Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pontibacter indicus sp. nov., isolated from hexachlorocyclohexane-contaminated soil.

An orange-pigmented bacterial strain, designated LP100(T), was isolated from hexachlorocyclohexane-contaminated soil (Lucknow, India). A neighbour-joining tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain LP100(T) occupied a distinct phylogenetic position in the Pontibacter species cluster, showing highest similarity with Pontibacter lucknowensis DM9(T) (97.4 %). Levels of similarity to strains of other Pontibacter species ranged between 94.0 and 96.8 %. Strain LP100(T) contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone and sym-homospermidine was the major polyamine in the cell. The major cellular fatty acids of strain LP100(T) were anteiso-C17 : 0 A, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C18 : 1 H. The polar lipid profile of strain LP100(T) showed the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminophospholipid, three unknown aminolipids and two unknown polar lipids. The G+C content of strain LP100(T) was 58.2 mol%. The results of DNA-DNA hybridization, biochemical and physiological tests clearly distinguish the novel strain from closely related species of the genus Pontibacter. Therefore, strain LP100(T) represents a novel species of the genus Pontibacter for which the name Pontibacter indicus is proposed. The type strain is LP100(T) ( = CCM8435(T) = MCC2027(T)).
Analysis of State Organizational Patterns among Students with Profound Disabilities

A review is presented of recent research on state behavior among children and youth with profound disabilities. A model depicting interactions of state with endogenous and exogenous variables is presented along with a discussion of the importance of state diversity potential to this analysis and considerations for investigating and understanding state organization patterns in this population. Applications of the model are illustrated through case studies of four students with profound disabilities who display different state patterns. Measurable attributes of state reveal major characteristics that define functionally profound disabilities and have important implications for intervention.
Peptide Nucleic Acid Antisense Prolongs Skin Allograft Survival by Means of Blockade of CXCR3 Expression Directing T Cells into Graft 1

CXCR3, predominantly expressed on memory/activated T cells, is a receptor for both IFN-γ-inducible protein 10/CXC chemokine ligand (CXCL)10 and monokine induced by IFN-γ/CXCL9. It was reported that CXC chemokines IFN-γ-inducible protein 10/CXCL10 and monokine induced by IFN-γ/CXCL9 play a critical role in the allograft rejection. We report that CXCR3 is a dominant factor directing T cells into mouse skin allograft, and that peptide nucleic acid (PNA) CXCR3 antisense significantly prolongs skin allograft survival by means of blockade of CXCR3 expression directing T cells into allografts in mice. We found that CXCR3 is highly up-regulated in spleen T cells and allografts from BALB/c recipients by day 7 of receiving transplantation, whereas CCR5 expression is moderately increased. We designed PNA CCR5 and PNA CXCR3 antisenses, and i.v. treated mice that received skin allograft transplantations. The PNA CXCR3 at a dosage of 10 mg/kg/day significantly prolonged mouse skin allograft survival (17.1 ± 2.4 days) compared with physiological saline treatment (7.5 ± 0.7 days), whereas PNA CCR5 (10 mg/kg/day) marginally prolonged skin allograft survival (10.7 ± 1.1 days). The mechanism of prolongation of skin allograft survival is that PNA CXCR3 directly blocks the CXCR3 expression in T cells, which is responsible for directing T cells into skin allograft to induce acute rejection, without interfering with other functions of the T cells. These results were obtained at mRNA and protein levels by flow cytometry and real-time quantitative RT-PCR technique, and confirmed by chemotaxis, Northern and Western blot assays, and histological evaluation of skin grafts. The present study indicates the therapeutic potential of PNA CXCR3 to prevent acute transplantation rejection.
Dual-Phase Cardiac Diffusion Tensor Imaging with Strain Correction

Purpose In this work we present a dual-phase diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) technique that incorporates a correction scheme for the cardiac material strain, based on 3D myocardial tagging. Methods In vivo dual-phase cardiac DTI with a stimulated echo approach and 3D tagging was performed in 10 healthy volunteers. The time course of material strain was estimated from the tagging data and used to correct for strain effects in the diffusion weighted acquisition. Mean diffusivity, fractional anisotropy, helix, transverse and sheet angles were calculated and compared between systole and diastole, with and without strain correction. Data acquired at the systolic sweet spot, where the effects of strain are eliminated, served as a reference. Results The impact of strain correction on helix angle was small. However, large differences were observed in the transverse and sheet angle values, with and without strain correction. The standard deviation of systolic transverse angles was significantly reduced from 35.9±3.9° to 27.8°±3.5° (p<0.001) upon strain-correction indicating more coherent fiber tracks after correction. Myocyte aggregate structure was aligned more longitudinally in systole compared to diastole as reflected by an increased transmural range of helix angles (71.8°±3.9° systole vs. 55.6°±5.6°, p<0.001 diastole). While diastolic sheet angle histograms had dominant counts at high sheet angle values, systolic histograms showed lower sheet angle values indicating a reorientation of myocyte sheets during contraction. Conclusion An approach for dual-phase cardiac DTI with correction for material strain has been successfully implemented. This technique allows assessing dynamic changes in myofiber architecture between systole and diastole, and emphasizes the need for strain correction when sheet architecture in the heart is imaged with a stimulated echo approach.
Control of redundant 3D snake robot based on kinematic model

In this paper, we derive a kinematic model and a control law for 3D snake robots which have wheeled link mechanism. We define the redundancy controllable system and find that introduction of links without wheels makes the system redundancy controllable. Using redundancy, it becomes possible to accomplish both main objective of controlling the position and the posture of the snake robot head, and sub-objective of the singular configuration avoidance. Computer simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control law.
Hybrid control of quadrotor

This paper presents the solution to a quadrotor control problem based on a discrete automaton that, in combination with classical PID controllers, creates a hybrid control system. Some modifications to the known and widely used mathematical model of quadrotor aircrafts are also discussed in this paper. The paper shows an open loop control concept that flies the aircraft into looping. Finally, the performance of the suggested control scheme is tested with simulations.
Beyond “happy, angry, or sad?”: Age-of-poser and age-of-rater effects on multi-dimensional emotion perception

Young, middle-aged, and older raters (N=154) evaluated 1,026 prototypical facial poses of neutrality, happiness, anger, disgust, fear, and sadness stemming from 171 young, middle-aged, and older posers. The majority of poses were rated as multi-faceted, that is, to comprise several expressions of varying intensities. Consistent with the notion of age-related increases in negativity–avoidance/positivity effects, crossed-random effects analyses showed an age-related decrease in the attributions of negative, but not positive and neutral, target expressions (that the poser intended to show), and an age-related increase in the attributions of positive and neutral, but not negative, non-target expressions (that the posers did not intend to show). Expressions were more difficult to read the older the posers, particularly for male posers. These age-of-poser effects were independent of the valence of the expression, but partly differed across age groups of raters. The study supports the idea of multi-dimensionality and age-dependency of emotion perception.
Incremental value of quantitative CMR including parametric mapping for the diagnosis of acute myocarditis.

AIM Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) can visualize inflammatory tissue changes in acute myocarditis. Several quantitative image-derived parameters have been described to enhance the diagnostic value of CMR, but no direct comparison of these techniques is available. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 34 patients with suspected acute myocarditis and 50 control subjects underwent CMR. CMR protocol included quantitative assessment of T1 relaxation times using modified Look-Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) and shortened MOLLI (ShMOLLI) acquisition schemes, extracellular volume fraction (ECV), T2 relaxation times, and longitudinal strain. Established Lake-Louise criteria (LLC) consisting of T2-weighted signal intensity ratio (T2-ratio), early gadolinium enhancement ratio (EGEr), and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) were assessed. Receiver operating characteristics analysis was performed to compare diagnostic performance. Areas under the curve of native T1 (MOLLI: 0.95; ShMOLLI: 0.92) and T2 relaxation times (0.92) were higher compared with those of the other CMR parameters (T2-ratio: 0.71, EGEr: 0.71, LGE: 0.87, LLC: 0.90, ECV MOLLI: 0.77, ECV ShMOLLI: 0.80, longitudinal strain: 0.83). Combined with LGE, each native mapping technique outperformed the diagnostic performance of LLC (P < 0.01, respectively). A combination of native parameters (T1, T2, and longitudinal strain) significantly increased the diagnostic performance of CMR compared with LLC without need of contrast media application (0.99 vs. 0.90; P = 0.008). CONCLUSION In patients suspected of having acute myocarditis, diagnostic performance of CMR can be improved by implementation of quantitative CMR parameters. Especially, native mapping techniques have the potential to replace current LLC. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV NUMBER NCT02299856.
LiPS: Efficient P2P Search Scheme with Novel Link Prediction Techniques

The usability of peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing systems highly depends on their search (or query, content routing) efficiency. In this paper, we present LiPS: an efficient P2P search scheme with novel link prediction techniques. LiPS is a natural combination of recent technical thrusts from two different disciplines, namely 1) the exploitation of user interests in P2P search field, and 2) the link prediction in the complex networks field. Based on the experiential observation that people's social circle typically expands through friends' friends, we propose a novel neighbors' common neighbor link predictor (NCNP) and its two optimized variations. Trace-driven simulation results demonstrate the proposed link predictors and the effectiveness of LiPS. Specifically, the proposed refined and popularity-aware NCNP algorithm can double or even triple the prediction accuracy, as compared with normal common neighbor predictor. LiPS also significantly outperforms (by as large a margin as 15%) the original Shortcuts search method [1] and achieves up to 60% hit rate. Meanwhile, the query traffic is also slightly reduced.
Route optimization in mobile ATM networks

This paper presents an algorithm for optimizing the route of a connection that becomes suboptimal due to operations such as handoffs and location-based reroutes, and applies this algorithm to the handoff management problem in mobile ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) networks based on the PNNI (Private Network-to-Network Interface) standard. The route optimization algorithm uses hierarchical route information of the connection and summarized topology and loading information of the network to determine a “crossover node” such that adjusting the connection from that crossover node results in an optimally routed connection. Handoff management schemes that perform local rerouting of connections have been proposed in order to support fast handoffs. These methods result in suboptimally routed connections. In this paper, we demonstrate how this route optimization algorithm can be used to optimize the route of a connection after such a handoff is executed, as the second phase of a two-phase handoff scheme. This route optimization procedure can also be executed as part of the handoff procedure resulting in a one-phase handoff scheme. Applying this route optimization algorithm, we propose two one-phase schemes, the one-phase optimal scheme and the one-phase minimal scheme. A comparative performance analysis of one- and two-phase handoff schemes is presented. Measures of comparison are handoff latency and the amount of network resources used by a connection. Handoff latency in the one-phase optimal scheme is greater than that in the two-phase schemes, and handoff latency in the one-phase minimal scheme is smaller than that in the two-phase schemes. The one-phase methods show a significant increase in efficiency of the connection compared to the two-phase methods.
Phospholamban regulation of bladder contractility: evidence from gene‐altered mouse models

1 Phospholamban (PLB) is an inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+‐ATPase (SERCA). Its presence and/or functional significance in contractility of bladder, a smooth muscle tissue particularly dependent on SR function, is unknown. We investigated this by measuring the effects of carbachol (CCh) on force and [Ca2+]i in bladder from mice in which the PLB gene was ablated (PLB‐KO mice). In the PLB‐KO bladder, the maximum increases in [Ca2+]i and force were significantly decreased (41.5 and 47.4 % of WT), and the EC50 values increased. 2 Inhibition of SERCA with cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) abolished these differences between WT and PLB‐KO bladder, localizing the effects to the SR. 3 To determine whether these effects were specific to PLB, we generated mice with smooth‐muscle‐specific expression of PLB (PLB‐SMOE mice), using the SMP8 α‐actin promoter. Western blot analysis of PLB‐SMOE mice showed approximately an eightfold overexpression of PLB while SERCA was downregulated 12‐fold. 4 In PLB‐SMOE bladders, in contrast, the response of [Ca2+]i and force to CCh was significantly increased and the EC50 values were decreased. CPA had little affect on the CCh‐induced increases in [Ca2+]i and force in PLB‐SMOE bladder. 5 These results show that alteration of the PLB:SERCA ratio can significantly modulate smooth muscle [Ca2+]i. Importantly, our data show that PLB can play a major role in modulation of bladder contractility.
Symmetries in Graceful Trees

We study how to exploit symmetries in the context of the famou s graceful tree conjecture. Current work on graceful labelli ng of graphs focused on breaking the value symmetry and the structural symmetrie s of a graph. We observed two symmetries within solutions for graceful tree s. Based on these new symmetries, we define a stricter version of the graceful tree conjecture. Experimental results show that, for all the trees that we have stud ied (up to size23), a graceful labelling exists for this stricter version. More v r, the computational costs to find a graceful labelling is significantly reduced du e to the restrictions. Besides the improved speed, this stricter definition can pro vide useful insights to develop a general construction method for graceful tree lab llings.
Distributed scheduling and data sharing in late-binding overlays

Pull-based late-binding overlays are used in some of today's largest computational grids. Job agents are submitted to resources with the duty of retrieving real workload from a central queue at runtime. This helps overcome the problems of these complex environments: heterogeneity, imprecise status information and relatively high failure rates. In addition, the late job assignment allows dynamic adaptation to changes in grid conditions or user priorities. However, as the scale grows, the central assignment queue may become a bottleneck for the whole system. This article presents a distributed scheduling architecture for late-binding overlays, which addresses this issue by letting execution nodes build a distributed hash table and delegating job matching and assignment to them. This reduces the load on the central server and makes the system much more scalable and robust. Scalability makes fine-grained scheduling possible and enables new functionalities, like the implementation of a distributed data cache on the execution nodes, which helps alleviate the commonly congested grid storage services.
Enhancing Motor Skill Learning with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation – A Concise Review with Applications to Stroke

In the past few years, there has been a rapid increase in the application of non-invasive brain stimulation to study brain-behavior relations in an effort to potentially increase the effectiveness of neuro-rehabilitation. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), an emerging technique of non-invasive brain stimulation, has shown to produce beneficial neural effects in consequence with improvements in motor behavior. tDCS has gained popularity as it is economical, simple to use, portable, and increases corticospinal excitability without producing any serious side effects. As tDCS has been increasingly investigated as an effective tool for various disorders, numerous improvements, and developments have been proposed with respect to this technique. tDCS has been widely used to identify the functional relevance of particular brain regions in motor skill learning and also to facilitate activity in specific cortical areas involved in motor learning, in turn improving motor function. Understanding the interaction between tDCS and motor learning can lead to important implications for developing various rehabilitation approaches. This paper provides a concise overview of tDCS as a neuromodulatory technique and its interaction with motor learning. The paper further briefly goes through the application of this priming technique in the stroke population.
Emotional Competencies in the Education of Mental Health Professionals

The results of empirical research suggest that the ability to assess, regulate, and utilize emotions is important to the performance of health professionals. Nevertheless, few professional programs adequately address this matter in their curricula. The main objective of the present research was to examine whether emotional intelligence and empathy could be improved in the traditional classroom, employing experiential teaching modes. Pre- and post-questionnaires were used to assess the emotional competencies of 165 social work undergraduate students. The results indicated an increase in emotional intelligence at the end of a course for advanced-year students. Overall empathy had not increased for both first- and advanced-year students. Further findings indicated significant correlation between empathy and emotional intelligence at the end of a course for advanced-year students compared with an insignificant correlation at the beginning of the course, whereas for first-year students, findings were in the opposite direction. Future research should focus on strategies for the teaching and professional training of social workers that promote emotional competencies.
The use of interactive Virtual Prototypes for products specification in the concept design phase

The paper describes the use of interactive Virtual Prototypes (iVP) for the specification of consumer products and for the evaluation of the perceived quality of the product already in its conceptual form. iVPs are based on multimodal interaction including force-feedback and sound in addition to 3D stereoscopic visualization. The fidelity of the prototypes has been evaluated in comparison with the corresponding real products, when used for performing the same tests. Differently from the traditional use of Virtual Prototypes, which aims at evaluating the product design, we have used iVPs for the interaction design of a new product, i.e. it has been used as a means to define the design parameters used for the specification of a new product.
Actin filament‐associated protein 1 (AFAP‐1) is a key mediator in inflammatory signaling‐induced rapid attenuation of intrinsic P‐gp function in human brain capillary endothelial cells

The purpose of this study was to identify regulatory molecule(s) involved in the inflammatory signaling‐induced decrease in P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) efflux function at the blood–brain barrier (BBB) that may occur in brain diseases. We confirmed that in vivo P‐gp efflux activity at the BBB was decreased without any change in P‐gp protein expression level in a mouse model of acute inflammation induced by 3 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide. In a human BBB model cell line (human brain capillary endothelial cells; hCMEC/D3), 1‐h treatment with 10 ng/mL tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α; an inflammatory mediator) rapidly reduced P‐gp efflux activity, but had no effect on P‐gp protein expression level. To clarify the non‐transcriptional mechanism that causes the decrease in intrinsic efflux activity of P‐gp in acute inflammation, we applied comprehensive quantitative phosphoproteomics to compare hCMEC/D3 cells treated with TNF‐α and vehicle (control). Actin filament‐associated protein‐1 (AFAP‐1), MAPK1, and transcription factor AP‐1 (AP‐1) were significantly phosphorylated in TNF‐α‐treated cells, and were selected as candidate proteins. In validation experiments, knockdown of AFAP‐1 expression blocked the reduction in P‐gp efflux activity by TNF‐α treatment, whereas inhibition of MAPK function or knockdown of AP‐1 expression did not. Quantitative targeted absolute proteomics revealed that the reduction in P‐gp activity by TNF‐α did not require any change in P‐gp protein expression levels in the plasma membrane. Our results demonstrate that AFAP‐1 is a key mediator in the inflammatory signaling‐induced, translocation‐independent rapid attenuation of P‐gp efflux activity in human brain capillary endothelial cells.
The role of sample distribution in relevance feedback for content based image retrieval

Most current relevance feedback algorithms rely only on labeled samples, and ignore the possible role of the distribution of all samples. We investigate the potential role of sample distribution in relevance feedback. We present a probabilistic framework for relevance feedback in content-based image retrieval. Based on Bayes rule, this framework combines the probability densities of relevant samples and those of all samples in a function to rank images. In this way, the characteristic of the distribution of all samples is taken into account to improve the performance. The density estimation is conducted with non-parametric density estimation, and the densities of all samples can be predetermined before any query. The new approach was evaluated on a database of 20,000 images and compared to some current solutions. Experimental results have demonstrated the effectiveness of our approach.