Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Museums and Virtuality

This paper investigates issues of museums and virtuality. In considering the diverse ways that museums are approaching virtuality, the focus here is on the common ground and shared objectives, rather than the differences between museums and their virtual re-creations. Put simply, on-site museums and their online counterparts are merely two ways of exhibiting cultures. In this sense, “virtuality” is a fundamental exhibition practice. The World Wide Web has become increasingly relevant to such core museum tasks as collecting, preserving, and exhibiting. Digitization of objects in digital heritage programs has led to new forms of collection management and unparalleled access to virtual replicas of museum artifacts. This transformation is inspiring new forms of preserving and displaying cultures both on- and off-line. A successful digital expansion will largely influence whether museums can sustain their cultural authority and position in the 21st century.
Association of PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms on estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) gene to changes into serum lipid profile of post-menopausal women: Effects of aging, body mass index and breast cancer incidence

Estrogen is a steroidal hormone involved in several physiological functions in the female body including regulation of serum lipid metabolism and breast cancer (BC). Estrogen actions on serum lipids mostly occur through its binding to intracellular Estrogen Receptor alpha (ERalpha) isoform, expressed in most of tissues. This gene (ESR1) exhibit many polymorphic sites (SNPs) located either on translated and non-translated regions that regulate ERalpha protein expression and function. This paper aimed to investigate the association of two intronic SNPs of ESR1 gene, namely c454-397T>C (PvuII) and c454-351A>G (XbaI) to alterations in serum levels of total cholesterol (T-chol), total lipid (TL), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides (TG) in a cohort of post-menopausal women. In addition, we aimed to associate presence of these SNPs to development of BC along 5 years period. To do so, a group of healthy 499, highly miscigenated, post-menopausal Brazilian women, were carried using PCR-FRLP technique and further confirmed by automatic sequence analysis as well followed through 5 years for BC incidence. Measurements of serum lipid profile by standard commercial methods were carried individually whereas Dual Energy X-ray Absorciometry (DXA) measured Body Mass Indexes (BMI), Fat Mass (FM), Lean Body Mass (LBM), and Body Water Content (BWC). No effects of PvuII SNP on ESR1 gene were observed on patient´s serum T-chol, TL, LDL, HDL, and TG. However, c454-397T>C PvuII SNP is associated to lower body fat and higher levels of lean mass and body water and lower incidence of BC. On the other hand, statistically significant effect of XbaI c454-351A>G SNP on serum TG and TL levels. Patients homozygous for X allele were followed up from 2010–2015. They showed higher incidence of breast cancer (BC) when compared to either heterozygous and any P allele combination. Moreover, the increasing of TG and TL serum concentrations associated to SNP XbaI c454-351A>G on ESR1 gene is enhanced in both obese (higher BMI) and elder women. Taken together, these results suggested that XbaI c454-351A>G SNP is associated to changes in lipid profile, particularly in serum TG and TL, in this cohort of post-menopausal woman. Also, this paper shows another link between obesity and BC corroborating the current thesis that both diseases are interlinked.
Angiogenesis, Neurogenesis and Neuroplasticity in Ischemic Stroke

Only very little is know about the neurovascular niche after cardioembolic stroke. Three processes implicated in neurorepair: angiogenesis, neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity, would be naturally produced in adult brains, but also could be stimulated through endogen neurorepair phenomena. Angiogenesis stimulation generates new vessels with the aim to increase collateral circulation. Neurogenesis is controlled by intrinsic genetic mechanisms and growth factors but also ambiental factors are important. The leading process of the migrating neural progenitor cells (NPCs) is closely associated with blood vessels, suggesting that this interaction provides directional guidance to the NPCs. These findings suggest that blood vessels play an important role as a scaffold for NPCs migration toward the damaged brain region. DNA microarray technology and blood genomic profiling in human stroke provided tools to investigate the expression of thousands of genes. Critical comparison of gene expression profiles after stroke in humans with those in animal models should lead to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of brain ischaemia. Probably the most important part of early recovery after stroke is limited capacity of penumbra/infarct neurones to recover. It became more clear in the last years, that penumbra is not just passively dying over time but it is also actively recovering. This initial plasticity in majority contributes towards later neurogenesis, angiogenesis and final recovery. Penumbra is a principal target in acute phase of stroke. Thus, the origin of newly formed vessels and the pathogenic role of neovascularization and neurogenesis are important unresolved issues in our understanding of the mechanisms after stroke. Biomaterials for promoting brain protection, repair and regeneration are new hot target. Recently developed biomaterials can enable and increase the target delivery of drugs or therapeutic proteins to the brain, allow cell or tissue transplants to be effectively delivered to the brain and help to rebuild damaged circuits. These new approaches are gaining clear importance because nanotechnology allows better control over material-cell interactions that induce specific developmental processes and cellular responses including differentiation, migration and outgrowth.
[Examination and memory].

Examining memory is required in various circumstances. A simple rule never to be forgotten is that the examination of mnemonic capacities must not be separated from examination of other cognitive capacities. The first stage is clinical. The evaluation of mnemonic efficiency--i.e. the ability to store and retrieve new information--is the essential part of the examination and is carried out by means of standardized tests. Old memory, short-term memory, semantic memory and procedural memory must also be evaluated.
Effects of Early Social Isolation upon Adult Timidity and Dominance in Peromyscus

This investigation demonstrated that post-weaning social isolation has a differential effect upon adult dominance in two subspecies of wild deermice, Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii and Peromyscus maniculalus gracilis. Ten male bairdii reared together as a single group from weaning until 91 days of age were significantly more dominant in adulthood than bairdii reared in isolation. There was no difference in adult dominance between the social- and isolate-reared gracilis. Dominance was measured by pairing each social-reared mouse once with every isolate-reared mouse of the same subspecies in a series of 5-min. competitive drinking situations. These results further illustrate that the same form of early social experience can have a differential effect upon organisms of differing genotypes. There was no significant difference in timidity between social- and isolate-reared mice of either subspecies of Peromyscus.
The Need Inventory of Sensation Seeking (NISS)

Based on the conception of sensation seeking as a need rather than a temperamental trait (Hammelstein, 2004), we present a new assessment method, the Need Inventory of Sensation Seeking (NISS), which is considered to assess a motivational disposition. Three studies are presented: The first examined the factorial structure and the reliability of the German versions of the NISS; the second study compared the German and the English versions of the NISS; and finally, the validity of the NISS was examined in a nonclinical study and compared to the validity of conventional methods of assessing sensation seeking (Sensation Seeking Scale – Form V; SSS-V). Compared to the SSS-V, the NISS shows better reliability and validity in addition to providing new research possibilities including application in experimental areas.
Effect of remifentanil on consumption of sevoflurane in entropy monitored general anesthesia

Background Monitoring of anesthetic depth is important for successful general anesthesia. It is well known that entropy or BIS monitoring assisted titration of anesthetic drugs decreases their consumption. This study evaluated the effect of remifentanil on consumption of sevoflurane during entropy monitored general anesthesia. Methods Patients were randomly assigned to two groups. The R group was administered 0.1 µg/kg/min of remifentanil and inhaled sevoflurane, while the S group was administered only inhaled sevoflurane. Anesthesia was maintained using sevoflurane with nitrous oxide, and entropy was monitored. In both groups, the concentration of sevoflurane was adjusted to keep the state entropy (SE) value between 40 and 60. End-tidal sevoflurane concentration (ET), entropy value, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) were measured at 5 minute intervals, during a 25 minute period after intubation, skin suture and the end of surgery. Results ET was significantly lower in the R group than the S group. There were no significant differences in entropy value between R and S groups. Conclusions Entropy monitored titration of sevoflurane with remifentanil administration decreased ET with stable hemodynamics.
Modulation of primary afferent discharge by dynamic and static gamma motor axons in cat muscle spindles in relation to the intrafusal fibre types activated

1 Recordings were made from muscle spindle primary afferents from medial gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of the cat to study the modulating effects of varying γ‐motor stimulation frequency at constant muscle length. Stimulus trains had a mean frequency of 50 Hz and were sinusoidally frequency modulated at 1 Hz, with an amplitude of modulation of ± 5 to ± 30 Hz. 2 When dynamic γ‐axons (γd) were selected for their pure effect on bag1 fibres, they were found to have very little modulating effect on afferent firing. 3 Static γ‐axons (γs) were tested with a random stimulus and correlation method to determine whether they acted purely on bag2 fibres, purely on chain fibres or on both together. Pure bag2γs‐axons had weak modulating effects with large values of phase lag. Pure chain connections were effective in modulating with very little phase lag, but their mean gain was low. Mixed bag2 and chain axons were most effective and showed phase shifts proportional to gain. 4 The effects of muscle length changes recorded previously from locomotor movements were also tested, with and without accompanying stimulation of mixed γs‐axons with pulse trains recorded from γs‐axons. This γs stimulation had a powerful effect in increasing afferent discharge during muscle shortening. The difference in afferent firing between the stimulated and non‐stimulated conditions accurately predicted the profile of the γs stimulation. 5 The results are discussed in relation to the ways in which the γ‐motor system may be used in natural movements.
LyGDI, a Novel SHIP-Interacting Protein, Is a Negative Regulator of FcγR-Mediated Phagocytosis

SHIP and SHIP-2 are inositol phosphatases that regulate FcγR-mediated phagocytosis through catalytic as well as non-catalytic mechanisms. In this study we have used two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) analysis to identify downstream signaling proteins that uniquely associate with SHIP or SHIP-2 upon FcγR clustering in human monocytes. We identified LyGDI as a binding partner of SHIP, associating inducibly with the SHIP/Grb2/Shc complex. Immunodepletion and competition experiments with recombinant SHIP domains revealed that Grb2 and the proline-rich domain of SHIP were necessary for SHIP-LyGDI association. Functional studies in primary human monocytes showed that LyGDI sequesters Rac in the cytosol, preventing it from localizing to the membrane. Consistent with this, suppression of LyGDI expression resulted in significantly enhanced FcγR-mediated phagocytosis.
Parameter optimization in the regularized kernel minimum noise fraction transformation

Based on the original, linear minimum noise fraction (MNF) transformation and kernel principal component analysis, a kernel version of the MNF transformation was recently introduced. Inspired by we here give a simple method for finding optimal parameters in a regularized version of kernel MNF analysis. We consider the model signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as a function of the kernel parameters and the regularization parameter. In 2-4 steps of increasingly refined grid searches we find the parameters that maximize the model SNR. An example based on data from the DLR 3K camera system is given.
Returning to School and Women's Occupational Attainment.

More and more women are returning to school after a period of employment in the labor force. The study reported here examined the factors that make it likely that white women and black women will leave the labor force to obtain more schooling and whether this increase in education significantly improves their wage levels and job prestige when they return to work. The results of the initial analysis revealed that job rewards are an important influence on black women's and white women's rates of returning to school. In addition, regression analyses demonstrated that women's return to school yields modest wage increases and increased occupational prestige (with certain exceptions) in subsequent jobs. Data in an occupational mobility table show that women who return to school are also more likely to improve the occupational category of their job, although usually they remain employed in gender-typical occupations. In general, the findings show that additional schooling benefits women's occupational attainment, but, perhaps because of structural barriers, there are limitations to these benefits.
A 1.9 GHz low voltage CMOS power amplifier for medium power RF applications

This paper describes the design methodology and measured performances of a monolithic two-stage RF power amplifier realized in a 0.35 /spl mu/m CMOS technology. Under 2.5 V supply, good linearity is achieved and an output power of 23.5 dBm with an associated PAE of 35% is obtained at 19 GHz. The obtained performances give an insight into CMOS potentialities for medium power RF amplification.
Empirical Support for Resilience as More than the Counterpart and Absence of Vulnerability and Symptoms of Mental Disorder

The construct of resilience has been viewed as the direct counterpart of factors jeopardizing mental health, i.e., vulnerability and psychopathology. Any operationalization of resilience, thus, risks lying on the same latent continuum as indicators of mental illness, although indicating their absence. A factor analysis combining items from these measurement domains, followed by analyses of second-order factor scores was performed to test this assumption. A random selection of 1,724 participants (34% response rate) from the general population of Norway responded. All items were discriminated well by their primary factors. A second-order factor analysis extracted two components, which was confirmed on a hold-out sample by confirmatory factor methods. The Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA), which measures protective factors, correlated with both second-order factors. Thus, the RSA shared common variance with vulnerability and psychopathology, as well as being unique from illness indices. A hierarchical regres.
Hypocholesterolemic Effects of Lactic Acid-Fermented Soymilk on Rats Fed a High Cholesterol Diet

The effect of fermented soymilk on rats fed a high cholesterol diet was investigated to clarify the cholesterol-lowering function. Male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 7 weeks were fed a control diet (1% cholesterol, high cholesterol diet), high cholesterol diet containing 11.7% fermented soymilk diet (5% soy protein as final concentration, F-5), or high cholesterol diet containing 23.4% fermented soymilk diet (10% soy protein as final concentration, F-10) for 5 weeks. The liver weight and fat mass were decreased by the ingestion of fermented soymilk. The hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol levels in the F-5 and F-10 groups were significantly lowered compared to those in the control group. The plasma total cholesterol level of the F-10 group was significantly decreased. The expression of SREBP-2, a cholesterol synthesis-related gene, was significantly decreased in liver of the F-5 group, but the expression of CYP7a1, a cholesterol catabolism-related gene, was significantly increased. These results suggest that fermented soymilk can modulate the cholesterol metabolism in rats fed a high cholesterol diet.
ATF‐2 contains a phosphorylation‐dependent transcriptional activation domain.

The ATF‐2 transcription factor can mediate adenovirus E1A‐inducible transcriptional activation. Deletion analysis has indicated that the N‐terminal region of ATF‐2 is essential for this response. Furthermore, the N‐terminus can activate transcription in the absence of E1A when fused to a heterologous DNA binding domain. However, in the intact protein this activation domain is masked. In this report we show that residues in the N‐terminus required for activation are also required for mediating E1A stimulation. In particular two threonine residues at positions 69 and 71 are essential. These residues are phosphorylated in vivo and can be efficiently phosphorylated in vitro by the JNK/SAPK subgroup of the MAPK family. ATF‐2 can bind to a UV‐inducible kinase through a region in the N‐terminus that is distinct from the sites of phosphorylation; this binding region is both necessary for phosphorylation by JNK/SAPK in vitro and for transcriptional activation in vivo. The activity of the N‐terminus is stimulated by UV irradiation which stimulates the signalling pathway leading to JNK/SAPK. Finally, although ATF‐2 binds to the E1A protein, the N‐terminal activation domain is not required for this interaction. The results show that ATF‐2, like other members of the ATF/CREB family of DNA binding proteins is regulated by specific signalling pathways.
Regulation of Bcl‐2 Protein Expression in Human Neuroblastoma SH‐SY5Y Cells: Positive and Negative Effects of Protein Kinases C and A, Respectively

Abstract: The regulatory mechanism of Bcl‐2 protein expression was investigated in SH‐SY5Y cells, the human neuroblastoma cell line that expresses natively Bcl‐2 proteins. When the cells were treated with 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol 13‐acetate (TPA) or retinoic acid, the level of Bcl‐2 protein was increased compared with the control. These effects were inhibited by pretreatment with a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, staurosporine or calphostin C. The level of Bcl‐2 protein was also increased by treatment with carbachol, a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) agonist, and the effects were also inhibited by pretreatment with staurosporine or calphostin C. In addition, a carbachol‐induced increase in Bcl‐2 protein levels and a transient elevation of [Ca2+]i were inhibited by pretreatment with 4‐DAMP (4‐diphenylacetoxy‐N‐methylpiperidine), an m3 mAChR antagonist. In contrast, the level of Bcl‐2 protein was decreased by treatment with dibutyryl cAMP (diBu‐cAMP), forskolin, or cholera toxin, and the effects of diBu‐cAMP were inhibited by pretreatment with a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, H‐89. From these results, we suggest that the expression of Bcl‐2 proteins is regulated by PKC and PKA in positive and negative manners, respectively, in SH‐SY5Y cells. Furthermore, the nucleosomal DNA fragmentation induced by serum depletion for 4 h was observed in SH‐SY5Y cells when the level of Bcl‐2 protein was down‐regulated by treatment with 1 mM diBu‐cAMP for 3 days, although the DNA fragmentation by serum depletion for 4 h was not observed in nontreatment cells, indicating that Bcl‐2 proteins whose expression is regulated by PKC and PKA play important roles in serum depletion‐induced apoptosis.
How to Collect Segmentations for Biomedical Images? A Benchmark Evaluating the Performance of Experts, Crowdsourced Non-experts, and Algorithms

Analyses of biomedical images often rely on demarcating the boundaries of biological structures (segmentation). While numerous approaches are adopted to address the segmentation problem including collecting annotations from domain-experts and automated algorithms, the lack of comparative benchmarking makes it challenging to determine the current state-of-art, recognize limitations of existing approaches, and identify relevant future research directions. To provide practical guidance, we evaluated and compared the performance of trained experts, crowd sourced non-experts, and algorithms for annotating 305 objects coming from six datasets that include phase contrast, fluorescence, and magnetic resonance images. Compared to the gold standard established by expert consensus, we found the best annotators were experts, followed by non-experts, and then algorithms. This analysis revealed that online paid crowd sourced workers without domain-specific backgrounds are reliable annotators to use as part of the laboratory protocol for segmenting biomedical images. We also found that fusing the segmentations created by crowd sourced internet workers and algorithms yielded improved segmentation results over segmentations created by single crowd sourced or algorithm annotations respectively. We invite extensions of our work by sharing our data sets and associated segmentation annotations (http://www.cs.bu.edu/~betke/Biomedical Image Segmentation).
Automated high-level movie segmentation for advanced video-retrieval systems

We present a newly developed strategy for automatically segmenting movies into logical story units. A logical story unit can be understood as an approximation of a movie episode, which is a high-level temporal movie segment, characterized either by a single event (dialog, action scene, etc.) or by several events taking place in parallel. Since we consider a whole event and not a single shot to be the most natural retrieval unit for the movie category of video programs, the proposed segmentation is the crucial first step toward a concise and comprehensive content-based movie representation for browsing and retrieval purposes. The automation aspect is becoming increasingly important with the rising amount of information to be processed in video archives of the future. The segmentation process is designed to work on MPEG-DC sequences, where we have taken into account that at least a partial decoding is required for performing content-based operations on MPEG compressed video streams. The proposed technique allows for carrying out the segmentation procedure in a single pass through a video sequence.