Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ISLET1-Dependent β-Catenin/Hedgehog Signaling Is Required for Outgrowth of the Lower Jaw

ABSTRACT Mandibular patterning information initially resides in the epithelium during development. However, how transcriptional regulation of epithelium-derived signaling controls morphogenesis of the mandible remains elusive. Using ShhCre to target the mandibular epithelium, we ablated transcription factor Islet1, resulting in a distally truncated mandible via unbalanced cell apoptosis and decreased cell proliferation in the distal mesenchyme. Loss of Islet1 caused a lack of cartilage at the distal tip, leading the fusion of two growing mandibular elements surrounding the rostral process of Meckel's cartilage. Loss of Islet1 results in dysregulation of mesenchymal genes important for morphogenesis of the mandibular arch. We revealed that Islet1 is required for the activation of epithelial β-catenin signaling via repression of Wnt antagonists. Reactivation of β-catenin in the epithelium of the Islet1 mutant rescued mandibular morphogenesis through sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling to the mesenchyme. Furthermore, overexpression of a transgenic hedgehog ligand in the epithelium also partially restored outgrowth of the mandible. These data reveal functional roles for an ISLET1-dependent network integrating β-catenin/SHH signals in mesenchymal cell survival and outgrowth of the mandible during development.
Prediction of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation using recurrence plot-based features of the RR-interval signal

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and increases the risk of stroke. Predicting the onset of paroxysmal AF (PAF), based on noninvasive techniques, is clinically important and can be invaluable in order to avoid useless therapeutic intervention and to minimize risks for the patients. In this paper, we propose an effective PAF predictor which is based on the analysis of the RR-interval signal. This method consists of three steps: preprocessing, feature extraction and classification. In the first step, the QRS complexes are detected from the electrocardiogram (ECG) signal and then the RR-interval signal is extracted. In the next step, the recurrence plot (RP) of the RR-interval signal is obtained and five statistically significant features are extracted to characterize the basic patterns of the RP. These features consist of the recurrence rate, length of longest diagonal segments (Lmax ), average length of the diagonal lines (Lmean), entropy, and trapping time. Recurrence quantification analysis can reveal subtle aspects of dynamics not easily appreciated by other methods and exhibits characteristic patterns which are caused by the typical dynamical behavior. In the final step, a support vector machine (SVM)-based classifier is used for PAF prediction. The performance of the proposed method in prediction of PAF episodes was evaluated using the Atrial Fibrillation Prediction Database (AFPDB) which consists of both 30 min ECG recordings that end just prior to the onset of PAF and segments at least 45 min distant from any PAF events. The obtained sensitivity, specificity, positive predictivity and negative predictivity were 97%, 100%, 100%, and 96%, respectively. The proposed methodology presents better results than other existing approaches.
Splitting of a Prevalent Mycobacterium bovis Spoligotype by Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat Typing Reveals High Heterogeneity in an Evolving Clonal Group

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium bovis populations in countries with persistent bovine tuberculosis usually show a prevalent spoligotype with a wide geographical distribution. This study applied mycobacterial interspersed repetitive-unit–variable-number tandem-repeat (MIRU-VNTR) typing to a random panel of 115 M. bovis isolates that are representative of the most frequent spoligotype in the Iberian Peninsula, SB0121. VNTR typing targeted nine loci: ETR-A (alias VNTR2165), ETR-B (VNTR2461), ETR-D (MIRU4, VNTR580), ETR-E (MIRU31, VNTR3192), MIRU26 (VNTR2996), QUB11a (VNTR2163a), QUB11b (VNTR2163b), QUB26 (VNTR4052), and QUB3232 (VNTR3232). We found a high degree of diversity among the studied isolates (discriminatory index [D] = 0.9856), which were split into 65 different MIRU-VNTR types. An alternative short-format MIRU-VNTR typing targeting only the four loci with the highest variability values was found to offer an equivalent discriminatory index. Minimum spanning trees using the MIRU-VNTR data showed the hypothetical evolution of an apparent clonal group. MIRU-VNTR analysis was also applied to the isolates of 176 animals from 15 farms infected by M. bovis SB0121; in 10 farms, the analysis revealed the coexistence of two to five different MIRU types differing in one to six loci, which highlights the frequency of undetected heterogeneity.
Qiong Wang Eye Location Based on Structure Feature for Driver Fatigue Monitoring T

One of the most important problems to solve is eye location for a driver fatigue monitoring system. This paper presents an efficient method to achieve fast and accurate eye location in grey level images obtained in the real-word driving conditions. The structure of eye region is used as a robust cue to find possible eye pairs. Candidates of eye pair at different scales are selected by finding regions which roughly match with the binary eye pair template. To obtain real one, all the eye pair candidates are then verified by using support vector machines. Finally, eyes are precisely located by using binary vertical projection and eye classifier in eye pair images. The proposed method is robust to deal with illumination changes, moderate rotations, glasses wearing and different eye states. Experimental results demonstrate its effectiveness. Keywords—eye location, structure feature, driver fatigue monitoring
Perimembrane Localization of the Estrogen Receptor α Protein in Neuronal Processes of Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

There is clear evidence of rapid, nongenomic responses to estrogen in a variety of neuronal model systems. To address the question of whether some of these rapid estrogen signals might be transduced by the classical estrogen receptor (ER) α or a closely related protein in nontransformed neurons, we undertook the present study using isolated fetal rat hippocampal neurons. Several antibodies developed to detect ERα were tested in this system and showed positive membrane staining in nonpermeabilized neurons. MC-20, an affinity purified anti-ERα, rabbit polyclonal IgG antibody which does not recognize ERβ was selected to carry out the majority of the experiments. When permeabilized, the hippocampal neurons exhibited low levels of nuclear staining for ERα, but abundant labeling for ERα throughout the entire cell including the neurites. In addition to traditional immunocytochemistry controls, incubation of neurons for 24 h in the presence of 10 µM antisense oligonucleotide directed against the translation start site of ERα reduced ERα immunoreactivity throughout the neurons providing further evidence that the immunostaining was specific for ERα. Confocal and conventional microscopy demonstrated that the antigen was predominately extranuclear and localization of ERα in the neurites suggests that the receptor is in close proximity to the plasma membrane. This localization is consistent with a role for ERα as a transducer of rapid, nongenomic estrogen responses in hippocampal neurons.
Implementation of a start-up scheme for single-stage full-bridge boost PFC converter

A start up method is presented, which is suitable for a single-phase single-stage full-bridge boost PFC converter with multiple-level clamp circuits. In this converter, the flyback inductors are added to the boost inductor and the coupled inductor respectively. When starting, it operates in flyback mode, and the output capacitor is charged by the adding inductors. Operational principle of this converter in starting state is analyzed, and design principles of the key parameters are given according to the features in steady state. Finally, based on a laboratory-made prototype of the converter with five-level clamp circuit, the presented method is verified.
Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Rheumatic diseases

The state of psycho-emotional sphere of patients is off paramount importance for many diseases of internal organs. Recent years, particular attention is drawn to the study of this problem. A study of anxiety and depression in patients with rheumatic diseases was conducted on the basis of Outpatients Department in 137 patients with rheumatic diseases; among them were 79female and 58 male, aged 18 to 77 years. Our research showed that respondents of patients with rheumatic diseases depression was noted in 57%, anxiety – in 68%, while anxiety and depression in 45% of patients. Given the role of anxiety and depression during the rheumatic diseases, in its burdens should be paid special attention to physicians rheumatologists on this fact, what remains in addition to the attention of doctors.
Cellular and sub-cellular responses to UVA in relation to carcinogenesis

Purpose: UVA radiation (315–400 nm) contributes to skin aging and carcinogenesis. The aim of this review is to consider the mechanisms that underlie UVA-induced cellular damage, how this damage may be prevented or repaired and the signal transduction processes that are elicited in response to it. Results: Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light is well-established as the causative factor in skin cancer. Until recently, most work on the mechanisms that underlie skin carcinogenesis focused on shorter wavelength UVB radiation (280–315 nm), however in recent years there has been increased interest in the contribution made by UVA. UVA is able to cause a range of damage to cellular biomolecules including lipid peroxidation, oxidized protein and DNA damage, such as 8-oxoguanine and cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers. Such damage is strongly implicated in both cell death and malignant transformation and cells have a number of mechanisms in place to mitigate the effects of UVA exposure, including antioxidants, DNA repair, and stress signalling pathways. Conclusions: The past decade has seen a surge of interest in the biological effects of UVA exposure as its significance to the process of photo-carcinogenesis has become increasingly evident. However, unpicking the unique complexity of the cellular response to UVA, which is only now becoming apparent, will be a major challenge for the field of photobiology in the 21st century.
Alcohol-Induced miR-27a Regulates Differentiation and M2 Macrophage Polarization of Normal Human Monocytes

Alcohol abuse is a leading cause of liver disease characterized by liver inflammation, fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, or liver cirrhosis. Immunomodulatory effects of alcohol on monocytes and macrophages contribute to alcoholic liver disease. Alcohol use, an independent risk factor for progression of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection–mediated liver disease, impairs host defense and alters cytokine production and monocyte/macrophage activation. We hypothesized that alcohol and HCV have synergistic effects on the phenotype and function of monocytes. Our data show that acute alcohol binge drinking in healthy volunteers results in increased frequency of CD16+ and CD68+ and M2-type (CD206+, dendritic cell [DC]-SIGN+–expressing and IL-10–secreting) circulating CD14+ monocytes. Expression of HCV-induced CD68 and M2 markers (CD206 and DC-SIGN) in normal monocytes was further enhanced in the presence of alcohol. The levels of microRNA (miR)-27a was significantly upregulated in monocytes cultured in the presence of alcohol or alcohol and HCV as compared with HCV alone. The functional role of miR-27a in macrophage polarization was demonstrated by transfecting monocytes with an miR-27a inhibitor that resulted in reduced alcohol- and HCV- mediated monocyte activation (CD14 and CD68 expression), polarization (CD206 and DC-SIGN expression), and IL-10 secretion. Overexpression of miR-27a in monocytes enhanced IL-10 secretion via activation of the ERK signaling pathway. We found that miR-27a promoted ERK phosphorylation by downregulating the expression of ERK inhibitor sprouty2 in monocytes. Thus, we identified that sprouty2 is a target of miR-27a in human monocytes. In summary, our study demonstrates the regulatory role of miR-27a in alcohol-induced monocyte activation and polarization.
Primary Closure Versus Biliary Drainage After Laparoscopic Choledocotomy: Results of a Comparative Study

Introduction: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and short-term outcomes of primary closure (PC) and biliary drainage (BD), after the laparoscopic treatment of common bile duct (CBD) stones by choledocotomy. Patients and Methods: Between January 2009 and December 2014, 102 patients underwent laparoscopy for lithiasis of the CBD. Intraoperative cholangiography was systematically performed, followed by choledocoscopy, depending on the size of the CBD. Results: Eighty (78.4%) of the 102 patients underwent laparoscopic stone extraction by choledocotomy, and were assigned to 2 groups: PC (group A, n=25), and BD (group B, n=55). Groups A and B were comparable in terms of age (62.3±26.1 vs. 66.0±19.3 y; P=0.53), the percentage of women (72.0% vs. 76.4%; P=0.68), body mass index (25.9±6.1 vs. 26.9±4.4 kg/m2; P=0.52), and CBD diameter (11.6±3.1 vs. 12.1±3.8 mm; P=0.59). The mean durations of surgery and of hospital stay were significantly shorter in group A: 179±38 versus 211±57 minutes (P=0.02) and 5.4±2.0 versus 8.4±3.2 days (P<0.001). Groups A and B were comparable in terms of serious postoperative morbidity (Clavien-Dindo scores of 3, 4, and 5): 2 versus 4 (P=1). In group B, bile drain removal was complicated by choleperitoneum in 3 cases. Conclusions: With shorter durations of surgery and hospital stay, equivalent postoperative morbi-mortality, and an absence of the specific morbidity due to bile drainage, PC may be considered a safe and feasible option for the laparoscopic management of CBD stones by choledocotomy.
Fish Diversity and Abundance in Relation to Interannual and Lake-Specific Variation in Abiotic Characteristics of Floodplain Lakes of the Lower Kaskaskia River, Illinois

Abstract The importance of floodplain lakes to tropical river systems is well established, but little is known about the function of these habitats in temperate river systems. We examined fish diversity, abundance, and reproduction within six oxbow lakes of the Kaskaskia River, Illinois, over 5 years and their relationship to 11 abiotic environmental variables. The lakes were hydrologically dynamic within and among years, varying in the time connected with the main stem (0-22 weeks/year) and the frequency of low (<0.3-m) water (0-23 weeks/year). Differences were found both among years and lakes. All measured limnological variables (dissolved oxygen, Secchi disk depth, conductivity, and temperature) varied temporally, but only conductivity and Secchi disk depth varied among lakes. Fish species differed among lakes and between adjacent lotic habitats, and species-specific abundance varied among years, seasons, and lakes. This variation was related to several environmental variables. Diversity was positively.
Two faces of microbiota in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases: triggers and drugs

The prevalence of chronic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, or rheumatic diseases, is steadily increasing in developed countries. This increase is probably accelerated by environmental factors, such as decrease in infectious burden or changes in food processing. These lifestyle changes then strongly influence the strongest stimulus for the immune system – commensal microbiota. Despite the differences in the affected organ, the immune‐mediated diseases have one or more factors in common – microbe either as a trigger or as a protector, mucosal barrier dysfunction, and dysregulation of the immune system. The core questions, which microbes are involved and how these diseases can be cured or even prevented still remain unsolved. Powered by the recent progress in technology, by new insights into the function of immune system, by advances in microbiome research, and extended use of gnotobiological techniques, these mechanisms are now being unravelled and new therapeutic possibilities are emerging. To secure their niche, the microbes devised many ingenious ways, how to dampen the inflammation. Nonpathogenic microorganisms or microbial components isolated from probiotic, commensal or even pathogenic microbes could be, therefore, used to interfere with the pathogenetic mechanisms of immune‐mediated diseases.
Non-homogeneous hidden Markov model approach for load balancing in web server farms (NH2M2-WSF)

The web server farm usually consists of many servers. These servers are in the different states at the different period of time. The process of load balancing plays a vital role in the web server farm. The objective of this paper to balance the load equally among the servers present in the web server farm. To relocate the load among the servers, each server's state should be known. The hidden markov model is used to know the states of the server theoretically and these states are hidden from the clients. The markov chain is used for the transition of the server's state. It defines the each server's state and the next corresponding state. Thus a theoretical model is derived for various states of the server and load balancing process is carried on.
Tsg101 Is Essential for Cell Growth, Proliferation, and Cell Survival of Embryonic and Adult Tissues

ABSTRACT Tumor susceptibility gene 101 (Tsg101) was identified in a random mutagenesis screen for potential tumor suppressors in NIH 3T3 cells. Altered transcripts of this gene have been detected in sporadic breast cancers and many other human malignancies. However, the involvement of this gene in neoplastic transformation and tumorigenesis is still elusive. Using gene targeting, we generated genetically engineered mice with a floxed allele of Tsg101. We investigated essential functions of this gene in vivo and examined whether the loss of function of Tsg101 results in tumorigenesis. Conventional knockout mice were generated through Cre-mediated excision of the first coding exon in the germ line of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-Cre transgenic mice. The complete ablation of Tsg101 in the developing embryo resulted in death around implantation. In contrast, mammary gland-specific knockout mice developed normally but were unable to nurse their young as a result of impaired mammogenesis during late pregnancy. Neither heterozygous null mutants nor somatic knockout mice developed mammary tumors after a latency of 2 years. The Cre-mediated deletion of Tsg101 in primary cells demonstrated that this gene is essential for the growth, proliferation, and survival of mammary epithelial cells. In summary, our results suggest that Tsg101 is required for normal cell function of embryonic and adult tissues but that this gene is not a tumor suppressor for sporadic forms of breast cancer.
Adaptive Adjustment of the Generalization-Discrimination Balance in Larval Drosophila

Abstract Learnt predictive behavior faces a dilemma: predictive stimuli will never ‘replay’ exactly as during the learning event, requiring generalization. In turn, minute differences can become meaningful, prompting discrimination. To provide a study case for an adaptive adjustment of this generalization-discrimination balance, the authors ask whether Drosophila melanogaster larvae are able to either generalize or discriminate between two odors (1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanol), depending on the task. The authors find that after discriminatively rewarding one but not the other odor, larvae show conditioned preference for the rewarded odor. On the other hand, no odor specificity is observed after nondiscriminative training, even if the test involves a choice between both odors. Thus, for this odor pair at least, discrimination training is required to confer an odor-specific memory trace. This requires that there is at least some difference in processing between the two odors already at the beginning of the training. Therefore, as a default, there is a small yet salient difference in processing between 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanol; this difference is ignored after nondiscriminative training (generalization), whereas it is accentuated by odor-specific reinforcement (discrimination). Given that, as the authors show, both faculties are lost in anosmic Or83b1 mutants, this indicates an adaptive adjustment of the generalization-discrimination balance in larval Drosophila, taking place downstream of Or83b-expressing sensory neurons.
Deblurring of Document Images Based on Sparse Representations Enhanced by Non-local Means

Blur is one of the most difficult distortions in camera captured documents. It degrades the visual quality of an image, and makes it difficult to read whether by a human or OCR systems. This paper presents a novel non-blind deblurring method that combines the well known effective techniques of sparse representations and non-local image similarity. The presented problem formulation enables the use of standard sparse coding methods for solving sparse coding-based deblurring when enhanced by a non-local means prior. The method has been tested on both synthetic and real document images degraded with a variety of blur kernels. The resulting deblurred images have high quality in terms of both signal-to-noise ratio and OCR accuracy.
Adverse Events Associated With the Use of Cyclosporine in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND:Intravenous cyclosporine (IV CsA) is an effective therapy for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, data regarding its adverse events in these patients are limited.METHODS:A retrospective chart review of the initial 111 consecutive patients with IBD treated with IV CsA followed by a predetermined duration of oral therapy.RESULTS:One hundred eleven patients (64 UC, 47 CD; mean age 33 yr, range 16–68) received IV CsA at 4 mg/kg/day, then oral CsA at 8 mg/kg/day, with dose adjustment based on serum creatinine. The mean treatment duration was 9.3 months (range 1 wk to 34 months). Major adverse events occurred in 17 (15.3%) patients. Nephrotoxicity (serum creatinine ≥1.4 mg/dL [123 μmol/L] or a rise by at least 33% over baseline not responding to dose adjustment) sufficiently severe to warrant discontinuation of therapy occurred in 6 (5.4%) patients. Serious infection occurred in 7 (6.3%) patients, seizures in 4 (3.6%) patients, anaphylaxis in 1 (0.9%) patient, and death in 2 (1.8%) patients. Minor adverse events (transient effects with complete resolution either spontaneously or with dose adjustment) comprised: paresthesias (51%), hypomagnesemia (42%), hypertension (39%), hypertrichosis (27%), headache (23%), minor nephrotoxicity (defined as above but with restoration of normal serum creatinine with dose adjustment; 19% of patients), abnormal liver function tests (19%), minor infections (15%), hyperkalemia (13%), and gingival swelling (4%). CONCLUSIONS:In our initial experience, limited duration CsA therapy was frequently associated with adverse events although the majority of these were minor and responded to dose adjustment. Although not all severe adverse events can be clearly attributed to CsA use alone, its high incidence suggests that vigorous monitoring by experienced clinicians at tertiary care centers may be required.