Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neuroprotective effects of Argon are mediated via an ERK‐1/2 dependent regulation of heme‐oxygenase‐1 in retinal ganglion cells

Retinal ischemia and reperfusion injuries (R‐IRI) damage neuronal tissue permanently. Recently, we demonstrated that Argon exerts anti‐apoptotic and protective properties. The molecular mechanism remains unclear. We hypothesized that Argon inhalation exert neuroprotective effects in rats retinal ganglion cells (RGC) via an ERK‐1/2 dependent regulation of heat‐shock proteins. Inhalation of Argon (75 Vol%) was performed after R‐IRI on the rats′ left eyes for 1 h immediately or with delay. Retinal tissue was harvested after 24 h to analyze mRNA and protein expression of heat‐shock proteins −70, −90 and heme‐oxygenase‐1, mitogen‐activated protein kinases (p38, JNK, ERK‐1/2) and histological changes. To analyze ERK dependent effects, the ERK inhibitor PD98059 was applicated prior to Argon inhalation. RGC count was analyzed 7 days after injury. Statistics were performed using anova. Argon significantly reduced the R‐IRI‐affected heat‐shock protein expression (p < 0.05). While Argon significantly induced ERK‐1/2 expression (p < 0.001), inhibition of ERK‐1/2 before Argon inhalation resulted in significantly lower vital RGCs (p < 0.01) and increase in heme‐oxygenase‐1 (p < 0.05). R‐IRI‐induced RGC loss was reduced by Argon inhalation (p < 0.001). Immunohistochemistry suggested ERK‐1/2 activation in Müller cells. We conclude, that Argon treatment protects R‐IRI‐induced apoptotic loss of RGC via an ERK‐1/2 dependent regulation of heme‐oxygenase‐1. We proposed the following possible mechanism for Argon‐mediated neuroprotection: Argon exerts its protective effects via an induction of an ERK with subsequent suppression of the heat shock response. In conclusion, ischemia and reperfusion injuries and subsequent neuronal apoptosis are attenuated. These novel findings may open up new opportunities for Argon as a therapeutic option, especially since Argon is not toxic.
Terahertz Quarter Wave-Plate Metasurface Polarizer Based on Arrays of Graphene Ribbons

We propose a novel graphene-dielectric-based metasurface for manipulating the polarization of the incident light in the terahertz regime. The proposed structure comprised two orthogonally oriented periodic array of graphene ribbons (PAGRs) which are separated by a dielectric spacer and deposited on an Au-backed dielectric substrate. Based on the transmission line theory, an equivalent model with excellent accuracy is suggested for the proposed structure. By leveraging the simplicity of the model, we design a three-state quarter wave plate that is able to dynamically switch the polarization of the reflected wave to linear, right-, and left-hand polarizations while keeping the reflected amplitude remarkably high. Thanks to the simplicity of the model, the proposed structure can be easily used for designing other metasurfaces for light propagation control applications in imaging, sensing, and telecommunication.
Dorfin ameliorates phenotypes in a transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by progressive motor neuron degeneration and leads to death within a few years of diagnosis. One of the pathogenic mechanisms of ALS is proposed to be a dysfunction in the protein quality‐control machinery. Dorfin has been identified as a ubiquitin ligase (E3) that recognizes and ubiquitinates mutant SOD1 proteins, thereby accelerating their degradation and reducing their cellular toxicity. We examined the effects of human Dorfin overexpression in G93A mutant SOD1 transgenic mice, a mouse model of familial ALS. In addition to causing a decrease in the amount of mutant SOD1 protein in the spinal cord, Dorfin overexpression ameliorated neurological phenotypes and motor neuron degeneration. Our results indicate that Dorfin overexpression or the activation or induction of E3 may be a therapeutic avenue for mutant SOD1‐associated ALS. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Novel Lipoxygenase in Pea Roots. Its Function in Wounding and Biotic Stress

The genome of pea (Pisum sativum) contains genes encoding a family of distinct lipoxygenases (LOX). Among these, LOXN2 showed eight exons encoding a 93.7-kD enzyme, harboring two C-terminal deletions and an unusual arginine/threonine-tyrosine motif in the domain considered to control the substrate specificity. LOXN2, when overexpressed in yeast, exhibited normal enzyme activity with an optimum at pH 4.5, and a dual positional specificity by releasing a 3:1 ratio of C-9 and C-13 oxidized products. The predicted LOXN2 structure lacked a loop present in soybean (Glycine max) LOX1, in a position consistent with control of the degree of substrate access to the catalytic site and for LOXN2's dual positional specificity. The LOXN2 gene was tightly conserved in the Progress 9 and MG103738 genotypes, respectively, susceptible and resistant to the root cyst nematode Heterodera goettingiana. LOXN2 transcription was monitored in roots after mechanical injury and during nematode infection. The message peaked at 3 and 24 h after wounding in both genotypes and was more abundant in the resistant than in the susceptible pea. In nematode-infected roots, transcription of several LOX genes was triggered except LOXN2, which was repressed in both genotypes. In situ hybridization revealed that LOXN2 message was widespread in the cortex and endodermis of healthy roots, but specifically localized at high level in the cells bordering the nematode-induced syncytia of infected roots. However, LOXN2 transcript signal was particularly intense in collapsing syncytia of MG103738 roots, suggesting LOXN2 involvement in late mechanisms of host resistance.
The Formation Process of Winners and Losers in Momentum Investing

Previous studies have focused on which stocks are winners or losers but have paid little attention to the formation process of past returns. This paper develops a model showing that past returns and the formation process of past returns have a joint effect on future expected returns. The empirical evidence shows that the zero-investment portfolio, including stocks with specific patterns of historical prices, improves monthly momentum profit by 59%. Overall, the process of how one stock becomes a winner or loser can further distinguish the best and worst stocks in a group of winners or losers.
Why Do Lipid Transfer Protein-Hypersensitive Patients Tolerate Bean (and Other Legumes)?

Background: Patients allergic to nonspecific lipid transfer protein (LTP) frequently score positive on SPT with legumes but virtually never report adverse reactions eating these foods. Objective: This study investigated the IgE reactivity to legumes of LTP-allergic patients and aimed to establish whether legumes can be considered safe in LTP-allergic patients. Methods: Skin reactivity as well as clinical allergy to bean and pea were evaluated in a large cohort of LTP-hypersensitive patients. Sera from 12 patients showing clinical allergy to a number of botanically unrelated plant-derived foods and high levels of IgE to peach LTP were employed in in vitro studies (ELISA, ELISA inhibition, SDS-PAGE/immunoblot) aiming to investigate IgE reactivity to bean. Results: Preabsorption of patients’ sera with boiled bean extract did not cause any loss of IgE reactivity to peach LTP (whereas boiled apple totally abolished it). Immunoblot analysis did not show any IgE reactivity to bean proteins at about 10 kDa, and the SDS profile of bean showed little or no staining at 10 kDa. Conclusion: Sera from LTP-allergic patients do not seem to show any IgE reactivity to 10-kDa proteins in bean. Whether this is caused by epitopic differences between Rosaceae and bean LTPs or by the fact that LTP is not expressed in bean remains to be established. This study explains why virtually all LTP-allergic patients tolerate legumes and suggests that these foods should be considered safe for patients sensitized to this protein.
A comparative study of Li-ion battery models and nonlinear dual estimation strategies

Due to their high energy density, durability, low cost, and inherent safety, lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are quickly becoming the most popular energy storage method for electric vehicles. Difficulty arises in properly modeling these types of batteries due to a large number of parameters and different architectures. This paper looks at studying six different Li-ion battery models found in literature, and compares their relative performance based on a benchmark dataset. Kalman-based filtering strategies are also employed to estimate important battery parameters such as capacitance, hysteresis, and state of charge (SOC). In addition, the relatively new smooth variable structure filter (SVSF) is used and compared with these Kalman-based strategies.
CloudSwitch: A State-aware Monitoring Strategy Towards Energy-efficient and Performance-aware Cloud Data Centers

The reduction of power consumption in large-scale datacenters is highly-dependent on the use of virtualization to consolidate multiple workloads. However, these consolidation strategies must also take into account additional important parameters such as performance, reliability, and profitability. Resolving these conflicting goals is often the major challenge encountered in the design of optimization strategies for cloud data centers. In this paper, we put forward a data center monitoring strategy which dynamically alters its approach depending on the cloud system’s current state. Results show that our proposed scheme outperformed strategies which only focus on a single metric such as SLA-Awareness and Energy Efficiency.
Signal Transduction by the Chemokine Receptor CXCR5: Structural Requirements for G Protein Activation Analyzed by Chimeric CXCR1/CXCR5 Molecules

Abstract The human chemokine receptors CXCR5 and CXCR1 activate signaling pathways via pertussis toxinsensitive as well as insensitive G proteins. CXCR5 induces Ca2+signaling and chemotaxis independently of inhibitory G proteins, whereas the same signaling pathways are entirely dependent on inhibitory G proteins for CXCR1. In contrast, activation of the MAP kinase cascade via ERK1/2 is a pertussis toxinsensitive signaling event for both receptors. Using chimeric CXCR1/CXCR5 receptors we investigated structural requirements for the activation of signal transduction pathways by CXCR5. Individual or multiple intracellular domains of CXCR1 were exchanged for the corresponding sequences of CXCR5, leading to receptors resembling CXCR5 at the cytoplasmic surface to a varying extent. Replacing the second intracellular domain of CXCR1 had a major influence on signaling mediated by inhibitory G proteins, whereas the exchange of the third or carboxyterminal intracellular domain had only minor effects on signal transduction. Activation of the MAP kinase cascade via ERK1/2 and chemotaxis are largely reduced in chimeras comprising the second intracellular domain of CXCR5, although coupling to inibitory G proteins is retained in all chimeric receptors. In summary, these data characterize the contribution of the intracellular domains of CXCR5 to receptor signaling, thereby disclosing unique structural requirements that modulate G protein coupling by the receptor.
Release of Endogenous Taurine and γ‐Aminobutyric Acid from Brain Slices from the Adult and Developing Mouse

Abstract: The spontaneous and potassium‐stimulated release of endogenous taurine and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) from cerebral cortex and cerebellum slices from adult and developing mice was studied in a superfusion system. The spontaneous release of GABA was of the same magnitude in slices from adult and developing mice, but the spontaneous release of taurine was considerably greater in the adults. The potassium‐stimulated release of GABA from cerebral cortex slices was about five times greater in adult than in 3‐day‐old mice, but the potassium‐stimulated release of taurine was more than six times greater in 3‐day‐old than in adult mice. In cerebellar slices from 7‐day‐old mice, potassium stimulation also evoked a massive release of taurine, whereas the evoked release from slices from adult mice was rather negligible. Also in cerebellar slices the potassium‐stimulated release of GABA exhibited the opposite quantitative pattern. The stimulated release of both GABA and taurine was partially calcium dependent. The results suggest that taurine may be an important regulator of excitability in the developing brain.
Validating social media data for automatic persona generation

Using personas during interactive design has considerable potential for product and content development. Unfortunately, personas have typically been a fairly static technique. In this research, we validate an approach for creating personas in real time, based on analysis of actual social media data in an effort to automate the generation of personas. We validate that social media data can be implemented as an approach for automating generating personas in real time using actual YouTube social media data from a global media corporation that produces online digital content. Using the organization's YouTube channel, we collect demographic data, customer interactions, and topical interests, leveraging more than 188,000 subscriber profiles and more than 30 million user interactions. Then, we conduct statistical analysis on the social media data to determine whether the data could lead to the generation of valid personas based on statistically difference market segments. Findings show that customers can be segmented using product topics by gender and age based using social media data. However, our findings also show that the data is biased by the content created. The results offer insights into competitive marketing and product preferences for the consumers of the online digital content. Implications are that personas can be generated in real-time using social media data, instead of a time-consuming manual development process.
Risk Analysis of Credit Default on Rural Bank by Using Back Propagation Neural Networks Approach

In this paper we discuss the classification of credit risk by a rural bank. It is assumed that the risk of non-performing loans by the debtor is influenced by several factors, among others: the age of the debtor, the number of family dependents, the amount of savings, the value of collateral, income per month, ceiling credit filed, the take home pay, and the loan repayment period. Risk analysis of credit default here performed using the method of back propagation neural networks approaches. Method of back propagation neural networks is formed by generalizing the training rules, namely a way adding a hidden layer, learning rate, the target error, and test data the same. Based on the analysis indicates that the back propagation neural networks has a success rate of 88.3%, to recognize patterns of problematic credit risk diagnosis. The results can be used as a basis for decision making in the provision of credit by the creditor to the debtor.
Oil dependency and exchange rate regimes in Arab oil economies: time to rethink the paradigm

This study examines implications of the current exchange rate regimes on the macroeconomic and growth performance of five Arab oil-producing countries: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Sudan, Algeria and Yemen. The study evaluates alternative exchange rate regime policy options towards exploring an optimal exit strategy to ensure successful transition to more sustainable exchange rate regime, especially in the fixed regime economies of Saudi Arabia and the UAE. This study proposes the adoption of a transparent broad basket, band and crawl (BBC) regime by the Arab oil economies in order to provide a better alternative to the existing fixed pegs or dirty floats. However, it is imperative to note that, the timing of the exit from the current regime and the extent of institutional development and market sophistications are very critical to successful transition to more sustainable regime that would provide a larger scope for counter-cyclical policies and diversification in these economies.
Characteristics of Problem Gambling in a Canadian Context: A Preliminary Study Using a DSM-IV-Based Questionnaire

Objective: To develop a self-report instrument to assess diagnostic criteria and associated features of pathological gambling in order to learn more about the characteristics of individuals who seek treatment for gambling problems in a Canadian setting. Method: Fifty-seven adults seeking treatment for gambling problems at the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba were assessed. Results: There was substantial variation in the endorsement of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) symptoms. Lying to family members or friends and “chasing” previous gambling losses were frequently reported, while more serious consequences (for example, relationship breakup, job losses) were less frequent. DSM-IV ratings were correlated (r = 0.59) with the South Oaks Gambling Screen. Many individuals reported gambling as a way to alleviate dysphoric mood, and 30% reported receiving mental health services in the past. Approximately 50% reported suicidal ideation, although recent suicide attempts were not common. Conclusion: These preliminary results of Canadian adults seeking treatment for gambling problems suggest a somewhat different profile from many United States studies, which often rely on older male pathological gamblers. More systematic investigation of the presence of major depression and other psychiatric disorders is warranted. Consistent with demographic data collected at the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, it appears that video lottery terminals play a major role in the type of problem gambling experience seen in Canadian settings.
Consistency requirements in multiplayer online games

Multiplayer online games are becoming increasingly popular as broadband internet connections replace the old modems. However, while available bandwidth grows steadily according to Moore's law, the latency of the internet connections remains almost constant, making it difficult to maintain a consistent game state over a large number of clients that have to be synchronized with each other and with the server(s). This paper introduces a possible solution to the problem by defining the necessary level of consistency through user's perception of the game. While the resulting set of requirements is somewhat difficult to formalize, it is not too restrictive and leaves many options open, some of which are discussed here. Ideally a game where all the requirements are met will appear like a local game to the user.
Enhancing the Assessment Environment within a Learning Management Systems

There are many open source or proprietary assessment tools on the market. These tools are embedded in learning management systems (LMS) and have as goal evaluation of learners. A problem that currently appears is that assessment tools are not always fair or accurate in classifying students according with accumulated knowledge. We propose a software module called quality module (QM) that may run along with an assessment tool within an LMS. The QM performs offline analysis and obtains knowledge regarding the classification capability of the assessment tool. The QM also obtains knowledge for course managers regarding the course difficulty such that course materials and quizzes may be altered in order to obtain a more accurate assessment tool and thus better classification among learners.
Coronary angioscopy.

Coronary angioscopy will not replace angiography as the gold standard for imaging atherosclerotic coronary arteries. However, there may well be a clinical niche for a technology that gives accurate information regarding a specific lesion, if that information can be used to improve the acute or chronic outcome of an interventional procedure. Our experience demonstrates that angioscopy indeed provides this information. Using angioscopy, we now have access to information regarding arterial wall disease that heretofore has been available only at necropsy. In addition, whereas angiography has provided only a 2-dimensional, gray-scale image of the coronary vessels, angioscopy offers a full-color, 3-dimensional perspective of the intracoronary surface morphology. These important lesion-specific details, not reliably available from angiography alone, may ultimately be used to improve patient outcome and to assess risk.
Optimising gateway selection using node lifetime and inter-node interference in cluster-based MANETs

This paper presents a novel gateway selection approach by constructing a Minimum Connected Dominating Set (MCDS) along with delivering a Quality-of-Service (QoS) to optimise inter-cluster communication in cluster-based MANETs. The proposed approach aims to find the MCDS by implementing a distributed non-greedy Affinity Propagation-driven Multiple Weighted Clustering technique followed by co-operative selection of gateways using QoS metrics. The QoS metric considered in this approach is a weighted aggregate of node lifespan and inter-node interference particularly directed to choose nodes having higher longevity and enduring minimum interference as the gateways. The simulation results in NS2 reveal that the proposed approach scales down the MCDS by 26% and realises 18% and 21% better energy efficiency and bandwidth utilisation respectively during inter-cluster communication.
Robust Light Field Depth Estimation Using Occlusion-Noise Aware Data Costs

Depth estimation is essential in many light field applications. Numerous algorithms have been developed using a range of light field properties. However, conventional data costs fail when handling noisy scenes in which occlusion is present. To address this problem, we introduce a light field depth estimation method that is more robust against occlusion and less sensitive to noise. Two novel data costs are proposed, which are measured using the angular patch and refocus image, respectively. The constrained angular entropy cost (CAE) reduces the effects of the dominant occluder and noise in the angular patch, resulting in a low cost. The constrained adaptive defocus cost (CAD) provides a low cost in the occlusion region, while also maintaining robustness against noise. Integrating the two data costs is shown to significantly improve the occlusion and noise invariant capability. Cost volume filtering and graph cut optimization are applied to improve the accuracy of the depth map. Our experimental results confirm the robustness of the proposed method and demonstrate its ability to produce high-quality depth maps from a range of scenes. The proposed method outperforms other state-of-the-art light field depth estimation methods in both qualitative and quantitative evaluations.
A Novel Reconstruction Framework for Time-Encoded Signals with Integrate-and-Fire Neurons

Integrate-and-fire neurons are time encoding machines that convert the amplitude of an analog signal into a nonuniform, strictly increasing sequence of spike times. Under certain conditions, the encoded signals can be reconstructed from the nonuniform spike time sequences using a time decoding machine. Time encoding and time decoding methods have been studied using the nonuniform sampling theory for band-limited spaces, as well as for generic shift-invariant spaces. This letter proposes a new framework for studying IF time encoding and decoding by reformulating the IF time encoding problem as a uniform sampling problem. This framework forms the basis for two new algorithms for reconstructing signals from spike time sequences. We demonstrate that the proposed reconstruction algorithms are faster, and thus better suited for real-time processing, while providing a similar level of accuracy, compared to the standard reconstruction algorithm.