Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sensing of HIV-1 Entry Triggers a Type I Interferon Response in Human Primary Macrophages

ABSTRACT Along with CD4+ T lymphocytes, macrophages are a major cellular source of HIV-1 replication and a potential viral reservoir. Following entry and reverse transcription in macrophages, cloaking of the viral cDNA by the HIV-1 capsid limits its cytosolic detection, enabling efficient replication. However, whether incoming HIV-1 particles are sensed by macrophages prior to reverse transcription remains unclear. Here, we show that HIV-1 triggers a broad expression of interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes (ISG) in monocyte-derived macrophages within a few hours after infection. This response does not require viral reverse transcription or the presence of HIV-1 RNA within particles, but viral fusion is essential. This response is elicited by viruses carrying different envelope proteins and thus different receptors to proceed for viral entry. Expression of ISG in response to viral entry requires TBK1 activity and type I IFNs signaling. Remarkably, the ISG response is transient but affects subsequent viral spread. Together, our results shed light on an early step of HIV-1 sensing by macrophages at the level of entry, which confers an early protection through type I IFN signaling and has potential implications in controlling the infection. IMPORTANCE HIV infection is restricted to T lymphocytes and macrophages. HIV-1-infected macrophages are found in many tissues of infected patients, even under antiretroviral therapy, and are considered a viral reservoir. How HIV-1 is detected and what type of responses are elicited upon sensing remain in great part elusive. The kinetics and localization of the production of cytokines such as interferons in response to HIV is of critical importance to understanding how the infection and the immune response are established. Our study provides evidence that macrophages can detect HIV-1 as soon as it enters the cell. Interestingly, this sensing is independent of the presence of viral nucleic acids within the particles but requires their fusion with the macrophages. This triggers a low interferon response, which activates an antiviral program protecting cells against further viral challenge and thus potentially limiting the spread of the infection.
Anticancer Activities of Pterostilbene-Isothiocyanate Conjugate in Breast Cancer Cells: Involvement of PPARγ

Trans-3,5-dimethoxy-4′-hydroxystilbene (PTER), a natural dimethylated analog of resveratrol, preferentially induces certain cancer cells to undergo apoptosis and could thus have a role in cancer chemoprevention. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is a ligand-dependent transcription factor whose activation results in growth arrest and/or apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells. Here we investigated the potential of PTER-isothiocyanate (ITC) conjugate, a novel class of hybrid compound (PTER-ITC) synthesized by appending an ITC moiety to the PTER backbone, to induce apoptotic cell death in hormone-dependent (MCF-7) and -independent (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cell lines and to elucidate PPARγ involvement in PTER-ITC action. Our results showed that when pre-treated with PPARγ antagonists or PPARγ siRNA, both breast cancer cell lines suppressed PTER-ITC-induced apoptosis, as determined by annexin V/propidium iodide staining and cleaved caspase-9 expression. Furthermore, PTER-ITC significantly increased PPARγ mRNA and protein levels in a dose-dependent manner and modulated expression of PPARγ-related genes in both breast cancer cell lines. This increase in PPARγ activity was prevented by a PPARγ-specific inhibitor, in support of our hypothesis that PTER-ITC can act as a PPARγ activator. PTER-ITC-mediated upregulation of PPARγ was counteracted by co-incubation with p38 MAPK or JNK inhibitors, suggesting involvement of these pathways in PTER-ITC action. Molecular docking analysis further suggested that PTER-ITC interacted with 5 polar and 8 non-polar residues within the PPARγ ligand-binding pocket, which are reported to be critical for its activity. Collectively, our observations suggest potential applications for PTER-ITC in breast cancer prevention and treatment through modulation of the PPARγ activation pathway.
Linalool loaded on glutathione-modified gold nanoparticles: a drug delivery system for a successful antimicrobial therapy

Abstract In the present study, antimicrobial activity of Linalool loaded on Glutathione-modified Gold nanoparticles prepared by novel method was investigated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Linalool-gold nanoparticles (LIN-GNPs) against Gram's positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Gram's negative bacteria Escherichia coli, and against Leishmania tropica. Gold nanoparticles were synthesized using the chemical method. Colour change, UV–Vis spectrum, FTIR and SEM confirmed the characterization of gold nanoparticles and LIN-GNPs. The antibacterial study was including agar well diffusion method, MIC, MBC. The mode of action was determined by cellular material release assay, SEM and AO/EtBr for ROS detection. Anti-parasitic activity was evaluated using MTT assay. FTIR spectral analysis investigated that Linalool was loaded on gold nanoparticles. SEM showed that the Gold nanoparticles and LIN-GNPs were generally found to be spherical in shape and the size was ranged 5–11 nm for GNPs and 15–20 nm for LIN-GNPs. The results of antibacterial activity demonstrated that Linalool alone had low activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. While the results showed that gram-positive bacteria were more effective by LIN-GNPs. LIN-GNPs acted on the bacterial cell membrane, resulting in loss of integrity and increased permeability of cell wall and stimulated ROS production that leads to damage of bacterial nucleic acid. The anti-parasitic activity results indicated the high activity of LIN-GNPs on L. tropica compared with Linalool and Gold nanoparticles. These results proved that LIN-GNPs have great potential as antimicrobial activity and could be used as a developing strategy for a successful antimicrobial therapeutic agent.
Chromatic induction in space and time.

The color appearance of a light depends on variation in the complete visual field over both space and time. In the spatial domain, a chromatic stimulus within a patterned chromatic surround can appear a different hue than the same stimulus within a uniform surround. In the temporal domain, a stimulus presented as an element of a continuously changing chromaticity can appear a different color compared to the identical stimulus, presented simultaneously but viewed alone. This is the flash-lag effect for color, which has an analog in the domain of motion: a pulsed object seen alone can appear to lag behind an identical pulsed object that is an element of a motion sequence. Studies of the flash-lag effect for motion have considered whether it is mediated by a neural representation for the moving physical stimulus or, alternatively, for the perceived motion. The current study addresses this question for the flash-lag effect for color by testing whether the color flash lag depends on a representation of only the changing chromatic stimulus or, alternatively, its color percept, which can be altered by chromatic induction. METHODS baseline measurements for spatial chromatic induction determined the chromaticity of a flashed ring within a uniform surround that matched a flashed ring within a patterned surround. Baseline measurements for the color flash-lag effect determined the chromaticity of a pulsed ring presented alone (within a uniform surround) that matched a pulsed ring presented in a sequence of changing chromaticity over time (also within a uniform surround). Finally, the main experiments combined chromatic induction from a patterned surround and the flash-lag effect, in three conditions: (1) both the changing and pulsed rings were within a patterned chromatic surround; (2) the changing ring was within a patterned surround and the pulsed ring within a uniform surround; and (3) the changing ring was within a uniform surround and the pulsed ring within a patterned surround. RESULTS the flash-lag measurements for a changing chromaticity were affected by perceptual changes induced by the surrounding chromatic pattern. Thus, the color shifts induced by a chromatic surround are incorporated in the neural representation mediating the flash-lag effect for color.
Vulnerable pedestrian detection and tracking using deep learning

Accidents related with vulnerable pedestrians around crosswalks are continued so that proactive safety support system is required. Our research includes vulnerable pedestrian action character deduction, pedestrian action analysis module development and safety system development using big data analysis for the proactive safety support system. This paper shows pedestrian/car detection, tracking and action recognition system using deep learning using video streams which come from CCTVs installed at SNU(Seoul National University). This algorithm includes SSD(Single shot multibox detector) structure and mobilenets for faster process and higher detection ratio.
Hydrology: The interdisciplinary science of water

We live in a world where biophysical and social processes are tightly coupled. Hydrologic systems change in response to a variety of natural and human forces such as climate variability and change, water use and water infrastructure, and land cover change. In turn, changes in hydrologic systems impact socioeconomic, ecological, and climate systems at a number of scales, leading to a coevolution of these interlinked systems. The Harvard Water Program, Hydrosociology, Integrated Water Resources Management, Ecohydrology, Hydromorphology, and Sociohydrology were all introduced to provide distinct, interdisciplinary perspectives on water problems to address the contemporary dynamics of human interaction with the hydrosphere and the evolution of the Earth's hydrologic systems. Each of them addresses scientific, social, and engineering challenges related to how humans influence water systems and vice versa. There are now numerous examples in the literature of how holistic approaches can provide a structure and vision of the future of hydrology. We review selected examples, which taken together, describe the type of theoretical and applied integrated hydrologic analyses and associated curricular content required to address the societal issue of water resources sustainability. We describe a modern interdisciplinary science of hydrology needed to develop an in‐depth understanding of the dynamics of the connectedness between human and natural systems and to determine effective solutions to resolve the complex water problems that the world faces today. Nearly, every theoretical hydrologic model introduced previously is in need of revision to accommodate how climate, land, vegetation, and socioeconomic factors interact, change, and evolve over time.
Evaluating Aesthetic Experience through Personal-Appearance Styles: A Behavioral and Electrophysiological Study

Consumers' aesthetic experience has often been linked with the concept of beauty, which is regarded as subjective and may vary between individuals, cultures and places, and across time. With the advent of brain-imaging techniques, there is more and more evidence to suggest that aesthetic experience lies not only in the eye of the beholder, but also in the brain of the beholder. However, there are gaps in the previous research in this area, as several significant issues have not yet been addressed. Specifically, it is unclear whether the human brain really pays more attention and generates more positive emotional responses to beautiful things. To explore the brain activity relating to consumers' aesthetic experiences, 15 participants were recruited voluntarily to view a series of personal-appearance styles. They were invited to make aesthetic judgments while their brain activity was recorded by electroencephalography. Two electroencephalographic (EEG) indicators, theta coherence and frontal alpha symmetry, were utilized. Theta coherence is a measure of linear synchronization between signals at two electrode sites. It reflects the degree of functional cooperation between the underlying neuronal substrates and was used to explore the attentional processing involved in aesthetic judgments. Frontal alpha asymmetry is derived by subtracting the log-transformed absolute alpha power of the left hemisphere from the analogous log-transformed alpha power of the right hemisphere. It was used as an indicator of emotional response. During aesthetic judgments, long-range theta coherence increased in both hemispheres and more positive frontal alpha asymmetry was found when the styles were judged to be beautiful. Therefore, participants demonstrated brain activity suggestive of central executive processing and more positive emotional responses when they considered styles to be beautiful. The study provides some insight into the brain activity associated with consumers' aesthetic experiences, and suggests new directions for exploring consumer behavior from the perspective of neuroscience.
A Multi-Discriminator CycleGAN for Unsupervised Non-Parallel Speech Domain Adaptation

Domain adaptation plays an important role for speech recognition models, in particular, for domains that have low resources. We propose a novel generative model based on cyclic-consistent generative adversarial network (CycleGAN) for unsupervised non-parallel speech domain adaptation. The proposed model employs multiple independent discriminators on the power spectrogram, each in charge of different frequency bands. As a result we have 1) better discriminators that focus on fine-grained details of the frequency features, and 2) a generator that is capable of generating more realistic domain-adapted spectrogram. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method on speech recognition with gender adaptation, where the model only has access to supervised data from one gender during training, but is evaluated on the other at test time. Our model is able to achieve an average of $7.41\%$ on phoneme error rate, and $11.10\%$ word error rate relative performance improvement as compared to the baseline, on TIMIT and WSJ dataset, respectively. Qualitatively, our model also generates more natural sounding speech, when conditioned on data from the other domain.
Watt-level dysprosium fiber laser at 3.15  μm with 73% slope efficiency.

Rare-earth-doped fiber lasers are emerging as promising high-power mid-infrared sources for the 2.6-3.0 μm and 3.3-3.8 μm regions based on erbium and holmium ions. The intermediate wavelength range, however, remains vastly underserved, despite prospects for important manufacturing and defense applications. Here, we demonstrate the potential of dysprosium-doped fiber to solve this problem, with a simple in-band pumped grating-stabilized linear cavity generating up to 1.06 W at 3.15 μm. A slope efficiency of 73% with respect to launched power (77% relative to absorbed power) is achieved-the highest value for any mid-infrared fiber laser to date, to the best of our knowledge. Opportunities for further power and efficiency scaling are also discussed.
Guitar Tube Amplifier vs Native Simulations

We propose to present a tube guitar amplifier simulation we’ve been designing using the Web Audio API with the aim to faithfully reproduce the main parts of the Marshall JCM 800 amplifier schematics. Each stage of the real amp has been recreated (preamp, tone stack, reverb, power amp and speaker simulation). We’ve also added an extra multiband EQ. This “classic rock” amp simulation we’ve been building has been used in real gigs and can be favorably compared with some native amp simulation both in terms of latency, sound quality, dynamics and comfort of the guitar play. The amp is open source and can be tested online, even without a real guitar plugged-in. It comes with an audio player, dry guitar samples and a wave generator that can be used as inputs. Figure 1 shows the current GUI, with some optional frequency analyzers and oscilloscopes that we’ve been using to probe the signal at different stages of the simulation. One purpose was to evaluate the limits of the Web Audio API and see if it was possible to design a web-based guitar amp simulator that could compete with native simulations. 1 https://github.com/micbuffa/WebAudio-Guitar-AmplifierSimulator-3 2 https://wasabi.i3s. unice.fr/AmpSim3 and a version with measure tools activated: https://wasabi.i3s. unice.fr/AmpSimFA Figure 2: Typical setup for a demo / comparison with native amp simulations
Modern techniques and applications for real-time non-rigid registration

Registration algorithms are an essential component of many computer graphics and computer vision systems. With recent technological advances in RGBD sensors (color plus depth), an active area of research is in techniques combining color, geometry, and learnt priors for robust real-time registration. The goal of this course is to introduce the mathematical foundations and theoretical explanation of registration algorithms, in addition to the practical tools to design systems that leverage information from RGBD devices. We present traditional methods for correspondence computation derived from geometric first principles, along with modern techniques leveraging pre-processing of annotated datasets (e.g. deep neural networks). To illustrate the practical relevance of the theoretical content, we discuss applications including static and dynamic scanning/reconstruction as well as real-time tracking of hands and faces. An up-to-date version of the course notes, as well as slides and source code can be found at http://gfx.uvic. ca/teaching/registration.
Ultralow Friction with Hydrophilic Polymer Brushes in Water as Segregated from Silicone Matrix

Lubrication is essential to minimize damage to underlying material and ensure low energy dissipation in biological and man‐made mechanical systems. Surface grafting of hydrophilic polymer brushes is a powerful means to render materials that are slippery in aqueous environments. However, presently available approaches to graft polymer brushes on surfaces, e.g., “grafting‐from” or “grafting‐to” approaches, display several restrictions in terms of practical and long‐term applications. Here a unique method of forming hydrophilic polymer brushes by selective segregation of hydrophilic chains of amphiphilic diblock copolymers, such as poly(dimethylsiloxane)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PDMS‐b‐PEG) and poly(dimethylsiloxane)‐b‐poly(acrylic acid) (PDMS‐b‐PAA) from the PDMS matrix with an “inverted grafting‐to” approach, and its tribological applications, is presented. In this approach, as the hydrophilic polymer brushes are generated from an internal source of the material, excellent grafting stability and restoring capabilities are revealed even under harsh tribostress. The film can easily be applied to elastomers, metals, and ceramic substrates by spin‐ or drip‐coating. Obtained sliding friction coefficients (μ) are 0.001–0.05 for soft contacts depending on substrate, load, counter surface, pH, and salinity. Between the two types of hydrophilic polymer chains, PAA shows far superior lubricity compared to PEG, which is rationalized by the larger reduction of total free energy of the former upon hydration.
School-Based Influenza Vaccination: Parents’ Perspectives

Background School-age children are important drivers of annual influenza epidemics yet influenza vaccination coverage of this population is low despite universal publicly funded influenza vaccination in Alberta, Canada. Immunizing children at school may potentially increase vaccine uptake. As parents are a key stakeholder group for such a program, it is important to consider their concerns. Purpose We explored parents’ perspectives on the acceptability of adding an annual influenza immunization to the immunization program that is currently delivered in Alberta schools, and obtained suggestions for structuring such a program. Participants Forty-eight parents of children aged 5-18 years participated in 9 focus groups. Participants lived in urban areas of the Alberta Health Services Calgary Zone. Findings Three major themes emerged: Advantages of school-based influenza vaccination (SBIV), Disadvantages of SBIV, and Implications for program design & delivery. Advantages were perceived to occur for different populations: children (e.g. emotional support), families (e.g. convenience), the community (e.g. benefits for school and multicultural communities), the health sector (e.g. reductions in costs due to burden of illness) and to society at large (e.g. indirect conduit of information about health services, building structure for pandemic preparedness, building healthy lifestyles). Disadvantages, however, might also occur for children (e.g. older children less likely to be immunized), families (e.g. communication challenges, perceived loss of parental control over information, choices and decisions) and the education sector (loss of instructional time). Nine second-level themes emerged within the major theme of Implications for program design & delivery: program goals/objectives, consent process, stakeholder consultation, age-appropriate program, education, communication, logistics, immunizing agent, and clinic process. Conclusions Parents perceived advantages and disadvantages to delivering annual seasonal influenza immunizations to children at school. Their input gives a framework of issues to address in order to construct robust, acceptable programs for delivering influenza or other vaccines in schools.
Disruption of Central Antioxidant Property of Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 Worsens Circulatory Homeostasis with Baroreflex Dysfunction in Heart Failure

Heart failure is defined as a disruption of circulatory homeostasis. We have demonstrated that baroreflex dysfunction strikingly disrupts circulatory homeostasis. Moreover, previous many reports have suggested that central excess oxidative stress causes sympathoexcitation in heart failure. However, the central mechanisms of baroreflex dysfunction with oxidative stress has not been fully clarified. Our hypothesis was that the impairment of central antioxidant property would worsen circulatory homeostasis with baroreflex dysfunction in heart failure. As the major antioxidant property in the brain, we focused on nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2; cytoprotective transcription factor). Hemodynamic and baroreflex function in conscious state were assessed by the radio-telemetry system. In the heart failure treated with intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB), sympathetic activation and brain oxidative stress were significantly lower, and baroreflex sensitivity and volume tolerance were significantly higher than in heart failure treated with vehicle. ICV infusion of Nrf2 activator decreased sympathetic activation and brain oxidative stress, and increased baroreflex sensitivity and volume tolerance to a greater extent than ARB. In conclusion, the disruption of central antioxidant property of Nrf2 worsened circulatory homeostasis with baroreflex dysfunction in heart failure.