Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Targeting Cancer Stem Cells in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Purpose: Clinical evidence suggests increased cancer stem cells (CSCs) in a tumor mass may contribute to the failure of conventional therapies because CSCs seem to be more resistant than differentiated tumor cells. Thus, unveiling the mechanism regulating CSCs and candidate target molecules will provide new strategy to cure the patients. Experimental design: The stem-like cell properties were determined by a prostasphere assay and dye exclusion assay. To find critical stem cell marker and reveal regulation mechanism, basic biochemical and molecular biologic methods, such as quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot, reporter gene assay, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, were used. In addition, to determine the effect of combination therapy targeting both CSCs and its progeny, in vitro MTT assay and in vivo xenograft model was used. Results: We demonstrate immortalized normal human prostate epithelial cells, appeared nontumorigenic in vivo, become tumorigenic, and acquire stem cell phenotype after knocking down a tumor suppressor gene. Also, those stem-like cells increase chemoresistance to conventional anticancer reagent. Mechanistically, we unveil that Wnt signaling is a key pathway regulating well-known stem cell marker CD44 by directly interacting to the promoter. Thus, by targeting CSCs using Wnt inhibitors synergistically enhances the efficacy of conventional drugs. Furthermore, the in vivo mouse model bearing xenografts showed a robust inhibition of tumor growth after combination therapy. Conclusions: Overall, this study provides strong evidence of CSC in castration-resistant prostate cancer. This new combination therapy strategy targeting CSC could significantly enhance therapeutic efficacy of current chemotherapy regimen only targeting non-CSC cells. Clin Cancer Res; 22(3); 670–9. ©2015 AACR.
Diagnostic Accuracy of a Prototype Point-of-Care Test for Ocular Chlamydia trachomatis under Field Conditions in The Gambia and Senegal

Background The clinical signs of active trachoma are often present in the absence of ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in low prevalence and mass treated settings. Treatment decisions are currently based on the prevalence of clinical signs, and this may result in the unnecessary distribution of mass antibiotic treatment. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a prototype point-of-care (POC) test, developed for field diagnosis of ocular C. trachomatis, in low prevalence settings of The Gambia and Senegal. Methodology/Principal Findings Three studies were conducted, two in The Gambia and one in Senegal. Children under the age of 10 years were screened for the clinical signs of trachoma. Two ocular swabs were taken from the right eye. The first swab was tested by the POC test in the field and the result independently graded by two readers. The second swab was tested for the presence of C. trachomatis by Amplicor Polymerase Chain Reaction. In Senegal, measurements of humidity and temperature in the field were taken. A total of 3734 children were screened, 950 in the first and 1171 in the second Gambian study, and 1613 in Senegal. The sensitivity of the prototype POC test ranged between 33.3–67.9%, the specificity between 92.4–99.0%, the positive predictive value between 4.3–21.0%, and the negative predictive value between 98.0–99.8%. The rate of false-positives increased markedly at temperatures above 31.4°C and relative humidities below 11.4%. Conclusions/Significance In its present format, this prototype POC test is not suitable for field diagnosis of ocular C. trachomatis as its specificity decreases in hot and dry conditions: the environment in which trachoma is predominantly found. In the absence of a suitable test for infection, trachoma diagnosis remains dependent on clinical signs. Under current WHO recommendations, this is likely resulting in the continued mass treatment of non-infected communities.
Depth measurement by the multi-focus camera

In this paper, we first introduce the multi-focus camera, a new image sensor used for depth from defocus (DFD) range measurement. It can capture three images with different focus values simultaneously. We then propose two different depth measurement methods using the camera. The first method, an augmented version of the one proposed by N. Asada et al. (1998), employs a noniterative optimization process to compute depth values on edge points. The second one incorporates a coded aperture with the camera; and applies model-based pattern matching to estimate depth values of textured surfaces. Here we propose two types of coded apertures and corresponding analysis algorithms: 1D Fourier analysis to acquire a depth map and a blur-free image from three defocused images taken with a pair of pinholes, and 2D convolution based model matching for the fast and precise depth measurement using a coded aperture with four pinholes. Experimental results showed that the multi-focus camera works well as a practical DFD range sensor and that the coded apertures much improve its range estimation capability for real world scenes.
Learning Probabilities for Noisy First-Order Rules

First-order logic is the traditional basis for knowledge representation languages. However, its applicability to many real-world tasks is limited by its inability to represent uncertainty. Bayesian belief networks, on the other hand, are inadequate for complex KR tasks due to the limited expressivity of the underlying (prepositional) language. The need to incorporate uncertainty into an expressive language has led to a resurgence of work on first-order probabilistic Logic. This paper addresses one of the main objections to the incorporation of probabilities into the language: "Where do the numbers come from? " We present an approach that takes a knowledge base in an expressive rule-based first-order language, and leams the probabilistic parameters associated with those rules from data cases. Our approach, which is based on algorithms for learning in traditional Bayesian networks, can handle data cases where many of the relevant aspects of the situation are unobserved. It is also capable of utilizing a rich variety of data cases, including instances with varying causal structure, and even involving a varying number of individuals. These features allow the approach to be used for a wide range of tasks, such as learning genetic propagation models or learning first-order STRIPS planning operators with uncertain effects.
Objectification and transgender jurisprudence: the dictionary as quasi-statute

This paper analyzes defi nitional issues raised by terms such as “man” and “woman” in transgender jurisprudence, focussing on the Court of First Instance decision in W v Registrar of Marriages. Courts frequently seek guidance on ordinary meaning in standard works of lexicography. But this objectifi es the trans party by treating so-called “ordinary” meaning and the dictionary defi nition as determinative.
Urban Transport Policies and the Environment: Evidence from Italy

The paper reviews urban transport policies in Italian cities and their impact on the concentration of NO2 and PM10. Using parametric and non-parametric techniques, it finds no significant effect of the policy actions currently implemented. Further, it finds evidence of a weak positive impact of plans adoption. These results are interpreted as evidence of positive externalities among actions. Finally, by also discussing case studies, the paper points out the absence of economic instruments and argues that significant welfare gains would derive from their adoption.
VISILAB at MediaEval 2013: Fight Detection

Fight detection from video is a task with direct application in surveillance scenarios like prison cells, yards, mental institutions, etc. Work in this task is growing, although only a few datasets for fight detection currently exist. The Violent Scene Detection task of the MediaEval initiative offers a practical challenge for detecting violent video clips in movies. In this working notes paper we will briefly describe our method for fight detection. This method has been used to detect fights within the above-mentioned violent scene detection task. Inspired by results that suggest that kinematic features alone are discriminative for at least some actions, our method uses extreme acceleration patterns as the main feature. These extreme accelerations are efficiently estimated by applying the Radon transform to the power spectrum of consecutive frames.
Differential Effects of Peripheral versus Central Coadministration of QX-314 and Capsaicin on Neuropathic Pain in Rats

Background: Neuropathic pain is common and difficult to treat. Recently a technique was developed to selectively inhibit nociceptive inputs by simultaneously applying two drugs: capsaicin, a transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor-1 channel activator, and QX-314, a lidocaine derivative that intracellularly blocks sodium channels. We used this technique to investigate whether transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1-expressing nociceptors contribute to neuropathic pain. Methods: The rat chronic constriction injury model was used to induce neuropathic pain in order to test the analgesic effects of both peripheral (perisciatic) and central (intrathecal) administration of the QX-314/capsaicin combination. The Hargreaves and von Frey tests were used to monitor evoked pain-like behaviors and visual observations were used to rank spontaneous pain-like behaviors. Results: Perisciatic injections of the QX-314/capsaicin combination transiently increased the withdrawal thresholds by approximately 3-fold, for mechanical and thermal stimuli in rats (n = 6/group) with nerve injuries suggesting that peripheral transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1-expressing nociceptors contribute to neuropathic pain. In contrast, intrathecal administration of the QX-314/capsaicin combination did not alleviate pain-like behaviors (n = 5/group). Surprisingly, intrathecal QX-314 alone (n = 9) or in combination with capsaicin (n = 8) evoked spontaneous pain-like behaviors. Conclusions: Data from the perisciatic injections suggested that a component of neuropathic pain was mediated by peripheral nociceptive inputs. The role of central nociceptive terminals could not be determined because of the severe side effects of the intrathecal drug combination. We concluded that only peripheral blockade of transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1-expressing nociceptive afferents by the QX-314/capsaicin combination was effective at reducing neuropathic allodynia and hyperalgesia.
The red‐vine‐leaf extract AS195 increases nitric oxide synthase–dependent nitric oxide generation and decreases oxidative stress in endothelial and red blood cells

The red‐vine‐leaf extract AS195 improves cutaneous oxygen supply and the microcirculation in patients suffering from chronic venous insufficiency. Regulation of blood flow was associated to nitric oxide synthase (NOS)‐dependent NO (nitric oxide) production, and endothelial and red blood cells (RBC) have been shown to possess respective NOS isoforms. It was hypothesized that AS195 positively affects NOS activation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and RBC. Because patients with microvascular disorders show increased oxidative stress which limits NO bioavailability, it was further hypothesized that AS195 increases NO bioavailability by decreasing the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increasing antioxidant capacity. Cultured HUVECs and RBCs from healthy volunteers were incubated with AS195 (100 μmol/L), tert‐butylhydroperoxide (TBHP, 1 mmol/L) to induce oxidative stress and with both AS195 and TBHP. Endothelial and red blood cell–nitric oxide synthase (RBC‐NOS) activation significantly increased after AS195 incubation. Nitrite concentration, a marker for NO production, increased in HUVEC but decreased in RBC after AS195 application possibly due to nitrite scavenging potential of flavonoids. S‐nitrosylation of RBC cytoskeletal spectrins and RBC deformability were increased after AS195 incubation. TBHP‐induced ROS were decreased by AS195, and antioxidative capacity was significantly increased in AS195‐treated cells. TBHP also reduced RBC deformability, but reduction was attenuated by parallel incubation with AS195. Adhesion of HUVEC was also reduced after AS195 treatment. Red‐vine‐leaf extract AS195 increases NOS activation and decreases oxidative stress. Both mechanisms increase NO bioavailability, improve cell function, and may thus account for enhanced microcirculation in both health and disease.
Transsulfuration Is a Significant Source of Sulfur for Glutathione Production in Human Mammary Epithelial Cells

The transsulfuration pathway, through which homocysteine from the methionine cycle provides sulfur for cystathionine formation, which may subsequently be used for glutathione synthesis, has not heretofore been identified as active in mammary cells. Primary human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC's) were labeled with S35-methionine for 24 hours following pretreatment with a vehicle control, the cysteine biosynthesis inhibitor propargylglycine or the gamma-glutamylcysteine synthesis inhibitor buthionine sulfoximine. Cell lysates were prepared and reacted with glutathione-S-transferase and the fluorescent labeling compound monochlorobimane to form a fluorescent glutathione-bimane conjugate. Comparison of fluorographic and autoradiographic images indicated that glutathione had incorporated S35-methionine demonstrating that functional transsulfuration occurs in mammary cells. Pathway inhibitors reduced incorporation by roughly 80%. Measurement of glutathione production in HMEC's treated with and without hydrogen peroxide and/or pathway inhibitors indicates that the transsulfuration pathway plays a significant role in providing cysteine for glutathione production both normally and under conditions of oxidant stress.
Symbol emergence by combining a reinforcement learning schema model with asymmetric synaptic plasticity

A novel integrative learning architecture, RLSM with a STDP network is described. This architecture models symbol emergence in an autonomous agent engaged in reinforcement learning tasks. The architecture consists of two constitutional learning architectures: a reinforcement learning schema model (RLSM) and a spike timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) network. RLSM is an incremental modular reinforcement learning architecture. It makes an autonomous agent acquire behavioral concepts incrementally through continuous interactions with its environment and/or caregivers. STDP is a learning rule of neuronal plasticity that is found in cerebral cortices and the hippocampus. STDP is a temporally asymmetric learning rule that contrasts with the Hebbian learning rule. We found that STDP enables an autonomous robot to associate auditory input with its obtained behavioral concepts and to select reinforcement learning modules more effectively. Auditory signals that are interpreted based on obtained behavioral concepts are revealed to correspond to “signs” in Peirce’s semiotic triad. This integrative learning architecture is evaluated in the context of modular learning.
Calibration of a Simple, Low Cost, 3d Laser Light-Sectioning Scanner System for Biomedical Purposes

Three dimensional scanning is gaining popularity in the biomedical field for various applications where a 3D model of the external features of an anatomical part is beneficial. An analysis of two different calibration techniques, an analytical method and a least squares method, for a simple, low cost, 3D laser light-sectioning scanner system is presented. Both methods are evaluated according to their ability to cope with noise in the input calibration data. The least squares approach shows better performance under noisy data conditions; however both appear suitable for the given application. Directions for future work are also discussed.
Interviewing suspects: Practice ,s cience ,a nd futur ed irections

Crime suspects in the USA are typically questioned in atwo-step process aimed, ﬁrst, atbehavioural lie detection during apre-interrogation inter view,followed by theelicitation of aconfession during the interrogation itself (in Great Britain, the practice ofinvestigativeinter viewing does not makethis sharp distinction). Research conducted onthe ﬁrst step shows that police investigators often target innocent people forinterrogation because of erroneous but conﬁdent judgments of deception. Research onthe second step shows that innocent people aresometimes induced to confess tocrimes they did not commit as afunction of cer tain dispositional vulnerabilities or theuse of overly persuasive interrogation tactics. Citing recent studies, this paper proposesthat laborator yparadigms be used to help build more diagnostic models ofinterro gati on . Substantivel y, we suggesttha tthe Brit ishPEACE ap proa ch toinvestigativeinter viewing maypro vide apotentially effectivealternative to the classicAmerican interrogation. As amatter of policy,wesuggest that the videotaping of entireinterrogations from abalanced camera perspective is necessar ytoimprovethe factﬁnding accuracy of judges and juries who must evaluate confession evidence in cour t.
Predicting the likelihood of arrests for criminal behavior from adolescence to early adulthood

PREDICTING LIKIHOOD OF ARRESTS FOR CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR FROM ADOLESCENCE TO EARLY ADULTHOOD By Adam Braxton Downs This study examined data from 311 youth (10-17 yea rs old) sent to a juvenile justice alternative education program located in the South West US. The first round of data collection took place between the years of 2001 and 2007, and focused on personal issues and familial and peer relationship variables. A second round of dat a was collected in 2010 from the state department of criminal justice. These data consiste d of arrest records of the original sample. The strength of predicting arrests for violent and nonv i lent criminal behaviors, the severity of crimes, and first arrests after the age of 17 were examined. Parental Verbal Aggression, Peer Alienation and Ethnicity were significant predictor s of arrests for violent crimes. For arrests for nonviolent crimes, the level of functioning (Genera l F mily Functioning, GFF) in the family was a significant predictor. GFF scores were a signific ant predictor of arrests for nonviolent crime overall, but also for the seriousness of nonviolent crime and first arrest in early adulthood (after age 17). Gender consistently remained a significant predictor for arrest across hypotheses. Implications of these findings for the juvenile jus tice system, community agencies and schools, and couple and family therapists were discussed. Copyright by ADAM BRAXTON DOWNS 2013
Antidiabetic effect of some medicinal plants of Oriental Morocco in neonatal non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus rats

The goal of the present study is to test the effect of water extract (WE) of four medicinal plants used as antidiabetics in Eastern Morocco (Arbutus unedo: Au, Ammoïdes pusilla: Ap, Thymelaea hirsuta: Th, and Urtica dioïca: Ud). These plants are used in cooking to bring out the flavor in a dish or to complement it. The first experiment was realized in order to determine the antidiabetic effect of the WE of these plants during 5 weeks’ treatment. Seven groups of Wistar rats were used: Healthy controls, neonatal streptozotocin (n-stz) induced-diabetic rats (90 mg/kg; intraperitoneally [i.p.]), n-stz + tolbutamide (400 mg/l), and 4 groups n-stz + WE of plants (400 mg/l, drink water). The percentages of Plasma glucose lowering effect were, respectively for Au, Ap, Th, Ud and tolbutamide: 31.6 % p<0.01, 27.4 % p<0.05, 38.2 % p<0.01, 13 % and 33.9 % p<0.05 when compared with untreated diabetic controls. In a second experiment, oral glucose tolerance tests were carried out in n-stz induced-diabetic rats. The i.p. administration of the water extract (WE) of Ap and Ud (150 mg/kg) 30 minutes before the glucose overload (2 g/kg) showed a significant reduction glycemia, respectively of 36 % at 60 min (p<0.05) and 50 % at 180 min (p<0.05) after glucose overload compared with controls. In contrast, the effect of WE of Au and Th (150 mg/kg, i.p.) was not significant. The in vitro study of glucose utilization by isolated rat hemidiaphragm suggests that these extracts in combination with insulin potentiate its activity and enhance the utilization of glucose. In conclusion, it seems that these plants possess antidiabetic activity.
Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) in Practice: Agreement Between Observers Rating Esophageal Varices: How to Cope With Chance?

In clinical medicine, several tests that are commonly performed (i.e., physical exams, x-rays, or endoscopy) rely on a degree of subjective interpretation by observers. A limitation for clinicians is the concept of agreement between two observers that is present and beyond chance. Clinical decisions based on the presence or absence of a finding in a diagnostic test (i.e., size of esophageal varices on endoscopy) are commonly reached depending on the agreement between observers. Observations that measure the agreement between two or more observers should include a formula that takes into account the fact that observers will sometimes agree or disagree by chance. The kappa statistic corrects for this chance agreement and lets the reader know how much of the agreement beyond chance the reviewers achieve. Kappa is widely used to measure interobserver variability, that is, how often two or more observers agree in their interpretations. A kappa of 1 indicates perfect agreement, whereas a kappa of 0 indicates agreement equivalent to chance. A limitation of kappa is that it is affected by the prevalence of the finding under observation.
Nonconcordance between subclinical atherosclerosis and the calculated Framingham risk score in HIV‐infected patients: relationships with serum markers of oxidation and inflammation

HIV‐infected patients show an increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk resulting, essentially, from metabolic disturbances related to chronic infection and antiretroviral treatments. The aims of this study were: (1) to evaluate the agreement between the CVD risk estimated using the Framingham risk score (FRS) and the observed presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in HIV‐infected patients; (2) to investigate the relationships between CVD and plasma biomarkers of oxidation and inflammation.
Pyro-Align: Sample-Align based Multiple Alignment system for Pyrosequencing Reads of Large Number

Pyro-Align is a multiple alignment program speciﬁcally designed for pyrosequencing reads of hugenumber. Multiple sequence alignment is shown to be NP-hard [1] and heuristics are desgined forapproximate solutions. Multiple sequence alignment of pyrosequenceing reads is complex mainlybecause of 2 factors. One being the huge number of reads, making the use of traditional heuristics,that scale very poorly for large number, unsuitable. The second reason is that the alignment cannotbe performed arbitarily, because the position of the reads with respect to the original genome isimportant and has to be taken into account.Before we indulge in the details of the algorithms itself, a short note on Domain Decompositionand Sample-Align-D algorithm would be useful.