Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tracking as a Whole: Multi-Target Tracking by Modeling Group Behavior With Sequential Detection

Video-based vehicle detection and tracking is one of the most important components for intelligent transportation systems. When it comes to road junctions, the problem becomes even more difficult due to the occlusions and complex interactions among vehicles. In order to get a precise detection and tracking result, in this paper we propose a novel tracking-by-detection framework. In the detection stage, we present a sequential detection model to deal with serious occlusions. In the tracking stage, we model group behavior to treat complex interactions with overlaps and ambiguities. The main contributions of this paper are twofold: 1) shape prior is exploited in the sequential detection model to tackle occlusions in crowded scene and 2) traffic force is defined in the traffic scene to model group behavior, and it can assist to handle complex interactions among vehicles. We evaluate the proposed approach on real surveillance videos at road junctions and the performance has demonstrated the effectiveness of our method.
Leakage responses to l-NAME differ with the fluorescent dye used to label albumin.

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors have been reported to increase as well as to decrease microvascular transport of macromolecules in a variety of models. This study was performed to determine whether the influence of NOS inhibition on albumin leakage was dependent on the fluorescent dyes used to label albumin. Albumin leakage was assessed in rat mesenteric venules during control conditions and after exposure to the NOS inhibitor N G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME). Albumin was labeled with any one of four dyes: FITC, sulforhodamine 101 [Texas Red (TR)], dichlorotriazinyl aminofluorescein (DTAF), or Oregon Green 514 (OG). Superfusion withl-NAME (10-4 M) was accompanied by an increase in leakage of FITC-labeled albumin ( n = 12) but not of albumin labeled with DTAF ( n = 10), TR ( n = 10), or OG ( n = 4). In vessels perfused with both FITC- and TR-labeled albumin ( n = 12), superfusion with l-NAME increased leakage of FITC- but not TR-labeled albumin. In conclusion, albumin leakage responses tol-NAME differ among various fluorescent dyes. Therefore, caution is advised in comparison of albumin leakage results that utilize different fluorescent dyes.
Corticosteroid receptors and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isoforms in rat intestinal epithelia.

To evaluate the potential roles that both receptors and enzymes play in corticosteroid regulation of intestinal function, we have determined glucocorticoid receptor (GR), mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) expression in intestinal epithelial cells. GR and MR mRNA and receptor binding were ubiquitously expressed in epithelial cells, with receptor levels higher in ileum and colon than jejunum and duodenum. RNase protection analysis showed that 11β-HSD1 was not expressed in intestinal epithelial cells, and enzyme activity studies detected no 11-reductase activity. 11β-HSD2 mRNA and protein were demonstrated in ileal and colonic epithelia; both MR and GR binding increased when enzyme activity was inhibited with carbenoxolone. Duodenal and jejunal epithelial cells showed very little 11β-HSD2 mRNA and undetectable 11β-HSD2 protein; despite minor (<7%) dehydrogenase activity in these cells, enzyme activity did not alter binding of corticosterone to either MR or GR. These findings demonstrate the ubiquitous but differential expression of MR and GR in intestinal epithelia and that 11β-HSD2 modulates corticosteroid binding to both MR and GR in ileum and proximal and distal colon but not in duodenum or jejunum.
Expression and activation of protein kinase C-ζ in eosinophils after allergen challenge.

Protein kinase (PK) C is an increasingly diverse family of enzymes that has been implicated in a range of cellular functions within the eosinophil. Using isoform-specific polyclonal antibodies, we have explored the expression of PKC isoforms in circulating eosinophils. Initial studies demonstrated the presence of the α, βI, βII, and ζ and the low-level expression of the δ, ε, ι, and μ isoforms but no detectable expression of the γ, η, and θ isoforms in both normal and asthmatic subjects. There was no difference in the total protein expression between these two groups. Subsequent studies examined the expression and activation of PKC isoforms in circulating eosinophils from asthmatic patients before and 24 h after a late asthmatic response to an inhaled allergen. Cellular fractionation showed PKC-α and PKC-βII to be mainly located in the cytosol, whereas PKC-βI was constitutively more expressed in the membrane. No changes in expression or subcellular localization of these isoforms were seen after allergen challenge. In contrast, PKC-ζ expression was increased after allergen challenge, and we demonstrated a significant PKC-ζ translocation to the membrane, in keeping with activation of the enzyme. Our results suggest that 24 h after allergen exposure of asthmatic patients, there is increased expression and activation of eosinophil PKC-ζ that correlates with late asthmatic responses recorded between 4 and 10 h postallergen challenge.
Mechanisms of desensitization to a PDE inhibitor (milrinone) in conscious dogs with heart failure.

The goal of this study was to determine the extent to which the effects of milrinone were desensitized in heart failure (HF) and to determine the mechanisms, i.e., whether these effects could be ascribed to changes in cAMP or phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity in HF. Accordingly, we examined the effects of milrinone in seven conscious dogs before and after HF was induced by rapid ventricular pacing at 240 beats/min. The dogs were chronically instrumented for measurements of left ventricular (LV) pressure and first derivative of LV pressure (dP/d t), arterial pressure, LV internal diameter, and wall thickness. Milrinone (10 μg ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1iv) increased LV dP/d t by 1,854 ± 157 from 2,701 ± 105 mmHg/s ( P < 0.05) before HF. After HF the increase in LV dP/d t in response to milrinone was attenuated significantly ( P < 0.05); it increased by 615 ± 67 from 1,550 ± 107 mmHg/s, indicating marked desensitization. In the presence of ganglionic blockade the increases in LV dP/d t (+445 ± 65 mmHg/s) in response to milrinone were markedly less ( P < 0.01), and milrinone increased LV dP/d t even less in HF (+240 ± 65 mmHg/s). cAMP and PDE activity were measured in endocardial and epicardial layers in normal and failing myocardium. cAMP was decreased significantly ( P < 0.05) in LV endocardium (-26%) but not significantly in LV epicardium (-14%). PDE activity was also decreased significantly ( P < 0.05) in LV endocardium (-18%) but not in LV epicardium (-4%). Thus significant desensitization to milrinone was observed in conscious dogs with HF. The major effect was autonomically mediated. The biochemical mechanism appears to be due in part to the modest reductions in PDE activity in failing myocardium, which, in turn, may be a compensatory mechanism to maintain cAMP levels in HF. Reductions in cAMP and PDE levels were restricted to the subendocardium, suggesting that the increased wall stress and reduced coronary reserve play a role in mediating these changes.
Hollow spherical micro/meso-porous silica structure by nanospherical sacrificial polystyrene templates

In this study, spherical polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles having a negative surface charge were synthesized by polymerization of a miniemulsion containing styrene monomer, normal hexadecane (HD) as hydrophobic agent, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as anionic emulsifier, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) as buffer, and water soluble potassium persulfate (KPS) as initiator. The effects of three important parameters (surfactant, cosurfactant, and initiator) on particle size and size distribution were contemporaneously investigated. The particle size and size distribution was measured using dynamic light scattering (DLS). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images were also taken from the corresponding latexes to confirm the results. The produced polystyrene particles were coated by silica via sol-gel process in which tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) precursor, ethanol, hydrochloric acid, and water were employed to carry out hydrolyzation/condensation process. Using ultra-high speed centrifugation, a closely packed assembly of particles resulted which were subjected to calcination process to form hallow spherical micro/meso-porous silica structure. The average pore diameters of the micro and meso pores were 2–3 nm and 25–30 nm, respectively, as determined by nitrogen sorption isotherms. The specific surface of the porous sample was also measured by Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) method to be 554.74 m2/g that is well suited for catalyst support applications. In the end, the produced catalyst support was used to form ziegler-natta catalyst. By using the produced catalyst via prepolymerization and slurry polymerization at 70℃, polypropylene was polymerized from propylene.
Imaging of PDE2- and PDE3-Mediated cGMP-to-cAMP Cross-Talk in Cardiomyocytes

Cyclic nucleotides 3′,5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and 3′,5′-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) are important second messengers that regulate cardiovascular function and disease by acting in discrete subcellular microdomains. Signaling compartmentation at these locations is often regulated by phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Some PDEs are also involved in the cross-talk between the two second messengers. The purpose of this review is to summarize and highlight recent findings about the role of PDE2 and PDE3 in cardiomyocyte cyclic nucleotide compartmentation and visualization of this process using live cell imaging techniques.
Effects of Cyclosporin A Therapy Combined with Steroids and Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors on Childhood IgA Nephropathy

To evaluate the effects of cyclosporin A (CyA) on clinical outcome and pathologic changes in children with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), we retrospectively evaluated 14 children (mean age 8.9±2.9 yr; eight males, six females) who were treated with CyA and steroids. The starting dose of CyA was 5 mg/kg per day, and the drug level was maintained at 100-200 ng/mL. The mean CyA level was 183.8±48.3 ng/mL (range 120.7-276.0 ng/mL) and the mean duration of CyA therapy was 10.9±1.9 months (range 8-12 months). After CyA therapy the mean 24 hr urinary protein excretion declined from 107.1±35.1 mg/m2/hr to 7.4±2.4 mg/m2/hr (P<0.001) and serum albumin increased from 3.3±0.6 g/dL to 4.3±0.3 g/dL (P<0.001). At a follow-up biopsy the histological grade of IgAN was improved in seven (50%) of the 14 patients, remained the same in three (21%), and was aggravated in four (29%). Serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, and blood pressure did not differ before and after CyA therapy. Two patients (14%) showed CyA-induced nephrotoxicity at the second biopsy. Our findings indicate that CyA therapy may be effective in reducing proteinuria and regressing renal pathology in a subset of children with IgAN.
Glucose metabolism and b -cell mass in adult offspring of rats protein and/or energy restricted during the last week of pregnancy

Glucose metabolism and b -cell mass in adult offspring of rats protein and/or energy restricted during the last week of pregnancy. Am. J. Physiol. 277 ( Endocrinol. Metab. 40): E11–E17, 1999. —An association between low birth weight and later impaired glucose tolerance was recently demonstrated in several human populations. Although fetal malnutrition is probably involved, the biological bases of such a relationship are not yet clear, and animal studies on the matter are scarce. The present study was aimed to identify, in adult (8-wk) female offspring, the effects of reduced protein and/or energy intake strictly limited to the last week of pregnancy. Thus we have tested three protocols of gestational malnutrition: a low-protein isocaloric diet (5 instead of 15%), with pair feeding to the mothers receiving the control diet; a restricted diet (50% of the control diet); and a low-protein restricted diet (50% of low-protein diet). Only the low-protein diet protocols, independent of total energy intake, led to a lower birth weight. The adult offspring female rats in the three deprived groups exhibited no decrease in body weight and no major impairment in glucose tolerance, glucose utilization, or glucose production (basal state and hyperinsulinemic clamp studies). However, pancreatic insulin content and b -cell mass were signiﬁcantly decreased in the low-protein isocaloric diet group compared with the two energy-restricted groups. Such impairment of b -cell mass development induced by protein deﬁciency limited to the last part of intrauterine life could represent a situation predisposing to impaired glucose tolerance. as means 6 SE. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA (Fisher’s test) for comparison of unpaired data between groups. A P value of 0.05 was considered signiﬁcant.
Platelet Rich Plasma: New Insights for Cutaneous Wound Healing Management

The overall increase of chronic degenerative diseases associated with ageing makes wound care a tremendous socioeconomic burden. Thus, there is a growing need to develop novel wound healing therapies to improve cutaneous wound healing. The use of regenerative therapies is becoming increasingly popular due to the low-invasive procedures needed to apply them. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is gaining interest due to its potential to stimulate and accelerate the wound healing process. The cytokines and growth factors forming PRP play a crucial role in the healing process. This article reviews the emerging field of skin wound regenerative therapies with particular emphasis on PRP and the role of growth factors in the wound healing process.
5-aminoisoquinoline improves renal function and fibrosis during recovery phase of cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury in rats

The aim of the present study is to analyze the effects of 5-aminoisoquinoline (5-AIQ), a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP1) inhibitor, over renal dysfunction and fibrosis during recovery phase of cisplatin (CisPt)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) in rats. Male Wistar rats were distributed in three groups (n=8 each group): control, CisPt, and CisPt + 5-AIQ. Control and CisPt groups received a subcutaneous injection of either saline or 7 mg/kg CisPt, respectively. CisPt + 5-AIQ group received two intraperitoneal injections of 10 mg/kg 5-AIQ 2 h before and 24 h after CisPt treatment. Thirteen days after the treatment, rats were housed in metabolic cages and 24-h urine collection was made. At day 14, CisPt-treated rats showed increased diuresis, N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) excretion, glucosuria and sodium fractional excretion (NaFE), and decreased creatinine clearance (CrCl). 5-AIQ significantly increased CrCl and decreased NAG excretion, glucosuria, and NaFE. In plasma, CisPt increased sodium, urea, and creatinine concentrations, while 5-AIQ treatment decreased these variables to the levels of control group. 5-AIQ completely prevented the body weight loss evoked by CisPt treatment. CisPt also induced an increased renal expression of PAR polymer, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and collagen-IV. These variables were decreased in CisPt + 5-AIQ group. Tubular lesions and renal fibrosis were also decreased by 5-AIQ treatment. We conclude that inhibition of PARP1 with 5-AIQ can attenuate long-term nephrotoxic effects associated with the CisPt treatment, preventing renal dysfunction and body weight decrease and ameliorating tubular lesions and collagen deposition.
Collaborative virtual environments for ergonomics: embedding the design engineer role in the loop

The aim of this paper is to define the role and duties of a design engineer involved in a collaborative ergonomic design session supported by a 3D collaborative virtual environment. For example, such a session can be used to adapt the manual task an operator must achieve in the context of an industrial assembly line. We first present the interest of such collaborative sessions. Then we present a related work explaining the need of proper 3DCVE and metaphors to obtain efficient collaborative ergonomic design sessions. Then, after a short definition of the role of the engineer in such sessions, we propose a use case highlighting the type of metaphor such engineers need to have to be efficient in such a framework. Discussion and future works ends the paper.
SIMULATION OF THE CONVECTIVE HEAT TRANSFER IN A NANOFLUID COMPOSED OF WATER AND FMWNT CARBON NANOTUBES IN A MICROCHANNEL SUBJECTED TO A MAGNETIC FIELD IN THE SLIP FLOW REGIME

The forced convective heat transfer of a nanofluid composed of water and FMWNT nano-particles in a twodimensional microchannel was numerically investigated. The bottom wall of the microchannel was fully insulated. The upper wall was insulated only at the entrance, the rest of the upper wall was subjected to a constant heat flux of . A constant magnetic field with a strength of B0 was also applied on it. The slip velocity boundary condition was considered along the walls of the microchannel. Navier-Stokes equations were discretized and then solved numerically using a computer code. Results were presented in the form of velocity profiles, temperature, and the Nusselt number. In the present work, the effect of magnetic field on the slip velocity of the fluid adjacent to the microchannel wall was studied for the first time. The use of a nanofluid composed of water and carbon nanotubes (FMWNT), as the working fluid in a microchannel,could be another novelty of the present study. It was seen that stronger magnetic field corresponded to more amount of slip velocity.
Regulation of Glucose Uptake and Enteroendocrine Function by the Intestinal Epithelial Insulin Receptor

Insulin receptors (IRs) and IGF-I receptors (IGF-IR) are major regulators of metabolism and cell growth throughout the body; however, their roles in the intestine remain controversial. Here we show that genetic ablation of the IR or IGF-IR in intestinal epithelial cells of mice does not impair intestinal growth or development or the composition of the gut microbiome. However, the loss of IRs alters intestinal epithelial gene expression, especially in pathways related to glucose uptake and metabolism. More importantly, the loss of IRs reduces intestinal glucose uptake. As a result, mice lacking the IR in intestinal epithelium retain normal glucose tolerance during aging compared with controls, which show an age-dependent decline in glucose tolerance. Loss of the IR also results in a reduction of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) expression from enteroendocrine K-cells and decreased GIP release in vivo after glucose ingestion but has no effect on glucagon-like peptide 1 expression or secretion. Thus, the IR in the intestinal epithelium plays important roles in intestinal gene expression, glucose uptake, and GIP production, which may contribute to pathophysiological changes in individuals with diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and other insulin-resistant states.
Neuromorphic meets neuromechanics, part II: the role of fusimotor drive

Objective. We studied the fundamentals of muscle afferentation by building a Neuro–mechano–morphic system actuating a cadaveric finger. This system is a faithful implementation of the stretch reflex circuitry. It allowed the systematic exploration of the effects of different fusimotor drives to the muscle spindle on the closed-loop stretch reflex response. Approach. As in Part I of this work, sensory neurons conveyed proprioceptive information from muscle spindles (with static and dynamic fusimotor drive) to populations of α-motor neurons (with recruitment and rate coding properties). The motor commands were transformed into tendon forces by a Hill-type muscle model (with activation-contraction dynamics) via brushless DC motors. Two independent afferented muscles emulated the forces of flexor digitorum profundus and the extensor indicis proprius muscles, forming an antagonist pair at the metacarpophalangeal joint of a cadaveric index finger. We measured the physical response to repetitions of bi-directional ramp-and-hold rotational perturbations for 81 combinations of static and dynamic fusimotor drives, across four ramp velocities, and three levels of constant cortical drive to the α-motor neuron pool. Main results. We found that this system produced responses compatible with the physiological literature. Fusimotor and cortical drives had nonlinear effects on the reflex forces. In particular, only cortical drive affected the sensitivity of reflex forces to static fusimotor drive. In contrast, both static fusimotor and cortical drives reduced the sensitivity to dynamic fusimotor drive. Interestingly, realistic signal-dependent motor noise emerged naturally in our system without having been explicitly modeled. Significance. We demonstrate that these fundamental features of spinal afferentation sufficed to produce muscle function. As such, our Neuro–mechano–morphic system is a viable platform to study the spinal mechanisms for healthy muscle function—and its pathologies such as dystonia and spasticity. In addition, it is a working prototype of a robust biomorphic controller for compliant robotic limbs and exoskeletons.
ON ACC and threshold circuits

It is proved that any language in ACC can be approximately computed by two-level circuits of size 2 raised to the (log n)/sup k/ power, with a symmetric-function gate at the top and only AND gates on the first level. This implies that any language in ACC can be recognized by depth-3 threshold circuits of that size. This result gives the first nontrivial upper bound on the computing power of ACC circuits. <<ETX>>
Structure-Based Pharmacophore Identification of New Chemical Scaffolds as Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors

A structure-based molecular modeling approach was performed to identify novel structural characteristics and scaffolds that might represent new classes of HIV-1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). The software LigandScout was used for identification and visualization of protein-ligand interaction sites and pharmacophore model generation. In the next step virtual screening of 3D multiconformational databases together with docking experiments allowed the identification of promising candidates for biological testing. The positive biological results obtained confirm the validity of our work strategy.
A Decade of Development of Chromogenic Culture Media for Clinical Microbiology in an Era of Molecular Diagnostics

SUMMARY In the last 25 years, chromogenic culture media have found widespread application in diagnostic clinical microbiology. In the last decade, the range of media available to clinical laboratories has expanded greatly, allowing specific detection of additional pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, group B streptococci, Clostridium difficile, Campylobacter spp. , and Yersinia enterocolitica. New media have also been developed to screen for pathogens with acquired antimicrobial resistance, including vancomycin-resistant enterococci, carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp. , and Enterobacteriaceae with extended-spectrum β-lactamases and carbapenemases. This review seeks to explore the utility of chromogenic media in clinical microbiology, with particular attention given to media that have been commercialized in the last decade. The impact of laboratory automation and complementary technologies such as matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is also assessed. Finally, the review also seeks to demarcate the role of chromogenic media in an era of molecular diagnostics.