identifying information spreaders in the Twitter follower networks. Our study reports interesting findings, sheds light on many practical applications, helps understand the mechanisms of relaying information from one user to her followers, and offers future lines of research.
GRASP55, a second mammalian GRASP protein involved in the stacking of Golgi cisternae in a cell‐free system

We have identified a 55 kDa protein, named GRASP55 (Golgi reassembly stacking protein of 55 kDa), as a component of the Golgi stacking machinery. GRASP55 is homologous to GRASP65, an N‐ethylmaleimide‐sensitive membrane protein required for the stacking of Golgi cisternae in a cell‐free system. GRASP65 exists in a complex with the vesicle docking protein receptor GM130 to which it binds directly, and the membrane tethering protein p115, which also functions in the stacking of Golgi cisternae. GRASP55 binding to GM130, could not be detected using biochemical methods, although a weak interaction was detected with the yeast two‐hybrid system. Cryo‐electron microscopy revealed that GRASP65, like GM130, is present on the cis‐Golgi, while GRASP55 is on the medial‐Golgi. Recombinant GRASP55 and antibodies to the protein block the stacking of Golgi cisternae, which is similar to the observations made for GRASP65. These results demonstrate that GRASP55 and GRASP65 function in the stacking of Golgi cisternae.
Analysis of Lipooligosaccharide Biosynthesis in theNeisseriaceae

ABSTRACT Neisserial lipooligosaccharide (LOS) contains three oligosaccharide chains, termed the α, β, and γ chains. We used Southern hybridization experiments on DNA isolated from variousNeisseria spp. to determine if strains considered to be nonpathogenic possessed DNA sequences homologous with genes involved in the biosynthesis of these oligosaccharide chains. The presence or absence of specific genes was compared to the LOS profiles expressed by each strain, as characterized by their mobilities on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gel and their reactivities with various LOS-specific monoclonal antibodies. A great deal of heterogeneity was seen with respect to the presence of genes encoding glycosyltransferases in Neisseria. All pathogenic species were found to possess DNA sequences homologous with the lgtgene cluster, a group of genes needed for the synthesis of the α chain. Some of these genes were also found to be present in strains considered to be nonpathogenic, such as Neisseria lactamica, N. subflava, and N. sicca. Some nonpathogenicNeisseria spp. were able to express high-molecular-mass LOS structures, even though they lacked the DNA sequences homologous withrfaF, a gene whose product must act before gonococcal and meningococcal LOS can be elongated. Using a PCR amplification strategy, in combination with DNA sequencing, we demonstrated that N. subflava 44 possessed lgtA, lgtB, andlgtE genes. The predicted amino acid sequence encoded by each of these genes suggested that they encoded functional proteins; however, structural analysis of LOS isolated from this strain indicated that the bulk of its LOS was not modified by these gene products. This suggests the existence of an additional regulatory mechanism that is responsible for the limited expression of these genes in this strain.
CD4+ CD25+ Regulatory T Cells Control T Helper Cell Type 1 Responses to Foreign Antigens Induced by Mature Dendritic Cells In Vivo

Recent evidence suggests that in addition to their well known stimulatory properties, dendritic cells (DCs) may play a major role in peripheral tolerance. It is still unclear whether a distinct subtype or activation status of DC exists that promotes the differentiation of suppressor rather than effector T cells from naive precursors. In this work, we tested whether the naturally occurring CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) may control immune responses induced by DCs in vivo. We characterized the immune response induced by adoptive transfer of antigen-pulsed mature DCs into mice depleted or not of CD25+ cells. We found that the development of major histocompatibility complex class I and II–restricted interferon γ–producing cells was consistently enhanced in the absence of Treg. By contrast, T helper cell (Th)2 priming was down-regulated in the same conditions. This regulation was independent of interleukin 10 production by DCs. Of note, splenic DCs incubated in vitro with Toll-like receptor ligands (lipopolysaccharide or CpG) activated immune responses that remained sensitive to Treg function. Our data further show that mature DCs induced higher cytotoxic activity in CD25-depleted recipients as compared with untreated hosts. We conclude that Treg naturally exert a negative feedback mechanism on Th1-type responses induced by mature DCs in vivo.
Quantification of the Neurotoxic β-Carboline Harmane in Barbecued/Grilled Meat Samples and Correlation with Level of Doneness

Harmane, one of the heterocyclic amines (HCAs), is a potent neurotoxin linked to human diseases. Dietary exposure, especially in cooked meats, is the major source of exogenous exposure for humans. However, knowledge of harmane concentrations in cooked meat samples is limited. Our goals were to (1) quantify the concentration of harmane in different types of cooked meat samples, (2) compare its concentration to that of other more well-understood HCAs, and (3) examine the relationship between harmane concentration and level of doneness. Thirty barbecued/grilled meat samples (8 beef steak, 12 hamburger, 10 chicken) were analyzed for harmane and four other HCAs (2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo [4,5-b]pyridine [PhIP], amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline [MeIQx], 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline [DiMeIQx], and 2-amino-1,6-dimethylfuro[3,2-e]imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine [IFP]). Mean (± SD) harmane concentration was 5.63 (± 6.63) ng/g; harmane concentration was highest in chicken (8.48 ± 9.86 ng/g) and lowest in beef steak (3.80 ± 3.6 ng/g). Harmane concentration was higher than that of the other HCAs and significantly correlated with PhIP concentration. Harmane concentration was associated with meat doneness in samples of cooked beef steak and hamburger, although the correlation between meat doneness and concentration was greater for PhIP than for harmane. Evidence indicates that harmane was detectable in nanograms per gram quantities in cooked meat (especially chicken) and, moreover, was more abundant than other HCAs. There was some correlation between meat doneness and harmane concentration, although this correlation was less robust than that observed for PhIP. Data such as these may be used to improve estimation of human dietary exposure to this neurotoxin.
The size and behavior of the human upper airway during inhalation of aerosols

ABSTRACT Introduction: The mouth, the pharynx and the larynx are potential sites of aerosol deposition in the upper airway during inhalation of aerosolized drugs. The right angle bend of the lumen at the back of the mouth, the position of the tongue, the variable size and shape of the lumen in the pharynx and the larynx, and the breathing pattern could increase aerosol deposition in the upper airway and decrease lung deposition. Areas covered: In this review, the anatomy of the upper airway from the oral cavity to the glottis and the impact of mandibular protrusion and incisal opening on the size of the upper airway are highlighted. In addition, the impact of inhalation maneuvers, inhaler mouthpiece geometries and a stepped mouthpiece on the size of the upper airway are discussed. Expert opinion: The structure of the upper airway lumen does not have a fixed cross sectional area and is susceptible to both constriction and distension during inhalation. The size of the upper airway can be enlarged through mandibular protrusion and/or incisal opening which might decrease aerosol deposition in the upper airway and increase lung deposition.
The Effect of Interactive Learning Media on Improving Students' Critical Thinking Skills

This study was conducted with the aim of studying “the effect of interactive learning media on improving students' critical thinking skills”. This study uses variable (X) interactive learning media and variable (Y) improvement of students' thinking skills. In this study, quantitative research techniques were used, with experimental research methods, namely quasi experimental design. This research used Nonequivalent Control Group design. The learning design in this study is Pretest, Treatmen, and Posttest. Data collection in this study was in the form of tests given to students and documentation. While the validation of the instrument was tested using the content validation test, the construct validation and reliability. Data analysis techniques aim to collect information from all respondents or other data sources using data analysis techniques in the form of normality tests using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov formula, Levene Statistics homogeneity test, and Independent Sample T-Test (t-test) hypothesis testing. The normality results of the pretest or initial ability are 0.200 which means that it is normally distributed. Then the experimental posttest gets a sig value. 0.200 is also normally distributed. The significance value of the homogeneity test is 0.101> 0.05 the data is declared homogeneous. Significant findings (2-tailed), assessed at 0.000 < 0.05. If the significant value (2-tailed) <0.05 then Ha is approved and Ho is rejected in accordance with the decision-making criteria. Based on the data analysis and hypothesis testing that has been done, it can be concluded that there is an "effect of interactive learning media on improving students' critical thinking skills".
Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Activates MEK/ERK Cell Signaling Pathway and Stimulates the Proliferation of Chicken Primordial Germ Cells

Background Long-term maintenance of avian primordial germ cells (PGCs) in vitro has tremendous potential because it can be used to deepen our understanding of the biology of PGCs. A transgenic bioreactor based on the unique migration of PGCs toward the recipients' sex cord via the bloodstream and thereby creating a germline chimeric bird has many potential applications. However, the growth factors and the signaling pathway essential for inducing proliferation of chicken PGCs are unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate the effects of various combinations of growth factors on the survival and proliferation of PGCs under feeder-free conditions. We observed proliferation of PGCs in media containing bFGF. Subsequent characterization confirmed that the cultured PGCs maintained expression of PGC-specific markers, telomerase activity, normal migrational activity, and germline transmission. We also found that bFGF activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular-signal regulated kinase (MEK/ERK) signaling. Also, the expression of 133 transcripts was reversibly altered by bFGF withdrawal. Conclusions/Significance Our results demonstrate that chicken PGCs can be maintained in vitro without any differentiation or dedifferentiation in feeder free culture conditions, and subsequent analysis revealed that bFGF is one of the key factors that enable proliferation of chicken PGCs via MEK/ERK signaling regulating downstream genes that may be important for PGC proliferation and survival.
Role of Vitamin D in Cardiometabolic Diseases

Vitamin D deficiency is a highly prevalent condition. Low vitamin D levels have long been associated with bone diseases, such as rickets in children and osteomalacia and osteoporosis in adults. However, it has become apparent in recent years that adequate vitamin D levels are also important for optimal functioning of many organs and tissues throughout the body, including the cardiovascular system. Evolving data indicate that vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Studies have shown that low vitamin D levels are associated with hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, left ventricular hypertrophy, and chronic vascular inflammation, all of which are risk factors for CVD. This paper reviews the definition and pathophysiology of vitamin D deficiency, clinical evidence linking vitamin D and CVD risk, diabetes and its complications, and metabolic syndrome.
Active choice of teachers, learning strategies and goals for a socially guided intrinsic motivation learner

We present an active learning architecture that allows a robot to actively learn which data collection strategy is most efficient for acquiring motor skills to achieve multiple outcomes, and generalise over its experience to achieve new outcomes. The robot explores its environment both via interactive learning and goal-babbling. It learns at the same time when, who and what to actively imitate from several available teachers, and learns when not to use social guidance but use active goal-oriented self-exploration. This is formalised in the framework of life-long strategic learning.The proposed architecture, called Socially Guided Intrinsic Motivation with Active Choice of Teacher and Strategy (SGIM-ACTS), relies on hierarchical active decisions of what and how to learn driven by empirical evaluation of learning progress for each learning strategy. We illustrate with an experiment where a simulated robot learns to control its arm for realising two kinds of different outcomes. It has to choose actively and hierarchically at each learning episode: 1) what to learn: which outcome is most interesting to select as a goal to focus on for goal-directed exploration; 2) how to learn: which data collection strategy to use among self-exploration, mimicry and emulation; 3) once he has decided when and what to imitate by choosing mimicry or emulation, then he has to choose who to imitate, from a set of different teachers. We show that SGIM-ACTS learns significantly more effciently than using single learning strategies, and coherently selects the best strategy with respect to the chosen outcome, taking advantage of the available teachers (with different levels of skills).
Epigenetic Modification at Notch Responsive Promoters Blunts Efficacy of Inducing Notch Pathway Reactivation After Myocardial Infarction

Rationale: The Notch pathway plays a key role in stimulating mammalian cardiomyocyte proliferation during development and in the early postnatal life; in adult zebrafish, reactivation of this pathway is also essential to drive cardiac regeneration after injury. Objective: We wanted to assess efficacy of Notch pathway stimulation in neonatal and adult hearts as a means to induce cardiac regeneration after myocardial infarction in mice. Methods and Results: In early postnatal life, cardiomyocyte exit from the cell cycle was paralleled by decreased Notch signaling and the establishment of a repressive chromatin environment at Notch-responsive genes, characterized by recruitment of the polycomb group enhancer of zeste homolog 2 methyltransferase and the acquisition of the histone 3 Lysine 27 trimethylation histone mark, as detected by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Forced Notch pathway activation by adenoassociated virus gene transfer of activated Notch1 or its ligand Jagged1 expanded the proliferative capacity of neonatal cardiomyocytes; this correlated with increased transcription of Notch target genes and maintenance of an open chromatin conformation at their promoters. The same adenoassociated virus vectors, however, were largely ineffective in stimulating cardiac repair after myocardial infarction in adult mice, despite optimal and long-lasting transgene expression. Analysis of Notch-responsive promoters in adult cardiomyocytes showed marks of repressed chromatin and irreversible CpG DNA methylation. Induction of adult cardiomyocyte re-entry into the cell cycle with microRNAs was independent from Notch pathway reactivation. Conclusions: Notch pathway activation is crucial in regulating cardiomyocyte proliferation during the early postnatal life, but it is largely ineffective in driving cardiac regeneration in adults, because of permanent epigenetic modification at Notch-responsive promoters.
Percutaneous T2 and T3 Radiofrequency Sympathectomy for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Secondary to Brachial Plexus Injury: A Case Series

Complex regional pain syndrome secondary to brachial plexus injury is often severe, debilitating and difficult to manage. Percuteneous radiofrequency sympathectomy is a relatively new technique, which has shown promising results in various chronic pain disorders. We present four consecutive patients with complex regional pain syndrome secondary to brachial plexus injury for more than 6 months duration, who had undergone percutaneous T2 and T3 radiofrequency sympathectomy after a diagnostic block. All four patients experienced minimal pain relief with conservative treatment and stellate ganglion blockade. An acceptable 6 month pain relief was achieved in all 4 patients where pain score remained less than 50% than that of initial score and all oral analgesics were able to be tapered down. There were no complications attributed to this procedure were reported. From this case series, percutaneous T2 and T3 radiofrequency sympathectomy might play a significant role in multi-modal approach of CRPS management.
Incorporating Web-based Learning into a Mixed – Mode Distance Education Delivery Format: Challenges and Possibilities Paper Presented

1 INTRODUCTION The new information and communication technologies (ICTs) are being hailed by many as holding the key to increasing the supply of education proportionate to the demand. The potential of a combination of existing and new technologies to reduce costs, increase access, expand range and quality of education and training options and make real the promises of life long education has been recognized by international organizations such as the World Bank, and academic institutions. notwithstanding its relative short history, must position itself to take full advantage of the possible advantages of the application of ICTs in the education process. In doing so however, the institution must ensure that the process of change involved in applying ICTs to the delivery of the programme is a smooth one, which enhances the existing structure and delivery. The UWIDEC has therefore embarked on a long-term research and development project, designed to monitor and evaluate the expanded use of the ICTs in programme delivery and to identify and analyse the key factors required to facilitate its sustained growth in the university's distance education programme. This paper, which represents the second stage of this research and development study, examines the challenges faced in incorporating web-based learning in a mixed-mode distance delivery format. It analyses the key factors which mitigate against the smooth incorporation of an additional mode of delivery and the possibilities for the future.
Prognostic value of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 mRNA in microdissected glomeruli from transplanted kidneys.

BACKGROUND Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) exerts antifibrinolytic and profibrotic activities. Inside the glomerulus, PAI-1 is mainly synthesized by mesangial cells. We hypothesized that thrombin, via its receptor protease activated receptor type 1 (PAR-1), present on the membrane of glomerular cells, is an important mediator of PAI-1 synthesis. METHODS Using the technique of Peten et al., we microdissected the glomeruli of 23 kidney transplanted patients admitted in our department from 1993 to 1997, and we followed-up these patients for up to 5 years, with sometimes iterative renal biopsies. With this technique, we also microdissected the glomeruli of three patients who have had a nephrectomy for cancer (control patients). We investigated mRNA expression of the PAI-1, the thrombin receptor PAR-1, the alpha2 chain of type IV (alpha2 IV) collagen, and of a housekeeping gene (cyclophilin) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The results were correlated with the renal function and the histological findings classified into acute rejection (9 biopsies), chronic rejection (22 biopsies), or normal (8 biopsies). RESULTS A significant up-regulation of PAI-1 and alpha2 IV collagen mRNA was observed in acute rejection (P<0.05) when compared to normal kidneys. A positive correlation exists between alpha2 IV collagen mRNA level and the degree of cellular infiltration. A negative correlation was found between the level of mRNA of PAR-1 and the degree of vascular thrombosis (P=0.005) and glomerulosclerosis (P=0.04). A positive correlation was found between the degradation of renal function and the mRNA level of PAI-1 at the time of the renal biopsy (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that glomerular PAI-1 mRNA may be predictive of the long-term renal graft function.
Taking computerized CBT beyond primary care.

OBJECTIVES This study seeks to determine whether the effectiveness of Beating the Blues (BtB), an established computer-based CBT (CCBT) programme, can extend beyond primary care. DESIGN BtB was delivered and evaluated in an NHS specialist CBT care centre as part of routine care. METHOD A sample of 104 service users, typically displaying chronic levels of depression and/or anxiety received CCBT. RESULTS Completers' scores on the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM), as well as on single-item rating scales for anxiety and depression, improved significantly following the intervention. Statistically significant differences held during intention-to-treat analyses. Almost half of the completer sample achieved reliable and clinically significant change. The results were benchmarked against national data sets. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary findings suggest a potential role for CCBT within secondary care as a first step, self-help treatment tool for anxiety and depression.