Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis B Virus X Protein Activates the p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway in Dedifferentiated Hepatocytes

ABSTRACT Hepatitis B virus X protein (pX) is implicated in hepatocarcinogenesis by an unknown mechanism. Employing a cellular model linked to pX-mediated transformation, we investigated the role of the previously reported Stat3 activation by pX in hepatocyte transformation. Our model is composed of a differentiated hepatocyte (AML12) 3pX-1 cell line that undergoes pX-dependent transformation and a dedifferentiated hepatocyte (AML12) 4pX-1 cell line that does not exhibit transformation by pX. We report that pX-dependent Stat3 activation occurs only in non-pX-transforming 4pX-1 cells and conclude that Stat3 activation is not linked to pX-mediated transformation. Maximum Stat3 transactivation requires Ser727 phosphorylation, mediated by mitogenic pathway activation. Employing dominant negative mutants and inhibitors of mitogenic pathways, we demonstrate that maximum, pX-dependent Stat3 transactivation is inhibited by the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-specific inhibitor SB 203580. Using transient-transreporter and in vitro kinase assays, we demonstrate for the first time that pX activates the p38 MAPK pathway only in 4pX-1 cells. pX-mediated Stat3 and p38 MAPK activation is Ca2+ and c-Src dependent, in agreement with the established cellular action of pX. Importantly, pX-dependent activation of p38 MAPK inactivates Cdc25C by phosphorylation of Ser216, thus initiating activation of the G2/M checkpoint, resulting in 4pX-1 cell growth retardation. Interestingly, pX expression in the less differentiated hepatocyte 4pX-1 cells activates signaling pathways known to be active in regenerating hepatocytes. These results suggest that pX expression in the infected liver effects distinct mitogenic pathway activation in less differentiated versus differentiated hepatocytes.
Parallelism for LDA

As parallelism is very important for large scale of data, we want to use different technology to parallelize the latent dirichlet allocation algorithm. Latent dirichlet allocation (LDA) is a generative model that allows sets of observations to be explained by unobserved groups which explain why some parts of the data are similar. There are two different implementation of this model, one is Expectation Maximum (EM method) and the other is Gibbs Sampling. Both of them use iterative algorithm to do the calculation, however, Gibbs Sampling is easier to implement in sequential code but harder to parallel while the EM method is easier to parallel as (Nallapati, Cohen et al.) has already use MapReduce technology to parallelize that. And we are going to parallel the Gibbs sampling implementation this time using iterative MapReduce and Message Passing Interface.
The SERPINE2 gene is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in two large populations.

RATIONALE Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex disease influenced by multiple genes and environmental factors. A region on chromosome 2q has been shown to be linked to COPD. A positional candidate gene from the chromosome 2q region SERPINE2 (Serpin peptidase inhibitor, clade E [nexin, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1], member 2), was previously evaluated as a susceptibility gene for COPD in two association studies, but the results were contradictory. OBJECTIVES To identify the relationship between SERPINE2 polymorphisms and COPD-related phenotypes using family-based and case-control association studies. METHODS In the present study, we genotyped 25 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from SERPINE2 and analyzed qualitative and quantitative COPD phenotypes in 635 pedigrees with 1,910 individuals and an independent case-control population that included 973 COPD cases and 956 control subjects. The family data were analyzed using family-based association tests. The case-control data were analyzed using logistic regression and linear models. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Six SNPs demonstrated significant associations with COPD phenotypes in the family-based association analysis (0.0016<or=p<or=0.042). Five of these SNPs demonstrated replicated associations in the case-control analysis (0.021<or=p<or=0.031). In addition, the results of haplotype analyses supported the results from single SNP analyses. CONCLUSIONS These data provide further support for SERPINE2 as a COPD susceptibility gene.
Key challenges in the development and implementation of telehealth projects

A literature review was carried out to identify the key challenges in the implementation of telehealth. This was followed by a survey of organisations in England involved in telehealth projects in order to understand the challenges they faced. Ten of the 13 health or local authority organisations surveyed had telehealth projects and three were at the planning stage. The analysis revealed seven key challenges facing implementers of telehealth in England. Based on the findings from the literature review and the survey, a model was constructed and a checklist drawn up. The model contained the following elements: identifying issues, needs and partners; producing a strategy; securing funding; implementing changes; and monitoring and evaluating a telehealth project. The checklist was validated by using key informants from the organisations originally surveyed. The checklist may be useful to guide telehealth development and implementation in the future.
Influence of level and source of nitrogen on milk production and blood components.

Abstract In Experiment 1, following a 22-day preliminary period 24 Holstein cows were used in a 70-day continuous feeding trial employing a 4 × 3 factorial design with four levels of urea (0, 82, 160, and 232 g urea/cow daily) and three levels of crude protein (average of 2.5, 2.2, and 1.7 kg crude protein/cow daily). There were no significant differences in milk production, milk composition, or body weight gains. Plasma urea nitrogen was increased by urea feeding (P
Genome-Wide Transcriptional Profiling of the Escherichia coli Response to a Proline-Rich Antimicrobial Peptide

ABSTRACT Most antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) impair the viability of target bacteria by permeabilizing bacterial membranes. However, the proline-rich AMPs have been shown to kill susceptible organisms without causing significant membrane perturbation and may act by inhibiting the activity of bacterial targets. To gain initial insight into the events that follow interaction of a proline-rich peptide with bacterial cells, we used DNA macroarray technology to monitor transcriptional alterations of Escherichia coli in response to challenge with a subinhibitory concentration of the proline-rich Bac7(1-35). Substantial changes in the expression levels of 70 bacterial genes from various functional categories were detected. Among these, 26 genes showed decreased expression, while 44 genes, including genes that are potentially involved in bacterial resistance to antimicrobials, showed increased expression. The generation of a transcriptional response under the experimental conditions used is consistent with the ability of Bac7(1-35) to interact with bacterial components and affect biological processes in this organism.
Focal uptake on 18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography images indicates cardiac involvement of sarcoidosis.

AIMS To evaluate the value of (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG PET) in detecting cardiac sarcoidosis. METHODS AND RESULTS Thirty-two patients with sarcoidosis and thirty controls were recruited. All subjects underwent cardiac (18)F-FDG PET after a 6 h fasting period, and subjects with sarcoidosis underwent blood testing, ECG, echocardiography, and (67)Ga and (99m)Tc-sestamibi (MIBI) scintigraphy. We classified (18)F-FDG PET images into four patterns ('none', 'diffuse', 'focal', and 'focal on diffuse') and found that all the control subjects exhibited either none (n=16) or diffuse (n=14) pattern. In contrast, fifteen subjects with sarcoidosis exhibited none, seven exhibited diffuse, eight exhibited focal, and two exhibited focal on diffuse patterns, with the prevalence of the focal and focal on diffuse patterns being significantly higher in the sarcoidosis group when compared with the control group (P<0.001). None of the 32 subjects with sarcoidosis exhibited abnormal findings on (67)Ga scintigraphy, and 4 exhibited abnormal findings on (99m)Tc-MIBI scintigraphy. CONCLUSION Focal uptake of the heart on (18)F-FDG PET images is a characteristic feature of patients with sarcoidosis. Furthermore, (18)F-FDG PET has the potential to detect cardiac sarcoidosis that cannot be diagnosed by (67)Ga or (99m)Tc-MIBI scintigraphy.
Care and Cleaning of Maxillofacial Prostheses

Both the cleaning and care of the prosthesis are fundamental for maintaining its quality. Therefore, the aim of this study was to show the methods of cleaning and care the patient needs to take as regards the prosthesis and adjacent tissue, starting with correct instruction and training by the professional. It has been verified that among the materials for fabricating maxillofacial prostheses, silicone was considered the major retainer of microorganisms on its surface. Therefore, for cleaning prostheses, the use of water and neutral soap, as well as chlorhexidine, is recommended. As regards care of the adjacent tissues, it is recommended to remove the prosthesis before going to sleep, in addition to washing the prosthesis receptor tissues with water and neutral soap or with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water. Whereas for the mucosal surfaces of the ophthalmic cavity, cleaning with filtered and boiled water or physiological solution at least 3 times a day is recommended.
Characteristics of the different usages of “ You ”

Sometimes when a speaker uses the English pronoun you he refers to an addressee, or a group of addressees, but other times the word is used in a generic, not in a deictic, sense. This research tries to find characteristics of these different usages of you in multi-party conversations in meetings.
SVM-UBM Based Automatic Language Identification Using a Vowel-guided Segmentation

As powerful theoretical and computational tools, support vector machines (SVMs) have been widely used in pattern classification of many areas. A key issue of applying SVMs to language identification of speech signals is to find a SVM kernel that compares a sequence of feature vectors with others efficiently. In this paper, we introduce a sequence kernel used in language identification, and develop a Gaussian Mixture Model to do the sequence mapping task, which maps a variable length sequence of vectors to a fixed dimensional space. Experiment results demonstrate that the new system not only yields performance superior to those of a GMM classifier but also outperforms the system using Generalized Linear Discriminant Sequence (GLDS) Kernel.
Helping students track learning progress using burn down charts

Agile software development methods, such as Scrum, have adopted the use of burn down charts to help track progress by development teams. We considered if this same technique could be applied to help students track their progress in programming units. Tools that help students visually track their progress may help address issues with time management, particularly in units that make use of frequent formative feedback. In this work we describe such a tool, named Doubtfire, and explain its use in helping students keep track of their progress across a number of undergraduate programming units.
When life is a drag: Depressive symptoms associated with early adolescent smoking

Adolescent nicotine use continues to be a significant public health problem. We examined the relationship between the age of youth reporting current smoking and concurrent risk and protective factors in a large state-wide sample. We analyzed current smoking, depressive symptoms, and socio-demographic factors among 4027 adolescents aged 12–17 years by using multivariate logistic regression (see 2005 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) Public Use File). Consistent with previous work, Latinos, girls, those whose family incomes were below the poverty level, and those with fair-poor health were more likely to display depressive symptoms. Males, whites, older teens, and those in fair-poor health were more likely to be current smokers. In a multivariate analysis predicting depressive symptoms, the interaction between age and current smoking was highly significant (Wald X2 = 15.8, p < 0.01). At ages 12–14 years, the probability of depressive symptoms was estimated to be four times greater among adolescents who currently smoked compared to those who were not current smokers. The likelihood of depressive symptoms associated with current smoking decreases with age and becomes nonsignificant by 17 years. Interventions to reduce smoking may be most useful among youth before 12 years of age and must be targeted at multiple risks (e.g., smoking and depression).
ROLE OF ACTIVATED INTRARENAL REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES AND RENIN–ANGIOTENSIN SYSTEM IN IgA NEPHROPATHY MODEL MICE

1 Using HIGA (high IgA of ddY) mice as an IgA nephropathy model and BALB/c mice as controls, we demonstrated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) were activated in kidneys of HIGA mice. However, it was difficult to establish an association between renal damage and changes in ROS and the RAS. Therefore, the present study was performed to determine whether renal injury is associated with changes in ROS and the RAS in HIGA mice. 2 Male HIGA mice were divided into four groups of 10 each: (i) untreated mice (HIGA + null); (ii) mice treated with the angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist olmesartan (5 mg/kg per day; HIGA + OLM); (iii) mice treated with the superoxide dismutase mimetic tempol (50 mg/kg per day; HIGA + Tempol); and (iv) mice treated with RAS‐independent antihypertensive drugs (30 mg/kg per day hydralazine, 0.6 mg/kg per day reserpine and 12 mg/kg per day hydrochlorothiazide; HIGA + HRH). Mice were treated for 5 weeks. 3 Systolic blood pressure decreased significantly in the HIGA + OLM and HIGA + HRH groups, but not in the HIGA + Tempol group, compared with HIGA + null mice. The expression of two ROS markers (4‐hydroxy‐2‐nonenal and heme oxygenase‐1) and angiotensin II as a marker of the RAS decreased significantly in HIGA + OLM and HIGA + Tempol mice, but not in HIGA + HRH mice, compared with HIGA + null mice. As a marker of renal damage, mesangial matrix expansion and the desmin‐positive area decreased significantly in the HIGA + OLM and HIGA + Tempol groups, but not in HIGA + HRH group, compared with the HIGA + null group. 4 These data suggest that intrarenal ROS and RAS activation play a pivotal role in the development of IgA nephropathy model mice, from the early phase, independent of blood pressure.
Aberration estimation using FDORT: insights and improved method for speckle signals

Clinical ultrasound imaging is degraded by tissue velocity inhomogeneities that reduce resolution and contrast. The Focused DORT (French acronym for decomposition of the time reversal operator) method, here denoted FDORT, can be used as an aberration estimation method. FDORT uses per-channel received RF data obtained from several focused transmissions. An aberration profile is estimated using a singular value decomposition method. The advantage of FDORT over a crosscorrelation based method is its ability to identify individual wavefronts in complex RF regions. It also allows frequencydependent estimation. FDORT exhibits good results with point scatterers but significant residual rms errors (between applied and estimated aberrator) in speckle regions (typically 15ns for a 45ns aberration). This study aims to explain the behavior of FDORT in speckle by interpreting the FDORT matrix as a crossspectrum matrix of the backscattered signal, similar to the one studied by Måsøy et al. [JASA 117 (1) 2005]. This explanation is then used to improve the method; reducing both the bias and variance of the estimation. Originally, the first singular vector was used for the estimation: it contained the amplitude and delay law that maximized the speckle brightness. A bias results from the fact that the transmit itself is aberrated. We propose a method to reduce the bias to a linear shift by using a combination of all eigenvectors. A new scheme is introduced to reduce the variance, typically by a factor of 2. Finally, we introduce a non-biased estimator by forming a tensor from a full synthetic aperture data set. Its first singular vector maximizes the speckle brightness by correcting both transmit and receive this is equivalent to an FDORT estimation when the aberration is completely corrected in transmit and provides the lowest error. We performed Field-II (Jensen) simulations using a 45ns, 4mm FWHM near-field phase screen on a speckle phantom with point scatterers and cysts. Cyst contrast improvements and rms residual errors are computed for the different methods. In-vivo aberration estimation results are also presented. The theoretical understanding of the speckle behavior in FDORT has led to improved performance and further insights into using statistical-based approaches for aberration measurement. Keywords-aberration, medical, correlation matrix
Synergistic proliferation and activation of natural killer cells by interleukin 12 and interleukin 18.

We investigated the effects of IL-12 and IL-18 on unstimulated murine splenocytes and observed that the two cytokines strongly synergized for their proliferation, whereas IL-12 and IL-18 alone were essentially inactive in this respect. Phenotypical and functional analyses of cells proliferating in response to IL-12 and IL-18 revealed that large granular Ly-49C(+)DX5(+)CD3(-)NK blasts were expanded in these cultures and that they displayed cytotoxic activity against Yac-1 cells, a murine NK cell target. Further analyses indicated three major differences between NK cells appearing in response to IL-12 and IL-18 and those derived in the presence of other NK cell growth factors, such as IL-2 or IL-15. First, a population of T-NK cells, i.e. expressing T cell (TCRalphabeta, CD3) and NK cell (Ly-49) markers, was detected amongst cells growing in IL-2 or IL-15 but not in cultures supplemented with IL-12 and IL-18. Second, most NK cells derived with IL-2 or IL-15 expressed the NK1.1 antigen, while those derived with IL-12 and IL-18 did not. Finally, striking differences were observed regarding cytokine production. Cells stimulated with IL-12 and IL-18 in combination, but not with IL-2 or IL-15, produced IFN-gamma, IL-3, IL-6 and TNF. IFN-gamma was not involved in the response of NK cells to IL-12 and IL-18, as indicated by experiments demonstrating that the combination of the two cytokines displayed similar effects on spleen cells from IFN-gammaR-knock-out mice. Receptor (IL-12Rbeta1, IL-12Rbeta2 and IL-18R) gene expression studies did not indicate that the mechanism underlying the synergy between IL-12 and IL-18 involved reciprocal induction of their receptors. Taken together, our results demonstrate that IL-12 and IL-18 exert striking synergistic activities for NK cell proliferation and activation, distinct from those induced by IL-2 or IL-15.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Reversal of Motor Conversion Disorder

Background: There is no agreement on the most effective therapy for motor conversion symptoms. Functional electric stimulation has been successfully used to reverse conversion paralysis. We tested the therapeutic potential of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in a 20-year-old patient suffering from a conversion paralysis of the right arm. Method: rTMS was applied to the contralateral motor cortex. Stimulations were performed on working days at a frequency of 15 Hz (train length 2 s; inter-train interval 4 s) yielding 4,000 pulses/day. Results: Within 12 weeks, motor function, hyposensibility and muscle bulk were completely restored. Conclusions: The patient recovered completely during rTMS treatment. In addition to possible psychological effects, rTMS may have had a causal therapeutic effect by strengthening corticocortical connections and thereby priming voluntary movements. Further controlled studies are needed.
Validity of Kronecker and Weichselberger model at 3.805GHz Indoor measurement 4 by 4 MIMO system

Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) communication systems have become the center of public attention as alternative idea to overcome limitation of Single-Input Single-Output (SISO) [1]. There are three kind of analytic model on correlation-based : i.i. d. model, kronecker model and weichselberger model. In i.i. d. model, all elements of MIMO channel are uncorrelated, and we only need to know the variance of the transmit signal. When the channel is correlated, the Kronecker model and Weichselberger model are widely used for channel analysis. The spatial Tx and Rx correlation are assumed to be separable in Kronecker model which enforces a separable DoD-DoA spectrum in contrast to Weichselberger model [2]. In this paper, we used simple 4 x 4 monopole array antenna and measured this antenna at LOS/NLOS position. We utilized characteristic of Kronecker model that Tx correlation should not be changed under the Kronecker assumption. As observing the change of Tx correlation following to antenna orientation, we can see the validity of Kronecker model a mile off. Also, Kronecker and Weichselberger model have application to calculate channel capacity [3, 4].
A Psychological Perspective on Security

Dans cet article. on suggere que les problemes de securitea fondement politique devraient aussi etre analyses d'un point de vue psychologique. Puisque les individus evaluent le niveau de securitea travers des processus cognitifs, les resultats sont subjectifs. Les representations concernant la securite sont construites a partir d'une menace percue dans l'environement, menace que l'individu craint d'avoir du mal a affronter. Deux etudes poursuivies en Israel. ou le probleme de la securite est aigu. montrent a quel point les individus vivent differemment I'insecurite et indiquent que plusieurs facteurs influencent les representations relatives a la securite. Ces donnees indiquent que des evenements reels, militaires, politiques, ou economiques. doivent etre percus pour devenir un aspect de la realite personnelle: les enenements exterieurs sont compris et interprete subjectivement. Notre approche accorde une importance particuliere a la psychologie politique dans l'etude des problemes de securite. This paper suggests that politically rooted security problems should also be analysed from a psychological perspective. As individuals evaluate the level of security via cognitive processes, the outcomes are subjective. Security beliefs are formed on the basis of the perception of threat in the environment with which the individual perceives a difficulty in coping. Two studies performed in Israel. where the security problem is acute. illustrate how differently individuals experience insecurity, and how different factors influence beliefs about security. These results indicate that while military, political, or economic events are real, they have to be perceived in order to become part of the individual's reality: external events are subjectively interpreted and understood. This approach assigns special importance to political psychology in studying security problems.