Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A thermally responsive Tat-elastin-like polypeptide fusion protein induces membrane leakage, apoptosis, and cell death in human breast cancer cells*

The thermally responsive elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) has great potential as a macromolecular drug delivery vehicle due to its ability to be actively targeted to solid tumors by application of focused hyperthermia. Since, the toxicity properties of a new therapeutic delivery vehicle are crucial to its utility as an effective delivery vehicle, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of a thermally responsive Tat-ELP1 in various cell lines in response to hyperthermia. We report that Tat-ELP1 was not cytotoxic at 37°C in SK-MEL-2, SKOV-3 and WI-38 cells, and only mildly toxic in the MCF-7 breast carcinoma cell line. Application of hyperthermia (42°C) in combination with Tat-ELP1 resulted in cytotoxicity in all cell lines tested, and this toxicity was most prominent in the MCF-7 cell line, which was chosen to study the mechanism behind this increased toxicity. We found that Tat-ELP1 combined with hyperthermia caused membrane leakage and apoptosis, resulting in cell death, but no hemolytic effect was observed on murine erythrocytes.
Variable patch size sparse representation over learned dictionaries

This paper addresses the patch size issue in sparse representation over learned dictionaries. A strategy for selecting the best patch size is proposed. It is empirically shown that the representation quality of natural image patches depends on the patch size considered. The proposed strategy selectively chooses the most appropriate patch size based on the resulting sparse representation error. The sparse representation of each small-sized image region is taken by selecting the most suitable patch size for the patch containing this region. The proposed strategy is shown able to improve the sparse representation quality as seen in numerical experiments, both quantitatively and qualitatively. As tested over a set of benchmark images, the proposed strategy has an average PSNR improvement of 0.99 dB over the standard case of using a fixed patch size. Visual comparison results come inline with the PSNR improvement.
Proximal Femoral Varus Rotation Osteotomy in Cerebral Palsy: A Prospective Gait Study

This prospective study examined the kinematic and temporal/spatial effects of proximal femoral varus rotation osteotomy (VRO) on the gait of individuals with cerebral palsy from preoperative to 1-year postoperative status. Participants were a consecutive sample of 37 individuals (14 males, 23 females). The analysis consisted of three-dimensional kinematics, temporal/spatial measures, and functional status. A curve representing the difference between the preoperative and 12-month postoperative conditions was calculated for each joint motion. Ninety-five percent confidence intervals were calculated about the mean difference curves using a bootstrapping technique. VRO resulted in improved cosmesis and objective improvement in gait, including a statistically significant increase in hip external rotation and hip extension, a decrease in anterior pelvic tilt, and an increase in knee extension strength. The use of confidence bands to identify surgical outcomes with respect to kinematic variables has enormous value for patients and professionals. Long-term follow-up is needed to see if the aforementioned gains improve.
The Internationalization Cube: A Tentative Model for the Study of Organizational Designs and the Results of Internationalism in Higher Education

In 1993 a research project was carried out in the Netherlands concerning the organization of the internationalization of higher education. This phenomenon was described on the basis of the outcome of a questionnaire. In addition, a model was developed and tested for the analysis of the internal process of decision making, organization, and implementation of internationalization in higher education institutions, as well as the relations between this process and the results of internationalization.
Sensorization of Robotic Hand Using Optical Three-Axis Tactile Sensor: Evaluation with Grasping and Twisting Motions

Problem statement: Sensitization of robot hand is still remaining as crucial issue since most of robot hand systems nowadays are only capable to grasp a predefined specific object. It is still difficult for robot hand system to realize human-like tactile sensation. Some common problems in robot hand system are low accuracy sensing device, sensors are not robust enough for long time work and heavy duties, inconsistence tactile sensing detection and difficulties in control of sensing fusion with robot trajectory. These problems are apparently drawback the progress to commercializing robot hands as real consumer products. Approach: This study presented the application of optical three-axis tactile sensor to robot hand to improve sensitization quality in robotic hand system. The proposed tactile sensor system was designed with compliance modules to communicate with robot hand control system. The sensing principle used in this tactile sensor comparatively provides better sensing accuracy to detect contact phenomena from acquisition of three axial directions of forces. Methodology of force and slippage detection in the tactile sensor system was presented. Accordingly, the optimization of robot hand control algorithm to comply with the tactile sensor system was presented and verified in experiment of grasping and twisting. Results: The tactile sensor presented in this study is capable of detecting normal and shear force simultaneously. The proposed methodology was verified in experiment with paper cup and water, in which the result shows the robot control system managed to respond to the proposed object stiffness distinction parameters and effectively respond to sudden change of object weight during grasping. An experiment of grasping and twisting motions was conducted using a bottle cap. In order to perform simultaneous grasping and twisting tasks, optimization of the control algorithm was conducted with additional parameters to satisfy the desired tasks. Conclusion: Experimental result shows that the robot hand managed to perform grasping and twisting of bottle cap smoothly. The overall results revealed good performance of the proposed optical three-axis tactile sensor system and robot hand control algorithm for future application in a real artificial robot hand. In addition, slippage sensation measured in a robot control system could contribute a better maneuvering of the robot arm-finger system.
Interferon (cid:103) Regulates Acute and Latent Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection and Chronic Disease of the Great Vessels

Summary To define immune mechanisms that regulate chronic and latent herpesvirus infection, we analyzed the role of interferon (cid:103) (IFN- (cid:103) ) during murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection. Lethality studies demonstrated a net protective role for IFN- (cid:103) , independent of IFN- (cid:97)(cid:47)(cid:98) , during acute MCMV infection. Mice lacking the IFN- (cid:103) receptor (IFN- (cid:103) R (cid:50)(cid:47)(cid:50) ) developed and maintained striking chronic aortic inflammation. Arteritis was associated with inclusion bodies and MCMV antigen in the aortic media. To understand how lack of IFN- (cid:103) responses could lead to chronic vascular disease, we evaluated the role of IFN- (cid:103) in MCMV latency. MCMV-infected IFN- (cid:103) R (cid:50)(cid:47)(cid:50) mice shed preformed infectious MCMV in spleen, peritoneal exudate cells, and salivary gland for up to 6 mo after infection, whereas the majority of congenic control animals cleared chronic productive infection. However, the IFN- (cid:103) R was not required for establishment of latency. Using an in vitro explant reactivation model, we showed that IFN- (cid:103) reversibly inhibited MCMV reactivation from latency. This was at least partly explained by IFN- (cid:103) – mediated blockade of growth of low levels of MCMV in tissue explants. These in vivo and in vitro data suggest that IFN- (cid:103) regulation of reactivation from latency contributes to control of chronic vascular disease caused by MCMV. These studies are the first to demonstrate that a component of the immune system (IFN- (cid:103) ) is necessary to regulate MCMV-associated elastic arteritis and latency in vivo and reactivation of a herpesvirus from latency in vitro. This pro-vides a new model for analysis of the interrelationships among herpesvirus latency, the immune system, and chronic disease of the great vessels. culture medium to fresh MEF monolayers which were observed for cytopathic effect for 12 d (31). For determination of the effects of IFNs on growth of low levels of MCMV in explant cultures, spleen and lung explants from naive mice were prepared as described above. 12 d after explantation, MCMV was added to the cultures at doses described in the text and the plates were in-cubated as described above. To determine if IFN or other factors from explant wells could prevent detection of MCMV in secondary MEF cultures, supernatant was harvested from wells before reactivation and cultured with MEFs to which 5 PFU of MCMV were added. To assess reactivation of MCMV from bone marrow, bone marrow was harvested, treated with a hypotonic solu-tion to lyse red blood cells, and cultured with L cell–conditioned medium as described previously (41). After 19 d, media was changed to DMEM with 10% FCS (31) and MEFs were added as an indicator monolayer for MCMV-induced cytopathic effect.
Bisphosphonates May Reduce Recurrence in Giant Cell Tumor by Inducing Apoptosis

Giant cell tumor of bone is an aggressive tumor characterized by extensive bone destruction and high recurrence rates. This tumor consists of stromal cells and hematopoietic cells that interact in an autocrine manner to produce tumoral osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. This autocrine regulation may be disrupted by novel therapeutic agents. Nonspecific local adjuvant therapies such as phenol or liquid nitrogen have been used in the treatment of giant cell tumor, but specific adjuvant therapies have not been described. The bisphosphonates pamidronate and Zoledronate can induce apoptosis in giant cell tumor culture in a dose-dependent manner. We established giant cell tumor cultures from patients with extensive destruction of bone. One of the four cultures formed osteoclastlike giant cells in vitro after more than six passages without exogenous receptor activator of NF-kB ligand or macrophage colony stimulating factor. Annexin V staining, presence of active cleaved form of caspase-3, and disappearance of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase on Western blotting indicated activation of apoptosis by bisphosphonates in giant cell tumor. These results indicate that topical or systemic use of pamidronate or zoledronate can be a novel adjuvant therapy for giant cell tumor by targeting osteoclastlike giant cells, mononuclear giant cell precursor cells, and the autocrine loop of tumor osteoclastogenesis.
Internal Movement of Estuarine Digenetic Trematodes Through Their Intermediate Snail Host Cerithidea californica

Abstract The ability of free-swimming larval parasites to control emergence from their hosts can be critical in increasing the chances of successful infection transmission. For a group of estuarine trematodes, emergence of cercariae from their snail hosts is known to match favorable temperature, tidal activity, and light intensity. How the larvae time this behavior is not well understood, but the pathway that the larvae take through their host may play a role. Through video and histological analysis, we were able to identify the snail's anus as the emergence point and the peri-intestinal sinus dorsal to the intestines as the route by which they reach that point. By moving through this open sinus, the larvae have an energetically efficient pathway to reach their emergence point while minimizing damage to the host. Most importantly, it allows control over emergence to be maintained by the parasite, not the host, thus increasing the chances of the larva successfully reaching its intended destination.
Enabling tangible interaction on capacitive touch panels

We propose two approaches to sense tangible objects on capacitive touch screens, which are used in off-the-shelf multi-touch devices such as Apple iPad, iPhone, and 3M's multi-touch displays. We seek for the approaches that do not require modifications to the panels: spatial tag and frequency tag. Spatial tag is similar to fiducial tag used by tangible tabletop surface interaction, and uses multi-point, geometric patterns to encode object IDs. Frequency tag simulates high-frequency touches in the time domain to encode object IDs, using modulation circuits embedded inside tangible objects to simulate high-speed touches in varying frequency. We will show several demo applications. The first combines simultaneous tangible + touch input system. This explores how tangible inputs (e.g., pen, easer, etc.) and some simple gestures work together on capacitive touch panels.
P53 apoptosis mediator PERP: localization, function and caspase activation in uveal melanoma

p53 apoptosis effector related to PMP‐22 (PERP) is a transcriptional target gene of p53 tumour suppressor that is specifically induced during apoptosis and not during cell cycle arrest. In primary uveal melanoma (UM), the most common intraocular malignancy in adults that has a reportedly unaffected signalling pathway upstream of and including p53, PERP expression is down‐regulated in the metastatic monosomy 3‐type tumours, compared with the less aggressive disomy 3‐type tumours. Here, we demonstrate experimentally, by the use of full‐length PERP‐green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusions and real‐time confocal microscopy, the intracellular targeting and plasma membrane localization of PERP in living UM cells and show that expression of PERP induces caspase‐mediated apoptosis in UM cells. Induction of PERP expression in GFP‐PERP‐transfected UM cells leads to increased levels of cleaved caspase‐8 forms, as well as to reduction of its full‐length substrate Bid, but not to detectable processing of caspase‐9. The levels of mature caspase‐8, ‐9 and ‐3 proteins significantly correlate with PERP expression levels in primary UMs. Transcriptional profiling of PERP and caspase‐8 in tumour specimens indicates that the positive association of PERP and caspase‐8 proteins is a consequence of post‐translational processing, most likely at the level of caspase‐8 cleavage, and not of increased transcription of pro‐caspase‐8. We conclude that PERP expression leads to activation of an extrinsic receptor‐mediated apoptotic pathway, with a possible subsequent engagement of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. The findings underline the apoptotic pathway mediated by PERP as a critical mechanism employed by UM tumours to modulate susceptibility to apoptosis.
Effects of listening comprehension, word recognition, and oral reading fluency on reading comprehension in second-grade students

Several studies have provided evidence regarding the importance of listening comprehension, word recognition and oral reading fluency in successful reading comprehension; however, most of the research has been conducted with English language speakers. This study aims to examine the direct effects of these three variables on reading comprehension using a sample of European Portuguese speakers. A sample of 325 secondgrade Portuguese students completed the Test of Word Reading, the Reading Fluency Assessment Test, the Test of Listening Comprehension of Narrative Texts and the Test of Reading Comprehension of Narrative Texts. Path analysis showed that listening comprehension, word recognition and oral reading fluency were all significant predictors with unique effects on reading comprehension at this grade level. The combination of all three predictors explained 41% of the variance observed in reading comprehension. The results are discussed in terms of the practical implications and limitations of the study, and guidelines for future research are presented.
SPARC is expressed in human uveal melanoma and its abrogation reduces tumor cell proliferation.

BACKGROUND Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) has been shown to play an integral role in the progression of numerous malignancies. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of SPARC in uveal melanoma (UM). MATERIALS AND METHODS SPARC expression was assessed in UM cell lines using RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. Small interfering RNA directed against SPARC was used to transfect each of the cell lines, which were subsequently run in proliferation assays. SPARC expression was further investigated in 19 cases of human UM and 11 primary and 8 metastatic tumors from a rabbit xenograft model. RESULTS The cell lines transfected with SPARC siRNA showed a significant decrease in proliferation compared to controls. All cases of human uveal melanoma demonstrated positive staining for SPARC as did all primary and metastatic tumors from the xenograft model. CONCLUSION SPARC may represent a novel target to inhibit growth of UM.
A Model of Competition Between Perpetual Software and Software as a Service

Software as a service (SaaS) has grown to be a significant segment of many software product markets. SaaS vendors, which charge customers based on use and continuously improve the quality of their products, have put competitive pressure on traditional perpetual software vendors, which charge a licensing fee and periodically upgrade the quality of their software. We develop an analytical model to study the competitive pricing strategies of an incumbent perpetual software vendor in the presence of a SaaS competitor. We find that, depending on both the SaaS quality improvement rate and the network effect, the perpetual software vendor adopts one of three different strategies: (1) an entry deterrence strategy, (2) a market segmentation strategy, or (3) a sequential dominance strategy. Surprisingly, we find that vendor competition does not always result in higher consumer surplus, and it might lead to a socially inefficient outcome under certain conditions. We further show insights into how the incumbent perpetual software vendor can defend its market position by providing incremental quality improvement through patching and/or by releasing consecutive versions with major quality upgrades. Finally, we extend our model to include the vendor’s quality improvement cost and users’ switching cost. These additional analyses help to identify the effect of different quality and cost factors on the market competitive equilibrium.
Quality of Service and Quality of Experience in Video Streaming

— Real-time video sessions, such as IPTV and video streaming, will be among the most important applications in future networking systems. The delivery of those sessions based on Quality of Service (QoS) techniques assures packet differentiation and indicate the impact of multimedia traffic on the network performance, but do not reflect the user perception. Therefore, a combined control of QoS with Quality of Experience (QoE) support can assure the distribution of video content according to video content characteristics and the user experience, while optimizing the usage of network resources. This paper introduces the QoS/QoE Adaptive Video Control (2QAV) solution to control the quality level of video sessions in wired and wireless networks taking into account multimedia content, QoE and QoS aspects. Simulation experiments present benefits of the proposed solution on the user expectation by verifying QoS and QoE metrics.
First steps towards a Predicate Matrix

This paper presents the first steps towards building the Predicate Matrix, a new lexical resource resulting from the integration of multiple sources of predicate information including FrameNet (Baker et al., 1997), VerbNet (Kipper, 2005), PropBank (Palmer et al., 2005) and WordNet (Fellbaum, 1998). By using the Predicate Matrix, we expect to provide a more robust interoperable lexicon by discovering and solving inherent inconsistencies among the resources. Moreover, we plan to extend the coverage of current predicate resources (by including from WordNet morphologically related nominal and verbal concepts), to enrich WordNet with predicate information, and possibly to extend predicate information to languages other than English (by exploiting the local wordnets aligned to the English WordNet).
Analysis and optimal design of a modular underactuated mechanism for robot fingers

A frame of modular design problems and requirements for underactuated mechanisms is discussed as related to robotic fingers. The proposed modular mechanism is connected sequentially by series units of underactuated mechanisms, which have the feature of passive self-adaptive in grasp operation and uniformizable in design procedure. The design considerations for modular underactuated mechanism are outlined. Optimality criteria are analyzed with the aim to formulate a general design algorithm. An example of a four-phalanx modular robotic finger is studied as an improvement of new version LARM Hand with the aim to show the practical feasibility for the proposed modular concepts and design methods.
Influence of temperature and pressure on carbon black size distribution during allothermal cracking of methane

abstract Allothermal cracking of methane is a suitable and eco-friendly way to simultaneously produce hydrogen and carbon black. The economic viability of the process relies on the ability to produce carbon black having well-defined characteristics, particularly concerning the particle size. A model for the study of the carbon particle size distribution during thermal cracking of methane has been developed. The model takes into account: heat transfer by conduction, convection, particle and gas radiation, homogenous and heterogenous reactions of methane dissociation, nucleation, and growth of solid carbon particle formed. The model alleges nanoparticles are in thermal equilibrium and do not impact the flow. A parametric study is made on operating pressure and temperature. As a result, the increase of the pressure and temperature increases the yield of thermal methane cracking. Moreover, results show a particle size distribution becoming narrower with increasing temperature and/or pressure. In these conditions, the particles population tends to be monodispersed. Copyright © 2016 American Association for Aerosol Research