Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The microglial fractalkine receptor is not required for activity‐dependent plasticity in the mouse visual system

Microglia have recently been implicated as key regulators of activity‐dependent plasticity, where they contribute to the removal of inappropriate or excess synapses. However, the molecular mechanisms that mediate this microglial function are still not well understood. Although multiple studies have implicated fractalkine signaling as a mediator of microglia–neuron communications during synaptic plasticity, it is unclear whether this is a universal signaling mechanism or whether its role is limited to specific brain regions and stages of the lifespan. Here, we examined whether fractalkine signaling mediates microglial contributions to activity‐dependent plasticity in the developing and adolescent visual system. Using genetic ablation of fractalkine's cognate receptor, CX3CR1, and both ex vivo characterization and in vivo imaging in mice, we examined whether fractalkine signaling is required for microglial dynamics and modulation of synapses, as well as activity‐dependent plasticity in the visual system. We did not find a role for fractalkine signaling in mediating microglial properties during visual plasticity. Ablation of CX3CR1 had no effect on microglial density, distribution, morphology, or motility, in either adolescent or young adult mice across brain regions that include the visual cortex. Ablation of CX3CR1 also had no effect on baseline synaptic turnover or contact dynamics between microglia and neurons. Finally, we found that fractalkine signaling is not required for either early or late forms of activity‐dependent visual system plasticity. These findings suggest that fractalkine is not a universal regulator of synaptic plasticity, but rather has heterogeneous roles in specific brain regions and life stages.
“Quorum Non-Sensing”: Social Cheating and Deception in Vibrio cholerae

ABSTRACT Quorum sensing (QS) is widely used by bacteria to coordinate behavior in response to external stimuli. In Vibrio cholerae, this process is important for environmental survival and pathogenesis, though, intriguingly, a large percentage of natural isolates are QS deficient. Here, we show that QS-deficient mutants can spread as social cheaters by ceasing production of extracellular proteases under conditions requiring their growth. We further show that mutants stimulate biofilm formation and are over-represented in biofilms compared to planktonic communities; on this basis, we suggest that QS-deficient mutants may have the side effect of enhancing environmental tolerance of natural populations due to the inherent resistance properties of biofilms. Interestingly, high frequencies of QS-deficient individuals did not impact production of QS signaling molecules despite mutants being unable to respond to these inducers, indicating that these variants actively cheat by false signaling under conditions requiring QS. Taken together, our results suggest that social cheating may drive QS deficiency emergence within V. cholerae natural populations.
Optimizing the configuration of cement keyholes for acetabular fixation in total hip replacement using Taguchi experimental design

Abstract Cement fixation of the acetabular component is increasingly recognized as a common site of loosening when hip replacements fail. Cement keyholes drilled into the acetabulum have been recommended to improve this fixation but little is known of the optimum positions or sizes of these holes. This study investigates the diameter, depth and number of keyholes to be drilled to maximize the failure torque in a model system. A Taguchi experimental design was used to identify the most significant factors and to predict the best configuration of keyholes within the constraints of the experimental test rig. One hole at each of the pubic, iliac and ischial sites, of 12 mm diameter and 6 mm depth, was found to be the optimum configuration. The failure torque was most strongly dependent on the hole diameter in the pubic region, decreased with increasing hole depth and was not sensitive to the number of holes.
Proving correctness of modular functional programs

One reason for studying and programming in functional programming languages is that they are easy to reason about, yet there is surprisingly little work on proving the correctness of large functional programs. In this dissertation I show how to provide a system for proving the correctness of large programs written in a major functional programming language, ML [MTH90]. ML is split into two parts: the Core (in which the actual programs are written), and Modules (which are used to structure Core programs). The dissertation has three main themes. • Due to the detail and complexity of proofs of programs, a realistic system should use a computer proof assistant, and so I first discuss how such a system can be coded in a generic proof assistant (I use Paulson’s Isabelle [Pau94a]). • I give a formal proof system for proving properties of programs written in the functional part of Core ML. • The Modules language is one of ML’s strengths: it allows the programmer to write large programs by controlling the interactions between its parts. In the final part of the dissertation I give a method of proving correctness of ML Modules programs using the well-known data reification method [Jon86]. Proofs of reification using this method boil down to proofs in the system for the Core.
Pushing the Limits of Coherent X-Ray Diffraction : Imaging Single Sub-Micrometer Silver Nanocubes

X-ray crystallography has been proven to be an extremely efficient investigation method to solve the structure of matter at the atomic scale. Although several methods have been employed to circumvent the intrinsic phase problem, other limitations do exist for classical x-ray crystallographic methods. In particular, disordered materials, single nanostructures, or noncrystalline and/or nonrepetitive biological structures (e.g. some important viruses or proteins) cannot be accessed by this approach.
Neuromorphic Logic Networks and Robust Stochastic Computing Under Large Perturbations and Uncertainties

This paper studies robust fault-tolerant neuromorphic computing to support enabling applicationspecific design and enable emerging nanoscale microelectronics. We develop an energy-centric probabilistic design concept and propose a library of neuromorphic networks for logic functions. These developments enable robust failure tolerance, adaptation and reconfiguration of complex large-scale networks. The innovative methods and tools in design of neuromorphic networks are verified for unreliable, defective, faulty and failed interconnect and cells which may operate under large perturbations.
Noise-shaping time-interleaved ADC based on a single ring oscillator and a sampling array

An alternative architecture to conventional voltage controlled oscillator based analog-to-digital converters (VCO-ADCs) is proposed in this paper. The new architecture allows to enhance the resolution of the converter without the need of extending noise shaping order. Instead, the oversampling ratio is increased by sampling the outputs of the VCO through an array of digital delay lines. The output of this array is decoded with a modified array of XOR gates that makes higher VCO oscillation frequency possible. This allows to process the output data as samples of a highly oversampled sequence. We analyze the sensitivity to time delay mismatch in the elements of the delay line. A robust behavior is observed due to the error averaging through the sampling array elements. The proposed architecture achieves more than 10 ENOB for analog bandwidths (ABWs) higher than 100 MHz using feasible clock rates and scalable and mostly digital circuitry.
What Should Be the Data Sharing Policy of Cognitive Science?

There is a growing chorus of voices in the scientific community calling for greater openness in the sharing of raw data that lead to a publication. In this commentary, we discuss the merits of sharing, common concerns that are raised, and practical issues that arise in developing a sharing policy. We suggest that the cognitive science community discuss the topic and establish a data-sharing policy.
Low-cost millimeter-wave transceiver module using SMD packaged MMICs

This paper presents a novel approacb to realize low-cost millimeter-wave modules using only SMD packaged MMlCs integrated on a single organic substrate. This approach is demonstrated on a 38GHz trausceiver module for point-to-point LMDS communication systems. The required SMD package technology and demonstrator have been developed in the 5th framework European IST project 'Surface Mount Assembly for Commuuication Kband Systems' (SMACKS). Two types of SMD packages have been developed based on LTCC technology for the low-power devices and an organic package for the highpower amplifier. The use of only packaged devices enables low-cost module manufacturing without tbe need for specialized equipment and without yield loss from baudling bare die MMICs. The estimated cost reduction of such a module, with respect to a module using bare die components and mixed substrate technologies, is around 20%. A disadvantage of this approacb is that the density of integration is low, since each active device is housed in its own package.
Male-Specific Bacteriophage MS2 Propagation in Fluorophenylalanine-Resistant Escherichia coli K12

Mutation of Escherichia coli K12 HfrH to resistance to fluorophenylalanine resulted in changes in the plaque morphology of bacteriophage MS2 on this strain and led to an increased efficiency of propagation of the phage in liquid cultures. Evidence was obtained that the mutation resulted in inhibition of early lysis in infected cells and that lysis involved the production of a lysozyme. Genetic studies suggested that the observed pleiotropy of the resistance mutation was due to informational suppression.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme I inhibitory activity of phlorotannins from Ecklonia stolonifera

As part of our study of the isolation of antihypertensive agents derived from natural marine products, the bioactivity of 10 edible Korean seaweeds were screened by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory and peroxynitrite assays. Among the crude extracts of selected sea-weeds, including five Phaeophyta (Ecklonia stolonifera, E. cava, Pelvetia siliquosa, Hizikia fusiforme, and Undaria pinnatifida), four Rhodophyta (Gigartina tenella, Gelidium amansii, Chondria crassicaulis, and Porphyra tenera) and one Chlorophyta (Capsosiphon fulvescens), the ethanol extracts of E. stolonifera, E. cava, P. siliquosa, U. pinnatifida, and G. tenella exhibited significant inhibitory properties against ACE at more than 50% inhibition at a concentration of 163.93 μg/mL. Phloroglucinol 1, eckstolonol 2, eckol 3, phlorofucofuroeckol A 4, and dieckol 5 had been isolated previously, and triphlorethol-A 6 and fucosterol 7 were isolated for the first time from E. stolonifera. Also, the ACE inhibitory and peroxynitrite scavenging properties of phlorotannins 1–6 were evaluated, along with fucosterol 7 obtained from E. stolonifera. Among profound peroxynitrite scavenging compounds 1–6, phlorotannins 3, 4 and 5 were also determined to manifest marked inhibitory activity against ACE, with 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) values of 70.82±0.25, 12.74¯0.15, and 34.25±3.56 μM, respectively.
Fast and efficient placement of fault indicators based on the pattern search algorithm

This paper proposes a fast and efficient strategy to determine the number and locations of fault indicators (FI) in medium voltage distribution networks. The objective function takes into account the most important characteristics of the network such as topology, non-uniform failure rates of the lines as well as the power demand and number of customers. For seeking the minimum of the objective function, a straightforward algorithm based on the Pattern Search (PS) is developed. The methodology is tested on a real distribution network, showing its great potential to improve the reliability indices at the lowest investment costs.
Biogerontology, "anti-aging medicine," and the challenges of human enhancement.

Slowing the aging process would be one of the most dramatic and momentous ways of enhancing human beings. It is also one that mainstream science is on the brink of pursuing. The state of the science, together with its possible impact, make it an important example for how to think about research into all enhancement technologies.
Glass Microprobe with Embedded Silicon Vias for 3D Integration

This study presents a novel process to realize glass 2D-microprobe array. The through silicon vias (TSVs) can also be integrated with the glass 2D-microprobe using the micromachining process. The vertical integration of chips containing glass 2D-microprobe array is realized using these silicon TSVs. The 3D-microprobe array and the signal processing IC can be easily implemented after vertical assembly of 2D-microprobe chips using bonding. In application, the 2D glass microprobe is fabricated with a low impedance of 439k¿ at 1kHz; and the neural recording experiment has also been successfully performed on a rat.
Correlation Preserving Indexing Based Text Clustering

In Document clustering previously they presented new document clustering method based on correlation preserving indexing. It simultaneously maximizes the correlation between the documents in the local patches and minimizes the correlation between the documents outside these patches. Consequently, a low dimensional semantic subspace is derived where the documents corresponding to the same semantics are close to each other with learning level parsing procedure based CPI method. The proposed CPI method with learning level parsing procedure is to find correlation between relational documents to avoid maximum unknown clusters those are not effectual to find exact correlation between documents depend on accuracy of sentences. The proposed CPI method with learning level parsing procedure in document clustering doubles the accuracy of previous correlation coefficient. The proposed hierarchical clustering algorithm behavior is different with CPI in terms of NMI, Accuracy. Index Terms—Document clustering, correlation measure, correlation latent semantic indexing, dimensionality reduction.
Comparison of Borate Bioactive Glass and Calcium Sulfate as Implants for the Local Delivery of Teicoplanin in the Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus-Induced Osteomyelitis in a Rabbit Model

ABSTRACT There is growing interest in biomaterials that can cure bone infection and also regenerate bone. In this study, two groups of implants composed of 10% (wt/wt) teicoplanin (TEC)-loaded borate bioactive glass (designated TBG) or calcium sulfate (TCS) were created and evaluated for their ability to release TEC in vitro and to cure methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-induced osteomyelitis in a rabbit model. When immersed in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), both groups of implants provided a sustained release of TEC at a therapeutic level for up to 3 to 4 weeks while they were gradually degraded and converted to hydroxyapatite. The TBG implants showed a longer duration of TEC release and better retention of strength as a function of immersion time in PBS. Infected rabbit tibiae were treated by debridement, followed by implantation of TBG or TCS pellets or intravenous injection with TEC, or were left untreated. Evaluation at 6 weeks postimplantation showed that the animals implanted with TBG or TCS pellets had significantly lower radiological and histological scores, lower rates of MRSA-positive cultures, and lower bacterial loads than those preoperatively and those of animals treated intravenously. The level of bone regeneration was also higher in the defects treated with the TBG pellets. The results showed that local TEC delivery was more effective than intravenous administration for the treatment of MRSA-induced osteomyelitis. Borate glass has the advantages of better mechanical strength, more desirable kinetics of release of TEC, and a higher osteogenic capacity and thus could be an effective alternative to calcium sulfate for local delivery of TEC.
Complex Formation of the Interferon (IFN) Consensus Sequence-binding Protein with IRF-1 Is Essential for Murine Macrophage IFN-γ-induced iNOS Gene Expression*

This study describes the role of the interferon (IFN) consensus sequence-binding protein (ICSBP or IRF-8) in iNOS gene expression by murine macrophages. An ICSBP binding site in the iNOS promoter region (−923 to −913) was identified using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin co-immunoprecipitation. Overexpression of ICSBP greatly enhanced IFN-γ-induced iNOS promoter activation in RAW264.7 cells, and IFN-γ-induced iNOS promoter activation was abolished in ICSBP−/− macrophages. Furthermore, transduction of retrovirus-ICSBP in ICSBP−/− macrophages rescued IFN-γ-induced iNOS gene expression. However, transduction of retrovirus-ICSBP in the absence of IFN-γ activation did not induce iNOS expression in either RAW264.7 cells or ICSBP−/− macrophages. Interestingly, ICSBP alone transduced into ICSBP−/− macrophages did not bind to IFN-stimulated response element site (−923 to −913) of the iNOS promoter region, although following activation with IFN-γ, a DNA·protein complex was formed that contains ICSBP and IRF-1. Co-transduction of ICSBP with IRF-1 clearly induces nitric oxide production. In addition, interleukin-4 inhibits IFN-γ-induced iNOS gene expression by attenuating the physical interaction of ICSBP with IRF-1. Complex formation of ICSBP with IRF-1 is essential for iNOS expression, and interleukin-4 attenuates the physical interaction of ICSBP with IRF-1 resulting in the inhibition of INOS gene expression.
A high resolution ENF based multi-stage classifier for location forensics of media recordings

Media recordings, when captured close to active power system components, are known to be influenced by the electromagnetic interference caused by those power grid components. This electromagnetic interference manifests itself in such media recordings in the form of time-varying frequency components around the electric network frequency (ENF) of the power grid. For example, the ENF of the Indian power grid has a nominal value 50Hz. Classification of a given media signal into the grid or region of recording using the electric network frequency (ENF) is vital in location forensics. In this work, we use power recordings and audio recordings captured from 12 different grids around the globe. To use the variations in the ENF from the media signals for region-of-recording classification, we propose a high resolution ENF extraction technique. We also propose the use of a multi-stage support vector machine (SVM) based classification system. We find that the proposed system outperforms the existing baseline scheme for region-of-recording classification, by yielding an improvement in the overall accuracy by 17.33%.
Maternal folate, alcohol and energy metabolism-related gene polymorphisms and the risk of recurrent pregnancy loss

Epidemiological studies have suggested that the condition of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) may be multifactorial, with both genetic predisposition and environmental factors potentially involved in its pathogenesis. The aim of this study is to elucidate the associations between maternal folate, alcohol and energy metabolism-related gene polymorphisms and the risk of RPL. This case–control study, which involved 116 cases with two or more instances of RPL and 306 fertile controls, was performed in the city of Sapporo, Japan. The associations between eight single nucleotide polymorphisms of folate, alcohol and energy metabolism-related genes [methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), 5-methyltetrahydrofolate-homocysteine methyltransferase (MTR), 5-methyltetrahydrofolate-homocysteine methyltransferase reductase (MTRR), alcohol dehydrogenase 1B (ADH1B), aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), beta-3-adrenergic receptor (ADRB3) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG)], and RPL were assessed. Without consideration of cigarette smoking or alcohol use, the risk of RPL significantly decreased in women with the MTHFR rs1801133 TT, MTR rs1805087 AG or ALDH2 rs671 AA genotype (P < 0.05). The risk of RPL associated with cigarette smoking and alcohol use decreased significantly in women carrying the MTHFR rs1801133 T allele [odds ratio (OR), 0.51; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.27–0.95]. Similarly, the risk of RPL significantly decreased in women carrying the MTR rs1805087 G allele (OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.23–0.85). Our findings suggest that maternal gene polymorphisms related to folate metabolism may decrease the risk of RPL. Molecular epidemiological studies are needed to unequivocally elucidate the multifactorial effects of both genetic and environmental factors on human fecundity.
A New Combined Boost Converter with Improved Voltage Gain as a Battery-Powered Front-End Interface for Automotive Audio Amplifiers

High boost DC/DC voltage conversion is always indispensable in a power electronic interface of certain battery-powered electrical equipment. However, a conventional boost converter works for a wide duty cycle for such high voltage gain, which increases power consumption and has low reliability problems. In order to solve this issue, a new battery-powered combined boost converter with an interleaved structure consisting of two phases used in automotive audio amplifier is presented. The first phase uses a conventional boost converter; the second phase employs the inverted type. With this architecture, a higher boost voltage gain is able to be achieved. A derivation of the operating principles of the converter, analyses of its topology, as well as a closed-loop control designs are performed in this study. Furthermore, simulations and experiments are also performed using input voltage of 12 V for a 120 W circuit. A reasonable duty cycle is selected to reach output voltage of 60 V, which corresponds to static voltage gain of five. The converter achieves a maximum measured conversion efficiency of 98.7% and the full load efficiency of 89.1%.
Analyzing the Electromagnetic Performances of Composite Materials With the FDTD Method

For analysis of the electromagnetic (EM) performances of composite materials, the periodic finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) algorithm, combined with the conformal technique, is adopted in this paper. Unlike the previous studies, which roughly model the composite structures as a homogeneous lossy medium or assume the induced fiber current as a filament current, this study models the composite material in microscopic scale on the basis of the actual configuration of it, which can represent the composite material accurately in detail. The power reflection coefficient and transmission coefficient for single- and double-panel fiber composite are presented. The effects of the geometry sizes (the fiber diameter <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$R$</tex> </formula>, the distance <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$D$</tex> </formula> between the two fibers in the same panel, the distance <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$L$</tex></formula> between the two fibers in double panel), the incident wave polarization angle and the fiber electric conductivity are investigated. respectively. Numerical results illustrate composite materials have frequency-selective behaviors and multilayer composite materials have a good shielding effectiveness in the lower frequency range.