Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Transcription Factor Paired-Related Homeobox 1 (Prrx1) Inhibits Adipogenesis by Activating Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGFβ) Signaling*

Background: Paired-related homeobox 1 (Prrx1) regulates mesenchymal cell fate, but whether Prrx1 impacts adipogenesis remains unknown. Results: Prrx1 knockdown decreases transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) ligand expression and enhances adipogenesis, whereas Prrx1 increases in adipose tissue during obesity. Conclusion: Prrx1 knockdown enhances adipogenesis by suppressing TGFβ signaling. Significance: This report identifies Prrx1 as an inhibitor of adipogenesis that may impact adipose tissue function in obesity. Differentiation of adipocytes from preadipocytes contributes to adipose tissue expansion in obesity. Impaired adipogenesis may underlie the development of metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Mechanistically, a well defined transcriptional network coordinates adipocyte differentiation. The family of paired-related homeobox transcription factors, which includes Prrx1a, Prrx1b, and Prrx2, is implicated with regulation of mesenchymal cell fate, including myogenesis and skeletogenesis; however, whether these proteins impact adipogenesis remains to be addressed. In this study, we identify Prrx1a and Prrx1b as negative regulators of adipogenesis. We show that Prrx1a and Prrx1b are down-regulated during adipogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Stable knockdown of Prrx1a/b enhances adipogenesis, with increased expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α and FABP4 and increased secretion of the adipokines adiponectin and chemerin. Although stable low-level expression of Prrx1a, Prrx1b, or Prrx2 does not affect 3T3-L1 adipogenesis, transient overexpression of Prrx1a or Prrx1b inhibits peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ activity. Prrx1 knockdown decreases expression of Tgfb2 and Tgfb3, and inhibition of TGFβ signaling during adipogenesis mimics the effects of Prrx1 knockdown. These data support the hypothesis that endogenous Prrx1 restrains adipogenesis by regulating expression of TGFβ ligands and thereby activating TGFβ signaling. Finally, we find that expression of Prrx1a or Prrx1b in adipose tissue increases during obesity and strongly correlates with Tgfb3 expression in BL6 mice. These observations suggest that increased Prrx1 expression may promote TGFβ activity in adipose tissue and thereby contribute to aberrant adipocyte function during obesity.
Design Strategies for EDGE Based Image Representation System with VLSI

Edges of image characterize the boundaries. It reduces amount of data and filters out useless information. It preserves structural properties of an image. Edge detection is useful for segmentation of objects, its registration and identification. So image processing algorithms are defined. Early state detection of image has been tried using VLSI architecture. A normal image and disease affected image are compared and percentage of disease has been tried to find out. Edge detection operators such as Sobel, Prewitt, Canny Edge Detector are used. Filtering of images include the elimination of noise, enhancing the edges and contours. Fast operations and efficient implementation will be considered while designing the algorithm.
Mapping lakes on the Tibetan Plateau with landsat imagery and object-based image analyis

The Tibetan Plateau, the world’s largest orogenic plateau, hosts thousands of lakes that play a prominent role as water resources, environmental archives, and sources of natural hazards such as glacier lake outburst floods. Previous studies reported that the size of the lakes on the Tibetan Plateau has been changing rapidly in recent years, possibly because of contemporary global warming. Tracking these changes systematically from remote sensing data offers new challenges and opportunities for automated classification methods such as object-based image analysis (OBIA). We present a method for an automatic mapping of lakes combining LANDSAT images, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation model (DEM), and OBIA. We tested our method for most of the area of the Tibetan Plateau where lakes formed in tectonic depressions or blocked by glaciers and sediments have different spectral colours, and different physical states of water (frozen and not-frozen). We analysed images obtained in 1995 and 2015. For detecting the lakes we used the Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI) combined with OBIA and a slope map derived from the DEM. Our classification of lakes with an area >10 km² derived 323 water bodies with a total area of 31,258 km², which is 2.6% of the analysed area in 2015. The same number of lakes had covered only 24,892 km² in 1995, so that lakes grew by ~26% in the past two decades on average. The classification had an overall, producer’s and user’s accuracies of 0.98, and a Cohen’s kappa of 0.98, and may be useful step towards quantifying regional-scale hydrological budgets.
An Efficient Technique to Detect Visual Defects in Particleboards

This paper is concerned with the problem of image analysis based detection of local defects embedded in particleboard surfaces. Though simple, but efficient technique developed is based on the analysis of the discrete probability distribution of the image intensity values and the 2D discrete Walsh transform. Robust global features characterizing a surface texture are extracted and then analyzed by a pattern classifier. The classifier not only assigns the pattern into the quality or detective class, but also provides the certainty value attributed to the decision. A 100% correct classification accuracy was obtained when testing the technique proposed on a set of 200 images.
No Gain without Pain: Feelings an Emotional Practices in an Information System Project

This paper discusses an interpretive case study on feelings and emotions in an information systems (IS) project focusing on the subsequent emotional practices adopted by the IS project members. We analyzed the data from interviews with fourteen IS project members. The analysis revealed the connection between specific feelings (dissatisfaction, fear, irritation, blame, frustration, feeling of failure) and specific emotional practices in an IS project (using power, criticizing, airing the frustration, seeking support, adjusting situation/ adapting to unwanted situation, using black humor or sarcasm, gossiping, practicing avoidance or withdrawal). We discovered that vastly different emotional practices can relate to the same basic feeling experienced by IS project members, illuminating the humble origins of the destructive emotional practice that affects negatively the outcome of an IS project. Our study extends the current understanding of the role of feelings, and how feelings relate to emotional practices in an IS project.
Adaptive search engines as discovery games: an evolutionary approach

Adaptive search engines (ASE), used in the retrieval of multimedia objects adapt their behavior depending on the user feedback in order to eventually converge to the optimal answer. The adaptive architecture has been shown to improve the performance in case of multimedia objects retrieval, when pre-indexing techniques are costly or can be applied only partially. The continuous user feedbacks on the lists of returned objects are used to filter out irrelevant objects and promote the relevant ones. This work propose an original dealer/opponent game model for ASE. The system/user interactive process which takes place in ASE can be modeled as a discovery game between a dealer, the user community which holds a secret consisting in the optimal answer to a query, and an opponent, i.e. the system, which tries to discover the secret by submitting tentative solutions on which it receives the user/dealer feedback. It is shown how the complexity of the game can be related to known games. An evolutionary approach to solve the ASE game is also presented. Experimental results shows convergence to the optimal solution with acceptable performance for real domain size. The proposed schema is quite general and can fit other adaptive search architectures which appear in e-business and e-commerce applications.
State feedback control with optimized mode decoupling

The general problem of assigning the system matrix eigenstructure using the state feedback control is considered in this paper. With modifications of the standard algorithms for pole assignment based on singular value decomposition the exposition of the problem is generalized here to handle a specified structure of the right eigenvector set in state feedback control design for MIMO linear systems. Extra freedom, which makes dependent the closed-loop eigenvalues spectrum, is used for closed-loop state variables mode decoupling. The integrated procedure provides a straightforward methodology usable in linear control system design techniques when the memory-free controller in the state-space control structures takes the standard form.
RINGKASAN KUMPULAN MAZHAB TEORI SOSIAL (Biografi, Sejarah, Teori, dan Kritikan)

Teori sosiologi terus berkembang dari masa ke masa, terutama dari pemikiran tokoh-tokoh sosiologi yang terus memikirkan analisis sehingga menghasilkan teori baru yang dianggap mampu menjabarkan fenomena sosial yang pada hakikatnya bisa menunjukkan suatu fakta yang diatur menurut metodologi tertentu dan terukur serta diuji secara empiris untuk menghasilkan suatu teori. Hal yang baru dalam buku ini berisikan perkembangan mazhab sosiologi yang dimulai dari revolusi industri yang dipelopori oleh Durkheim dan Parson, revolusi industri dan kapitalisme (Marx, Weber, Durkheim, dan Simmel), urbanisasi (Weber dan Simmel), agama (Durkheim, Parson, Weber, dan Marx), dan ilmu pengetahuan (Durkheim dan Spencer), selain itu tambahan Teori Interaksi Simbolik, Teori Dramaturgis Erving Goffman, Teori Pertukaran George Caspar Homans, Teori Kritis Frankfurt, Teori Etnometodologi, Teori Fenomenologi, dan Sosiologi Pengetahuan.
Lamotrigine as an adjuvant treatment for acute bipolar depression: a Brazilian naturalistic study

is indicated according to several recent treatment guidelines as a first-line medication for the treatment of bipolar depression. However, its efficacy in acute bipolar depression has not been well established. In the present naturalistic study, patients with bipolar depression (n = 20), predominantly bipolar type I, were treated with lamotrigine in addition to their prior treatment for 8 weeks. The Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D-17), and Clinical Global Impressions-Bipolar Disorder (CGI-BD) scale were applied at baseline, week 4, and week 8. With regard to the primary measure of efficacy, mean total HAM-D-17 scores significantly decreased (p < .01) at the end of treatment. Eight patients (40%) exhibited a positive response (i.e., at least a 50% reduction of baseline scores). Additionally, eight (40%) and 11 (55%) patients exhibited complete remission, reflected by HAM-D-17 and CGI-BP scores, respectively. Episodes of switching to mania or hypomania occurred in five patients (25%). No skin rash or any other significant adverse events were reported. Our results indicate that the addition of lamotrigine to a mood stabilizer can be useful in the treatment of acute depressive episodes in bipolar I disorder.
Source models and yield-scaling relations for underground nuclear explosions at Amchitka Island

Source models are determined for the three underground nuclear explosions at the Amchitka test site using seismic observations in the period range 0.5 to 20.0 sec. Empirical yield-scaling relations are inferred from the source models and compared with the predictions of the Haskell, Mueller-Murphy, and finite difference numerical models. Several recent studies of high-frequency, near-field signals and teleseismic short-period P waves for LONGSHOT, MILROW, and CANNIKIN constrain the source functions at periods of 0.5 to 2.0 sec. Teleseismic pS and Rayleigh wave observations are used to constrain the source functions at longer periods. Using a modified Haskell source time function representation given by ψ(t) = ψ_∞ {1-e^(-kt)[1 + Kt + (Kt)^2/2-B(Kt)^3]}, the data are best-fit if the corner frequency parameter, K, scales as predicted by the Mueller-Murphy model, and if the amount of overshoot in the reduced displacement potential, which is proportional to B, decreases with increasing yield (depth of burial). The latter behavior is opposite to that predicted by the Mueller-Murphy model and follows from the observation that the long-period level of the explosion potential, ψ_∝, increases with yield, W, by ψ_∝ ∝ W^(0.90), or with yield and depth by ψ_∝ ∝ W/h^(1/3). This long-period and overshoot scaling is consistent with that found for some numerical models, and allowing for the depth dependence of the Rayleigh wave excitation, results in the observed M_S versus log(W) slope of ∼1. The decrease in overshoot with increasing depth of burial may be the result of the increase in shear strength with increasing overburden pressure. If yield or depth dependence of the source potential overshoot proves to be a general phenomenon, a possibility supported by a preliminary investigation of Pahute Mesa observations, accurate yield estimation will require broadband seismic data. The source function representation adopted is shown to provide an excellent fit to the rise time of very near-in velocity recordings to the rise time with frequencies of 10 Hz and higher.
Expression of mucin-1, galectin-1 and galectin-3 in human leiomyosarcoma in comparison to leiomyoma and myometrium.

BACKGROUND The potential mechanism of malignant transformation from leiomyoma to leiomyosarcoma is still debated. The aim was the evaluation of expression patterns of mucin-1 (MUC1) (MUC1 VU-4-H5), galectin-1 (Gal-1) and galectin-3 (Gal-3) in human myometrium and leiomyoma and in comparison to leiomyosarcoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS Myometrium, leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma tissues were obtained from 79 patients. Samples were analyzed regarding the expression of MUC1, Gal-1 and Gal-3 by immunohistochemical staining of paraffin-embedded material. RESULTS The expression of MUC1 (VU4-H5) was up-regulated in leiomyoma (p = 0.065) and leiomyosarcoma (p = 0.039) as compared to the myometrium. In contrast, there were no significant differences in expression of Gal-3 in the tissues from the myometrium, myoma and leiomyosarcoma. Concerning Gal-1 expression, the differences were not significant comparing myometrium and leiomyosarcoma (p = 0.277). Myoma had elevated levels of Gal-1 compared to myometrium (p = 0.007) and leiomyosarcoma (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION MUC1 and Gal-1 might be useful for evaluating the potential of leiomyoma to transform into leiomyosarcoma and, therefore, help in risk-adapted consultation and adjusted treatment.
Synthesis and in vitro reactivity of 3-carbamoyl-2-phenylpropionaldehyde and 2-phenylpropenal: putative reactive metabolites of felbamate.

We propose that 3-carbamoyl-2-phenylpropionaldehyde is an intermediate in the metabolism of felbamate, an anti-epileptic drug with a unique profile of the therapeutic activity, and undergoes a cascade of chemical reactions responsible for the toxic properties of the parent drug. To test this hypothesis, we have synthesized 3-carbamoyl-2-phenylpropionaldehyde and evaluated its in vitro reactivity. This molecule was found to be highly unstable at physiological pH (t1/2 < or = 30 s) and to undergo facile elimination to 2-phenylpropenal, an alpha, beta-unsaturated aldehyde commonly termed atropaldehyde. However, the predominant reaction pathway for 3-carbamoyl-2-phenylpropionaldehyde was reversible cyclization to generate 4-hydroxy-5-phenyltetrahydro-1,3-oxazin-2-one, a urethane that has a considerably longer half-life at physiological pH (t1/2 > or = 5 h) and may serve as a stable reservoir of the reactive aldehyde both in vitro and in vivo. Atropaldehyde is a potent electrophile and was found to exhibit cytotoxicity to cultured fibroblasts (50% growth inhibition (GI50) = 4.1 +/- 1.1 microM) comparable to the known unsaturated aldehyde toxins, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal and acrolein. 3-Carbamoyl-2-phenylpropionaldehyde also exhibited significant cytotoxicity (GI50 = 53 +/- 8 microM), whereas 2-phenyl-1,3-propanediol monocarbamate (GI50 > 500 microM) and 3-carbamoyl-2-phenylpropionic acid (GI50 > 500 microM) were nontoxic. We have additionally demonstrated the formation of a glutathione-atropaldehyde conjugate from the in vitro incubation of 3-carbamoyl-2-phenylpropionaldehyde with glutathione. Thus, the potent cytotoxicity and potential allergenicity of atropaldehyde implicate this unsaturated aldehyde as a possible causative agent in the toxicities observed with felbamate treatment.
The Journal of Systems and Software

Context: Combining software architecture and agile development has received signiﬁcant attention in recent years. However, there exists no comprehensive overview of the state of research on the architecture-agility combination. Objective: This work aims to analyze the combination of architecture and agile methods for the purpose of exploration and analysis with respect to architecting activities and approaches, agile methods and practices, costs, beneﬁts, challenges, factors, tools, and lessons learned concerning the combination. Method: Asystematicmappingstudy(SMS)wasconducted,coveringtheliteratureonthearchitecture-agility combination published between February 2001 and January 2014. Results: Fifty-fourstudieswereﬁnallyincludedinthisSMS. Someofthehighlights:(1)asigniﬁcantdifference exists in the proportion of various architecting activities, agile methods, and agile practices employed in the combination. (2) none of the architecting approaches has been widely used in the combination. (3) there is a lack of description and analysis regarding the costs and failure stories of the combination. (4) twenty challenges, twenty-nine factors, and twenty-ﬁve lessons learned were identiﬁed. Conclusions: The results of this SMS help the software engineering community to reﬂect on the past thirteen years of research and practice on the architecture-agility combination with a number of implications. © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
The Release of Outer Membrane Vesicles from the Strains of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

The clinically isolated heat labile enterotoxin (LT)‐producing strains of Escherichia coli can be separated into two groups, namely spontaneous LT‐releasing strain and non‐spontaneous LT‐releasing strain, based on their phenotypes of spontaneous release of LT into the culture medium. The phenotype of spontaneous LT release was observed to correlate closely with the phenotype of the release of numerous small vesicles into the culture medium. Both morphological and biological examinations of the vesicle showed that the vesicle was released from the outer membrane. It can, therefore, be assumed that LT may be released from the cell at the time the vesicles form.
Modification of durian rind pectin for improved biosorbent

Pectin and modified pectin differ in the structure of the chains in which the modified version of pectin is shorter in length, non-branched, and galactose-rich. These differences in structure may be exploited for the removal of heavy metals. Durian (Durio zibethinus) rind, that is regarded as agri-food waste was processed into durian rind pectin (DRP) and modified durian rind pectin (mDRP). DRP and mDRP were evaluated as biosorbent for removal of toxic heavy metals (Pb(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Ni(II)) and were compared with two commercial products; citrus pectin (CP) and modified citrus pectin (MCP). In general, the order of removal of heavy metals by all biosorbents was Cu(II) > Pb(II) > Ni(II) > Zn > Cd(II). Except for the removal of Pb(II), the order of effectiveness of heavy metal removal of the biosorbents was MCP > mDRP > CP > DRP. MCP, a commercial biosorbent showed the best biosorbent ability, and mDRP a waste product from durian was also a favorable sorber that should be considered for sorption and removal of heavy metals.
Histone deposition proteins: links between the DNA replication machinery and epigenetic gene silencing.

organized into a nucleoprotein complex called chromatin. Chromatin is essential for compacting genomic DNA and plays a primary role in governing the expression status of genes. Chromatin is a diverse and dynamic polymer whose composition is modulated to build specialized chromosome structures, such as those found at centromeres and telomeres (for review, see Grewal and Moazed 2003). The fundamental repeating unit of chromatin is the nucleosome, containing an octamer of histone proteins, two each of H2A, H2B, H3, and H4, around which 146 bp of DNA wraps 1.7 times. This review will focus on how nucleosomes are assembled by histone chaperones that deposit histones during DNA replication or RNA transcription. We will begin by describing the biophysical properties governing nucleosome formation and the mechanisms of de novo nucleosome formation at sites of DNA synthesis. Then, we will discuss the functional overlap between histone chaperones involved in DNA replication-coupled and replication-independent nucleosome assembly. Finally, we will review recent data demonstrating the role of histone chaperones in the tight temporal coupling of histone deposition and DNA replication.
Non-invasive single-cell biomechanical analysis using live-imaging datasets

ABSTRACT The physiological state of a cell is governed by a multitude of processes and can be described by a combination of mechanical, spatial and temporal properties. Quantifying cell dynamics at multiple scales is essential for comprehensive studies of cellular function, and remains a challenge for traditional end-point assays. We introduce an efficient, non-invasive computational tool that takes time-lapse images as input to automatically detect, segment and analyze unlabeled live cells; the program then outputs kinematic cellular shape and migration parameters, while simultaneously measuring cellular stiffness and viscosity. We demonstrate the capabilities of the program by testing it on human mesenchymal stem cells (huMSCs) induced to differentiate towards the osteoblastic (huOB) lineage, and T-lymphocyte cells (T cells) of naïve and stimulated phenotypes. The program detected relative cellular stiffness differences in huMSCs and huOBs that were comparable to those obtained with studies that utilize atomic force microscopy; it further distinguished naïve from stimulated T cells, based on characteristics necessary to invoke an immune response. In summary, we introduce an integrated tool to decipher spatiotemporal and intracellular dynamics of cells, providing a new and alternative approach for cell characterization. Summary: An automated image-morphing-based method, intricately coupled with automated segmentation and multi-criterion path alignment, for a comprehensive label-free analysis of live-cell biomechanics, morphology and migration.
Analysis of Power System Oscillations From PMU Data Using an EPLL-Based Approach

Recently, the application of the adaptive notch filter (ANF) concept to the analysis of damped oscillations and the estimation of frequency and damping factor of such oscillations was introduced. This paper presents the application of the enhanced phase-locked loop (EPLL) to the same problem. A modified version of the EPLL is developed that includes the estimation of damping factor in addition to the already estimated variables of amplitude, phase angle, and frequency. The structure, mathematical formulation, and theoretical stability analysis of the proposed method, including guidelines for its parameter tuning, are presented. Simulation results verify the analytical derivations and the desirable performance of the proposed method. This paper concludes that the EPLL-based approach can address the problem as efficient as the ANF approach while offering more robust and accurate results at low sampling rate applications.