Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TNFα-Induced Apoptosis and Integrin Switching in Human Extravillous Trophoblast Cell Line1

Abstract Differentiation of extravillous trophoblast cells (EVT) to an invasive phenotype plays an essential role in establishing and maintaining feto-placental organization during human pregnancy. A switch in integrin expression occurs during this differentiation and is accompanied by changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Alteration of EVT behavior is also modulated by cytokines. To investigate the molecular interactions involved in the EVT differentiation, we examined the effects of cytokines and ECM on the human EVT cell line, TCL1 cells. We found that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) induced apoptosis in TCL1 cells but not in JEG3 cells derived from choriocarcinoma while the addition of interleukin-1β, leukemia inhibitory factor, or transforming growth factor had no effect on TCL1 cells. This apoptosis was suppressed when TCL1 cells were seeded on fibronectin (Fn), collagen type I (C1), collagen type IV (C4), or laminin (Ln). Wortmannin, a specific PI3 kinase inhibitor, inhibited this suppression. Spreading assays and adhesion blocking assays indicated that TCL1 cells express integrin-α5 and -α6 and β1 and β4 subunits. Adhesion on Fn is mediated by α5β1, and adhesion on C1, C4, or Ln is mediated by α6β1 integrins. TNFα suppressed α6 integrin expression and enhanced α1 integrin expression in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, aggregation of β1 subunits on C4 was detected after addition of TNFα. Taken together, these results suggest that TNFα and ECM, through activation of PI3 kinase mediated by β1 integrin signaling, might collaboratively regulate differentiation of trophoblast cells through integrin signaling in establishing and maintaining successful pregnancy.
Methods for determining numbers of cells and synapses: A case for more uniform standards of review

Neuron and synapse numbers are important assays in neuroscience. These numbers are estimated by one of four methods: 1) profile counts, 2) assumption‐based methods, 3) serial reconstructions, and 4) stereological methods. The criteria for these methods are diverse. This creates a disparity in that some reviewers accept estimates from any of these methods, while others accept only specific methods. An equally important issue is the diversity of sampling strategies, since unbiased estimates of neuronal or synaptic numbers are contingent upon both counting and sampling techniques. The purpose of this commentary is to institute a dialog that will lead to a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the above methods, and to propose guidelines that should lead to more uniform and thus fairer judging of the studies that provide estimates of neuron or synapse numbers. In addition, adoption of more uniform standards for obtaining unbiased numerical estimates should result in the generation of an unbiased database that will be of considerable use in future studies. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
45  Gb/s PAM4 transmission based on VCSEL with light injection and optoelectronic feedback techniques.

A 45 Gb/s four-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM4) transmission based on an 850 nm/7.4 GHz vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) with light injection and optoelectronic feedback techniques is proposed. Experimental results show that such an 850 nm/7.4 GHz VCSEL with light injection and optoelectronic feedback techniques is powerful enough for a 45 Gb/s PAM4 signal transmission. To the best of our knowledge, this Letter is the first to adopt a VCSEL transmitter with light injection and optoelectronic feedback techniques in a 45 Gb/s PAM4 transmission system. Good bit error rate performance and three independent clear eye diagrams are achieved over a 200-m OM4 multimode fiber transport. This proposed 45 Gb/s PAM4 VCSEL-based transmission system has great potential for providing effective bandwidth in short-reach optical data communications.
Olfaction and neurodegeneration in HD

Olfactory deficits are present in many neurodegenerative diseases. It is not known, however, whether the olfactory deterioration is caused by a common neural deficit, or whether it is unique to each disease. We report here the effect of degeneration of different brain structures on olfactory impairment in Huntington's disease as determined by voxel-based morphometric analysis. The structures with the greatest effect on the olfactory deficit were the entorhinal cortex, the thalamus, the parahippocampal gyrus, and the caudate nucleus. Although various neuroimaging studies have shown previously that the caudate nucleus is involved in olfaction, this is the first demonstration that it is related to an olfactory dysfunction in a neurodegenerative disease. The results are discussed in relation to other neurodegenerative diseases.
An aggregating strategy for shifting experts in discrete sequence prediction

We study how we can adapt a predictor to a non-stationary environment with advises from multiple experts. We study the problem under complete feedback when the best expert changes over time from a decision theoretic point of view. Proposed algorithm is based on popular exponential weighing method with exponential discounting. We provide theoretical results bounding regret under the exponential discounting setting. Upper bound on regret is derived for finite time horizon problem. Numerical verification of different real life datasets are provided to show the utility of proposed algorithm.
Enhanced visibility of maneuvering targets for high-frequency over-the-horizon radar

This paper describes a processing algorithm based on high-order ambiguity function (HAF) that increases visibility of maneuvering targets in HF over-the-horizon radar (OTHR). For the presence of the echo backscattered by the target that has significantly varying radial velocity within a coherent integration time (CIT), it is difficult for traditional coherent processing to centralize energy and peaks in Doppler spectrum. Due to the polynomial phase property in the Doppler spectrum of maneuvering target radar echo, HAF is introduced as an efficient parametric tool to estimate the parameters of the polynomial-phase model. And a compensation process follows to eliminate the coherent integration loss (CIL) caused by irregular motion of target. Finally, this method is generalized to the case of multiple maneuvering targets. The corresponding information of acceleration and higher-order radial components after motion decomposition can be extracted directly and is benefit for consequent missions, such as detection and tracking. The experimental results are given to illuminate the validity and efficiency of the proposed method.
Towards Pose Estimation of 3 D Objects in Monocular Images via Keypoint Detection

The availability of a large number of crowdsourced CAD models of objects can be leveraged to solve the problem of pose estimation of 3D objects in monocular images. Convolutional Neural Networks(CNNs) perform to the best of their capability when they have been trained on a large amount of labeled data. We explore how 3D models can be used to generate lots of training images and annotations in the form of keypoint locations. We propose to use CNNs to first detect keypoints in rendered images. Once, we have a correspondence between 2D points in a test image and the 3D points on the CAD model, we can align 3D models in 2D images.
Bigamie chez les Assyriens du début du IIe millénaire

Au debut du IIe millenaire av. J.-C. , les marchands assyriens, depuis Assur, ont organise des echanges commerciaux avec l'Asie Mineure ou certains d'entre eux se sont installes. Absents de leur foyer pendant de longues periodes, ils contractent parfois un second mariage dans le comptoir commercial de Kanis, en Anatolie centrale. Ce second mariage n'est toutefois possible que dans le respect de deux regles fondamentales : un marchand ne peut pas avoir deux epouses de meme statut et il ne peut pas non plus avoir deux femmes au meme endroit. Quelques contrats definissent les modalites du second mariage. Plusieurs lettres precisent certains aspects du mariage paleo-assyrien et la condition des femmes de marchands juridiquement bigames.
Rank-based tempo-spatial clustering: A framework for rapid outbreak detection using single or multiple data streams

In the recent decades, algorithms for disease outbreak detection have become one of the main interests of public health practitioners to identify and localize an outbreak as early as possible in order to warrant further public health response before a pandemic develops. Today’s increased threat of biological warfare and terrorism provide an even stronger impetus to develop methods for outbreak detection based on symptoms as well as definitive laboratory diagnoses. In this dissertation work, I explore the problems of rapid disease outbreak detection using both spatial and temporal information. I develop a framework of non-parameterized algorithms which search for patterns of disease outbreak in spatial sub-regions of the monitored region within a certain period. Compared to the current existing spatial or tempo-spatial algorithm, the algorithms in this framework provide a methodology for fast searching of either univariate data set or multivariate data set. It first measures which study area is more likely to have an outbreak occurring given the baseline data and currently observed data. Then it applies a greedy searching mechanism to look for clusters with high posterior probabilities given the risk measurement for each unit area as heuristic. I also explore the performance of the proposed algorithms. From the perspective of predictive modeling, I adopt a Gamma-Poisson (GP) model to compute the probability of having an outbreak in each cluster when analyzing univariate data. I build a multinomial generalized Dirichlet (MGD) model to identify outbreak clusters from multivariate data which include the OTC data streams collected by the national retail data monitor (NRDM) and the ED data streams collected by the RODS system. Key contributions of this dissertation include 1) it introduces a rank-based tempo-spatial clustering algorithm, RSC, by utilizing greedy searching and Bayesian GP model for disease outbreak detection with comparable detection timeliness, cluster positive prediction value (PPV) and improved running time; 2) it proposes a multivariate extension of RSC (MRSC) which applies MGD model. The evaluation demonstrated the advantage that MGD model can effectively suppress the false alarms caused by elevated signals that are non-disease relevant and occur in all the monitored data streams.
Islet lymphocyte subsets in male and female NOD mice are qualitatively similar but quantitatively distinct

Islet-infiltrating lymphocytes of individual male and female non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice were examined with the purpose of determining the differences that lead to a predominance of diabetes in female versus males NOD mice. When normalized for the amount of islet lymphocytes recovered, the infiltrating lymphocytes of female NOD mice were indistinguishable from those of male NOD mice. The only observed difference was that islet inflammation progressed at an increased rate in female compared to male NOD mice. There was no difference in the composition of islet infiltrates in male and female NOD mice. Unexpectedly, the ratio of CD4+:CD8+ T cells was tightly controlled in the islets throughout diabetogenesis. The frequency of IL-4+ CD4+ T cells started high but quickly fell to 3% of the population that was maintained with increasing inflammation. A significant portion of the CD8+ T cells were islet-specific glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein specific in both male and female NOD mice and this population was antigen experienced and increased at high levels of islet inflammation. Surprisingly, a large pool of antigen inexperienced naïve T cells was detected in the islets. We conclude the underlying immunological processes in both male and female NOD mice are similar while the rates differ and the presence of naïve T cell in the islets may contribute to epitope spreading.
Effects of Gualou Guizhi Decoction Aqueous Extract on Axonal Regeneration in Organotypic Cortical Slice Culture after Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation

Gualou Guizhi decoction (GLGZD) is effective for the clinical treatment of limb spasms caused by ischemic stroke, but its underlying mechanism is unclear. Propidium iodide (PI) fluorescence staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL), immunohistochemistry, western blot, and real-time qPCR were used to observe the axonal regeneration and neuroprotective effects of GLGZD aqueous extract on organotypic cortical slices exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and further elucidate the potential mechanisms. Compared with the OGD group, the GLGZD aqueous extract decreased the red PI fluorescence intensity; inhibited neuronal apoptosis; improved the growth of slice axons; upregulated the protein expression of tau and growth-associated protein-43; and decreased protein and mRNA expression of neurite outgrowth inhibitor protein-A (Nogo-A), Nogo receptor 1 (NgR1), ras homolog gene family A (RhoA), rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase (ROCK), and phosphorylation of collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2). Our study found that GLGZD had a strong neuroprotective effect on brain slices after OGD injury. GLGZD plays a vital role in promoting axonal remodeling and functional remodeling, which may be related to regulation of the expression of Nogo-A and its receptor NgR1, near the injured axons, inhibition of the Rho-ROCK pathway, and reduction of CRMP2 phosphorylation.
Cutting Edge: Polymorphisms in the ICOS Promoter Region Are Associated with Allergic Sensitization and Th2 Cytokine Production 1

The establishment of ICOS as an important regulator of Th2 development and effector function makes the ICOS locus an attractive candidate for Th2-mediated diseases, such as asthma and allergy. In evaluation of this candidate locus in humans, we identified 11 variants and determined that two in the putative promoter region are significantly associated with allergic sensitization and serum IgE levels. In addition, cultures of activated PBMCs from individuals homozygous for the associated polymorphisms produced increased levels of the Th2 cytokines, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, as well as TNF-α compared with controls. One of the polymorphisms, −1413G/A, demonstrated differential NF-κB binding in mobility shift analysis, suggesting that this polymorphism has functional consequences. Overall, these data demonstrate that ICOS is a susceptibility gene for allergic sensitization, perhaps through the promotion of Th2 differentiation.
[National survey of maternal mortality of 2010 : data of Tunisia].

BACKGROUND Tunisia has investigated maternal mortality in 2010 to determine maternal mortality ratio (MMR) nationally and regionally, in addition to the indentifying main causes of this mortality. OBJECTIVES Describe methodology of this study and its principal findings in the region of Tunis and discuss the national maternal mortality strategy. METHODOLOGY This is a Ramos study (Reproductive Ag Mortality Studies) that consists on identifying maternal deaths from reproductive age group (RAG) women deaths. We started by the a rehearsal and targeting of (RAG) women deaths , then we investigated a next of kin person of the decedent women by verbal autopsy, thereafter we identified maternal deaths to be confidentially investigated to judge the potential avoidability of the death. The study took place in 2010, it was carried out by 5 couples of investigators supervised by a coordinator doctor. RESULTS A total of 200 deaths of (RAG) women were found in Tunis, 7 deaths among them were maternal deaths, that corresponds to an MMR of 41/100000 live births. The mean age of the deceased women was 35 years. The main causes of maternal deaths were hemorrhage (3/7), thrombo-embolic diseases (2 times for7) and HELLP syndrome (1/7). Four of a total of 4 deaths (3 deaths were not marked), were avoidable. The majority of late women had a satisfying educational level, 4 of 7 had financial autonomy. All of them had pregnancy monitoring, 5 times of 7 in university hospital. All the childbirth were medically assisted, Caesarean section was carried in 6 of 7 cases. Nationally, the MMR was estimated to 44.8/100 000 LB, that to say a decrease of 35% compared to 1993. The decrease was significant for all the regions of the country, except the great Tunis where opposite trend was recorded. This could be more likely related to quality of care rather than socio-economic conditions seeing that social determinants in Tunis are favorable. In fact, the Tunisian maternal mortality strategy had essentially focused on the monitoring system of maternal deaths rather than the quality of care improvement interventions, results were disappointing due to the lack of institutional engagement. The achievement of the OMD5 objectives is compromised, due to socio-economic constraint especially in certain regions, poor governance and lack of engagement of ministry of health in reducing maternal mortality. CONCLUSION Tunisian maternal mortality strategy should be revised and adapted to regional context, also should includ multisectoral interventions. Priority would be given to quality of care improvement, by launching the experience of care setting accreditation in one hand, and in the other improving partnership between different levels of care.
Web Services Communication within the PROGRESS Grid-Portal Environment

The grid is the next generation computing infrastructure able to handle the growing requirements for computing power. Portals are anticipated as the user’s access point to these resources. The whole gridportal infrastructure constitutes a distributed environment in which efficient and flexible communication manners play a key role. The emerging web services technology has been chosen as the best solution for organizing communication in grid-portal systems. In this paper we would like to present the PROGRESS grid-portal environment in which we implemented web services communication between distributed modules of the system.
Summer 5-26-2017 A Review of Researches on Blockchain

Analyzing 242 articles related to the study of blockchain which were published in China and abroad from 2014 to 2016, and from the aspects of literature sources, research subjects, research methods and western countries, the basic frame of blockchain research classification is put forward. Summarize the current blockchain technology progress, research limitations and future development trends. The research shows that the domestic research on the blockchain is more decentralized, non-systematic, and has not reached a certain research depth. What’s more, it is lack of quantitative analysis. Digital currency, Internet finance, and the risk of blockchain technology research will be the focus of future research.
First observations of iodine oxide from space

We present retrievals of IO total columns from the Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Chartography (SCIAMACHY) satellite instrument. We analyze data for October 2005 in the polar regions to demonstrate for the first time the capability to measure IO column abundances from space. During the period of analysis (i.e. Southern Hemisphere springtime), enhanced IO vertical columns over 3 × 1013 molecules cm−2 are observed around coastal Antarctica; by contrast during that time in the Artic region IO is consistently below the calculated instrumental detection limit for individual radiance spectra (2–4 × 1012 molecules cm−2 for slant columns). The levels reported here are in reasonably good agreement with previous ground‐based measurements at coastal Antarctica. These results also demonstrate that IO is widespread over sea‐ice covered areas in the Southern Ocean. The occurrence of elevated IO and its hitherto unrecognized spatial distribution suggest an efficient iodine activation mechanism at a synoptic scale over coastal Antarctica.
Methodological Challenges of Symptom Management Research in Recurrent Cancer

Completion of first-line treatment is an important milestone for adults newly diagnosed with cancer. However, for many adults, the cancer experience of the 21st century does not end with the completion of initial treatment. Decreased functional status, distressing symptoms, and residual effects of treatment impact the daily lives of cancer survivors. Cancer has evolved into a chronic illness, in which a disease-free period may be followed by recurrent cancer. Researchers face challenges in the design and analysis of symptom management studies in recurrent disease. Residual effects can preclude a true "baseline" measurement of the symptom(s) of interest to the researcher. In addition, as cancer survivors age, they are more likely to have comorbid conditions that increase the likelihood of developing toxicities and residual symptoms that are specific to cancer treatments. Research studies of cancer-related symptoms in adults with recurrent disease pose many methodological challenges. Selection of appropriate study design, sample inclusion and exclusion criteria, measures of comorbidity and symptoms, and advanced analysis techniques are among the strategies proposed to address these methodological challenges.
Diagnosis for Nonaka: The critique of SECI theory

SECI theory has been described as one of the best known and most influential models in knowledge management literature. Based on the literature review, this paper focuses on the limitations of the theory especially in the context of intra-organizational: Neglect the external knowledge input; Subjective and Static definition of knowledge; Fails to explain the dynamic forces of knowledge conversion; Not reveal the intrinsic link between the knowledge form and knowledge value. Finally, the possible theoretical implications, and future KM research perspectives were indicated.
Australasian Accounting, Business and Finance Journal Australasian Accounting, Business and Finance Journal Modelling the Price of Unleaded Petrol in Australia’s Capital Cities Modelling the Price of Unleaded Petrol in Australia’s Capital Cities

Abstract This paper examines the long-run and short-run determinants of unleaded petrol price in Australia’s capital cities using monthly data to find out whether prices respond asymmetrically to external shocks. Based on the cointegration test results and the estimated asymmetric short-run dynamic models, it is found that: (1) in the long-run petrol prices are mainly determined by Tapis crude oil and Singapore petrol prices; (2) there is some evidence of asymmetric price adjustments in the short-run since petrol price increases have been mostly passed on to the consumer faster than price decreases in four capital cities. More specifically, this paper provides convincing evidence in support of asymmetric price adjustments and the “rockets-and-feathers hypothesis” in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. One can thus argue that there are a significant degree of market inefficiency and/or collusion, requiring a closer government price monitoring and scrutiny. Abstract This paper examines the long-run and short-run determinants of unleaded petrol price in Australia’s capital cities using monthly data to find out whether prices respond asymmetrically to external shocks. Based on the cointegration test results and the estimated asymmetric short-run dynamic models, it is found that: (1) in the long-run petrol prices are mainly determined by Tapis crude oil and Singapore petrol prices; (2) there is some evidence of asymmetric price adjustments in the short-run since petrol price increases have been mostly passed on to the consumer faster than price decreases in four capital cities. More specifically, this paper provides convincing evidence in support of asymmetric price adjustments and the “rockets-and-feathers hypothesis” in Adelaide, Brisbane Melbourne and Sydney. One can thus argue that there are a significant degree of market inefficiency and/or collusion, requiring a closer government price monitoring and scrutiny.