Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antisense extracellular signal‐regulated kinase‐2 gene therapy inhibits platelet‐derived growth factor‐induced proliferation, migration and transforming growth factor‐β1 expression in vascular smooth muscle cells and attenuates transplant vasculopathy

Platelet‐derived growth factor‐BB (PDGF‐BB) enables vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to proliferate, migrate and secrete connective tissue matrix, which are critical events in transplant vasculopathy. However, little is known about the intracellular pathways that mediate these biologic responses of VSMCs. Extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) pathway plays a major role in cellular responses and vascular diseases. In this study, we observed that the inhibition of ERK2 activity by recombinant adenovirus encoding antisense ERK2 (Adanti‐ERK2) significantly suppressed the proliferation, converting of cell cycle from G1 phase to S phase and directed migration, and partially abrogated transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) expression in VSMCs stimulated with PDGF‐BB. Ex vivo gene transfer of Adanti‐ERK2 into rat aortic allograft attenuated chronic transplant vasculopathy by the inhibition of VSMC proliferation and migration. In conclusion, ERK2 is involved in PDGF‐BB‐induced VSMCs proliferation, migration and TGF‐β1 expression and may be a potential therapeutic target for transplant vasculopathy.
Comment on "Physical Model for the Decay and Preservation of Marine Organic Carbon"

Rothman and Forney (Reports, 1 June 2007, p. 1325) described a model for the decay of marine organic carbon. However, the enzyme deactivation rates required by their model are too fast compared with available data, and the model fails to explain the similarity in observed decay rate constants from different experiments. Alternative models provide equally good fit to the observed temporal trend in decay rate constants.
Spectrum Balancing Algorithms for Power Minimization in DSL Networks

Spectrum balancing (SB) techniques optimize transmission and can significantly improve digital subscriber lines (DSL) services. In the literature, the DSL system optimization is typically formulated as a rate maximization problem. However, there is an increasing interest in minimizing the considerable amount of power consumed by telecommunication networks. Few works in the SB literature have explored algorithms for power minimization. It is known that some existing solutions for rate maximization can be converted into power minimization algorithms. This relation has not been fully explored and, consequently, the area lacks results regarding what can be achieved with power minimization SB algorithms. This work aims to diminish this gap. First, the equivalence between rate maximization and power minimization problems is formalized. Second, extended versions of some rate maximization SB algorithms are proposed for power minimization purposes and evaluated through simulations. In addition, the power-usage capabilities and convergence characteristics of each extended SB algorithms is discussed.
MODELS OF SEXUAL SELECTION ON A QUANTITATIVE GENETIC TRAIT WHEN PREFERENCE IS ACQUIRED BY SEXUAL IMPRINTING

Abstract The evolution of a quantitative genetic trait under stabilizing viability selection and sexual selection is modeled for a polygynous species in which female mating preferences are acquired by sexual imprinting on the parents and by exposure to the surviving population at large. Stabilizing viability selection acts equally on both sexes in the case of a sexually monomorphic trait and on males only in the case of a dimorphic trait. A genetically fixed sensory or perceptual bias defines the origin of the scale on which the trait is measured, and the possibility is incorporated that female preferences may deviate asymmetrically from the familiar—either toward or away from this origin. When viability selection is strong relative to sexual selection, the models predict that the mean trait value will evolve to the viability optimum. With intermediate ratios of the strength of viability to sexual selection, a stable equilibrium can occur on either side of this viability optimum, depending on the direction of asymmetry in female preferences. When viability selection is relatively weak and certain other conditions are also satisfied, runaway selection is predicted. Corresponding Editor: M. Morgan
Effect of non-sterilized pectin

Axenic (germfree) and holoxenic (conventional) rats were given a pectincontaining diet (5 %1 or a pectin-free diet. The diet was not sterilized and the axenic state was maintained by the addition of antibiotics. Pectin modified little or not at all the quantity of bile acids in the small intestine, fecal bile acid excretion and fecal elimination of the sum of cholesterol and bile acids. It similarly decreased the concentration of liver cholesterol and the amount of bile acids in the cecum and large intestine of both germfree and conventional rats. Pectin decreased the absorption coefficient of dietary cholesterol and its plasma concentration and increased fecal cholesterol elimination in conventional rats but not in germfree animals. The data imply that some of the actions of pectin depend on the presence of the intestinal flora but the exact nature of this relationship is unclear.
Diagnostic approach to melanocytic lesion of unknown malignant potential.

metastatic melanomas. However, uveal or conjunctival cell cycles do not seem to be profoundly affected. To date, several characteristic genetic anomalies for tumor progression and metastasis of cutaneous as well as uveal melanoma have been identified [5]. However, unlike in cutaneous melanoma, B-Raf, Ras, or Kitmutations occur rarely in uveal melanoma, and characteristic mutations differ between uveal and cutaneous melanoma [5]. Although mutations similar to skin melanoma such as B-RAF V600 have been found in conjunctival melanomas [6], our findings underline genetic differences between conjunctival and skin melanomas as well. However, as remarkable changes regarding pigmentation were noted in the cornea and chamber angle in these animals, further investigation of the anterior segment might allow the study of mechanisms of corneal neovascularization and possibly also glaucoma.
Sectoral holdings of notes and coins in the UK: The effect of the crisis commencing in 2007

One consequence of the recent global financial and economic crisis for the UK has been that the share of M1 held as notes has increased, contrary to the trend since the mid-1970s. To investigate this, error feedback equations for the holdings of notes and coins by UK households and by UK non-financial corporations are initially estimated for the period up to 2007Q2 (the quarter prior to the rescue of Northern Rock). The cointegrating relationships yield an income elasticity of near to unit with plausible interest (semi) elasticity. When the functional form for the interest rate is semi-log the equations are found to be stable when the period is extended to include the period since the near collapse of Northern Rock (2007Q3 to 2012Q4). But for the double log specification (constant interest rate elasticity) there is evidence of instability, in particular a considerable reduction in the rate at which money balances return to equilibrium. Overall the evidence suggests that if we allow for the non-constant interest rate elasticity the behaviour of the holdings of notes can largely be explained by the extraordinarily low interest rates. Inspection of the components of M1 reveals that the impact of the crisis is much more pronounced for bank deposits than for notes. This effect is particularly strong in the household sector for which there has been a large fall in holdings of interest bearing sight deposits and a rise in non-interest bearing sight deposits greater than the increase in holdings of notes and coins.
Mammographic Feature Enhancement using Morphology and Spatial Filter

The proposed method focuses on the prediction of breast cancer in its early stage. It is very difficult to detect microcalcification due to its small size and low contrast with respect to the surrounding tissues. A new, fast and simple enhancement technique is considered for early detection of breast cancer by enhancing microcalcification features using morphology and LOG filter. Target to background contrast ratio, Contrast and Peak Signal to Noise ratio are considered for performance evaluation of the enhancement algorithm. The mini-MIAS mammographic database was employed for testing the accuracy of the proposed method and the result was promising. General Terms Image Processing, Breast Cancer. , Laplacaian of Gaussian, Morphology.
Differentiated pattern of sodium channel expression in dissociated Purkinje neurons maintained in long‐term culture

Cerebellar Purkinje neurons in vivo exhibit high frequency and multi‐spike action potentials with transient (INaT), resurgent (INaR) and persistent (INaP) Na+ currents arising from voltage‐gated Na+ channels, which play important roles in shaping the action potentials and electrical activity of these cells. However, little is known about Na+ channel expression in cultured Purkinje neurons despite the use of in vitro approaches to study these cells. Therefore, GFP‐expressing Purkinje neurons isolated from transgenic mice were analysed after four weeks in culture, when, coincident with distinct axonal and dendritic morphologies, cultured Purkinje neurons exhibited dendrite‐specific MAP2 expression characteristic of polarized neurons. In cell‐attached patch clamp recordings, Na+ currents occurred at significantly higher frequencies and amplitudes in patches from the soma and axon than from dendrites, similar to the polarized distribution observed in vivo. INaT, INaR and INaP Na+ currents with properties similar to those observed in acutely isolated Purkinje neurons were detected in nucleated outside‐out patches from cultured Purkinje cells. RT‐PCR analysis detected Nav1.1, Nav1.2 and Nav1.6, but not Nav1.3, Nav1.4, Nav 1.5 or Nav1.8 Na+ channel α subunit gene expression in cultured Purkinje neurons, as observed in vivo. Together, the results indicate that key aspects of Na+ channel expression in mature Purkinje neurons in vivo occur in vitro.
Propagator for the wetting transition in 1+1 dimensions.

Evaluation en termes de fonctions elementaires, de la fonction de partition ou propagateur Z(y 2 ,y 1 ; x 2 -x 1 ) d'un interface solide-solide avec extremites fixes (y 1 , x 1 ), (y 2 , x 2 ), fluctuant dans le demi-plan y>0, avec une force de contact attractive au point y=0. Discussion des proprietes d'echelle de taille finie. La fonction d'echelle pour les correlations energie-energie obtenue par KO et Abraham pour la transition de mouillage dans le modele d'Ising bidimensionnel est derivee du propagateur. On obtient une fonction analogue pour les correlations spin-spin. La forme d'une gouttelette adjacente au mur est etudiee en fonction de l'abaissement de la temperature par la temperature de mouillage
Mental health screening of fathers attending early parenting services in Australia

Paternal perinatal depression and anxiety is a common, though under-recognized mental health condition experienced by men during their transition to fatherhood. An opportunity to screen for paternal mental health issues occurs when parents present for assistance with the care of their baby at early parenting services (EPSs). There are 10 EPSs located across Australia that provide specialist, multidisciplinary interventions to support parents experiencing complex parenting difficulties. Using structured telephone interviews, this qualitative study explored the views of 18 professional staff from nine EPSs regarding screening, referral processes and acceptability of screening fathers for mental health issues. A thematic analysis revealed that most EPSs screened fathers for depression. Participants agreed screening was important and that routine approaches to screening would help normalize the process for both men and services. Despite this, no uniform, comprehensive approach to identifying the mental health needs of fathers was found. EPSs provide a unique opportunity to address the mental health needs of fathers. Results from this study point to the need for a national approach to the development of father-specific screening guidelines for EPSs to improve family well-being, in parallel to those informing the Australian National Perinatal Mental Health Initiative for mothers.
Cathepsin B Is Involved in the Trafficking of TNF-α-Containing Vesicles to the Plasma Membrane in Macrophages1

TNF-α is a potent proinflammatory cytokine, essential for initiating innate immune responses against invading microbes and a key mediator involved in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. To identify molecules involved in the production of TNF-α, we used a functional gene identification method using retroviral integration-mediated mutagenesis, followed by LPS-stimulated TNF-α production analysis in macrophages. We found that cathepsin B, a lysosomal cysteine proteinase, was required for optimal posttranslational processing of TNF-α in response to the bacterial cell wall component LPS. Mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages from cathepsin B-deficient mice and macrophages treated with the cathepsin B-specific chemical inhibitor CA074 methyl ester or small interfering RNA against cathepsin B secreted significantly less TNF-α than wild-type or nontreated macrophages. We further showed that the inhibition of cathepsin B caused accumulation of 26-kDa pro-TNF-containing vesicles. Ectopic expression of GFP-conjugated pro-TNF further suggests that pro-TNF failed to reach the plasma membrane without intracellular cathepsin B activity. Altogether, these data suggest that intracellular cathepsin B activity is involved in the TNF-α-containing vesicle trafficking to the plasma membrane.
AT : Topology-based Host-Level Attribution for Multi-Stage Attacks in Enterprise Systems using Software Defined Networks

Multi-layer distributed systems, such as those found in corporate systems, are often the target of multi-stage attacks. Such attacks utilize multiple victim machines, in a series, to compromise a target asset deep inside the corporate network. Under such attacks, it is difficult to identify the upstream attacker’s identity from a downstream victim machine because of the mixing of multiple network flows. This is known as the attribution problem in security domains. We present TopHat, a system that solves such attribution problems for multi-stage attacks. It does this by using moving target defense, i.e., shuffling the assignment of clients to server replicas, which is achieved through software defined networking. As alerts are generated, TopHat maintains state about the level of risk for each network flow and progressively isolates the malicious flows. Using a simulation, we show that TopHat can identify single and multiple attackers in a variety of systems with different numbers of servers, layers, and clients.
SNGF Selected Node Geographic Forwarding Routing Protocol for VANETs

This thesis presents a protocol for intervehicle communication for use in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANET). VANET is a natural extension of mobile ad hoc networks (MANET) in which the restrictions related to power and mobility are relaxed. The routing protocols used for MANETs are generally dependent on the state of the network. With changes in the network topology, routing messages are generated so that the states of the routers in the network are updated. In the case of VANETs, in which the level of node mobility is high, message-routing overhead has serious implications for the scalability and throughput of the routing protocol. This thesis introduces criteria that are recommended for use when protocols are designed for VANET applications and presents the Selected Node Geographic Forwarding (SNGF) protocol. The SNGF protocol implements controlled flooding in an efficient manner in order to reduce unnecessary communication overhead. The protocol has a destination discovery mechanism that allows it to initiate correspondence between nodes without reliance on static location services. The protocol avoids formation of clusters by using the concept of selective forwarding, thus providing the advantages of cluster based approaches without actually forming one itself. It effectively deals with blind flooding by introducing a comprehensive retransmission time delay in the nodes. This retransmission delay favors the nodes in the direction of the destination and prevents other nodes from retransmitting the same message. The SNGF protocol does not use routing tables, which require frequent updates in mobile networks, instead it relies
Dichlorido[2-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl-κN 2)-1,10-phenanthroline-κ2 N,N′]cadmium(II)

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [CdCl2(C17H14N4)], contains two independent molecules in which the CdII ions are in distorted trigonal-bipyramidal CdN3Cl2 coordination environments. In the crystal structure, there is a π–π stacking interaction involving a pyridine ring and a symmetry-related benzene ring, with a centroid–centroid distance of 3.5088 (19) Å.
Sequence specificity of internal methylation in B77 avian sarcoma virus RNA subunits.

Following ribonuclease digestion of methyl-3H-labeled B77 avian sarcoma virus RNA subunits, methylated oligonucleotides were isolated by diethylaminoethylcellulose chromotogrpahy. Partial nucleotide sequences were deduced from the known enzymatic specificities of the ribonucleases. In addition to methylated nucleosides in the 5'-terminal cap structure, m7G(5')GmpCp, N6-methyladenosine(m6A) was found to be present in only two internal sequences of the RNA molecule, Gpm6ApC and Apm6ApC. The average numbers of methylated nucleosides per RNA subunit are about 12-13 in Gpm6ApC, 1-2 in Apm6ApC, and 2 in m7GpppGmpCp. The sequences containing m6A in B77 sarcoma virus RNA are identical to m6A-containing sequences previously reported for the bulk mRNA from HeLa cells (Wei, C.M., Gershowitz, A., and Moss, B. (1976), Biochemistry 15, 397-401). Analysis of the oligonucleotides produced by RNase A digestion indicated that the sequence of bases on the 5' side of these trinucleotides is not specific. The oligonucleotide profile, however, was highly reproducible in different virus preparations. This suggests that the methylations occur at specific positions on the RNA molecule. Some of the methylated oligonucleotides produced by RNase A digestion appear to be present in less than molar amounts. Several hypotheses are proposed to explain this result.
Needle and Syringe Cleaning Practices among Injection Drug Users

Bleach-mediated disinfection (BMD) of needles and syringes (NS) has been advocated as a risk-reduction intervention against HIV among injection drug users (IDUs). The effect of needle exchange on the BMD practices of 176 NS-sharing IDUs was evaluated. IDUs were randomly assigned to either 1) Pharmacy Sales Condition, access to NS via legal sales of nonprescription NS; or 2) Needle Exchange Condition, with additional access to NS via an experimental needle exchange program. Repeated measures analysis revealed a main effect of time on BMD, no effect of assignment condition, and no time by assignment interaction. Logistic regression revealed IDUs who traded sex for money or drugs were less likely to practice BMD, and IDUs who reported a reduced number of sex partners were more likely to practice BMD. Future interventions should incorporate behavioral BMD components and address the concerns of those who trade sex for money or drugs.
Self-configuring Switched Multi-Element Antenna system for interference mitigation in femtocell networks

This paper introduces a Switched Multi-Element Antenna (SMEA) solution for interference mitigation in femtocell networks. While the main objective is to protect the femtocell users against uplink interference, the downlink interference from femtocell base stations to the other users is simultaneously reduced as a by-product of this technique. A tailored form of reinforcement learning is used to allow for self-configuration of the femtocell base station and to adaptively select the optimal antenna configuration in a time varying environment. Compared to the traditional Omni-directional antenna systems, the results show an average of 2.5dB gain in uplink direction in terms of reduced transmission power and approximately 1dB of gain in the downlink channel.
Dynamic Chiral Nanoparticle Assemblies and Specific Chiroplasmonic Analysis of Cancer Cells

Fabricated Ag@Au core-shell nanoparticle (CS NP) assemblies exhibit pronounced and reverse chiral bisignate plasmonic signals spanning 400 to 580 nm, in comparison to Ag NP assemblies. The time-dependent chiro-optical response of assemblies that shift with shell deposition is systematically recorded. Chiral Ag@Au CS NP assemblies first achieve the special discrimination of circulating tumor cells with HER2 overexpression.
Expression of Sindbis virus 26S cDNA in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells, using a baculovirus expression vector

To study protein processing in an insect Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm; Sf9) cell line, a 26S cDNA encoding the sequence of Sindbis virus structural proteins (capsid protein, of 30 kilodaltons [kDa]; p62 [the precursor of E3 and E2], of 62 kDa; a 6-kDa peptide; and the E1 protein, of 56 kDa) was inserted into the genome of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) adjacent to the polyhedrin promoter. By immunoblot analysis with antisera directed against whole Sindbis virus and the individual structural proteins (capsid, E2, and E1), we have shown that polypeptides similar in size and antigenicity to those synthesized in Sindbis virus-infected BHK cells are expressed in Sf9 cells infected with the recombinant baculovirus Ac373-SV26. By pulse-chase labeling in the presence or absence of tunicamycin, by endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H (endo-H) treatment of the recombinant glycoproteins, and by N-terminal sequence analysis of the E1 envelope glycoprotein, we have further shown that the 26S transcription translation unit of Sindbis virus, although normally encoded by nonnuclear RNA, is expressed and proteolytically cleaved similarly, if not identically, in Sf9 cells as compared with BHK cells when a baculovirus expression vector is used.