Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Insulin-Like Growth Factor Axis and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Women

IGF-I shares structural homology and in vitro metabolic activity with insulin. Laboratory models suggest that IGF-I and its binding proteins IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2 have potentially beneficial effects on diabetes risk, whereas IGFBP-3 may have adverse effects. We therefore conducted a prospective nested case-control investigation of incident diabetes (n = 742 case subjects matched 1:1 to control subjects) and its associations with IGF-axis protein levels in the Nurses’ Health Study, a cohort of middle-aged women. The median time to diabetes was 9 years. Statistical analyses were adjusted for multiple risk factors, including insulin and C-reactive protein. Diabetes risk was fivefold lower among women with baseline IGFBP-2 levels in the top versus bottom quintile (odds ratio [OR]q5–q1 = 0.17 [95% CI 0.08–0.35]; P trend < 0.0001) and was also negatively associated with IGFBP-1 levels (ORq5–q1 = 0.37 [0.18–0.73]; P trend = 0.0009). IGFBP-3 was positively associated with diabetes (ORq5–q1 = 2.05 [1.20–3.51]; P trend = 0.002). Diabetes was not associated with total IGF-I levels, but free IGF-I and diabetes had a significant association that varied (P interaction = 0.003) by insulin levels above the median (ORq5–q1 = 0.48 [0.26–0.90]; P trend = 0.0001) versus below the median (ORq5–q1 = 2.52 [1.05–6.06]; P trend < 0.05). Thus, this prospective study found strong associations of incident diabetes with baseline levels of three IGFBPs and free IGF-I, consistent with hypotheses that the IGF axis might influence diabetes risk.
Developmental changes in neurite outgrowth responses of dorsal root and sympathetic ganglia to GDNF, neurturin, and artemin

The ability of glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), neurturin, and artemin to induce neurite outgrowth from dorsal root, superior cervical, and lumbar sympathetic ganglia from mice at a variety of development stages between embryonic day (E) 11.5 and postnatal day (P) 7 was examined by explanting ganglia onto collagen gels and growing them in the presence of agarose beads impregnated with the different GDNF family ligands. Artemin, GDNF, and neurturin were all capable of influencing neurite outgrowth from dorsal root and sympathetic ganglia, but the responses of each neuron type to the different ligands varied during development. Neurites from dorsal root ganglia responded to artemin at P0 and P7, to GDNF at E15.5 and P0, and to neurturin at E15.5, P0, and P6/7; thus, artemin, GDNF, and neurturin are all capable of influencing neurite outgrowth from dorsal root ganglion neurons. Neurites from superior cervical sympathetic ganglia responded significantly to artemin at E15.5, to GDNF at E15.5 and P0, and to neurturin at E15.5. Neurites from lumbar sympathetic ganglia responded to artemin at all stages from E11.5 to P7, to GDNF at P0 and P7 and to neurturin at E11.5 to P6/7. Combined with the data from previous studies that have examined the expression of GDNF family members, our data suggest that artemin plays a role in inducing neurite outgrowth from young sympathetic neurons in the early stages of sympathetic axon pathfinding, whereas GDNF and neurturin are likely to be important at later stages of sympathetic neuron development in inducing axons to enter particular target tissues once they are in the vicinity or to induce branching within target tissues. Superior cervical and lumbar sympathetic ganglia showed temporal differences in their responsiveness to artemin, GDNF, and neurturin, which probably partly reflects the rostrocaudal development of sympathetic ganglia and the tissues they innervate. Developmental Dynamics 227:395–401, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Similarity Learning Based Query Modeling for Keyword Search

In this paper, we propose a novel approach for query modeling using neural networks for posteriorgram based keyword search (KWS). We aim to help the conventional large vocabulary continuous speech recognition (LVCSR) based KWS systems, especially on out-of-vocabulary (OOV) terms by converting the task into a template matching problem, just like the query-by-example retrieval tasks. For this, we use a dynamic time warping (DTW) based similarity search on the speaker independent posteriorgram space. In order to model the text queries as posteriorgrams, we propose a non-symmetric Siamese neural network structure which both learns a distance measure to be used in DTW and the frame representations for this specific measure. We compare this new technique with similar DTW based systems using other distance measures and query modeling techniques. We also apply system fusion of the proposed system with the LVCSR based baseline KWS system. We show that, the proposed system works significantly better than other similar systems. Furthermore, when combined with the LVSCR based baseline, the proposed system provides up to 37.9% improvement on OOV terms and 9.8% improvement on all terms.
Diverse 3D Microarchitectures Made by Capillary Forming of Carbon Nanotubes

A new technology called capillary forming enables transformation of vertically aligned nanoscale filaments into complex three-dimensional microarchitectures. We demonstrate capillary forming of carbon nanotubes into diverse forms having intricate bends, twists, and multidirectional textures. In addition to their novel geometries, these structures have mechanical stiffness exceeding that of microfabrication polymers, and can be used as masters for replica molding
Detection of tumor ALK status in neuroblastoma patients using peripheral blood

New protocols based on ALK‐targeted therapy by crizotinib or other ALK‐targeting molecules have opened for the treatment of patients with neuroblastoma (NB) if their tumors showed mutation and/or amplification of the ALK gene. However, tumor samples are not always available for analysis of ALK mutational status in particular at relapse. Here, we evaluated the ALK mutational status of NB samples by analysis of circulating DNA, using the droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) system. ddPCR assays was developed for the detection of ALK mutations at F1174 and R1275 hotspots found in NB tumors and was applied for the analysis of circulating DNA obtained from 200 μL of serum or plasma samples collected from 114 patients with NB. The mutations F1174L (exon 23 position 3520, T>C and position 3522, C>A) and the mutation R1275Q (exon 25 position 3824, G>A) were detected in circulating DNA. The sensitivity of our test was 100%, 85%, and 92%, respectively, and the specificity was 100%, 91%, and 98%, respectively. In conclusion, the assay that we have developed offers a reliable, noninvasive blood test to assess ALK mutational status at F1174 and R1275 hotspots and should help clinicians to identify patients showing an ALK mutation in particular when no tumor tissue is available.
Program on Education Policy and Governance Working Papers Series Identity And Entrepreneurship : Do Peers At School Shape Entrepreneurial Intentions ?

We incorporate the concept of social identity into entrepreneurship and analyze whether an individual’s identity affects his or her decision to become entrepreneur. We argue that an entrepreneurial identity results from an individual’s socialization. This could be parental influence but, as argued in this paper, also peer influence. Based on PISA 2006 data in which students report their entrepreneurial intentions at the age of 15, we find that having an entrepreneurial peer group has a positive effect on an individual’s entrepreneurial intentions. We find that the strength of the peer effect in a country is moderated by prevailing values, namely individualism.
Design and Simulation for UHF oscillator using SAWR with different schematics

Various schematics for colpitts oscillator with fixed ultra-high frequency using either LC tank circuits or one port surface acoustic wave resonator are presented. Four circuits used to achieve 433.9 MHz oscillating frequency, Two of them using NPN Bipolar junction transistor, while the others using operational amplifier with high speed, gain and accuracy. A comparison between using passive elements as a source of resonance frequency and using SAW resonator is introduced. Another comparison between using an equivalent lumped circuit instead of SAWR package in oscillator design is also introduced. Two different software tools are used to achieve the required simulation. Proteus and ADS tools are used in simulation with AC, S-parameters and hybrid simulation. This paper is considered a direct application for SAW resonators in wide bandwidth ASK Transmitter / Receiver.
Computational analysis of small RNAs and the RNA degradome with application to plant water stress

Water shortage is one of the most important environmental stress factors that affects plants, limiting crop yield in large areas worldwide. Plants can survive water stress by regulating gene expression at several levels. One of the recently discovered regulatory mechanisms involves small RNAs (sRNAs), which can regulate gene expression by targeting messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and directing endonucleolytic cleavage resulting in mRNA degradation. A snapshot of an mRNA degradation profile (degradome) can be captured through a new high-throughput technique called Parallel Analysis of RNA Ends (PARE) by using next generation sequencing technologies. In this thesis we describe a new user friendly degradome analysis software tool called PAREsnip that we have used for the rapid genome-wide discovery of sRNA/target interactions evidenced through the degradome. In addition to PAREsnip and based upon PAREsnip’s rapid capability, we also present a new software tool for the construction, analysis and visualisation of sRNA regulatory interaction networks. The two new tools were used to analyse PARE datasets obtained fromMedicago truncatula and Arabidopsis thaliana. In particular, we have used PAREsnip for the high-throughput analysis of PARE data obtained from Medicago when subjected to dehydration and found several sRNA/mRNA interactions that are potentially responsive to water stress. We also present how we used our new network visualisation and analysis tool with PARE datasets obtained from Arabidopsis and discovered several novel sRNA regulatory interaction networks. In building tools and using them for this kind of analysis, we gain a better understanding of the processes and mechanisms involved in sRNA mediated gene regulation and how plants respond to water stress which could lead to new strategies in improving stress tolerance.
Geodesic voting methods: overview, extensions and application to blood vessel segmentation

In this article we present new methods to segment thin tree structures, which are, for example, present in microglia extensions and cardiac or neuronal blood vessels. Many authors have used minimal cost paths, or geodesics relative to a local weighting potential P, to find a vessel pathway between two end points. We use a set of such geodesic paths to find a tubular tree structure with minimal interaction. Recently, we have introduced a set of methods called geodesic voting. In this article, we review all these methods and present some extensions. We also adapt these methods to the segmentation of complex tree structures in a noisy medium and apply them to the segmentation of blood vessels in 2D and 3D.
Towards Natural Human-Robot Interaction using Multimodal Cues

Robust human-robot interaction in dynamic domains requires that the robot autonomously learn from sensory cues and adapt to unforeseen changes. However, the uncertainty associated with sensing and actuation on mobile robots makes autonomous operation a formidable challenge. This paper describes a novel framework for robots to incrementally learn object models and categorize objects based on multimodal sensory cues. The robot learns multimodal models composed of visual and verbal vocabularies to describe domain objects. The visual vocabulary consists of learned probabilistic models of object properties such as color, shape and size. Probabilistic graphical models and lexical tools are used to learn the verbal vocabulary consisting of object property labels and category labels that specify the relative importance of the objects. The robot also learns association models that enable the description of visual observations with words allowing for more natural human robot interaction. Furthermore, the robot uses the multimodal models to identify novel objects and augment existing object descriptions by posing natural language queries for human feedback.
Qualitative Research in Diagnostic Processes

Social sciences, in general, and psychotherapy, in particular, have been informed by two fundamentally distinct methodologies of description and explanation: firstly, causal nomology based on operationalized data, and secondly, empirical hermeneutics focused on the meaningful context of intentions, experiences and actions. The paper deals with the second of these two methodologies in the context of research on psychotherapeutic diagnosis. This paradigm is a methodology for evaluating certain aspects of quality of life which deal with the subjective and interpersonal meaning of symptoms.
Fast image registration via joint gradient maximization: application to multimodal data

We present a computationally inexpensive method for multi-modal image registration. Our approach employs a joint gradient similarity function that is applied only to a set high spatial gradient pixels. We obtain motion parameters by maximizing the similarity function by gradient ascent method, which secures a fast convergence. We apply our technique to the task of affine model based registration of 2D images which undergo large rigid motion, and show promising results.
A comparative study of the effects of molsidomine and 3‐morpholinosydnonimine on the redox status of rat erythrocytes and reticulocytes

After enzymic biotransformation, molsidomine (MO) acts via the metabolite 3‐morpholinosydnonimine (SIN‐1) through spontaneous liberation of nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide (O 2·− ). The aim of this study was to compare the effects of MO and its active metabolite SIN‐1 on the redox status of rat erythrocytes and reticulocytes. Rat erythrocyte as well as reticulocyte‐rich red blood cell (RBC) suspensions were aerobically incubated (2 h, 37°C) without (control) or in the presence of different concentrations of MO or SIN‐1. In rat erythrocytes, biotransformation of MO resulted in the production of NO and nitroxyl (NO−). Endogenous superoxide anion (O 2·− ) participated in peroxynitrite generation. SIN‐1 simultaneously liberated NO and O 2·− , which formed peroxynitrite (at least in part), but the liberated NO predominantly reacted with haemoglobin, forming methaemoglobin in erythrocytes. In reticulocytes, MO and SIN‐1 caused an increase in the levels of both nitrite and 3‐nitrotyrosine (an indicator of peroxynitrite), whereas they decreased the level of O 2·− . In reticulocytes, MO was metabolized into SIN‐1 which led to the generation of NO, which reacted with O 2·− (endogenous or exogenous) forming reactive nitrogen species. In conclusion, there are two metabolic pathways for MO biotransformation: one causing NO and NO− generation predominantly in erythrocytes and the other, via SIN‐1 metabolism, in reticulocytes. The main difference between the action of MO and SIN‐1 was that the latter caused oxidative damage in RBCs. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Scalable high-speed prefix matching

Finding the longest matching prefix from a database of keywords is an old problem with a number of applications, ranging from dictionary searches to advanced memory management to computational geometry. But perhaps today's most frequent best matching prefix lookups occur in the Internet, when forwarding packets from router to router. Internet traffic volume and link speeds are rapidly increasing; at the same time, a growing user population is increasing the size of routing tables against which packets must be matched. Both factors make router prefix matching extremely performance critical.In this paper, we introduce a taxonomy for prefix matching technologies, which we use as a basis for describing, categorizing, and comparing existing approaches. We then present in detail a fast scheme using binary search over hash tables, which is especially suited for matching long addresses, such as the 128 bit addresses proposed for use in the next generation Internet Protocol, IPv6. We also present optimizations that exploit the structure of existing databases to further improve access time and reduce storage space.
ErbB2-Dependent Chemotaxis Requires Microtubule Capture and Stabilization Coordinated by Distinct Signaling Pathways

Activation of the ErbB2 receptor tyrosine kinase stimulates breast cancer cell migration. Cell migration is a complex process that requires the synchronized reorganization of numerous subcellular structures including cell-to-matrix adhesions, the actin cytoskeleton and microtubules. How the multiple signaling pathways triggered by ErbB2 coordinate, in time and space, the various processes involved in cell motility, is poorly defined. We investigated the mechanism whereby ErbB2 controls microtubules and chemotaxis. We report that activation of ErbB2 increased both cell velocity and directed migration. Impairment of the Cdc42 and RhoA GTPases, but not of Rac1, prevented the chemotactic response. RhoA is a key component of the Memo/ACF7 pathway whereby ErbB2 controls microtubule capture at the leading edge. Upon Memo or ACF7 depletion, microtubules failed to reach the leading edge and cells lost their ability to follow the chemotactic gradient. Constitutive ACF7 targeting to the membrane in Memo-depleted cells reestablished directed migration. ErbB2-mediated activation of phospholipase C gamma (PLCγ) also contributed to cell guidance. We further showed that PLCγ signaling, via classical protein kinases C, and Memo signaling converged towards a single pathway controlling the microtubule capture complex. Finally, inhibiting the PI3K/Akt pathway did not affect microtubule capture, but disturbed microtubule stability, which also resulted in defective chemotaxis. PI3K/Akt-dependent stabilization of microtubules involved repression of GSK3 activity on the one hand and inhibition of the microtubule destabilizing protein, Stathmin, on the other hand. Thus, ErbB2 triggers distinct and complementary pathways that tightly coordinate microtubule capture and microtubule stability to control chemotaxis.
Modulatory Effects of Acetylcholine and Dopamine on Evoked Synaptic Responses in the Entorhinal Cortex.

The entorhinal cortex connects neocortical areas with the hippocampal formation and other parahippocamal brain areas, and also receives cholinergic projections from the medial septum and dopaminergic projections from the ventral tegmental area. Dopamine and acetylcholine both may contribute to the processing of sensory information in the entorhinal cortex and in other areas of the brain. In Chapter 1, the application of the cholinergic agonist carbachol to entorhinal cortex slices suppressed synaptic transmission in vitro, and experiments determined that the effect was due primarily to activation of M1 muscarinic receptors. Activation of cholinergic receptors also causes a relative facilitation of later responses during theta- and gamma-frequency trains, and because dopamine may modulate gamma and theta oscillations in the entorhinal cortex, Chapter 2 investigated the effect of amphetamine on the amplitudes of synaptic responses during trains of gamma- and theta-frequency stimulation in awake animals. A subset of animals that showed a facilitation of the response to the first pulse of theta-frequency trains due to amphetamine also expressed a synaptic suppression during mobility compared with immobility that was likely due to cholinergic receptor activation. These animals also showed a relative suppression of subsequent responses that was blocked by the D1 receptor antagonist SCH23390 and the D2 receptor antagonist eticlopride. Because previous work in our lab has shown bidirectional effects of differing concentrations of dopamine, Chapter 3 investigated the role of both 10 and 50 μM dopamine in the entorhinal cortex during gamma- and theta-frequency stimulation in vitro. Ten μM dopamine facilitated responses during trains of both frequencies. In contrast, 50 μM dopamine induced a D2 receptor-dependent suppression the first responses and induced a relative facilitation of later responses during the trains, an effect that was only significant for gamma-frequency trains. In general, then, low concentrations of dopamine may enhance repetitive synaptic transmission, while higher concentrations of dopamine may suppress repetitive synaptic transmission within the entorhinal cortex. Because dopamine may modulate learning- related synaptic strengthening, Chapter 4 investigated the effect of 10 μM dopamine on induction of long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP) in entorhinal cortex slices; although dopamine facilitated synaptic responses, it blocked the induction of LTP, suggesting that it may impede learning-related synaptic plasticity. Overall, results indicate that both dopamine and acetylcholine have strong modulatory influences on processes that may affect synaptic integration and plasticity within the entorhinal cortex.
General coupled mode theory in non-Hermitian waveguides

Coupled mode theory (CMT) can be traced back to 3 decades ago, and has been an indispensable tool of analyzing and designing waveguides, resonators, couplers or many other devices from microwave frequency to optical frequency [1], in both time and space domain. In the presence of loss and gain, the coupled mode equation on describing the mode hybridization of various waveguides or cavities, or cavities coupled to waveguides becomes intrinsically non- Hermitian. In such non-Hermitian waveguides, the conventional coupled mode theory (CCMT, see [1]) fails.
de Sitter black hole with a conformally coupled scalar field in four dimensions

A four-dimensional black hole solution of the Einstein equations with a positive cosmological constant, coupled to a conformal scalar field, is given. There is a curvature singularity at the origin, and scalar field diverges inside the event horizon. The electrically charged solution, which has a fixed charge-to-mass ratio is also found. The quartic self-interacting coupling becomes bounded in terms of Newton's and the cosmological constants.
The Wisdom of Crowds in Rank Ordering Problems

When averaging the estimates of individuals, the aggregate can often come surprisingly close to the true answer. We are interested in extending this “wisdom of crowds” phenomenon to more complex situations where a simple strategy like taking the mode or mean of responses is inappropriate, or might lead to bad predictions. We report the performance of individuals in a series of ordering tasks, where the goal is to reconstruct from memory the order of time-based events, or the magnitude of physical properties. We introduce a Bayesian version of a Thurstonian model that aggregates orderings across individuals, and compare it to heuristic aggregation techniques inspired by existing models of social choice and voting theory. The Bayesian model performs as well as the heuristics in reconstructing the true ordering, and has the advantage of being well calibrated, in the sense that it gives more confident responses the closer it is to the truth.