Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Highly Ordered Titanium Dioxide Nanostructures via a Simple One-Step Vapor-Inclusion Method in Block Copolymer Films

Nanostructured crystalline titanium dioxide (TiO2) finds applications in numerous fields such as photocatalysis or photovoltaics, where its physical and chemical properties depend on its shape and crystallinity. We report a simple method of fabricating TiO2 nanowires by selective area deposition of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) and water in a chemical vapor deposition-based approach at low temperature by utilizing a polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) self-assembled block copolymer thin film as a template. Parameters such as exposure time to TTIP (minutes to hours), working temperature (∼18 to 40 °C), and relative humidity (20 to 70%) were systemically investigated through grazing incidence small-angle scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and optimized for fabrication of TiO2 nanostructures. The resulting processing conditions yielded titanium dioxide nanowires with a diameter of 24 nm. An extra calcination step (500 °C) was introduced to burn off the remai.
Transfer functions: hidden possibilities for better neural networks

Sigmoidal or radial transfer functions do not guarantee the best gen- eralization nor fast learning of neural networks. Families of parameterized trans- fer functions provide flexible decision borders. Networks based on such transfer functions should be small and accurate. Several possibilities of using transfer functions of different types in neural models are discussed, including enhance- ment of input features, selection of functions from a fixed pool, optimization of parameters of general type of functions, regularization of large networks with heterogeneous nodes and constructive approaches. A new taxonomy of transfer functions is proposed, allowing for derivation of known and new functions by additive or multiplicative combination of activation and output functions.
Wood and wood-derived cellulose scaffolds for the preparation of multi-functional materials

Sophisticated materials in nature with outstanding property combinations, like nacre, wood, bone, and butterfly wings, are inspiring material scientists to create novel synthetic material systems. The declared aim behind these efforts is the combination of nature’s structural characteristics with the broad spectra of synthetic materials to reach improved material properties that might even overcome their fascinating natural role models. Especially the hierarchical structuring over several length-scales, from the molecular organization up to the macroscopic scale, is considered of central importance to reach unique property combinations in lightweight material systems. Mimicry of these concepts of structural organization in synthetic material systems constitutes a promising approach for innovation in material science. To reach an efficient integration of this hierarchical organization, considerable effort is conducted to assemble materials with defined organization over several length scales. Although various promising approaches, e.g. 3D-printing, sacrificial templating and the assembly of nano-scaled building blocks were developed to date, the construction of hierarchical materials with macroscopic dimensions remains a challenge. Thereby, the precise translation of the fine structured nanoand microscale building blocks into hierarchical structures of macroscopic dimensions is crucial to receive optimized material properties for high-tech applications and remains the critical challenge for their industrial use. In order to circumvent such challenging assembly processes starting from the molecular scale, it is proposed in this project to use wood with its inherit hierarchical structure and high porosity as scaffold for the decoration with additional materials for the assembly of hybrid structures with defined hierarchy and variable material combinations. Similar approaches of profitable integration of the native structure of wood into synthetic material systems were suggested previously. The main aim of these approaches was focused on the improvement of wood in its classical application as timber in construction by enhancement of fire retardency, dimensional stability, and resistance against microbial degradation. Further, the introduction of secondary phases, of both inorganic and organic character, was established to integrate novel functionalities in the native structure of wood and the precise replication of it’s inherit structure by sacrificial templating resulted in highly porous ceramics with ultrastructural features. A main hindrance in material design based on woods native hierarchical structure is the introduction of high concentrations of material into the present porosity and the establishment of strong functionality. Therefore, the here presented project focused on possible strategies to increase the
Polydopamine-functionalized nanographene oxide: a versatile nanocarrier for chemotherapy and photothermal therapy

For releasing both drug and heat to selected sites, a combination of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy in one system is a more effective way to destroy cancer cells than monotherapy. Graphene oxide (GO) with high drug-loading efficiency and near-infrared (NIR) absorbance has great potential in drug delivery and photothermal therapy, but it is difficult to load drugs with high solubility. Herein, we develop a versatile drug delivery nanoplatform based on GO for integrated chemotherapy and photothermal therapy by a facile method of simultaneous reduction and surface functionalization of GO with poly(dopamine) (PDA). Due to the excellent adhesion of PDA, both low and high solubility drugs can be encapsulated in the PDA-functionalized GO nanocomposite (rGO-PDA). The fabricated nanocomposite exhibits good biocompatibility, excellent photothermal performance, high drug loading capacity, an outstanding sustained release property, and efficient endocytosis. Moreover, NIR laser irradiation facilitates the release of loaded drugs from rGO-PDA. These features make the rGO-PDA nanocomposite achieve excellent in vivo synergistic antitumor therapeutic efficacy.
Unambiguous Tree Languages Are Topologically Harder Than Deterministic Ones

The paper gives an example of a tree language G that is recognised by an unambiguous parity automaton and is analytic-complete as a set in Cantor space. This already shows that the unambiguous languages are topologically more complex than the deterministic ones, that are all coanalytic. Using set G as a building block we construct an unambiguous language that is topologically harder than any countable boolean combination of analytic and coanalytic sets. In particular the language is harder than any set in difference hierarchy of analytic sets considered by O.Finkel and P.Simonnet in the context of nondeterministic automata.
The HDL hypothesis: does high-density lipoprotein protect from atherosclerosis?

There is unequivocal evidence of an inverse association between plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations and the risk of cardiovascular disease, a finding that has led to the hypothesis that HDL protects from atherosclerosis. This review details the experimental evidence for this “HDL hypothesis”. In vitro studies suggest that HDL has a wide range of anti-atherogenic properties but validation of these functions in humans is absent to date. A significant number of animal studies and clinical trials support an atheroprotective role for HDL; however, most of these findings were obtained in the context of marked changes in other plasma lipids. Finally, genetic studies in humans have not provided convincing evidence that HDL genes modulate cardiovascular risk. Thus, despite a wealth of information on this intriguing lipoprotein, future research remains essential to prove the HDL hypothesis correct.
Birth weight and risk of asthma in 3–9-year-old twins: exploring the fetal origins hypothesis

Aim To examine the relationship between birth weight and risk of asthma in a population of twins. Methods Birth weight of all live twins (8280 pairs) born in Denmark between 1994 and 2000 was linked to information on asthma obtained from parent-completed questionnaires at age 3–9 years. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate the risk of asthma. Results Subjects with a history of asthma at age 3–9 years weighed on average 122 g (95% CI 85 to 160) less at birth than subjects who had not developed asthma, p<0.001. There was a linear increase in asthma risk with decreasing birth weight, OR (per 100 g) 1.04 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.05), p<0.001. Within twin pairs, the lower birthweight twin had a significantly increased risk of asthma compared with the heavier co-twin (11.3% vs 9.9%), OR 1.30 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.54), p=0.002. The result remained significant after adjusting for sex, birth length and Apgar score, OR 1.31 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.65), p=0.027. The risk tended to be higher in monozygotic co-twins compared with dizygotic co-twins, especially for high birth weight differences. Conclusions Low birth weight is a risk factor for asthma independently of gestational age, sex, birth length and Apgar score, but this may be due, in part, to residual non-genetic confounding factors. This finding lends support to the “fetal origins hypothesis” suggesting undisclosed prenatal determinants for the risk of asthma.
Dual effects of Helicobacter pylori vacuolating cytotoxin on human eosinophil apoptosis in early and late periods of stimulation

Although Helicobacter pylori infections of the gastric mucosa are characterized by the infiltration of inflammatory cells such as eosinophils, the responses of eosinophils to H. pylori vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA) have not been fully elucidated. This study investigates the role of VacA in the apoptosis of human eosinophils. We treated human eosinophils with purified H. pylori VacA and observed that induction of apoptosis is a relatively late event. Expression of cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein (c‐IAP)‐2 was upregulated during the early period of VacA stimulation, and transfection with c‐IAP2 siRNA augmented apoptotic cell death. VacA caused the translocation of cytoplasmic Bax to the mitochondria and increased cytochrome c release from mitochondria in eosinophils. Transfection of an EoL‐1 eosinophil cell line with Bax siRNA decreased the release of cytochrome c and DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, apoptosis facilitated by Bax and cytochrome c was primarily regulated by p38 MAPK in VacA‐treated eosinophils. These results suggest that the exposure of human eosinophils to H. pylori VacA induces the early upregulation of c‐IAP2 and a relatively late apoptotic response, with the apoptosis progressing through a sequential pathway that includes p38 MAPK activation, Bax translocation, and cytochrome c release.
Test–retest reliability and agreement between children's and parents’ reports of a computerized food preferences tool

Abstract Objective To investigate test–retest reliability of primary-school children's reports of food preferences and to investigate agreement with parental reports. Design Children completed an online test and retest, one to two weeks later, during school hours; parents completed a paper-and-pencil or an online questionnaire at home. The children's preferences questionnaire contained 148 food items, reduced to twelve scales; the parental questionnaire contained seventy-eight items reduced to nine scales. Setting Children of fourteen primary schools in Belgium-Flanders. Subjects In total 572 children participated; test–retest data were available for 354 children, children's tests could be matched to 362 parental reports. Results Test–retest intraclass correlations were on average 0·73, ranging between 0·62 and 0·86; correlations between children's and parents’ reports were on average 0·50, ranging between 0·32 and 0·62. Retest preferences were significantly higher for more than half of the scales. Children reported higher preferences than their parents for milk & milk products, fruit and soft drinks, while parents reported higher preferences for bread & breakfast cereals, meat, snacks and sauces. Conclusions The results indicate that the test–retest stability was good; however, agreement between parents and children was rather low to moderate.
A Battery Energy Storage System Assisted EV Charger Based on a Three Port DCDC Converter

In order to achieve a faster charging speed to the electric vehicle by a charger supplied with a limited capacity AC source, a battery energy storage system assisted EV charger based on a non-isolated three-port bidirectional dc-dc converter is proposed in this paper. The converter can work in single input single output, single input dual output, and dual input single output modes. It has the advantages of simple structure and flexible control. The working modes of the charger and the converter is described firstly. Then the working principles of the converter are analyzed and followed by the description of a three layer control system. An experimental prototype was built to test the converter. The experimental results show that the converter can work properly in the proposed modes.
NFATc3 regulates trypsinogen activation, neutrophil recruitment, and tissue damage in acute pancreatitis in mice.

BACKGROUND & AIMS The signaling mechanisms that regulate trypsinogen activation and inflammation in acute pancreatitis (AP) are unclear. We explored the involvement of the calcium- and calcineurin-dependent transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) in development of AP in mice. METHODS We measured levels of myeloperoxidase and macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (CXCL2), trypsinogen activation, and tissue damage in the pancreas 24 hours after induction of AP by retrograde infusion of taurocholate into the pancreatic ducts of wild-type, NFAT luciferase reporter (NFAT-luc), and NFATc3-deficient mice. We isolated acinar cells and measured NFAT nuclear accumulation, trypsin activity, and expression of NFAT-regulated genes. RESULTS Infusion of taurocholate increased the transcriptional activity of NFAT in the pancreas, aorta, lung, and spleen of NFAT-luc mice. Inhibition of NFAT with A-285222 blocked taurocholate-induced activation of NFAT in all organs. A-285222 also reduced taurocholate-induced increases in levels of amylase, myeloperoxidase, and CXCL2; activation of trypsinogen; necrosis of acinar cells; edema; leukocyte infiltration; and hemorrhage in the pancreas. NFATc3-deficient mice were protected from these effects of taurocholate. Similar results were obtained using an l-arginine-induced model of AP. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and confocal immunofluorescence analyses showed that NFATc3 is expressed by acinar cells. NFATc3 expression was activated by stimuli that increase intracellular calcium levels, and activation was prevented by the calcineurin blocker cyclosporin A or A-285222. Activation of trypsinogen by secretagogues in acinar cells was prevented by pharmacologic inhibition of NFAT signaling or lack of NFATc3. A-285222 also reduced expression of inflammatory cytokines such as CXCL2 in acinar cells. CONCLUSIONS NFATc3 regulates trypsinogen activation, inflammation, and pancreatic tissue damage during development of AP in mice and might be a therapeutic target.
Analysis of the BadA stalk from Bartonella henselae reveals domain‐specific and domain‐overlapping functions in the host cell infection process

Human pathogenic Bartonella henselae cause cat scratch disease and vasculoproliferative disorders. An important pathogenicity factor of B. henselae is the trimeric autotransporter adhesin Bartonella adhesin A (BadA) which is modularly constructed and consists of a head, a long and repetitive neck‐stalk module with 22 repetitive neck/stalk repeats and a membrane anchor. The BadA head is crucial for bacterial adherence to host cells, binding to several extracellular matrix proteins and for the induction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion. Here, we analysed the biological role of the BadA stalk in the infection process in greater detail. For this purpose, BadA head‐bearing and headless deletion mutants with different lengths (containing one or four neck/stalk repeats in the neck‐stalk module) were produced and functionally analysed for their ability to bind to fibronectin, collagen and endothelial cells and to induce VEGF secretion. Whereas a head‐bearing short version (one neck/stalk element) of BadA lacks exclusively fibronectin binding, a substantially truncated headless BadA mutant was deficient for all of these biological functions. The expression of a longer headless BadA mutant (four neck/stalk repeats) restored fibronectin and collagen binding, adherence to host cells and the induction of VEGF secretion. Our data suggest that (i) the stalk of BadA is exclusively responsible for fibronectin binding and that (ii) both the head and stalk of BadA mediate adherence to collagen and host cells and the induction of VEGF secretion. This indicates overlapping functions of the BadA head and stalk.
Joint channel-network coding with rateless code in two-way relay system

In this paper, we design a joint channel-network coding scheme based on rateless code for the three-stage two-way relay system, where two terminals send messages to each other through a relay between them. Each terminal takes one of the first two stages to encode its message using a Raptor Code and then broadcasts the result into the air, respectively. In the third stage, upon successfully decoding the corresponding messages, the relay node re-encodes them with the new Raptor Codes, and then XORs the outputs and broadcasts the result to both terminals. Together with the packets received directly in previous stages, each terminal then retrieves the desired message using an iterative decoder. Here, the degree profiles of the Raptor Codes used at each node are jointly optimized through solving a set of linear programming problems. Simulations show that, the system throughput achieved by the optimized degree profiles always outperforms the one with conventional degree profile optimized for binary erasure channel (BEC) and the conventional network coding scheme with rateless coding.
Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis Inhibits Gamma Interferon-Induced Signaling in Bovine Monocytes: Insights into the Cellular Mechanisms of Johne's Disease

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis is the causative agent of Johne's disease in cattle and may have implications for human health. Establishment of chronic infection by M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis depends on its subversion of host immune responses. This includes blocking the ability of infected macrophages to be activated by gamma interferon (IFN-γ) for clearance of this intracellular pathogen. To define the mechanism by which M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis subverts this critical host cell function, patterns of signal transduction to IFN-γ stimulation of uninfected and M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis-infected bovine monocytes were determined through bovine-specific peptide arrays for kinome analysis. Pathway analysis of the kinome data indicated activation of the JAK-STAT pathway, a hallmark of IFN-γ signaling, in uninfected monocytes. In contrast, IFN-γ stimulation of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis-infected monocytes failed to induce patterns of peptide phosphorylation consistent with JAK-STAT activation. The inability of IFN-γ to induce differential phosphorylation of peptides corresponding to early JAK-STAT intermediates in infected monocytes indicates that M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis blocks responsiveness at, or near, the IFN-γ receptor. Consistent with this hypothesis, increased expression of negative regulators of the IFN-γ receptors SOCS1 and SOCS3 as well as decreased expression of IFN-γ receptor chains 1 and 2 is observed in M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis-infected monocytes. These patterns of expression are functionally consistent with the kinome data and offer a mechanistic explanation for this critical M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis behavior. Understanding this mechanism may contribute to the rational design of more effective vaccines and/or therapeutics for Johne's disease.
Actomyosin networks and tissue morphogenesis

Tissue morphogenesis is driven by coordinated cellular deformations. Recent studies have shown that these changes in cell shape are powered by intracellular contractile networks comprising actin filaments, actin cross-linkers and myosin motors. The subcellular forces generated by such actomyosin networks are precisely regulated and are transmitted to the cell cortex of adjacent cells and to the extracellular environment by adhesive clusters comprising cadherins or integrins. Here, and in the accompanying poster, we provide an overview of the mechanics, principles and regulation of actomyosin-driven cellular tension driving tissue morphogenesis.
Autonomous visual exploration of complex objects

We present a suitable object knowledge representation, based on a mixture of stochastic and set membership models. We consider that, for a large class of applications, an approximated representation of objects is sufficient to build a preliminary map of the scene. Our approximation mainly results in ellipsoidal calculus by means of a normal assumption for stochastic laws and ellipsoidal over or inner bounding for uniform laws. These approximations allow us to build an efficient estimation process integrating visual data online. Based on this estimation scheme, we perform online and optimal exploratory motions for the camera.
Tolerating Byzantine Faulty Clients in a Quorum System

Byzantine quorum systems have been proposed that work properly even when up to f replicas fail arbitrarily. However, these systems are not so successful when confronted with Byzantine faulty clients. This paper presents novel protocols that provide atomic semantics despite Byzantine clients. Our protocols prevent Byzantine clients from interfering with good clients: bad clients cannot prevent good clients from completing reads and writes, and they cannot cause good clients to see inconsistencies. In addition we also prevent bad clients that have been removed from operation from leaving behind more than a bounded number of writes that could be done on their behalf by a colluder. Our protocols are designed to work in an asynchronous system like the Internet and they are highly efficient. We require 3f +1 replicas, and either two or three phases to do writes; reads normally complete in one phase and require no more than two phases, no matter what the bad clients are doing. We also present strong correctness conditions for systems with Byzantine clients that limit what can be done on behalf of bad clients once they leave the system. Furthermore we prove that our protocols are both safe (they meet those conditions) and live.
SMART 7: recent updates to the protein domain annotation resource

SMART (Simple Modular Architecture Research Tool) is an online resource (http://smart.embl.de/) for the identification and annotation of protein domains and the analysis of protein domain architectures. SMART version 7 contains manually curated models for 1009 protein domains, 200 more than in the previous version. The current release introduces several novel features and a streamlined user interface resulting in a faster and more comfortable workflow. The underlying protein databases were greatly expanded, resulting in a 2-fold increase in number of annotated domains and features. The database of completely sequenced genomes now includes 1133 species, compared to 630 in the previous release. Domain architecture analysis results can now be exported and visualized through the iTOL phylogenetic tree viewer. ‘metaSMART’ was introduced as a novel subresource dedicated to the exploration and analysis of domain architectures in various metagenomics data sets. An advanced full text search engine was implemented, covering the complete annotations for SMART and Pfam domains, as well as the complete set of protein descriptions, allowing users to quickly find relevant information.