Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heparanase Plays a Dual Role in Driving Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) Signaling by Enhancing HGF Expression and Activity*♦

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a heparin-binding cytokine that enhances growth, motility, and angiogenesis of many tumor types, including multiple myeloma where it is often highly expressed. However, little is known regarding what controls HGF level and activity in these tumors. Evaluation of bone marrow biopsies from myeloma patients revealed a strong positive correlation between the levels of HGF and heparanase, an endoglucuronidase known to promote aggressive tumor behavior. In vitro, addition of recombinant heparanase to myeloma cells or transfection of myeloma cell lines with the cDNA for heparanase significantly increased tumor cell expression and secretion of biologically active HGF. Shed syndecan-1, whose levels in myeloma are also enhanced by heparanase expression, binds to secreted HGF. This syndecan-1-HGF complex is active as shown by its ability to stimulate paracrine signaling via c-Met, the cell surface receptor for HGF. Surprisingly, heparanase enzyme activity was not required for up-regulation of HGF expression by the tumor cells. This is in contrast to the heparanase-mediated enhanced syndecan-1 shedding, which does require activity of the enzyme. This suggests that two different functional domains within the heparanase enzyme (the enzyme active site and a separate site) contribute to events leading to enhanced HGF signaling. These findings demonstrate a novel mechanism driving the HGF pathway whereby heparanase stimulates an increase in both HGF expression and syndecan-1 shedding to enhance HGF signaling. This work also provides further mechanistic insight into the dynamic role of heparanase in driving aggressive tumor progression.
Le modèle de Traitement Heuristique Systématique de l'information: motivations multiples et régulation du jugement en cognition sociale

Resume ; Les developpements recents du modele de Traitement Heuristique Systematique de l'information (Chaiken, Giner-Sorolla et Chen, 1996 ; Chaiken, Liberman et Eagly, 1989) sont presentes comme les bases d'un modele general de la cognition sociale. Les trois composantes du modele sont passees en revue : dualite des modes de traitement de l'information, regulation qualitative et quantitative des traitements, et typologie fonctionnelle des motivations. L'accent est mis conjointement sur le role regulateur des buts poursuivis par l'individu (exactitude, defense et adaptation sociale) et sur le role des evaluations metacognitives (effort cognilif subjectif et confiance dans le jugement) dans la production des jugements. Le postulat de dualite des traitements et la distinction entre indices heuristiques et arguments sont discutes du point de vue des processus de comprehension de texte et des composantes strategiques de la communication. Des axes de developpement du modele sont suggeres. ; Mots-cles : heuristique, cognition sociale, persuasion, motivation, but, decision.
Experienced teachers' informal workplace learning and perceptions of workplace conditions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore in detail how teachers' perceptions of workplace conditions for learning are related to their informal workplace learning activities and learning outcomes.Design/methodology/approach – From a sample of 32 teachers, a purposeful sampling technique of maximal variation was used to select two cases described in this paper. In a mixed methods design quantitative data are used to position the two teachers in relation to their peers. Qualitative data are used to describe the two cases in depth.Findings – The findings show how the diverging ways in which the two teachers perceive and actively shape their workplace conditions help to explain differences in the teachers' learning activities and learning outcomes.Originality/value – Scholars have argued that informal workplace learning is embedded in interdependent practices that arise from the interaction between social practices and individual agency. The case studies provide insight into how workplace conditions .
Deficiency of Brain ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter A-1 Exacerbates Blood–Brain Barrier and White Matter Damage After Stroke

Background and Purpose— The ATP-binding cassette transporter A-1 (ABCA1) gene is a key target of the transcription factors liver X receptors. Liver X receptor activation has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in animal ischemic stroke models. Here, we tested the hypothesis that brain ABCA1 reduces blood–brain barrier (BBB) and white matter (WM) impairment in the ischemic brain after stroke. Methods— Adult brain-specific ABCA1–deficient (ABCA1−B/−B) and floxed-control (ABCA1fl/fl) mice were subjected to permanent distal middle cerebral artery occlusion and were euthanized 7 days after distal middle cerebral artery occlusion. Functional outcome, infarct volume, BBB leakage, and WM damage were analyzed. Results— Compared with ABCA1fl/fl mice, ABCA1−B/−B mice showed marginally (P=0.052) increased lesion volume but significantly increased BBB leakage and WM damage in the ischemic brain and more severe neurological deficits. Brain ABCA1–deficient mice exhibited increased the level of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and reduced the level of insulin-like growth factor 1 in the ischemic brain. BBB leakage was inversely correlated (r=−0.073; P<0.05) with aquaporin-4 expression. Reduction of insulin-like growth factor 1 and aquaporin-4, but upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression were also found in the primary astrocyte cultures derived from ABCA1−B/−B mice. Cultured primary cortical neurons derived from C57BL/6 wild-type mice with ABCA1−B/−B astrocyte–conditioned medium exhibited decreased neurite outgrowth compared with culture with ABCA1fl/fl astrocyte–conditioned medium. ABCA1−B/−B primary cortical neurons show significantly decreased neurite outgrowth, which was attenuated by insulin-like growth factor 1 treatment. Conclusions— We demonstrate that brain ABCA1 deficiency increases BBB leakage, WM/axonal damage, and functional deficits after stroke. Concomitant reduction of insulin-like growth factor 1 and upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 may contribute to brain ABCA1 deficiency–induced BBB and WM/axonal damage in the ischemic brain.
How to Design a Connectionist Holistic Parser

Connectionist holistic parsing offers a viable and attractive alternative to traditional algorithmic parsers. With exposure to a limited subset of grammatical sentences and their corresponding parse trees only, a holistic parser is capable of learning inductively the grammatical regularity underlying the training examples that affects the parsing process. In the past, various connectionist parsers have been proposed. Each approach had its own unique characteristics, and yet some techniques were shared in common. In this article, various dimensions underlying the design of a holistic parser are explored, including the methods to encode sentences and parse trees, whether a sentence and its corresponding parse tree share the same representation, the use of confluent inference, and the inclusion of phrases in the training set. Different combinations of these design factors give rise to different holistic parsers. In succeeding discussions, we scrutinize these design techniques and compare the performances of a few parsers on language parsing, including the confluent preorder parser, the backpropagation parsing network, the XERIC parser of Berg (1992), the modular connectionist parser of Sharkey and Sharkey (1992), Reilly's (1992) model, and their derivatives. Experiments are performed to evaluate their generalization capability and robustness. The results reveal a number of issues essential for building an effective holistic parser.
Changes in Expression of the DNA Repair Protein Complex DNA-Dependent Protein Kinase after Ischemia and Reperfusion

Reperfusion of ischemic tissue causes an immediate increase in DNA damage, including base lesions and strand breaks. Damage is reversible in surviving regions indicating that repair mechanisms are operable. DNA strand breaks are repaired by nonhomologous end joining in mammalian cells. This process requires DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), composed of heterodimeric Ku antigen and a 460,000 Da catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs). In this study, a rabbit spinal cord model of reversible ischemia was used to demonstrate the effect of acute CNS injury on the activity and expression of DNA-dependent protein kinase. The DNA-binding activity of Ku antigen, analyzed by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay, increased during reperfusion after a short ischemic insult (15 min of occlusion), from which the animals recover neurological function. After severe ischemic injury (60 min of occlusion) and reperfusion that results in permanent paraplegia, Ku DNA binding was reduced. Protein levels of the DNA-PK components—Ku70, Ku80, and DNA-PKcs—were monitored by immunoblotting. After 60 min of occlusion, the amount of DNA-PKcs and the enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) decreased with the same time course during reperfusion. Concurrently 150 and 120 kDa fragments were immunostained by an anti-DNA-PKcs monoclonal antibody. This antibody was shown to cross-react with α-fodrin breakdown products. The 120 kDa fodrin peptide is associated with caspase-3 activation during apoptosis. Both DNA-PKcs and PARP are also substrates for caspase-3-like activities. The results are consistent with a model in which after a short ischemic insult, DNA repair proteins such as DNA-PK are activated. After severe ischemic injury, DNA damage overwhelms repair capabilities, and cell death programs are initiated.
Transfer learning emotion manifestation across music and speech

In this article, we focus on time-continuous predictions of emotion in music and speech, and the transfer of learning from one domain to the other. First, we compare the use of Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN) with standard hidden units (Simple Recurrent Network - SRN) and Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM) blocks for intra-domain acoustic emotion recognition. We show that LSTM networks outperform SRN, and we explain, in average, 74%/59% (music) and 42%/29% (speech) of the variance in Arousal/Valence. Next, we evaluate whether cross-domain predictions of emotion are a viable option for acoustic emotion recognition, and we test the use of Transfer Learning (TL) for feature space adaptation. In average, our models are able to explain 70%/43% (music) and 28%/ll% (speech) of the variance in Arousal/Valence. Overall, results indicate a good cross-domain generalization performance, particularly for the model trained on speech and tested on music without pre-encoding of the input features. To our best knowledge, this is the first demonstration of cross-modal time-continuous predictions of emotion in the acoustic domain.
From Press to E-Media? The Transformation of an Organizational Field

The dynamics of field transformation is an under-investigated topic within organization theory. Drawing on the new institutional theory of organization, field transformation dynamics is examined, focusing on four change factors—external shocks, changes at the field periphery, ineffective isomorphic pressures and rearrangement of field boundaries. The impact of and interplay between these change factors is investigated within the business press field in Denmark and Italy over the last four decades. Four propositions are suggested and explored to analyse the relevance of change factors in the transformation of the business press field. The evidence from the Danish and Italian cases reveals how changes from the field periphery have minor impact on the field transformation, whereas external shocks, ineffective isomorphic pressures and boundary rearrangements play a major role. Based on these findings, a research agenda is suggested encompassing theory-driven attempts to define change factors and identify patterns of field change in cross-country comparisons in the same field.
Analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome sequences of the soybean rust pathogens Phakopsora pachyrhizi and P. meibomiae

The mitochondrial (mt) genomes of two soybean rust pathogens, Phakopsora pachyrhizi and P. meibomiae, have been sequenced. The mt genome of P. pachyrhizi is a circular 31 825-bp molecule with a mean GC content of 34.6%, while P. meibomiae possesses a 32 520-bp circular molecule with a mean GC content of 34.9%. Both mt genomes contain the genes encoding ATP synthase subunits 6, 8 and 9 (atp6, atp8 and atp9), cytochrome oxidase subunits I, II and III (cox1, cox2 and cox3), apocytochrome b (cob), reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunits (nad1, nad2, nad3, nad4, nad4L, nad5 and nad6), the large and small mt ribosomal RNA genes, one ORF coding for a ribosomal protein (rps3), and a set of 24 tRNA genes that recognize codons for all amino acids. The order of the protein-coding genes and tRNA is identical in the two Phakopsora species, and all genes are transcribed from the same DNA strand clockwise. Introns were identified in the cox1, cob and rnl genes of both species, with three of the introns having ORFs with motifs similar to the LAGLIDADG endonucleases of other fungi. Phylogenetic analysis of the 14 shared protein-coding genes agrees with commonly accepted fungal taxonomy.
Global synchronization of networked systems with bidirectional connections

This paper studies the global synchronization problem of networked systems with bidirectional connections. We introduce a virtual node to produce the reference trajectory which will track the average state of network and eventually run in an interesting domain. The concept of synchronous degree of vector filed over domain is presented to derive a simple synchronous criterion. This criterion clearly states the actions on synchronizability of the nodal self-dynamics and the coupling matrix of network, and can be directly extended to the case of switching topology. Examples and numerical simulations illustrate the efficacy of the developed results.
Full-vectorial finite difference for optical analysis of travelling wave electroabsorption modulators

A full-vectorial finite-difference-based optical mode solver is presented to analyze travelling wave electroabsorption modulator (TWEAM). The discontinuities of the normal components of the electric field across abrupt dielectric interfaces are considered in this analysis which in contrast is the limitations of scalar and semivectorial approximation method. The optical field distributions in a ridge-type traveling-wave coplanar waveguide (CPW) electroabsorption modulator for 1.55 mum operation are presented. The important parameters in the high-frequency TWEAM design such as optical effective index which defines optical velocity and transverse mode confinement factor are calculated. Then, the effects of microwave and optical properties of waveguides on modulation response of TWEAMs are analyzed.
The Popularity of Middle School Bullies

ABSTRACT This study investigated the peer popularity of middle school students involved in bullying. Bullying was assessed by peer report using the School Climate Bullying Survey (SCBS) and popularity was assessed through peer nominations from a student roster. In a sample of 379 middle school students, bullies were among the most popular students in the school, receiving more peer nominations on average (21) than students uninvolved in bullying (13) or victims (4). Comparisons of popular and non-popular bullies found few differences, except that (a) popular bullies were less likely to be victimized and (b) female bullies had a greater likelihood of being popular than their male counterparts.
Role of the Fyn kinase in calcium release during fertilization of the sea urchin egg.

Protein tyrosine kinase activity has been implicated as part of the signaling mechanism leading to the sperm-induced calcium transient following fertilization. In the present study, we have tested the role of the Fyn kinase in triggering the calcium transient by microinjecting domain-specific fusion proteins encoding regions of Fyn sequence as inhibitors of Fyn function in vivo. A fusion protein encoding the SH2 domain of Fyn caused an increase in the latent period between sperm-egg fusion and the beginning of the calcium transient and reduced the amplitude of the calcium signal. A fusion protein encoding the U + SH3 domains also caused a small increase in the latent period. Microscopic examination revealed that a large percentage of eggs injected with the U+SH3 or SH2 domains became polyspermic as a result of the delayed block to polyspermy. Affinity experiments demonstrated that the U+SH3 and SH2 domains of Fyn were capable of forming a stable complex with phospholipase Cgamma from the sea urchin egg. The results suggest that the Fyn kinase participates in the signaling events leading up to the calcium transient and may directly regulate phospholipase Cgamma activity at fertilization.
Effect of acute intraocular pressure elevation on the monkey optic nerve head as detected by spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE To determine whether acutely elevated IOP alters optic nerve head (ONH) structural parameters characterized in vivo using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS Five rhesus macaques were tested under isoflurane anesthesia. SD-OCT images of the ONH of both eyes were acquired 30 minutes after IOP was stabilized to 10 mm Hg and 60 minutes after stabilization to 45 mm Hg. The internal limiting membrane, Bruch's membrane/retinal pigment epithelium, neural canal opening (NCO), and anterior lamina cribrosa surface (ALCS) were delineated using custom software. Differences in SD-OCT structural parameters between the two IOP levels were assessed using generalized estimating equations. In six eyes of three animals, images were acquired after 10 minutes and 30 minutes of IOP stabilization to 10 mm Hg (control experiment). RESULTS Acute IOP elevation resulted in a reduction in prelaminar tissue thickness (mean, -47 μm; SD, 25 μm; P = 0.002), rim volume (-0.05 mm(3), 0.02 mm(3); P = 0.002), rim width (-30 μm, 7 μm; P = 0.002), and in an increase in NCO depth (38 μm, 15 μm; P = 0.002). An increase in ALCS depth was significant relative to peripheral Bruch's membrane (48 μm, 24 μm; P = 0.002) but not relative to the NCO. No significant parameter changes were detected in the control eyes. CONCLUSIONS Surface compliance changes in the normal monkey ONH primarily reflect prelaminar and peripapillary deformation. SD-OCT compliance testing will further our understanding of the effects of IOP on the ONH and help improve and validate numerical models of ONH biomechanics.
Generalized permutative representations of the Cuntz algebras . III — Generalization of chain type —

In our previous papers([10, 11]), we introduce a class of representations of the Cuntz algebra ON which is a generalization of permutative representations with cycle by [5, 7, 8]. As application, we have results about quantum field theory([1, 2, 3, 4]), fractal sets([14]) and dynamical systems([13, 15, 16, 17]). We continue to treat chain case in this paper. The remarkable results are that this class of representations is completely reducible. Furthermore the decomposition formula is possible to describe explicitly. In § 2, we prepare several notions and symbols. In § 3, we define a generalized permutative representation of ON with chain, review results in [10, 11] and show its existence. In § 4, the construction of the canonical basis of representation is shown. In § 5, we show the condition of uniqueness, irreducibility and equivalence of representations and describe decomposition formula. In § 6, we show states and spectrums of ON associated with generalized permutative representations. In § 7, we introduce several examples of them and applications in [17]. For example, the following application about states of O2 is obtained: Theorem 1.1. For ξ ∈ U(1) ≡ {c ∈ C : |c| = 1}, put a state ωξ of O2 by the following conditions:
Interactions of the Protein-tyrosine Phosphatase-α with the Focal Adhesion Targeting Domain of Focal Adhesion Kinase Are Involved in Interleukin-1 Signaling in Fibroblasts*

Background: Interleukin-1 signaling in fibroblasts is mediated through focal adhesions, which are enriched with tyrosine kinases and phosphatases. Results: The focal adhesion targeting domain of FAK interacts with protein-tyrosine phosphatase-α (PTPα) to restrict interleukin-induced Ca2+ release, ERK activation, and MMP-9 expression. Conclusion: Signaling through focal adhesions requires FAK and PTPα. Significance: FAK and PTPα cooperate to restrict IL-1 signaling. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) signaling in fibroblasts is mediated through focal adhesions, organelles that are enriched with adaptor and cytoskeletal proteins that regulate signal transduction. We examined interactions of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) with protein-tyrosine phosphatase-α (PTP-α) in IL-1 signaling. In wild type and FAK knock-out mouse embryonic fibroblasts, we found by immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, immunostaining, and gene silencing that FAK is required for IL-1-mediated sequestration of PTPα to focal adhesions. Immunoprecipitation and pulldown assays of purified proteins demonstrated a direct interaction between FAK and PTPα, which was dependent on the FAT domain of FAK and by an intact membrane-proximal phosphatase domain of PTPα. Recruitment of PTPα to focal adhesions, IL-1-induced Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum, ERK activation, and IL-6, MMP-3, and MMP-9 expression were all blocked in FAK knock-out fibroblasts. These processes were restored in FAK knock-out cells transfected with wild type FAK, FAT domain, and FRNK. Our data indicate that IL-1-induced signaling through focal adhesions involves interactions between the FAT domain of FAK and PTPα.
Elastic Inflatable Actuators for Soft Robotic Applications

The 20th century's robotic systems have been made from stiff materials, and much of the developments have pursued ever more accurate and dynamic robots, which thrive in industrial automation, and will probably continue to do so for decades to come. However, the 21st century's robotic legacy may very well become that of soft robots. This emerging domain is characterized by continuous soft structures that simultaneously fulfill the role of robotic link and actuator, where prime focus is on design and fabrication of robotic hardware instead of software control. These robots are anticipated to take a prominent role in delicate tasks where classic robots fail, such as in minimally invasive surgery, active prosthetics, and automation tasks involving delicate irregular objects. Central to the development of these robots is the fabrication of soft actuators. This article reviews a particularly attractive type of soft actuators that are driven by pressurized fluids. These actuators have recently gained traction on the one hand due to the technology push from better simulation tools and new manufacturing technologies, and on the other hand by a market pull from applications. This paper provides an overview of the different advanced soft actuator configurations, their design, fabrication, and applications.