Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Video Event Modeling and Recognition in Generalized Stochastic Petri Nets

In this paper, we propose the surveillance event recognition framework using Petri Nets (SERF-PN) for recognition of event occurrences in video. The Petri Net (PN) formalism allows a robust way to express semantic knowledge about the event domain as well as efficient algorithms for recognizing events as they occur in a particular video sequence. The major novelties of this paper are extensions to both the modeling and the recognition capacities of the Object PN paradigm. The first contribution of this paper is the extension of the PN representational capacities by introducing stochastic timed transitions to allow modeling of events which have some variance in duration. These stochastic timed transitions sample the duration of the condition from a parametrized distribution. The parameters of this distribution can be specified manually or learned from available video data. A second representational novelty is the use of a single PN to represent the entire event domain, as opposed to previous approaches which have utilized several networks, one for each event of interest. A third contribution of this paper is the capacity to probabilistically predict future events by constructing a discrete time Markov chain model of transitions between states. The experiments section of the paper thoroughly evaluates the application of the SERF-PN framework in the event domains of surveillance and traffic monitoring and provides comparison to other approaches using the CAVIAR dataset , a standard dataset for video analysis applications.
Effect of Natural and Bio-Fertilizers on Productivity and Quality of Table Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Grown in Sandy Soil at Siwa Oasis, Egypt

A field experiment was conducted on table beet (Detrweet cv.) throughout two consecutive winter seasons of 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 in Khimisah experimental farm which is located at the latitude of 29°12' 34.5 N'', and the longitude of 25° 24' 2.56'' E. , at Siwa Research Station, Matrouh Governorate, Desert Research Center, Cairo, Egypt. The field experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with split plot. The main factor was the mineral fertilizer (MF) at 62kgP2O5 + 100kgK2O/fed as calcium super phosphate (15.5% P2O5) + potassium sulfate (50%K2O) i.e. recommended dose (RD), 62kgP2O5 as rock phosphate (RP), 100kgK2O/fed as rock feldspar (RK) and RP+RK, while the sub main factor have been dedicated to the bio-fertilizers (BF) treatments i.e. without inoculation, with phosphate dissolving bacteria (PDB), with potassium solublizing bacteria (KSB) and PDB+KSB.
Akt/Protein Kinase B Signaling Inhibitor-2, a Selective Small Molecule Inhibitor of Akt Signaling with Antitumor Activity in Cancer Cells Overexpressing Akt

Accumulated studies have shown that activation of the Akt pathway plays a pivotal role in malignant transformation and chemoresistance by inducing cell survival, growth, migration, and angiogenesis. Therefore, Akt is believed to be a critical target for cancer intervention. Here, we report the discovery of a small molecule Akt pathway inhibitor, Akt/protein kinase B signaling inhibitor-2 (API-2), by screening the National Cancer Institute Diversity Set. API-2 suppressed the kinase activity and phosphorylation level of Akt. The inhibition of Akt kinase resulted in suppression of cell growth and induction of apoptosis in human cancer cells that harbor constitutively activated Akt due to overexpression of Akt or other genetic alterations such as PTEN mutation. API-2 is highly selective for Akt and does not inhibit the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase, phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1, protein kinase C, serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase, protein kinase A, signal transducer and activators of transcription 3, extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2, or c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase. Furthermore, API-2 potently inhibited tumor growth in nude mice of human cancer cells in which Akt is aberrantly expressed/activated but not of those cancer cells in which it is not. These findings provide strong evidence for pharmacologically targeting Akt for anticancer drug discovery.
Concentrations of C-reactive protein and B-type natriuretic peptide 30 days after acute coronary syndromes independently predict hospitalization for heart failure and cardiovascular death.

BACKGROUND Heart failure (HF) is an important cause of morbidity in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). C-reactive protein (CRP) has been implicated in experimental models as exacerbating myocardial injury, but data regarding the clinical relationship of high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations with the risk of HF after ACS are few. METHODS PROVE IT-TIMI 22 randomized 4162 patients who had been stabilized after ACS to either intensive or moderate statin therapy. hsCRP and BNP were measured 30 days after randomization. Hospitalizations for HF and cardiovascular death occurring after day 30 were assessed for a mean follow-up of 24 months. RESULTS Patients who developed HF had higher concentrations of hsCRP (3.7 mg/L vs 1.9 mg/L, P < 0.001) and BNP (59 ng/L vs 22 ng/L, P < 0.0001). HF increased in a stepwise manner with hsCRP quartile [adjusted hazard ratio (HR(adj)) for Q4 vs Q1, 2.5; P = 0.01] and BNP quartile (HR(adj) for Q4 vs Q1, 5.8; P < 0.001), with similar results obtained for HF and cardiovascular death. In a multivariable analysis, higher concentrations of hsCRP and BNP were both independently associated with HF [HR(adj), 1.9 for hsCRP >2.0 mg/L (P = 0.01) and 4.2 for BNP >80 ng/L (P < 0.001)]. Patients with increases in both markers were at the greatest risk of HF, compared with patients without an increased marker concentration (HR(adj), 8.3; P = 0.01). The benefit of intensive statin therapy in reducing HF was consistent among all patients, regardless of hsCRP or BNP concentration. CONCLUSIONS Both hsCRP and BNP measured 30 days after ACS are independently associated with the risk of HF and cardiovascular death, with the greatest risk occurring when both markers are increased.
Irinotecan Inactivation Is Modulated by Epigenetic Silencing of UGT1A1 in Colon Cancer

Purpose: Irinotecan is used in the first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. The UGT1A1-metabolizing enzyme, expressed in liver and colon, is primarily involved in the inactivation of its active metabolite 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38). Herein, we explored the role of DNA methylation in the silencing of UGT1A1 gene expression in colon cancer and its influence on cellular SN-38 detoxification. Experimental Design and Results:UGT1A1 mRNA was repressed in most primary tumors (41 of 50; 82%) and in three colon cancer cell lines (HCT-116, HCT-15, and COLO-320DM). Bisulfite sequencing of the UGT1A1 gene revealed the aberrant methylation of specific CpG islands in UGT1A1-negative cells. Conversely, hypomethylation was observed in HT-29, HT-115, and LOVO cells that overexpress UGT1A1. Direct methylation of the UGT1A1 promoter resulted in the complete repression of transcriptional activity. Treatment with demethylating and histone deacetylase inhibitor agents had the capacity to reverse aberrant hypermethylation and to restore UGT1A1 expression in hypermethylated UGT1A1-negative cells but not in hypomethylated cells. Loss of UGT1A1 methylation was further associated with an increase in UGT1A1 protein content and with an enhanced inactivation of SN-38 by 300% in HCT-116 cells. Conclusions: We conclude that DNA methylation represses UGT1A1 expression in colon cancer and that this process may contribute to the level of tumoral inactivation of the anticancer agent SN-38 and potentially influence clinical response.
Endocytosis in fission yeast is spatially associated with the actin cytoskeleton during polarised cell growth and cytokinesis

In the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, uptake of the fluorescent styryl dye FM4-64 via the endocytic pathway to the vacuole was localised to the poles of growing, interphase cells and to the cell equator during cell division, regions of cell wall deposition that are rich in actin. When the pattern of growth or the plane of cytokinesis was altered, the relationship between the actin cytoskeleton and the site of endocytosis was maintained. Transfer of the label to the vacuolar membrane was dependent upon the Rab GTPase Ypt7 and, hence, vesicle fusion. Endocytic vesicles transiently colocalised with actin patches and endocytosis was inhibited in mutants that affected actin patch integrity and by the actin inhibitor latrunculin A. Concentrations of latrunculin that removed actin cables but left patches unaffected had no effect on endocytosis at the poles, but abolished endocytosis at the cell equator. Equatorial, but not polar, endocytosis was also inhibited in cells lacking the formin For3 (which have selectively destabilised actin cables), in mutants of the exocyst complex and in cells treated with brefeldin A. Differential effects on endocytosis at the cell poles and equator were also observed in the actin mutant cps8 and the Arp2/3 complex mutant arp2. The redirection of endocytosis from the cell poles to the cell equator in M phase coincided with the anaphase separation of sister chromatids and was abolished in the septation initiation network (SIN) mutants cdc7, sid1 and sid2, demonstrating that the spatial reorganisation of the endocytic pathway in the S. pombe cell cycle requires a functional SIN pathway. We conclude that endocytosis in fission yeast has two distinct components, both of which are actin-based, but which are mechanistically distinct, as well as being spatially and temporally separated in the S. pombe cell cycle.
Effect of sampling time on measured gravel bed load transport rates in a coarse‐bedded stream

This study empirically quantified the effect of sampling time on measured transport rates and fitted rating curves based on results obtained from bed load traps deployed for 2, 10, and 60 min in a coarse‐bedded stream. As expected for a skewed distribution of transport rates, 2 min deployment underpredicted transport rates obtained from 10 and 60 min deployment by factors of 2 and 3 at moderate flows (50–70% Qbkf). At near‐bank‐full flow the underprediction by 2 min versus 10 min sampling increased to a factor of 5, while transport rates collected during 60 min deployments were reduced because of overfilled bags. At flows near incipient gravel motion, 2 min sampling overpredicted transport rates obtained by 10 and 60 min deployment by factors of 2.7 and 3.4. The overprediction is attributed to computational effects arising mainly from the lowest measurable transport rate for each sampling time. Rating curves fitted to transport rates from 2 min sampling were significantly less steep than those for longer deployment times. However, sampling time explains only a small degree of the large difference between rating curves from bed load traps and a Helley‐Smith sampler (2 min sampling).
Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a perfect but geographically limited storm?

In this issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Sievert et al. [1] provide clinical and epidemiologic details of 7 cases of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) infection. They present a scenario of the "perfect storm" in Michigan the right patients, the right organisms, and the right selective pressure resulting in 5 of the 7 reported cases of VRSA infection emerging in that state. In many ways, this scenario is a reflection of the broader issue of antimicrobial resistance, in which local evolution of bacterial strains progresses until a particularly fit strain emerges and then has the possibility of spreading broadly. Some evolutionary steps are more successful than others. For example, the first /3-lactamaseproducing strain of S. aureus was reported in 1941 and eventually spread around the world [2]. Now, >90% of all S. aureus iso-
The rate adapting poisson model for information retrieval and object recognition

Probabilistic modelling of text data in the bag-of-words representation has been dominated by directed graphical models such as pLSI, LDA, NMF, and discrete PCA. Recently, state of the art performance on visual object recognition has also been reported using variants of these models. We introduce an alternative undirected graphical model suitable for modelling count data. This "Rate Adapting Poisson" (RAP) model is shown to generate superior dimensionally reduced representations for subsequent retrieval or classification. Models are trained using contrastive divergence while inference of latent topical representations is efficiently achieved through a simple matrix multiplication.
Multiple (multicentric and multifocal) cancers in the ipsilateral breast with different histologies: profiles of chromosomal numerical abnormality.

BACKGROUND Chromosomal numerical abnormality (CNA) is a characteristic of breast cancer as with other common solid cancers. Multiple mammary carcinomas are also sometimes encountered in the ipsilateral breast. Deciding whether they are multicentric (arising independently) or multifocal (of the same origin) has been a continued challenge to clinicians and pathologists. METHODS We experienced two cases of macroscopically distinct double carcinomas in the ipsilateral breast, in which two cancers had a different histopathological morphology. Centromere probes identifying 17 different and specific centromeres were used to obtain the profile of CNA for each tumor, with a microwave-assisted FISH protocol. For comparison, a case of three lesions, two of which had the same and the other different histology was also studied. RESULTS Contrary to our expectations, in spite of the particular difference in the histopathological picture of these tumors, the CNA profile was the same in one case and different in the other. The gain of chromosome 1 and loss of chromosome 15 are representative features shared by multifocal cases. On the other hand, the multiple cancers with the same histology had mostly the same CNA profile. CONCLUSIONS CNA profiling is useful to identify the lineage of multiple breast cancers. As shown here, regardless of the histological features, a certain common CNA profile can define the same origin of some multiple cancers.
Preserved Sensitivity to Outcome Value after Lesions of the Basolateral Amygdala

Recent work (Blundell et al., 2001; Balleine et al., 2003) has suggested that the basolateral region of the amygdala (BLA) is important in the representation of the sensory and incentive aspects of motivationally significant events. In common with other theories of function of the BLA, this predicts that lesions of the BLA will interfere with reinforcer devaluation after appetitive Pavlovian or instrumental conditioning. However, this hypothesis also predicts that BLA lesions will be without effect on postconditioning changes in reinforcer value if initial learning is only about the sensory aspects of otherwise neutral events. This interpretation is supported by evidence for significant detrimental effects of BLA lesions on reinforcer devaluation in a Pavlovian autoshaping procedure, but no effect of postconditioning devaluation using a sensory preconditioning procedure. These results demonstrate that animals with BLA lesions can remain sensitive to post-training changes in the motivational value of outcomes.
Efficacy of single serum cortisol reading obtained between 9 AM and 10 AM as an index of adrenal function in children treated with glucocorticoids or synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone

Abstract. To find a simple method to screen for iatrogenic childhood adrenal insufficiency, we retrospectively examined the results of CRH stimulation tests performed 212 times on 111 subjects (68 males; age at commencement of initial treatment ranged 0.0–19.8 yr; median age, 5.8 yr). Before the commencement of this study, 97 subjects had been treated with glucocorticoids and 14 subjects with West syndrome had been treated with synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone. Duration of the primary treatment ranged from 15 to 2150 days. CRH stimulation tests were conducted between 09:00 AM and 10:00 AM and peak cortisol values less than 15 µg/dL were considered indicative of adrenal insufficiency. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the optimal basal serum cortisol cut-off values when screening for adrenal suppression ranged from 5.35 to 5.80 µg/dL depending on the primary disease. All subjects having a serum cortisol value of less than 2.3 µg/dL had insufficient adrenal function while all subjects having greater than 11 µg/dL had intact adrenal function. We concluded that single serum cortisol values obtained between 09:00 AM and 10:00 AM had the potential to serve as an index of adrenal function in children treated with glucocorticoids or synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone.
The Response of Campylobacter jejuni to Low Temperature Differs from That of Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT Human infection with Campylobacter jejuni is often associated with the consumption of foods that have been exposed to both chilling and high temperatures. Despite the public health importance of this pathogen, little is known about the effects of cold exposure on its ability to survive a subsequent heat challenge. This work examined the effect of rapid exposure to chilling, as would occur in poultry processing, on the heat resistance at 56°C of two C. jejuni strains, 11168 and 2097e48, and of Escherichia coli K-12. Unlike E. coli K-12, whose cold-exposed cells showed increased sensitivity to 56°C, such exposure had only a marginal effect on subsequent heat resistance in C. jejuni. This may be explained by the finding that during rapid chilling, unlike E. coli cells, C. jejuni cells are unable to alter their fatty acid composition and do not adapt to cold exposure. However, their unaltered fatty acid composition is more suited to survival when cells are exposed to high temperatures. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that in C. jejuni, the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids was not significantly different after cold exposure, but it was in E. coli. The low-temperature response of C. jejuni is very different from that of other food-borne pathogens, and this may contribute to its tolerance to further heat stresses.
TSH-Mediated TNFα Production in Human Fibrocytes Is Inhibited by Teprotumumab, an IGF-1R Antagonist

Purpose Fibrocytes (FC) are bone marrow-derived progenitor cells that are more abundant and infiltrate the thyroid and orbit in Graves orbitopathy (GO). FCs express high levels of thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R). These receptors are physically and functionally associated, but their role in GO pathogenesis is not fully delineated. Treatment of FCs with thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) or M22 (activating antibody to TSHR) induces the production of numerous cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα). Teprotumumab (TMB) is a human monoclonal IGF-1R blocking antibody currently in clinical trial for GO and inhibits TSHR-mediated actions in FCs. Aim To characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying TSH-induced TNFα production by FCs, and the role of IGF-1R blockade by TMB. Design FCs from healthy and GD patients were treated with combinations of TSH, M22, MG132 and AKTi (inhibitors of NF-κB and Akt, respectively), and TMB. TNFα protein production was measured by Luminex and flow cytometry. Messenger RNA expression was quantified by real time PCR. Results Treatment with TSH/M22 induced TNFα protein and mRNA production by FCs, both of which were reduced when FCs were pretreated with MG132 and AKTi (p<0.0001). TMB decreased TSH-induced TNFα protein production in circulating FCs from mean fluorescent index (MFI) value of 2.92 to 1.91, and mRNA expression in cultured FCs from 141- to 52-fold expression (p<0.0001). TMB also decreased M22-induced TNFα protein production from MFI of 1.67 to 1.12, and mRNA expression from 6- to 3-fold expression (p<0.0001). Conclusion TSH/M22 stimulates FC production of TNFα mRNA and protein. This process involves the transcription factor NF-κB and its regulator Akt. Blocking IGF-1R attenuates TSH/M22-induced TNFα production. This further delineates the interaction of TSHR and IGF1-R signaling pathways. By modulating the proinflammatory properties of FCs such as TNFα production, TMB may be a promising therapeutic agent for GO.
Mechanism of Constriction of Large Coronary Arteries by Adrenergic Receptor Blockade

We examined in conscious dogs the effects of β-adrenergic receptor blockade on measurements of left circumflex coronary arterial diameter and blood flow and calculations of late diastolic coronary resistance and left circumflex coronary internal cross-sectional area. Propranolol (combined βi- and β2-adrenergjc receptor blockade) and atenolol (selective β2- adrenergic receptor blockade) elicited nearly identical effects. For example, propranolol and atenolol increased (P < 0.01) late diastolic coronary resistance by 13 ± 4.3 and 14 ± 3.0% and reduced (P < 0.01) large coronary cross-sectional area by 13 ± 1.5 and 12 ± 2.4%, respectively. This was associated with small reductions in heart rate (8 ± 2.0%) and left ventricular dP/dt (10 ± 1.8%). To determine whether the mechanism of coronary constriction involved the predominance of unopposed α-adrenergic receptor tone, the effects of propranolol and atenolol were examined in the presence of phentolamine (aj- and α2-adrenergic receptor blockade). Under these conditions plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine rose by 2114 ± 348 and 572 ± 139 pg/ml, respectively, and propranolol induced significantly greater (P < 0.01) increases in late diastolic coronary resistance (103 ± 23%) and decreases in large coronary cross-sectional area (25 ± 4.3%), heart rate (34 ± 3.8%) and left ventricular dP/dt (51 ± 4.3%), indicating that the mechanism probably did not involve α-adrenergic receptor activation. When heart rate was held constant, in the presence of phentolamine, propranolol elicited intermediate increases in late diastolic coronary resistance (39 ± 9.4%) and reductions in large coronary cross-sectional area (18 ± 3.6%) to those observed with propranolol in the presence and absence of phentolamine, but in spontaneous rhythm. In the presence of selective α1-adrenergic receptor blockade (prazosin), plasma catechol- amines did not rise, and β-adrenergic receptor blockade induced similar increases in late diastolic coronary resistance (15 ± 3.7%) and decreases in large coronary cross-sectional area (14 ± 4.0%) and left ventricular dP/dt (12 ± 2.4%), as observed in the absence of α-adrenergic receptor blockade. Thus, blockade of β-adrenergic receptors elicits constriction of large coronary arteries in the conscious dog. This constriction is not diminished by α-adrenergic receptor blockade and is actually much greater after phentolamine, which blocks a]- and α2-adrenergic receptors, and elevates levels of catecholamines and, consequently, heart rate and myocardial contractility. The changes in coronary vasomotor tone were not accompanied by changes in A-VO2 difference. These experiments do not support a direct action of β-adrenergic stimulation and blockade on the coronary vessels. Thus, the constriction appears related to the blockade of β-adrenergic effects on heart rate and left ventricular dP/dt, i.e., those factors that alter myocardial metabolic demands and coronary blood flow, but does not appear to involve the predominance of unopposed αadrenergic receptor tone.