Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Peripherally Administered Nanoparticles Target Monocytic Myeloid Cells, Secondary Lymphoid Organs and Tumors in Mice

Nanoparticles have been extensively developed for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. While the focus of nanoparticle trafficking in vivo has traditionally been on drug delivery and organ-level biodistribution and clearance, recent work in cancer biology and infectious disease suggests that targeting different cells within a given organ can substantially affect the quality of the immunological response. Here, we examine the cell-level biodistribution kinetics after administering ultrasmall Pluronic-stabilized poly(propylene sulfide) nanoparticles in the mouse. These nanoparticles depend on lymphatic drainage to reach the lymph nodes and blood, and then enter the spleen rather than the liver, where they interact with monocytes, macrophages and myeloid dendritic cells. They were more readily taken up into lymphatics after intradermal (i.d.) compared to intramuscular administration, leading to ∼50% increased bioavailability in blood. When administered i.d. , their distribution favored antigen-presenting cells, with especially strong targeting to myeloid cells. In tumor-bearing mice, the monocytic and the polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cell compartments were efficiently and preferentially targeted, rendering this nanoparticulate formulation potentially useful for reversing the highly suppressive activity of these cells in the tumor stroma.
Overrepresentation of IL-17A and IL-22 Producing CD8 T Cells in Lesional Skin Suggests Their Involvement in the Pathogenesis of Psoriasis

Background Although recent studies indicate a crucial role for IL-17A and IL-22 producing T cells in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, limited information is available on their frequency and heterogeneity and their distribution in skin in situ. Methodology/Principal Findings By spectral imaging analysis of double-stained skin sections we demonstrated that IL-17 was mainly expressed by mast cells and neutrophils and IL-22 by macrophages and dendritic cells. Only an occasional IL-17pos, but no IL-22pos T cell could be detected in psoriatic skin, whereas neither of these cytokines was expressed by T cells in normal skin. However, examination of in vitro-activated T cells by flow cytometry revealed that substantial percentages of skin-derived CD4 and CD8 T cells were able to produce IL-17A alone or together with IL-22 (i.e. Th17 and Tc17, respectively) or to produce IL-22 in absence of IL-17A and IFN-γ (i.e. Th22 and Tc22, respectively). Remarkably, a significant proportional rise in Tc17 and Tc22 cells, but not in Th17 and Th22 cells, was found in T cells isolated from psoriatic versus normal skin. Interestingly, we found IL-22 single-producers in many skin-derived IL-17Apos CD4 and CD8 T cell clones, suggesting that in vivo IL-22 single-producers may arise from IL-17Apos T cells as well. Conclusions/Significance The increased presence of Tc17 and Tc22 cells in lesional psoriatic skin suggests that these types of CD8 T cells play a significant role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. As part of the skin-derived IL-17Apos CD4 and CD8 T clones developed into IL-22 single-producers, this demonstrates plasticity in their cytokine production profile and suggests a developmental relationship between Th17 and Th22 cells and between Tc17 and Tc22 cells.
Inositol Pyrophosphates and Their Unique Metabolic Complexity: Analysis by Gel Electrophoresis

Background Inositol pyrophosphates are a recently characterized cell signalling molecules responsible for the pyrophosphorylation of protein substrates. Though likely involved in a wide range of cellular functions, the study of inositol pyrophosphates has suffered from a lack of readily available methods for their analysis. Principal Finding We describe a novel, sensitive and rapid polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE)-based method for the analysis of inositol pyrophosphates. Using 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and Toluidine Blue we demonstrate the unequivocal detection of various inositol pyrophosphate species. Conclusion The use of the PAGE-based method reveals the likely underestimation of inositol pyrophosphates and their signalling contribution in cells when measured via traditional HPLC-based techniques. PAGE-based analyses also reveals the existence of a number of additional, previously uncharacterised pyrophosphorylated inositol reaction products, defining a more complex metabolism associated with the catalytically flexible kinase class responsible for the production of these highly energetic cell signalling molecules.
Effect of different chelated zinc sources on the growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.)

A field study was conducted at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during spring, 2007 to evaluate the effect of different chelated zinc sources on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.). Crop was sown on well prepared soil in 1 st week of March, 2007. The experiment was laid out according to randomized complete block design. The treatments comprised of different chelated zinc sources: ZnSO4-DTPA, ZnSO4-Fulvate, ZnSO4-Lignosulphonate, ZnSO4-EDTA and ZnSO4-H2O along with control (no zinc), repeated three times. Results showed that number of cobs plant -1 , grain rows cob -1 and oil contents did not differ significantly. However, differences among treatments for plant height at harvest (cm), leaf area plant -1 (cm 2 ), stem diameter (cm), cob length (cm), cob diameter (cm), 100-grains weight (g), number of grains cob -1 , grains weight cob -1 (g), biological yield (tons ha -1 ), grain yield (tons ha -1 ) and protein contents (%) were significantly higher. Moreover, results also revealed that ZnSO4-DPTA was found the most effective Zn chelated source among all the treatments. Rest of the chelating agents were not too impressive as they showed varied response for different variables. The result of this experiment suggest further experimentation to explore behaviour of Zn-DTPA with other macro and micro nutrients and to calculate cost benefit ratio for use of Zn chelated compounds.
Atrial fibrillation episodes detection based on classification of heart rate derived features

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmia and effects nearly 1–2 of every 100 persons of the population. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of Machine Learning (ML) approach to detect AF episodes. Features, determined exclusively on the basis of beat intervals, are classified with linear classifier. Performances of the proposed approach are evaluated by means of the MIT-BIH Atrial Fibrillation Database.
Comprehensive RNA-Seq Analysis on the Regulation of Tomato Ripening by Exogenous Auxin

Auxin has been shown to modulate the fruit ripening process. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying auxin regulation of fruit ripening are still not clear. Illumina RNA sequencing was performed on mature green cherry tomato fruit 1 and 7 days after auxin treatment, with untreated fruit as a control. The results showed that exogenous auxin maintained system 1 ethylene synthesis and delayed the onset of system 2 ethylene synthesis and the ripening process. At the molecular level, genes associated with stress resistance were significantly up-regulated, but genes related to carotenoid metabolism, cell degradation and energy metabolism were strongly down-regulated by exogenous auxin. Furthermore, genes encoding DNA demethylases were inhibited by auxin, whereas genes encoding cytosine-5 DNA methyltransferases were induced, which contributed to the maintenance of high methylation levels in the nucleus and thus inhibited the ripening process. Additionally, exogenous auxin altered the expression patterns of ethylene and auxin signaling-related genes that were induced or repressed in the normal ripening process, suggesting significant crosstalk between these two hormones during tomato ripening. The present work is the first comprehensive transcriptome analysis of auxin-treated tomato fruit during ripening. Our results provide comprehensive insights into the effects of auxin on the tomato ripening process and the mechanism of crosstalk between auxin and ethylene.
Prediction of Para-aortic Spread by Gross Pelvic Lymph Node Findings in Patients With Endometrial Carcinoma

Objective Isolated para-aortic lymph node metastases are rare in patients with endometrial carcinoma. We wanted to determine the reliability of macroscopic pelvic lymph node findings at surgery in predicting para-aortic space involvement in these patients. Methods We identified all women with surgically treated endometrial carcinoma at our institution between January 2008 and February 2013 (n = 854). One hundred seventeen patients received pelvic-aortic lymphadenectomy. Lymph nodes were considered grossly positive based on size and morphology. Results In patients who underwent comprehensive lymphadenectomy, grossly positive pelvic nodes predicted para-aortic metastasis with a sensitivity of 52.4% and specificity of 93.8%. The positive and negative likelihood ratios were 8.4 and 0.51, respectively. The predictive power of grossly positive pelvic nodes remained significant (odds ratio, 18; 95% confidence interval, 4.1–78; P < 0.0001) after correcting for deep myometrial invasion, poor tumor differentiation, and nonendometrioid histology as confounders. The whole sample of 854 patients was used for Bayesian calculations. The cutoff for a clinically useful test was set at the negative predictive value of 98.0%. The negative predictive value of the test (ie, grossly positive pelvic nodes at surgery in predicting the likelihood of para-aortic metastasis) was 99.7% for patients with superficial grade 1 to 2 endometrioid carcinomas and 98.0% for patients with deeply invasive grade 1 to 2 endometrioid carcinomas. For patients with grade 3 endometrioid and nonendometrioid carcinomas, the negative predictive values were 97.3% and 92.2%, respectively. For the whole study population, the value was 98.4%. Conclusions When uterine factors are used for risk stratification of endometrial carcinomas, selective para-aortic lymphadenectomy, based on gross findings of pelvic nodes, is feasible for patients with grade 1 to 2 endometrioid carcinomas, regardless of the depth of myometrial invasion. Similarly, gross findings of pelvic nodes can be used to evaluate the need for para-aortic lymphadenectomy in the strategy of routine pelvic lymphadenectomy.
Discovering Hidden Factors of Variation in Deep Networks

Deep learning has enjoyed a great deal of success because of its ability to learn useful features for tasks such as classification. But there has been less exploration in learning the factors of variation apart from the classification signal. By augmenting autoencoders with simple regularization terms during training, we demonstrate that standard deep architectures can discover and explicitly represent factors of variation beyond those relevant for categorization. We introduce a cross-covariance penalty (XCov) as a method to disentangle factors like handwriting style for digits and subject identity in faces. We demonstrate this on the MNIST handwritten digit database, the Toronto Faces Database (TFD) and the Multi-PIE dataset by generating manipulated instances of the data. Furthermore, we demonstrate these deep networks can extrapolate `hidden' variation in the supervised signal.
Limitations on the effective area and bandwidth product for array antennas

An upper bound on the effective area and bandwidth product for linearly polarized array antennas is derived. The bound is based on the forward scattering sum rule that relates the antenna properties with the polarizability of the antenna structure. The results are illustrated for a dipole array and a capacitively loaded dipole array with numerical simulations.
Semantic facilitation with pictures and words.

The present experiments explored the role of processing level and strategic factors in cross-form (word-picture and picture-word) and within-form (picture-picture and word-word) semantic facilitation. Previous studies have produced mixed results. The findings presented in this article indicate that semantic facilitation depends on the task and on the subjects' strategies. When the task required semantic processing of both picture and word targets (e.g., category verification), equivalent facilitation was obtained across all modality combinations. When the task required name processing (e.g., name verification, naming), facilitation was obtained for the picture targets. In contrast, with word targets, facilitation was obtained only when the situation emphasized semantic processing. The results are consistent with models that propose a common semantic representation for both picture and words but that also include assumptions regarding differential order of access to semantic and phonemic features for these stimulus modalities.
Coexistence and Specialization of Pathogen Strains on Contact Networks

The coexistence of different pathogen strains has implications for pathogen variability and disease control and has been explained in a number of different ways. We use contact networks, which represent interactions between individuals through which infection could be transmitted, to investigate strain coexistence. For sexually transmitted diseases the structure of contact networks has received detailed study and has been shown to be a vital determinant of the epidemiological dynamics. By using analytical pairwise models and stochastic simulations, we demonstrate that network structure also has a profound influence on the interaction between pathogen strains. In particular, when the population is serially monogamous, fully cross‐reactive strains can coexist, with different strains dominating in network regions with different characteristics. Furthermore, we observe specialization of different strains in different risk groups within the network, suggesting the existence of diverging evolutionary pressures.
Time-Varying Topic Models using Dependent Dirichlet Processes

We lay the ground for extending Dirichlet Processes based clustering and factor models to explicitly include variability as a function of time (or other known covariates) by integrating a Dependent Dirichlet Processes into existing hierarchical topic models. Time-Varying Topic Models using Dependent Dirichlet Processes Nathan Srebro Sam Roweis Dept. of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Canada {nati,roweis}@cs.toronto. edu Abstract We lay the ground for extending Dirichlet Processes based clustering and factor models to explicitly include variability as a function of time (or other known covariates) by integrating a Dependent Dirichlet Processes into existing hierarchical topic models.We lay the ground for extending Dirichlet Processes based clustering and factor models to explicitly include variability as a function of time (or other known covariates) by integrating a Dependent Dirichlet Processes into existing hierarchical topic models.
The receptor kinase FER is a RALF-regulated scaffold controlling plant immune signaling

Small peptides allow rapid responses RALFs (rapid alkalinization factors), a family of small peptides in plants, are produced in response to rapidly changing conditions. Stegmann et al. studied the agility and diversity built into this signaling network. Some RALFs, such as RALF23 and its relative RALF33, are activated by proteolytic cleavage. Others, such as RALF32, are not. RALF23 and RALF33 are called into play after a pathogen triggers immune responses. RALF32, on the other hand, regulates seedling growth. All three of these RALFs use the same receptor kinase, which can interact with other signaling components. Thus, plant responses can be fine-tuned by rapid release of peptides. Science, this issue p. 287 Regulation of plant immune responses involves competition between antagonistic but unique peptides for a broadly accessible receptor. In plants, perception of invading pathogens involves cell-surface immune receptor kinases. Here, we report that the Arabidopsis SITE-1 PROTEASE (S1P) cleaves endogenous RAPID ALKALINIZATION FACTOR (RALF) propeptides to inhibit plant immunity. This inhibition is mediated by the malectin-like receptor kinase FERONIA (FER), which otherwise facilitates the ligand-induced complex formation of the immune receptor kinases EF-TU RECEPTOR (EFR) and FLAGELLIN-SENSING 2 (FLS2) with their co-receptor BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1–ASSOCIATED KINASE 1 (BAK1) to initiate immune signaling. We show that FER acts as a RALF-regulated scaffold that modulates receptor kinase complex assembly. A similar scaffolding mechanism may underlie FER function in other signaling pathways.
Evaluating bronchodilator response in pediatric patients with post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans: use of different criteria for identifying airway reversibility

ABSTRACT Objective: Post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans (PIBO) is a clinical entity that has been classified as constrictive, fixed obstruction of the lumen by fibrotic tissue. However, recent studies using impulse oscillometry have reported bronchodilator responses in PIBO patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate bronchodilator responses in pediatric PIBO patients, comparing different criteria to define the response. Methods: We evaluated pediatric patients diagnosed with PIBO and treated at one of two pediatric pulmonology outpatient clinics in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil. Spirometric parameters were measured in accordance with international recommendations. Results: We included a total of 72 pediatric PIBO patients. The mean pre- and post-bronchodilator values were clearly lower than the reference values for all parameters, especially FEF25-75%. There were post-bronchodilator improvements. When measured as mean percent increases, FEV1 and FEF25-75%, improved by 11% and 20%, respectively. However, when the absolute values were calculated, the mean FEV1 and FEF25-75% both increased by only 0.1 L. We found that age at viral aggression, a family history of asthma, and allergy had no significant effects on bronchodilator responses. Conclusions: Pediatric patients with PIBO have peripheral airway obstruction that is responsive to treatment but is not completely reversible with a bronchodilator. The concept of PIBO as fixed, irreversible obstruction does not seem to apply to this population. Our data suggest that airway obstruction is variable in PIBO patients, a finding that could have major clinical implications.
Comparative performance evaluation of MAC protocols in ad hoc networks with bandwidth partitioning

This paper considers the performance of the MAC protocols ALOHA and CSMA in wireless ad hoc networks, where the total system bandwidth may be divided into smaller subbands. In the network model used, the arrival of users/packets follows a Poisson point process, communication between nodes is continuous in time, selection of a subband to transmit across is made randomly at each transmitter, and the outage assessments made in the network are based on SINR measurements. Accurate bounds on the probability of outage for the MAC protocols are derived, and evaluated with respect to the number of subbands. It is observed that there exists an optimal number of subbands for each protocol, for which the probability of outage is minimized. For ALOHA, we obtain an analytical expression for this optimal value, while in CSMA, the optimal value is observed through simulations. Furthermore, we improve the performance of CSMA by introducing channel sensing across all subbands, in order to decrease the probability that a packet is in outage upon arrival. The obtained results are used to compare the performance of the two MAC protocols. Finally, we also evaluate the performance of our network in terms of sum capacity.
Normally-off operation of Al2O3/GaN MOSFET based on AlGaN/GaN heterostructure with p-GaN buffer layer

An AlGaN/GaN-based normally-off GaN MOSFET with p-GaN buffer layer has been demonstrated, for the first time, using over-recessed gate. It is believed that p-GaN buffer layer has advantage of not only increasing the threshold voltage due to depletion effect, but also reducing the buffer leakage current. The fabricated GaN MOSFET with 30 nm-thick ALD Al2O3 as the gate insulator exhibited good device performances, such as a maximum drain current of 109 mA/mm, a maximum extrinsic transconductance of 30 mS/mm, a low specific on-resistance of 1.86 mn-cm2, and a subthreshold slope of 365 mV/dec with threshold voltage of 2.9 V.
Effect of the Bonding Temperature on the Bonding Interface in the Press Bonding of Ti-17 Alloy

The press bonding experiments of Ti-17 alloy were conducted at the bonding temperatures ranging from 730°C to 880°C, a bonding pressure of 20 MPa and a bonding time of 15 min. The results show that the plastic deformation is a main bonding mechanism in the press bonding of Ti-17 alloy. With an increase in bonding temperature, the plastic deformation enhances and voids in the bonding interface disappear gradually. The grain boundary migration and grain growth spanning the bonding interface start to activate, which is of benefit to obtaining a sound bond. The failure mode of bonding interface changes from a brittle fracture to a ductile fracture. However, a higher bonding temperature will induce grain coarsening which result in strength decreasing. The SEM of lap shear fracture surfaces indicates that a bond with superior strength can be obtained at a bonding temperature of 860°C.
Cervical slide tracheoplasty.

OBJECTIVE To describe our experience with cervical slide tracheoplasty (CST) in managing complex laryngotracheal disorders. DESIGN Retrospective analysis. SETTING Quaternary care pediatric institution. PATIENTS The study included 29 patients who underwent CST without cardiopulmonary bypass at our institution from January 2003 to January 2011. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Surgery-specific and overall operative success. RESULTS The most common airway lesion in our cohort of 29 patients (mean age, 10.7 years) was tracheal stenosis (n = 18); 10 of 18 patients had long-segment acquired tracheal stenosis. Operation-specific success was achieved in 23 of 29 patients (79%), including all 10 patients with long-segment acquired tracheal stenosis. Six patients failed initial CST and required additional surgical procedures. Overall success was achieved in 3 of these patients. Patients with subglottic stenosis (n = 7), concomitant glottic stenosis (n = 4), and multilevel airway lesions (n = 10) had lower operation-specific and overall operative success than did patients with other airway lesions. Four patients (14%) experienced complications. CONCLUSIONS Cervical slide tracheoplasty is a valuable technique that should be added to the surgical armamentarium for patients requiring open airway reconstruction. This technique yields a high success rate in treating patients with a broad spectrum of complex laryngotracheal disorders.
Body Weight and the Quality of Interpersonal Relationships

We investigate whether underweight, normal-weight, overweight, and obese Americans differ in their evaluations of positive and negative aspects of their interpersonal relationships. Analyses are based on data from the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) study, a survey of more than 3,000 adults ages 25 to 74 in 1995. We find no significant differences across the body mass index (BMI) categories in the quality of relationships with friends, coworkers, and spouses. Severely obese persons report significantly higher levels of strain and lower levels of support in their family relationships. This pattern, however, is contingent upon one's adolescent body weight. Among persons who were of “normal” weight at age 21, current BMI is not associated with relationship quality. For persons who were overweight at age 21, the level of social support received from family during adulthood declines as adult BMI increases. Implications for stigma theory are discussed.