Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shear‐Induced Platelet Aggregation in Cerebral Ischemia

Background and Purpose Recent evidence has suggested that shear-induced platelet aggregation is an important mechanism of thrombosis at arterial bifurcations or stenoses. We measured shear-induced platelet aggregation with a new apparatus in patients with cerebral ischemia and also studied correlations with other hemostatic parameters as well as the effect of antiplatelet agents. Methods The subjects were 75 patients with cerebral ischemia and 26 control subjects. Platelet aggregation was induced in titrated platelet-rich plasma by a high shear stress (108 dynes/cm2) that was applied by means of a cone-plate streaming chamber based on turbidimetry. We studied the correlation of test results with hemostatic parameters and also the effects of antiplatelet agents. Results Compared with the control subjects, an increase of shear induced platelet aggregation was observed in 21 patients with atherothrombotic stroke and 12 with transient ischemic attacks, but not in 11 with cardioembolic stroke or 31 with lacunar stroke. There was no significant correlation of shearinduced platelet aggregation with platelet count, agonistinduced platelet aggregation, fibrinogen level, or β-thromboglobulin level. The extent of shear-induced aggregation was not correlated with von Willebrand factor antigen levels but was significantly correlated with the amounts of larger von Willebrand factor multimers. Oral aspirin (81 mg/d) did not inhibit shear-induced platelet aggregation, whereas oral ticlopidine (200 mg/d) significantly inhibited it. Conclusions These results indicate that shear-induced platelet aggregation is increased in patients with atherothrombotic stroke and transient ischemic attacks, is correlated with the increase of larger von Willebrand factor multimers, and is corrected by ticlopidine but not by low-dose aspirin.
Automated social event detection in large photo collections

The detection of a specific social event requires for high semantic understanding in the interpretation of particular event characteristics such as its type and location. In many cases, photos capturing different events at the same (or highly similar) locations can hardly be distinguished by each other. Available metadata can provide assistance where there is no expert knowledge at hand. However, metadata often lack completeness and reliability. In this paper, we explore the feasibility of a fully automated approach for the detection of specific social events. In comparison to related approaches, we do not incorporate query-specific processing and we perform no manual adaptation of the input query. The resulting approach is applicable to arbitrary event types.
Differential privacy under continual observation

Differential privacy is a recent notion of privacy tailored to privacy-preserving data analysis [11]. Up to this point, research on differentially private data analysis has focused on the setting of a trusted curator holding a large, static, data set; thus every computation is a "one-shot" object: there is no point in computing something twice, since the result will be unchanged, up to any randomness introduced for privacy. However, many applications of data analysis involve repeated computations, either because the entire goal is one of monitoring, e.g., of traffic conditions, search trends, or incidence of influenza, or because the goal is some kind of adaptive optimization, e.g., placement of data to minimize access costs. In these cases, the algorithm must permit continual observation of the system's state. We therefore initiate a study of differential privacy under continual observation. We identify the problem of maintaining a counter in a privacy preserving manner and show its wide applicability to many different problems.
Halogen Bonding versus Hydrogen Bonding: A Molecular Orbital Perspective

We have carried out extensive computational analyses of the structure and bonding mechanism in trihalides DX⋅⋅⋅A− and the analogous hydrogen-bonded complexes DH⋅⋅⋅A− (D, X, A=F, Cl, Br, I) using relativistic density functional theory (DFT) at zeroth-order regular approximation ZORA-BP86/TZ2P. One purpose was to obtain a set of consistent data from which reliable trends in structure and stability can be inferred over a large range of systems. The main objective was to achieve a detailed understanding of the nature of halogen bonds, how they resemble, and also how they differ from, the better understood hydrogen bonds. Thus, we present an accurate physical model of the halogen bond based on quantitative Kohn–Sham molecular orbital (MO) theory, energy decomposition analyses (EDA) and Voronoi deformation density (VDD) analyses of the charge distribution. It appears that the halogen bond in DX⋅⋅⋅A− arises not only from classical electrostatic attraction but also receives substantial stabilization from HOMO–LUMO interactions between the lone pair of A− and the σ* orbital of D–X.
Factors affecting the long term strength of compacted beaumont clay

This report describes results of an ongoing study of the stability of embankments constructed of highly plastic clays in Texas. Previous studies showed that such embankments failed by sliding many (10-30) years after construction and that the apparent shear strengths were substantially lower than the long term shear strengths determined on the basis of laboratory tests on compacted specimens. This report presents the finding of several series of tests performed to understand better the reasons for the discrepancies between field and laboratory shear strengths. Triaxial shear tests were performed to measure the effective stress shear strength parameters on (a) undisturbed specimens taken from actual slopes which had failed, (b) specimens prepared by consolidating soil from a slurry in the laboratory, and (c) specimens prepared by packing (remolding) soil into a special mold in the laboratory. In addition, residual shear strengths were determined on conventional compacted specimens. None of these tests fully explained the differences between field and laboratory strengths and produced agreement between laboratory and field values (a).
Domain-Creating Constraints

The contributions to this special issue on cognitive development collectively propose ways in which learning involves developing constraints that shape subsequent learning. A learning system must be constrained to learn efficiently, but some of these constraints are themselves learnable. To know how something will behave, a learner must know what kind of thing it is. Although this has led previous researchers to argue for domain-specific constraints that are tied to different kinds/domains, an exciting possibility is that kinds/domains themselves can be learned. General cognitive constraints, when combined with rich inputs, can establish domains, rather than these domains necessarily preexisting prior to learning. Knowledge is structured and richly differentiated, but its "skeleton" must not always be preestablished. Instead, the skeleton may be adapted to fit patterns of co-occurrence, task requirements, and goals. Finally, we argue that for models of development to demonstrate genuine cognitive novelty, it will be helpful for them to move beyond highly preprocessed and symbolic encodings that limit flexibility. We consider two physical models that learn to make tone discriminations. They are mechanistic models that preserve rich spatial, perceptual, dynamic, and concrete information, allowing them to form surprising new classes of hypotheses and encodings.
The internet AS-level topology: three data sources and one definitive metric

We calculate an extensive set of characteristics for Internet AS topologies extracted from the three data sources most frequently used by the research community: traceroutes, BGP, and WHOIS. We discover that traceroute and BGP topologies are similar to one another but differ substantially from the WHOIS topology. Among the widely considered metrics, we find that the joint degree distribution appears to fundamentally characterize Internet AS topologies as well as narrowly define values for other important metrics. We discuss the interplay between the specifics of the three data collection mechanisms and the resulting topology views. In particular, we how how the data collection peculiarities explain differences in the resulting joint degree distributions of the respective topologies. Finally, we release to the community the input topology datasets, along with the scripts and output of our calculations. This supplement hould enable researchers to validate their models against real data and to make more informed election of topology data sources for their specific needs
Intracellular trafficking of yeast telomerase components

Telomerase uses an internal RNA moiety as template for the synthesis of telomere repeats. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the telomerase holoenzyme contains the telomerase reverse transcriptase subunit Est2p, the telomerase RNA moiety TLC1, the telomerase associated proteins Est1p and Est3p, and Sm proteins. Here we assess telomerase assembly by determining the localization of telomerase components. We found that Est1p, Est2p and TLC1 can migrate independently of each other to the nucleus. With limiting amounts of TLC1, overexpressed Est1p and Est2p accumulated in the nucleolus, whereas enzymatically active Est2p–TLC1 complexes are distributed over the entire nucleus. The distribution to the nucleoplasm depended on the specific interaction between Est2p and TLC1 but was independent of Est1p and Est3p. Altogether, our results suggest a role of the nucleolus in telomerase biogenesis. We also describe experiments that support a transient cytoplasmic localization of TLC1 RNA.
In vitro Anti-Tumor Effects of Statins on Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review

Background Statins are commonly used against arteriosclerotic disease, but recent retrospective analyses have suggested that statins also prevent cancer. The aim of this systematic review is to verify the vitro anti-tumor effects of statins on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Methods Studies were gathered by searching Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, and PubMed, up until May 9, 2015, with no time or language restrictions. Only in vitro studies that discuss the effect of statins on head and neck carcinoma were selected. Results Of 153 identified papers, 14 studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies demonstrated that statins had a significant effect on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines and influenced cell viability, cell cycle, cell death, and protein expression levels involved in pathways of carcinogenesis, which corroborates with the potential in vitro anti-tumor effects. It provides highlights about the biological mechanisms of statins used alone or associated with traditional therapy for cancer. Conclusions Though there are few studies on the topic, currently available evidence suggests that statins shows that preclinical experiments supports the potentiality of statin as an adjuvant agent in chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy approaches routinely used in the management of HNSCC and should undergo further clinical assessment.
Microsatellites Reveal Genetic Homogeneity among Outbreak Populations of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

Specific patterns in the initiation and spread of reef-wide outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish are important, both to understand potential causes (or triggers) of outbreaks and to develop more effective and highly targeted management and containment responses. Using analyses of genetic diversity and structure (based on 17 microsatellite loci), this study attempted to resolve the specific origin for recent outbreaks of crown-of-thorns on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GBR). We assessed the genetic structure amongst 2705 starfish collected from 13 coral reefs in four regions that spanned ~1000 km of the GBR. Our results indicate that populations sampled across the full length of the GBR are genetically homogeneous (G’ST = −0.001; p = 0.948) with no apparent genetic structure between regions. Approximate Bayesian computational analyses suggest that all sampled populations had a common origin and that current outbreaking populations of crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS) in the Swains are not independent of outbreak populations in the northern GBR. Despite hierarchical sampling and large numbers of CoTS genotyped from individual reefs and regions, limited genetic structure meant we were unable to determine a putative source population for the current outbreak of CoTS on the GBR. The very high genetic homogeneity of sampled populations and limited evidence of inbreeding indicate rapid expansion in population size from multiple, undifferentiated latent populations.
Membrane and secretory proteins are transported from the Golgi complex to the sinusoidal plasmalemma of hepatocytes by distinct vesicular carriers

From rat livers labeled in vivo for 30 min with [35S] cys-met, we have isolated two classes of vesicular carriers operating between the Golgi complex and the basolateral (sinusoidal) plasmalemma. The starting preparation is a Golgi light fraction (GLF) isolated by flotation in a discontinuous sucrose density gradient and processed through immunoisolation on magnetic beads coated with an antibody against the last 11 aa. of the pIgA-R tail. GLF and the ensuing subfractions (bound vs nonbound) were lysed, and the lysates processed through immunoprecipitation with anti-pIgA-R and anti-albumin antibodies followed by radioactivity counting, SDS-PAGE, and fluorography. The recovery of newly synthesized pIgA-R was > 90% and the distribution was 90% vs 10% in the bound vs nonbound subfractions, respectively. Albumin radioactivity was recovered to approximately 80%, with 20% and 80% in bound vs nonbound subfractions, respectively. Other proteins studied were: (a) secretory-apolipoprotein-B, prothrombin, C3 component of the complement, and caeruloplasmin; (b) membrane-transferrin receptor, EGR- receptor, asialoglycoprotein receptor, and the glucose transporter. In all the experiments we have performed, the secretory proteins distributed up to 85% in the nonbound subfraction (large secretory vacuoles), whereas the membrane proteins were segregated up to 95% in the bound subfraction (small vesicular carriers). These results suggest that in hepatocytes, membrane and secretory proteins are transported from the Golgi to the basolateral plasmalemma by separate vesicular carriers as in glandular cells capable of constitutive and regulated secretion.
Blood transcriptomic diagnosis of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis

BACKGROUND. Novel rapid diagnostics for active tuberculosis (TB) are required to overcome the time delays and inadequate sensitivity of current microbiological tests that are critically dependent on sampling the site of disease. Multiparametric blood transcriptomic signatures of TB have been described as potential diagnostic tests. We sought to identify the best transcript candidates as host biomarkers for active TB, extend the evaluation of their specificity by comparison with other infectious diseases, and to test their performance in both pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB. METHODS. Support vector machine learning, combined with feature selection, was applied to new and previously published blood transcriptional profiles in order to identify the minimal TB‑specific transcriptional signature shared by multiple patient cohorts including pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB, and individuals with and without HIV-1 coinfection. RESULTS. We identified and validated elevated blood basic leucine zipper transcription factor 2 (BATF2) transcript levels as a single sensitive biomarker that discriminated active pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB from healthy individuals, with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) scores of 0.93 to 0.99 in multiple cohorts of HIV-1–negative individuals, and 0.85 in HIV-1–infected individuals. In addition, we identified and validated a potentially novel 4-gene signature comprising CD177, haptoglobin, immunoglobin J chain, and galectin 10 that discriminated active pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB from other febrile infections, giving ROC AUCs of 0.94 to 1. CONCLUSIONS. Elevated blood BATF2 transcript levels provide a sensitive biomarker that discriminates active TB from healthy individuals, and a potentially novel 4-gene transcriptional signature differentiates between active TB and other infectious diseases in individuals presenting with fever. FUNDING. MRC, Wellcome Trust, Rosetrees Trust, British Lung Foundation, NIHR.
Use of Crushed Rock Powder as Replacement of Fine Aggregate in Mortar and Concrete

Concrete is a major building material which is used in construction throughout the world. It is extremely versatile and is used for all types of structures. Due to rapid growth in construction activity, the consumption of concrete is increasing every year. This results in excessive extraction of natural aggregates. The use of these materials is being constrained by urbanization, zoning regulations, increased cost and environmental concern. Thus, it is becoming inevitable to use alternative materials for aggregates in concrete which include recycled aggregates, fly ash, manufactured sand, crushed rock powder etc. The use of such materials not only results in conservation of natural resources but also helps in maintaining good environmental conditions. The present investigation aims in the study of properties of mortar and concrete in which Crushed Rock Powder (CRP) is used as a partial and full replacement for natural sand. For mortar, CRP is replaced at 20% 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%. The basic strength properties of concrete were investigated by replacing natural sand by CRP at replacement levels of 20%, 30% and 40%
You cannot patch active plasma and collisionless sheath

The fluid equations for the plasma-sheath are examined over the range of collisionality from collisionless to fully collisional. The method of "patching" plasma to sheath is examined critically in comparison with matched asymptotic approximations and solutions computed without approximation. It is concluded that it is necessary to include a transition layer in order to smoothly join plasma and collisionless sheath-and then the Bohm Criterion applies. When the sheath is collisional, the orderings are different and there is no transitional layer but equally there is no collisionally modified Bohm Criterion. Nevertheless, a method is given for calculating the ion flux to the wall under conditions where the sheath is collisional.
Contribution of astrocytes to hippocampal long-term potentiation through release of d-serine

Repetitive correlated activation of pre- and postsynaptic neurons induced long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic transmission among hippocampal neurons grown on a layer of astrocytes (mixed cultures) but not among neurons cultured in glial conditioned medium. Supplement of d-serine, an agonist for the glycine-binding site of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, enhanced NMDA receptor activation and enabled LTP induction in glial conditioned medium cultures. The induction of LTP in both mixed cultures and hippocampal slices was suppressed by NMDA receptor antagonists, glycine-binding-site blockers of NMDA receptors, or an enzyme that degrades endogenous d-serine. By providing extracellular d-serine that facilitates activation of NMDA receptors, astrocytes thus play a key role in long-term synaptic plasticity.
SPECTRUM SYNTHESIS MODELING OF THE X-RAY SPECTRUM OF GRO J1655-40 TAKEN DURING THE 2005 OUTBURST

The spectrum from the black hole X-ray transient GRO J1655-40 obtained using the Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating in 2005 is notable as a laboratory for the study of warm absorbers, and for the presence of many lines from odd-Z elements between Na and Co (and Ti and Cr) not previously observed in X-rays. We present synthetic spectral models which can be used to constrain these element abundances and other parameters describing the outflow from the warm absorber in this object. We present results of fitting to the spectrum using various tools and techniques, including automated line fitting, phenomenological models, and photoionization modeling. We show that the behavior of the curves of growth of lines from H-like and Li-like ions indicate that the lines are either saturated or affected by filling-in from scattered or a partially covered continuum source. We confirm the conclusion of previous work by Miller et al., which shows that the ionization conditions are not consistent with wind driving due to thermal expansion. The spectrum provides the opportunity to measure abundances for several elements not typically observable in the X-ray band. These show a pattern of enhancement for iron peak elements, and solar or subsolar values for elements lighter than calcium. Models show that this is consistent with enrichment by a core-collapse supernova. We discuss the implications of these values for the evolutionary history of this system.
Number-Based Visual Generalisation in the Honeybee

Although the numerical abilities of many vertebrate species have been investigated in the scientific literature, there are few convincing accounts of invertebrate numerical competence. Honeybees, Apis mellifera, by virtue of their other impressive cognitive feats, are a prime candidate for investigations of this nature. We therefore used the well-established delayed match-to-sample paradigm, to test the limits of honeybees' ability to match two visual patterns solely on the basis of the shared number of elements in the two patterns. Using a y-maze, we found that bees can not only differentiate between patterns containing two and three elements, but can also use this prior knowledge to differentiate three from four, without any additional training. However, bees trained on the two versus three task could not distinguish between higher numbers, such as four versus five, four versus six, or five versus six. Control experiments confirmed that the bees were not using cues such as the colour of the exact configuration of the visual elements, the combined area or edge length of the elements, or illusory contours formed by the elements. To our knowledge, this is the first report of number-based visual generalisation by an invertebrate.
First-Trimester Screening for Spontaneous Preterm Delivery with Maternal Characteristics and Cervical Length

Objective: It was the aim of this study to examine the potential value of cervical length at 11–13 weeks’ gestation in the prediction of spontaneous preterm delivery. Methods: This was a screening study for spontaneous preterm delivery in singleton pregnancies from cervical length measured by transvaginal ultrasound at 11–13 weeks’ gestation. The performance of screening for preterm delivery by cervical length alone and with maternal characteristics was estimated. Results: In the 9,974 pregnancies included in the study, spontaneous delivery before 34 weeks occurred in 104 (1.0%) cases. Multivariate regression analysis in the term delivery group demonstrated that for the log10 cervical length, significant independent contributions were provided by fetal crown-rump length, maternal height, age, racial origin and parity. The median cervical length multiple of the median (MoM), corrected for maternal characteristics, was significantly lower in the preterm (0.892 MoM, 95% CI 0.829–0.945) than in the term delivery group (0.994 MoM, 95% CI 0.919–1.082; p < 0.0001). In screening by a combination of maternal characteristics and cervical length, the estimated detection rate of preterm delivery was 54.8% (95% CI 44.7–64.6), at a false-positive rate of 10%. Conclusions: Effective first-trimester screening for spontaneous early preterm delivery can be provided by a combination of maternal characteristics and cervical length.