Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PPAR gamma attenuates hypoxia-induced hypertrophic transcriptional pathways in the heart

Chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by increased pressure and resistance in the pulmonary vasculature and hypertrophy of the right ventricle (RV). The transcription factors, nuclear factor activated T-cells (NFAT), and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB/p65) contribute to RV hypertrophy (RVH). Because peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARg) activation attenuates hypoxia-induced PH and RVH, we hypothesized that PPARg inhibits activation of RV hypertrophic transcriptional signaling mechanisms. C57BL/6J mice were exposed to normoxia (21% O2) or hypoxia (10% O2) for 21 days. During the final 10 days of exposure, selected mice were treated with the PPARg ligand, pioglitazone. RV systolic pressure (RVSP) and RVH were measured, and NFATc2 and NF-kB/p65 protein levels were measured in RV and LV nuclear and cytosolic fractions. Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy was assessed with wheatgerm agglutinin staining. NFAT activation was also examined with luciferase reporter mice and analysis of protein levels of selected transcriptional targets. Chronic-hypoxia increased: (1) RVH, RVSP, and RV cardiomyocyte hypertrophy; (2) NFATc2 and NF-kB activation in RV nuclear homogenates; (3) RV and LV NFAT luciferase activity; and (4) RV protein levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and b-myosin heavy chain (b-MyHC). Treatment with pioglitazone attenuated hypoxia-induced increases in both RV and LV NFAT luciferase activity. Chronic hypoxia caused sustained RV NFATc2 and NF-kB activation. Pioglitazone attenuated PH, RVH, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and activation of RV hypertrophic signaling and also attenuated LV NFAT activation. PPARg favorably modulates signaling derangements in the heart as well as in the pulmonary vascular wall.
The power of procrastination: detection and mitigation of execution-stalling malicious code

Malware continues to remain one of the most important security problems on the Internet today. Whenever an anti-malware solution becomes popular, malware authors typically react promptly and modify their programs to evade defense mechanisms. For example, recently, malware authors have increasingly started to create malicious code that can evade dynamic analysis. One recent form of evasion against dynamic analysis systems is stalling code. Stalling code is typically executed before any malicious behavior. The attacker's aim is to delay the execution of the malicious activity long enough so that an automated dynamic analysis system fails to extract the interesting malicious behavior. This paper presents the first approach to detect and mitigate malicious stalling code, and to ensure forward progress within the amount of time allocated for the analysis of a sample. Experimental results show that our system, called HASTEN, works well in practice, and that it is able to detect additional malicious behavior in real-world malware samples.
Re-constructed Unitary History on Green Island, Taiwan: The Former Political Prison/Oasis Villa

during the Period of National Mobilisation for Suppression of the Communist Rebellion, and followed this by imposing Martial Law throughout Taiwan. This period of Martial Law lasted for 38 years. With legislation such as the Offenses against the Internal Security of the State in the Criminal Code, the Betrayers Punishment Act and Statute to Prevent Espionage, the government and its various secret agencies and military tribunals, created a climate in which improper trials were common place. This resulted in loss of life, freedom and property, and serious, and ongoing, violations of human rights. During the period of Martial Law, the government, police or security forces were involved in torture; the harsh treatment, including psychological pressure, of detainees; surveillance and harassment of the relatives and other associates of the dissidents; and the sentencing for an average of 10 years of several hundred political prisoners. Of those affected during the period only a minority were actually "Communist agents" or engaging in "rebellion"as defined by law, most were falsely accused, or the victims of mistakes or fabricated cases. Individuals could be either sentenced to death and executed, or sent to prison. The best preserved of the prisons from this period are the Military Prison situated on the outskirts of Taipei and the prison on Green Island.
Generalization in the XCSF Classifier System: Analysis, Improvement, and Extension

We analyze generalization in XCSF and introduce three improvements. We begin by showing that the types of generalizations evolved by XCSF can be influenced by the input range. To explain these results we present a theoretical analysis of the convergence of classifier weights in XCSF which highlights a broader issue. In XCSF, because of the mathematical properties of the Widrow-Hoff update, the convergence of classifier weights in a given subspace can be slow when the spread of the eigenvalues of the autocorrelation matrix associated with each classifier is large. As a major consequence, the system's accuracy pressure may act before classifier weights are adequately updated, so that XCSF may evolve piecewise constant approximations, instead of the intended, and more efficient, piecewise linear ones. We propose three different ways to update classifier weights in XCSF so as to increase the generalization capabilities of XCSF: one based on a condition-based normalization of the inputs, one based on linear least squares, and one based on the recursive version of linear least squares. Through a series of experiments we show that while all three approaches significantly improve XCSF, least squares approaches appear to be best performing and most robust. Finally we show how XCSF can be extended to include polynomial approximations.
Label-Free Monitoring of μ-Opioid Receptor–Mediated Signaling

In this study, we used a combination of traditional signaling investigation approaches, bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) biosensors, and the label-free approach surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy to monitor the signaling cascades of the μ-opioid receptor (MOP). In human embryonic kidney cells stably expressing a Flag-tagged version of human MOP, we compared the signals triggered by the noninternalizing and internalizing MOP agonists morphine and DAMGO (Tyr-d-Ala-Gly-N-methyl-Phe-Gly-ol), respectively. We studied three major and well described components of MOP signaling: receptor internalization, G protein coupling, and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase ERK1/ERK2. Our results show that morphine and DAMGO display different profiles of receptor internalization and a similar ability to trigger the phosphorylation of ERK1/ERK2. Our SPR analyses revealed that morphine and DAMGO evoke similar SPR signatures and that Gαi, cAMP-dependent pathways, and ERK1/ERK2 have key roles in morphine- and DAMGO-mediated signaling. Most interestingly, we found that the so-called MOP neutral antagonists CTOP (d-Phe-Cys-Tyr-d-Trp-Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2), naloxone, and naltrexone behave like partial agonists. Even more intriguing, BRET experiments indicate that CTAP (d-Phe-Cys-Tyr-d-Trp-Arg-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2) induces similar conformational changes as naltrexone at the Gαi-βγ interface, whereas it appears as an inverse agonist based on its SPR response thus indicating distinct signaling mechanisms for the two ligands. Taken together, our results support the usefulness of label-free methods such as SPR to study whole-cell responses and signaling cascades triggered by G protein–coupled receptors and complement the conventional approaches by revealing cellular responses that would have been otherwise undetectable.
Facilitating a Small Group Teaching Session

The small group is one of the more common settings in which you may find yourself teaching. It can take many forms from the breakout group on a vocational training scheme day, to an undergraduate ethics discussion, or a newly diagnosed patient information event. The skill of facilitation has many transferable attributes, including those associated with chairing a meeting. A greater understanding of the role of the facilitator can also help you get the most out of education events that you attend as a user. This article aims to equip you with seven carefully considered tools to enhance your facilitation skills and also discusses ways in which you can actually demonstrate those abilities.
An Mrr-family nuclease motif in the single polypeptide restriction–modification enzyme LlaGI

Bioinformatic analysis of the putative nuclease domain of the single polypeptide restriction–modification enzyme LlaGI reveals amino acid motifs characteristic of the Escherichia coli methylated DNA-specific Mrr endonuclease. Using mutagenesis, we examined the role of the conserved residues in both DNA translocation and cleavage. Mutations in those residues predicted to play a role in DNA hydrolysis produced enzymes that could translocate on DNA but were either unable to cleave the polynucleotide track or had reduced nuclease activity. Cleavage by LlaGI is not targeted to methylated DNA, suggesting that the conserved motifs in the Mrr domain are a conventional sub-family of the PD-(D/E)XK superfamily of DNA nucleases.
Notice of RetractionIntra-organizational ties and knowledge sharing: The moderating role of organizational knowledge management strategy

Knowledge is created and exchanged to a large extent through social interactions. Thus, in an organizational context, intra-organizational ties are important to knowledge sharing. In this paper, a theoretical framework about the relationships between intra-organizational ties, individual knowledge sharing and organizational knowledge management strategy is developed. With the survey data from 94 respondents, the theoretical framework is examined. The result shows that: (1) two basic types of intra-organizational ties - work ties and personal ties - are the significant predictors of knowledge sharing, (2) work ties have the mediating effect between personal ties and knowledge sharing, and (3) human-oriented knowledge management strategy has the moderating effect between personal ties and work ties.
Sarcoma Immunotherapy: Past Approaches and Future Directions

Sarcomas are heterogeneous malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin characterized by more than 100 distinct subtypes. Unfortunately, 25–50% of patients treated with initial curative intent will develop metastatic disease. In the metastatic setting, chemotherapy rarely leads to complete and durable responses; therefore, there is a dire need for more effective therapies. Exploring immunotherapeutic strategies may be warranted. In the past, agents that stimulate the immune system such as interferon and interleukin-2 have been explored and there has been evidence of some clinical activity in selected patients. In addition, many cancer vaccines have been explored with suggestion of benefit in some patients. Building on the advancements made in other solid tumors as well as a better understanding of cancer immunology provides hope for the development of new and exciting therapies in the treatment of sarcoma. There remains promise with immunologic checkpoint blockade antibodies. Further, building on the success of autologous cell transfer in hematologic malignancies, designing chimeric antigen receptors that target antigens that are over-expressed in sarcoma provides a great deal of optimism. Exploring these avenues has the potential to make immunotherapy a real therapeutic option in this orphan disease.
Effect of antioxidants and exercise on bone metabolism

Abstract We examined the effects of antioxidant supplementation in association with progressive aerobic training on the bone metabolism of healthy elderly individuals. For 8 weeks, 13 participants (mean age 74 years) received vitamin C (500 mg) and vitamin E (100 mg) daily and participated in a supervised progressive aerobic training programme. After the 8 weeks, 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations were increased significantly by 42.8% (P < 0.001) and 26.8% (P < 0.01) respectively, while parathyroid hormone concentration was decreased by 17.5% (p < 0.05). Of the bone markers, only bone alkaline phosphatase decreased, by 14.6% (P < 0.05). No variation was observed for ionized calcium, insulin-like growth factor-1 or insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3. Our findings suggest that 8 weeks of combined antioxidant supplementation and aerobic training modified vitamin D metabolism and parathyroid hormone concentration. These adaptations might counterbalance the unfavourable hormonal profile frequently observed in the elderly that predisposes them to accentuated age-related bone loss.
Effects of Modality and Pace on Achievement, Mental Effort, and Positive Affect in Multimedia Learning Environments

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of instruction given with different multimedia modalities (written text + animation or narration + animation) on the academic achievement, cognitive load, and positive affect in different paces (learner-paced or system-paced); 97 freshmen university students divided into four groups taught in different modalities and paces. These groups are written text + animation and learner-paced (WA + L), written text + animation and system-paced (WA + S), narration + animation and learner-paced (NA + L), and narration +animation and system-paced (NA + S). The findings did not reveal any significant difference between the achievements of the groups. Within the context of cognitive load, modality principle in learner-paced groups was confirmed. Instruction conducted with different multimedia modalities in different paces did not cause any difference between the positive affects of the groups. However, in contrast with the other three groups, the positive affects of the students studying with the NA + L software increased in the posttest when compared with those in the pretest.
Effects of ADP on action potential‐induced force responses in mechanically skinned rat fast‐twitch fibres

Mechanically skinned muscle fibres from the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle of the rat were electrically stimulated in solutions mimicking the myoplasmic environment in the resting muscle fibre but containing different [ADP] of < 0.1 μm, 40 μm and 1.0 mm, to investigate the effects of myoplasmic ADP on the twitch response. The amplitude of the twitch response markedly and gradually decreased by 47 ± 6% (n= 9) as [ADP] was increased from < 0.1 μm to 40 μm without changing [Ca2+] in the myoplamsic solution (50 nm). The times for the twitch to rise from 10 to 90% (Trise,10‐90) and to decrease from 90 to 10% (Tfall,90‐10) initially increased by 8 and 21% and then decreased by 16 and 30% (compared to controls), respectively, at steady state. When [ADP] was raised from < 0.1 μm to 1.0 mm and fibres were electrically stimulated, the first response was biphasic and very prolonged (by at least a factor of 10) but of an amplitude similar to that in the control solution. The following twitch response and the steady state twitch responses were much reduced in size by about a factor of 6 and more prolonged by about 40% compared to control responses. All these ADP effects were fully reversible and appear to be predominantly due to several ADP‐dependent alterations in SR Ca2+ handling properties (ADP‐dependent decrease in SR Ca2+ capacity together with an increase in Ca2+ binding to the SR pump sites facing the myoplasm). The ADP‐dependent effects on the contractile apparatus and Ca2+ regulatory system were relatively minor. Taken together, the results demonstrate that ADP accumulation is likely to play a crucial role in metabolic fatigue of skeletal muscle and can explain the marked reduction in the amplitude and the slower time course of the twitch response during fatigue as well as the elevation of myoplasmic [Ca2+] in fatigued fibres at rest.
The Uptake of Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission Programs in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background No systematic review of prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) in China has been performed. We aimed to estimate the uptake of PMTCT programs services in China. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and Wanfang (Chinese) to identify research studies. Only descriptive epidemiological studies were eligible for this study. Results A total of 57 eligible cross-section studies were finally included. We estimated that the mean HIV-positive rate of exposed infants was 4.4% (95% CI = 3.2–5.5), and more than 33% of exposed infants had not undergone HIV diagnostic testing. The percentage of initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-positive women was 71.0% (95% CI = 66.3–75.8), and that for initiating antiretroviral prophylaxis (ARP) in exposed infants was 78.3% (95% CI = 74.9–81.8); also, 31.3% (95% CI = 15.5–47.0) of women with HIV and < 1% of exposed infants received the combination of three antiretroviral drugs. There were bigger gap of uptake of PMTCT programs between income levels, and cities with a low income level had a higher percentage of initiating ART in HIV-positive women (80%) and ARP in exposed infants (85%) compared to cities with high-middle income (57% and 65%, respectively) (P<0.05). Conclusions This paper highlights the need to further scale up PMTCT services in China, especially in regions with the lowest coverage, so that more women can access and utilize them. However, some estimated outcome should be interpreted with caution due to the high level of heterogeneity and the small number of studies.
Interpolation and signal extraction of teleseismic wavefie lds with the linear radon transform

A conductive roller for use in a laser printer includes a solid, thermoset urethane comprising a metal salt and having a hardness of between 30 Shore A and 50 Shore A on cube and a volume resistivity of 1E6 ohm-cm and 9E8 ohm-cm.
Positioning older men's social interactions: A visual exploration of the space between acquaintanceship and strangerhood

In this article, we show how using a visual method enabled an exploration of the nuances of everyday encounters of older men living alone. It made visible more fleeting encounters, alerting us to the significance of such encounters. The article argues the need to pay more attention to social encounters, situated somewhere in the space between acquaintanceship and strangerhood. While not always easy to articulate verbally, characteristics of such encounters are nonetheless meaningful and supportive of masculine identities delineated by older men living alone.
EFL textbooks for young learners: a comparative analysis of vocabulary

This article reports the findings of a comparative analysis of two English teaching course book series which are widely used in school years 4–6 in Sweden: Good Stuff and New Champion. The analysis comprises comparisons of the vocabulary component in the teaching materials and examines the extent to which words – adjectives, nouns and verbs – recur in the books, whether there is a common core of words in the two series and, finally, whether vocabulary in the two teaching materials corresponds with accepted measures of English high-frequency words. The study shows that variation in vocabulary is considerable in individual books, within a series and between the two series; all textbooks contain a high proportion of one-time and low-frequency words. As a result, it is difficult to pin down a common core vocabulary. The study further shows that even though many words do correspond to general high-frequency words, as much as one-third are not found among the 2,000 most frequent English words.
Ieee Transactions Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence 1 Scene Particles: Unregularized Particle Based Scene Flow Estimation

—In this paper, an algorithm is presented for estimating scene flow, which is a richer, 3D analogue of Optical Flow. The approach operates orders of magnitude faster than alternative techniques, and is well suited to further performance gains through parallelized implementation. The algorithm employs multiple hypothesis to deal with motion ambiguities, rather than the traditional smoothness constraints, removing oversmoothing errors and providing significant performance improvements on benchmark data, over the previous state of the art. The approach is flexible, and capable of operating with any combination of appearance and/or depth sensors, in any setup, simultaneously estimating the structure and motion if necessary. Additionally, the algorithm propagates information over time to resolve ambiguities, rather than performing an isolated estimation at each frame, as in contemporary approaches. Approaches to smoothing the motion field without sacrificing the benefits of multiple hypotheses are explored, and a probabilistic approach to Occlusion estimation is demonstrated, leading to 10% and 15% improved performance respectively. Finally, a data driven tracking approach is described, and used to estimate the 3D trajectories of hands during sign language, without the need to model complex appearance variations at each viewpoint.
A-Kinase Anchoring in Dendritic Cells Is Required for Antigen Presentation

Background Dendritic cells (DC) are the most potent antigen presenting cells (APC) of the immune system. Prostaglandin E2, cyclic AMP, and protein kinase A (PKA) have all been shown to regulate DC maturation and activity. In other cells, the ability of these molecules to convey their signals has been shown to be dependent on A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs). Here we present evidence for the existence and functional importance of AKAPs in human DC. Methodology/Principal Findings Using immunofluorescence and/or western analyses we identify AKAP79, AKAP149, AKAP95, AKAP LBC and Ezrin. We also demonstrate by western analysis that expression of AKAP79, AKAP149 and RII are upregulated with DC differentiation and maturation. We establish the functional importance of PKA anchoring in multiple aspects of DC biology using the anchoring inhibitor peptides Ht31 and AKAP-IS. Incubation of protein or peptide antigen loaded DC with Ht31 or AKAP-IS results in a 30–50% decrease in antigen presentation as measured by IFN-γ production from antigen specific CD4+ T cells. Incubation of LPS treated DC with Ht31 results in 80% inhibition of TNF-α and IL-10 production. Ht31 slightly decreases the expression of CD18 and CD11a and CD11b, slightly increases the basal expression of CD83, dramatically decreases the LPS stimulated expression of CD40, CD80 and CD83, and significantly increases the expression of the chemokine receptor CCR7. Conclusions These experiments represent the first evidence for the functional importance of PKA anchoring in multiple aspects of DC biology.