Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Possible interaction of quinolone antibiotics with peptide transporter 1 in oral absorption of peptide‐mimetic drugs

The study investigated whether quinolone antibiotics inhibit the PEPT1‐mediated uptake of its substrates. Among the quinolones examined, lomefloxacin, moxifloxacin (MFLX) and purlifloxacin significantly inhibited the uptake of PEPT1 substrate phenylalanine‐Ψ(CN‐S)‐alanine (Phe‐Ψ‐Ala) in HeLa/PEPT1 cells to 31.6 ± 1.3%, 27.6 ± 2.9%, 36.8 ± 2.2% and 32.6 ± 1.4%, respectively. Further examination showed that MFLX was an uncompetitive inhibitor, with an IC50 value of 4.29 ± 1.29 mm. In addition, MFLX significantly decreased the cephalexin and valacyclovir uptake in HeLa/PEPT1 cells. In an in vivo study in rats, the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of orally administered Phe‐Ψ‐Ala was significantly decreased in the presence of MFLX (171 ± 1 ng/ml) compared with that in its absence (244 ± 9 ng/ml). The area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) of orally administered Phe‐Ψ‐Ala in the presence of MFLX (338 ± 50 ng/ml · h) tended to decrease compared with that in its absence (399 ± 75 ng/ml · h). The oral bioavailability of Phe‐Ψ‐Ala in the presence and absence of MFLX was 41.7 ± 6.2% and 49.2 ± 9.2%, respectively. The results indicate that administration of quinolone antibiotics concomitantly with PEPT1 substrate drugs may potentially result in drug–drug interaction. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
GSK3 Regulates Mitotic Chromosomal Alignment through CRMP4

Background Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 (GSK3) has been implicated in regulating chromosomal alignment and mitotic progression but the physiological substrates mediating these GSK3-dependent effects have not been identified. Collapsin Response Mediator Protein 4 (CRMP4) is a cytosolic phosphoprotein known to regulate cytoskeletal dynamics and is a known physiological substrate of GSK3. In this study, we investigate the role of CRMP4 during mitosis. Methodology and Principal Findings Here we demonstrate that during mitosis CRMP4 phosphorylation is regulated in a GSK3-dependent manner. We show that CRMP4 localizes to spindle microtubules during mitosis and loss of CRMP4 disrupts chromosomal alignment and mitotic progression. The effect of CRMP4 on chromosomal alignment is dependent on phosphorylation by GSK3 identifying CRMP4 as a critical GSK3 substrate during mitotic progression. We also provide mechanistic data demonstrating that CRMP4 regulates spindle microtubules consistent with its known role in the regulation of the microtubule cytoskeleton. Conclusion and Significance Our findings identify CRMP4 as a key physiological substrate of GSK3 in regulating chromosomal alignment and mitotic progression through its effect on spindle microtubules.
Dependence of heart rate variability on heart period in disease and aging

The aim of this study was to compare the dependence of heart rate variability (HRV) on heart period (RR interval length) under different physiological and pathological states in order to detect changes in HR modulation. The dependence of HRV on the RR interval length in healthy elderly subjects, congestive heart failure (CHF) patients and one patient with a transplanted heart (T) was compared with healthy young subjects. Spectral powers, sample entropy (SampEn) and short-term fractal scaling exponent (α1) were determined from 24 h free-running recordings. For the same HR, HRV measures were different in different groups. In healthy subjects HRV measures depended on RR interval length and all spectral powers were highly correlated, although reduced in elderly subjects. SampEn at high HR was the most sensitive quantity to changes induced by aging. In disease, CHF and T, an achievable HR range was decreased, all spectral powers were reduced, but correlated, and the dependence of HRV measures on RR was lost. There was an evident difference in the dependence of nonlinear on linear measures between young subjects and all the other studied groups. In disease the reduction in autonomic control was associated with the decrease in short-range correlation and regularity in RR series. We have concluded that the analysis of HRV measures as functions of RR interval length can reveal important aspects of HR control that might be lost in averaging.
A wideband millimeter wave CP antenna by using tapered dielectic polarizer

This paper presents a circularly polarized millimeter wave antenna by using a tapered polarizer. The polarizer consists of several air and dielectric slabs, which can be used to switch the polarization of the antenna from linear polarization into circularly polarization. Besides, with the tapered shaped, the polarizer can decrease the sidelobe of the radiation pattern and increase the gain of the antenna. For demonstration, a millimeter wave antenna with the proposed polarizer is implemented and measured. The proposed antenna with the polarizer achieves a wide impedance bandwidth of 50% from 45 to 75 GHz for the reflection coefficient ≤ −10 dB, and yields an overlapped axial ratio bandwidth of 26% from 50 to 65 GHz for the axial ratio ≤ 3 dB. The maximum gain of the antenna reaches to 17 dBic. The proposed methodology of this design can apply to applications related to millimeter-wave wireless communication systems. The ultimate goal of this work is to develop a wideband, high-gain and low-cost antenna for the millimeter-wave frequency band, which is a good candidate for 5G communication.
Risks of Lynch syndrome cancers for MSH6 mutation carriers.

BACKGROUND Germline mutations in MSH6 account for 10%-20% of Lynch syndrome colorectal cancers caused by hereditary DNA mismatch repair gene mutations. Because there have been only a few studies of mutation carriers, their cancer risks are uncertain. METHODS We identified 113 families of MSH6 mutation carriers from five countries that we ascertained through family cancer clinics and population-based cancer registries. Mutation status, sex, age, and histories of cancer, polypectomy, and hysterectomy were sought from 3104 of their relatives. Age-specific cumulative risks for carriers and hazard ratios (HRs) for cancer risks of carriers, compared with those of the general population of the same country, were estimated by use of a modified segregation analysis with appropriate conditioning depending on ascertainment. RESULTS For MSH6 mutation carriers, the estimated cumulative risks to ages 70 and 80 years, respectively, were as follows: for colorectal cancer, 22% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 14% to 32%) and 44% (95% CI = 28% to 62%) for men and 10% (95% CI = 5% to 17%) and 20% (95% CI = 11% to 35%) for women; for endometrial cancer, 26% (95% CI = 18% to 36%) and 44% (95% CI = 30% to 58%); and for any cancer associated with Lynch syndrome, 24% (95% CI = 16% to 37%) and 47% (95% CI = 32% to 66%) for men and 40% (95% CI = 32% to 52%) and 65% (95% CI = 53% to 78%) for women. Compared with incidence for the general population, MSH6 mutation carriers had an eightfold increased incidence of colorectal cancer (HR = 7.6, 95% CI = 5.4 to 10.8), which was independent of sex and age. Women who were MSH6 mutation carriers had a 26-fold increased incidence of endometrial cancer (HR = 25.5, 95% CI = 16.8 to 38.7) and a sixfold increased incidence of other cancers associated with Lynch syndrome (HR = 6.0, 95% CI = 3.4 to 10.7). CONCLUSION We have obtained precise and accurate estimates of both absolute and relative cancer risks for MSH6 mutation carriers.
Multilevel Routing With Redundant Via Insertion

This brief presents an improved multilevel full-chip routing system which integrates the redundant via placement in the routing flow for yield and reliability enhancement. The system features a pre-coarsening stage which is equipped with fast congestion-driven L-pattern global router followed by detailed router. The L-pattern global routing benefits to the reduction of vias and thus relieves the burden of redundant via addition. In addition, a rvia-driven maze routing algorithm is also integrated in the system to improve the insertion of redundant vias. Finally a redundant via placement heuristic is adopted to enhance the completion rate. We have tested the system on a set of commonly used benchmark circuits and compared the results with a previous multilevel routing system. Besides much enhancement obtained in the aspect of redundant via placement, the system also obtains high routing completion rate, minimized total wire length and total number of vias in satisfactory runtime
Body Size in Amblyrhiza inundata ( Rodentia , Caviomorpha ) , an Extinct Megafaunal Rodent From the Anguilla Bank , West Indies : Estimates and Implications

Rodent species typically evolve larger mean body sizes when isolated on islands, but the extinct caviomorphAmblyrhiza inundata, known only from Quaternary cave deposits on the islands of Anguilla and St. Martin (northern Lesser Antilles), provides an unusually dramatic example ofinsular gigantism. Here we report on a series ofbody mass estimates for Amblyrhiza using predictive equations based on anteroposterior diameters and cortical cross-sectional areas of humeral and femoral diaphyses. Analyses of 14 isolated specimens (5 femoral, 9 humeral), all representing adult or nearadult animals, yield body mass estimates ranging from slightly less than 50 kg to more than 200 kg. Body size estimates derived from humeral measurements are lower than those derived from femoral measurements, but the significance ofthis will remain unclear until matched limb bones (i.e., specimens from the same animal) are recovered. Incisor measurements are also highly variable, but in this case the distribution is demonstrably bimodal. Presence of multiple coeval species, temporal variation, limb heterogeneity, and sexual dimorphism all qualify as possible explanations of the variation encountered in Amblyrhiza data sets, but available samples are not adequate for making a robust choice among them. Body size affects many life history variables, including demography. Population estimates derived from empirical data and predictive equations suggest that only a few thousand individuals ofAmblyrhiza could have occupied the islands of the Anguilla Bank at any ' Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701-2979; Research Associate, Department of Mammalogy, American Museum of Natural History. 2 Visiting Assistant Professor, Joint Science Department, Claremont Colleges, Claremont, CA 9171 1. 3Curator, Department of Mammalogy, American Museum of Natural History. Copyright © American Museum of Natural History 1993 ISSN 0003-0082 / Price $3.70 AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES one time during the Late Quaternary. At certain times-for example, during the last interglacial (Sangamonian) highstand-population numbers might have sunk to only a few hundred. Absolutely small population sizes of Amblyrhiza and severe fluctuations in island area during the late Quaternary surely affected its susceptibility to extinction, whether or not humans were ultimately responsible for the event (for which there is as yet no direct evidence).
A Predictive Opportunistic Access Scheme for Cognitive Radios

We propose a novel opportunistic access scheme for cognitive radios that considers the channel gain as well as the predicted idle channel probability. In contrast to previous works where a cognitive user vacates a channel only when that channel becomes busy, our scheme requires the cognitive user to switch to the channel with the next highest idle probability if the current channel's gain is below a certain threshold. We derive the threshold values that maximize the long term throughput for various transition probabilities and compare our throughput results to those obtained using a non-channel adaptive scheme. We also provide simulation results that validate our analytical results.
Syntheses and Structure–Activity Relationships of Seven Manganese–Salen Derivatives as Anti‐amyloidogenic and Fibril‐destabilizing Agents Against Hen Egg‐white Lysozyme Aggregation

Accumulation of intra‐ and/or extracellular misfolded proteins as amyloid fibrils is a key hallmark in more than 20 amyloid‐related diseases. In that respect, blocking or reversing amyloid aggregation via the use of small compounds is considered as two useful approaches in hampering the development of these diseases. In this research, we have studied the ability of different manganese–salen derivatives to inhibit amyloid self‐assembly as well as to dissolve amyloid aggregates of hen egg‐white lysozyme, as an in vitro model system, with the aim of investigating their structure–activity relationships. By coupling several techniques such as thioflavin T and anilinonaphthalene‐8‐sulfonic acid fluorescence, congo red absorbance, far‐UV circular dichroism, and transmission electron microscopy, we demonstrated that all compounds possessed anti‐amyloidogenic activities and were capable of dispersing the fibrillar aggregates. In addition, MTT assay of the treated SK‐N‐MC cells with the preformed fibrils formed in the presence of compounds at a drug‐to‐protein molar ratio of 5:1, indicated a significant increase in the viability of cells, compared to the fibrils formed in the absence of each of the compounds. Our spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and cellular studies indicated that EUK‐15, with a methoxy group at the para position (group R5), had higher activity to either inhibit or disrupt the β‐sheet structures relative to other compounds. On the basis of these results, it can be concluded that in addition to aromatic rings of each of the derivatives, the type and position of the side group(s) contribute to lower lysozyme fibril accumulation.
Ultrawideband Printed Log-Periodic Dipole Antenna With Multiple Notched Bands

A printed log-periodic dipole antenna (PLPDA) with multiple notched bands is proposed for ultrawideband (UWB) applications. The impedance bandwidth of 3.1 GHz-10.6 GHz with VSWR less than 2 is achieved based on the wideband property of the PLPDA as well as the half mode substrate integrated waveguide (HMSIW) Balun. Different from omnidirectional UWB antennas, the end-fire radiation pattern of the PLPDA is more stable within the UWB band. Multiple notched bands are generated by integrating U-shaped slots into the PLPDA for blocking the interference from other narrow band wireless communication systems. Several antennas with the notched frequencies of 3.5 GHz, 5.5 GHz, 6.8 GHz, and 8.5 GHz are designed, fabricated, and measured. The measured results are in agreement with the predicted results.
ITW - An Architecture based on Distributed Web Components for Multimedia Resource Discovery

The paper presents a multi-platform and multi-language architecture used to discover (multimedia) resources. This platform, called ITW, is based on different distributed Web components, such as Web services and Web agents, exploiting the relations between Web sites’ resources. All involved information within the system is XML-based, by using different languages for expressing associated metadata and temporal relationships established between multimedia resources available on Web.
Stock Prediction Using Twitter Sentiment Analysis

In this paper, we apply sentiment analysis and machine learning principles to ﬁnd the correlation between ”public sentiment” and ”market sentiment”. We use twitter data to predict public mood and use the predicted mood and previous days’ DJIA values to predict the stock market movements. In order to test our results, we propose a new cross validation method for ﬁnancial data and obtain 75.56% accuracy using Self Organizing Fuzzy Neural Networks (SOFNN) on the Twitter feeds and DJIA values from the period June 2009 to December 2009. We also implement a naive protfo-lio management strategy based on our predicted values. Our work is based on Bollen et al’s famous paper which predicted the same with 87% accuracy.
Interval type-2 fuzzy logic system to simulate the environment resources stochasticity inducing the population growth shape

An interval type-2 fuzzy logic system (IT2-FLS) is designed to evaluate the parameters of a population growth model based on the environment resources stochasticity, in time and space. Interval type-2 fuzzy sets are used to measure the uncertainties of the environment resources. The main goal of this work is to demonstrate how the IT2-FLS integrated into a population growth model can make a suitable evaluation of the parameters required to make that the population size reach a stable equilibrium level on which it fluctuates into a time interval and after that, population size goes down as consequence of insufficient resources. The simulation results are compared against the results of others mathematical models made through the years in Ecology to study the population dynamics.
Eurographics Symposium on Geometry Processing (2007) Delaunay Mesh Construction

We present algorithms to produce Delaunay meshes from arbitrary triangle meshes by edge flipping and geometry-preserving refinement and prove their correctness. In particular we show that edge flipping serves to reduce mesh surface area, and that a poorly sampled input mesh may yield unflippable edges necessitating refinement to ensure a Delaunay mesh output. Multiresolution Delaunay meshes can be obtained via constrained mesh decimation. We further examine the usefulness of trading off the geometry-preserving feature of our algorithm with the ability to create fewer triangles. We demonstrate the performance of our algorithms through several experiments.
The importance of intersectionality in disability and gender studies

abstract Investigations into the relationship between poverty and disability are limited, particularly from a South African perspective. In addition, when this relationship is addressed it is usually in isolation of other social characteristics, such as gender. As such the intersections between disability, gender, race and poverty are often overlooked – yet internationally research points to gender gaps in outcomes for people with disabilities. This briefing seeks to address this gap by reporting on a national study on poverty and disability in South Africa. We make use of the theory of intersectionality as a lens to interpret evidence from a national survey, the South African National Income Dynamics Study (South African Labour and Development Research Unit, 2014). Specifically, we assess how poverty and disability intersect to shape particular outcomes for women as compared to men with disabilities. This briefing demonstrates that in South Africa disability intersects with gender as well as age and race to result in negative outcomes in education, employment and income for all people with disabilities, but particularly black women with disabilities. Evidence is provided for what we theorise to be the case – that disability and gender intersect to compound negative outcomes for black women with disabilities.
An approach for the high-level specification of QoS-aware grid workflows considering location affinity

Many important scientific and engineering problems may be solved by combining multiple applications in the form of a Grid workflow. We consider that for the wide acceptance of Grid technology it is important that the user has the possibility to express requirements on Quality of Service (QoS) at workflow specification time. However, most of the existing workflow languages lack constructs for QoS specification. In this paper we present an approach for high level workflow specification that considers a comprehensive set of QoS requirements. Besides performance related QoS, it includes economical, legal and security aspects. For instance, for security or legal reasons the user may express the location affinity regarding Grid resources on which certain workflow tasks may be executed. Our QoS-aware workflow system provides support for the whole workflow life cycle from specification to execution. Workflow is specified graphically, in an intuitive manner, based on a standard visual modeling language. A set of QoS-aware service-oriented components is provided for workflow planning to support automatic constraint-based service negotiation and workflow optimization. For reducing the complexity of workflow planning, we introduce a QoS-aware workflow reduction technique. We illustrate our approach with a real-world workflow for maxillo facial surgery simulation.
Response to “Competing Views: A Dialogue on Response to Intervention”

Batsche, Kavale, and Kovaleski (this issue) have done an outstanding job of summarizing arguments for and against the use of response-to-intervention (RTI) procedures for identifying learning disabilities. In this response, we raise issues relevant to the concept of learning disabilities, the nature of problems associated with standard discrepancy-based identification procedures, and how RTI will ultimately be operationalized across a variety of academic domains. We express cautious optimism that RTI procedures will continue to be developed carefully and methodically and will ultimately lead to better methods for identifying and treating learning disabilities.
A Framework for Unsupervised Dependency Parsing using a Soft-EM Algorithm and Bilexical Grammars

Unsupervised dependency parsing is acquiring great relevance in the area of Natural Language Processing due to the increasing number of utterances that become available on the Internet. Most current works are based on Depen- dency Model with Valence (DMV) (12) or Extended Valence Grammars (EVGs) (11), in both cases the dependencies between words are modeled by using a fixed structure of automata. We present a framework for unsupervised induction of dependency structures based on CYK parsing that uses a simple rewriting tech- niques of the training material. Our model is implemented by means of a k-best CYK parser, an inductor for Probabilistic Bilexical Grammars (PBGs) (8) and a simple technique that rewrites the treebank from k trees with their probabilities. An important contribution of our work is that the framework accepts any existing algorithm for automata induction making the automata structure fully modifiable. Our experiments showed that, it is the training size that influences parameteriza- tion in a predictable manner. Such flexibility produced good performance results in 8 different languages, in some cases comparable to the state-of-the-art ones.
Neural Mechanisms Underlying the Perception of Three-Dimensional Shape from Texture: Adaptation and Aftereffects

Neural Mechanisms Underlying the Perception of Three-Dimensional Shape from Texture: Adaptation and Aftereffects by Carole M. Filangieri Advisor: Andrea Li, PhD Input into the visual system is two-dimensional (2D) and yet we effortlessly perceive the world around us as three-dimensional (3D). How we are able to accurately extract 3D shape information from the 2D representations that fall on the retina remains largely unknown. Although much research has been conducted that investigates higher levels of form processing (i.e. face recognition), less is known about the mechanisms that underlie the perception of simple 3D shape. Previous studies in our lab have shown that our ability to perceive 3D shape from texture cues relies on the visibility of orientation flows -patterns that run parallel to the surface curvature of a 3D shape. Using the psychophysical technique of selective adaptation, we have further characterized the neural mechanisms that underlie the accurate perception of 3D shape. In Experiment One, we examined whether orientation flows that are defined by second order contours convey 3D shape, whether they induce 3D shape aftereffects, and whether these aftereffects are invariant to the patterns that define the orientation flows. Aftereffects were obtained and 3D shape was conveyed using stimuli in which orientation flows were defined by two classes of second order contours, and adapting to second order stimuli caused 3D shape aftereffects in first order stimuli. These results can be explained by the adaptation of 3D shape-