Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protection against Acute Kidney Injury via A1 Adenosine Receptor-Mediated Akt Activation Reduces Liver Injury after Liver Ischemia and Reperfusion in Mice

Hepatic ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury causes acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the contribution of AKI to the pathogenesis of liver IR injury is unclear. Furthermore, controversy still exists regarding the role of A1 adenosine receptors (A1ARs) in AKI. In this study, we determined whether exogenous and endogenous A1AR activation protects against AKI with subsequent liver protection after hepatic IR in mice. We found that after hepatic IR A1 knockout (KO) mice and A1AR antagonist-treated A1 wild-type (WT) mice developed worse AKI and liver injury compared with vehicle-treated A1WT mice. Moreover, a selective A1AR agonist protected against hepatic IR-induced AKI and liver injury in A1WT mice. Renal A1AR-mediated kidney protection plays a crucial role in protecting the liver after IR because: 1) selective unilateral renal lentiviral overexpression of human A1ARs [enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-huA1AR] in A1KO mice protected against both kidney and liver injury sustained after liver IR, 2) removal of the EGFP-huA1AR lentivirus-injected kidney from A1KO mice abolished both renal and hepatic protection after liver IR, and 3) bilateral nephrectomy before hepatic ischemia abolished the protective effects of A1AR activation in A1WT mice. Finally, inhibition of Akt, but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase, prevented the kidney and liver protection afforded by A1AR agonist treatment. Taken together, we show that endogenous and exogenous activation of renal A1ARs protect against liver and kidney injury after liver IR in vivo via pathways involving Akt activation.
EVALUATING THE PERFORMANCE OF TERRESTRIAL LASER SCANNING FOR LANDSLIDE MONITORING

<p><strong>Abstract. </strong> Nowadays, Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) technology is gaining popularity in monitoring and predicting the movement of landslide due to the capability of high-speed data capture without requiring a direct contact with the monitored surface. It offers very high density of point cloud data in high resolution and also can be an effective tool in detecting the surface movement of the landslide area. The aim of this research is to determine the optimal level of scanning resolution for landslide monitoring using TLS. The Topcon Geodetic Laser Scanner (GLS) 2000 was used in this research to obtain the three dimensional (3D) point cloud data of the landslide area. Four types of resolution were used during scanning operation which were consist of very high, high, medium and low resolutions. After done with the data collection, the point clouds datasets were undergone the process of registration and filtering using ScanMaster software. After that, the registered point clouds datasets were analyzed using CloudCompare software. Based on the results obtained, the accuracy of TLS point cloud data between picking point manually and computed automatically by ScanMaster software shows the maximum Root Mean Square (RMS) value of coordinate differences were 0.013<span class="thinspace"></span>m in very high resolution, 0.017<span class="thinspace"></span>m in high resolution, 0.031<span class="thinspace"></span>m in medium resolution and 0.052<span class="thinspace"></span>m in low resolution respectively. Meanwhile, the accuracy of TLS point cloud data between picking point manually and total station data using intersection method shows the maximum RMS values of coordinate differences were 0.013<span class="thinspace"></span>m in very high resolution, 0.018<span class="thinspace"></span>m in high resolution, 0.033<span class="thinspace"></span>m in medium resolution and 0.054<span class="thinspace"></span>m in low resolution respectively. Hence, it can be concluded that the high or very high resolution is needed for landslide monitoring using Topcon GLS-2000 which can provide more accurate data in slope result, while the low and medium resolutions is not suitable for landslide monitoring due to the accuracy of TLS point cloud data that will decreased when the resolution value is increased. </p>
An Approach for Characterizing Workloads in Google Cloud to Derive Realistic Resource Utilization Models

Analyzing behavioral patterns of workloads is critical to understanding Cloud computing environments. However, until now only a limited number of real-world Cloud data center trace logs have been available for analysis. This has led to a lack of methodologies to capture the diversity of patterns that exist in such datasets. This paper presents the first large-scale analysis of real-world Cloud data, using a recently released dataset that features traces from over 12,000 servers over the period of a month. Based on this analysis, we develop a novel approach for characterizing workloads that for the first time considers Cloud workload in the context of both user and task in order to derive a model to capture resource estimation and utilization patterns. The derived model assists in understanding the relationship between users and tasks within workload, and enables further work such as resource optimization, energy-efficiency improvements, and failure correlation. Additionally, it provides a mechanism to create patterns that randomly fluctuate based on realistic parameters. This is critical to emulating dynamic environments instead of statically replaying records in the trace log. Our approach is evaluated by contrasting the logged data against simulation experiments, and our results show that the derived model parameters correctly describe the operational environment within a 5% of error margin, confirming the great variability of patterns that exist in Cloud computing.
Probabilistic Modeling of Discourse-Aware Sentence Processing

Probabilistic models of sentence comprehension are increasingly relevant to questions concerning human language processing. However, such models are often limited to syntactic factors. This restriction is unrealistic in light of experimental results suggesting interactions between syntax and other forms of linguistic information in human sentence processing. To address this limitation, this article introduces two sentence processing models that augment a syntactic component with information about discourse co-reference. The novel combination of probabilistic syntactic components with co-reference classifiers permits them to more closely mimic human behavior than existing models. The first model uses a deep model of linguistics, based in part on probabilistic logic, allowing it to make qualitative predictions on experimental data; the second model uses shallow processing to make quantitative predictions on a broad-coverage reading-time corpus.
Mass isolation and culture of rat kupffer cells

Collagenase perfusion of the liver followed by pronase treatment of the cell suspension thus obtained gave a quantitative recovery of viable nonparenchymal liver cells (NPC). From these NPC, Kupffer (K) cells can be purified by attachment to tissue culture dishes. Tail vein injection of carbon 1-2 h before liver perfusion permitted stepwise calculation as well as visualization of carbon-containing K cells. When these K cells have been put into tissue culture medium with serum and incubated overnight, they exhibit typical macrophage characteristics. Phase- contrast and transmission electron microscopy showed typical macrophage morphology and scanning electron microscopy revealed well-spread cells with cytoplasmic projections and ruffled membranes. Endocytosis studies using radioactive colloidal gold and inert latex particles also indicated that these cells are highly active in pinocytosis and phagocytosis. Further characterization of K cells is the identification of Fc receptor on their membranes. Studies on lysosomal enzymes showed that purified K cells possess higher specific activities in beta- glucuronidase, acid DNase, and cathepsin D than in purified parenchymal cells.
Eight-Year Prospective Targeted Ultrasound Screening Program for Instability and At-Risk Hip Joints in Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

The use of targeted ultrasound screening for at-risk hips to reduce the rate of surgery in developmental dysplasia of the hip is unproven. A prospective trial was undertaken in an attempt to clarify this matter. This study was undertaken between May 1992 and April 2000. There were 28,676 live births. Unstable and at-risk hips were routinely targeted for ultrasound examination. One thousand eight hundred six infants underwent ultrasound examination (6.3% of the birth population). Twenty-five children (18 with dislocations, 7 with dysplasia) required surgical intervention in the form of open reduction of the hip or pelvic or femoral osteotomy (0.87 per 1,000 births for dysplasia, 0.63 per 1,000 births for dislocation). Targeted ultrasound screening does not reduce the overall rate of surgery compared with the best conventional clinical screening programs. The development of a national targeted ultrasound screening program for at-risk hips cannot be justified on a cost or result basis.
Reconfigurable Planar SIW Cavity Resonator and Filter

A new reconfigurable frequency cavity compatible with planar technology has been designed, manufactured and measured. An original tuning solution is proposed, based upon the insertion of vertical capacitive posts integrated within SIW cavities. One extremity of each post is connected to a floating metallic ring, located on the substrate supporting the SIW cavity. The frequency agility is obtained once the metallic ring is connected to the ground plane by short-circuited the corresponding annular slot using surface actuators. Such combination of volumetric cavity and planar activation leads to reconfigurable filters with high Q values and simplified tuning control conditions
Recent regulatory changes shaped human facial and vocal anatomy

Identifying changes in gene regulation that shaped human-specific traits is critical to understanding human evolution. Here, we use >60 DNA methylation maps of different human groups, both present-day and ancient, as well as six chimpanzee maps, to detect regulatory changes that emerged specifically in modern humans. We show that genes affecting vocalization and facial features went through particularly extensive changes in methylation. Especially, we identify expansive changes in a network of genes regulating skeletal development (SOX9, ACAN and COL2A1), and in NFIX, which controls facial projection and voice box (larynx) development. We propose that these changes might have played a key role in shaping the human face, and in forming the human 1:1 vocal tract configuration that is considered optimal for speech. Our results provide insights into the molecular mechanisms that underlie the modern human face and voice, and suggest that they arose after the split from Neanderthals and Denisovans.
On Data-Centric Trust Establishment in Ephemeral Ad Hoc Networks

We argue that the traditional notion of trust as a relation among entities, while useful, becomes insufficient for emerging data-centric mobile ad hoc networks. In these systems, setting the data trust level equal to the trust level of the data- providing entity would ignore system salient features, rendering applications ineffective and systems inflexible. This would be even more so if their operation is ephemeral, i.e., characterized by short-lived associations in volatile environments. In this paper, we address this challenge by extending the traditional notion of trust to data-centric trust: trustworthiness attributed to node-reported data per se. We propose a framework for data-centric trust establishment: First, trust in each individual piece of data is computed; then multiple, related but possibly contradictory, data are combined; finally, their validity is inferred by a decision component based on one of several evidence evaluation techniques. We consider and evaluate an instantiation of our framework in vehicular networks as a case study. Our simulation results show that our scheme is highly resilient to attackers and converges stably to the correct decision.
TrakEM2 Software for Neural Circuit Reconstruction

A key challenge in neuroscience is the expeditious reconstruction of neuronal circuits. For model systems such as Drosophila and C. elegans, the limiting step is no longer the acquisition of imagery but the extraction of the circuit from images. For this purpose, we designed a software application, TrakEM2, that addresses the systematic reconstruction of neuronal circuits from large electron microscopical and optical image volumes. We address the challenges of image volume composition from individual, deformed images; of the reconstruction of neuronal arbors and annotation of synapses with fast manual and semi-automatic methods; and the management of large collections of both images and annotations. The output is a neural circuit of 3d arbors and synapses, encoded in NeuroML and other formats, ready for analysis.
Microfabrication of silicon tips for scanning probe microscopy

This thesis investigates the microfabrication of silicon tips for Scanning Probe Microscopy. First, a microfabrication process was developed to produce silicon tips over 100 um height with a sharp apex of ~10–20 nm. To prevent inadvertent contact between the substrate bearing the tip and the sample being probed, the tip is elevated on a mesa structure. Atomic resolution STM images of graphite are successfully obtained using silicon tips. Subsequently, a co-axial tip was developed for SPELS. SPELS uses an STM tip in field emission mode and then analyses the energy of electrons backscattered. However, the electric field distorts the trajectories of the backscattered electrons. A screened co-axial tip was thus designed; the tip consists of a multilayer Si/Au/HfO\(-2\)/Au structure. The outermost Au layer is grounded. SPELS spectra of graphite were successfully obtained for the first time. Third, a multilayered tip was fabricated for the Scanning Probe Electron AnalyseR. This approach is a combination of STM with an ultraviolet light source. The designed structure is a multilayered silicon tip consisting of Si/SiO\(_2\)/Au/SiO\(_2\)/Au; the three conducting layers act as an electron collector, retarding field analyser, and grounded shield layer, respectively.
Salivary testosterone and immunoglobulin A were increased by resistance training in adults with Down syndrome

This study was designed to assess the influence of resistance training on salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels and hormone profile in sedentary adults with Down syndrome (DS). A total of 40 male adults with DS were recruited for the trial through different community support groups for people with intellectual disabilities. All participants had medical approval for participation in physical activity. Twenty-four adults were randomly assigned to perform resistance training in a circuit with six stations, 3 days per week for 12 weeks. Training intensity was based on functioning in the eight-repetition maximum (8RM) test for each exercise. The control group included 16 age-, gender-, and BMI-matched adults with DS. Salivary IgA, testosterone, and cortisol levels were measured by ELISA. Work task performance was assessed using the repetitive weighted-box-stacking test. Resistance training significantly increased salivary IgA concentration (P=0.0120; d=0.94) and testosterone levels (P=0.0088; d=1.57) in the exercising group. Furthermore, it also improved work task performance. No changes were seen in the controls who had not exercised. In conclusion, a short-term resistance training protocol improved mucosal immunity response as well as salivary testosterone levels in sedentary adults with DS.
Hyperpolarizing Inhibition Develops without Trophic support by GABA in Cultured Rat Midbrain Neurons

During a limited period of early neuronal development, GABA is depolarizing and elevates [Ca2+]i, which mediates the trophic action of GABA in neuronal maturation. We tested the attractive hypothesis that GABA itself promotes the developmental change of its response from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing ( Ganguly et al. 2001 ). In cultured midbrain neurons we found that the GABA response changed from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing, although GABAA receptors had been blocked throughout development. In immature neurons prolonged exposure of the cells to nanomolar concentrations of GABA or brief repetitive applications of GABA strongly diminished the elevation of [Ca2+]i by GABA. As revealed by gramicidin perforated‐patch recording, reduced [Ca2+]i responses were due to a diminished driving force for Cl−. This suggests that immature neurons do not have an efficient inward transport that can compensate the loss of cytosolic Cl− resulting from sustained GABAA receptor activation by ambient GABA. Transient increases in external K+, which can induce voltage‐dependent Cl− entry, restored GABA‐induced [Ca2+]i elevations. In mature neurons, GABA reduced [Ca2+]i provided that background [Ca2+]i was elevated by the application of an L‐type Ca2+ channel agonist. This was probably due to a hyperpolarization of the membrane by Cl− currents. K+‐Cl− cotransport maintained the gradient for hyperpolarizing Cl− currents. We conclude that in immature midbrain neurons an inward Cl− transport is not effective although the GABA response is depolarizing. Further, GABA itself is not required for the developmental switch of GABAergic responses from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing in cultured midbrain neurons.
Bounded Model Checking of Hybrid Dynamical Systems

Bounded model checking (BMC) has recently emerged as a very powerful methodology for the verification of purely discrete systems. Given a horizon of interest, bounded model checking verifies whether all finite-horizon trajectories satisfy a temporal logic formula by first translating the problem to a large satisfiability SAT-problem and then relying on extremely powerful state-of-the art SAT-solvers for a counterexample or a certification of safety. In this paper we consider the problem of bounded model checking for a general class of discrete-time hybrid systems. Critical to our approach is the abstraction of continuous trajectories under discrete observations with a purely discrete system that captures the same discrete sequences. Bounded model checking can then be applied to the purely discrete, abstracted system. The performance of our approach is illustrated by verifying temporal properties of a hybrid model of an electronic height controller.
Photophysical properties of 5-substituted 2-thiopyrimidines

The aim of the present work is to determine the influence of C5 substitution on the photophysical properties of 2-thiopyrimidines (2-TPyr). For this purpose, 2-thiouracil, 5- t -butyl-2-thiouracil and 2-thiothymine (TU, BTU and TT, respectively) have been selected as target thionucleobases for the experimental studies and, in parallel, for DFT theoretical calculations. The UV spectra displayed by TU, BTU and TT in EtOH were very similar to each other. They showed a maximum around 275 nm and a shoulder at ca. 290 nm. The three 2-TPyr exhibited a strong phosphorescence emission; from the recorded spectra, triplet excited state energies of ca. 307, 304 and 294 kJ mol^-1 were determined for TU, BTU and TT, respectively. Laser excitation at 308 nm gave rise to a broad transient absorption band from 500 nm to 700 nm, which was in principle assigned to triplet-triplet absorption. This assignment was confirmed by energy transfer experiments using biphenyl ( E _T = 274 kJ mol^-1) as an acceptor. The triplet lifetimes were 70 ns, 1.1 µs and 2.3 µs, for TU, BTU and TT, respectively. The obtained photophysical data, both in phosphorescence and transient absorption measurements, point to significantly different properties of the TT triplet excited state in spite of the structural similarities. Theoretical calculations at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ/PCM level agree well with the experimental range of excited state energies and support the ππ* nature of the lowest triplet states.
Design of fractional PID controller in time-domain for a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle

In the past years Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have received considerable attention from the scientific community. The trajectory control is a fundamental block that a flight control system must properly address. However, a recent approach based on fractional calculus has shed a new light into this area, allowing the well tested PID controller to be improved even further. One advantage is that optimization of fractional PID controller can start from parameters obtained by any method developed to classical PID. Thereafter it has two additional parameters that adjust the integral and derivatives orders allowing us to fine tune the controller. In this work we developed a fractional PID to control the lateral channel of a small-fixed wing UAV based on a time-domain optimization criteria. The controller was validated using FlighGear flight simulator, using the SenecaII aircraft. The results show that the identification of the system model plays a crucial role in the performance, and that the approximation from fractional order to integer order can degrade the performance of the controller.
Font recognition based on global texture analysis

In this paper, we describe a new texture analysis based approach towards font recognition. Existing methods are typically based on local features that often require connected components analysis. In our new method, we take the document as an image containing some special textures, and font recognition as texture identification. The method is content independent and involves no local feature analysis. Global features are extracted by texture analysis. We apply the well-established 2D Gabor filtering technique to extract such features and a weighted Euclidean distance classifier to fulfil the recognition task. Experiments are made using 6,000 samples of 24 frequently used Chinese fonts (6 typefaces combined with 4 styles) and very promising results are achieved.
DNA Vaccines: The New Directions to Allergic Diseases

Zhi-Qiang Liu1,2 and Peng-Yuan Zheng1* 1Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China 2Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Department of Rhinology, Institute of ENT, Longgang ENT Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China *Corresponding author: Peng-Yuan Zheng, Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China, E-mail: medp7123@126.COM
Hedgehog-responsive candidate cell of origin for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma

Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) are highly aggressive tumors of childhood that are almost universally fatal. Our understanding of this devastating cancer is limited by a dearth of available tissue for study and by the lack of a faithful animal model. Intriguingly, DIPGs are restricted to the ventral pons and occur during a narrow window of middle childhood, suggesting dysregulation of a postnatal neurodevelopmental process. Here, we report the identification of a previously undescribed population of immunophenotypic neural precursor cells in the human and murine brainstem whose temporal and spatial distributions correlate closely with the incidence of DIPG and highlight a candidate cell of origin. Using early postmortem DIPG tumor tissue, we have established in vitro and xenograft models and find that the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway implicated in many developmental and oncogenic processes is active in DIPG tumor cells. Modulation of Hh pathway activity has functional consequences for DIPG self-renewal capacity in neurosphere culture. The Hh pathway also appears to be active in normal ventral pontine precursor-like cells of the mouse, and unregulated pathway activity results in hypertrophy of the ventral pons. Together, these findings provide a foundation for understanding the cellular and molecular origins of DIPG, and suggest that the Hh pathway represents a potential therapeutic target in this devastating pediatric tumor.